Nationwide web survey of pediatric scalds: Prevalence and the relationship with household vacuum flasks.

OBJECTIVE

To explore the prevalence of pediatric (0-72 months old) scalds, and to clarify its relationship with household vacuum flasks.

METHODS

A cross sectional online survey based on the largest social media in China. Online questionnaire was pushed twice a day to our target respondents for successive seven days. We were authorized to gain, analyze and publish the information related to this research by the Sina & Weibo data center.

RESULTS

Prevalence of pediatric scalds was 5.5%. Gender ratio (boy to girl) was 1.96:1. Toddlers (12-36 months old) were the most susceptible age group (54.5%). Non-intentional water spill was the main causation (77.3%). An extremely low percent (7.1%) of the parents performed first-aid as described by the "RRICH" rule: water rinse - clothes remove - water immersion - clean cover - hospital. Scars developed in 52.7% patients and 14.7% of them underwent reconstructive surgery. There were 75.5% Chinese families using vacuum flasks in daily life, but only 6.1% families used the fastening device to avoid burns.

CONCLUSION

Prevalence of pediatric scalds (0-72 months old) was rather high, which might be related to the extensive insecure usage of household vacuum flasks.