Evaluation of nutritional therapy in paediatric burn injuries

Aim of the study
Burn injuries occur mainly in children, primarily between two and four years of age. The most common cause of burns is contact with hot liquid. Apart from local treatment of damaged tissues, an important role in burn injury management is played by immediate implementation of burn disease management. This procedure, aimed at mitigation of systemic effects of thermal injury, consists of an adequate nutritional procedure, including supply of high-protein diet. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the nutritional procedure in children with burns.

Material and methods
An evaluation was performed on nutritional interventions implemented in children hospitalised for burn injuries in 2010–2017. The effectiveness of the use of oral nutritional supplements was researched in detail.

Results
In the studied period, 310 children were hospitalised for burns. Implementation of temporary parenteral nutrition was necessary in 1.94% of patients. In the subsequent years of the study, a significant increase in the supply of oral nutritional supplements (ONS) within the nutritional intervention was observed (2.6% vs. 45.7%). The applied nutritional interventions enabled maintenance of a proper nutritional status during treatment at the surgery department. The values of total protein and albumins as of the last day of hospitalisation displayed no significant differences compared to the values determined at admission to hospital. Paediatric patients administered with ONS had significantly higher total protein values at discharge from hospital (6.87 ±0.12 g/dl for ONS vs. 6.26 ±0.24 g/dl for N-ONS) and displayed a higher rate of burn wound healing (p = 0.030).

Conclusions
Implementation of adequate nutritional intervention affects both the course of burn disease management and the wound healing rate. Oral nutritional supplements play an increasing role in the treatment of paediatric patients with burn injuries. Administration of ONS has a significant impact on the nutritional status of burnt children and accelerates the wound healing process.