ABSTRACT
Incidence of hair dye poisoning has been rising in many regions of the country due to easy availability. Mortality rates vary between 0.03% -60%. Post mortem findings in all the cases include laryngeal oedema, oedema of vocal cords and epiglottis. Cause of death in all the cases was probably asphyxia, multiorgan failure, and cardiac toxicity. Aim: To ascertain the cause of death in all the cases who died of hair dye poisoning. Methods: 24 patients who died of hair dye poisoning and who underwent an autopsy in Thoothukudi Government Medical College Hospital for the period from April 2009 to March 2010 were included in the study. Results: Facial puffiness, protruded tongue clinched in between the teeth, swollen neck, blood mixed froth oozing from the mouth, Bluish discoloration of extremities and conjunctival ecchymosis were seen in all the 24 patients. Histological examination of lung parenchyma showed infiltrated of lymphocytes and mononuclear cells, congestion in the pulmonary vasculature, mucosal and submucosal oedema in the laryngeal region along with infiltrates of mast cells, mononuclear cells, and lymphocytes. Pulmonary oedema and petechial haemorrhages on the myocardial surface were also noted. Conclusion: There are a high incidence and the rapid rise of hair dye poisoning in this area. All the autopsies in patients who died of hair dye poisoning showed severe cervicofacial oedema, bluish discoloration of extremities, conjunctival congestion and protruded tongue. All of them had evidence of asphyxia as the cause of death.