Objective:To describe the profile of pediatric burn victims hospitalized at Hospital-Escola
Padre Albino (HEPA), in Catanduva, São Paulo, Brazil. Methods:This was a cross-sectional, retrospective study analyzing 446 medical records of
patient aged 0-18 years old hospitalized in the Burn Care Unit of HEPA, from 2002
to 2012. The following variables were recorded: demographic data, skin burn
causes, lesions characteristics, complications, surgical procedures, length of
hospital stay, and outcome. Descriptive statistics were used. Results:382 patients with full medical records were included in the study. Burns were more
frequent in males (64.4%) and in children aged less than 6 years (52.9%). Most
accidents occurred at home (67.3%) and hot liquids were responsible for 47.1% of
them. Mean burnt body surface was 18% and the most affected body areas were chest
and limbs. First- and second-degree burns were observed in 64.4% of the cases.
Secondary infection and surgical procedures occurred in 6.5% and 45.0% of the
patients, respectively. Mean length of hospital stay was 9.8 days. The mortality
rate was 1.6%. Conclusions:Preschool children were the main victims of burns occurring at home, representing
the largest contingent of hospitalizations due to this cause in individuals aged
< 18 years. It is important to develop strategies to alert parents and general
society through educational programs and preventive campaigns.