Burns Overview

Burn is an injury caused mainly to your skin or epithelial tissues due to contact with extreme heat. Besides being a minor medical problem, burns may also be life threatening crises. Although, people of any age may be affected by burns, the degree of risk varies from person to person. The skin normalizes your body’s temperature and prevents the bodily fluids from evaporating.

The severity of a burn may be more in a child than in an adult, since a younger child’s body experiences greater loss of fluids caused by the burn. Those with inhalational burns may experience difficulty in breathing and airway swelling, and the condition must be treated as soon as possible.

Burnt skin becomes susceptible to bacterial infection, which may lead to sepsis if the bacteria spread all through the body resulting in shock or organ failure. Loss of bodily fluids and damage of blood vessels caused by burns obstruct the pumping of blood to your body by the heart. Low blood volume or hypovolemia is a likely consequence of such a reaction. Other complications associated with burns include dangerously low body temperature, scarring and bone and joint problems.

Thermal burns are caused due to contact with hot solids, liquids or even gases, while contact with bases or acids are bound to cause chemical burns. You may also suffer from an electrical injury due to lightning or contact with other electrical sources, whereas constant rubbing of your skin against an object causes friction burns. Sunburns are experienced due to the ultraviolet radiation from the sun. Generally, the depth of a burn implies the gravity of the burn. First degree burns concern only the outer layer of your skin causing redness, pain and swelling. When burns are severe to the extent of affecting the underlying layer of your skin, blistering is caused along with other complications. Full thickness burns or third degree burns, which extend deeper into your tissues, char your skin that turns numb and appear black or white. Severity of the burns may be diagnosed through tests such as pulse oximetry, kidney profile, carbon monoxide level, urinalysis, complete blood count and chest X-ray. To help prevent burns, you may install smoke alarms, place fire extinguishers, keep children informed about fire safety, keep electrical cords out of children’s reach and attend to items being cooked on the stove.

Home treatment is always the immediate first aid for minor burns. The burnt areas must be dealt gently by using a cool piece of cloth. Applying gentle lotions containing aloe vera will relieve you of the pain and swelling from burns. Peeling of your skin is part of the healing process and usage of lotions will help reduce the itching. It is advisable to approach a physician for an assessment of a suspected second or third degree burn. You may be advised specialized burn treatment depending on the gravity of your burns. Burn treatment at a hospital generally includes assessment of the burn, delivery of IV fluids, oral medications, wound care, protective dressings, skin grafting and surgery. During healing, severe burns with open blisters are prone to infection. Serious burns may also leave a permanent scar post healing.