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Burns in Patients with Epilepsy: Changes in Epidemiology and Implications for Burn Treatment and Prevention
Author(s) -
Josty I. C.,
Narayanan V.,
Dickson W. A.
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
epilepsia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.687
H-Index - 191
eISSN - 1528-1167
pISSN - 0013-9580
DOI - 10.1111/j.1528-1157.2000.tb00188.x
Subject(s) - epidemiology , medicine , epilepsy , retrospective cohort study , injury prevention , poison control , emergency medicine , pediatrics , surgery , psychiatry
Summary:Purpose : To determine the epidemiology of burns in patients with epilepsy and to identify changes in epidemiology compared with previous studies; to identify further strategies that can be used in the primary and secondary prevention of such injuries in this group of patients. Methods : A retrospective case note review of 111 patient episodes to a regional burns unit where the admission criterion was a burn secondary to an epileptic seizure. Results : The majority (60 of 111) of burns were due to scald injury and were sustained in a domestic setting. This group of patients (mean age, 42.7 years) accounted for 1.6% of admissions during the study period. The data demonstrate a change in the epidemiology when compared with previous studies. Most burns were small (mean area burnt, 2.2%) but deep, and 72 of 111 patient episodes required surgery, and 12% of patients had reburn injuries requiring readmission. Conclusions : Scald injuries are now the major cause of burns in those with epilepsy, and the proportion of such patients admitted to a regional burns unit has reduced. Patients and health professionals need to be aware of such injuries and of appropriate prevention strategies.