Characteristics of thermal burns in children admitted to an Israeli pediatric surgical ward.

BACKGROUND: Reports of burn injuries in children are usually made by highly specialized burn units. Our facility admits children with burns covering < 20% total body surface area, while those with major burns are transferred to burn units at tertiary care facilities.

OBJECTIVES: To review our experience with thermal burns.

METHODS: We conducted a retrospective review of all thermal burns admitted to our hospital during a 5 year period.

RESULTS: Among 266 patients (69.2% boys) aged 3.5 +/- 3.6 years, children < 3 years old were the most frequently injured (64.7%). Scalds (71.4%) were the most common type of burn. Partial thickness burns were sustained by 96.6% of children and TBSA burned was 4.2 +/- 3.6%. The mean hospital stay was 3.8 +/- 4.5 days, and was significantly prolonged in girls (4.6 +/- 4.8 vs. 3.5 +/- 4.3 days, P = 0.01). Percent TBSA burned was correlated with patient age (r = 0.12, P = 0.04) and length of hospital stay (r = 0.6, P < 0.0001). Six patients (2.3%) (mean age 3.4 +/- 2.3 years) were hospitalized in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit due to toxin-mediated illness.

CONCLUSIONS: Children under the age of 3 years are at increased risk for burn injury, but older children sustain more extensive injuries. Prevention and awareness are needed for child safety.