Paediatric Burns Service

The burns service at the Women's and Children's Hospital provides inpatient and outpatient treatment for children from birth to eighteen years who have sustained burn injuries. We treat approximately 150 inpatients and 450 outpatients each year.

Burn injuries are a common form of trauma in children. The Women's and Children's Hospital treat patients from all over the state of South Australia, Northern Territory and western parts of New South Wales and Victoria.

The Burns service consists of a multidisciplinary team that work together to ensure optimal client and family outcome.

Burn injuries are for a life-time and require specialised care.

The Burns service is also involved in prevention programs to assist in lowering the number of paediatric burns, as well as education programs to improve the treatment of burns

Members of the Paediatric Burns Team.

Doctor's, Nurses, Physiotherapists, Social Workers, Dietician, Occupational Therapist and Orthotist.

Causes of Paediatric Burns

There are six main causes of burns in children.

Scalds

This burn is a result of hot liquid, usually hot tea, coffee or bath water. These burns are most common in the infant-pre school age group. At this age the children are very fast and unpredictable in their behaviour

Depth : Superficial - Deep.

Flame

Results from an open flame or explosion. These burns are also associated with flash burns, where the skin is burnt from the heat of the surrounding flames. These burns are most seen in toddlers playing with matches or teenage boys experimenting.

Depth: Partial - Deep.

Contact

Burn from touching a hot surface, for example a hot iron or oven door.

Depth: Superficial - Partial.

Electrical

Exposure to a live current, for example putting a knife into a power point.

Depth: Deep.

Chemical

Contact with a chemical substance. This may be on the skin or swallowed. This includes drinking liquids such as drain cleaner.

Depth: Partial - Deep.

Sun

Exposure to excess of the suns ultraviolet rays.

Depth: Superficial - Partial.

Burns Presentations by Age

Each year scalds account for approximately 70% of paediatric burns. The type of burns we see vary depending on the age group of the patient.

• 0-2yrs of age. The most common types of burns are scalds caused by hot cups of tea or coffee. Many of these require skin grafting. Immersions in hot baths also account for a percentage of severe burns in this age group.
  
• 2-5yrs of age. Scalds still account for the majority of burns due to hot cups of tea or coffee, as well as water from electric jugs/kettles and teapots. Flame burn also make up a large percentage of burns in this age group from clothes catching alight from open fires or heaters or from the child playing with cigarette lighters or matches.
  
• Up to the age of 5yrs. Contact burns frequently occur in winter when a child either falls or touches a heater. The resulting burns are usually to the hands, face or buttocks. Solid fuel heaters are often involved.
  
• 5- 16yrs of age. Scalds make up a smaller proportion of burns, burns are more likely due to accidents while cooking or from spilling hot water while having steam inhalations. Flame burns caused by a combination of matches and flammable liquids are common with boys in this age group, and often result in very extensive burns.

First Aid

REMOVE THE HEAT SOURCE. For flame burns "Stop, Drop and Roll"- extinguish flame with a blanket. Remove clothing to effected areas.

COOL THE WOUND. Use cool running water for 20mins to cool the wound. Do not use ice.

REMOVE CONSTRICTIVE JEWLERY TO EFFECTED AREAS. Watches rings, bracelets and necklaces.

COVER IN CLING WRAP. This will keep the wound clean and keep out the air.

SEEK MEDICAL ATTENTION.

Contact People for Information

Women's And Children's Hospital Adelaide

Burns Advanced Clinical Practice Consultant. (08) 8161 7000 page 4258

Burns Clinical Nurse (08) 8161 7000 page 5876

Surgical Registrar for Burns (08) 8161 7000

Causes of Paediatric Burns

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