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

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.Aim of the Work: 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.