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Research

Home remedy or hazard? management and costs of paediatric steam inhalation therapy burn injuries

Sarah Al Himdani, Muhammad Umair Javed, Juliana Hughes, Olivia Falconer, Christopher Bidder, Sarah Hemington-Gorse and Dai Nguyen
British Journal of General Practice 2016; 66 (644): e193-e199. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3399/bjgp16X684289
Sarah Al Himdani
Consultant burns and plastic surgeon, Welsh Centre for Burns and Plastic Surgery, Swansea, Wales.
Roles: Core surgical trainee
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Muhammad Umair Javed
Consultant burns and plastic surgeon, Welsh Centre for Burns and Plastic Surgery, Swansea, Wales.
Roles: Specialty registrar
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Juliana Hughes
Consultant burns and plastic surgeon, Welsh Centre for Burns and Plastic Surgery, Swansea, Wales.
Roles: Specialty registrar
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Olivia Falconer
Department of Paediatrics, Morriston Hospital, Swansea, Wales.
Roles: Senior house officer
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Christopher Bidder
Department of Paediatrics, Morriston Hospital, Swansea, Wales.
Roles: Consultant paediatrician
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Sarah Hemington-Gorse
Consultant burns and plastic surgeon, Welsh Centre for Burns and Plastic Surgery, Swansea, Wales.
Roles: Consultant burns and plastic surgeon
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Dai Nguyen
Consultant burns and plastic surgeon, Welsh Centre for Burns and Plastic Surgery, Swansea, Wales.
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Abstract

Background Steam inhalation has long been considered a beneficial home remedy to treat children with viral respiratory tract infections, but there is no evidence to suggest a benefit and children are at risk of serious burn injuries.

Aim To determine the demographics, mechanism, management, and costs of steam inhalation therapy scalds to a regional burns centre in the UK, and to ascertain whether this practice is recommended by primary care providers.

Design and setting A retrospective study of all patients admitted to a regional burns centre in Swansea, Wales, with steam inhalation therapy scalds.

Method Patients who attended the burns centre for steam inhalation therapy scalds between January 2010 and February 2015 were identified using the burns database and data on patient demographics, treatment, and costs incurred were recorded. In addition, an electronic survey was e-mailed to 150 local GPs to determine whether they recommended steam inhalation therapy to patients.

Results Sixteen children attended the burns centre with steam inhalation scalds. The average age attending was 7.4 years (range 1–15 years) and, on average, three children per year were admitted. The most common indication was for the common cold (n = 9). The average size of the burns was 3.1% (range: 0.25–17.0%) of total body area. One child was managed surgically; the remainder were treated with dressings, although one patient required a stay in a high-dependency unit. The total cost of treatment for all patients was £37 133. All in all, 17 out of 21 GPs surveyed recommended steam inhalation to their patients; eight out of 19 GPs recommended it for children aged <5 years.

Conclusion Steam inhalation incurs a significant cost to patients and the healthcare system. Its practice continues to be recommended by GPs but children, due to their limited motor skills, curiosity, and poor awareness of danger, are at significant risk of burn injuries and this dangerous practice should no longer be recommended.

  • burns
  • inhalation
  • paediatrics
  • scald
  • steam
  • Received August 26, 2015.
  • Revision requested October 24, 2015.
  • Accepted December 8, 2015.
  • © British Journal of General Practice 2016
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British Journal of General Practice: 66 (644)
British Journal of General Practice
Vol. 66, Issue 644
March 2016
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Home remedy or hazard? management and costs of paediatric steam inhalation therapy burn injuries
Sarah Al Himdani, Muhammad Umair Javed, Juliana Hughes, Olivia Falconer, Christopher Bidder, Sarah Hemington-Gorse, Dai Nguyen
British Journal of General Practice 2016; 66 (644): e193-e199. DOI: 10.3399/bjgp16X684289

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Home remedy or hazard? management and costs of paediatric steam inhalation therapy burn injuries
Sarah Al Himdani, Muhammad Umair Javed, Juliana Hughes, Olivia Falconer, Christopher Bidder, Sarah Hemington-Gorse, Dai Nguyen
British Journal of General Practice 2016; 66 (644): e193-e199. DOI: 10.3399/bjgp16X684289
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Keywords

  • burns
  • inhalation
  • paediatrics
  • scald
  • steam

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