Epidemiological study of 3341 burns patients during three years in Tehran, Iran

A retrospective study was conducted on 3341 burn patients hospitalized in a burn care center in Tehran, Iran during 1995-98. The mean age was 20.4 years, and 43.5% of patients were children under 15 years old. The mean body surface area burned was 30.6%. There were statistically significant correlations between age groups and total burn surface area (TBSA) burned with mortality rate (p < 0.006). Flame was the most common etiology of burns. There was also significant correlation between age groups and causes of burns (p < 0.0001). The mean hospital stay was 16.7 days. The overall mortality rate was 19.6%. Most of the injuries requiring hospital admission occurred during the winter months. Parents can play an important role in prevention of burns in children who are most susceptible to burns. People with causes identified could be educated in burn prevention, through news and other media. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd and ISBI. All rights reserved.