Hands off! Beware the steam vapouriser.
Sarah Huang1, Ling Hoon1, Jeremy Wiseman1, Torey Lawrence1, Andrew Holland1, 1Children’s Hospital Westmead, Sydney, NSW, Australia
Abstract
Background: Steam vaporisers are commonly used to humidify dry air and are marketed to moisten airway secretions in children with upper respiratory tract infections. Steam emitted from the unit pose a significant risk to burn injury in children. Our study aims to illustrate the pattern of injury and treatment outcomes from steam vapourisers.
Methods: Children who had sustained steam vaporiser scald burns were identified from the NSW Statewide Burn Injury Database over a 10-year period (Jan 2010 – Jan 2020). Medical records were reviewed retrospectively, and data were collected on clinical management and outcomes.
Results: Fifty-two children were identified over the study period. The mean age was 10.4 months, and 73% (n=38) of patients were male. Eighteen (35%) patients underwent operative intervention, of which the surgery was 17 days after injury. Hand burns accounted for all cases, all of which were less than 1% TBSA.
Conclusion:
Steam vaporisers are a significant burn risk in the paediatric population – particularly toddlers with hand burns. These burns, although small TBSA, were often deep and required skin grafting. Informing the public about the dangers of these devices and safety regulations might help minimise the risk of burn injuries.
Biography
Dr Sarah Huang is a burns and plastics surgery registrar in Sydney.