title: Chemical burns in children: Aetiology and prevention.
abstract: 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.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  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.
authors.affiliation: 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; Douglas Cohen Department of Paediatric Surgery, The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Rachel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: D'Cruz
authors.affiliation: Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Tony C Y
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Pang
authors.affiliation: 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.
authors.forename: John G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Harvey
authors.affiliation: 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.
authors.forename: Andrew J A
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Holland
mesh_terms: D000061:Accidents, Home / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000293:Adolescent; D000336:Aerosols / Q000009:adverse effects*; D017677:Age Distribution; D002053:Burn Units; D002057:Burns, Chemical / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003902:Detergents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D005392:First Aid / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006795:Household Products / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009517:New South Wales / Q000453:epidemiology; D019064:Product Packaging / Q000379:methods; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016728:Self-Injurious Behavior / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D017678:Sex Distribution; D062606:Tertiary Care Centers
chemical_list: D000336:Aerosols; D003902:Detergents
keywords: Chemical burns; Paediatric; Prevention; Self harm