title: Epidemiology of burns and scalds in children presenting to the emergency department of a regional burns unit: a 7-year retrospective study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Variation in the incidence and mechanism of thermal injury has been reported in different age groups in children. The aim of this study was to report the incidence, mechanisms, and environmental factors of all burns presentations to the emergency department (ED) of a regional burns centre over a 7-year period.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective, chart review study of all burns presentations to the ED of a regional burns centre in South Wales was conducted. All children recorded as having sustained a burn or scald, aged less than 16 years were included in the analysis. Subjects' demographics were analysed using descriptive statistics, and comparisons were made between patients aged less than 5 and patients aged 5-16 using chi-square test and Mann-Whitney U test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 1387 cases were included in the final analysis. Scalds were the most common thermal injury with 569 (41.0 %) reported, followed by contact burns in 563 (40.6 %) patients. The patients requiring hospitalisation were significantly younger (2 vs 3 years; p < 0.001) and had a higher rate of non-accidental injury (10 vs 4; p < 0.001). The most commonly injured site in both age groups was a hand or digit.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Scalds and contact burns were the most commonly reported thermal injury in children aged less than 16. Common mechanisms were hot beverages, hobs and hair straighteners, highlighting further burn prevention strategies are needed and good-quality prospective studies that investigate the effectiveness of such strategies.
authors: Department of Emergency Medicine, NISCHR Haemostasis Biomedical Research Unit, Morriston Hospital, Swansea, UK ; Department of Physiotherapy, Morriston Hospital, Swansea, UK.
authors: Ceri Elisabeth
authors: CE
authors: Battle
authors: Department of Emergency Medicine, NISCHR Haemostasis Biomedical Research Unit, Morriston Hospital, Swansea, UK.
authors: Vanessa
authors: V
authors: Evans
authors: Department of Physiotherapy, Morriston Hospital, Swansea, UK.
authors: Karen
authors: K
authors: James
authors: Department of Emergency Medicine, Morriston Hospital, Swansea, Wales SA6 6NL UK.
authors: Katherine
authors: K
authors: Guy
authors: Department of Emergency Medicine, NISCHR Haemostasis Biomedical Research Unit, Morriston Hospital, Swansea, UK.
authors: Janet
authors: J
authors: Whitley
authors: Department of Emergency Medicine, NISCHR Haemostasis Biomedical Research Unit, Morriston Hospital, Swansea, UK.
authors: Phillip Adrian
authors: PA
authors: Evans
keywords: Burns epidemiology; Emergency department; Paediatrics