Burns

Rajan Thakkar, Dana Schwartz, Elizabeth Barmash, Kathryn Q Bernabe, MD, David M Gourlay, MD, Raquel González, MD, MHCM, Christina M Shanti, MD, Shannon Koehler, MD
Author Names: Kathryn Q Bernabe, MD, Shannon Koehler, MD

Introduction

Burn injuries remain a common preventable cause of morbidity in pediatric patients [1]. While overall mortality has decreased over time, morbidity remains high in this patient population. With advances in burn care, including long-term dressings and sedation management, there has been a reduction in the number of children admitted to the hospital, with a shift towards outpatient management [2]. However, burns remain one of the leading causes of death in children and account for the longest length of stay among pediatric trauma patients [3][4]. Prevention efforts at the global and community levels are integral to reducing these injuries [5]. Additionally, the design and implementation of special household appliances, such as kettle straps (shortened power cords or anchoring straps to prevent pull-down injuries) and microwave safety, may help avoid these injuries [6]. This chapter will review the essentials of burn physiology, key aspects of assessing burn injuries, and the physical and psychosocial management of burn patients.

see also Inhalation Injury,Chemical Burns and Caustic Ingestion, Electrical Burns, and Skin Graft

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Last updated: March 17, 2026