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Fatal Curling's Ulcer after Burns in a Child-a Case Report


Affiliations
1 Department of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology Kasturba Medical College, Manipal, India
2 Department of Forensic Medicine, KSHEMA, Nitte University, Mangalore, India
3 Department of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, K S Hegde Medical Academy, Nitte University, Mangalore, India
4 Department of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal University, Manipal, India
     

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Burns are the most frequently recognized severe form of trauma occurring in childhood. The association of acute gastrointestinal tract disease with burn injury is known since first half of the 19th century. Curling's ulcer is a recognized complication of burn shock which occurs in the gastrointestinal tract in burned patient. It manifest during the second week, when infection and toxic absorption from the separating sloughs is predominant. It will be diagnosed only in the event of haemorrhage, perforation, or at necropsy, and presumably these do not occur in every case. Prognosis in Curling's ulcer is always serious, especially in children, death occurring most often from haemorrhage or perforation.

A rare case of acute duodenal ulcer in a nine-month-old infant after deep burns of both lower extremities is described. It gives the impression that it is necessary to take into consideration the possibility of Curling's ulcer in every case of deep and extensive burns in children.


Keywords

Burns, Curling's Ulcer, Haemorrhage, Perforation
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  • Fatal Curling's Ulcer after Burns in a Child-a Case Report

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Authors

Shankar M Bakkannavar
Department of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology Kasturba Medical College, Manipal, India
Vinod C Nayak
Department of Forensic Medicine, KSHEMA, Nitte University, Mangalore, India
Pratik V Taravadi
Department of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, K S Hegde Medical Academy, Nitte University, Mangalore, India
G Pradeep Kumar
Department of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal University, Manipal, India

Abstract


Burns are the most frequently recognized severe form of trauma occurring in childhood. The association of acute gastrointestinal tract disease with burn injury is known since first half of the 19th century. Curling's ulcer is a recognized complication of burn shock which occurs in the gastrointestinal tract in burned patient. It manifest during the second week, when infection and toxic absorption from the separating sloughs is predominant. It will be diagnosed only in the event of haemorrhage, perforation, or at necropsy, and presumably these do not occur in every case. Prognosis in Curling's ulcer is always serious, especially in children, death occurring most often from haemorrhage or perforation.

A rare case of acute duodenal ulcer in a nine-month-old infant after deep burns of both lower extremities is described. It gives the impression that it is necessary to take into consideration the possibility of Curling's ulcer in every case of deep and extensive burns in children.


Keywords


Burns, Curling's Ulcer, Haemorrhage, Perforation

References