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Objective To assess risk factors for paediatric burn injuries in the Czech Republic and to suggest preventive measures. Methods This study included all children aged 0-16 years hospitalized during 1993-2000 at the Prague Burn Centre and data from the Czech Ministry of Health on national paediatric burn hospitalizations during 1996-2006. Personal, equipment and environmental risk factors were identified from hospital records. Findings The incidence of burn admissions among 0-14 year-olds increased from 85 to 96 per 100 000 between 1996 and 2006, mainly due to a 13% increase among 1-4 year-olds. Between 1993-2000 and 2006, the proportion of burn victims in the country hospitalized at the Prague Burn Centre increased from 9% to 21%. Detailed data were available on 1064 children (64% boys). Around 31% of all burn hospitalizations were in 1 year-olds. Some 79% of burns occurred at home: 70% in the kitchen, 14% in the living room or bedroom and 11% in the bathroom. Of the 18% occurring outdoors, 80% involved boys. Scalds from hot liquids accounted for 70% of all burns. The mean hospital stay was 22 days for boys and 18 days for girls. Conclusion Most burns involved scalds from hot liquids at home: beverages in kitchens and water in bathrooms. There is a need for passive preventive measures, such as redesigned domestic cooking and eating areas, safer electrical kettles and temperature control devices for bathrooms. Educational programmes should be developed for parents and caregivers. A national plan for child burn prevention with specific targets would be helpful. Objectif Evaluer les facteurs de risque de brulures pediatriques dans la Republique tcheque et suggerer des mesures preventives. Methodes Cette etude a porte sur l'ensemble des enfants de 0 a 16 ans hospitalises entre 1993 et 2000 au Centre des grands brules de Prague et a utilise les donnees du Ministere tcheque de la Sante sur les hospitalisations pour brulure pediatrique de 1996 a 2006. Les facteurs de risque humains, materiels et environnementaux ont ete identifies d'apres les registres hospitaliers. Resultats L'incidence des admissions pour brulure chez les enfants de 0 a 14 ans est passee de 85 a 96 pour 100 000 entre 1996 et 2006, en raison principalement de l'accroissement de 13% de cette incidence dans la tranche d'ages 1-4 ans. Entre la periode 1993-2000 et 2006, la proportion d'enfants brules dans le pays hospitalisees au Centre des grands brules de Prague a augmente de 9 a 21%. On disposait de donnees detaillees pour 1064 enfants (dont 64 % de garcons). Environ 31% des hospitalisations pour brulures concernaient des enfants d'un an. Pres de 79% des brulures s'etaient produites au domicile des enfants : 70% dans la cuisine, 14% dans la salle de sejour ou une chambre et 11% dans la sane de bain. Sur los 18% de brulures intervenant a l'exterieur, 80% touchaient des garcons. Les enfants ebouillantes par des liquides chauds representaient 70% de l'ensemble des cas de brulures. Le sejour moyen a l'hopital etait de 22 jours pour les garcons et de 18 jours pour les filles. Conclusion Dans la plupart des cas de brulures, l'enfant avait ete ebouillante par un liquide chaud a son domicile : par une boisson a la cuisine et par de l'eau a la salle de bain. Des mesures de prevention passive s'imposent, comme le reamenagement des zones servant la cuisine et a l'alimentation domestiques et comme l'utilisation de bouilloires electriques plus sures et de dispositifs de controle de la temperature dans les salles de bains. Des programmes d'education doivent etre developpes a l'intention des parents et des personnes s'occupant des enfants. Un plan national pour la prevention des brulures chez l'enfant, avec des objectifs precis, serait utile. Objetivo Investigar-los factores de riesgo de quemaduras en ninos de la Republica Checa y proponer medidas preventivas. Metodos En el presente estudio se incluyeron todos los ninos de 0 a 16 anos hospitalizados entre 1993 y 2000 en el Centro de Quemados de Praga. Asimismo, se analizaron los datos del Ministerio de Salud de la Republica Checa sobre las hospitalizaciones por quemaduras registradas en el pals durante el periodo 1996-2006. Los factores de riesgo personales, ambientales y relacionados con el equipo se identificaron a partir de los registros hospitalarios. Resultados La incidencia de ingresos por quemaduras en ninos de 0 a 14 anos aumento de 85 a 96 por 100 000 entre 1996 y 2006, sobre todo debido a un aumento del 13% entre los ninos de 1 a 4 anos. Entre 1993-2000 y 2006, la proporcion de quemados de todo el pals ingresados