AGE-RELATED FEATURES OF PROLONGED HOSPITAL TREATMENT IN CHILDREN WITH SEVERE BURN TOXEMIA

Objective. To assess clinical patterns of prolonged hospital treatment across pediatric age groups with severe burn toxemia, considering burn extent and depth, the Frank index and intensive care duration. Methods. Group-level clinical data for 21 children with severe thermal burns and intensive care unit (ICU) stays of 21–50 days were analyzed. The age groups were 6 months–3 years (n = 8), 3.1–7 years (n = 7) and 7.1–18 years (n = 6). Burn areas classified as grades II–IIIA and IIIB, the Frank index, ICU stay and total hospital stay were compared. The difference between mean hospital and ICU stay and the ratio of these group means were calculated. Results. Children aged 3.1–7 years had the largest mean grade IIIB burn area (36.7 ± 13.3%) and Frank index (127.5 ± 33.3 units). Mean ICU stays were 26.3 ± 2.4, 27.3 ± 3.2 and 28.8 ± 4.8 days; total hospital stays were 49.3 ± 3.8, 61.8 ± 13.5 and 65.4 ± 21.6 days, respectively. Calculated non-ICU components were 23.0, 34.5 and 36.6 days. The ICU proportions calculated from group means were 53.3%, 44.2% and 44.0%. Source values are reported as mean ± standard error. Conclusion. Prolonged ICU treatment occurred in all selected age groups despite differences in burn extent and depth. The youngest group combined prolonged ICU care with a smaller mean deep burn area, the middle group had the greatest local injury severity, and the oldest group had the longest mean hospital stay. These descrip­tive findings support integrated assessment of age, injury severity and clinical recovery; they do not establish an independent age effect.