Why it’s a concern

A burn injury is not just about the skin. Regardless of the size and depth of a burn, it is a lived experience for both a child and family that does not stop once the burn wound has healed, or the scarring has faded and matured.

Burns literature indicates:

• Children with visible scars tend to have more problems with peer socialisation, given other children are far more likely to express negative attitudes towards their disfigurement [3].
• Children with visible scarring may appear to be coping well on the outside but may be internally struggling with thoughts and feelings regarding their appearance and overall self-concept [2].
• Burn survivors can experience psychological and psychosocial difficulties with body image, self-concept, quality of life and social anxiety [1].
• Children and adolescents who have sustained a burn injury resulting in subsequent long-term scarring struggle with their quality of life in relation to school as well as socially and emotionally [4].

Occupational therapists are concerned about the impact a burn injury has on a child in regards to how they look and feel as children build many invaluable social skills, developmental skills, future resilience/coping skills and peer relationships through their interactions in various childhood occupations across a range of environments (i.e. school, community, home).