CHANGING PATTERNS IN PEDIATRIC BURNS IN CROATIA - DATA FROM THE NATIONAL REFERRAL CENTER DURING THE 2010-2019 PERIOD

Area of Science:

• Pediatric burn research
• Trauma epidemiology
• Injury prevention

Background:

• Burn injuries pose a significant public health challenge, particularly in pediatric populations.
• Understanding trends in burn injury mechanisms, demographics, and severity is crucial for effective prevention and treatment strategies.
• A decade-long analysis provides valuable insights into evolving patterns of burn care needs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate changes in the incidence and patterns of burn injuries over a ten-year period.
• To analyze burn injury trends by patient age, total body surface area (TBSA) affected, and injury mechanism.
• To assess length of stay, seasonal variations, and inform targeted prevention efforts.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of 402 hospitalized burn patients over a 10-year period.
• Classification of burn injuries into subgroups: scalds, contact burns, flame/electrical burns, and massive thermal injuries (>40% TBSA).
• Analysis of demographic data, TBSA, length of stay, and seasonal occurrence by burn mechanism.

Main Results:

• Peak incidence of burn injuries occurred in children aged 1-2 years, with scalds being the predominant mechanism.
• A decline in the average TBSA affected by burns was observed over the decade.
• Scalds became increasingly dominant, while contact burns showed seasonal variation (autumn/winter) and flame/electrical burns peaked in summer.

Conclusions:

• Burn injury management, especially for children, should be centralized in experienced pediatric burn centers due to declining patient numbers.
• Prevention campaigns should focus on young children, preadolescents, and adolescents, addressing specific burn injury mechanisms.
• The findings underscore the need for continued research and targeted interventions to reduce the burden of pediatric burn injuries.