Question
A Dead body was found with cherry red discoloration as shown in the image below . What is the most probable cause of death
A. Arsenic Poisoning.
B. Organophosphate poisoining.
C. Carbon monoxide poisoning.
D. Heroin Poisoining.
Show Answer
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Correct Answer » C
Explanation
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Postmortem findings of CO-poisoning
- Fine froth at mouth and nose.
- Bright cherry red discolouration of skin, mucous membranes, nail-beds, blood, tissues and internal organs. Cyanide poisoning and exposure to cold causes similar redness.
- Blood is fluidish thin, hyperemia (congestion) is general, and serous effusion are common.
- Skin blisters or red patches due to hypoxia in areas that contact the ground or appositional skin e.g. axilla, inner thigh, buttock, calves, knee.
- Lungs show congestion with pink fluid blood, followed by pulmonary edema and bronchopulmonary consolidation.
Pleural and pericardial anoxic haemorrhage, tiny focal necroses in myocardium are late changes (5 days).
- Bilateral symmetrical necrosis and cavitation of basal ganglia (esp globus pallidus and putamen) is most characteristic feature in delayed deaths(prolonged hypoxia) may be confused with PM finding of parkinsons patient. Although cerebral cortex, cerebellum, hippocampus and substantia nigra of brain stem may also be affected. Ring shaped punctiform haemorrhage in white matter, wide spread brain oedema, punctate haemorrhage in meninges, cortex and cellular necrobiosis of ganglionic cells in cortex are other features.
- Spectroscopic examination, Hoppe – Seyler’s test (10% NaOH), kunkel’s (tannic acid) test and adding water (15 ml) in 2 drops of blo
