Clinical features and nursing diagnoses in burned children

Abstract

Burn is an injury caused by thermal, chemical, electrical or radioactive agents and is one of the most common types of accidents with children. The objectives of this study were: first, to investigate the clinical features and to identify the main nursing diagnoses in pediatric burn victims. This is a retrospective study with data obtained from records filed at the Department of Medical and Statistical Service (DMSS) of the Senador Humberto Lucena Trauma and Emergency Hospital in Joao Pessoa (PB), from January to July 2008. The findings corroborate other studies along with this study line, i.e., 63% of the burned children were male, 39% were about one year of age and 41% of the accidents were caused by overheated liquid. Twelve nursing diagnoses were identified, but the incomplete records did not allow a more reliable evaluation of the clinical group of children.