Virtual Medical Centre

Burns

• What is Burns?
• Who gets Burns?
• Predisposing Factors
• Progression
• Probable Outcomes
• How Will Burns Affect Me?
• Clinical Examination
• How is Burns Diagnosed?
• How is Burns treated?
• Burns References
• Drugs/Products Associated with Burns

What is Burns?

Burns are injuries to body tissues that can result from heat, electricity, radiation, or chemicals. Burns are most commonly caused by heat (thermal burns), including fire, steam, tar, or hot liquids. Burns can also be caused by chemicals, which are similar to thermal burns, whereas burns caused by radiation and electricity can cause different injuries and outcomes.

Thermal and chemical burns often occur when heat or chemicals come in direct contact with part of the body, most commonly affecting the skin. In most situations, the skin sustains most of the damage. However in deeper burns, the underlying structures such as fat, muscle and bone may also be affected.

When the body's tissues sustain a burn injury, fluid leaks into the tissues from the blood vessels, resulting in swelling and pain. Depending on the depth of the burn, the skin may turn red, ulcerate, blister or be completely destroyed. A complication of damaged skin involves infection - the skin's natural function as the body's barrier is breached and invading organisms can enter the body.

Who gets Burns?

Approximately 1% of the Australian and New Zealand population will suffer from a burn each year. Of these people affected, 50% will suffer from some daily restriction of activity and 10% will require admission to hospital. Exposure to heat is the most common cause of a burn accounting for over half of all burn cases. Chemical exposure accounts for 2.1-6.5% of all admissions to burn units. Electrical burns are estimated to account for 3-4% of burn related injuries.

Predisposing Factors

Those people who are predisposed to burns include:

• If you work with chemicals, electricity or hot substances (fire, heat, steam).
• The elderly and children are more likely to sustain burns. They may have a delayed reaction to exposure to hot substances or chemicals. The elderly may suffer from memory problems with advancing age and be more at risk for burns.
• If you have an increased level of alcohol consumption.
• If you have a psychiatric disorder, you may be at increased risk.
• If you have a neurological disease such as stroke or are unable to move your limbs, you may be more at risk for burns.

Those patients who are at higher risk for hospital admission include:

• Burns affecting more than 10% of total body surface area
• Burns of special areas such as the face, hands, feet, genitals
• Full thickness burns
• Electrical and chemical burns
• Burns where there is an associated inhalational injury
• Burns involving the whole circumference of the limbs or other parts of the body
• Burns in patients with pre-existing medical conditions
• Burns in patients with associated trauma.

Progression

Most minor burns are superficial and do not cause complications. However, deep partial thickness and full thickness burns are associated with increased swelling and take more time to heal. Additionally, deeper burns can cause scar tissue to form. This scar tissue shrinks and can contract the overlying skin, as it heals.

Severe burns can cause complications related to excessive loss of body fluids and tissue damage. Complications from severe burns may develop many hours later. The longer the complication is present, it is more likely to cause more severe complications. Younger children and older adults tend to be more seriously affected by complications.