SEVERE BURNS IN CHILDREN IN ALBANIA: HOW HAS THE EPIDEMIOLOGY OF BURNS IN CHILDREN CHANGED IN THE PAST 25 YEARS?

BRÛLURES GRAVES CHEZ LES ENFANTS ALBANAIS: L'ÉPIDÉMIOLOGIE A T'ELLE CHANGÉ CES 25 DERNIÈRES ANNÉES? (French)

This study is aimed at describing the patterns and trends of burns among children in the past 25 years in Albania, a transitional post-communist country in the Western Balkans. It included all burned children admitted to the Intensive Care Unit of the University Hospital Center "Mother Teresa" of Tirana in the past 5 years (i.e., 2018-2022). Overall, 275 children treated at the Service of Burns and Plastic Surgery were included in this analysis. Incidence of burns in children has importantly declined during the last 25 years. Of 275 children included in this study, 50.2% were boys and 49.8% were girls. The age range was from 2 months to 16 years. The number of children with burns declined progressively, but the lowest number was seen in 2020, which is explained by the Covid-19 pandemic. On the whole, the most affected age group is that of 1-3 year-olds. Regardless of age, hot liquids (51%) and pure hot water (39%) were the main causative agents of burns among children. There was an important decrease in the number of burns due to flame (from 18.5% to 7%) and chemical burns (from 5.9% to 1%). No electrical burns were found in the records. Most of the burned cases were burns of more than one site on the body, representing 35% of all the cases. Burns among children continue to constitute a significant burden of morbidity among Albanian children, which is a cause of concern. However, compared with 25 years ago, the total number of severely burned children has dropped in Albania. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cette étude a pour but de décrire l'épidémiologie des brûlures touchant les enfants et son évolution au long des 25 dernières années en Albanie, état ci-devant communiste de l'ouest des Balkans. Nous avons répertorié des 275 enfants admis dans service de réanimation du CHU Mère Theresa de Tirana entre 2018 et 2022 et prise en charge par l'équipe brûlologique de cet hôpital. L'incidence des brûlures infantiles a fortement décru durant les 25 dernières années. Le sex-ratio était quasiment à l'équilibre (50,2% de garçons et 49,8% de filles). Les enfants étaient âgés de 2 mois à 16 ans, le groupe le plus à risque étant les 1-3 ans. Le nombre d'enfants brûlés était en décroissance progressive, avec un thalweg en 2020, expliqué par la pandémie Covid-19. La proportion des brûlures par flamme a chuté de 18,5% à 7%, celle des brûlures chimiques de 5,9% à 1%, notre série ne recensait pas de brûlure électrique. Plusieurs régions du corps étaient atteintes dans 35% des cas. Les brûlures sont un fardeau pathologique pour les enfants albanais, ce qui reste préoccupant bien que le nombre de brûlés ait chuté dans cette population depuis 25 ans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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