What is the Morbidity Rate for Smoke Inhalation?

Discussion A recent systematic review of house fires in high-income countries found that the risk factors for unintentional house fire incidents included: more children under 5 years of age, more people in the home, more males in the home, adults who are not working, low-income, household smokers, non-privately owned housing, poor condition housing. Other risk factors are not having smoke detectors, but more importantly not having a working smoke detector. Risk factors for injuries or fatalities is similar to the the risk factors for incidents but also includes people who are vulnerable such as a disabled resident, someone living alone, or someone impaired by drugs/alcohol. Nights, weekends and winter time also increase the risk of injuries/fatalities. Fire related deaths in children were up to 38 times higher in a a household where the adults are non-working or with long-term unemployement. Households with children between 5 and 17 years, or residents 65+ years have a decreased risk fo fire fatality. Learning Point “Inhalation injury is present in approximately 30% of all cutaneous burning patients. Localized pulmonary damage occurs as a result of both thermal injury and chemical irritation from contents of combustion.” Airway edema and potential airway obstruction are the concerns above the larynx due to thermal injury. Chemical burns occur below the larynx due to incomplete products of combustion including carbon monoxide and hydrochloric acid. With inhalatio...
Source: PediatricEducation.org - Category: Pediatrics Authors: Tags: Uncategorized Source Type: news