BURN MORTALITY IN CHANDIGARH ZONE - 25 YEARS AUTOPSY EXPERIENCE FROM A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL OF INDIA

An analysis of autopsy records of burn victims revealed that most burn deaths occurred in the age group 21-40 years (67 per cent) with femal e preponderance (61 per cent) in all age groups except in the extreme age groups. 62 per cent of burn cases originated in urban areas. The m ajority of subjects (99 per cent females and 76 per cent males) died a s a result of flame burns. Kerosene was the most common factor (76 per cent) in burn deaths. 11 per cent of deaths were due to the stove bur sting and 27 per cent of victims died due to leakage of oil from the s tove. 39 per cent of subjects sustained burns when their clothes caugh t fire. Scalds (3.3 per cent), electrical (4.7 per cent) and chemical (2.3 per cent) burns were more commonly seen in males, mainly sustaine d at their working place. Accidental burns were observed in SO per cen t of subjects followed by suicidal (16.2 per cent) and homicidal burn assaults (4.1 per cent). Peak incidence of burns in females was observ ed between 5.01 a.m. and 11 a.m. (35 per cent), which was the time of least incidence in males (10.3 per cent). The opposite trend was seen between 11.01 p.m. and 5 a.m. Among males, burn deaths were more commo n (85 per cent) in those who were living alone, away from their famili es; whereas in women the incidence of burn deaths was higher (74 per c ent) in those living with their families. The majority of deaths due t o burns occurred within one week (77 per cent) of the incident. Septic aemia was the major cause of death (55 per cent). (C) 1998 Elsevier Sc ience Ltd for ISBI. All rights reserved.