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Affiliation
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The Children's Hospital Burns Research Institute, Burns Unit, and New South Wales Statewide Burn Injury Service, The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Westmead, NSW, Australia; Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia; Douglas Cohen Department of Paediatric Surgery, The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Sydney, NSW, Australia. Electronic address: andrew.holland@health.nsw.gov.au. |
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Abstract
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BACKGROUND: Chemical burns account for a small proportion of total burns in children, but may require specific first aid and different modes of prevention.
METHODS: A retrospective study between 2006 and 2012 of children ≤16 years treated with chemical burns at a specialist paediatric burn centre. Data were extracted from a prospectively maintained database.
RESULTS: 56 episodes of chemical burns occurred during the study period. The majority (54%) occurred in boys. There were 39 (72%) patients <10 years and 17 (39%) ≥10 years. Median total body surface area burnt was 1% with nine (16%) patients requiring skin grafting. Only 24 (45%) had adequate first aid. The majority (n=46, 82%) of chemical burns occurred in the domestic setting, especially in the <10 years age group (P=0.052). Non-intentional exposure of chemicals by an unattended child accounted for half of all (n=22, 49%) chemical burns <10 years of age. Eight (47%) burns in patients ≥10 years resulted from self-harm. The most common aetiological agents were household cleaners and aerosols in the younger and older age groups respectively.
CONCLUSION: Chemical burns remain infrequent but potentially preventable. These burns mainly occur in the domestic setting due to non-intentional exposure of household chemicals in children <10, and due to deliberate self-harm in children ≥10. The use of child-resistant packaging, similar to that used for medications, and improved parental practices could help decrease the incidence of burns in children <10.
Language: en |