Medicolegal autopsy should be carried out for all unnatural deaths to ascertain facts pertaining to death. A retrospective 5-year study was carried out by the Forensic Medicine and Medicolegal Department, Faculty of Medicine, University of Riau to describe the profi le of medicolegal autopsies in Pekanbaru, Indonesia. There were 613 unnatural deaths and 73 (11.9 %) medicolegal autopsies recorded between 2007 and 2011. The number of unnatural deaths showed a decreasing trend whereas the number of medicolegal autopsies increased over the years. The percentage of unnatural deaths subjected to medicolegal autopsy varied between 2.2 % and 23.1 % per year. Of the 73 medicolegal autopsy subjects, 68.5% (n = 50) were male and 31.5% (n = 23) females. The ages of victims ranged from newborn babies to 72 years, with a median of 28 years. 61.6 % of cases were in the 20-39 years age-group. Sixty (82.2 %) had unnatural deaths. The leading cause of death was blunt force (30.1%) and sharp force (20.5 %). Homicide was the predominant manner of death. Our study highlights that the main interest of the police in requesting a medicolegal autopsy is for investigation of homicide. Recognizing that autopsy has an important role in the investigation of unnatural deaths, further studies should be carried out to understand the factors that impact on the low percentage of medicolegal autopsies in unnatural deaths, so that solutions may be found for the future.

Medicolegal autopsy should be carried out for all unnatural deaths to ascertain facts pertaining to death. A retrospective 5-year study was carried out by the Forensic Medicine and Medicolegal Department, Faculty of Medicine, University of Riau to describe the profile of medicolegal autopsies in Pekanbaru, Indonesia. There were 613 unnatural deaths and 73 (11.9%) medicolegal autopsies recorded between 2007 and 2011. The number of unnatural deaths showed a decreasing trend whereas the number of medicolegal autopsies increased over the years. The percentage of unnatural deaths subjected to medicolegal autopsy varied between 2.2% and 23.1% per year. Of the 73 medicolegal autopsy subjects, 68.5% (n = 50) were male and 31.5% (n = 23) females. The ages of victims ranged from newborn babies to 72 years, with a median of 28 years. 61.6% of cases were in the 20-39 years age-group. Sixty (82.2%) had unnatural deaths. The leading cause of death was blunt force (30.1%) and sharp force (20.5%). Homicide was the predominant manner of death. Our study highlights that the main interest of the police in requesting a medicolegal autopsy is for investigation of homicide. Recognizing that autopsy has an important role in the investigation of unnatural deaths, further studies should be carried out to understand the factors that impact on the low percentage of medicolegal autopsies in unnatural deaths, so that solutions may be found for the future.

Sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP) is a rare in children; the risk of SUDEP in children is up to 10-fold less than adults. Herein, we report a case of SUDEP in a 14-year-old boy. The post-mortem findings in neuropathological examination in SUDEP are not pathognomonic. Tongue and lip bites marks are only an indication of a seizure before death. Basically, there are no lesions that could explain the incidence of seizures before death. However, post-mortem examination is mandatory in order to determine the diagnosis of SUDEP. Autopsy, histopathological, and toxicologic examinations and a proper medical history of epilepsy are required to come to diagnosis of SUDEP. This case report further demonstrates the importance of medicolegal autopsy in allegedly dead victims.
neuropathological ; seizure

Pekanbaru is one of the cities in Riau Province which is an endemic area for Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever (DHF) with the Incidence Rate exceeding the endemic limit of 148,80 per 100.000 population. The purpose of this research was to determine the influence of the distance between houses, water storage condition, the existence of garbage, the existence of larvae around the houses. To determine attitude, knowledge, eradication of mosquito nests, the morning and or afternoon sleep habits, the habit of hanging clothes, and the existence of ornamental plants on Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever (DHF) cases. The type of research was observational quantitative analytic with a Case-Control design. The sampling technique used was Non-Probability Sampling and multivariate analysis used is multiple logistic regression. The sample was 138 respondents and Primary data collection using questionnaires and observation sheets. Six variables affecting the DHF cases were the existence of larvae (OR=8.103), eradication of mosquito nests (OR=6.230), water storage conditions (OR=2.136), the sleep habits in the morning and or afternoon (OR=2.058), the existence of garbage (OR=0.233) dan knowledge (OR=0.165). This suggests that the community can do eradicate mosquito nets. . Eradicating mosquito nests can be carried out through 3M Plus activities, including regularly draining the bathtub at least once a week, changing the water in flower vases, bird drinking places, or other water reservoirs regularly every less than one week. Closing water reservoirs tightly. Utilizing / recycling used cans, plastics, used tires, and other items that can hold rainwater so that they do not become mosquito breeding grounds. Six variables that influence the DHF cases, were: the existence of larvae, the action of 3M Plus, the condition of the water reservoir, the habit of sleeping in the morning and afternoon, the existence of garbage, and knowledge. Four variables did not affect the DHF cases, they were: attitude, the distance among houses, the habit of hanging clothes, and the existence of yard/ornamental plants. The community is expected to be able to recycle waste (garbage that has the potential to hold water).