Amniotic membrane dressing for burns in children. A cheap method of treatment for developing countries.

Ten children aged seven months to eleven years with superficial burns involving (mean) 24% of total body surface were treated with amniotic membrane dressing in a general ward. The result of treatment was compared with that obtained during an earlier (12 months) period using non biological antimicrobial dressing on the same ward. One patient treated with amnion developed pseudomonas wound infection and another required skin grafting. These children spent an average of 31 days in hospital, as compared with 56 days for the control group. It is concluded that amniotic membrane dressing is to be preferred in the treatment of burns in hospitals in poorer countries, because of it's ready availability, ease of preparation and cheapness of storage.