Choking or Epilepsy

Choking is a form of asphyxia caused by an obstruction within the air passage usually between the pharynx and bifurcation of the trachea. It is commonly associated with alcohol intoxication, neurological injury, or senility. Choking is almost always accidental. Suicidal and homicidal chokings are rare. Here, in the present case, the dead body of a 29-year-old male was brought by the local police to the mortuary of Gauhati Medical College and Hospital, Guwahati for medico-legal autopsy, who as reported, was mysteriously found dead on his bed. After complete and thorough autopsy, the cause of death was opined to be due to asphyxia as a result of antemortem choking, following impaction of the food bolus in the laryngotracheal region. The person had a history of a single episode of seizure (epilepsy) about 1 month back.