Three-year-old suffers 60% burns after falling into hot tamarind liquid; survives cardiac arrest and recovers after 40 days of intensive treatment

A three-year-old child who suffered nearly 60% burn injuries and survived a cardiac arrest was successfully treated at a hospital in Pune. The critically injured child was admitted with multiple life-threatening complications due to burns, including shock, cardiac arrest, and respiratory failure. He underwent more than 40 days of intensive treatment at Ankura Hospital for Women & Children, Pune.

Dr. Milind M. Jambagi, Head of PICU and Pediatric Emergency Services at Ankura Hospital, who is also the Chairperson, Education Committee, World Federation of Pediatric Intensive and Critical Care Societies, Geneva, said, “The child had sustained severe burns involving nearly 60% of his body and had already suffered a cardiac arrest before being referred to us. Such extensive burn injuries can affect multiple organs and increase the risk of severe infection, shock, breathing difficulties, and other life-threatening complications apart from long-term disabilities. Our immediate focus was to stabilize his condition, support his vital organs, control pain, prevent infections, and initiate advanced wound care. He underwent comprehensive treatment that included respiratory support, strict infection control measures, nutritional rehabilitation, repeated burn wound dressings, collagen dressings, debridement procedures, and intensive rehabilitation.

Cases like these require constant vigilance, as even minor setbacks can quickly become life-threatening in severely burned children.”

Dr. Milind M. Jambagi further added, “Children with major burn injuries require much more than wound treatment alone. Burns can trigger severe inflammation throughout the body and make patients highly vulnerable to multi-organ failure, sometimes needing intensive treatment like dialysis. Adequate nutrition, respiratory support, meticulous wound management, and rehabilitation are all equally important components of treatment. Despite developing shock and respiratory failure following cardiac arrest, this child showed extraordinary resilience. With the support of our multidisciplinary team, he gradually improved and continued to make steady progress every day. After more than 40 days of intensive and protocolised care in the hospital, the child showed remarkable recovery. His wounds healed well, he was breathing normally without support, accepting feeds adequately, and steadily regaining strength."

Dr Shrikant Pingale, Consultant Plastic Surgeon, further added, “The most commendable part of his care at Ankura Hospital was that the child never got any infection throughout his hospital stay. This was possible due to the regular wound care, dressing, highly specialised and protocolised care given at the PICU at Ankura Hospital. He was eventually discharged in a stable condition on 11th May 2026. He is currently being followed up on an OPD basis for continued recovery and rehabilitation, and is off any medications.”

“Severe burn injuries in children can be devastating not only physically but also emotionally for families. This case highlights the importance of early first aid, timely referral to specialized pediatric critical care centers, strict infection control, nutritional support, and coordinated multidisciplinary management. At Ankura Hospital, we remain committed to providing advanced pediatric emergency and critical care services that give children the best possible chance of recovery, even in the most challenging circumstances,” said Dr. Milind M. Jambagi.