Autopsy study of pediatric deaths.
OBJECTIVE
Childhood autopsies occurring during January 1997 to December 1999 were reviewed.


METHODS
Of the total 1,445 deaths autopsied, 441 (30.5%) were of pediatric patients.


RESULTS
Of these deaths, 70.3% occurred during neonatal period, 8.6% in infancy, and 21.1% in childhood. Birth asphyxia (57.7%) was the most frequent mode of death in the neonatal period. Infections (67.2%) predominantly accounted for infant and childhood mortality, those of respiratory tract (46.1%) being most frequent in infancy, early and mid childhood, and enteric fever in late childhood (33.3%). Discrepancy between ante-mortem and post-mortem diagnosis occurred in 29 cases (6.6%).


CONCLUSIONS
Autopsy is an important clinical tool providing useful information to the physician. Few published reports are available on pediatric autopsies. This study aims to help in a better understanding of causes of deaths in neonates, infants and children.
Dalal
S R
SR
Department of Pathology, B.J. Medical College, Sassoon General Hospitals, Pune, India. shefdalal@hotmail.com
Jadhav
M V
MV
Deshmukh
S D
SD
D001344:Autopsy; D002423:Cause of Death; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male