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Illness as a predisposing factor to scalds in children: an exploratory study
1Birmingham City University.
Insights
Illness may predispose young children to scalds. Parents and caregivers should be extra vigilant when a child is unwell to prevent these common childhood burns.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric burns research
- Childhood injury prevention
Background:
- Scalds are a common cause of burns in young children.
- Understanding risk factors is crucial for effective prevention strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if a child's illness increases the risk of scald injuries.
- To identify predisposing factors for scalds in children under five years old.
Main Methods:
- Exploratory study utilizing a mixed-methods approach.
- Questionnaires were distributed to parents/carers of 90 children admitted with scalds to a regional pediatric burns unit.
- Collected both qualitative and quantitative data on circumstances surrounding scald incidents.
Main Results:
- Findings align with existing literature on scalds.
- The typical scalded child was a male toddler injured in the kitchen.
- Approximately 50% of children in the study were unwell at the time of the scalding incident.
Conclusions:
- Illness may be a predisposing factor for scalds in young children.
- Highlights the critical need for heightened vigilance from parents and healthcare providers, especially when a child is sick.
- Emphasizes the importance of preventative measures in high-risk situations.
Aim:
To explore whether the presence of illness is a predisposing factor to scalds in children aged five years and under.
Method:
A mixed methodology approach was used in this exploratory study. The results from the questionnaire phase are reported in this article. Questionnaires (n = 90) were sent out to the parents and carers of all children who had been admitted to a regional paediatric burns unit with scalds in the previous year. Both qualitative and quantitative data were collected.
Findings:
These supported many of the findings in the literature. A typical child who had been scalded was a male toddler who was injured in the kitchen of his own home in the presence of a carer. Half of the children in this study were unwell around the time of the accident.
Conclusion:
Although this was a small pilot study, the need for parents and health carers to be vigilant is highlighted particularly when a child is unwell.
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