Incidence of post burn septicemia at a Tertiary Care Hospital.

A severe burn injury is a life threatening incident to the patients in many ways and infection is one of the most common complications of burns. This prospective study was conducted to assess the incidence, magnitude and profile of post burn septicemia in burn cases coming to Government Medical College Hospital, Chandigarh. During the one year study period, a total of 89 cases of burns were admitted, with an overall male to female ratio of 1: 1.14. Septicemia was seen in 60% cases of which 28% were males and 72% were females; incidence of septicemia was 40% in males and 73% in females, respectively. Fifty-two percent of the septicemic patients were from rural areas, with 71% incidence of septicemia. Flame burns were seen in 96% cases studied, of which 66% suffered septicemia. Eighty-eight percent had suffered accidental burns and they had 58% incidence of septicemia. The mean age of the septicemic patients who survived was 26.8 years and it was 30.2 years in the fatal cases. Mean TBSA was 37% in the septicemic patients who survived and it was 68% in the fatal cases.

Pattern of burns cases brought to morgue, Sion Hospital, Mumbai: A two year study.

The present study was carried out in the Department of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology of Lokmanya Tilak Municipal Medical College & General Hospital, Sion Mumbai and total 237 cases were collected for this study purpose. Female victims were most commonly affected as compared to male victims. The age group of 21-30 years 97 (40.93%) was most commonly affected followed by age group 31-40 years 54 (22.79%). The thermal burns 184 (77.63%) was most commonly noted followed by electrical burns 23 (9.71%). Married females 114 (76.51%) most common victims and most of victims survived for a period of 12 to 24 Hours 61 (25.74%). Head, face & neck 206 (86.91%) region of body was most commonly affected followed by Chest 174 (73.41%) region of body. The most of victims sustained 51 to 75% burns133 (56.12%) and most common manner of death was accidental burns 147(62.02%).

A study of burn deaths in Imphal.

This is an epidemiological profile of the burn fatalities brought to the morgue of RIMS Imphal over a 16 yr period from 1990-2006. The study explores the year-wise incidence, age-gender distribution, time of occurrence, place of occurrence, socio-economic status, survival period, place of death, cause of death, body surface area involved, caste distribution, manner of death and monthly distribution. From the observations and analysis, certain etiologies are elicited and their preventive measures are suggested.

Study of fatal burn cases in medico- legal autopsies.

The burn autopsies form the major bulk of autopsies carried out at most of the hospitals in India. A medico–legal study of fatal burn cases was carried out at Nanded (India) during the period of 3 years. These constituted 18.2% of the total medico–legal autopsies carried out during the same period. The majority of burn deaths were observed in the age group of 11 – 40 yrs (83.11%), with peak incidence in 21 – 30 yrs (39.5%) of age group. Female preponderance was seen in all age groups with male to female ratio 1:2.5. Most of the cases were from rural area (76.3%). In 189 cases (41.4%), total body surface area involved was more than 80%. Majority of the subjects died as a result of flame burns (92.3%), followed by electric burns (5.3%) & scald (2.4%). In 406 cases (89%), Kerosene oil was involved leading to fatal burns. Accidental burns were most common (70.8%), followed by suicidal (18.2%) and homicidal burns (10.9%). The majority of deaths due to burns were observed within 1 week (66.2%).