Fatal Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

Abstract

Liquefied petroleum gas on combustion with deficient oxygen produces toxic carbon monoxide. It is used as a fuel to heat water in gas geysers. Here, we report a fatal case of carbon monoxide poisoning resulting from the usage of gas water heater. A 24-year-old female had gone to take bath in a bathroom where a gas geyser was installed to heat the water. As she did not come out of the bathroom even after more than an hour, the door was broken down by the relatives and she was found dead. Cherry red postmortem hypostasis, congested and edematous pinkish lungs, and cerebral edema were salient autopsy findings. Carboxyhemoglobin was quantified in blood to 76.55%. The cause of death was attributed to carbon monoxide poisoning; accidental in manner. This case highlights the hazards of using a gas geyser in an ill-ventilated bathroom.