The girls revealed more burn / scald injuries as compared to
boys in urban slum. The cases of scalds were hot tea and
boiling water and burn due to the fire of chula or hot vessels
in kitchen.
Sorensen et al 9 in the study of Scalding injuries in children
who were attending burn department in the hospital of
Brannskadeavsnittet, Haukeland Sykehus, Bergen.
Investigator recorded that during the years 1989-91, 88
children were hospitalized in the Burn Unit. 60 children, of
whom 57 were under five years of age, suffered from scalds.
All of the injuries happened at home and nearly 60% of the
children received immediate treatment with cold water. The
causes of the scalds were hot tap water, tea, coffee or boiling
water. In order to reduce scalds from hot tap water,
legislation should be considered which would limit the
temperature of such water to maximum 60 degrees C. Health
personnel who meet these problems should present the above
information to the politicians.