Burns
Introduction:
Burn is a sudden injury that can happen to an individual. Burn can be
defined as damage or destruction of the skin and the surrounding organs and
tissues because of outer heat, electricity, or chemicals. There are many causes
of burn and the person must take care when dealing with fire, electricity,
chemicals, and radiation to prevent injury and death. If the person got to burn
the treatment is different for each type of burn and each person must know the
emergency management of each type of burn at home.
The structure and function of the skin:
The skin is having 3 layers that were:
1- The outer layer is the epidermis which prevents the entry of harmful
germs into the body.
2- The middle layer is the dermis which contains hair follicles and sweat
glands that give the skin nourishment and moisten the skin.
3- The inner layer is subcutaneous tissues that contain tissues and nerves
which are important for the sensation, and storage of fats and water.
Types of burn:
The type of burn considered according to what cause of the burn that
there were many causes of burn like
1- Burn can cause because by a hot liquid called scald
2- Burn caused by a rough surface called friction
3- Burn can be caused by radiation or sunburn
4- Burn can be caused by chemicals, electrics, and dry hot objects.
These types of burns can cause damage to the skin and according to the
damage there are degrees and depths of burn on the skin.
Degree and depth of burn:
The burn degree and depth have been identified according to the damage
to the skin.
There are 3 degrees and depths of the burn that are:
1- Superficial burn that considered a first-degree burn that only the top
layer of the skin (epidermis) is damaged and the person’s symptoms will be pain
on the burn site, red or pink color on the burn site, swelling slightly on the
site, and skin can be dry.
2- Partial thickness burns can be considered
as the second degree of burn and can affect the top and middle layer of the
skin (epidermis and dermis). The symptoms the effected person can feel severe
pain in the site, red color skin with raw looking, and the development of
blisters that contain fluid.
3- Full-thickness burn and this type
considered as third degree of burn the affected part of the skin can be the
outer, middle, and inner layers ( epidermis, dermis, subcutaneous tissue) the
person affected can feel little or no pain in the site, and skin is dry, the
blood vessels and bones are seen, and the skin color is pearly white.
Burn complication:
Burn can have many complications according to the degree of burn and
depth of the skin injury the most common complication the person can face:
1- The person may face shock due to severe damage and hypovolemic shock due
to loss of fluid
2- Acute renal failure can occur in severe damage to the skin and loss of
fluid.
3- Because burns affect the skin
which is the first defense against germs the person can get infection and
sepsis.
4- The person can be unable to move
the burn site and can have severe pain with psychological trauma.
Burn treatment:
Burn can be treated according to the degree and depth of the injured
site.
The first-degree or mild burn can be treated at home by cooling the site
with cool water for at least 10 minutes, can apply burn ointment on the burn
site after the dryness of the site. it is better to not move and uncover the
site because any gauze or bandage can cause pain in the site and be sticky but
if the person wants to go out better to be covered to prevent infection to the
site. If the person having pain; pain killer medication can be given.
If the person suffering from a second or third-degree burn better to
take the person directly to the emergency for further treatment and management.
Instructions to be considered with the burn:
If the person suffering from a burn the person must be away from the
burn site, don’t try to remove the clothes from the burn site, don’t apply any
toothpaste, butter, or tomato sauce to the burn site, lastly don’t stop cooling
the burn area before 10 minutes.
Conclusion:
Burn is a very serious health problem if not treated properly and the
person who got burned need support physically, psychologically, and socially.
Because of long treatment may patient need rehabilitation, physical
therapy, and Long-life assisted care.