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BURNS IN CHILDHOOD: AN EPIDEMIOLOGICAL SURVEY
Author(s) -
P. PEGG STUART,
GREGORY J. J.,
HOGAN P. G.,
MOTTARELLY I. W.,
WALKER L. F.
Publication year - 1978
Publication title -
australian and new zealand journal of surgery
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.111
H-Index - 51
eISSN - 1445-2197
pISSN - 0004-8682
DOI - 10.1111/j.1445-2197.1978.tb04878.x
Subject(s) - medicine , epidemiology , accidental , injury prevention , pediatrics , suicide prevention , occupational safety and health , poison control , family medicine , medical emergency , physics , pathology , acoustics
The epidemiology of 382 burns admitted to the Royal Children's Hospital, Brisbane, is reviewed. Accidents due to burn trauma are disproportionately common among children when compared with adults, and during childhood years make up a sizable proportion of all injuries, in addition to the immediate physical trauma, there can be severe psychological consequences as well as severe disturbances to family life. Seventy per cent of the children In this series were normal active children less than four years of age, who were too young to learn that certain things are dangerous, and for this group preventative measures must be directed towards the parents. Possible methods of prevention of burns In children are discussed, and It Is tragic that the very traits that make young children so engaging also lead them to accidental burn injuries. Their only hope of prevention lies In increased parental concern. Summary A survey has been done of 382 burns admitted to the Burns Unit, Royal Children's Hospital, over a five and a half year period, there being 250 males and 132 females. The cause of these burns is described, particularly the common causes such as kitchen scalds, bath scalds, petrol burns and clothes burns, as well as predisposing causes. These are discussed to give an overall picture of the epidemiology of childhood burns. The comparison is made with other series from Australia, and possible methods of preventing these injuries are discussed. It is tragic that the very traits that make young children so engaging also lead them to accidental burn injury. The only hope of prevention lies in an increased parental concern.