burn inJuries in Pediatric PoPulation

Abstract

Burn injuries constitute a major concern in the pediatric age group with respect to morbidity and
mortality particularly in children in developing countries. Burn injuries represent an extremely
stressful experience for both the burn victims as well as their families.
Burn injuries are least explored areas among other injuries in Nepal. We do not have any data on
childhood burn injuries and this study is done to know the incidence, age, sexwise distribution and
nature of childhood burn injuries at Patan Hospital.
Hospital based prospective study done at Emergency and surgical department during one year
period. Twenty children that had fulfilled hospital criteria for admission included in this study.
All injuries were of accident in nature. Scald injuries were more than dry burn injuries. Children
less than 5 years were more prone to injury than older children. Twenty one patients survived after
treatment and one patient died due to sepsis. Mortality in this series is about four percent.
Burn injury is a leading cause of unintentional injuries mainly seen in children less than 5 years of
age with physical as well as psychological consequences.

Key Words: Degree of burn, Scald, Mortality, Total body surface area (TBSA), sepsis.