Open Access Open Access  Restricted Access Subscription Access
Open Access Open Access Open Access  Restricted Access Restricted Access Subscription Access

Socio-demographic Profile of Electric Injuries at a Tertiary Care Mamata General Hospital Khammam, Andhra Pradesh


Affiliations
1 Department of Forensic Medicine, Mamata Medical College, Rotary Nagar, Khammam, Andhra Pradesh, India
     

   Subscribe/Renew Journal


Socio-Demographic profile of electrical injuries is studied for a period of one year from October 2007 to September 2008. During this study period, 62 cases were admitted at Mamata General Hospital with history of electrical injuries. The most ofthe victims were males 57[91.93%] and females 5 [08.06%] with a male to female ratio was 11.4:1. The peak incidence of electrical injuries was seen in the age group of 21to 40 years in both sexes with male predominance [91. 93%].Majority of victims were married [62.90%] and Hindus [91.93%] withrural background [61.29%]. Highest number of victims were belong to low socio-economic group [64.52%].Majority of victims were literate [49.10%] and the remaining were unskilled personnel [66.13%]. Majority of accidents weredue to low voltage circuits [<1000 v] [67.74%] as compared to accidents due to high voltage circuits [32.26%]. With reference to occupation 30.64% of electrical injuries occurred to labor class. Most of the victimswere affected during day time [95.16%]. Majority of cases occurred during monsoonseason [54.84%] with lowest number of cases occurring in rainy season. Majority of cases were involved with electrical injuries at work place [48.39%].Domestic accidents were responsible in 59 cases [91.94%]. 5 cases succumbed to death due to accidental electrocution, all of which were males. All cases were accidental in nature. Suicidal and homicidal cases were not found in this study. The most common cause of death was cardiac arrest due to ventricular fibrillation.

Keywords

Socio, Demographic Profile, Electrical Injuries
Subscription Login to verify subscription
User
Notifications
Font Size


  • Baiely B, Forget S, GaudreaultP. Prevalence of potential risk factors in victims ofElectrocution.ForensicSci Int, 2001; 123:58-62.
  • Byard R W ,Hanson K A, Gilbert J D [2003].Death due to electrocution in childhood and early adolescence. J Pediatric Child Health.2003; 39: 46-8.
  • Chandru .K. Study of electrical injuries in fatal cases at Victoria Hospital Bangalore [Nov 2003 to Oct 2005].JIAFM, July-Dec2010; vol4:235-238
  • Davis M.Burns caused by electricity, a review of seventy cases. British journal of plastic surgery,1958; 288[11]:288-300.
  • Fatovich D M .Electrocution in Western Australia 1976-1990.Med. j. Aust. 1992; 157:762-4.
  • Hyldgaard L, Sondergaard F,Leth P.Autopsies of fatal electrocutions in Jutland, Scand.JForensic Sci.2004; 1: 8-12.
  • Kusa Kumar Shaha and A Edwin Joe .Electrocution–related mortality: a retrospective review of 118 deaths in Coimbatore, India, between Jan 2002 and Dec 2006.Med Sci Law 2010; 50: 72-74
  • Manishshreegiriwar, Rajesh Bardale, P G Dixit.Electrocution: A six year study of Electrical fatalities, JIAFM 2007; 29[2]:50-53.
  • Marc B,BaudryF,Douceron H ,Ghaith A,Wepierre J&Garnier M:Suicide by electrocution with low voltage current.JForensicSci.2000; 45[1]:216-222.
  • Martinez J A, Nguyen T. Electrical injuries. South Med J.2000; 12:1165-8.
  • Mellen P F, Weedn V W, Kao G.Electrocution: A review of 155 cases with emphasis on human factors. JForensic Sci.1992; 37:1016-22.
  • Modi Text Book of Medical Jurisprudence and Toxicology, 23rd Ed by Mothiharam and Amrith K Patnaik.Lexis and nexis, India, New delhi.20076 45. Electricity pp.646
  • Karger B, Suggeler O, Brinkmann B .Electrocution- Autopsy study with emphasis on ‘electrical petechiae’.Forensic Sci.Int.2002; 126: 210-3.
  • Odesanmi W O: Things are not always what they seem! Joule burns in electrocution-a report of four cases. Med. Sci.Law, 1987; 27[1]:63-67.
  • PengZ&Shikui C: A study on electrocution death by low voltage. ForensicSci.Int, 1995; 76:115-119.
  • Polson Cyril John, Gee D J&Knight B: The Essentials of Forensic Medicine, 1985, 4th edition, oxford: Pergamon press, Electrical injuries. pp 271-280.
  • Rautji R, Rudra A, BeheraC, DograTD.Electricution in south Delhi: a retrospective study. Med .Sci. Law 2000; 43:350-2. 18. Regula Wick .Fatal electrocution in Adults -30 years study. Med. Sci.Law 2006; 46[2]:160-172.
  • Robinson D W, Masters F W&ForrestWJ: Electrical burns: A review and analysis of 33 cases, Journal of surgery, 1965; 57[3]:385-390.
  • Spitz W U [Ed]: Spits and Fisher’s medico legal investigation of death, 3rd Ed.Charles C Thomas publisher, and Springfield, Illinois USA, 1993.
  • Tirasci Y, Goren S, Subasi M, Gurkan Electrocution-related mortality: a review of 123 deaths in Diyarbarkir, Turkey between 1996- 2002.Tohoku, J Exp Med. 2006; 208:141-5.
  • Vij K: Text Book of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, 4th Ed. Elsevier Publication, New Delhi 2007.Death by Electrocution, pp.235
  • Zhang P, Cai S. Study on electrocution by low voltage .J Forensic Sci.Int.1995; 76:115-119.

