The causes, cost, and prevention of childhood burn injuries

Article Abstract:

The third leading cause of death in children 0 to 19 years of age, and the leading cause of death in children 0 to 4 years is fires and burn injuries. Eighty-four percent of these deaths occur in house fires and are primarily due to smoke inhalation. The pain accompanying a severe nonfatal burn is excruciating; the recovery lengthy; the physical and emotional scarring is life-long; and the cost of burn and rehabilitative care is dramatic. Childhood burn injuries are caused by scalds during babies' baths, overhot drinks, caustic chemicals, high voltage electric current, cigarette lighters, matches and stoves. Child abuse also contributes to the toll. The 1985 Mortality File was the source of the fire and burn mortality statistics presented in this article. The National Hospital Discharge Survey and the National Health Interview Surveys were the sources of additional data. Costs of burn injuries and deaths were obtained by estimating the years of potential life lost (YPPL). The YPLLs are estimates of the years of life expected had the children not died, and is based on the conventional life expectancy of 65 years. Cost estimates for nonfatal burns were derived from the Injury Cost Model (ICM) of the Consumer Product Safety Commission. The ICM provides a common methodology to measure the impact of injuries associated with consumer products. The ICM includes hospital costs, retreatment costs, health and product liability insurance, victim and visitor transportation, lost earnings, litigation, pain and suffering, and disability. In 1985, 1,461 children between 0 and 19 years of age died from fire or burn injuries. Societal losses from deaths due to fire or burns alone is estimated at between $2.9 to $4.4 billion. Preventive measures include the use of child-resistant cigarette lighters, and the installations of sprinkler systems in residences, smoke detectors in all structures, and anti-scald devices in domestic water systems. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Economic aspects, Prevention, Causes of, Statistics, Burns and scalds in children, Burns, Pediatric injuries

---

Eosinophilic pustular folliculitis in infancy and childhood

Article Abstract:

Eosinophilic pustular folliculitis (EPF) of infancy is a skin disorder characterized by the formation of red pustules primarily on the scalp and brow. Folliculitis is the inflammation of hair follicles and may be infectious or non-infectious. As of Feb, 1993, there have been 28 reported cases of EPF, and most have been in male infants. Nine infants, seven of whom were male, were diagnosed with EPF. Pustular samples taken from the infants showed no signs of bacterial or fungal infection. The samples had high concentrations of eosinophils, a type of white blood cell. Most of the infants had leukocytosis, which is an increase in the number of circulating white blood cells, and eosinophilia, which is an abnormal increase in the concentration of eosinophils in the blood. The cause of EPF is still unknown, but most of the infants responded to treatment with topical corticosteroids or topical antibiotics.

Case studies, Eosinophil disorders, Folliculitis

---

Similar abstracts:

• Abstracts: The causes, impact , and preventability of childhood injuries in the United States: childhood suicide in the United States
• Abstracts: Emerging viruses: the evolution of viruses and viral diseases. Viral lower respiratory tract infections in Filipino children
• Abstracts: Collection and transfusion of blood in the United States, 1982-1988. Survival after the age of 80 in the United States, Sweden, France, England, and Japan
• Abstracts: Cortical resection for children with epilepsy: perspectives in pediatrics. Esophageal motility in children with Hirschsprung's disease
• Abstracts: Surgical versus percutaneous drainage of intra-abdominal abscesses

This website is not affiliated with document authors or copyright owners. This page is provided for informational purposes only. Unintentional errors are possible.