Abstract
Aim
We aimed to identify if there was a change in the number of paediatric burns during the coronavirus pandemic and whether there was a change in the management of said burns.
Method
Data on ten parameters for all burns assessed on the Burns Unit at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital from April to May of 2020 was collected and compared to the same period from 2019.
Results
There was a decrease in the number of patients presenting to hospital, down to 24 from 32 in 2019. Scald injuries increased to 67% compared to 44%, while all other mechanisms of injuries decreased. Fewer very small burns (<1% TBSA) presented to hospital (28%) compared to 50% the previous year. There was an overall increase in the presentation of burns greater than 1% TBSA (1-5% TBSA increased to 47% from 31%; 5-10% TBSA increased to 19% from 3%; 10-20% TBSA increased to 6% from 3%). A comparable rate of burns was managed conservatively as an outpatient (89% vs 88%), admitted for dressing changes (81% vs 78%), and managed surgically (11% vs 13%).
Conclusions
The coronavirus pandemic resulted in a decrease in the number of children experiencing burns, while at the same time causing an increase in the number of scald injuries. Our data showed no significant change in the management of burns indicating that regardless of the pandemic, paediatric burns were managed appropriately as per national guidelines.
A prospective study of paediatric preoperative fasting times at Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa
