Demographics and Clinical Characteristics of Burn Injuries in Nigeria: A Tertiary Hospital Cohort.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Burn injuries account for 4.8% of trauma deaths in Nigeria and annually for 20,000 deaths. AIM: This study was to catalogue the demographics of patient who presented at a referral center in Nigeria. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In a retrospective study, we reviewed the records of all burn patients who presented over a 36-month period (January 2018 to December 2020). The clinical and demographic data was extracted using a self-designed questionnaire. Information obtained included biodata, etiology, time of presentation, first aid used, TBSA, length of hospital stay (LOHS), and outcome which was analyzed with SPSS version 28. RESULTS: A total of 112 burn patients presented at our facility, 87 male and 25 female (m f = 3.51). Forty-four percent were children 10 years old and below. Though scalding with hot liquids was the commonest cause of injury in children, flame burn was the commonest etiology (57.1%). Inhalational injuries occurred in 14.2%. Raw eggs and pap were used as first aid by 23%. Most patients were discharged home, and 19.6% died. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of burn injuries remains high in developing countries. Most causes of burns are preventable. Dangerous traditional practices add to patient morbidity. Education on effective prevention strategies is important in reducing morbidity and mortality.