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Pediatric burn injuries in Tehran, Iran
R Alaghehbandan1, A MacKay Rossignol, A Rastegar Lari
1Faculty of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Insights
Pediatric burn injuries in Tehran disproportionately affect young children, with a high fatality rate. This study highlights the need for targeted prevention programs to reduce childhood burn incidents in Iran.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Burn Epidemiology
- Public Health
- Injury Prevention
Background:
- Burn injuries represent a significant public health concern globally, particularly in pediatric populations.
- Understanding the specific epidemiologic features of pediatric burns is crucial for developing effective prevention strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify the epidemiologic characteristics of pediatric burn injuries in western Tehran.
- To provide data for the development of targeted preventive programs for children in Iran.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of inpatient data from Tohid Burn Center, Tehran.
- Inclusion criteria: children aged 0-15 years treated between April 1995 and March 1998.
- Data collected included demographics, incidence, and mortality rates.
Main Results:
- 1454 out of 3341 (43.5%) burn admissions were pediatric (<16 years).
- Overall pediatric case fatality rate was 16%; annual incidence ranged from 17.8 to 22.7 per 100,000 child-years.
- Children under 2 years exhibited the highest incidence and mortality rates; the boy/girl ratio was 2.6.
Conclusions:
- Young children (<2 years) are most vulnerable to severe burn injuries and mortality in this region.
- Findings underscore the urgent need for focused interventions to prevent pediatric burns in Iran.
- Epidemiologic data is essential for evidence-based public health policy and injury prevention initiatives.
Abstract:
The objective of this study was to identify the epidemiologic features of pediatric burn injuries in western Tehran. Study subjects included all children up to the age of 15 years who were treated as inpatients at the Tohid Burn Center in Tehran between April 1995 and March 1998. Among the 3341 burns admitted to the Center over the 3-year study period, 1454 (43.5%) occurred in children less than 16 years of age. The overall case fatality rate for children was 16%, while the annual burn incidence rates ranged from 22.7 to 17.8 burns per 100000 child-years. The overall gender ratio (boys/girls) was 2.6. Children less than 2 years of age had the highest burn incidence and burn mortality rates. These findings will be used as a basis for developing targeted preventive programs to protect Iranian children from burns.