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Abstract

Background: Burn injuries represent a significant health concern in pediatric populations, with preschool children being particularly vulnerable due to their developmental characteristics and increased exposure to household hazards. Despite the growing prevalence of burn cases in preschoolers, there is a notable knowledge gap regarding the frequency and patterns of these injuries in local healthcare settings, particularly in resource-limited regions where comprehensive epidemiological data remains scarce. Objective: To determine the frequency of burn in preschool children among all burn cases in burn and plastic surgery center Peshawar. Study Design: Cross-sectional study. Duration and Place of Study: The study was conducted from May 2024 to November 2024 at the Burn and Plastic Surgery Center, HMC Peshawar. Methodology: A total of 224 patients aged three months to thirty years with burn injuries were enrolled using WHO sample size calculator. Preschool age was defined as children between three months and four years. Burn injuries were classified as superficial, partial-thickness, or full-thickness based on established criteria. Demographic data including age, gender, weight, parental education, family income, socioeconomic status, residential area, and burn cause were collected. Total body surface area was assessed using Lund and Browder chart. Results The mean age was 16.59±8.94 years with male predominance (65.6%). Thermal burns were most common (83.5%), followed by chemical (8.9%) and electric burns (7.6%). The frequency of burns in preschool children was 13.8%. Age and weight showed highly significant associations with preschool burns (p=0.000), with all preschool burns occurring in children aged three months to four years weighing ≤20 kg. Conclusion: Preschool children represent a significant proportion of burn cases, with age and weight being critical determinants, emphasizing the need for targeted prevention strategies.