Characteristics of burn injuries among children aged under six years in South Korea: Data from the Emergency Department-Based Injury In-Depth Surveillance, 2011-2016

Studies show that young children are vulnerable to burn injuries. We aimed to investigate the characteristics of thermal injuries in this population. We included children below 6 years of age who visited the emergency department (ED) after thermal injuries who were registered in the Korean Emergency Department-based Injury In-Depth Surveillance (2011–2016) database. Demographic characteristics, injury-related factors, and factors associated with ED treatment were gathered from the data. Then, we divided all children into two groups according to the ED discharge status: discharge versus admission (including cases transferred to other hospitals). The characteristics of the two groups were compared, and factors associated with admission were investigated. During the study period, 11,667 children with thermal injuries visited the ED. The number of boys was higher than the number of girls, and children aged 1 year accounted for the largest proportion. Most cases occurred in spring and indoors; the home was found to be the most common place. The most common type of burn was scald burns (69%), followed by contact burns (25.9%), and the most commonly burnt body area was the upper limbs (43.7%), followed by the lower limbs (16.8%). Most children (95.8%) were discharged home. The odds for hospital admission were lower for 2–3 and 4–5 year olds than for 0–1 year olds. The odds for hospital admission for contact burns were lower and those for electrical burns were higher than odds for hospital admission for scald burns. In summary, those aged 0–1 showed the largest incidence of thermal injuries and the most common burn mechanism was scald burns. Upper limbs were the most commonly affected body area, but their odds for requiring admission was lowest. Our results could be used as baseline data for prospective interventional studies investigating ways to reduce the incidence of childhood thermal injuries.

研究显示，幼儿群体易受烧伤伤害。本研究旨在调查该人群的热损伤特征。我们纳入了2011-2016年韩国基于急诊科（Emergency Department）的伤害深度监测数据库中，因热损伤前往急诊科（ED）就诊的6岁以下儿童。我们从数据中提取了人口统计学特征、损伤相关因素及急诊科治疗相关因素。随后，依据急诊科出院状态将所有儿童分为两组：出院组与住院组（包含转至其他医院的病例）。比较两组的特征，并分析与住院相关的因素。研究期间，共有11667名热损伤儿童前往急诊科就诊。男性患儿数量多于女性，1岁年龄段儿童占比最高。多数病例发生于春季与室内环境，家庭为最常见的发生场所。最常见的烧伤类型为烫伤（69%），其次为接触烧伤（25.9%）；最常受累的身体部位为上肢（43.7%），其次为下肢（16.8%）。多数儿童（95.8%）出院回家。2-3岁与4-5岁儿童的住院几率低于0-1岁儿童。与烫伤相比，接触烧伤的住院几率更低，而电烧伤的住院几率更高。综上，0-1岁儿童的热损伤发生率最高，最常见的烧伤机制为烫伤；上肢为最常受累的身体部位，但其住院几率最低。本研究结果可作为前瞻性干预研究的基线数据，用于探索降低儿童热损伤发生率的方法。