Top

Journal of Medical Case Reports

Published in:

Open Access 01-12-2019 | Case report

Burn wounds after electrical injury in a bathtub: a case report

Authors: Sem F. Hardon, Pieter J. Haasnoot, Annebeth Meij- de Vries

Published in: Journal of Medical Case Reports | Issue 1/2019

Abstract

Background

Increased smartphone use among minors makes our population more prone to electrical injury. Despite regulations on electrical home safety standards, smartphones and chargers still pose a risk for severe injury among users.

Case presentation

We present a case of a patient with low-voltage electrical burns due to smartphone use in a bathtub. The 13-year-old Caucasian patient was using a smartphone plugged into the electrical grid while taking a bath. We report the burns and their treatment. We discuss the likely burn mechanism.

Conclusions

Burn wounds after electrical injury due to smartphone use are rare. The presented case shows the danger of smartphone use in bathtubs.

Mashreky SR, Rahman A, Khan TF, Svanstrom L, Rahman F. Epidemiology of childhood electrocution in Bangladesh: findings of national injury survey. Burns. 2010;36(7):1092–5.CrossRefPubMed

Spies C, Trohman RG. Narrative review: electrocution and life-threatening electrical injuries. Ann Intern Med. 2006;145(7):531–7.CrossRefPubMed

Duci SB, Arifi HM, Ahmeti HR, Selmani ME, Buja ZA, Gashi MM, et al. Electrical burn injuries of 246 patients treated at the University Clinical Center of Kosovo during the period 2005-2010. Eur J Trauma Emerg Surg. 2014;40(6):679–85.CrossRefPubMed

Arnoldo BD, Purdue GF, Kowalske K, Helm PA, Burris A, Hunt JL. Electrical injuries: a 20-year review. J Burn Care Rehabil. 2004;25(6):479–84.CrossRefPubMed

Nagesh KR, Kanchan T, Rastogi P, Arun M. Arcing injuries in a fatal electrocution. Am J Forensic Med Pathol. 2009;30(2):183–5.CrossRefPubMed

Glatstein MM, Ayalon I, Miller E, Scolnik D. Pediatric electrical burn injuries: experience of a large tertiary care hospital and a review of electrical injury. Pediatr Emerg Care. 2013;29(6):737–40.CrossRefPubMed

Faruque AV, Mateen Khan MA. Unintentional injuries in children: are our homes safe? J Coll Physicians Surg Pak. 2016;26(5):445–6.PubMed

Roberts S, Meltzer JA. An evidence-based approach to electrical injuries in children. Pediatr Emerg Med Pract. 2013;10(9):1–16. quiz 16–7PubMed

Moscow woman electrocuted after dropping iPhone 4 in bathtub. Moscow Times. 10 Feb 2015. https://themoscowtimes.com/articles/moscow-woman-electrocuted-after-dropping-iphone-4-in-bathtub-43732. Accessed 1 March 2019.

10.

Levin P. Teen electrocuted after playing on phone in bathtub. 8 July 2017. https://edition.cnn.com/2017/07/18/health/teen-bathtub-electrocuted-text-trnd/index.html. Accessed 1 March 2019.

11.

Man dies charging iPhone while in the bath. 17 Mar 2017. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-39307418. Accessed 1 March 2019.

12.

McClaughlin K. Pregnant woman is electrocuted while charging her phone as she used it in the bath two weeks before she was due to give birth. Dly Mail. 2 Jan 2018. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5229185/Woman-electrocuted-charging-phone-near-bathtub.html. Accessed 1 March 2019.

13.

Stewart W. Russian schoolgirl, 12, is ‘electrocuted in the bath’ after dropping her mobile in the water while charging it. Dly Mail. 2 Feb 2018. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5343581/Russian-schoolgirl-12-dies-dropping-phone-bath.html. Accessed 1 March 2019.

14.

Wick R, Gilbert JD, Simpson E, Byard RW. Fatal electrocution in adults—a 30-year study. Med Sci Law. 2006;46(2):166–72.CrossRefPubMed

15.

Zhang P, Cai S. Study on electrocution death by low-voltage. Forensic Sci Int. 1995;76(2):115–9.CrossRefPubMed

16.

Ungureanu M. Electrocutions – treatment strategy (case presentation). J Med Life. 2014;7(4):623–6.PubMedPubMedCentral

17.

Keltz E, Khan FY, Mann G. Rhabdomyolysis: the role of diagnostic and prognostic factors. Muscles Ligaments Tendons J. 2013;3(4):303–12.CrossRefPubMed

18.

Huerta-Alardin AL, Varon J, Marik PE. Bench-to-bedside review: Rhabdomyolysis – an overview for clinicians. Crit Care. 2005;9(2):158–69.CrossRefPubMed

19.

Rabban JT, Blair JA, Rosen CL, Adler JN, Sheridan RL. Mechanisms of pediatric electrical injury: new implications for product safety and injury prevention. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 1997;151(7):696–700.CrossRefPubMed

20.

Johnson EL, Maguire S, Hollen LI, Nuttall D, Rea D, Kemp AM. Agents, mechanisms and clinical features of non-scald burns in children: a prospective UK study. Burns. 2017;43(6):1218–26.CrossRefPubMed

21.

Clark AT, Wolf S. Electrical Injury. JAMA. 2017;318(12):1198.CrossRefPubMed

Title: Burn wounds after electrical injury in a bathtub: a case report
Authors: Sem F. Hardon
Pieter J. Haasnoot
Annebeth Meij- de Vries
Publication date: 01-12-2019
Publisher: BioMed Central
Published in: Journal of Medical Case Reports / Issue 1/2019
Electronic ISSN: 1752-1947
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s13256-019-2231-4

At a glance: The ONWARDS insulin icodec trials

Springer Medicine

Burn wounds after electrical injury in a bathtub: a case report

Abstract

Background

Case presentation

Conclusions

At a glance: The ONWARDS insulin icodec trials

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Background

Case presentation

Conclusions

Please log in to get access to this content

Other articles of this Issue 1/2019

Sarcoid- like Phenomenon - ustekinumab induced granulomatous reaction mimicking diffuse metastatic disease: a case report and review of the literature

Using the new INTRABEAM mobile intraoperative radiotherapy system during surgery for pancreatic cancer: a case report

Lamotrigine-induced hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis with Takotsubo cardiomyopathy: a case report

Mechanical failure of plate breakage after open reduction and plate fixation of displaced midshaft clavicle fracture – a possible new risk factor: a case report

An iliopsoas abscess caused by Parvimonas micra: a case report

Intraoperative transradial angiography augments safe hysterectomy for uterine fibroids in the setting of ambiguous arterial anatomy: a case report