@article{ref1,
title="An unprecedented increase in burn injuries due to alcohol-based hand sanitizers during the COVID-19 outbreak",
journal="Medical journal of the Islamic Republic of Iran",
year="2021",
author="Dahmardehei, Mostafa and Khadem Rezaiyan, Majid and Safarnejad, Farhang and Ahmadabadi, Ali",
volume="35",
number="",
pages="e107-e107",
abstract="BACKGROUND: Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, protective measures including alcohol-based hand rub, received unexampled popularity in Iran. Alcohol hand rub is effective, inexpensive and simple to use, but it is a flammable liquid, which might cause burn injuries. In this study, we investigated burn injuries due to alcohol hand sanitizers during the COVID-19 disease outbreak in Iran. <br><br>METHODS: This cross-sectional study was performed on burn patients referred to Motahari Burns and Reconstruction Center from February 20th, 2020 (official announcement of the epidemic of COVID-19 in Iran) up to April 19th, 2020. All outpatients and hospitalized burn injuries caused by alcohol during the abovementioned period were included. <br><br>RESULTS: There were 76 burn injuries due to the use of alcohol hand sanitizer. Sixty patients were treated outpatient, and 16 were hospitalized. The mean ± SD age of patients was 33.2±17.9 years and most were males (57 individuals, 75%). Also, the mean ± SD of TBSA was 6.1±6.5%. In hospitalized ones, the mean ± SD hospital stay was 11.7±8.6 days. The most burnt area was the head (39.5%) followed by the right upper limb (35.5%) and the left upper limb (23.7%). Patients were actively engaged in burn injury in 61.8% of cases, while they were passively burnt in 34.2% of cases and in 3.9% the mechanism was unknown. Burn injuries mostly happened in the yard (22.4%) followed by the rooftop (21.1%) and outdoors (18.4%). <br><br>CONCLUSION: Appropriate general education, especially through mass media, can reduce burns caused by alcohol-based sanitation during the COVID-19 outbreak. Most of these burn injuries involved face and hands, which are cosmetically and functionally important.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="1016-1430",
doi="10.47176/mjiri.35.107",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.47176/mjiri.35.107"
}