Burn

Editor-In-Chief: Prab R Tumpati, MD
Obesity, Sleep & Internal medicine
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Burn
Synonyms	Sunburn, scald
Pronounce	N/A
Specialty	N/A
Symptoms	Redness, peeling skin, blisters, swelling, shock
Complications	Infection, scarring, hypothermia, dehydration
Onset	Immediate
Duration	Days to weeks
Types	N/A
Causes	Heat, cold, electricity, chemicals, friction, radiation
Risks	Fire, hot liquids, sun exposure, electrical appliances
Diagnosis	Based on physical examination
Differential diagnosis	Cellulitis, erythema multiforme, toxic epidermal necrolysis
Prevention	Smoke detector, fire safety, sunscreen, protective clothing
Treatment	Cool water, pain management, antibiotics, surgery
Medication	Pain relievers, antibiotics
Prognosis	Varies by severity
Frequency	11 million cases per year (worldwide)
Deaths	180,000 per year (worldwide)

Burn 2nd degree

A traumatic injury involving interruption of tissue cohesiveness that results from exposure to caustic chemicals, extreme heat, extreme cold or excessive radiation.

Burns are defined by how deep they are and how large an area they cover. A large burn injury is likely to include burned areas of different depths. Deep burns heal more slowly, are more difficult to treat, and are more prone to complications such as infections and scarring. Very deep burns are the most life-threatening of all and may require amputation. Types of burns include:

• First-degree burns damage the outer layer (epidermis) of the skin. These burns usually heal on their own within a week. A common example is a sunburn.
• Second-degree burns damage not only the outer layer but also the layer beneath it (dermis). These burns might need a skin graft‚Äînatural or artificial skin to cover and protect the body while it heals‚Äîand they may leave a scar.
• Third-degree burns damage or completely destroy both layers of skin including hair follicles and sweat glands and damage underlying tissues. These burns always require skin grafts.
• Fourth degree burns extend into fat, fifth degree burns into muscle, and sixth degree burns to bone.