Mechanical asphyxia as the cause of children's death in Minsk in 2013-2017

Abstract

The purpose of the work is to study the structure and circumstances of the death of children from mechanical asphyxia in Minsk during 2013-2017.Material and methods. The material used for the study was documentary data (conclusions of forensic experts, results of forensic and histological and forensic researches), management of forensic medical examinations of the State Committee of Forensic Examination of the Republic of Belarus for the city of Minsk during 2013-2017.Research results. For the period from 2013 to 2017, 21333 forensic medical examinations were conducted in Minsk, out of which 173 cases of autopsy of children and adolescents were registered, and constituted 0.81% of the total number of autopsies. At the same time, the ratio of death from mechanical asphyxia was in 47 cases, which constituted 27.2% of the total number of autopsies of children. In the structure of the death of children from mechanical asphyxia, the leading place belongs to obstructive asphyxia (57.5%), in the second place - strangulated asphyxia (25.5%), in the third place - drowning (14.9%).Conclusions. Prevention of the death of children from mechanical asphyxia in a large industrial city should be complex and conducted taking into account the prevailing types of asphyxia in each age group.