A child fatality as a result of electric shock while Urinating: an example of a rare penis injury

Aim

This report presents the case examination of a 23-month-old male who died as a result of electric shock after urinating on a 3-way electric socket. It was aimed to contribute to the literature with this case of an extremely rarely seen atypical electricity entry wound in the penis.

Case

Seasonal agricultural workers were living together with their families in a tent in a field in the province of Şanlıurfa, on the border of Türkiye with Syria. It was learned that the 23-month-old male child was found lying motionless on the ground on July 17, 2022, due to electric shock as a result of urinating on a 3-way electrric socket in the tent. The child was pronounced dead in the hospital and was transferred to our centre for a medicolegal autopsy to be performed. In the autopsy, an electricity entry wound was determined on the 2nd finger of the right hand and in the periurethral region at the tip of the penis. The histopathological examination of samples taken from these wounds determined findings consistent with electric shock and the consequent thermal effect.

Conclusion

There is a need for more widespread education to increase the awareness of parents about the prevention of accidents originating from electrical systems set up in temporary living areas such as tents without sufficient safety precautions having been taken. It can be considered that deaths will be able to be reduced in Türkiye with increased inspections of those who have to live in tents for various reasons.