These may require different treatment or professional care, so it's important to understand what level of burn you have. Second-degree burns will also have blistering, pain, redness, and bleeding. A first-degree burn is a minor burn, but a second-degree burn will have further damage to the skin's layers. Once the pain has subsided, first degree burns rarely have any adverse sequelae.Determine if you have a first or second degree burn. Besides pain, hypothermia is a potential complication. However, children and the elderly may require admission depending on the degree and location of the burn. The prognosis for the majority of people with a first-degree burn is excellent. Finally, the nurse should provide basic education on how to manage the pain of a first-degree burn and the importance of preventing any further trauma to the burned site. The nurse should also educate the parents on the safe storage of chemicals in the home, away from the reach of children. Employers are mandated to provide workers with safety education and adequate protective equipment. Nurses in the workforce should educate workers about safety precautions when working with hazardous chemicals. The key to first-degree burn management is patient education. In addition, if the burn involves the face or genital area, it may lead to loss of function. In children and the elderly, an extensive first-degree burn can lead to very high morbidity from the pain and hypothermia. This classification is based on the American Burn Association severity classification system.įirst-degree burns may not be considered serious, but their morbidity depends on the location and extent of the burn. Multiple burns are common.Ĭlassification of Burns by Depth or Degree Suspect this in children, when burns are symmetrical and involve the feet up to legs and the perineum. Non-accidental burn injuries can be caused by assault or negligence, commonly due to thermal injury. The final stage involves blister formation and skin peeling. Further exposure causes edema, leading to purplish discoloration. When tanning occurs, it is due to an increase in melanin pigmentation, after which it reddens and becomes more sensitive to touch. Sunburn has four stages: golden or tan, red, purplish-red, and blister red. Increased levels of melanin can add a protective effect decreasing the chances of sunburn. First-degree burns are most commonly due to radiation from sun exposure. Radiation injuries are due to extended exposure to ultraviolet light, for example, sunlight or tanning booth exposure, or from ionizing radiation such as radiation therapy or x-rays. Acids, on the other hand, cause coagulative necrosis. Alkali burns tend to be more severe, as they lead to a liquefactive necrosis process. Common household products that cause chemical burns include drain cleaners, paint thinner, and lye. Skin contact or oral mucosa ingestion cause an irritant effect that leads to chemical burn injury. These occur due to damage to tissue between entry and exit points.Īn acid or alkali can cause chemical burns. Severe injuries associated with these burns include cardiac arrhythmia and myoglobinuria. One can see the entry and exit point where the current passes through the body. In adults, these injuries are seen in inexperienced people working with electrical wiring and electricians working on high voltage power lines. Electrical burns are commonly seen in children playing with electrical cords or outlets. These burns present as first or second-degree burns however, third-degree burns may also result from prolonged exposure.Įlectrical burns are classified as high voltage, low voltage, or as flash burns secondary to an electric arc. These types of injuries are most common in children younger than age 5 and elderly patients. Scalding injuries are caused by exposure to hot water in baths or showers, hot drinks, oil, or steam. Thermal burns are most commonly due to fire, hot liquids, or contact with a hot surface. Common injuries are thermal, electrical, chemical, radiation, and nonaccidental. Burns can be classified by mechanism of injury, depth of burn in relation to layers of the skin, and severity of the burn.
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