Microwave ovens injurious to children: Study warns

Chicago, United States, October 8: The appliance that cooks food by means of high-frequency electromagnetic radiationdefine can pose a serious safety hazard to young children - of scald burn injuries, warns a new study.

The novel study, carried out by University of Chicago Medical Center researchers, suggests that every year, young children suffer burns when they remove hot food and liquids from microwave ovens.

"Scalds are the leading cause of burn-related emergency room visits and hospitalizations for young children under 5," says lead researcher Dr. Gina Lowell from the department of pediatrics at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago.

According to the study researchers, a child as young as 18 months can open a microwave, remove the hot substance, and scald himself. These scald burns can result in serious injuries that often require skin grafting and intensive care. "Microwaved foods and drinks can cause serious scald injuries to young children," Lowell said. "While parents may well recognize the stove as a danger area in the kitchen, they may not realize that their toddlers can open the microwave, remove what was heated, and scald themselves."

Lowell and her team of researchers reached their conclusion after studying 140 children below 5 years of age who were hospitalized with scald injuries. The researchers found two types of injuries, one due to water heaters and the other due to microwave ovens.

Lowell’s team found two unexpected patterns related to the microwaves injuries. In the first, nine children between 18 months and 4 years were burned after they opened the microwave and removed the hot substance themselves. And, in the second pattern, seventeen children were scalded, when the older children, ages 7 to 14, accidentally spilled hot food on them, or when the older child was supervising the younger one.

The researchers, who reported their findings in the October issue of Pediatrics, concluded that severe scald burns can be devastating for children as they can leave scars and wounds that can restrict movement.

In order to reduce accidental injuries to children due to microwave, the study recommends extra protections, like locking mechanisms that would prevent children from opening a microwave after something had been heated and more extensive warning campaigns to reduce accidental scalds. The researchers also urged parents to teach their children that the microwave is as potential a source of danger as the stove is.