Burns : journal of the International Society for Burn Injuries
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Scalds are the leading cause of burns in children younger than 5 years of age with most being related to food preparation and consumption. Hot substances causing scalds have different degrees of viscosity varying from low (liquid substances, such as water), to high (semi-solids or solids, such as oils or grease). It is still underknown whether heat substances with different viscosities are associated with varying risks of developing burn wound infections (BWI). The aim of this study was to investigate the association between heat sources of different viscosities and development of BWI within the first week after injury in children with scalds. ⋯ Our results indicate that the viscosity of the heat source does not affect the risk of wound infection in children with scalds; only the size of the area burned was an independent factor for BWI.
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The COVID-19 pandemic led to a sudden halt in the academic activities of many medical professionals including burns and plastic surgery. Worldwide, this led to many societies switching over to various virtual platforms like Google Meet and Zoom for teaching and training. In India, as the other plastic surgery societies started their educational webinars, the National Academy of Burns India (NABI) also geared up for its web journey for imparting burn education to doctors and the general population. ⋯ NABI webinars showed that education in burns is possible on a virtual platform under special circumstances like the COVID-19 pandemic and can be used as an adjunct to regular teaching and training. The public awareness webinars also served as readily available resource material for the general population.
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Pediatric burn injuries are a significant public health issue in low- and middle-income countries, leading to substantial morbidity and mortality. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of the No+Quema2 educational program, implemented in Aguascalientes, Mexico, in preventing burn injuries among children under nine years old. ⋯ The No+Quema2 program has made a significant impact on burn prevention among children in Aguascalientes, Mexico. Despite the limitations of relying on government-reported data, the correlation between the program's activities and the observed decrease in burn injuries is promising. These findings underscore the critical importance of the No+Quema2 program's activities in achieving sustained, targeted educational interventions and long-term reductions in burn injury incidence. They also highlight the need for more robust study designs to validate these outcomes, emphasizing the importance of evidence-based strategies in future burn prevention efforts.
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Infections are the most frequent complication and cause of mortality in burn patients. We describe the epidemiology and outcomes of infections among deployed U.S. military personnel with burns. ⋯ Military personnel with burn injuries who developed infections were more severely injured with greater TBSA and inhalation injury. Improved understanding of risk factors for burn-related infections in combat casualties is critical for effective management.
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Severe burn injuries (SBIs) are known to pose a significant burden on patients, caregivers, and the healthcare system. Yet, scarce data on the short and long-term clinical and economic impacts of these injuries limit the development of evidence-informed strategies and policies to better care for these patients. To fill in this gap, we adapted a previously validated self-reported out-of-pocket cost measurement questionnaire, the Cost for Patients Questionnaire (CoPaQ), to the severe burn injury survivor context. ⋯ Summative content analysis was used to identify items needing to be modified, deleted, or added. Based on this information, a preliminary version of a Burn Injury Cost for Patients Questionnaire (BI-CoPaQ) was developed and subsequently pre-tested on a small sample of SBIs survivors. Further validation of this tool will be required before BI-CoPaQ can be used as the standard for the estimation of the financial burden of SBIs in this population.