Epidemiological profile of burn injuries in Basrah

Abstract EN

This is a retrospective analytic study of the data collected from inpatients admitted to Basrah Teaching hospital during the period 1992–1998.

They were 1726 patients (not include those treated as outpatients) classified as males & females, adults and children (<12 years of age) with an average annual admission of 246.5 patients.

The bulk of the cases are adult females and children males.

Sex ratio is 1.1: 1 but with variation according to age.

Adult to children ratio is 1.4: 1.

Seasonality is not that clear but showed some increase in winter months.

The flame burn cases formed the bulk of the burn being 52.9 % followed by scalds and electric burn.

The most common place of burn is home and especially the kitchen and bathroom.

Overall mortality is 23.1 % with age and sex variation.