Ten-Year Epidemiological Study of Pediatric Burns in Canada

Abstract

The aim of this study was to report on the temporal trends, incidence rates, demographic, and external-cause data for all burn injury related deaths and hospital admissions among children Canadian aged 0 to 19 years for the years 1994 to 2003. Statistics Canada and Canadian Institute of Health Information data were used to describe burn injury related deaths and hospital admission trends in children aged 0 to 19 years who were residents of Canada (1994-2003). Population estimates were derived from census data provided by Statistics Canada. During the 10-year period, 494 children died and 10,229 were admitted to a Canadian hospital because of a burn-related injury. Males and children aged less than 5 years of age were at the highest risk of injury, with children aged 1 to 5 years at the highest risk of death. Scalds represented the major etiological factor contributing to thermal injuries accounting for 50% of all hospital admissions. Temporal trends indicate a significant a significant decline in burn injuries across all age groups during the period 1994 to 2003. There has been a clear reduction in the number of patients with burn injury requiring hospital admission. This trend indicates success in safety initiative to prevent burn injuries as well as in improvements in the treatments of burn and hospital admission procedures. Nonetheless, burn injury remains a serious threat to the well-being of the Canadian pediatric population.