[Severe burns related to steam inhalation therapy].
BACKGROUND
Despite lack of proven effectiveness and its potential to cause severe burns, steam inhalation therapy (SIT) is still used as a treatment for benign respiratory conditions.


OBJECTIVE
To characterize cases of burns related to steam inhalation therapy (BRSIT) in order to formulate appropriate preventive criteria.


METHODS
A review was conducted on cases of BRSIT admitted to a Burns Unit between 2006 and 2012, analysing epidemiological data, clinical aspects, severity and course.


RESULTS
A total of 530 patients were admitted; 375 (70%) with scalds, and 15 with BRSIT (2.8% of burns; 4% of scalds). SIT was indicated in most cases for mild upper airway infections. The median age of patients was 7 years (2.5m-14 y). The burned area (BA) was ≥10% in 60% of cases (max. BA 22%). Injuries involved trunk, genital area, and extremities; only in one case was the face affected. The mean hospital length-of-stay was 14 days (3-30 d). Five patients (33%) were admitted to the PICU, most of them (60%) younger than 3 years. Eight patients (53%) underwent surgical treatment (skin grafting). In a 12-year-old patient whooping cough was diagnosed in the Burns Unit, and a 2.5-year-old patient developed staphylococcal toxic shock syndrome. No patient died. The final course was satisfactory in all patients.


CONCLUSIONS
BRSIT can be severe and cause significant use of health resources. Professionals caring for children, particularly paediatricians, should seriously consider their prevention, avoiding treatments with SIT, and educating parents in order not to use it on their own.
Servicio de Pediatría, Programa de Trauma Pediátrico, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, España; Unidad de Quemados, Programa de Trauma Pediátrico, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, España. Electronic address: jabelmonte@vhebron.net.
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JA
Belmonte
SEM-Pediátrico, Programa de Trauma Pediátrico, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, España.
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P
Domínguez-Sampedro
Servicio de Pediatría, Programa de Trauma Pediátrico, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, España.
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E
Pérez
Agència de Salut Pública de Catalunya, Barcelona, España.
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JM
Suelves
Unidad de Quemados, Programa de Trauma Pediátrico, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, España; Servicio de Cirugía Plástica y Quemados, Programa de Trauma Pediátrico, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, España.
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JM
Collado
D000293:Adolescent; D002056:Burns / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D015601:Injury Severity Score; D008297:Male; D012138:Respiratory Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013227:Steam / Q000009:adverse effects*
D013227:Steam
Burn; Child; Epidemiology; Epidemiología; Escaldadura; Infant; Injury; Lactante; Lesión; Niño; Prevención; Prevention; Quemadura; Scald; Steam; Vaho