Burns in patients with epilepsy: Changes in epidemiology and implications for burn treatment and prevention

Purpose: To determine the epidemiology of burns in patients with epilepsy a nd to identify changes in epidemiology compared with previous studies; to i dentify further strategies that can be used in the primary and secondary pr evention of such injuries in this group of patients. Methods: A retrospective case note review of 111 patient episodes to a regi onal burns unit when the admission criterion was a burn secondary to an epi leptic seizure. Results: The majority (60 of 111) of burns were due to scald injury and wer e sustained in a domestic setting. This group of patients (mean age, 42.7 y ears) accounted for 1.6% of admissions during the study period. The data de monstrate a change in the epidemiology when compared with previous studies. Most burns were small (mean area burnt, 2.2%) but deep, and 72 of 111 pati ent episodes required surgery, and 12% of patients had reburn injuries requ iring readmission. Conclusions: Scald injuries are now the major cause of burns in there with epilepsy, and the proportion of such patients admitted to a regional burns unit has reduced. Patients and health professionals need to be aware of suc h injuries and of appropriate prevention strategies.