Pattern of burns as seen at the Kenyatta National Hospital

Abstract

This was a hospital based descriptive prospective study of patients admitted to KNH with burns between is" January 2005 and 14thJune 2005. A total of two hundred (200) patients were recruited in the study. Their age, gender, occupation, place of accident, marital status and causative agent of bum were determined. Assessment of the level of injury was done. Data was entered in a designed questionnaire and analysed. From the data, bums were more common in children especially those less than ten (10) years (60%). The mean age of the patients recruited in the study was 12.5 years. There was a slight male preponderance with a ratio of 1.06: 1.00. Most patients were single and most bums tend to occur in the home of the patients (84.5%). Most bums were accidental 84%. Thermal burns were the commonest (96.0%), followed by electrical bums (3.5%) and chemical bums (0.5%). Scald bums contributed 54% of the thermal bums. Most patients were admitted with 2nd degree superficial bums. The mean Body surface area (B.S.A) affected by bums in this study was 19.2% with a range of 1% to 85%. Bums tend to involve the trunk more than anyother body part. Epilepsy and alcohol intoxication in adults were noted to be the mostcommonpredisposing factors. Bums are common, they affect children more than adults, with a slight maleprepondarance. Scald bums are the commonest type of bums. They are mainly accidental and they tend to occur within the homes of the patients.