Domestic iron burns in children: a cause for concern?

The case notes of 26 children with contact thermal burns to the hand who were treated in the Burn Unit at Stroke Mandeville Hospital as inpatients during the period 1987-92 have been reviewed. The burns were found to be caused by a variety of injuring agents, although the domestic iron was the single commonest cause accounting for 46 per cent of cases. Mechanisms of iron injuries were variable although leaving a hot iron on the floor or on a low table were identified as being two important causes. Fifteen children (58 per cent) underwent either primary or tangential excision of the burn skin and grafting. The majority of the children had a satisfactory outcome, although five children (19 per cent) developed hypertrophic scars. The results of this study demonstrate the relatively high incidence of domestic iron burns as a causative factor for contact hand burns in children. Parental vigilance and leaving a hot iron in a secure place are two factors which will help to reduce the incidence of this potentially serious injury.