Burns : journal of the International Society for Burn Injuries
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The epidemiological pattern of burns varies widely in different parts of the world. To suggest effective preventive measures, an insight into the pattern of injury is desirable. However, data on burn victims and outcome is limited from this part of the world. ⋯ In patients with burns, total body surface area involvement more than 30%, age more than 20 years, female gender and presence of facial injury are statistically significant, as predictors of poor outcome and risk of death. The strongest association was seen with facial injury, which increased the risk of death by fourfold.
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Serum macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) and procalcitonin (PCT) concentrations as well as leucocyte numbers were evaluated in a retrospective study with 23 patients with severe burn injuries. The MIF and PCT concentrations as well as the number of leucocytes (LEU) were monitored over a period of 5 days. The total body surface area (TBSA) and sepsis-related organ failure assessment (SOFA) scores were also evaluated. ⋯ The MIF and PCT data pairs in these subgroups appeared to correlate in an inhomogeneous manner. These levels in the subgroup 2a (i.e., lethal within 5 days) were strongly elevated over those observed in Group 1 (TBSA<60%) and highly increased concentrations of both MIF and PCT correlated with lethal outcome. The combined determination of MIF and PCT might, therefore, be useful to discriminate between post-burn inflammation and systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) or sepsis with lethal outcome.
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Scald injuries are the commonest cause of paediatric burns leading to hospital admission both in the United Kingdom (National Burn Care Review Committee Report; 2001) and around the world. The cost and significant morbidity resulting from scald injuries reiterates the need for effective prevention campaigns for primary caregivers. The majority of scalds in children occur in the kitchen (49%) at home. Three children a day under the age of 5 (1100/year) are involved in scalds resulting from pulling on a cup of beverage onto themselves. We therefore aim to study the temperature of common beverages made at home and their potential to cause significant thermal injury. ⋯ Hot beverages can cause significant scald injuries especially in the paediatric population. We demonstrated the potential for a full thickness burn despite cooling for 10 min or the addition of cold milk. Thus the complacent attitude surrounding beverages under such conditions should be abolished. Our work also reiterates the need for education amongst caregivers regarding the handling of hot beverages in order to reduce the number of household injuries.