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[Treatment of burns in infants]
J L Foyatier1, J Latarjet, J P Comparin
1Centre des brûlés, centre hospitalier Saint-Joseph et Saint-Luc, Lyon, France.
Insights
Early management of infant burn injuries in specialized centers is crucial for severe cases (over 5% body surface area) or those involving hands, face, or genitalia. Prompt cooling and comprehensive care, including surgical intervention and rehabilitation, minimize long-term deformities.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Burn Management
- Trauma Surgery
- Rehabilitation Medicine
Context:
- Infant burn injuries pose significant risks of severe residual deformities.
- Early intervention in specialized centers is indicated for burns exceeding 5% body surface area or involving critical areas (hands, face, genitalia).
- Effective management requires a multidisciplinary approach addressing both acute and long-term needs.
Purpose:
- To outline the critical components of early management for infant burn injuries.
- To emphasize the importance of specialized care, prompt first aid, and comprehensive treatment strategies.
- To highlight the role of surgical intervention, infection control, and rehabilitation in optimizing outcomes.
Summary:
- First aid involves immediate cooling with cold water.
- Specialized center treatment encompasses general supportive care (fluids, nutrition, pain control with morphine) and surgical management (occlusive dressings, infection prevention via cultures and antibiotics).
- A robust rehabilitation program including physical therapy, splinting, and plastic surgery is essential, alongside primary prevention through parental education.
Impact:
- Timely and appropriate management in specialized centers can significantly reduce the severity of residual deformities in infants.
- Comprehensive care, from initial cooling to long-term rehabilitation, improves functional and cosmetic outcomes.
- Parental education plays a vital role in preventing burn injuries, thereby reducing their incidence in this vulnerable population.
Abstract:
Because of the potential severity of their residual deformities, burn injuries in infants justify an early management in specialized centres when they cover more than 5% of body surface and in every case when hands, face, or external genitalia are concerned. Cooling with cold water is the first aid treatment to be performed as early as possible after the injury. The treatment in specialized centres must be both general and surgical. General treatment includes fluid and electrolyte therapy, temperature control, appropriate nutrition and pain suppression. Pain suppression is a major part of the treatment and morphine must be largely used. Surgical treatment starts as soon as the patient arrives in the centre and is eventually performed under general anesthesia: all the burned areas are covered with occlusive dressings. Infections are prevented by systematic cultures and adjusted antibiotic therapy. A vigorous rehabilitation program must be instituted as soon as possible: massages, compressive clothes, splints, physical therapy, plastic surgery. Primary prevention by sustained parental education is important in order to reduce the frequency of burn injuries in infants.