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Starchy liquid burns do not have worse outcomes in children relative to hot beverage scalds
Jordan M Lavigne1, Bhaveshkumar Patel1, Kellie Stockton2
1Pegg Leditschke Children's Burns Centre, Department of Paediatric Surgery, Children's Health Queensland, Queensland, Australia; Centre for Children's Burns and Trauma Research, Queensland Children's Medical Research Institute, University of Queensland, Australia.
Insights
Children with scald injuries from hot beverages are younger than those injured by starchy liquids. Inadequate first aid is common for children under three years old, regardless of the scald source.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric burn injuries
- Epidemiology of childhood scalds
Background:
- Hot beverage scalds are a common cause of pediatric burns.
- Scalds from starchy liquids represent a distinct injury pattern in children.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the characteristics of children with hot beverage scalds versus those with scalds caused by starchy water.
- To identify differences in injury patterns, demographics, and first aid provision between these two types of scald injuries.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of a prospectively collected database.
- Inclusion of all pediatric patients presenting with scald injuries over a two-year period.
Main Results:
- Hot beverage scalds occurred in significantly younger children (18.2 months) compared to starchy liquid scalds (51.4 months).
- Perineal burns were more frequent in the starchy liquid group (10.9%) versus hot beverage group (2.4%).
- Chest/breast and abdominal burns were more prevalent in the hot beverage group (60.7%) compared to the starchy liquid group (36.9%).
- Children under three years old received inadequate first aid more often in both groups (p<0.001).
- No significant differences were observed in the need for skin grafting or scar management between the two groups.
Conclusions:
- Scald injuries from starchy liquids do not appear to be more severe than hot beverage scalds.
- A distinct injury pattern exists for starchy liquid scalds, particularly in older children.
- Young children (under three) are less likely to receive adequate first aid, irrespective of the scald source.
Aim:
To characterise children presenting with hot beverage scalds versus scalds caused by starchy water.
Methods:
Retrospective survey of prospectively collected database of all children presenting over a two-year period.
Results:
There were 138 starch scalds and 262 hot beverage injuries. Children with hot beverage injuries were significantly younger (18.2 months; IQR 14.1, 27.8) than those suffering starch scald injuries (51.4 months; 18.7, 102.3; p<0.001). Perineal burns were more common in the starch group than the hot beverage scald group (10.9% vs. 2.4%, p<0.001). Chest/breast and abdominal burns were more common in the hot beverage group than the starch group (60.7% vs. 36.9%, p<0.001). Children under three years of age in both groups are significantly less likely to receive adequate first aid at the scene (p<0.001). There are no differences in the need for skin grafting or scar management when comparing hot beverage scalds and scalds caused by starchy liquids.
Conclusions:
Scald injuries caused by starchy liquids do not appear to cause a more severe injury than hot beverage scalds. There is a different pattern of injury from starchy liquids in older children. Children under three years old are less likely to receive appropriate first aid at the scene.
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