Paediatric burns in sulaimani, iraq.

Burns are the most frequent injury among paediatric patients. The injury, treatment, and rehabilitation process affect children not only physiologically but also psychologically. In this prospective study of burn victims aged 12 yr and less hospitalized in our burns centre (Emergency Hospital) between July 2001 and August 2005, three age groups were considered (0-12 months, 1-6 yr, and 7-12 yr), distinguished on the basis of children's predominant activity and behaviour. The study reports on the characteristics of burn injuries in children hospitalized in the Emergency Hospital at the burns centre in Sulaimani, Iraq. In the period of study, 3550 children with burn injuries were treated in our burns centre (in-patients and out-patients), made up 44% (3550/8000) of all burn victims treated in our burns centre in that period. The children's mean age was 4.03 ± 1.62 yr. The male/female ratio was 1:1.1 (1725/1825). Scald burns, accounting for 79.4% of the cases, were the commonest injuries in the study, compared with 20.6% non-scald burns. Most of the injuries happened in the home (74.7%). The trunk was affected in 78.6% of all patients studied. Meal times (especially dinner, 6-9 p.m., and lunch 11 a.m.-2 p.m) clearly had the highest number of accidents. There were more paediatric burns in the colder months (38.2% in winter). Surgery was performed in 553 patients (15.6%). In the five years studied, there were 411 in-hospital child deaths due to burns (11.5%).