The evaluation of patients with burns during fifteen years period

Burn is a major health problem that cause of mortality, morbidity and psychological problems in children and adults throughout the world. The aim of this study was to evaluate the epidemiological, etiological features and outcomes of burns in the southeast region of Turkey.

A total of 3010 burn patients (age vary between 2 month to 95 years old) that admitted to the Dicle University burn center during the 15 years period (1994-2008) were reviewed. Age, gender, demographic characteristics, length of hospital stay of patients, etiology and degree of burns, cause of nosocomial infections, the total body surface area (TBSA) percentage and outcomes were analyzed.

Of 3010 patients, 1602 (53.2%) cases were female and 1408 (46.8%) were male. The mean age was 10.51±13.45. The most of patients (58.1%, 1748 patients) were ≤ 5 years old, 19.9% (598) were 6-15, 20.1% (606) were 16-50 and 1.9% (58) were ≥51 years old. Burn type of cases were including: 1956 (65%) scalding burns, 624 (20.7%) flame burns and 430 (14.3%) electrical burns. Degree of burns were including: 22 (0.7%) first-degree, 2706 (89.9%) second-degree and 282 (9.4%) third-degree burns. The mean of length of hospitalization was 13.25 ±10.77 days. The most frequent isolated microorganisms were Pseudomonas aeruginosa (55%, 553), Acinetobacter spp. (13%, 128), and Escherichia coli (8%, 78). Mortality rate was 4.6%.

The epidemiology of burns may vary according to lifestyles, age, living conditions and socio-economic status among different regions and hospitals. Improvement of life conditions and socio-economic status, trainings, periodic studies of nosocomial infections and increasing the number of burn centers, would contribute to reduction of deaths due to burns.