OBJECTIVE: To study the clinical and epidemiologic features of burns in children and to take effective measures for preventing children from being burnt. METHODS: The clinical data of 367 cases of children burnt during 1994 - 2002 were studied retrospectively. RESULTS: Childhood burn cases accounted for 23.1% of the burn cases admitted to the Second Xiangya Hospital. The gender ratio of the childhood bum cases (boys/girls) was 2. 53. The incidence of burns in children from 1 to 3 years old was the highest (67.2%). The most common cause of burning in children from 1 to 3 years old and school children was hot water; for pre-school children it was fire. Severe burn injury, with the burn range of 15 % to 25 % of TBSA (total body surface area), was the most common (35.2 % ). CONCLUSIONS: Childhood burn has its own clinical and epidaniologic features. It is necessary to take effective measures to reduce the incidence of bums in children.