en el Centro de Quemados de Praga aumento del 9% al 21%. Se obtuvieron datos detallados sobre 1064 ninos (el 64% de ellos del sexo masculino). Aproximadamente un 31% de todas las hospitalizaciones por quemaduras se registraron ten ninos de 1 ano. Aproximadamente un 79% de las quemaduras se produjeron en casa: el 70% en la cocina, el 14% en el salon o la habitacion, y el 11% en el bano. Del 18% de las quemaduras que se produjeron fuera de casa, el 80% afecto al sexo masculino. Las escaldaduras con liquidos calientes supusieron el 70% de la totalidad de las quemaduras. La duracion media de la estancia en el hospital fue de 22 dias en los ninos y de 18 dias en las ninas. Conclusion La mayoria de las quemaduras consisten en escaldaduras con liquidos calientes que se producen en casa: bebidas en la cocina y agua en el cuarto de bano. Son necesarias medidas preventivas pasivas, tales como la modificacion del diseno de las zonas de la casa para cocinar y comer, una mayor seguridad de las teteras electricas y dispositivos de control de la temperatura del agua en los cuartos de bano. Asimismo, deben elaborarse programas de educacion para padres y cuidadores. Seria util disponer de un plan nacional de prevencion de las quemaduras infantiles que tuviera metas concretas., Introduction A severe nonfatal burn is one of the most devastating injuries a person can survive, and such injuries impose a substantial medical, social, economic and personal burden on society [...]

The third leading cause of death in children 0 to 19 years of age, and the leading cause of death in children 0 to 4 years is fires and burn injuries. Eighty-four percent of these deaths occur in house fires and are primarily due to smoke inhalation. The pain accompanying a severe nonfatal burn is excruciating; the recovery lengthy; the physical and emotional scarring is life-long; and the cost of burn and rehabilitative care is dramatic. Childhood burn injuries are caused by scalds during babies' baths, overhot drinks, caustic chemicals, high voltage electric current, cigarette lighters, matches and stoves. Child abuse also contributes to the toll. The 1985 Mortality File was the source of the fire and burn mortality statistics presented in this article. The National Hospital Discharge Survey and the National Health Interview Surveys were the sources of additional data. Costs of burn injuries and deaths were obtained by estimating the years of potential life lost (YPPL). The YPLLs are estimates of the years of life expected had the children not died, and is based on the conventional life expectancy of 65 years. Cost estimates for nonfatal burns were derived from the Injury Cost Model (ICM) of the Consumer Product Safety Commission. The ICM provides a common methodology to measure the impact of injuries associated with consumer products. The ICM includes hospital costs, retreatment costs, health and product liability insurance, victim and visitor transportation, lost earnings, litigation, pain and suffering, and disability. In 1985, 1,461 children between 0 and 19 years of age died from fire or burn injuries. Societal losses from deaths due to fire or burns alone is estimated at between $2.9 to $4.4 billion. Preventive measures include the use of child-resistant cigarette lighters, and the installations of sprinkler systems in residences, smoke detectors in all structures, and anti-scald devices in domestic water systems. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Tap water scald burns account for 7% to 17% of all childhood scald burns that require hospitalization. Often the burns are severe and disabling. Toddlers and preschool children are the most frequent victims. In 45% of the injuries, the unsupervised victim or peer turned on the tap water, in 28% the cause was abuse. Eighty percent of the homes tested had unsafe bathtub water temperatures of 54 [degrees] C (130 [degrees] F) or higher, exposing the occupants to the risk of full-thickness scald with [is less than] 30-second exposure to hot water. Such burns may be prevented passively by limiting household water temperatures to [is less than] 52 [degrees] C (125 [degrees] F). New water heaters could be preset at this temperature, and families could be taught to turn down the temperature on existing units., COMMENTARY Each year in the United States, ~1200 children die from fires and burns. Mortality from burns has decreased dramatically since the famous Cocoanut Grove Fire killed 491 people in [...]

About 22,000 deaths from injury occur yearly in the age group from birth to 19 years in the United States, a crude death rate of 30.3 per 10,000. Burns are […]