BURNS

 

BURNS

Definition:

          Burns are injuries to tissues caused by heat, friction, electricity, radiation, or chemicals.  Burns may be caused by even a brief encounter with heat greater than 120⁰F (99⁰C).

 

Causes: 1 Types:

1.     Thermal / agents / Thermal burns

Exposures flames, hot surfaces hot liquids in kitchen and bathrooms.

 

2.     Electrical Agents / Electrical Burns

Ø  Electrical out lets

Ø Biling, sucking of electrical cards

Ø Direct contact with low / high voltage current

Ø Faculty electrical wiring

 

3.     Chemical Agents / Chemical Burns

Ø Injection of acids, alkalies, organic compounds

Ø Ingestion of caustic house hold agents

 

4.     Radiation agents / Radiation burns

Ø  Exposure to ultraviolet light rays from sun

Ø Exposure to medical theropics

Extent of injury / Size of injury

          The extent of the burn is expressed as a percentage of total body surface area (TBSA) injured.  The child has different body proportions than the adult, resulting in inaccurate estimation of injury if the standard adult rule of nines is used.  The infants head and neck make upto 18%of the TBSA and each lower extremity accounts for 14% of the TBSA.  A quick assessment method for small burn injuries is the palmar method.  This method composes the victims palm which is percent of the total BSA to the burn wound.  The size of the injury is approxima equal to the number of palms that the wound surface.

          In an emergency, the simplest method of calculation is to use modified rule of nines, which is adjusted to the age of the child.  It is important to note that a child who is younges than 2 years and for each year of life after age 2, 1% is deducted from the head and 0.5% is added to each leg, to accurately calculate the size / extent of burn injury lund and browder chart is used, which allows for age related differences in size.

 

SUMMARY

          Burns can cause swelling, blistering scarring and in serious cases, shock and even death.  They also can lead to infections because they damage your skins protective barrier.  Treatment for burns depends on the cause of the burn, how deep it is and how much of the body it covers.