Burn Injury in Children: A Single-center Analysis of 100 Patients in Japan

Abstract

Burn, a common injury in daily life, is a potential risk factor for severe sequelae in people, particularly children. Preventing unexpected burn injuries is of the utmost importance. This study examined the current status of pediatric burns in our institute. One hundred children who received intensive therapy in Kyushu University Hospital were analyzed regarding the causes, sites, severity, treatments, and outcomes of burns between 2004 and 2021. The mean patient age was 2.4 years (range: 0-15), and 90% of patients were 6 years old or younger. The mean percent total body surface area was 12.7%. All patients had second- or third-degree burns. The most common cause was scalding (93%), and among them, hot water burns, and kettle burns were predominant in 49.5% and 24.7% of children, respectively. The seasonal fluctuations of occurrence were not remarkable. Basic fibroblast growth factor spray with wet dressing was used, but hypertrophic scars arose in 39 patients. The mean duration of hospitalization was 18.9 ± 18.2 days. This study revealed that more than 90% of pediatric burns were caused by hot liquids, thereby highlighting the importance of educational activities for parents to prevent and reduce pediatric burns because most scalding burns can be avoided with caution.

Keywords

• pediatric burns
• burn prevention
• scald injury
• epidemiology