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Inflicted burns and scalds in children
Insights
Childhood burns and scalds can indicate non-accidental injury. Healthcare providers should suspect inflicted burns in children, especially with perineal involvement or other injuries, and consider skeletal surveys and social work intervention.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Child Abuse and Neglect
- Forensic Medicine
Background:
- Thermal injuries in children, including burns and scalds, can be accidental or inflicted.
- Recognizing patterns of injury is crucial for identifying potential child abuse.
Purpose of the Study:
- To highlight the association between thermal injuries in children and inflicted trauma.
- To inform healthcare professionals about the indicators of non-accidental burns and scalds.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of 16 children with thermal injuries over three years.
- Documentation of injury characteristics, body surface area affected, and presence of other injuries.
Main Results:
- Ten children had burns and six had scalds, with injuries affecting <5% of body surface area and no fatalities.
- Seven children had perineal or buttock involvement; 12 had evidence of other inflicted injuries, including six recent fractures.
Conclusions:
- Healthcare staff must be vigilant for inflicted thermal injuries in children.
- Skeletal surveys and case conferences with social work services are recommended in suspected cases to ensure child safety and appropriate family support or legal intervention.
Abstract:
Ten children who had been burnt and six who had been scalded by parents or those caring for them were seen over three years. In no case did the thermal injury affect more than 5% of the body surface and there were no deaths. In seven the perineum or buttocks were in the burnt area. In 12 children there was evidence of other inflicted injury including six recent fractures. Staff caring for burnt children should be aware of this type of inflicted injury. X-ray skeletal surveys should be carried out in doubtful cases and a case conference initiated with the appropriate social work services to consider supervising the family after the child's discharge or taking legal care proceedings.