The Systemic Immune-Inflammation Index (SII) and Neutrophil-Lymphocyte Ratio (NLR) are related to hospitalisation time in paediatric burn patients

Background
The Systemic Immune-Inflammation Index (SII) and Neutrophil-Lymphocyte Ratio (NLR) are new markers of the immune response. There are few studies about the usefulness of these markers in the paediatric population with burns.

Objectives
The aim of the study was to reveal the differences in the Systemic Immune-Inflammation Index (SII) and Neutrophil-Lymphocyte Ratio (NLR) in paediatric patients treated due to thermal burn.

Material and methods
The study group consisted of 61 children (19 girls, 42 boys; mean age: 3.76; SD 4.79; min–max: 2 months – 17 years of age) treated due to thermal burn in the Paediatric Surgery Department. Analysis of chosen complete blood cell count parameters (leucocytes – WBC; platelets – PLT; Systemic Immune-Inflammation Index – SII; Neutrophil-Lymphocyte Ratio – NLR) collected on the day of injury was used as biomarkers of inflammation in patients with and without wound cooling after injury.

Results
Children with burns < 5 years of age who had higher PLT values on the day of admission (the day of injury) more frequently required surgical treatment (p = 0,027). Children with more extensive burn wounds (exceeding 10% TBSA) had higher WBC values on the day of the injury (p = 0.034). Higher NLR and SII values were related to longer hospitalisation (p < 0.05).

Conclusions
The SII and NLR seem to be promising prognostic markers in children with burns. Further studies on larger groups are necessary to reveal the relationship of the new inflammatory markers with other aspects of burn injury in the paediatric population.