Pediatric Burns During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Single-Center Experience

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: We documented children treated at our burn center during the COVID-19 pandemic period to investigate the features of pediatric burns and burn care modalities within the influence of pandemic conditions.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Medical records of 248 new admissions and 54 telemedicine visits were collected (March 2020-May 2021). Data collected included age, sex, burn cause, burn extent, affected body site, environment, time of day when injury occurred, time interval between injury and arrival at the burn center, and direct or indirect admissions from other centers. Collected data were also compared according to 2 different subgroups (age and treatment modality [outpatient/inpatient]). P ˂ .05 was considered significant.

RESULTS: Male-to-female ratio was 1.07:1. Scalds were the most common burn cause (83.8%), most burns occurred at home (87.1%), and burn injuries mostly occurred between 1200 and 2400 hours (72.2%). Most children were brought to our burn center in the initial 3 days postburn (82.7%). The rate of direct admissions was 60.5%. Most patients were in the 0- to 2-year-old age group (53.6%). The number of admissions on the same day as injury was significantly greater for this age group compared with older groups. Outdoor burns were increased in older children (7- to 11-year-old group and 12- to 18-year-old group) (P ˂ .05). Outpatients and inpatients comprised 87.5% and 12.5%, respectively. The mean total body surface area burned (minimum, maximum) was 2.0 ± 0.3 (0.1%, 50%) for outpatients and 10.4 ± 2.3% (1%, 72%) for inpatients; mean length of hospital stay for inpatients was 9 ± 2.6 days (1, 77 days).

CONCLUSIONS: During the pandemic, burn injuries in children continued at the same rate. Meticulous COVID-19 protection is essential for continuity of expected quality in pediatric burn care. Telemedicine is advantageous, and progress on basic burn care guidelines, including telemedicine facilities, should be supported.