[Early rehabilitation and psychosocial problems of burns in childhood].

In the management of burns in childhood teamwork is even more important than in the treatment of other traumatic injuries. The authors describe their experience with more than 600 children referred to the center for burns of the University Children's Hospital, Zurich, between 1 November 1977 and 31 December 1982. The psychological state of the child during hospitalisation and the question of somatic and psychic reintegration into the community are very closely connected. 1. Early rehabilitation: The authors describe technical possibilities in the treatment of scars in children and stress the risks involved and possible mistakes. 2. Psychological problems: Recovery depends to a large extent on the reactions by the medical and nursing personnel. The difficulties which will be encountered if children are treated in a hospital not specialized in the treatment of burned children, are described and the indications for transfers of those children to specialized children's units are enumerated.