PEDIATRIC BURN INJURIES IN GEORGIA: 8 YEAR RETROSPECTIVE STUDY OF HOSPITAL DATA

Burn injuries represent a significant global public health concern, disproportionately affecting vulnerable populations, particularly young children. Despite the severity of the issue, no comprehensive epidemiological studies have been conducted in Georgia to date.

This study aimed to fill this existing gap by analyzing the frequency, distribution, and outcomes of pediatric burn injuries.

A retrospective, observational study was conducted using data from the national electronic hospitalization registry maintained by the National Center for Disease Control and Public Health (NCDC) from 2017 to 2024. All hospitalized patients aged 0-17 years diagnosed with burn injuries were included. Key variables included demographic characteristics, burn etiology, injury severity, length of hospital stay, outcome related variables and seasonal distribution. Seasonal variation was analyzed using one-way ANOVA and Tukey's HSD test.

A total of 5,268 pediatric cases were identified. Most patients were male (58.4%) and under one year of age (51.5%). Thermal burns accounted for 90.9% of cases, with second- and third-degree burns the most frequent. Nearly half of the patients were discharged within 24 hours, while 28.5% required hospitalization over seven days. Significant seasonal peaks occurred in December and July, especially among children aged 0-5 years (p<0.05).

This first national-level study highlights the high burden of pediatric burn injuries and outlines key epidemiological patterns in Georgia. Findings emphasize the importance of seasonally targeted prevention strategies. Future studies should incorporate more detailed epidemiological data to support effective, evidence-based interventions.