Neonatal contact burns from hot plastic water bags; A preventable menace: Case series

Анотація

Burns in a newborn is uncommon. Flame burns and

scald injuries are the commonest type of burns by

aetiology. Most cases of reported neonatal burns

occur in hospital settings and are preventable by

heightened awareness and applying simple measures.

We present four neonates who had iatrogenic contact

burns injury from plastic bags filled with hot water,

used to provide warmth. Three cases occurred during

the transition to the referral center. The newborns

had varying degrees of minor burns that healed on

conservative management with a good outcome. This

review highlights the dangers associated with the use

of plastic bags filled with hot water as a means of

providing warmth to neonates and the importance of

educating the populace especially mothers and

healthcare workers on the simple alternative ways

like kangaroo mother care (KMC) in burn prevention

among neonates.