[Epidemiological studies on scalded children admitted to the burns unit at the Hvidovre hospital during 1981-1990].

During the ten year period 1981 to 1990, a total of 436 children aged 0-5 years were admitted for scalds at the Burns Unit of Hvidovre Hospital. We did not find any reduction in the number of admissions during this period nor was any change in the patterns of scalds found. Water, tea and coffee were the main causal agents of scalds and the dominant group of scalded children was between the ages one to two years. In 37% of cases, the scalds required grafting and the average stay in hospital was 16 days. The background for this unchanged pattern could be that the prophylactive campaigns have been insufficient.