Pattern Of First Aid Treatment In Chemical Burns Of The Face In Patients Presenting In National Orthopaedic Hospital (NOH), Enugu

Abstract

When burns occur in Nigeria, the first reaction is panic by relations and neighbours. All manner of suggestions are made to the victim and his relations by by-standers. Local applications of groundnut oil, palm oil, engine oil, kerosene and other forms of chemicals are usually made in a bid to attenuate the damage as well as ameliorate the discomfort. Some of the applications end up infecting the wound and converts partial thickness to full thickness burns, thereby worsening morbidity / mortality figures. A retrospective study was done on the pattern of first aid given in all chemical burns cases to the face presenting at National Orthopaedic Hospital (NOH ) Enugu between January 1996 and December 2005. It
was to show the pattern and usefulness or otherwise of the measures adopted by patient’s relations and by-standers. Forty-six patients were seen males = 36 females = 10. M: F ratio = 3.6: 1. Forty-one had first
aid. Ignorance on the proper first aid in burns, is still the order of the day in Nigeria. There is still need for more public enlightenment. Too many advisers still control decisions when health matters crop up. Many
unqualified advisers take over. The citizens are still gullible in taking these suggestions, due to low level of education and lack of exposure. Chemicals are easily procured in Nigeria and there is lack of proper
legislation. Water which is still the best first aid, and is also readily available and cheap, is not usually applied when burns occur. Rather, all manner of solutions are applied on the burns surfaces, and these
end up infecting the burns wound.