Thermal Burns in Newborns at the Mother and Child University Hospital Center of Ndjamena, Chad

Mother and Child Hospital of N'Djamena, University of N'Djamena, Chad

*Corresponding author: Dr. Olivier Ngaringuem, Mother and Child Hospital of N'Djamena, University of N'Djamena, Chad, Phone: 91642011, E-mail: [email protected]

Received Date: May 29, 2025

Published Date: July 10, 2025

Citation: Ngaringuem O, et al. (2025). Thermal Burns in Newborns at the Mother and Child University Hospital Center of Ndjamena, Chad. Neonatal. 6(1):25.

Copyrights: Ngaringuem O, et al. © (2025).

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Burns represent an acute and sometimes complete destruction of the skin barrier and constitute a significant public health issue among children. This study aims to characterize the epidemiological, etiological, clinical, and outcome-related features of thermal burns in newborns. Methodology: We conducted a descriptive cross-sectional study over a 12-month period, including all newborns admitted for thermal burn management in the burns unit of the pediatric surgery department at the Mother and Child University Hospital Center in Ndjamena. Variables analyzed included age, sex, circumstances and timing of the burn, type of burn, causative agent, extent and depth of injury, delay before medical care, pre-hospital interventions, associated injuries, in-hospital management, and clinical outcomes. Results are reported as frequencies and means. Results: Over the study period, pediatric burns accounted for 9.96% of all hospital admissions. Among these, there were 22 cases of neonatal burns, constituting 5.4% of all burn admissions to the department. Infants aged 0 to 7 days comprised 45.5% of these cases. Males accounted for 59.1% of cases, yielding a sex ratio of 1.7. All neonatal burns were caused by exposure to hot liquids, specifically bath water. A total of 95.5% of newborns were admitted to the emergency department within six hours of sustaining the burn injury. Newborns with burns covering 5 to 10% of their body surface area represented 54.5% of cases. Second-degree burns were observed in 95.5% of cases, while third-degree burns were present in 4.5%. The external genitalia and perineal region were affected in 68.2% of cases. Hospitalization lasting between 7 and 14 days occurred in 63.6% of cases. Favorable outcomes were achieved in 86.4% of cases. Conclusion: Thermal burns in the neonatal period are a significant concern in our clinical practice. These injuries are most often attributable to exposure to hot water during bathing, and are largely preventable. It is therefore imperative to educate parents of newborns on the use of lukewarm water for bathing.

Keywords: Burn, Thermal, Newborn, Pediatrics, Chad