![]() ![]() Where the epithelium is thin (such as over the ears, genitalia, medial portions of upper extremities, and in very young patients), even a brief exposure to a heat source can result in a full-thickness injury.Ĭlassically, description of burn injury refers to the three concentric zones of tissue damage. Significant variations in skin thickness throughout the body also influence the depth of the burn. Severity of the injury increases as the temperature and duration of contact increase. Healthy skin can tolerate brief exposure to temperatures up to 40° C (104° F) without injury, but higher temperatures will produce burns. The degree of tissue destruction is affected by the burning agent, its temperature, and the duration of exposure to the heat source. The severity of the burn injury is determined by estimating the depth and extent of the injury. Electrical and chemical burns are uncommon in children and can be lethal if they are severe. ![]() Flame burns are seen in children 2 to 4 years of age and older and are the most common cause of burn injury in children 5 to 18 years of age. Infants and toddlers are injured most frequently by scald burns ( Table 20-1), 1 whereas contact burns become more common once the infant is crawling or walking. 22Įighty-five percent of thermal injuries in children occur at home, usually in the kitchen or bathroom. Three fourths of these burns are thought to be preventable. It is estimated that the number of serious disabilities from burns is triple the number of deaths. 31a Burns are the second leading cause of unintentional death in children younger than 5 years. Of these cases, 67% are young males, and 40% are children younger than 15 years. Although most of these burn injuries are minor, each year in the United States approximately 45,000 patients suffer moderate to severe burns that require hospitalization. However, more than 1 million burn injuries still occur each year in the United States. The incidence of pediatric burn injuries has declined as a result of preventive measures and legislation. ![]()
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