Sauna-related burns: a review of 154 cases treated in Kuopio University Hospital Burn Center 1994-2000

Burns. 2002 Feb;28(1):57-9. doi: 10.1016/s0305-4179(01)00073-0.

Abstract

Bathing in sauna has been customary for Finnish people for centuries. However, there are no actual reviews on sauna-related burns in the literature. This 7-year retrospective analyses of 598 burn patients treated in Kuopio University Hospital Burn Unit revealed that every fourth burn in our unit was sauna-related, giving a total of 154 cases. Most of these burns were minor but 54% required operative treatment. A total of 71% of patients were male and 40% of all patients were under the influence of alcohol. The incidence of sauna-related burns in Finland according to our material is 7/100,000, giving a total of 357 patients annually. Hence, there is one sauna-related burn per day requiring hospitalization in Finland.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Age Distribution
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Burn Units / statistics & numerical data*
  • Burns / epidemiology*
  • Burns / etiology*
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Female
  • Finland / epidemiology
  • Hospitals, University / statistics & numerical data*
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Sex Distribution
  • Steam Bath / adverse effects*