title: Fatal chilli bite.
abstract: A healthy 2-year-old girl bit a green chilli accidentally following which she had many bouts of vomiting. She became unconscious and was immediately admitted to hospital. In spite of all medical intervention, she died after one day. The autopsy confirmed that the death was caused by respiratory failure due to acute respiratory distress syndrome following aspiration of gastric contents into tracheobronchial tree. Aspiration of gastric contents resulting in acute respiratory distress syndrome and death is not uncommon; however, death following the accidental bite of a chilli is rarely reported in medical-legal literature.
authors.affiliation: Department of Forensic Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India drchitta75@rediffmail.com.
authors.forename: Chittaranjan
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Behera
authors.affiliation: Department of Forensic Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Hari
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Prasad
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Asit Ranjan
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Mridha
authors.affiliation: Department of Forensic Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Rajanikanta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Swain
mesh_terms: D002212:Capsicum / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005554:Forensic Medicine / Q000379:methods; D005744:Gastric Acid; D006801:Humans; D012128:Respiratory Distress Syndrome / Q000209:etiology*; D014839:Vomiting / Q000150:complications
keywords: Green chilli bite; acute respiratory distress syndrome; child; death; need for prompt first aid