$Unique_ID{PAR00033}
$Pretitle{}
$Title{Medical Advice:  Burns}
$Subtitle{}
$Author{
Editors of Consumer Guide
Chasnoff, Ira J}
$Subject{Burning Burn Burns Reddened skin Blisters Scorched blackened skin
Dead white skin blistered charred burned heat chemicals acid acids alkali
alkalis electricity first-degree second-degree third-degree Redness blistering
scorching Silver sulfadiazine}
$Log{}

Your Child:  A Medical Guide


Burns


     Quick Reference

     SYMPTOMS
     - Pain
     - Reddened skin
     - Blisters
     - Scorched or blackened skin
     - Dead white skin

     HOME CARE

     Burns that are blistered, charred, or scorched:
     - Do not treat at home.
     - Cover with a clean, wet cloth.  Do not apply ointments.
     - Keep the child warm.
     - See your doctor at once.

     Burns with reddened skin only:
     - Immediately apply cold compresses or hold under cold running water
       until the pain lessens.
     - Generously apply petroleum jelly or silver sulfadiazine cream.
     - Cover with several layers of gauze.
     - Change the dressing every 24 to 48 hours until the burn is completely
       healed.

     Sunburn:
     - Apply over-the-counter sunburn products, if needed, and leave
       uncovered.

     PRECAUTIONS
     - A severely burned child may go into a state of shock.  See "Shock" on
       page 453.
     - Never leave children home alone--not even for a moment.
     - Keep the thermostat on the water heater turned low, and watch children
       closely when they are around the stove.
     - Keep matches and cigarette lighters out of children's reach.
     - Keep gasoline and other flammables under lock and key outside the
       house.
     - Keep childproof plugs in electrical outlets, and keep children away
       from electrical wires and extension cords.
     - Keep your child's tetanus immunization status up to date.


     Burns are injuries of the skin caused by excessive heat, by chemicals
(acids and alkalis), or by electricity.  The seriousness of a burn depends on
the size, the location, and the depth of the skin burned.  Burns are
classified as first-degree (the least serious), second-degree, and
third-degree (the most serious).  First-degree burns cause reddening of the
skin and pain; they may blister after one or two days.  (Sunburn is an example
of a first-degree burn.)  Second-degree burns redden and blister immediately.
Third-degree burns are the deepest and cause the death of a full depth of
skin; the skin blisters or appears scorched (blackened) or dead white.
     If more than 10 percent of the skin surface has suffered second-degree or
third-degree burns, a serious emergency exists.  Any second-degree or
third-degree burn should be treated immediately by a doctor.  A person with
severe burns may go into shock, which is life-threatening and requires
immediate medical treatment.  Burns of the fingers, joints, and face may be
serious because burns in these locations may cause scarring and deformity.

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS

     Redness, blistering, or scorching of the skin are the obvious signs of a
burn.

HOME CARE

     Do not try to treat second-degree or third-degree burns at home; they
must be treated by a doctor.  If a burn is blistered, charred, or scorched,
cover it with a clean, wet cloth.  Keep the child warm, and see your doctor at
once.  Do not apply ointments or other treatments to burns that will need a
doctor's care.
     First-degree burns (reddened skin only) can usually be cared for at home.
Immediately apply cold compresses to the burn or place the burned area under
cold running water.  Continue applying cold until the pain lessens (up to
one-half hour).
     First-degree burns treated at home must be covered to prevent infection.
The covering should not stick to the burn, but it should keep out air and
germs until the burn has healed.  (If air is kept from the burn, there should
be no further pain.)  Generously apply petroleum jelly or a cream containing
silver sulfadiazine to the burn.  (Silver sulfadiazine requires a
prescription, but your doctor may prescribe it over the telephone.)  Then
cover the area with several thicknesses of sterile gauze.  Change the dressing
every 24 to 48 hours until the burn has completely healed.  For simple
sunburn, apply over-the-counter sunburn products, if needed, and leave
uncovered.

PRECAUTIONS

  -  If a severely burned child becomes weak, pale, cold and clammy, or shows
     any other signs of shock, keep the child warm and get medical help
     immediately.
  -  Do not break open blisters caused by burns.
  -  Electrical burns often occur when young children chew on live electrical
     wires and extension cords.  A physician should examine any electrical
     burn.
  -  Water over 115 degrees_F can scald.  If there are young children in the
     home, turn down the thermostat on the water heater.
  -  When cooking, keep your eyes on young children.
  -  Keep matches and cigarette lighters out of your child's reach.
  -  Do not keep gasoline or other flammables in the house.  Keep them under
     lock and key outside.
  -  Avoid flammable garments.
  -  Keep childproof plugs in electrical outlets.
  -  Keep your child's tetanus immunization status up to date.  (This is
     particularly important in the event of second- or third-degree burns.)
  -  Do not leave children home alone-not even for a moment.

MEDICAL TREATMENT

     A child will usually be hospitalized for any third-degree burn, for
second-degree burns that cover more than 10 percent of the skin, and for
second-degree burns of the face, fingers, or joints.  In the hospital, the
proper dressings can be applied; antibiotics and intravenous fluids can be
administered, if necessary; and the child's condition can be monitored for
complications.  Plastic surgery may be necessary.

RELATED TOPICS:  Blisters; Shock; Sunburn; Tetanus