Epidemiology, Clinical Treatment and Therapy in Electrically Burned Children

In the period 1975–1991, 132 children suffering from electrical burns were admitted to our burns unit. Boys (73.5%) outnumbered girls (26.5%) with a male/female ratio of 2.7:1. The highest concentration of cases (82, i.e. 62.1%) was in the 0-3 year age group (Table 1). Burns caused by low voltage in the home environment were the most frequent (93.3%). Play activities, such as the recovery of kites or birds’ nests on power pylons, caused some high-voltage burns in older children (3.52%; Table 2). The list of causative agents, mainly exposed electric wires (36.3%), power points (33.9%) and electric plugs (8.9%) — all in the home environment — indicates the dangers posed by contact with these electrical agents (Table 3).