A Prospective study of avoidable domestic factors in fatal thermal injuries in a tertiary care hospital

Abstract

Thermal burns and related physical injuries (electrocution and lightening) are major causes of death and disability in India. This is largely related to the geographical distribution, nature of domestic appliances, wearing apparels or clothes and use of wood, leaves, straw, open chullha, kerosene stove, kerosene lamps, etc. for cooking, heating and lighting purpose. A prospective study on deaths due to thermal injuries was conducted at a tertiary care hospital over a period of two years. Accidental burn by flame or fire during cooking inside the house is the most common cause and majority of the victims are females in their third decade from rural background. Around 1/6 th of burn deaths were suicidal using kerosene. Majority of the victims wore synthetic clothes. Well ventilated pucca houses, safer LPG stoves, early hospitalisation and prompt referral with public awareness should be encouraged to minimise the morbidity and mortality due to thermal injury.