Epidemiology of Burns in Patients Aged 0 – 13 Years at a Paediatric Hospital in Kenya.
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Date
2014Author
Mutiso, VM
Khainga, SO
Muoki, AS
Kimeu, MM
Language
enMetadata
Show full item recordAbstract
Background: Burns are a common and significant cause of admission following injury in
children.
Methods: This was a retrospective hospital based multivariate survey conducted on burns
patients aged 0 to 13 years over a five year period 2003 to 2007. It was conducted at a
paediatric hospital in Nairobi, Kenya. During this period there were 1,052 patients
admitted due to injury of which 202 (19.2%) had suffered a burns injury. Epidemiological
data from the 202 patients was collected and analyzed.
Results: The age range was 5 months to 13 years. The mean age was 3.4 years. 84.6% were
in the age group 0 – 5 years. Males made up 59.7% giving a male to female ratio was 1.65:1.
The main cause of burns was scalds with hot fluids accounting for 84.2%. Of the scalds, 175
(87.1%) took place at home. Unintentional burns accounted for the majority at 198
(98.5%).
The majority of the patients [124, n= 176, 70.5%] had burns of Total Burnt Surface Area of
less than 10%.
Conclusion: Our results were similar to other studies in literature especially from
developing countries for burns in the paediatric age group. Prevention is the key.
URI
http://www.ajol.info/index.php/ecajs/article/view/111886/101648http://hdl.handle.net/11295/80100
Citation
East & Central African Journal of Surgery. Nov/Dec 2014 Vol. 19 (3)Collections
- Faculty of Health Sciences (FHS) [10378]