Paediatric burn epidemiology as a basis for developing a burn prevention program

Burn injuries are often seen among the paediatric population. Mortality from burn injuries is high in developing countries. Poor facilities and poverty contribute to this. A look at the epidemiology of burn injuries among children from this part of the world will therefore serve as a means for developing programs for burn injury prevention. A retrospective review of burn injuries among the paediatric population was conducted. The aim was to outline common aetiologies, sex predisposition and sites of injury with a view to recommending possible ways of preventing these injuries. A total of 148 children sustained burn injuries during the period under study. There were 85 (57.4%) boys and 63 (42.6%) girls. Scald was the most common cause of injury, observed in 127 (85.8%) children, followed by flame burn in 18 (12.2%), chemical burn in 2 (1.4%), and friction burn in 1 (0.68%). Almost all of the injuries (144, 98%) occurred at home. Sources of heat were hot water, which caused injury in 109 (73.6%) children, and hot oil, hot soup and hot soya milk which were responsible for 7 (4.7%), 7 (4.7%) and 3 (2.0%) cases, respectively. Other sources were kerosene explosion (7, 4.7%), burning firewood (1, 0.6%) petrol explosion (5, 3.4%), candlelight (3, 2.0%), hot ashes (1, 0.6%), soot (1, 0.6%), burned house, chemicals and friction (1, 0.6%). Preventive methods are suggested based on aetiologies, and include education and certain precautions in the home environment. These will reduce burn injuries and associated morbidity and mortality in developing countries.