A burn is the body's reaction to heat, radiation, electricity or chemicals which causes damage to the skin and sometime organs. Potential injury is greatest with infants and young children. Burns caused by contact involve primarily the skin. They can be superficial or destroy all layers of the skin. Electrical and radiation burns may involve tissues underneath the skin, such as the intestinal tract, nerves, spinal cord, heart and brain.
Causes of Burns
Fire, steam or electricity cause a rise in skin temperature. The most common causes of burns are open flame and hot liquid. These produce direct tissue injury. On the other hand, electricity or lightning, can cause internal burns with minimal external signs.
Signs and Symptoms of Burns
Symptoms of burns depend on how severe they are, that is, how deep they penetrate the skin. They are commonly classified into three groups. 1st-degree burns involve just the upper skin layer, producing redness, tenderness, pain, swelling and slight fever. 2nd-degree burns injure deeper skin layers with more severe symptoms and usually produce blisters. 3rd-degree burns damage all skin layers. the skin appears lifeless and may not have any pain, especially during the acute process. Electrical burns may damage tissues throughout the body, depending on where the current was conducted. There can be weakness, numbness and tingling if the nerves and spinal cord are injured. Irregular heart beats may suggest damage to the heart. Radiation burns can also penetrate deeper tissues, depending on the type of radiation which the individual has been exposed to.
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Medical Content Last Updated on 07/12/2008
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