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Epidemiology of pediatric burn injuries in southern Turkey
Akin Tarim1, Tarik Zafer Nursal, Sedat Yildirim
1Department of General Surgery, Baskent University, Faculty of Medicine, Adana Teaching and Research Center, 01250 Yuregir, Adana, Turkey.
Insights
Pediatric burn injuries in southern Turkey are predominantly caused by scalds in younger children and electrical burns in older children. Most injuries occur at home and are preventable, highlighting the need for targeted prevention programs.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Burn Epidemiology
- Injury Prevention
- Public Health
Background:
- Pediatric burn injuries represent a significant public health concern globally.
- Understanding the specific epidemiological characteristics of these injuries is crucial for developing effective prevention strategies.
- Southern Turkey, like other regions, faces challenges in managing and preventing pediatric burns.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify the epidemiological features of pediatric burn injuries in southern Turkey.
- To analyze the causes, types, and locations of burns in different pediatric age groups.
- To provide data for the development of targeted preventive interventions.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 137 hospitalized pediatric burn patients over three years.
- Patients categorized into three age groups: infants/toddlers (0-2), early childhood (3-6), and late childhood (7-15).
- Data collected on age, sex, burn cause, type, location, and outcome.
Main Results:
- Scalding was the primary cause in infants (95.1%) and early childhood (86.7%), while electrical burns dominated in late childhood (51.4%).
- 74.4% of burn injuries occurred in the home environment, with most being preventable.
- Burn incidence peaked in summer (42%), with a smaller peak in autumn (16%); 10.1% of patients died.
Conclusions:
- Age-specific causes of pediatric burns necessitate tailored prevention approaches.
- Home environment is the predominant setting for pediatric burns, emphasizing the need for domestic safety measures.
- Public health initiatives focusing on education and targeted prevention programs are essential to reduce the burden of pediatric burn injuries.
Abstract:
The aim of this study was to identify the epidemiological features of pediatric burn injuries in southern part of Turkey. In this retrospective study, 137 hospitalized pediatric patients (85 men and 52 women) who were admitted to our burn unit during a period of 3 years were analyzed. Pediatric patients were categorized into three groups: the infants and toddlers (0-2 years), early childhood (3-6 years), and late childhood (7-15 years). Epidemiological data included age, sex, location, the cause and type, and place of burn. In the first two groups, scalding (95.1% and 86.7%, respectively) was the predominant cause of burn whereas in late childhood electric burns (51.4%) were a more common occurrence. No differences were found between the groups with respect to mean TBSA and full-thickness burns. A total of 15 (10.1%) patients died during the study period. A total of 74.4% of burn injuries occurred at home, and almost all were preventable, with 16 % of the burns occurring in the autumn; however, 42% occurred in the summer. These findings will be used as a basis for developing targeted preventive programs to protect children from burns. We also consider it is necessary to educate children and their parents about the prevention of burn injuries.
