References

Log T, Moi A Ethanol and methanol burn risks in the home environment. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2018; 15:(11) https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15112379

Tolles J Emergency department management of patients with thermal burns. Emerg Med Pract. 2018; 20:(2)1-24

Peck MD Epidemiology of burns throughout the world. Part I: distribution and risk factors. Burns. 2011; 37:(7)1087-1100 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.burns.2011.06.005

Smolle C, Cambiaso-Daniel J, Forbes AA Recent trends in burn epidemiology worldwide: a systematic review. Burns. 2017; 43:(2)249-257 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.burns.2016.08.013

Cheng W, Shen C, Zhao D The epidemiology and prognosis of patients with massive burns: a multicenter study of 2483 cases. Burns. 2019; 45:(3)705-716 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.burns.2018.08.008

Jin R, Wu P, Ho JK Five-year epidemiology of liquefied petroleum gas-related burns. Burns. 2018; 44:(1)210-217 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.burns.2017.05.011

McGovern PE, Zhang J, Tang J Fermented beverages of pre- and proto-historic China. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 2004; 101:(51)17593-17598 https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.0407921102

For ethanol, the future is now. 2007. https://tinyurl.com/3cpe648p

Neubrech F, Kiefer J, Schmidt VJ Domestic bioethanol-fireplaces–a new source of severe burn accidents. Burns. 2016; 42:(1)209-214 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.burns.2015.10.004

Kraemer R, Knobloch K, Lorenzen J Severe burn injuries caused by bioethanol-design fireplaces-an overview on recreational fire threats. J Burn Care Res. 2011; 32:(2)173-177 https://doi.org/10.1097/BCR.0b013e31820aade7

Palmu R, Partonen T, Suominen K Alcohol use and smoking in burn patients at the Helsinki Burn Center. Burns. 2018; 44:(1)158-167 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.burns.2017.05.019

Choke A, Chong SJ, Tan BK Hot pot burns and the dangers of portable gas stove. Burns. 2016; 42:(1)238-239 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.burns.2015.11.001

Seifman MA, Alexander KS, Lo CH, Cleland H Cupping: the risk of burns. Med J Aust. 2017; 206:(11) https://doi.org/10.5694/mja17.00230

Kouskoukis CE, Leider M Cupping. Am J Dermatopathol. 1983; 5:(3)235-240 https://doi.org/10.1097/00000372-198306000-00007

Al-Bedah AM, Elsubai IS, Qureshi NA The medical perspective of cupping therapy: effects and mechanisms of action. J Tradit Complement Med. 2019; 9:(2)90-97 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtcme.2018.03.003

Iblher N, Stark B Cupping treatment and associated burn risk: a plastic surgeon's perspective. J Burn Care Res. 2007; 28:(2)355-358 https://doi.org/10.1097/BCR.0B013E318031A267

Lowe DT Cupping therapy: an analysis of the effects of suction on skin and the possible influence on human health. Complement Ther Clin Pract. 2017; 29:162-168 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ctcp.2017.09.008

Hohl DH, Coltro PS, Silva GM, Faring Jnr JA Covid-19 quarantine has increased the incidence of ethyl alcohol burns. Burns. 2020; 47:(5) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.burns.2020.05.025

Rybarczyk MM, Schafer JM, Elm CM Prevention of burn injuries in low- and middle-income countries: a systematic review. Burns. 2016; 42:(6)1183-1192 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.burns.2016.04.014

Yu TC, Zhang X, Smiell J Healthcare resource utilization, treatment patterns, and cost of care among patients with thermal burns and inpatient autografting in two large privately insured populations in the United States. Burns. 2020; 46:(4)825-835 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.burns.2019.10.019

Holmes WJ, Hold P, James MI The increasing trend in alcohol-related burns: It's impact on a tertiary burn centre. Burns. 2010; 36:(6)938-943 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.burns.2009.12.008

Grant EJ Burn injuries. Clin Plast Surg. 2017; 44:(3)451-466 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cps.2017.02.005

Wound dressings

The epidemiology of alcohol burns at a major burn centre in North China

02 December 2023
Practice
02 December 2023
Volume 2023 · Issue WUWHS Supplement December 2023

Abstract

This study was designed to explore the epidemiological characteristics and potential preventive strategies of alcohol burns. In this five-year, retrospective study, 163 patients with alcohol burns (admitted from 1 January 2015 to 31 May 2020 were included. There was a male-to-female ratio of 1.1:1, a mean age of 34.1±16.8 years, and a mean burn size of 13.3±13.7% total body surface area (TBSA). The number of patients with alcohol burns was similar year by year during the five-year period. Just over half of patients (n=84, 51.5%) sustained a third-degree burn injury, which was significantly associated with a longer hospital stay and the need for surgery. The most prevalent aetiology was cupping (n=49, 29.5%), followed by cooking hotpot (n=37, 22.7%). Of the patients, seven (4.29%) sustained injuries during experiments at school and one patient sustained injury when using alcohol spray for disinfection against COVID-19. The incidence of facial burn injury (n=105, 64.4%) was significantly higher than previously reported data (33.2%). The result of the study showed that cupping and hotpot were the main causes of alcohol burns in Beijing, which should be taken into consideration for prevention. It is necessary to strengthen safety management of classes at school where experiments are undertaken and to educate the general public on the proper means of disinfecting against COVID-19.

Burn injuries are a concern worldwide, with approximately 265,000 burn-related deaths every year.1 Severe burn injury may lead to prolonged hospital stay, in addition to the physical and psychological consequences, such as body image dissatisfaction, self-mutilation, post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, and depression.2

Unlike other common diseases, burn injuries are usually caused by accidents3 and, therefore, prevention should be the first priority. Certain types of burns with different aetiologies may have specific epidemiological characteristics, which are the basic premise for prevention. It is therefore important to explore these epidemiological characteristics and identify the relevant risk factors.

Burns are a result of thermal, chemical or electrical injuries, among which flames cause the highest proportion of extensive burns, followed by scalds, electricity and chemicals.4

Alcohol is not only used as an alcoholic beverage closely related to people's daily life, but also as a fuel which is widely used in the catering industry, in chemical experiments and in medical disinfection. Particularly in China, the widely practiced Traditional Chinese Medicine and the country's culinary traditions require the use of alcohol, for example, in cupping therapy and in cooking hotpot. Alcohol is flammable, and its vapour when mixed with air can form explosive mixtures, which can cause combustion and explosion in the presence of open flames or high heat energy.1

Register now to continue reading

Thank you for visiting Journal of Wound Care's World Union of Wound Healing Supplement and reading some of our peer-reviewed resources for healthcare professionals. To read more, please register today.

Register
Or continue by

Signing in with your registered email address

alcohol
burns
cupping
epidemiology
hotpot
wound
wound care
wound dressing
wound healing