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Childhood burns: an analysis of 124 admissions in the Gaza Strip
1Quality Improvement and Infection Control Office, Al Shifa Medical Complex, Ministry of Health, Gaza Strip, Palestine.
Insights
Childhood burns are a significant public health issue, particularly in the Gaza Strip. Focusing on home safety and parental education is crucial for preventing pediatric burn injuries.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric burn epidemiology
- Public health
- Trauma research
Background:
- Burns represent a major pediatric public health concern.
- Limited data exists on the epidemiology and outcomes of pediatric burns in the Gaza Strip.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the epidemiological profile and outcomes of hospitalized pediatric burns in the Gaza Strip.
Main Methods:
- A retrospective cross-sectional review of medical records was performed.
- Data was collected from patients aged 15 years and below admitted to Al Alamy burn center between June 2013 and July 2014.
Main Results:
- 124 pediatric patients (mean age 4.02 years) were included, with males predominating (58.1%).
- Most burns (89.5%) were accidental, occurred at home (96%), and were scalds (83.9%).
- Average Total Body Surface Area (TBSA) affected was 10.72%, with 50.8% being second-degree burns. Case fatality rate was 1.6%.
Conclusions:
- Pediatric burns in Gaza are primarily accidental scalds occurring in homes.
- Interventions should prioritize home safety and parental education to reduce burn incidence.
Abstract:
Burns are a serious public health problem among paediatrics. Little is known about the epidemiological profile and outcomes of hospitalized paediatric burns in the Gaza Strip. A cross-sectional retrospective review was conducted of medical records of patients aged 15 years and below, admitted to the Al Alamy burn centre in the Al Shifa Medical Complex from 30 June, 2013 to 01 July, 2014. There were 189 admissions; 124 (65.6%) of them were below 15 years, their mean age ± SD being 4.02 ± 2.85 years. 72 of these cases (58.1%) were males, giving a male to female ratio of 1.6:1. 89.5% of the injuries were accidents and 96% were home-located. Scalds, which were a common cause of burns, represented 83.9% of cases. Mean TBSA was 10.72 ± 8.15%: half of the patients (50.8%) sustained second-degree burns, while 34.7% were a mix of second- and third-degree. Mean length of hospital stay was 10.23 ± 10.60 days. Only two children died during the study period, giving a case fatality rate and total mortality rate of 1.6% and 1.0% respectively. In conclusion, there is a need to focus on home safety and parents' education as a means of reducing childhood burns.
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