Paediatric steam burns in New South Wales, Australia: A 14-year retrospective study

Burns from steam are often small but may cause significant harm. To further investigate this, a 14-year retrospective review was conducted of paediatric patients presenting for the treatment of a steam burn injury at The Children's Hospital at Westmead (CHW), New South Wales (NSW), Australia between 2010 and 2024.

Data from the NSW Statewide Burns Injury Service and patient medical records were collected and analysed. This included information on patient demographics, burn injury, and treatment.

A total of 159 patients were identified with steam burns. Steam burns were sustained from a variety of devices and appliances including steam vapourisers and other kitchen and household appliances. A significant increase (266 %) in steam burns was observed during 2022-4 over the previous years, with steam vapourisers accounting for 84 % of cases, coinciding with the peak of the COVID-19 outbreak in NSW. Males were more commonly affected (59.7 %), with hands being the most frequently burned area (78.6 %). Among the patients, 81.1 % were infants aged 0-1 year, 31 required grafting, and 20 developed hypertrophic scars requiring long-term care.

While most steam burns in children involved a small percentage of the total body surface area, they could still result in deep injuries with potential long-term functional impairment caused by the development of problematic scarring, particularly with burns affecting the hands. These findings highlight the need for increased awareness, prevention messaging, and promotion of prevention strategies to minimise harm and promote safer use of household appliances, particularly in homes with young children.