Low-and High-Voltage Electrical Burns in Children: Ten Years of Experience
Abstract
Objective: Burn injuries are an important public health problem for all ages. Due to electrical burns high mortality and morbidity rates, they should be evaluated differently from burns from other sources. This study aims to determine factors associated with high-and low-voltage electrical burns in children.
Materials and Methods: The records of 72 patients who were treated for electrical burns were analysed. Electrical burns were divided into two groups: low and high voltage. Demographic data, treatment, outcomes were compared between the two groups.
Results: In this study, low-voltage electrical burns were detected in 83.3% of the patients, and high-voltage electrical burns were detected in 17.7% of the patients. High-voltage burns were more common in rural residents (p<0.05). Low-voltage electrical burns mostly occurred as a result of home accidents (90%), while high-voltage injuries were mostly caused by work accidents (100%), (p<0.05). The most common cause of low-voltage injuries was contact
with an electrical outlet (91.6%), for high-voltage injuries it was contact with a transformer (83.3%) (p<0.05). For high-voltage injuries, the severity of the burns was higher, the duration of the hospital stay was longer (p<0.05).
Conclusion: Children generally have low-voltage injuries. High-voltage injuries are associated with more surgical treatment and morbidity, longer hospital stays. Electrical burns can be reduced by training on protective measures and proper arrangement of infrastructure in rural areas
Keywords
Burn , Burn Electric , Child
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