Chuang Shiow-Shuh, Yang Jui-Yung, Tsai Feng-Chou
Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Burn Center, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, 5 Fu-Shin Street, Kwei-Shan, 333, ROC, Taoyuan, Taiwan.
Burns. 2003 Sep;29(6):589-91. doi: 10.1016/s0305-4179(03)00151-7.
The electric water heater has recently become a popular household appliance replacing the hot water dispensing jug. This device provides hot water and potable cool water directly from the faucets thus removing the need to refill the container or boil water separately in a kettle. Along with the convenience of dispensing hot water immediately has come an increased incidence of pediatric burns. This paper presents a 6-year retrospective study of such pediatric scald burns from 1996 to 2001. Computer database records revealed that the incidence of pediatric scald burns caused by the electric water heater during the past 6 years was 6.4% (66/1028). The age of victims ranged 0-6 years (mean 1.5+/-1.1 years), most of the victims were in the 1-2-year-old group. In most common cases burn location was the trunk. The accidents often occurred during the cold months and in the living room of the house. From this retrospective study, it was seen that the etiology and incidence of scald burns among children have changed as people have modified their household practice for obtaining hot water in our country. This study aims to increase public awareness to the problem and suggest some prevention measures to reduce this type of scald injury.
电热水器最近已成为一种受欢迎的家用电器，取代了热水壶。该设备可直接从水龙头提供热水和可饮用的冷水，从而无需再往容器中重新加水或单独在水壶中烧水。随着即时供应热水的便利性而来的是小儿烧伤发生率的增加。本文呈现了一项对1996年至2001年此类小儿烫伤的6年回顾性研究。计算机数据库记录显示，过去6年中电热水器导致的小儿烫伤发生率为6.4%（66/1028）。受害者年龄在0至6岁之间（平均1.5±1.1岁），大多数受害者在1至2岁组。在最常见的情况下，烧伤部位是躯干。事故通常发生在寒冷月份且在房屋的客厅里。从这项回顾性研究可以看出，随着我国人们获取热水的家庭习惯发生改变，儿童烫伤的病因和发生率也发生了变化。本研究旨在提高公众对该问题的认识，并提出一些预防措施以减少此类烫伤伤害。
