Supplementation for Burn Patients

• give extra feeds high in calories and proteins
• supplement with Vitamins A and C, Iron and Zinc
• use aggressive nutritional treatment for burns > 20% TBSA. in this group  preferably start naso-enteric feeds 24 hours post burn
• give extra feeds twice daily in burns up to 20%; increase the frequency when TBSA is > 20%
• preferably feed by mouth, if this is not possible feed by the smallest possible nasogastric tube
• weigh patients at least once a week

Vitamins for Adult patients:

Vitamins for Paediatric patients:

• Multivitamins
• Iron supplement 2mg/kg elemental iron / day (some suggest up to 2.5mg/kg)
• Ascorbic Acid <2 years 250mg daily , >2 years 500mg daily
• Zinc  1mg/kg/day (of elemental zinc) in 1-3 divided doses

References:

1. Women’s and Children’s Hospital – Guidelines for the Management of Paediatric Burns. May 2010
2. Clinical Practice Guidelines Nutrition Burn Patient Management. NSW Statewide Burn Injury Service