Epidemiology and Outcomes of Pediatric Burn Injuries in Cairo University Hospital- Egypt

Abstract

Aim: To identify the epidemiology and outcome of pediatric burn injuries. Study Design: Retrospective hospital -based analytical study. Place and Duration of Duration: Burn unit at Cairo university hospital, in the period between the first of January 2007 till December 2011. Methodology: The study retrospectively evaluated 564 children with different burn injuries, who were admitted to Cairo University Hospital during the period of the study. Data about age, sex, burn size, etiology of burn, and outcome of admission to the intensive care unit were retrieved from the medical records and the burn treatment registry. In addition, average length of hospital stay (ALOS) and bed occupancy rate (BOR) were calculated. Further analysis was done in the last year of the study (2011), by interviewing mothers of the patients and residents in charge. Results: The average age of the children was 5.9 years (SD: ± 4.1).Under five children were found to be the most susceptible to burn injuries accounting for about 70% of the affected population There was no significant difference in the number of patients between genders (P= 0.3). While scald type of burn was the most prevalent etiology of burn injuries representing more than 60% of all causes. Total burn surface area. (TBSA)% was greater among females, patients from rural residencies and flame type of burn. The non- survivors represented 2.5% of the studied sample. Intensive care unit (ICU) admission was mainly due to renal impairment, sepsis and respiratory stress due to inhalation injury. LOS and decreasing in the BOR reflects better advances in care. Conclusion: Under five children are the most susceptible age group to burn injuries, this could be prevented by raising awareness of patients. More attention should be paid to reduce complications that necessitate ICU admission.