Postmortem Toxicology and Sudden Unexplained Death in Infants in Bauchi State

Sudden unexplained death in infancy (SUDI) presents significant forensic and public health challenges, particularly in settings where postmortem investigation capacity is limited. This study examines postmortem toxicological findings in SUDI cases investigated in Bauchi State between 2019 and 2024. A retrospective descriptive design was employed, reviewing twenty-five infant postmortem examination reports from Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital and conducting interviews with six paediatric pathologists and toxicologists. The study evaluates the range of toxicological analyses performed, the findings obtained, and the extent to which toxicological evidence contributed to cause-of-death determination. Findings reveal that full toxicological screening was performed in only forty percent of SUDI cases, with resource limitations cited as the primary barrier to comprehensive analysis. In cases where toxicological analysis was completed, sedative medications and traditional herbal preparations were identified as contributing factors in thirty percent of deaths. The study also identifies a lack of standardised postmortem protocols for infant deaths in Bauchi State, resulting in inconsistent cause-of-death classifications. Recommendations include the introduction of mandatory full toxicological screening for all unexplained infant deaths, the development of SUDI investigation guidelines for North East hospitals, and public education regarding the risks of administering unauthorised medications to infants. Keywords: postmortem toxicology, infant death, SUDI, Bauchi State, cause of death.