Caloric requirements of patients with burns under one year of age

Formulas for estimating the caloric requirements of pediatric patients with burns have been suggested. However, the needs of infant patients with burns have not been specifically addressed. This study was undertaken to determine the caloric intake required to maintain weight in patients under 1 year of age who had burns covering more than 25% total body surface area. Thirty patients were studied, and a comparison was made between the actual intake required for weight maintenance and the suggested calorie levels provided by published pediatric caloric formulas. The results indicated that a new formula was needed. Multivariate regression analysis indicated that body surface area and burn surface area were significant predictors of caloric requirements, but body surface area was the more important predictor in this infant population. The equation resulting from the regression provides 2100 kcal/m²body surface area/day plus 1000 kcal/m²body surface area burned/day.