A boy aged five from Ialoveni district caught fire when he was playing with his father’s lighter. He was admitted to the National Children’s Hospital “Emil Cotaga” in a serious condition with burns on hands, legs, abdomen and the back. In the near future, he will undergo plastic surgery.
Head of the hospital’s burns section Gheorghe Vicol has told IPN that the parents weren’t at home when the child caught fire. He was helped by neighbors, who called an ambulance. The child was transported to Chisinau in a state of shock.
The doctor said the treatment will last for about two months. In the period he will undergo several plastic surgeries. The recuperation period will be approximately two years. The child will remain with scars. When he grows older, he may need more plastic surgery, if the scars cause discomfort. Two years ago, the boy’s sister suffered scalds and was admitted to the reanimatology section.
The specialist underlined that the kitchen is the most dangerous place in the house, especially for children younger than five. About 70% of the burns suffered by children under five are caused by hot liquids in the kitchen. “The parents must attentively supervise the children everywhere and not leave dangerous things within their reach,” said Gheorghe Vicol.
According to the National Health Management Center, 2,427 children aged between 0 and 5 suffered traumas in Moldova last year. Of them, 51 died.
