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Management of the pediatric patient with burns
D N Herndon1, R L Rutan, T C Rutan
1Burn Center, Humana Hospital-Augusta, GA.
Insights
Each year, millions receive medical treatment for burn injuries in the U.S., with scalds being the most common cause. A significant portion of hospitalized burn patients are children, and some injuries result from non-accidental abuse.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
- Trauma Care
Background:
- Burn injuries affect millions annually in the U.S., necessitating extensive medical treatment.
- Hospitalization rates are high, with a substantial number of patients being pediatric cases.
- Mortality rates remain significant, underscoring the severity of burn trauma.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the epidemiology of burn injuries in the United States.
- To identify common causes and demographic patterns of burn injuries.
- To highlight the incidence of non-accidental burn injuries, including child abuse.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of national burn injury treatment data.
- Categorization of burn injuries by cause (scalds, flame, chemical, electrical).
- Demographic analysis including age, sex, and accidental vs. non-accidental injury classification.
Main Results:
- Approximately 2 million individuals require medical treatment for burns yearly.
- Scalds constitute the vast majority (85%) of burn injuries, predominantly affecting young children (average age 32 months).
- Pediatric patients (under 15) represent 30-40% of hospitalizations, with males being the majority (67%).
Conclusions:
- Burn injuries, particularly scalds, represent a major public health concern, especially for children.
- A notable percentage of burn injuries are non-accidental, with a significant proportion linked to inflicted abuse.
- Further research and prevention strategies are crucial to reduce the burden of burn injuries.
Abstract:
Two million people in the United States receive medical treatment each year for burn injuries. One hundred thousand of these patients are hospitalized, and 7800 die as a direct result of their injuries. Of the patients that are hospitalized 30% to 40% are under 15 years of age. Sixty-seven percent are male. The average age of children with burns is 32 months. Flame burns account for approximately 13% of accidents, scalds account for 85%, and electrical and chemical burns account for approximately 2%. The majority of scald injuries are small. Sixteen percent of burn injuries are not accidental, and approximately half of these are a result of documentable, inflicted abuse.