Abstract

Context: The death due to burns may be instantaneous i.e. on the spot, or the victims may escape the immediate death and may die after one day of survival. All these deaths occurring after one day of survival will be considered as delayed deaths. Aims: To study the profile of burn victims and to study the causes and manner of death among them Settings and design: Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Gandhi Medical College and Hospital Secunderabad, Telangana, India. Methods and material: One hundred deaths which had occurred due to burns after one day of infliction are selected from May 2009 to September 2009 in Gandhi Hospital Secunderabad. The entire data was analyzed and the cross sectional statistics were prepared by highlighting the causes and complications of delayed death due to burns. Statistical analysis: The data was analyzed using proportions and presented as charts and tables. Results: The male and female deaths were 36% & 64% respectively with highest number of cases among the age group 21-30 years (male and female 25.9% & 74.1% respectively). Maximum deaths were due to septicemia as the complication leading to the death i.e. 36% of total death (male and female 36.1% & 63.9% respectively). The highest death rate is between 3-7 days after the infliction of burns (Total 49%, with males & females 17%, 32% respectively), followed by 24-72 hours (29%) Conclusion: Septicemia is the main complication in delayed deaths and the proportion is more in females compared to that of the males. The most common causes of burns are accidents and suicides. Dowry deaths & marital issues are more common in females where as financial and ill health issues are more common in males

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