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An unusual cause of accidental hanging in a toddler

Lakshmi Muthukrishnan1, Radhika Raman, Kuravi Nagaraju

  • 1Kanchi Kamakoti CHILDS Trust Hospital, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. vcmlck@yahoo.co.in

Pediatric Emergency Care
|September 4, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Accidental child hanging, though rare, can be fatal due to asphyxia. This case highlights a toddler

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Forensic Medicine
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Accidental hanging is an uncommon but serious cause of injury and death in children worldwide.
  • While common in adults for suicide or homicide, childhood hanging is typically accidental, often resulting from asphyxia.
  • Data on accidental hanging injuries in children is limited, particularly in Indian literature.

Observation:

  • A case report of a toddler presenting with an alleged history of accidental hanging.
  • The child's head was trapped between balcony railings, leading to unconsciousness and seizures.
  • This unique mode of injury prompted the case report.

Findings:

  • The toddler survived the asphyxial injury resulting from the unique hanging incident.
  • Accidental strangulation is a significant cause of unintentional injury in infants under one year in Western countries.
  • This case underscores the potential for unusual accidental hanging scenarios in children.

Implications:

  • Highlights the need for increased awareness and preventative measures against accidental child strangulation.
  • Emphasizes the importance of reporting unique cases to improve understanding and data in pediatric injury literature.
  • Suggests a need for further research into the epidemiology and prevention of accidental hanging in children, especially in underrepresented regions.

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