Abstract:

Introduction: Burn injury is a coagulative necrosis of the skin and the underlying tissue, due to exposure to heat, cold, chemical, radiations and electricity. The foremost concern is, burn injury constitutes a major health problem all over the world, affecting approximately 1% of the world’s population each year. In Tanzania, burn is the commonest form of trauma. It contributes significantly high morbidity and mortality. Patients with extensive burns frequently die, and for those with less severe injuries physical recovery is slow and painfully. Patients also suffer emotional and psychological problems.

Objective: The objective of this study was to assess the magnitude and demographic patterns of children’s domestic burn at S/Toure hospital, to determine proportion of burns in a pediatric surgical ward, to determine the proportion of domestic burns by age, to determine the proportion of domestic burn by sex, to determine the commonest aetiological types of domestic burn in children, to determine the associated complications of burns, to determine the outcome of burns.

Methods: A descriptive cross sectional study using collection data form to collect information to assess the magnitude and demographic pattern of children’s domestic burn at S/Toure regional hospital from January 2013 to June 2013 at S/Toure hospital, the files were used to get details about these children with emphasis on the issues attached on the check list.

Results: A total of 171 admitted patients in Pediatrics surgical ward, of which 12.3 (n=21) were due to burns of whom 90.5% (n=19) from 0-4 years, 4.8% (n=1) aged between 5-8 years, and also another 4.8% (n=1) were between 9-12 years old. Results on the frequency by sex showed that male were 71.4% (n=15 and female were 28.6% (n=6). The commonest cause of burn during the study was scald burn with 100% (n=100), however the associated complications were 4.8 %( n=1) local sepsis, 4.8% n=1) contracture, and 90.5% (n=19) have no any complication. Generally, the outcomes, all patients were discharged home.

Conclusion: There is a need for general awareness of the causes of burns and their danger, this can be achieved through education of the public with special emphasis on the importance of careful parental supervision of children. Safety training is absolute necessity and both governmental and non-governmental organizations should establish specialized centres for burn prevention. It is important to promote ongoing information campaigns as those who have recently become parents may not be aware of the dangers to which their children are exposed.