Burns and Scalds
Definition
Burns are injuries to tissues caused by heat, friction, electricity, radiation, or chemicals. Scalds are a type of burn caused by a hot liquid or steam.
Description
Burns are classified according to how seriously tissue has been damaged. The following system is used:
- A first degree burn causes redness and swelling in the outermost layers of the skin.
- A second degree burn involves redness, swelling, and blistering. The damage may extend to deeper layers of the skin.
- A third degree burn destroys the entire depth of the skin. It can also damage fat, muscle, organs, or bone beneath the skin. Significant scarring is common, and death can occur in the most severe cases.
The severity of a burn is also judged by how much area it covers. Health workers express this factor in a unit known as body surface area (BSA). For example, a person with burns on one arm and hand is said to have about a 10 percent BSA burn. A burn covering one leg and foot is classified as about a 20 percent BSA burn.
Causes
Burns may be caused in a variety of ways. In every case, the burn results from the death of skin tissue and, in some cases, underlying tissue.
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