The Neurologic and Neuropsychological Symptoms of Electric Shock

An electric shock is the physiological sensation, reaction, or injury caused by an electric current passing through a human body. It typically occurs when a person comes into contact with any electrical energy source that has the ability to cause a sufficient current through the muscles, skin, or hair.

How dangerous an electric shock is mainly depends on the power of the voltage, type of the current, how the current travels through a person’s body, and how quickly the person is treated. According to scientists, even a little amount of electricity can be dangerous. An electric shock is known to cause cardiac arrest, internal damage, neurologic and neuropsychological complications, and other injuries.

The Neurologic and Neuropsychological Effects of Electric Shock

Numerous studies conducted indicate that an electric shock ranging from 120-52,000 volts can cause severe neurologic and neuropsychological symptoms in humans. After an electrical accident, some patients show various emotional and behavioral after-effects such as memory loss, loss of consciousness, and depression.

Study Evidence

Dr. Benoit Bailey, an ER pediatrician and toxicologist collaborated with pediatricians Robert Thivierge and Pierre Gaudreault in a study whose aim was to assess the prevalence of short-term neurologic and neuropsychological symptoms after several months and also one year after an electric shock incident severe enough to have prompted a 24-hour cardiac monitoring.

The goal of the October 2000-November 2004 study was to find out whether any symptoms were associated with risk factors such as loss of consciousness, transthoracic current, tetany (neuromuscular spasms), or a shock of 1000 volts or more.

This is a study in which 134 patients aged 1-67 whose electric shocks were either from domestic causes (48% with shocks ranging from 120-240 volts) and others from industrial causes (38% with shocks ranging from 347-1200 volts) took part in.

Telephone follow-ups were also conducted to evaluate neurologic and neuropsychological symptoms such as muscular weakness, general fatigue, memory loss, dizziness, depression, psychological symptoms, pain, and extreme numbness. The first follow-up was finalized a few months after the electric shock accident while the second was carried out a year later.

During the short-term follow-up, the researchers found that 30 of 111 patients complained of new neurologic or neuropsychological symptoms. Common symptoms recorded were pain and general fatigue. Results from the one-year follow-up indicated that 24 of 86 patients still suffered from the symptoms. A few in the group even developed new symptoms.

From these studies, it’s plain to see that electric shock really does cause neurologic and neuropsychological symptoms. Although how electric shock causes these symptoms is somehow unclear, Doctor Bailey suggests that certain mechanisms are probably involved.

All the same, the fact that the effects of electric shock can cause late neurologic and neuropsychological symptoms should alarm all ER physicians in order to ensure that treatment is provided with immediate effect.