Acid and Alkali Chemical Assault Burns (Vitriolage): A Systematic Review of Epidemiology

Chemical assaults involve the intentional use of chemicals to cause harm. These attacks frequently occur in domestic settings, with reliable epidemiological data remaining limited. This systematic review sought to explore epidemiological aspects of such incidents.

It included all peer-reviewed reports providing original cases of chemical assaults, detailing at least the number of victims involved, identified through PubMed and Web of Science searches conducted from database inception to May 26, 2024.

Globally, the mean age of victims was 29.03 years (SD 11.99 y). Women accounted for 50.71% of the victims, whereas men were 89.01% of the perpetrators. Over half of the victims were illiterate (53.76%), and homemakers represented the most affected occupation (33.84%). Assaults most frequently occurred on the street (47.40%). Acids were the most used substance (70.36%). Victims were more likely to have a preexisting relationship with their perpetrator (58.56%). The most common motive for chemical assaults was land/property disputes (16.72%). The head, face, and eyes accounted for 39.01% of all body parts burned. The mean total body surface area burned was 14.12% (SD 15.42%).

Although the results do provide insights, any interpretation must be approached with caution, as several variables are supported by only sparse data. Future recording of chemical assaults requires a more formal and coordinated approach, ideally through databases that involve hospitals, law enforcement, and government agencies.