Mian Mujahid Shah, Zahid Hussain, Adil Jan.
Spectrum of forensic toxicological analysis at Khyber Medical College Peshawar.
Pak J Med Res Jan ;45(2):32-4.

Aims: To see the common types of poisonings reported to the forensic toxicology laboratory at Peshawar, NWFP, Pakistan. Methods: The study was conducted at the Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Khyber Medical College Peshawar where records of toxicological analyses for the year 2004 were obtained. Results: A total of 152 toxicological analyses were done in a year. Of the total 68 samples were from autopsy cases and 84 from suspected cases of alcohol intoxication. Poisons of various types were detected in 32/68 (47.%) autopsies, while alcohol was detected in 56/84 (66.6%) cases of intoxication. All cases were males and sedative/narcotic drug abuse was the most common cause of death by poisoning (68.7% of fatal poisonings). Majority of alcohol intoxication cases (92.86%) were referred from hospitals of Peshawar rather than police stations. Conclusion: Poisoning and alcohol abuse constitute a significant health hazard and cause for public concern. Informed interventions are recommended to address the problem.

PakMediNet -Pakistan's largest Database of Pakistani Medical Journals - http://www.pakmedinet.com