Epidemiology of burns in Kuwait

A prospective study of 765 burns cases treated as inpatients at the Burns Unit, IBN Sina Hospital and the Plastic Surgery Unit, Mubarak Al Kabeer Hospital from January 1984 to December 1986 is presented. Hot water scalds were the commonest type of injury. Most of the burns occurred at home but coinciding with standard working hours. Children up to 5 years old were commonly affected, but most of the fatal burns were among adults. The overall mortality rate was 7.2 per cent with a male to female ratio of 1.1:1. Our survival rate from burn injuries is improving due to advances in treatment, but prevention remains the best cure. We consider our epidemiological survey to be important as the basis for a preventive programme in Kuwait's extremely heterogeneous society.