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Epidemiology of adults' and childrens' burns in a Turkish burn center
Insights
This study analyzed 4094 burn injuries from 1979-1985, finding scalds common in children and flame/electrical burns in adults. Despite treatment, over a third of hospitalized patients died, highlighting the severity of burn injuries.
Area of Science:
- Trauma Surgery
- Pediatric Burn Care
- Epidemiology of Burn Injuries
Background:
- Burn injuries represent a significant public health concern, particularly among pediatric populations.
- Effective management strategies are crucial for improving outcomes in burn patients.
- Understanding the epidemiology of burn injuries is essential for targeted prevention and treatment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the epidemiological characteristics of burn injuries treated at a single center.
- To identify common causes and demographic patterns of burn injuries in different age groups.
- To evaluate treatment outcomes and mortality rates for hospitalized burn patients.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 4094 burn injury cases treated between January 1, 1979, and January 1, 1985.
- Categorization of patients into outpatient and inpatient groups.
- Analysis of burn causes, patient demographics (age), and treatment modalities.
Main Results:
- Out of 4094 patients, 15.1% were hospitalized, with 56.7% under 15 years old.
- In hospitalized patients over 15, flame (36.3%) and electrical (28.0%) burns were most common.
- In hospitalized patients under 15, scalds (58.0%) were the leading cause.
- Mortality rate for hospitalized patients was 35.7%.
- Outpatient burns were predominantly scalds (61.7%) in children under 15.
Conclusions:
- Burn injuries exhibit distinct etiological patterns based on age, with scalds predominating in children.
- Despite advanced medical interventions including systemic antibiotics, local chemotherapy, and silver-nitrate-incorporated amniotic membrane, a significant mortality rate persists among hospitalized burn patients.
- Further research into preventative measures and optimized treatment protocols is warranted to reduce the burden of burn injuries.
Abstract:
From 1 January 1979 to 1 January 1985, 4094 patients were treated for burn injury in our centre. Of these, 84.9 per cent were treated as outpatients and 617 (15.1 per cent) were hospitalized. Of the 617 patients, 56.7 per cent were under 15 years of age (birth to 6 years: 67.7 per cent; 7-15 years, 32.3 per cent) and 43.3 per cent were over 15 years. The causes of burns in the over 15 years group were: flame, 36.3 per cent; electrical, 28.0 per cent; scalding, 18.4 per cent; liquefied petroleum (LP) gas explosion, 11.0 per cent; and others, 6.3 per cent. The burn cases in the under 15 years group were: scalding, 58.0 per cent; flame, 24.6 per cent; electrical, 10.0 per cent; hot meals, 5.2 per cent; and others, 2.0 per cent. After being resuscitated, these patients were treated with systemic antibiotics, local chemotherapy and silver-nitrate-incorporated amniotic membrane. Despite all medical efforts, 217 (35.7 per cent) of the hospitalized patients died as a result of various complications. At the same time, 3477 patients were treated as outpatients: 72.0 per cent of these were under 15 years old (birth to 6 years, 82.9 per cent, 7-15 years, 18.8 per cent) and 28.0 per cent patients were over 15 years of age. The causes of burn injury in these patients were: hot liquids, 61.7 per cent; flame, 17.0 per cent; hot meals, 8.4 per cent; hot metal, 5.8 per cent; electrical, 3.6 per cent; and chemical, 1.7 per cent.