title: [Burn injuries in children: admissions at Landspitali University Hospital in Iceland 2000-2008].
abstract: Causes of burn injuries in children are universally associated with social and environmental factors. Epidemiological studies are therefore important in identifying risk factors and for planning preventive interventions.
  
  
  
  Children younger than 18 years with skin burns who were treated as inpatients at Landspitali University Hospital over a 9-year period, 2000 and 2008, were included in this retrospective descriptive study. Data was collected from medical records.
  
  
  
  Of 149 children included in the study 41.6% were four years old or younger. The average annual incidence of hospital admissions was 21/100,000. Cold water as first aid was applied in 78% of cases. Half of the accidents occurred in the home where a close family member was the caretaker. Risk factors were identified in 11.4% of the accidents and abuse or neglect was suspected in 3.4% of cases. Scalds were the most common type of burn injury (50.3%) followed by burns caused by fire (20.4%) including gas or petrol (14.9%) and fireworks (17.6%). The most common source of scalds was exposure to hot water from hot water mains (12,9%) and heated water (12,9%). The mean time from emergency room admission to the paediatric ward was two hours and 22 minutes. The mean length of stay was 13 days; median 9 days (range 1-97).
  
  
  
  Incidence of hospital admissions for burn injury has decreased when compared with earlier Icelandic studies. Children four years and younger and boys between 13-16 years old are most at risk for burn injuries. Stronger preventive measures as well as better documentation of burn accidents are imperative.
authors.affiliation: Gjörgæsludeild Landspítala, Reykjavík. lovisaba@landspitali.is
authors.forename: Lovísa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Baldursdóttir
authors.forename: Laura Scheving
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Thorsteinsson
authors.forename: Gunnar
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Auðólfsson
authors.forename: Margrét E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Baldursdóttir
authors.forename: Berglind O
authors.initials: BO
authors.lastname: Sigurvinsdóttir
authors.forename: Vilborg
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Gísladóttir
authors.forename: Anna Olafía
authors.initials: AO
authors.lastname: Sigurðardóttir
authors.forename: Þráinn
authors.initials: Þ
authors.lastname: Rósmundsson
mesh_terms: D000056:Accident Prevention; D000059:Accidents / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000293:Adolescent; D002056:Burns / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006785:Hospitals, University / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007055:Iceland / Q000453:epidemiology; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D010343:Patient Admission / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors