[Electrical injuries in childhood (author's transl)].

11 children were admitted with electrical injuries to the Department of Paediatrics, University of Graz, over the 10-year period 1965 to 1974. The electricity was of low voltage in the case of 9 of these children, who were injured whilst playing with plug sockets of defective cables and of high voltage in 4 case. 1 child was stuck by lightning. Cessation of respiration occurred in 4 of the patients and was successfully counteracted in all cases by prompt mouth-to-mouth breathing. 7 children were still shocked on admission. All children showed the characteristic skin lesions of electrical injury (current marks of linear, round or spidery form). The boy injured by high voltage electricity received extensive burns, in addition. The modes of electrical injury in childhood, the various forms of the resultant lesions, especially of the skin and the treatment of electrical burns are discussed.