Perfil epidemiológico dos pacientes internados na unidade de tratamento de queimaduras do Hospital Estadual de Bauru

Burns are frequent accidents, and they are among the major causes of morbidity and mortality in our society. In Brazil, statistical data on such lesions are relatively scarce, and they are concentrated in a few treatment centers. Data on such accidents allow for specific care to be timely and properly taken in order to provide patients with a better prognosis, in addition to enabling the development of prevention programs as well as fire-prevention safety laws. To characterize the epidemiological profile of users at the Burn Treatment Unit of Bauru State Hospital. Collection of epidemiological data through the e-pront system and from charts of burned inpatients from April 2005 to April 2010. During the studied period, 906 hospitalizations of burned patients occurred, with an annual average of 181.2 individuals. Their mean age was 28.4 years, with a predominance of males. The mean hospitalization period was of 27.6 days, with a median of 16 days and a maximum of 216 days; 14.7% developed to death, with the highest mortality rate in the first two weeks of hospitalization. Second-degree burns were the most frequent; 36.8% of the patients burned less than 10% of their body surface, and there was a gradual frequency reduction when a larger burned surface was taken into account; the greater the affected areas, the higher the number of deaths; 91% resulted from thermal agents, 6% from electric and 2% from chemical agents; scalding was the major cause among all agents, followed by alcohol associated with fire and direct flame. The major area affected areas were the upper limbs. The study shows the need for educational and preventive measures, particularly for the young adult population, by means of educational programs and prevention campaigns