TY - JOUR
T1 - Fatal heat stroke in children found in parked cars
T2 - autopsy findings
AU - Adato, Berliz
AU - Dubnov-Raz, Gal
AU - Gips, Hadas
AU - Heled, Yuval
AU - Epstein, Yoram
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2016, Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.
PY - 2016/9/1
Y1 - 2016/9/1
N2 - A common and unfortunate cause for heat stroke-related deaths in children is entrapment in closed vehicles. The aim of this study was to analyze the pathological consequences of such grave events. Autopsy reports of all children that were brought to a national forensic medicine center after being found dead in closed vehicles over a 21-year period (1995–2015) were reviewed. Data extracted were the circumstances of the events, child age, sex, height and weight, time, date and duration of entrapment, and environmental temperatures at the time of entrapment and the autopsy findings. Eight deceased children were brought to the forensic medicine center for autopsy, and seven families consented to the procedure. Autopsy findings included diffuse petechiae and hemorrhages of serosal membranes (n = 7/7) and lung congestion (n = 3/7). Conclusion: Typical autopsy findings following classical heat stroke in children include diffuse petechiae and hemorrhages and lung involvement. These findings are similar to those reported in adults that had died following exertional heat stroke—a very different mechanism of heat accumulation. Prevention of future events can possibly be obtained by public education on the rapid heating of closed vehicles, the vulnerability of children to heat, and the caregiver role in child entrapment.What is Known:• A common and unfortunate cause for heat stroke-related deaths in children is entrapment in closed vehicles. The pathological consequences of such grave events have not been previously reported.What is New:• This study is the first to describe autopsy findings from children who were found dead in parked cars.• Autopsy findings included diffuse petechiae hemorrhages of serosal membranes and lung congestion.• These findings are identical to those seen in adults following exertional heat stroke.
AB - A common and unfortunate cause for heat stroke-related deaths in children is entrapment in closed vehicles. The aim of this study was to analyze the pathological consequences of such grave events. Autopsy reports of all children that were brought to a national forensic medicine center after being found dead in closed vehicles over a 21-year period (1995–2015) were reviewed. Data extracted were the circumstances of the events, child age, sex, height and weight, time, date and duration of entrapment, and environmental temperatures at the time of entrapment and the autopsy findings. Eight deceased children were brought to the forensic medicine center for autopsy, and seven families consented to the procedure. Autopsy findings included diffuse petechiae and hemorrhages of serosal membranes (n = 7/7) and lung congestion (n = 3/7). Conclusion: Typical autopsy findings following classical heat stroke in children include diffuse petechiae and hemorrhages and lung involvement. These findings are similar to those reported in adults that had died following exertional heat stroke—a very different mechanism of heat accumulation. Prevention of future events can possibly be obtained by public education on the rapid heating of closed vehicles, the vulnerability of children to heat, and the caregiver role in child entrapment.What is Known:• A common and unfortunate cause for heat stroke-related deaths in children is entrapment in closed vehicles. The pathological consequences of such grave events have not been previously reported.What is New:• This study is the first to describe autopsy findings from children who were found dead in parked cars.• Autopsy findings included diffuse petechiae hemorrhages of serosal membranes and lung congestion.• These findings are identical to those seen in adults following exertional heat stroke.
KW - Automobile
KW - Autopsy
KW - Death
KW - Heat stroke
KW - Pediatrics
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84979220388&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/s00431-016-2751-5
DO - 10.1007/s00431-016-2751-5
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AN - SCOPUS:84979220388
SN - 0340-6199
VL - 175
SP - 1249
EP - 1252
JO - European Journal of Pediatrics
JF - European Journal of Pediatrics
IS - 9
ER -