TITLE:
Burns in Children at University Hospital of Brazzaville
AUTHORS:
Caryne Mboutol-Mandavo, Li Ance Moufoura, Elodie Malonga, Erica Nuptia Akobande, Rhodia Bosseba Missengui, Jean-Claude Miéret
KEYWORDS:
Burn, Scalding, Child, Brazzaville
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Pediatrics,
Vol.16 No.6,
November
10,
2026
ABSTRACT: Introduction: Burns represent one of the five major traumatic emergencies in children and are responsible for significant morbidity and mortality. We conducted this study to describe the diagnostic and therapeutic aspects of burns in children in our setting. Patients and Methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study, conducted from June 2021 to May 2023, in the burns unit of the Brazzaville University Hospital. It focused on children aged 0 - 18 years hospitalized with a burn injury. Results: We had identified 122 cases of burns. There were 62 boys and 60 girls, giving a sex ratio of 1.03. The median age was 2 years. Most of the burns were accidental in 94.2% of cases and occurred in the home in 97.5% of cases, 52.5% of them in the kitchen. They were often thermal due to scalding (68.9% of cases). The burns were most often on the limbs and trunk (69.7% and 68.8% respectively); the average burned skin surface was 22%. The majority of cases were superficial 2nd degree burns in 79.2% of cases. Treatment was based on fluid and electrolyte resuscitation and local care for recent burns and infection control for old burns. Conclusion: Burns in children are a frequent emergency in our practice. They most often affect young boys of pre-school age, from low socio-economic backgrounds. These children are frequently exposed to heat sources by accidental scalding. The morbidity and mortality associated with burns in children remain a major health problem. Preventive measures are the most effective way of reducing the incidence and complications of this condition.