Epidemiological Study about Children Burns Injury in the North of Morocco

Abstract

Children are a population particularly at risk of burns, associated with high mortality in developing countries, associated with poverty, and poor infrastructure. The study of the epidemiology of burns in these countries aims to target prevention campaigns. The objective of our study is to study the epidemiological aspects of burns in the infant population in the region of Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima, to determine the etiopathogenic aspects, and to describe the methods of prevention. This study was carried out retrospectively, by collecting the most frequent etiologies, the sex, and the site of the accident in 76 children admitted for burns to the emergency rooms of the regional hospital of Tangier, over 6 months from April 2021 to September 2021. The ages of our children ranged from 1 to 12 years old. The average age was 4 years and 2 months. A male predominance was found with 56 boys (73.68%) and 20 girls (26.32%). The scalding burn was observed 65 times (85.53%), by flame 8 times (10.53%), and another mechanism 3 times (3,95%). All of the burns occurred at home (100%). The causative agent was hot water in 48 cases (63.16%), other liquids in 17 cases (22,36%). Explosions of a small gas cylinder were also observed in 4 cases (5.26%) or a gas oven in 4 cases (5.26%), And another cause was observed in 3 cases (3,95%). It is necessary to know that the burn is a frequent trauma, making it a real public health problem, Hot liquids are the most implicated causative agent in the pediatric population. The flame is also frequently responsible for burns. The management must be intense; early and multidisciplinary to improve the vital and functional prognosis of these patients. Prevention remains the way to avoid serious burns, especially the education of mothers.