Acid burn violence in Iran

Background. Acid assault is one of the most brutal of crimes. This crime is not meant to kill but to punish the victim or to destroy the victim's social life. This violent act usually occurs in third-world countries. The aim of this paper is to assess the epidemiological factors that steer a person toward such a violent act. Method. From May 2004 to October 2010, the charts of victims of acid violence referred to the Motahari Burn Center in Iran were reviewed. During this 6-yr period, 59 patients were included in this retrospective study. We identified the aetiology and the extent of the damage that was produced as a result of throwing corrosive chemicals onto the victim's body for the purpose of revenge. Results. The cases reviewed concerned 51% male patients and 49% female. The face and upper body were the most commonly injured areas, and the most common assailant was a close family member. Conclusion. The authors believe that lack of information about the catastrophic outcome of this action, plus the widespread availability of strong, destructive chemicals, are the main reasons for the rising incidence of this crime.