Epidemiological Study about Childhood Burns in the Burn Unit of Ain Shams University Hospitals

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

The Department of Plastic, Burn and Maxillofacial Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University

Abstract

Background: Childhood burns in Egypt are a significant
problem, especially in families of low socioeconomic status.
These families live in overcrowded areas, which lack proper
hygiene and tend to use kerosene stoves, which lack any safety
measure.
Objective: The purpose of this study is to determine the
epidemiological characteristics of burn incidents in children to
provide fundamental knowledge for a preventative programme
that would shield younger children from burns and older children
from the risks associated with burn injuries.
Patients Methods, and Results: Over 28 months, 981burnt
youngsters were presented to the Ain Shams University burn
unit. Boys were harmed at a proportionately higher rate than
girls. The age range of 3 to 6 years was associated with an
increase in the incidence. Scalds made up 52.8% of the cause
of burns, with fire accounting for 35.6% of cases. Electrical
and chemical burns accounted for 5 and 6.6% of cases, respectively.
Fifty patients suffered from occupational accidents,
highlighting a significant issue with youngsters from lower socioeconomic
classes entering the workforce between the ages
of 8 and 15. During the trial, 23 children (2.3%) passed away
because of burns.
Conclusion: The epidemiological pattern of children’s
burns in our area needs to serve as the foundation for a comprehensive
media campaign aimed at regulating and enhancing
the safety of home items. The most significant finding of this
study is that the percentage of childhood burns was rising. This
cannot be solely attributed to seasonal variations and public
awareness; rather, it is a sign of the risks to the pediatric population
associated with low socioeconomic status, which forces
both parents to work and leave the kids unsupervised for extended
periods of time.

Keywords

Main Subjects

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