Characteristics of bath-related burns in Japan

A retrospective study of bath-related burn injuries was carried out at our institution. A total of 216 patients with burns were admitted between 1982 and 1996. Bath-related burns were identified in 58 patients (26.9%). The nu mber of patients with bath-related burns increased throughout the study per iod. The percentage body surface area burned was 43.8 +/- 25.7% in the bath -related burn group and 27.3 +/- 28.3% in the bath-unrelated burn group. Th is difference was significant. There was no significant difference between the two groups with respect to mortality rate. The mechanism by which the p atients sustained a bath-related burn clearly differed according to age. Th e percentage of burns which are bath-related and the severity of bath-relat ed burns are higher in Japan:than in any other country. This can be attribu ted to lifestyle, bathing systems, bathroom architecture, housing condition s and an increase in the elderly population. These burns can be prevented. Education based on this study will play a critical role in the prevention o f the bath-related burn injuries. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd and ISBI. A ll rights reserved.