Original Research Article http://doi.org/10.18231/j.ijfmts.2019.031 IP International Journal of Forensic Medicine and Toxicological Sciences 2019;4(4):137-139 137 Profile of deaths due to burn injuries: A retrospective study of eight years in a tertiary care centre in Western Maharashtra Rashid Nehal Khan 1 , K V Radhakrishna 2* , Ravi Rautji 3 , Yasho Chaturvedi 4 , Gautam Dhokia 5 1 Assistant Professor, 2 Associate Professor, 3 Professor & HOD, 4,5 PG Resident, 1-5 Dept of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, AFMC Pune, Maharashtra, India *Corresponding Author: K V Radhakrishna Email: krashidnehal@hotmail.com Abstract Introduction: In India 7 million people suffer from burn injury, out of which, 7 lakh need hospital admission and 2.4 lakh become disabled. Burn injuries have varied aetiological factors with varied demographic profile. The cause of death is in direct link to percentage and depth of burn injuries. Hence, this study was undertaken to study the profile of burn patients and come to conclusion of the aetiological factors leading to mortality in burn cases. Aims & Objectives: To describe the profile of burn injuries related death based on retrospective study of eight years in a tertiary care centre in Western Maharashtra, and to study the burn injuries fatalities based on age, sex, place of residence, cause of injuries body surface area affected and cause of death. Materials & Methods: A 8 year retrospective data of all the autopsies conducted where the cause of death was due to burns were studied as per aim and objective of study. The data from 2011 to 2018 were studied. Results: A total of 87 cases died due to burn injuries in the period from 2011 to 2018. Total autopsies conducted for all cases at the centre were 1976. Maximum cases were seen (42.72%) in 16-30 years age group. 75.86 % were female victims. The urban setting was involved in 37.93 % and rural setting was in 66.87%. The cause of death was septicemia in 68 cases, shock in 12 cases, asphyxia in 5 cases and renal failure in 2 cases. The most common percentage of burns leading to fatalities was above 60 % burns. As per the cause, 75.86% cases were due to flame burns. Conclusion: The epidemiological factors of the burn injuries are varied in different regions of world. For effective planning and preventing burn injuries, the approach has to be multi pronged like awareness, education and early treatment. Keywords: Profile, Burns, Septicaemia. Introduction Man invented fire since ages. The use of fire was used for basic comforts and to sustain lives. Without fire life on earth was near impossible but it also added to risk of lives by increasing the risk of burns injuries. Fatal burns have continued to be a major public health problem in India. It is a misery which involves all strata of society and involves high risk of morbidity and mortality. Fire is present in all our homes, be it city or village. In India, about 60,000 people suffer from burns annually, more than 50,000 are treated in hospitals and about 10,000 succumb to thermal injuries. Microbial infections after burns, where a large portion of the skin is damaged, is a very serious complication that often results in the death of the patients. About 45% of the mortality in burns patients is caused by septicaemia. 1 As per the data extrapolated from the information received from three major government Hospital in Delhi, approximately 1.4 lakh people die of burn injuries annually. This comes to one death every 4 minutes due to burns; however, burn injury is mostly unrecognized in our country. 2 Burn injuries have varied aetiological factors with varied demographic profile. The cause of death is in direct link to percentage and depth of burn injuries. Hence, this study was undertaken to study the profile of burn patients who had reported for medicolegal autopsy and data was analysed based on the aetiology, demographic profile and cause of death. The study was aimed to suggest preventive measures after analysing the data on a 8 year retrospective study in a tertiary care centre. Aim To describe the profile of burn injuries related death based on retrospective study of eight years Objectives 1. To study the burn injuries fatalities based on age, sex and place of residence. 2. To study the fatalities type, causes, body surface area affected and cause of death. 3. To suggest preventive measures. Materials and Methods Study settings and population The study was conducted on all burn injuries brought to medicolegal postmortem centre for autopsy at a Tertiary Care Hospital in Western Maharashtra. Inclusion criteria All the deaths due to burn injuries brought for autopsy at the medicolegal postmortem centre of tertiary care hospital.