Three days after death, a body kept indoors in summer shows dark reddish-brown fluid trickling from the mouth and nostrils. The stomach mucosa is intact, there is no history of vomiting, and the fluid contains no food particles. The MOST likely explanation is:

• A Postmortem purge due to putrefactive pressure ✓
• B Corrosive acid poisoning
• C Haematemesis from peptic ulcer disease
• D Acute pulmonary oedema

Explanation

As putrefaction advances, gases generated in the abdomen compress the stomach and lungs, forcing putrefied, haemoglobin-stained fluid out of the mouth and nose; this is postmortem purge. The fluid is dark reddish-brown, foul smelling, and may be mistaken for haemorrhage or poisoning, but the intact gastric mucosa, absence of food particles or irritant injury, and the stage of decomposition point to purge. Haematemesis would carry altered food and an ulcer source, and corrosive poisoning would show obvious mucosal destruction.

Reference: Parikh's Textbook of Medical Jurisprudence, Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, 7th ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.