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Burn injuries Management at a City District Hospital –
Amana, Ilala Municipality compared with the Studies Conducted research elective
reports FROM Hubert Kairuki Memorial University and Martin Hospital Burn Centre,
At Groningen, The Netherlands Abstract: Severe burn injuries cause gross disability to the victim, fright to relatives, anxiety to the casualty reception hospital staff and a great challenge for the attending physician. Burns morbidity and mortality are a global problem (Pruit 1987). In the USA more than 2 million people become victims of injuries from burns annually; 25% of who require treatment at a burn center (Edlick). Burns contribute 33% as major cause of trauma hospital admissions at Muhimbili National Hospital (Shija 1980). From a study conducted at the Martin |Hospital Burn Center in Groningen in the Netherlands 50 cases were studied and it was found that 68% (34) of the victims were over 18 years of age. Majority of the burn injuries occurred at home accounting for again 68%. Major cause were hot water, tea etc. Wound sepsis was registered at 47.5% where major pathogenic microorganisms isolated in microbial cultures were Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus group B being responsible for 25% of the wound infection. In a similar study conducted at Amana Hospital in Dar es Salaam in children in the period June-August 2004, 100 admitted victims, including admissions in the years 2001-2003 were studied for causes of the burns, treatment given and wound infection if any. At Amana Hospital microbial cultures were not performed due to lack of facilities. Again majority of injuries occurred at home accounting for 82.5% where 57.5% of incidents occurred in the morning hours when both parents were absent. Causes of injury were not water 27%, hot tea 20% and hot porridge 15%. Hospital admissions due to burn injuries at Amana Hospital are common so much so that incidents occur weekly at the average. Though Amana Hospital is not an exception to understaffing; poor working conditions, management of burn injuries have shown very good results. Two cases of extensive burn injuries in obscure circumstances are presented. |
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