Indian Journal of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology

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Dermatological Manifestations in Fatal Lightning Strike - A Case Report


Affiliations
1 Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Shimoga Institute of Medical Sciences, Shimoga, India
2 Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Karnataka Institute of Medical Sciences, Hubli, Karnataka - 580022, India
3 Department of Pathology, Shimoga Institute of Medical Sciences , Shimoga, RGUHS, Karnataka, India
4 Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Vydehi Institute of Medical Science, Bangalore, RGUHS, Karnataka, India
5 Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Shimoga Institute of Medical Sciences, Shimoga, RGUHS, Karnataka, India
     

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Instances of lightning strike in humans are less common. Though survival is the more usual outcome in such natural calamities, death could be caused due to cardiopulmonary arrest, damage to brain, burns or rarely from disruption of body due to blast effect. We report a case of fatal lightning strike in an adult male with dermatological manifestations of superficial burns, burns from heated necklace along with entry and exit wounds. Inspite of today's technology improving in leaps and bounds, natural calamity cannot be prevented from occurring, never-the-less, precautionary measures in the form of erecting more number of lightning leaders and application of 30-30 rule may be employed.

Keywords

Strike, Entry and Exit wounds, Heated necklace burn, 30-30 Rule
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  • Dermatological Manifestations in Fatal Lightning Strike - A Case Report

Abstract Views: 428  |  PDF Views: 14

Authors

P. S. Chidananda
Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Shimoga Institute of Medical Sciences, Shimoga, India
Adam Ali Nadaf
Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Karnataka Institute of Medical Sciences, Hubli, Karnataka - 580022, India
B. Deepak Kumar
Department of Pathology, Shimoga Institute of Medical Sciences , Shimoga, RGUHS, Karnataka, India
K. G. Raviraj
Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Vydehi Institute of Medical Science, Bangalore, RGUHS, Karnataka, India
M. R. Veeresh
Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Shimoga Institute of Medical Sciences, Shimoga, RGUHS, Karnataka, India

Abstract


Instances of lightning strike in humans are less common. Though survival is the more usual outcome in such natural calamities, death could be caused due to cardiopulmonary arrest, damage to brain, burns or rarely from disruption of body due to blast effect. We report a case of fatal lightning strike in an adult male with dermatological manifestations of superficial burns, burns from heated necklace along with entry and exit wounds. Inspite of today's technology improving in leaps and bounds, natural calamity cannot be prevented from occurring, never-the-less, precautionary measures in the form of erecting more number of lightning leaders and application of 30-30 rule may be employed.

Keywords


Strike, Entry and Exit wounds, Heated necklace burn, 30-30 Rule

References