OBJECTIVE: this research analyzed the hospital incidence and mortality due to burns in children aged less than 15 who live in Londrina, and were treated in emergency services, hospitalized or who died because of this in 2001. METHODS: This is a descriptive study. Morbidity data were obtained from the five geral hospitals of Londrina, and mortality data came from the Municipal Mortality Information Nucleus of the city. The Software Epi Info, version 6.04d was used for data analysis. RESULTS: 182 Children under age 15, victims of burns have been studied, being 82.4% wounded by hot materials or heat source, 14.3% by exposition to smoke/fire/flame and 3.3% by exposition to electric current. Male victims were predominant (56.6%), with the highest coefficient for the age of one year (6.1 per 1000 children). The hospitalization rate was 12.6%; one death occurred. 56.5% of the cases stayed in hospital for one to three days. CONCLUSIONS: the findings contribute to increasing epidemiological knowledge of such events, highlighting the need for preventive measures.
Burns; Accidents, home; Morbidity; Infant mortality; Child; Adolescents
