Epidemiological Study of Thermal Burn Deaths at a Tertiary Care Centre in Mumbai, India
International Journal of Medical Toxicology and Forensic Medicine,
Vol. 7 No. 2(Spring) (2017),
25 Tir 2017
,
Page 117-123
https://doi.org/10.22037/ijmtfm.v7i2(Spring).14804
Abstract
Background: Fire is a well-known double edged sword for human beings as it has served as well as destroyed mankind. Death due to thermal burns is burning topic all over the globe.
Methods: Total 109 cases of death due to fatal thermal burns which were brought for the autopsy examination at Seth G. S. Medical College and KEM Hospital, Mumbai, India, during the period of January 2014 to July 2015, were considered for present study.
Results: Out of 1771 medico-legal post-mortem examinations done during study period 109 (6.14%) were deaths due to thermal burns. Females accounted for 92 (84.4%) cases while 17 (15.6%) were males. Maximum number of cases 49 (44.95%) were seen in 21- 30 years age group. Maximum victims 87 (79.82%) were Hindus. Urban deaths accounted 81 (74.31%) whereas 27 (24.77%) were from rural area. Kitchen was the most common place of occurrence accounting for 65 (59.63%) cases. Maximum incidences occurred in winter contributing 39 (35.78%) deaths. Maximum vulnerability was observed in early evening hours accounting for 19 (17.43%) incidences. Maximum 41 (37.61%) victims survived up to a period of 3 to 7 days. Considering the level of education, maximum victims 50 (45.87%) were educated up to primary school level. Housewives 73 (66.92%) were the most vulnerable victims. Socio-economic status shows maximum cases are from upper lower and lower middle class population.
Conclusion: Considering the religion-wise population distribution in India, location of the study centre and exposure of Indian females to fire during cooking, all these results can be justified.
- Epidemiology
- Burn Deaths
- Female Deaths
How to Cite
References
Sharma BR, Harish D, Sharma A, Sharma S, Singh H. Accidental burns in Indian kitchens: Are they really accidental? JIAFM. 2006;28(1):14-7.
Nandy A. Principles of Forensic Medicine including Toxicology. 3rd ed. Kolkata New central book agency; 2010.
Government of India- Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. Available from: http://mohfw.nic.in/WriteReadData/l892s/94668183Programme%20website.pdf.
Ambade VN, Godbole HV. Study of burn deaths in Nagpur, Central India. Burns. 2006;32:902-8.
Batra AK. Burn mortality: recent trends and sociocultural determinants in rural India. Burns 2003; 29:270–5.
Zanjad NP, Godbole HV. Study of Fatal Burn Cases in Medico- Legal Autopsies. JIAFM. 2007;29(3):42-9.
Jayant D Deshpande, Padmakar K Baviskar, Deepak B Phalke. Epidemiological study of hospitalized burn patients in rural area. International Journal of Bimedical and Advanced Research. 2012;3(4):263-7.
Mohanty MK, M Arun, Francis N P Monteiro, Palimar V. Self-inflicted burns fatalities in Manipal, India. Medicine science and the law. 2005;45(1):27-30.
Gupta RK, Srivastava AK. Study of Fatal burn cases in Kanpur (India). Forensic Science International. 1988;32(2):81-9.
Chawla R, Chanana A, Rai H, Aggrawal AD, Singh H, Sharma G. A two years burns fatality study. JIAFM. 2010;32(4):292-7.
Singh D, Singh A, Sharma AK, Sodhi L. Burn mortality in Chandigarh zone: 25 years autopsy experience from a tertiary care hospital of India. Burns. 1998;24(2):150-6.
Dasari H, Kumar A, Sharma BR. Burns Septicemia- The Leading Cause Of Burn Mortality. Editorial. JPAFMAT. 2008;2. [Internet]. Available from: http://www.pafmat.com/20082_2.htm
Subrahmanyam M. Epidemiology of burns in a district hospital in Western India. Burns. 1996;22(6):439-42.
Attia AF, Sherif AA, Mandil AM, Massoud MN, Abou-Nazel MW and Arafa MA. Epidemiological and sociocultural study of burn patients in Alexandria, Egypt. Eastern Mediterranean Health Journal. 1997;3(3):452-61.
Haralkar SJ, Tapare VS, Rayate MV. Study Of Socio-Demographic Profile of Burn Cases Admitted in Shri Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj General Hospital, Solapur. National Journal of Community Medicine. 2011;2(1):19-23.
Kumar P, Chadhha A. Epidemiological Study of Burn Cases and their Mortality Experiences amongst Adults from a Tertiary Level Care Centre. Indian Journal of Community Medicine. 1997;22(4):160-7.
Gupta M, Gupta OK, Yaduvanshi RK, Upadhyaya J. Burn epidemiology: the Pink City scene. Burns. 1993;19(1):47-51.
Akhter JM, Nerker NE, Reddy PS, Khan MI, Chauhan MK, Shahapurkar VV. Epidemiology of burned patients admitted in burn unit of a rural tertiary teaching hospital. Pravara Med Rev. 2010;2(4).
Shankar Gowri, Naik Vijaya, Rajesh Powar, Ravindra Honnugar, Mallapur MD. Epidemiology and outcome of burn injuries. JIAFM. 2012;34(4):312-4.
Rajani V Bhagora, Jaswant A Darji, Devendra N Panchal, S D Kalele, Daval Parmar. Profile of burns cases brought for postmortem examination at mortuary of Sir T. Hospital, Bhavnagar. NJIRM. 2011;2(4):109-12.
- Abstract Viewed: 643 times
- PDF Downloaded: 468 times