Epidemiology and Medical Treatment of Chemical Assault by Hydrochloric Acid in Mohammed VI University Hospital of Marrakech: 13-Year Study

Acid burns from assault represent a substantial and neglected proportion of burn injuries in low income countries. A retrospective study was conducted to assess the frequency of acid burns in relation to total burns requiring admission in Marrakech, Morocco. The medical records of 73 patients treated for acid assault burns injury from January 2008 to January 2021. All patients were younger than 45 years old, with a mean age of 30.2. Most of them (86%) had sustained full thickness burns ranging from 5% to 18% of their body surface area. All cases were result of assaults. The male to female ratio was 2:31 and the average duration of hospitalization was 24 days. The face was affected for all patients. Prevention through public awareness campaigns, legislation for control of corrosive substances, and severe punishment for perpetrators of assaults using these substances will go a long way in reducing the incidence of chemical burns in our context.