IMPACT OF DIETARY PATTERN OF BURNED CHILDREN ON THEIR WOUND HEALING PROCESS

Abstract

Early and continued nutritional support have been determined to be an important component of therapy for seriously burned patients. The hyperrnetabolic response to severe injury requires increased protein and caloric intake to blunt the catabolism and loss of lean muscle mass and enhance the wound healing process.

This stUdy aimed to find out the impact of dietary patterns of burned children on their wound healing process.

The study was carried out at the Burn Unit of the Main University Hospital in Alexandria. Sixty burned children, aging 3 -12 years, with burned surface area 10 - 30 %, and hospitalized for at least 3 days or more comprised the sample. The sample was divided equally into two groups: 30 children as experimental and the other 30 as control. The children in the control group were matched with the experimental one in percentage of burn area, children's age and dressing technique. The control group received the routine hospital diet, while the experimental group received the high protein supplemental diet.