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A 1-year prospective study of burns in an Irish paediatric burns unit
K J Cronin1, P E Butler, M McHugh
1Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Hand Surgery, Our Lady's Hospital For Sick Children, Dublin, Ireland.
Insights
Paediatric burns are a significant cause of injury death in children. Most burns are preventable domestic accidents, highlighting the need for public health education on burn prevention and first aid.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Medicine
- Public Health
- Burn Injury Research
Background:
- Burns are the fourth leading cause of injury death in children in the USA, with 1300 annual paediatric deaths.
- The majority of paediatric burn mortality and morbidity stem from preventable domestic accidents.
- Understanding the specific profile of paediatric burns in Ireland is crucial for targeted prevention strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To outline the profile of paediatric burn injuries in Ireland.
- To identify demographic trends and risk factors associated with paediatric burns.
- To assess the incidence of preventable burn types and parental awareness of associated risks.
Main Methods:
- A prospective study of paediatric burns was conducted over 12 months (January 1992 to January 1993).
- Data collected included patient referrals, admission rates, outpatient treatment duration, mortality, and morbidity.
- Demographic analysis focused on injury types, accident locations, and parental presence and knowledge.
Main Results:
- 336 paediatric burns were referred, with 16% requiring admission and 33% needing prolonged outpatient dressings.
- Mortality and morbidity rates were 1.8% and 39%, respectively, comparable to other centers.
- Notable findings included a high incidence of sunburn injuries in infants and that 90% of accidents occurred in the home, with poor parental first aid knowledge.
Conclusions:
- Paediatric burn injuries in Ireland present a significant public health issue, with a high proportion being preventable domestic accidents.
- There is a critical need for increased parental awareness regarding the risks of childhood sunburn and its link to future skin cancer.
- A public health education campaign focusing on burn prevention and appropriate first aid is recommended to reduce the incidence and severity of paediatric burn injuries.
Abstract:
Burns are the fourth leading cause of injury death in children in the USA, accounting for 1300 paediatric deaths annually. The majority of paediatric burns mortality and morbidity result from simple domestic accidents that are preventable. A prospective study of paediatric burns from 1 January 1992 to 1 January 1993 was undertaken at our burns unit to outline the profile of the Irish paediatric burns problem. A total of 336 burns were referred to our unit over the 12 months (80 per cent self-referrals, 15 per cent tertiary referrals from district hospitals and 5 per cent GP referrals). Sixteen per cent (57) of the patients required admission and 33 per cent (112) required prolonged dressings as outpatients. Mortality and morbidity rates were comparable to other centres at 1.8 per cent and 39 per cent respectively. The demographic analysis of the patient population was similar to that seen in other studies from developed countries but there were some notable differences. First, there was an alarmingly high incidence of serious sunburn injuries, especially among young infants. Most parents were unaware of the association between childhood sunburn and the development of skin cancer in later life. Second, 90 per cent of the accidents occurred in the home and almost all were preventable. A parent or guardian was present in 87 per cent of cases but parental knowledge of the appropriate first aid measures was poor. It is suggested that a public health education campaign on this issue would help in reducing the incidence and severity of paediatric burn injuries in Ireland.