Skip to main content

Childhood burns in south eastern Nigeria.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Okoro, PE; Igwe, PO; Ukachukwu, AK
Published in: Afr J Paediatr Surg
2009

BACKGROUND: Burns injuries are recognized as a major health problem worldwide. In children and, particularly, in our environment where poverty, ignorance and disease are still high, they constitute significant morbidity and mortality. Previous studies on this topic in parts of Nigeria either lumped adults and children together or were retrospective. We, therefore, prospectively studied the current trends in burns in children. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This prospective study of burns spanned over a period of 18 months (June 2006-December 2007) at the Paediatric Surgery Units of the Imo State University Teaching Hospital, Orlu, and the Federal Medical Centre, Owerri, Imo State. Data were collected and analysed for age, sex, cause/type of burn, place of burn, presence or absence of adult/s, initial prehospital intervention, interval between injury and presentation, surface area and depth of burn and treatment and outcome. RESULTS: Fifty-three patients were studied, 31 (58.4%) were male and 22 (41.6%) were female (M:F = 1.4:1). Patients mostly affected were aged 2 years and below. The most common cause of burns was hot water in 31 (58.5%) patients. The vast majority of these injuries happened in a domestic environment (92.5%) and in the presence of competent adult/s (88.7%). Outcome of treatment was good: there were two (3.8%) deaths and 46 (86%) patients had complete recovery. CONCLUSION: Burns is still a major health problem among children in south eastern Nigeria. Fortunately, outcome of appropriate treatment is good. However, we think that poor safety consciousness among parents is a major predisposing factor. Public enlightenment on measures to ensure safe home environment may be necessary to avoid or limit childhood burns.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Afr J Paediatr Surg

DOI

EISSN

0974-5998

Publication Date

2009

Volume

6

Issue

1

Start / End Page

24 / 27

Location

India

Related Subject Headings

  • Prospective Studies
  • Nigeria
  • Male
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Infant
  • Humans
  • Female
  • Child, Preschool
  • Burns
  • 42 Health sciences
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
NLM
Okoro, P. E., Igwe, P. O., & Ukachukwu, A. K. (2009). Childhood burns in south eastern Nigeria. Afr J Paediatr Surg, 6(1), 24–27. https://doi.org/10.4103/0189-6725.48571
Okoro, Philemon E., Patrick O. Igwe, and Alvan K. Ukachukwu. “Childhood burns in south eastern Nigeria.Afr J Paediatr Surg 6, no. 1 (2009): 24–27. https://doi.org/10.4103/0189-6725.48571.
Okoro PE, Igwe PO, Ukachukwu AK. Childhood burns in south eastern Nigeria. Afr J Paediatr Surg. 2009;6(1):24–7.
Okoro, Philemon E., et al. “Childhood burns in south eastern Nigeria.Afr J Paediatr Surg, vol. 6, no. 1, 2009, pp. 24–27. Pubmed, doi:10.4103/0189-6725.48571.
Okoro PE, Igwe PO, Ukachukwu AK. Childhood burns in south eastern Nigeria. Afr J Paediatr Surg. 2009;6(1):24–27.

Published In

Afr J Paediatr Surg

DOI

EISSN

0974-5998

Publication Date

2009

Volume

6

Issue

1

Start / End Page

24 / 27

Location

India

Related Subject Headings

  • Prospective Studies
  • Nigeria
  • Male
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Infant
  • Humans
  • Female
  • Child, Preschool
  • Burns
  • 42 Health sciences