Title: Factors contributing sepsis to children under sixteen years admitted at pediatric burn unit in Muhimbili national hospital
Abstract:
Introduction; Over the years, survival in pediatric burns with sepsis has improved worldwide. However, burn wound infection and sepsis in Tanzania is still the most significant factors causing mortality in pediatric burn patients. The aim of this study was to determine factors contributing to sepsis among burn patients under sixteen years admitted at pediatric burn unit in Muhimbili national hospital
Methodology; this study was a descriptive cross-sectional quantitative methodology. Simple random sampling technique was used to identify participants. The researcher administered questionnaire which addressed mainly demographic information, causes of sepsis and factors contributing to sepsis was administered to mothers/guardian of the burned children aged 16 years old and below. Data was analyzed using SPSS computer software program. The targeted population was consisting of all parents/guardian with children.
Results; Majority of the participants in this study 107(89%) were female while male were 14(11.38%). Most of the participants 91(73.98%) were between 20-30 years, 29(23.58%) were between 31 to 40 years and the minority 3(2.44%) aged between 41-50 years. On the other hand majority of the children aged 1 month to 4 years 95 (77.24%) and the minority 1(0.1%) were 5 to 10 years. Factors contributed to burn wound sepsis were categorized in three groups: that included extent of burn injury, medication given at home and delay of the children to start management. For the extent of burn injury it was found that majority of children who expected to developed sepsis 61(49.59%) had partial thickness burn followed by those who have mixed of deep and superficial burn 47(38.21%) and the minority group 15(12.20%) were those who had full thickness of burn. Most children were treated at home before hospitalization ( 105(85.37%) with local medicine including honey, rabbit fur, water and sugar 13(10.57%) were provided with antibiotics and small group 4(3.25%) were treated with herbal medicines. The results indicate that majority of children who delayed for one week 110(89.43%) developed sepsis compared to those who delayed for two weeks 8(6.50%), three weeks 3 (2.44%), and those who delayed for one month 1 (0.81%).
Conclusion; sepsis in pediatric burn patient can be prevented if preventive measures could be taken at early and on treatment as health care provider do not treat sepsis as a general population children there so special and very sensitive.
