Dalal, S RJadhav, M VDeshmukh, S D2002-01-062009-05-302002-01-062009-05-302002-01-06Dalal SR, Jadhav MV, Deshmukh SD. Autopsy study of pediatric deaths. Indian Journal of Pediatrics. 2002 Jan; 69(1): 23-5http://imsear.searo.who.int/handle/123456789/82162OBJECTIVE: Childhood autopsies occurring during January 1997 to December 1999 were reviewed. METHOD: Of the total 1,445 deaths autopsied, 441 (30.5%) were of pediatric patients. RESULT: 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%). CONCLUSION: 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.engAutopsyCause of DeathChild, PreschoolFemaleHumansIndia --epidemiologyInfantInfant, NewbornMaleJournal Article