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Scalds among children in Kuwait
R L Bang1, M K Ebrahim, P N Sharma
1Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Kuwait University, Kuwait.
Insights
Pediatric scald burns are a significant issue in Kuwait, primarily affecting toddlers aged 2-5 years due to kitchen accidents involving hot liquids. Public education is crucial for preventing these common childhood injuries.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric burn injuries
- Public health and safety
- Epidemiology of childhood accidents
Background:
- Scald burns are a prevalent cause of pediatric hospital admissions in Kuwait.
- A significant majority of burn injuries in children are accidental scalds.
- Home environments, particularly kitchens, are the primary settings for these incidents.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the epidemiology of pediatric scald burns in Kuwait.
- To identify high-risk age groups and common etiologic factors.
- To inform prevention strategies through public awareness.
Main Methods:
- Prospective study of 560 pediatric burn patients over 4.5 years.
- Analysis of patient demographics, burn etiology, severity, and treatment outcomes.
- Categorization of patients by age group and burn circumstances.
Main Results:
- Scald burns accounted for 69% of cases, with 73% occurring in children aged 2-5 years.
- Kitchen accidents involving hot liquids (water, tea, coffee, oil) were the leading cause.
- Average burn size was 14.21% total body surface area, with an average hospital stay of 16.9 days.
Conclusions:
- Preschool children (2-5 years) are a highly vulnerable group for scald burns in Kuwait.
- Home-based prevention, especially in kitchens, is essential.
- Public education campaigns are vital to reduce the incidence of these preventable injuries.
Abstract:
In a prospective study of 560 children treated for burns as in-patients over a period of four-and-a-half years in specialized hospitals responsible for the majority of burn cases in Kuwait, 388 patients (69%) had sustained scalds. The mean age of these 388 children, between 0 to 12 years, was 3.02 +/- 2.08, and male to female ratio 1.5 to 1. They were categorized into three age groups, first, up to 1 year comprised 17.5% cases, who were solely dependent on parents or childminder; second 2 to 5 years of age, who were inquisitive, independent, pre-school children, and constituted the majority of cases (73%), and third 6 to 12 years who were 9.5% school children. The pre-school children (2-5 years) thus formed a highly vulnerable group in the country. Accidents (99.4%) occurred at home and the kitchen being the commonest place. The hot water from pan and pots in the kitchen was the most common etiologic factor in 229 cases (59%), followed by tea/coffee 20.7%, soup 9.0%, hot oil 6.7%, and milk 4.6% patients. The most common circumstance was the child upsetting the pan of hot fluid in the kitchen. The mean total body surface areas of second and third degree burns were 14.21 +/- 9.66 (range 1 to 60%). The average length of stay in the hospital was 16.90 +/- 15.74 days, varying from one to 109 days. Thirty-nine children were ill prior to burn, and the commonest disease was respiratory tract infection. Three patients (0.8%) with 3rd degree burns were treated with primary excision and grafting, and 137 (35.3%) needed secondary skin grafting for residual burn wounds. Four patients (1%) died, one due to burn shock, two due to septicemia and one due to multiorgan failure. There is need for general awareness through public education, which may lead to the prevention of significant number of such accidents.