Abstract Views: 544

PDF Views: 6




  • Socio-demographic Profile of Electric Injuries at a Tertiary Care Mamata General Hospital Khammam, Andhra Pradesh

Abstract Views: 544  |  PDF Views: 6

Authors

Bharath Kumar Guntheti
Department of Forensic Medicine, Mamata Medical College, Rotary Nagar, Khammam, Andhra Pradesh, India
Uday Pal Singh
Department of Forensic Medicine, Mamata Medical College, Rotary Nagar, Khammam, Andhra Pradesh, India
Shaik Khaja
Department of Forensic Medicine, Mamata Medical College, Rotary Nagar, Khammam, Andhra Pradesh, India

Abstract


Socio-Demographic profile of electrical injuries is studied for a period of one year from October 2007 to September 2008. During this study period, 62 cases were admitted at Mamata General Hospital with history of electrical injuries. The most ofthe victims were males 57[91.93%] and females 5 [08.06%] with a male to female ratio was 11.4:1. The peak incidence of electrical injuries was seen in the age group of 21to 40 years in both sexes with male predominance [91. 93%].Majority of victims were married [62.90%] and Hindus [91.93%] withrural background [61.29%]. Highest number of victims were belong to low socio-economic group [64.52%].Majority of victims were literate [49.10%] and the remaining were unskilled personnel [66.13%]. Majority of accidents weredue to low voltage circuits [<1000 v] [67.74%] as compared to accidents due to high voltage circuits [32.26%]. With reference to occupation 30.64% of electrical injuries occurred to labor class. Most of the victimswere affected during day time [95.16%]. Majority of cases occurred during monsoonseason [54.84%] with lowest number of cases occurring in rainy season. Majority of cases were involved with electrical injuries at work place [48.39%].Domestic accidents were responsible in 59 cases [91.94%]. 5 cases succumbed to death due to accidental electrocution, all of which were males. All cases were accidental in nature. Suicidal and homicidal cases were not found in this study. The most common cause of death was cardiac arrest due to ventricular fibrillation.

Keywords


Socio, Demographic Profile, Electrical Injuries

References