1Professor & Head, Department of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, KIMS, Hubballi
2Assistant Professor, Department of Forensic Medicine, Shridevi Institute of Medical Sciences & Research Hospital, Tumkur
3Associate Professor, Department of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, KIMS, Hubballi
4Postgraduate, Department of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, KIMS, Hubballi
5Associate Professor, Department of Forensic Medicine, Shridevi Institute of Medical Sciences & Research Hospital, Tumkur
*Corresponding author: Dr. Madhu Sudhan S, Assistant Professor, Department of Forensic Medicine, Shridevi Institute of Medical Sciences & Research Hospital, Tumkur, Karnataka. Mob: 09902269303, E-mail: madhushankar49@gmail.com
Online published on 7 February, 2017.
The magnitude of deaths due to burns is so large. The use of fire in various aspects has not only added to his comforts, but it also added to his miseries by increasing the risk of burns.
This was an observational, retrospective, descriptive study that included all cases of death due to burns during the period of January 2009 to December 2009, for which a postmortem was performed in the mortuary premises of the department.
The study of death due to burns showed a female predominance. The maximum number of cases was in the 21–30 years age group. Overall the most common causative material used for burns was kerosene oil and stove. Majority of incidence due burn cases occurred at home and between 12pm-<6pm and 6pm-<12am and deaths occurred after 4–7 days and >7days of incident after admission to hospital. In most of the cases cause of death was due to septicaemia.
The present study of death due to burns revealed a young female predominance. Kerosene oil use was dependent on its ready availability and commonly used material for domestic use in kitchen. Septicaemia was the cause of death in many cases due to high degree of susceptibility to infection due to damage and destruction of the skin.
Burns, Septicaemia, BSA
