While the cases of acid attack (vitriolage) have gone down over the years in Delhi. Study conducted at Safdarjung Hospital showed that they several acid attack cases came from outside.
Among 60 acid burn patients, 15 cases were of homicidal acid attack with majority of the acid attack incidents.
Author of the study, Dr VK Tiwari, HoD of Burn and Plastic Department at RMl hospital said, “Over the years, we are witnessing less cases of vitrolage, however incidents still are reported from outside Delhi.”
“While majority of the patients received minor (10 per cent) burn injuries and seven burn patients suffered major burn categories with two cases were with extensive burn injuries,” said the doctor.
Strangely, in one such case of vitroloage, a step mother was invloved, revealed the study on acid burn patients at Safdarjung Hospital. According to the findings of Burns and Plastic Department, of the 60 acid burn patients, 15 cases were acid attack patients (homicidal) including a male patient, one case of iatrogenic and 44 were accidental acid burn cases. And 6 out of 60 patients died during the course of treatment, said the report.
Health experts said mostly young patients come for the treatment of acid burn. “Majority of patients were 21-30 years who suffered burn injuries,” said the doctor. Also, most of the patients suffering minor burn with less than 10 per cent of burn injuries, said Dr Tiwari.
Soon, the department is going to publish this report in International Journal of Burns.
It may be noted that for any acid burn case reported in the hospital, saving patient’s life is the first and most important priority of the doctors. “Face reconstruction and deformation comes later and this process takes at least 2-3 years,” said Dr Tiwari.