Why is milk so dangerous in rural areas?

Abstract

Objective: In this study, hot milk burns observed in paediatric patients were examined, and the results were compared with those obtained from other types of scalding burns. Method: A 10-year retrospective study was conducted with paediatric patients hospitalised for hot milk burns at the Gazi Yaşargil Training and Research Hospital Burn Center, Turkey. Results: Of the 87 patients included in the study, 49 (56.3%) were male and 38 (43.7%) were female, with a male/female ratio of 1.29:1. Patients were aged two months to 18 years, with a mean age of 3.62±2.82 years. The highest rate of burn injury was observed in patients aged 0–4 years (n=67, 77.0%). The upper (n=56, 64.4%) and lower extremities (n=75, 86.2%) were the most frequently affected areas. Of the total number of patients examined, 25 (28.7%) exhibited second-degree burns, while 62 (71.3%) exhibited third-degree major burns. The mean hospitalisation time was 6.28±5.04 days. None of the patients died or underwent amputation. Conclusion: Scalding is the most common cause of burns in the paediatric population in Turkey. Hot milk burns attract attention due to their higher infection rates and length of hospital stay.