A prospective study of burns trauma in children in the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Calabar, south-south Nigeria

Background: Burns are among the most devastating injuries seen in the emergency units. The epidemiology varies from one part of the world to another. This communication is a 3-year report of burns in children in an attempt to provide information on the current epidemiology of burns in this centre. Method: Children admitted into the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Calabar with burns were prospectively studied from February 2005 and January 2008. Results: There were 56 patients (28 males and 28 females). The ages ranged from 9 days and 14 years (mean 3.5 years) and 19 (73.1%) were preschool children. There were 39 (69.6%) who sustained scald injuries while 17 (30.4%) suffered flame injuries. Twenty-six (46.4%) patients sustained burns with total burn surface area above 10%. Conclusion: Education of the public on burns prevention based on the factors highlighted, establishment of burns support groups dedicated to publicity on prevention and provision of financial aid would sustain strategies when adopted. © 2008 Elsevier Ltd and ISBI.