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Abstract
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Burn injuries still produce significant mortality in Iran. In order to assist with the prevention of burn injuries, the epidemiology of fatal burns in Tehran was investigated. In a retrospective study, which was based on post mortem examination, with their clinical and juridical information, this study was carried out to analyze the epidemiology, mortality, and current etiological factors of 388 deaths due to burn, which were referred to the legal medicine center of Tehran between 20/3/2005 and 20/3/2006.
RESULTS were compared with similar information in five past years. The overall incidence rate of death was 3.3 per 100000 person-years. The mean age was 27.8 years [age range, 4 months to 77 years], and 24% of them were under 19-years-old. [61%] of all the victims were male and [390%] were female, [M/F=1.5]. The highest incidence of burns was in the 21 - 30 age group [30.4%]. Total burn surface area [TBSA] in the most of cases [86.6%] was more than 40%, and had a significant negative correlation with hospitalization length. Flame was the most common etiology of burns [90.7%]. Accidents were the major manner of death [74%]. Suicide [16.2%], murder [2.6%], and undetermined [7.2%] were other manners of death. Rate of suicide for all the patients > or = 11 years were the cause of 22.7% [34/150] of the burns involving women and of 13% [27/208] of the burns involving men. Houses were the most common sites of burning [71.1%] and major cause of them were kerosene and gas accidents. The mean length of hospitalization befor deeth was 10 days. Factors associated with an increase in mortality were suicidal burns, burn size, age, inhalation lesions and flame burns. Most of the burn injuries were caused by domestic accidents and were, therefore, preventable. Parents can play an important role in prevention of burns in children who are most susceptible to burns. People with causes identified could be educated in burn prevention, through news and the media. Decrease of mortality rate in five past years can be as sign of progress in prevention and treatment of burn injuries
Language: fa |