Paediatric burn and scald management in a low resource setting: A reference guide and review

In total, 78 papers were included in this review, along with the WHO injury book and the Burns Manual. Comprehensive primary prevention programmes should be set up and adequately funded. Assessment and immediate management of a burn patient should follow the ABCDE approach. Appropriate patients such as those with inhalational injury should be referred early. An escharotomy should be performed without delay at the facility where the patient has presented. Intravenous fluid management must be guideline-based, goal-directed and titrated to effect. Pain management should use multiple modalities including adequate and pre-emptive analgesia. Supplemental nutrition is required in patients with baseline malnutrition and/or burns greater than 10% Total Body Surface Area. Infections such as toxic shock syndrome and tetanus must be managed aggressively.