Burns, Causes, Signs and Symptoms, Diagnosis and Treatment.

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Chapters

0:00 Introduction
2:32 Symptoms of Burns
3:08 Diagnosis of Burns
3:55 Treatment of Burns



A burn is a type of injury to skin, or other tissues, caused by heat, cold, electricity, chemicals, friction, or ultraviolet radiation (like sunburn).[6] Most burns are due to heat from hot liquids (called scalding), solids, or fire.[10] While rates are similar for males and females, the underlying causes often differ.[7] Among women in some areas, risk is related to use of open cooking fires or unsafe cook stoves.[7] Among men, risk is related to the work environments.[7] Alcoholism and smoking are other risk factors.[7] Burns can also occur as a result of self-harm or violence between people (assault).[7]

Burns that affect only the superficial skin layers are known as superficial or first-degree burns.[2][11] They appear red without blisters and pain typically lasts around three days.[2][11] When the injury extends into some of the underlying skin layer, it is a partial-thickness or second-degree burn.[2] Blisters are frequently present and they are often very painful.[2] Healing can require up to eight weeks and scarring may occur.[2] In a full-thickness or third-degree burn, the injury extends to all layers of the skin.[2] Often there is no pain and the burnt area is stiff.[2] Healing typically does not occur on its own.[2] A fourth-degree burn additionally involves injury to deeper tissues, such as muscle, tendons, or bone.[2] The burn is often black and frequently leads to loss of the burned part.[2][12]

Burns are generally preventable.[7] Treatment depends on the severity of the burn.[2] Superficial burns may be managed with little more than simple pain medication, while major burns may require prolonged treatment in specialized burn centers.[2] Cooling with tap water may help pain and decrease damage; however, prolonged cooling may result in low body temperature.[2][11] Partial-thickness burns may require cleaning with soap and water, followed by dressings.[2] It is not clear how to manage blisters, but it is probably reasonable to leave them intact if small and drain them if large.[2] Full-thickness burns usually require surgical treatments, such as skin grafting.[2] Extensive burns often require large amounts of intravenous fluid, due to capillary fluid leakage and tissue swelling.[11] The most common complications of burns involve infection.[4] Tetanus toxoid should be given if not up to date.[2]

In 2015, fire and heat resulted in 67 million injuries.[8] This resulted in about 2.9 million hospitalizations and 176,000 deaths.[9][13] Most deaths due to burns occur in the developing world, particularly in Southeast Asia.[7] While large burns can be fatal, treatments developed since 1960 have improved outcomes, especially in children and young adults.[14] In the United States, approximately 96% of those admitted to a burn center survive their injuries.[15] The long-term outcome is related to the size of burn and the age of the person affected.[2]