A 6-year review of paediatric burns in the West of Ireland

Abstract

Burn injury can be one of the most serious and devastating forms of trauma. In the UK, approximately 250,000 people experience burn injuries each year resulting in 16,100 hospital admissions. Of these, just almost 50% are children under the age of 16 years. The aims of this retrospective study were to define the regional incidence of significant paediatric burn injuries requiring hospital admission, as well as aetiological and demographical factors influencing this incidence. Additionally, the level of pre-hospital first aid provided, surgical procedures performed as well as morbidity and mortality resulting from these burns was identified. Case notes of 101 patients between the ages of 1 month and 16 years, admitted from January 1995 to December 2000, were reviewed retrospectively. The results, in general, were consistent with other similar studies. There were, however, certain notable differences: 35.6% burns were sustained from hot baths/showers, a higher percentage when compared to series from other European and Scandinavian countries. The level of parental and public awareness for simple first aid measures was alarmingly low, so that over half of the patients did not have any first aid help before they arrived in the hospital. More than 90% of paediatric burns are preventable. This study therefore brings up the need for devising and implementing an effective and consistent preventive strategy, including improved public health and safety education campaigns, which still appear to be receiving insufficient emphasis in Ireland.