Journal of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology

SCOPUS
  • Year: 2025
  • Volume: 42
  • Issue: 3

Behind the flames: A retrospective study of burn injury cases in a tertiary care centre, Nizamabad

  • Author:
  • R Sudha1,*, M. Niharika2, B V Naga Mohan Rao3, Azmath Tabassum4, V Jithin Laxminarayana5, D Kapil6
  • Total Page Count: 7
  • Page Number: 64 to 70

1Professor, Department of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, Osmania Medical College, Hyderabad

2Resident, Department of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, GGH, Nizamabad

3Professor and Head, Department of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, GGH, Nizamabad

4Resident, Department of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, GGH, Nizamabad

5Resident, Department of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, GGH, Nizamabad

6Resident, Department of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, GGH, Nizamabad

Abstract

Burns are a global public health problem, accounting for an estimated 180,000 deaths annually.1 The majority of these occur in low- and middle-income countries and almost two thirds occur in the WHO African and South-East Asia Regions. Non-fatal burns are a leading cause of morbidity, including prolonged hospitalization, disfigurement and disability, often with resulting stigma and rejection. According to the National Burns Programme, 91,000 of these deaths are women; a figure higher than that for maternal mortality. Women of child bearing age are on average three times more likely than men to die of burn injuries. Females have slightly higher rates of death from burns compared to males. This contrasts with the usual injury pattern, where rates of injury for the various injury mechanisms tend to be higher in males than females.2 Along with adult women, children are particularly vulnerable to burns. Burns are the fifth most common cause of non-fatal childhood injuries.3

Retrospective study involving 53 cases of burn injuries were included in this study over a period of 3 years.

Out of 53 cases, 37 individuals were females depicting female preponderance.

Keywords

Burn injuries, Socio-economic group, Gender distribution, Total Body Surface Area