Blast trauma in a child.

In 1986, we cared for a four-year-old boy who was injured in the explosion of an illegal firecracker equivalent to one-third of a stick of dynamite. Although little has been reported on the injuries children sustain in an explosion, we found that this child's injuries were similar to those encountered in adults. This case is presented as illustrative of blast trauma in childhood, and as a review of blast injury.