Insight on Pediatric Burn Morbidity and Mortality at a Tertiary Indian Burn Care Center: A Case for Burn Prevention.

This article focuses on the epidemiology, clinical characteristics, and outcomes of pediatric burns treated at a tertiary burn center in India, highlighting the significant health burden these injuries pose in low and middle-income countries (LMICs). The retrospective cohort study of 332 pediatric patients found scald burns to be the most common injury, especially among young children, while electrical burns increased with age and were linked to longer hospital stays. Key predictors of mortality included age over 10 years, male gender, and burns covering more than 30% of total body surface area (TBSA), with infectious complications such as sepsis markedly increasing death risk. The findings emphasize the need for targeted prevention strategies—such as safer cooking practices for young children and electrical safety education for older children—and enhanced specialized care, including infection control and reconstructive services, to improve pediatric burn outcomes in India.