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Thirty-five years of paediatric scalds: are lessons being learned?
P A Eadie1, R Williams, W A Dickson
1Welsh Centre for Burns & Plastic Surgery, St. Lawrence Hospital, Chepstow, UK.
Insights
Paediatric scalds admissions have risen significantly, with hot liquids from cups now a leading cause. Prevention strategies, including parent education and safer water heating, are crucial for reducing these injuries.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Surgery
- Burn Injury Prevention
- Public Health
Background:
- Paediatric scalds represent a significant public health concern.
- Trends in scald admissions have been tracked over 35 years at the Welsh Centre for Burns and Plastic Surgery.
- International comparisons highlight regional differences in scald causes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze trends in paediatric scald admissions.
- To compare current data with historical data from the same centre and international centres.
- To identify changing patterns in scald aetiology and inform prevention strategies.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of paediatric scald admissions in 1991.
- Comparison with data from 1956 and 1984 from the same centre.
- Comparative analysis with data from six international centres.
Main Results:
- Paediatric scald admissions increased by nearly 50% over 35 years.
- Scalds from cups of hot liquid increased dramatically (8.9% to 42.5%), while teapot scalds decreased (20.8% to 2.7%).
- Hot kettles remain a common cause, and hot bath scalds are more prevalent in this centre compared to some European countries.
Conclusions:
- Despite falling teapot scalds, overall paediatric scald admissions are rising.
- Shifting causes, particularly increased scalds from hot liquids in cups, require targeted prevention.
- Recommendations include enhanced parental education, safer water heating (max 60°C), and thermostatic controls.
Abstract:
All paediatric scalds admitted in 1991 to the Welsh Centre for Burns and Plastic Surgery have been analysed retrospectively and the results compared with similar studies from this centre reported in 1956 and 1984. This data was compared with similar reports from 6 other world-wide centres. Despite a modest population increase in Wales, the number of admissions has increased almost 50% in 35 years. Boys are more commonly affected and up to 67% of scalds occur in children under 2 years of age. The number of scalds from teapots has fallen from 20.8% to 2.7%, in contrast to scalds from cups of hot liquid which have increased from 8.9% to 42.5% over the 35-year period. Scalds from hot baths are rare in Holland and Denmark, in contrast to a 15.8% incidence in our centre. Hot kettles are a common cause of scalds, accounting for up to 28% of scalds in all the series reviewed. The incidence of this injury has not decreased over the last 35 years. Recommendations are made about improved health and safety education for parents, the use of coiled kettle flexes, the temperature of stored water which should not exceed 60 degrees C, and the fitting of thermostatic mixer taps to new houses and institutions, in an effort to decrease the incidence of paediatric scalds.