ABSTRACT
In the United States, burn-related injuries are common among children, with the incidence being higher in children than adults. Each day about 300 children are seen in emergency departments in the United States for burn injuries, and two of these children will die from their injuries. Burn injury is the fifth most common cause of nonfatal injury in children and the eleventh most common cause of death worldwide. Although burn injuries remain a significant health burden for children, burn care has improved, reducing overall mortality. As with all injuries, the establishment of a stable airway and ensuring adequate ventilation and perfusion are initial priorities when treating children with burn injuries. After these goals are addressed, the burn wound should be assessed for size and depth to determine definitive treatment in either the inpatient or outpatient setting. A recent review of studies in adults and children found only limited evidence supporting the use of hemodynamic monitoring for assessing burn resuscitation endpoints.
