Current concepts in pediatric burn care: general management of severe burns

Abstract

Severe burns and scalds are still frequent. If the burn victim is a child, it should ideally be taken care of in a pediatric burn center, where both the burn and child-related needs are specifically met. The goals of burn care are to preserve life, to preserve function, to limit physical and psychological sequelae and to provide social reintegration. The system of burn care essentially consists of adequate initial resuscitation followed by early surgery aimed at rapid and definitive wound closure. Vigorous nutritional support as well as early rehabilitation and continuous psychosocial care are of paramount importance. The paper summarizes the essentials of pediatric burn care (burn surgery excluded).