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The devastating effects a fire burn in a child
1Department of Ophthalmology, Hakkari State Hospital, Hakkari, Turkey.
Insights
Severe pediatric burns are a major health issue. A 2-year-old boy suffered extensive burns, leading to blindness due to severe eye injuries, highlighting the devastating impact of burn accidents on children.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric burn injuries
- Ophthalmology
- Public health
Background:
- Burn injuries represent a significant global health challenge, causing mortality, morbidity, and long-term disability.
- Pediatric burn patients face substantial health and economic costs, with a high risk of death or permanent impairment.
- A systemic review indicated that nearly 50% of severe burn hospitalizations in Europe involved patients under 16, with males predominating.
Observation:
- This report details a case of a 2-year-old boy with extensive second and third-degree burns (45% of body surface area), including head and arms.
- The patient presented to the eye clinic one month post-fire burn accident with severe bilateral eye injuries.
- The bilateral anterior chambers were critically damaged, resulting in complete vision loss.
Findings:
- The pediatric burn victim experienced severe ocular trauma secondary to a fire accident.
- The extent of the burn injury led to irreversible damage to both eyes.
- The patient was rendered blind due to the severity of the bilateral anterior chamber injuries.
Implications:
- This case underscores the critical need for specialized ophthalmic care in pediatric burn management.
- Severe burn injuries, even in young children, can have catastrophic and permanent consequences, including blindness.
- Highlights the importance of burn prevention strategies, particularly for vulnerable pediatric populations.
Abstract:
Burn injuries are a serious global public health concern with significant worldwide mortality and morbidity rates. Burns are among the most devastating of all injuries, with outcomes ranging from physical impairment and disability to emotional and mental consequences. Paediatric burns requiring treatment often incur significant health and opportunity costs, and frequently result in death or long-term disability. A recent systemic review showed that almost 50% of patients hospitalised with severe burns in Europe were younger than 16 years of age, and nearly 60% were male. This report discusses the case of a 2-year-old boy with second and third-degree skin burns over almost 45% of his body, including his head and arms, who presented to the eye clinic at the State Hospital in Hakkari 1 month after a fire burn accident. Both eyes had been burnt and the bilateral anterior chambers had been injured so badly that the patient was left blind.