Characteristics of thermal burns in children admitted to an Israeli pediatric surgical ward.

BACKGROUND

Reports of burn injuries in children are usually made by highly specialized burn units. Our facility admits children with burns covering < 20% total body surface area, while those with major burns are transferred to burn units at tertiary care facilities.

OBJECTIVES

To review our experience with thermal burns.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective review of all thermal burns admitted to our hospital during a 5 year period.

RESULTS

Among 266 patients (69.2% boys) aged 3.5 +/- 3.6 years, children < 3 years old were the most frequently injured (64.7%). Scalds (71.4%) were the most common type of burn. Partial thickness burns were sustained by 96.6% of children and TBSA burned was 4.2 +/- 3.6%. The mean hospital stay was 3.8 +/- 4.5 days, and was significantly prolonged in girls (4.6 +/- 4.8 vs. 3.5 +/- 4.3 days, P = 0.01). Percent TBSA burned was correlated with patient age (r = 0.12, P = 0.04) and length of hospital stay (r = 0.6, P < 0.0001). Six patients (2.3%) (mean age 3.4 +/- 2.3 years) were hospitalized in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit due to toxin-mediated illness.

CONCLUSIONS

Children under the age of 3 years are at increased risk for burn injury, but older children sustain more extensive injuries. Prevention and awareness are needed for child safety.