Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 15, 2026
Method for Recording Broadband High Resolution Emission Spectra of Laboratory Lightning Arcs
Published on: August 27, 2019
A follow-up study of a large group of children struck by lightning
Lynette Mary Ann Silva1, Mary Ann Cooper, Ryan Blumenthal
1Department of Psychiatry, University of Texas-Southwestern, Dallas, Texas, USA. lynettesilva@gmail.com.
Insights
Lightning strike survivors experienced persistent vision issues and higher rates of depression and anxiety years after the event. While initial physical symptoms often resolved, psychological effects were more likely to be chronic.
Area of Science:
- Trauma research
- Neurology
- Psychiatry
Background:
- A 1994 lightning strike in South Africa injured 23 children, with 4 fatalities.
- A previous study detailed the immediate aftermath and initial changes in survivors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the long-term medical and psychological sequelae of lightning strikes.
- To assess chronic symptoms years after the initial injury.
Main Methods:
- An online survey was distributed to survivors of a documented lightning strike event.
- Participants reported on initial and current physical and psychological symptoms.
Main Results:
- Most initial physical symptoms resolved, but 10-20% experienced ongoing issues, with 50% reporting persistent vision problems.
- Psychological symptoms, including depression and anxiety, showed a later onset and higher chronicity among survivors compared to the general population.
Conclusions:
- Lightning strikes can lead to long-term physical and psychological health issues in survivors.
- Findings contribute to understanding post-traumatic stress disorder and post-lightning shock syndrome.
Background:
On 11 November 1994, 26 preadolescent girls, 2 adult supervisors and 7 dogs were sleeping in a tent in rural South Africa when the tent was struck by lightning. Four of the girls and 4 of the dogs were killed. The 2 adults were unharmed, but all but 3 of the children suffered significant injuries. An article in 2002 detailed the event and examined the medical and psychological changes in the surviving girls.
Objective:
To understand the medical and psychological changes secondary to lightning strike years after injury.
Methods:
An online questionnaire was prepared that included a checklist of physical and psychological symptoms. Participants were asked to report on both initial and current symptoms. Eleven of the 22 survivors were contacted, and 10 completed the survey.
Results:
Participants reported that initial physical symptoms generally resolved over time, with ~10 - 20% continuing to experience physical symptoms. Vision problems persisted in 50% of respondents. Psychological symptoms, overall, had a later onset and were more likely to be chronic or currently experienced. Depression and anxiety, specifically, were higher among the survivors than the reported incidence in South Africa.
Conclusions:
Initial and current/chronic physical and psychological symptoms following lightning strike are reported, adding to the body of literature on the long-term after-effects of lightning strike on survivors. A brief discussion on post-traumatic stress disorder symptomatology and post-lightning shock syndrome is provided.
Related Concept Videos
01:08Prevalence and Incidence
Prevalence indicates the proportion of individuals in a population who have a specific disease or health...
01:17Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Distribution
01:29Drug Dosing: Infants and Children
01:30Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
Diagnostic Criteria and Symptoms
To diagnose ADHD, symptoms must manifest before age 12 and be evident across multiple settings....
01:12Hazard Ratio
For example, in a clinical trial...
01:12Relative Risk