Retrospective analysis of acute poisoning cases in tribal population of Jharkhand: An institution-based study.

Introduction: Poisoning is typically defined as the act of causing severe harm or death by consuming, breathing, touching, or injecting various substances such as drugs, chemicals, venoms, or gasses. Organophosphorus compounds are the primary cause of mortality resulting from self-poisoning in South and Central India. Methods: A 4-year retrospective autopsy-based study was conducted in the Department of Pathology at Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences, Ranchi from July 2020 to June 2024. The study focused on analyzing autopsy specimens from cases of fatal poisoning. The study included a total of 375 cases that were brought to the department for medicolegal autopsy. Among these cases, 52 were identified as poisoning following post-mortem investigation. Results: Organophosphate was responsible for most acute poisoning deaths, accounting for 21.2% (11 cases), followed by corrosive compounds in 15.4% (8 instances). The most prevalent histopathological lesion observed in the stomach, lungs, and liver was congestion, with frequencies of 30.8%, 100%, and 23.1% correspondingly. Cloudy swelling was the most prevalent kidney lesion, occurring in 26.9% of cases. Conclusion: The incidence of fatalities among the tribal population is high, leading to a substantial loss of life and catastrophic consequences for communities.