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Updated: Mar 26, 2026
Author Spotlight: A Multi-Depth Porcine Model for Comprehensive Study of Burn Injuries and Healing Processes
Published on: February 23, 2024
Mortality in paediatric burns victims: A retrospective review from 2009 to 2012 in a single centre
Ben Jugmohan1, Jerome Loveland, Linda Doedens
1Department of Paediatric Surgery, Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital and Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa. benjugmohan@gmail.com.
Insights
Childhood burn mortality in South Africa remains high, particularly for children under five. Key risk factors include inhalational injury and extensive burns, necessitating targeted interventions.
Area of Science:
- Paediatric burn care
- Injury prevention and control
- Public health in low- and middle-income countries
Background:
- Childhood mortality is a significant issue in low- and middle-income countries.
- Burns are a leading cause of fatal childhood injuries in South Africa.
- Limited research exists on childhood burn mortality in Africa compared to developed nations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze mortality rates in children admitted to a specialized paediatric burns unit.
- To identify factors associated with reduced mortality in paediatric burn patients.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of patient data.
- Study conducted at the Johnson and Johnson Paediatric Burns Unit, Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital, Johannesburg, South Africa.
- Data collected from May 2009 to April 2012.
Main Results:
- 1,372 children (≤10 years) admitted; overall mortality 7.9%.
- Mortality was higher in the paediatric burns intensive care unit (PBICU) at 29.3%.
- Deaths predominantly occurred in children ≤5 years; inhalational injury and burns >60% total body surface area (TBSA) were fatal.
Conclusions:
- Overall mortality rate was 7.9%, showing a significant decline over three years.
- Younger age (≤5 years), inhalational injury, extensive burns (>30% TBSA), and PBICU admission are critical risk factors for mortality.
- Findings highlight the need for targeted interventions for high-risk paediatric burn patients.
Background:
Childhood mortality is high in low- and middle-income countries. Burns are one of the five leading causes of childhood injury mortality in South Africa (SA). While there is an abundance of literature on burns in the developed world, there are far fewer publications dealing with childhood mortality related to burns in Africa and SA.
Objective:
To describe the mortality of children admitted to a dedicated paediatric burns unit, and investigate factors contributing to reducing mortality.
Methods:
A retrospective review was performed of patients admitted to the Johnson and Johnson Paediatric Burns Unit, Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital, Johannesburg, SA, between May 2009 and April 2012.
Results:
During the study period, 1 372 patients aged ≤10 years were admitted to the unit. There were 1 089 admissions to the general ward and 283 admissions to the paediatric burns intensive care unit (PBICU). The overall mortality rate was 7.9% and the rate for children admitted to the PBICU 29.3%; 90.8% of deaths occurred in children aged ≤5 years. Of children admitted with an inhalational injury, 89.5% died. No child with a burn injury >60% of total body surface area (TBSA) survived.
Conclusions:
Our overall mortality rate was 7.9%, and the rate declined significantly over the 3-year study period from 11.7% to 5.1%. Age ≤5 years, the presence of inhalational injury, burn injury >30% of TBSA and admission to the PBICU were significant risk factors for mortality.
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