EPIDEMIOLOGY, MORBIDITY, MORTALITY AND TREATMENT OF BURN INJURIES - ASTUDY IN A PERIPHERAL INDUSTRIAL HOSPITAL

This is a retrospective study of 348 patients with burn injuries admit ted to a peripheral industrial hospital over a period of 10 years. The patients were from all walks of life. The study compared the incidenc e of burns occurring in various industries and those in other situatio ns, assessed the morbidity and mortality profile of burn injuries trea ted in a hospital devoid of a modern burn care unit and presents ways of improving the treatment of burn injuries. Out of the 348 patients 4 2.5 per cent had major burns and 57.5 per cent had minor burns. Childr en mostly received minor burns, females between the ages of 20 and 40 years commonly received major burns. Flame burns due to kerosene stove s, open flames and fireworks were the commonest causative agent (60.3 per cent), Scalds comprised 28.7 per cent of the injuries, the remaind er being due to chemicals, electricity and lightning. Eighty-five per cent of the burns occurred in households; 12 per cent were industrial burns and rest were due to road traffic accidents and lightning. Out o f 42 industrial burns, only two cases were of major severity. Most of the industrial burns were scalds. The overall mortality was 18.3 per c ent. The average hospital stay was 17.5 days. The treament given to th e patients is briefly discussed and the importance of the introduction of modern methods of burn management in our hospital is also emphasiz ed.