Introduction: Burns in children are a serious public health issue all over the world. This paper aims at comparing the frequency and causes of burns in children. Material and methods: A retrospective analysis of medical records of 1230 children treated at Szczecin's burns centre in 1980s and presently was carried out. Results: We have noted that at present hospitalization frequency of burned children has declined 1.7 times. Children who undergo hospital treatment are mostly aged 1-2 (ns) and boys prevail 1.7 times. Infants constitute a high percentage of burn patients (15% and 17%). A proportion of countryside children has decreased (38% vs 28%; p<0.001) while a proportion of town children has increased. Skin burns most frequently resulted from contact with hot liquid (89% vs 83%; p=0.043). The other causes have been noted far less frequently: flame (7% vs 8%; ns), electric current (1% vs 2%; ns), chemicals (0,7% vs 1%; ns) and a few other factors such as: dry heat, sunrays and solarium (2% vs 5%; p=0.002). Conclusions: 1. Over the course of the past 25 years, Western Pomerania has seen a twofold decrease in the frequency of hospitalization of burned children, while the ages and causes of burns have remained the same. 2. Those most often treated are children aged 1-2, mainly boys; there is a high percentage of infants among them. 3. Hot liquid has remained the chief cause of burns in younger children; in the case of older ones, so is flame.
The Taser (full name: Thomas A. Swift’s Electric Rifle) is an electric stun gun, manufactured by Taser International. Its operational range varies from 4.60 metres to 10.6 metres1 thanks to wire electrodes that remain connected to the main device. The electrodes penetrate the skin and soft tissues of the person who is the target for temporary immobilisation. The high voltage generated at low intensity causes severe pain and disruption of the nervous system, resulting in temporary total paralysis. The Taser is a device of direct coercion, whose use is permissible for widespread application in cases where conservative methods of controlling dangerous situations have been exhausted. The natural question that arises is the impact and influence of the electrically active electrodes fired on the surrounding tissues. The aim of the study was a histopathological evaluation and comparison of the effects of the cartridges from the Taser X2 and Taser X26 in terms of the local reaction on a portion of the skin and subcutaneous tissue of domestic pigs fresh from a slaughterhouse. Fragments of the tissue were subjected to histological treatment and analysed using an optical microscope. There were changes in the microscopic image indicating mechanical damage to the epidermis and subcutaneous layers of the dermis due to the use of the devices researched.
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