A fatal case of hypothermia caused by dog bites. (July 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Li, Yanning; Shen, Ruipeng; Ding, Runtao; Wen, Gehua; Du, Ao; Dong, Zhibin; Ren, Xinghua; Yao, Hui; Zhu, Baoli; Li, Rubo; Lu, Yan; Wu, Xu
• Is Part Of: Medicine, science and the law. Volume 57:Number 3(2017:Jul.)
• Page Start: 130
• Page End: 133
• Publication Date: 2017-07
• Subjects: Forensic pathology -- fatal case -- dog bites -- hypothermia; Forensic sciences -- Periodicals; Medical laws and legislation -- Great Britain -- Periodicals; 614.105
• DOI: 10.1177/0025802417712882
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0025-8024

Abstract

Death from hypothermia usually*We presented a fatal case of hypothermia after being bitten by dog in this article. occurs among people exposed to cold and humid environmental conditions when they are homeless, aged, suffering from natural or psychiatric diseases and drug or alcohol intoxication. A normal healthy person dying from hypothermia due to dog bites is unusual and rare. Here, we present a fatal case of hypothermia following dog bites causing blood loss and multiple wounds on the body. A 56-year-old man was found dead in a remote roadside puddle of a small village, early in the morning. He was naked, and his body trunk and limbs had multiple irregular wounds. Gray animal hairs could be seen in parts of the wound cavities and surrounding areas. In addition, there was a kennel near the scene. Family members argued that the deceased was bitten to death by a dog. However, autopsy revealed several findings which were strongly supportive of fatal hypothermia. Moreover, we saw no obvious changes caused by blood loss, either on the body surface or internal organs. Accordingly, we concluded the true cause of his death was fatal hypothermia; bites from a dog was a necessary causative factor.