Burns during pregnancy - effect on maternal and foetal outcomes.

During a 5-yr period (1999-2004), of the 529 women of reproductive age admitted with burns, 44 (7.4%) were pregnant. Of these 44, 37 (84%) were in the age group 15-25 yr and 22 (50%) were in the second trimester; 33 burns (75%) were accidental and 11 (25%) the result of suicide attempts. Flame burns accounted for 42 out of the 44 cases (95.5%); two cases were due to scalds (4.5%). Maternal death occurred in 28 of the cases (63.6%) and foetal death in 29 (65.9%). The maternal complications that led to mortality were shock in 15 cases (53.6%), respiratory distress in 8 (28.6%) and sepsis in 14 (50.0%); one patient had corneal perforation.