Accidental foot burns in children from contact with naturally heated surfaces during summer months: experience from a regional burn center

Abstract

Background: Foot burns in children often result from contact with heated surfaces due to high ambient temperatures during summer in the southwestern United States. The objective of this study was to describe the unique cause and clinical characteristics of this type of injury.

Methods: A retrospective review of medical records of pediatric patients presenting with contact burns of the foot in Arizona Burn Center, which is the third largest burn center in the United States. Participants included children 5 years and under who were treated for pedal burns during a 5-year period between January 2000 and August 2005.

Results: Seventy-four children with contact burns of the foot were treated of which 34 (46%) were from naturally heated surfaces. When compared with those who sustained pedal burns as a result of contact with other hot objects, children with burns from naturally heated surface more commonly had bilateral (82.4%), second degree (82.4%) burns involving primarily the plantar surface (94.1%) of the foot and the injury usually occurred in the peak of the summer. Also, physical abuse was more commonly suspected in this group.

Conclusion: Contact with a hot surface during summer months is a dominant cause of foot burns in small children in the southwestern United States with characteristic clinical presentation and calls for preventive educational interventions.