Steam inhalation therapy: severe scalds as an adverse side effect.
BACKGROUND
Steam inhalation therapy is often recommended in the treatment of a common cold. However, it has no proven benefit and may in fact have serious adverse side effects in terms of burn injuries.


OBJECTIVE
To quantify the human and economic costs of steam inhalation therapy in terms of burn injury.


METHODS
A prospective database study of all patients admitted to the burn centres (Beverwijk, Groningen, Rotterdam) and the hospital emergency departments in the Netherlands.


METHODS
Number and extent of burn injuries as a result of steam inhalation therapy were analysed, as well as an approximation made of the direct costs for their medical treatment.


RESULTS
Annually, on average three people are admitted to in one of the Dutch burn centres for burns resulting from steam inhalation therapy. Most victims were children, and they needed skin grafting more often than adults. The total direct medical costs for burn centre and emergency department treatment were €115,500 (£93,000), emotional costs are not reflected.


CONCLUSIONS
As steam inhalation therapy has no proven benefit and the number and extent of complications of this therapy in terms of burn injury are significant, especially in children, steam inhalation therapy should be considered a dangerous procedure and not recommended anymore in professional guidelines and patient brochures.
Maasstad Hospital, Paediatrics, Maasstadweg 21, Rotterdam, 3079DZ, the Netherlands. baartmansm@maasstadziekenhuis.nl
Martin
M
Baartmans
Evelien
E
Kerkhof
Jos
J
Vloemans
Jan
J
Dokter
Susanne
S
Nijman
Dick
D
Tibboel
Marianne
M
Nieuwenhuis
D000293:Adolescent; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002056:Burns / Q000191:economics / Q000209:etiology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003139:Common Cold / Q000191:economics / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000191:economics; D008297:Male; D009426:Netherlands; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012138:Respiratory Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000191:economics; D016038:Skin Transplantation / Q000191:economics; D013227:Steam / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014546:Urinary Catheterization / Q000191:economics
D013227:Steam