CLINICAL ASSESSMENT OF PEDIATRIC BURNS: A RETROSPECTIVE STUDY

Burn injuries represent a significant aspect of pediatric traumas, particularly prevalent during early childhood, involving a critical patient population characterized by elevated mortality and morbidity rates. This study explores burn incidents in children aged 0-6 years admitted to the Burn Unit of a tertiary hospital between January 1, 2016, and June 20, 2023, within the context of the existing literature. Additionally, it conducts an analysis of burn etiology, distribution, severity, and treatment interventions, categorizing a sample of 241 pediatric burn patients, predominantly within the 0-18 month age range. Children are categorized into three groups based on Sigmund Freud's "psychosexual development stages": 0-18 months, 18-36 months, and 36-72 months. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS 25, with a predetermined significance level of 0.05. Burns commonly present as scalds, flames, and chemical burns, primarily falling within the 11-20% range and predominantly involving second-degree burns. Treatment approaches include a combination of dressing and medical treatment in 68% of cases, debridement under general anesthesia in 16.2%, and grafting in 15.8%. The infection rate is 10.8%, with Pseudomonas Aeruginosa emerging as the predominant pathogen, and the mortality rate reported at 0.8%. The average hospitalization duration is 9 days. Highlighting the paramount importance of meticulous planning in managing burns in children under 6 years old and emphasizing the influence of parental factors, the study advocates for educating parents on safety measures as a crucial step in mitigating burn incidence. Stressing the pivotal role of epidemiological investigations in comprehending and preventing the root causes of burns, the research suggests that more extensive age-range studies and multicenter approaches could provide more robust epidemiological insights for the effective management of burn cases.