Epidemiology of Lightning Related Deaths and Injuries in Bangladesh in 2018

Background: A lightning strike is an electric discharge between atmosphere and an object. It can produce severe injuries and deaths. Worldwide, mortality from lightning is estimated at between 0.2 and 1.7 deaths per 1000000 population, affecting mainly the young and people who work outdoors. Objective: The study was designed to find out the epidemiology of lightning related deaths and injuries in Bangladesh in 2018. Methods: The cross sectional descriptive study or content analysis was carried out in Mymensingh Medical College, Bangladesh during November 2019 to April 2020. The contents of reports on lightning events occurred in 2018, published in three top circulated daily national newspapers were analyzed with SPSS version 22.0. Results: A total of 247 lightning events were reported in 2018. Majority (120, 48.6%) occurred in the month of May. Fifty (20.2%) events occurred in April and 28 (11.3%) in September. Majority of the lightning (74, 30.0%) stroke in the field, while 45 (18.2%) stroke in river, pond, lake or in the haor areas. Maximum lightning events 73 (29.6%) occurred in the evening; followed by 56 (22.7%) in the morning and 23 (9.3%) at night. A total of 379 persons were affected by lightning strikes. Mean age of the affected persons was 33.74 years with a standard deviation of 16.13 years. Majority (317, 83.6%) were male and the remaining 62 (16.4%) were female. Majority (111, 29.3%) of the affected persons were farmer. Out of 379 affected persons, 296 (78.1%) died and 83 (21.9%) were injured but survived. Lightning related mortality was 1.8 deaths per 1000000 population in Bangladesh in 2018. Conclusion: Lightning related mortality in Bangladesh in 2018 was 1.8 deaths per 1000000 population which was much more higher than 0.9 deaths per 1000000 population in 2010. The incidence of thunderstorms are increasing in Bangladesh and often farmers working in the field and people on the road are affected. Policy makers should take necessary steps to decrease the events of lightning and to minimize the ...