SHACK FIRES - A CONSEQUENCE OF URBAN MIGRATION

Shack fire burns are the second most common reason for admission of pa tients to the bums unit in Cape Town. A retrospective analysis of 99 p atients between January 1993 and June 1995 was undertaken to investiga te the demographics and mortality associated with shack fire burns. Th ere were 58 males and 41 females with an average age of 34 years (rang e 13-17 years). The average total burn surface area (TBSA) was 31 per cent (range 3-98 per cent) and in 67 of these patients a full-thicknes s component to the burn was noted. The upper limbs and head and neck w ere the most commonly burnt areas. Inhalation injury affected 61 patie nts, 18 of whom required admission to an intensive care unit for assis ted ventilation due to respiratory failure. Thirty nine patients (39.4 per cent) died. Shack burns are a specific entity associated with sig nificant morbidity and a high mortality. The injuries had a major impa ct on the victim's life and prevention is the best form of treatment. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd for ISBI.