Abstract :
Background: Burns is a burning problem perhaps ever since human being existence particularly, from its
use of fire. Now-a-days due to increasing industrialization and urbanization, we are facing this problem
in greater magnitude. Earlier studies described burns as a silent epidemic. Besides causing death in some
cases, it is the cause of lifelong disfigurement, deformity and disability of the body. Major burn-injury is
also the cause of psychological disturbance and financial loss to the individual/ victim and also the family
and society at large. Our aim is to examine histopathology in different organ and skin affected due to burn.
Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted over a period from February
1988 to November 1989. Study of cytomorphological changes in visceral organs particularly brain, heart,
lung, liver, spleen, kidney and adrenal in cases of death due to burns, received at autopsy section of Forensic
Medicine and Toxicology department, Government Medical College, Aurangabad, Maharashtra.
Results: In our study, burn due to domestic accidents found in 83.80%. The inflammatory material that
was instrumental in causing burn injury was found as kerosene in 90(69.23%), cloths worn (flames) in 35
(26.92%) cases, diesel in 2 cases (01.53%), gasoline, petrol scalding in 1 (0.76%) case each; we found
that burn were caused by inflammable liquids in 71.20% cases. Based on history and dying declaration,
nature of burn injury was assumed as accidental in 110 (84.62%) cases, suicidal in 19 (14.06%) cases and
homicidal in 1 (00.76%) cases.
Conclusion: Present study shows thatmost of the cases died within 7 days of sustaining burns. Microscopic
examination of visceral organs such as brain, heart, lung, liver, spleen, kidney and adrenal were carried out
and morphological changes were observed in each organ. Microscopic observations were recorded and
analyzed keeping in view the time sequence after burn incidence. Congestion of various organs was seen
in all cases which died within first 24hours.
Keyword :
Autopsy, Burn, Histopathological changes.