A 3 YEAR PROSPECTIVE AUDIT OF BURNS PATIENTS TREATED AT THE WESTERN REGIONAL-HOSPITAL OF NEPAL

Burns in Nepal cause an estimated 1700 deaths per year and much suffer ing. We carried out a prospective 3 pear audit of 237 burns patients a dmitted to the Western Regional Hospital in Pokhara. The aims were to assess the profile of burns injuries and what could be achieved in loc al conditions to guide colleagues in developing countries with limited medical facilities. The majority of burns occurred at home and were l argely preventable. 61 per cent of patients were children under 15 yea rs of age. There were more female patients and females had more severe burns. No patients with greater than 40 per cent body surface area bu rns of any age group survived. Public education on burns prevention is needed but poverty, ignorance and a fatalistic attitude are difficult underlying causes to change. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd for ISBI. All rights reserved.