Homemade Steam Inhalation Therapy Devices: A Neglected Cause of Severe Pediatric Burns—An Urgent Call for Education and Safety Measures

Steam inhalation therapy is common practice for coryzal symptoms, especially in children. However, it can cause major scald injuries due to accidental contact with the hot water. The authors used an electronic database to retrospectively identify all children admitted with burn injuries secondary to steam inhalation therapy during a 5-year period from September 2019 to August 2024 at Trousseau Hospital pediatric burn unit. Data collected included patient demographics, mechanism of burn, burn areas and extent, need of surgical treatment, type of hospitalization, length of stay, infections, and other complications. The authors also conducted a brief literature review. A total of 33 children were identified during a 5-year period at our center, with median age of 6 years old, and male predominance (60.6%). A total of 81.8% of children were burned to perineum and/or thigh areas, with 63.6% over perinea more precisely. In total, 51.5% were admitted in intensive care unit, before being transferred to surgical ward, for a mean hospital stay of 18 days. Surgery was needed for 51.5% of children. Moreover, the literature review found only rare controversial benefits to this practice, and many warnings about its dangers. Burn injuries secondary to steam inhalation therapy in children are common cause of severe morbidity with long-term sequelae. They also contribute to a significant number of surgeries and extended hospital stays, therefore increasing costs for national health systems. Authors highlighted a worrying outbreak of cases linked to extensive media coverage of this practice. Better public awareness through simple public advice and prevention policies could help to reduce these injuries.