Elsevier

Burns

Volume 34, Issue 6, September 2008, Pages 863-867
Burns

Infants under 1 year of age have a significant risk of burn injury

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.burns.2007.11.011Get rights and content

Abstract

A wealth of data exists concerning paediatric burn epidemiology in general, but very little exists specifically in infants under 1 year of age, a special group in which mobility begins to develop. A retrospective study of all burn admissions of infants under 1 year old to The Welsh Centre for Burns from January 2003 to January 2006 was performed. During the 3-year period there were 104 new burns cases identified which represents 11.8% of all paediatric admissions. 63.5% (66) were treated as inpatients and 36.5% (38) treated as out-patients. Burns increased in frequency with increasing age and occurred mainly in the home. Scalds were the commonest type of burn in 65% (68) whilst the second most common was contact burns which accounted for 30% (31). The most common source of scald was from cups containing hot drinks (39%) and the most common source of contact burn was radiators/hot water pipes (30%). The mean TBSA was 2.3%, (range 0.5–38%). The frequency of burns in the under 1 year old population highlights a need for emphasis of burn prevention directed to this group. Special attention is needed to look at the specific aetiology of these burns. Starting points for prevention should address the number of burns surrounding hot drinks and bottle warming practices in the case of scalds and the dangers of household radiators and hot water pipes in the case of contact burns.

Introduction

Burns are one of the most physically and psychologically devastating forms of injury in children and as one of the most common household injuries are an important cause of morbidity and mortality [1], [2]. In both developed and developing countries, children under the age of 5 experience greater mortality from burns than any other age group [1], [2]. Because of the relative lack of mobility and independence within this age group, one would expect burns to be preventable yet they continue to occur and with them the long-term consequences. The economic cost of a burn can be substantial and continues to rise after the initial injury. For this reason, paediatric burns have enormous economic implications and pose a considerable burden to the health service, hence the funding of prevention strategies would be economically viable. However, the financial cost of a burn injury is inconsequential when compared to the impact and cost of the burn to the individual both physically and psychologically [3], [4]. Burn epidemiology is a useful tool to identify populations at increased risk, upon whom interventions to decrease the incidences of such injuries can be targeted [5], [6]. In this manner, a greater understanding of burn epidemiology in the under 1 year old population may be essential in order to direct more effective burn prevention strategies.

Section snippets

Methods

The Welsh Centre for Burns and Plastic Surgery serves a population of approximately 2.4 million over South and Mid-Wales. Approximately 300 cases of acute burns admissions are seen annually in patients aged less than 17 years of age. Data was retrospectively collected from the computerised “Phoenix” database at The Welsh Centre for Burns and Plastic Surgery at Morriston hospital in Swansea. All patient details are entered into the Phoenix database by a full time researcher. As well as patient

Results

A total of 104 patients under the age of 1 year were seen at the Welsh Centre for Burns and Plastic Surgery between January 2003 and January 2006. There were 59 males (56.7%) and 45 females (43.3%). Total number of cases increased across the age ranges from less than 1-month-old to 11 months old with burns incidence appearing to peak at 9 months old. Sixty-six (63.5%) of the patients required admission to hospital whilst 38 (36.5%) were treated as out-patients.

Scalds were the commonest type of

Discussion

This retrospective study highlights the frequency of burns in patients under the age of 1 year old. It was widely shown that young children under the age of 3 are at an increased risk of sustaining burn injury [7] but there is less data specifically concerning patients aged less than one. The 104 admissions of infants in our study represents 11.8% of all paediatric admissions under the age of 17 and 31% of paediatric admissions under 2 years of age seen as acute burn referrals at the Welsh

Conclusions

In order to fully assess the epidemiology of burns in this patient group and include other key factors such as socioeconomic details, number of siblings and age of mother, a prospective study is needed. Further to this, a multicentre prospective study could be performed to give comparable data and assess different aetiological factors for burns in this group and the effectiveness of local and national preventative strategies. The types and demographic characteristics of burn damage may differ

Conflict of interest

We the authors have no conflict of interest to declare and that no funding had been provided for the duration of the study.

Acknowledgements

Thanks to the team at the Welsh Centre for Burns and Plastic Surgery, the library staff at Morriston hospital and my husband Angus Ruddle.

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