BURNS
A burn is an injury or damage to the skin or body tissues caused by heat, chemical, radiation, or friction.
- Burns can cause swelling, blistering, scarring and in severe cases, shock and even death.
- They can also lead to infections because they damage the protective barriers of the skin
- They are one of the most common household injuries, especially in children.
- Burns can be minor or life-threatening.
- The most common burns are due to heat from hot liquids, or fire.
- Fire and heat-related injuries resulted in 67 million injuries in 2015, with 2.9 million hospitalization and 176,000 deaths.
- The long-term outcome is related to the size of the burn and the age of the person affected.
- There are three types of burn, namely: first-degree burn, second-degree burn, and third-degree burn
- The first-degree burns damage the epidermis which is the outer layer of the skin. They cause minimal skin damage and heals within 7 to days without scarring. They are also called superficial burns
- Second-degree burns damage both the epidermis and the dermis. They affect the outer layer of the skin and the layer under the skin.
- Second-degree burns are more serious, have a wet or moist wound and may form blisters. They may take three weeks or longer to heal without scarring. Deep second-degree burns are more likely to scar
- Third-degree burns are the most severe. They affect the epidermis and dermis and reaches into the fat layer beneath the skin causing damages to the bones, tendons, and They take a longer time to heal with scarring
CAUSES
Various external factor that causes burn may include:
- Hot liquids- This occurs from exposure to hot tap water in baths or showers, hot drinks, hot cooking oil, or steam.
- Chemicals such as strong acids, paints, or gasoline.
- An electrical voltage such as from electrical cords, electrical outlets and sometimes lightning.
- Radiation from ultraviolet lights (sun, tanning booths), X-rays or radiation therapy.
- Hot metal, glass or other objects
- Abuse
SYMPTOMS
FIRST DEGREE BURN
- Redness
- Minor swelling
- Pain
- Dry, peeling skin as the burn heals
SECOND DEGREE BURN
- Redness with clear blisters
- Wet or moist appearance
- Pain
- Swelling
- Yellow, white or splotchy skin
THIRD DEGREE BURN
Numbness due to nerve damage
Waxy and leathery skin
Burned area may be charred black or white
Dark brown color
DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENTS
DIAGNOSIS
The severity of a burn is determined by the size of body parts affected. Diagnosis always includes a physical examination and other diagnostic procedures.
During a physical examination, your doctor will examine the burned skin and check for the total body surface area involved. According to the American Burn Association, for people ages 10-40, a severe burn is one that involves 25% total body surface area or any burn involving the eyes, ears, feet, groin, face, and feet.
Other examination including lab tests, X-rays may be carried out to check for other injuries or determine if the burn has affected the rest of the body.
TREATMENT
Proper and quick treatment of burn will reduce the risk and severity of scarring.
Most minor burns can be treated with home care. Treatments may include:
- Soaking the burn in cool water for 5 minutes or longer.
- Taking medications for pain relief.
- Applying burn cream and ointments to soothe the skin.
- Gauze bandage to protect the skin and reduce the risk of infections.
Avoid using ice or cotton ball on the surface of a burn. Fiber from the cotton ball can stick to the injury increases the risk of infections.
For serious or major burns, treatment may include medications, wound dressing, therapy, and surgical procedures.
Medications are used to encourage healing
Therapy to help stretch the skin and encourage motion in the joints. This is necessary for large burns that cover any joint
The surgical procedure may include skin graft, plastic surgery, tube feeding and breathing assistance.
The goals of treatment are to reduce scarring, prevent infection and regain function.