Evaluation of children presenting to the emergency room after electrical injury

Abstract

Background/aim: To evaluate children who presented to the Pediatric Emergency Department with electrical injury and to discuss the follow-up of these cases and potential precautions that can be taken. Materials and methods: A total of 36 patients presented to the Pediatric Emergency Department with electrical injury between May 2010 and May 2013, and these cases were investigated retrospectively. The patients’ age and sex, location and form of exposure to electric current, seasonal distribution, length of hospital stay, musculoskeletal and cardiovascular system complications, renal damage, and treatments were recorded. Results: The majority of the patients were exposed to low-voltage electrical current at home. When the patients were evaluated based on the type of electric current, alanine transaminase, aspartate transaminase, creatine kinase, and creatine kinase-myocardial isoenzyme levels were found to be significantly higher among patients who were exposed to high-voltage electric current. None of the patients died, and the mean length of hospital stay was 2.50 ± 1.06 days. Conclusion: Electrical injuries can present with a wide variety of problems, ranging from a simple injury to life-threatening severe multiple organ injury. Even simple precautions can prevent possible morbidity and mortality. We think that the public level of knowledge and awareness should be increased.