UNIVERSITY OF SANTO TOMAS

FACULTY OF PHARMACY

BURN: Causes and

Prevention
Pharmaceutical Care: Ms May Magtoto
Lorenzo, Chelsea
Matila, Jewel
Mayor, Reynelle
Mojica , Patrisha
Navarro, Coline

What is BURN?
Burns are injuries to tissues caused by heat,
friction, electricity, radiation, or chemicals.
characterized by degree, based on the severity of
the tissue damage

Causes and Symptoms

caused by even a brief encounter with heat greater than
120F (49C).

Sources of heat:
a) the sun (causing a sunburn)
b) hot liquids
c) steam
d) fire
e) electricity
f) friction (causing rug burns and rope burns), and
g) chemicals (causing a caustic burn upon contact)

Common symptoms
A severe burn will also blister.
The skin may also peel, appear white or charred,
and feel numb.
A burn may trigger a headache and fever.
Extensive burns may induce shock

TYPES OF BURNS
1. First-degree burn
cause minimal skin damage also called superficial burns
Signs of a first-degree burn:

redness
minor inflammation, or swelling
pain
dry, peeling skin occurs as the burn heals

TYPES OF BURNS
Second-degree burn
-damage extends beyond the top layer of skin
-causes the skin to blister and become extremely
red and sore

TYPES OF BURN
3. Third-degree burn
They cause the most damage, extending through every layer
of skin.
* Depending on the cause, the third-degree burns can
exhibit include:
waxy and white color
char
dark brown color
raised and leathery texture
blisters that do not develop

COMPLICATIONS

Infection. Burns can leave skin vulnerable to

bacterial infection and increase your risk of sepsis.

Low blood volume. Burns can damage blood

vessels and cause fluid loss. This may result in low blood
volume (hypovolemia).

Dangerously low body temperature. The skin helps

control the body's temperature, so when a large portion
of the skin is injured, you lose body heat. This increases
your risk of a dangerously low body temperature
(hypothermia).

COMPLICATIONS

Breathing problems. Breathing hot air or

smoke can burn airways and cause breathing
(respiratory) difficulties.Scarring. Burns can cause
scars and ridged areas caused by an overgrowth of
scar tissue (keloids).

Bone and joint problems. Deep burns can limit

movement of the bones and joints. Scar tissue can
form and cause shortening and tightening of skin,
muscles or tendons (contractures). This condition
may permanently pull joints out of position.

PREVENTION
Install smoke detectors
Practice home fire drills. Make sure every family
know how to leave any area of the home safely
Have several working fire extinguishers readily
available.
Place fire extinguishers around the home where the
risk of fire is greatest, such as in the kitchen,
furnace room, and near the fireplace.
Teach your children to stop, drop, and roll on the
ground if their clothing catches fire.

PREVENTION
Avoid smoking indoors.
Do not leave food cooking on the stove unattended.
Lower the temperature of your water heater to below 120
degrees Fahrenheit (48.9 degrees Celsius) to prevent hot
water scalds and burns.
Dont plug appliances or other electrical equipment into
extension cords if they place too much amperage or load
on the cord, thus creating a potentially unsafe situation.
Keep matches and lighters away from children, locked and
out of reach.
Avoid all fireworks, even those meant for consumer use.

MALPRACTICES in treating Burns

1) Application of cold butter to the burned part of
the body
2) Using alcohol for cleansing the burned part
3) Using cold meat or any other frozen products
4) Pricking of blisters for speedy healing

What to do? A FIRST AID tutorial

FOR MINOR BURNS:
Cool the burn to help soothe the pain

 Remove rings or other tight items from the

burned area

Don't break small blisters

 Apply moisturizer or aloe vera lotion or gel

Consider a tetanus shot.

For FIRST DEGREE BURN

soak the wound in cool water for five minutes or
longer
take acetaminophen or ibuprofen for pain relief
apply aloe vera gel or cream to soothe the skin
use an antibiotic ointment and loose gauze to
protect the affected area

For SECOND DEGREE BURN

running the skin under cool water for 15 minutes
or longer
taking over-the-counter pain medication
(acetaminophen or ibuprofen)
applying antibiotic cream to blisters

For THIRD DEGREE BURN

Depending on the cause, third-degree burns
cause the skin to look:

waxy and white

charred
dark brown
raised and leathery

FOURTH DEGREE
Full thickness that extends into muscle and
bone.

Summary of DEGREES of BURN

First

Second
(Superficial or Deep)

Third (Full Thickness)

Depth (how
deep the burn is)

Epithelium

Epithelium and top aspects

of the dermis

Epithelium and dermis

How the wound looks

No blisters; dry pink

Moist, oozing blisters; Moist, Leathery, dry, no elasticity;

white, pink, to red
charred appearance

Causes

Sunburn, scald, flash

flame

Scalds, flash burns,

chemicals

Level of Pain
(sensation)

Painful, tender, and sore Very painful

Very little pain, or no pain

Healing Time

Two to five days; peeling Superficial: five to 21 days.

Deep: 21-35 days

Small areas may take

months to heal; large areas
need grafting.

Scarring

No scarring; may have

discoloration

Contact with flame, hot

surface, hot liquids,
chemical, electric

Minimal to no scarring; may Scarring present

have discoloration

Additional info about burn:

HCl yellow burn
Cl white burn
Other burns:
1. Minor burn
2. Moderate burn
3. Thermal burn
4. Major burn

 Minor burn : 3rd degree, 2 % affected body part

2nd degree, less than 15%
For Children:
2nd degree, less than 10%
For Adult:
Not more than 20%

 Moderate burn: 3rd degree, 2-10% affected body

part
2nd degree, at least 15-25% of body parts
3rd degree, 50% or more body part
CHILDREN: secondary burn ( 10-20%)

 Critical burn: all burned, complicated with

fractures
Any burn concerned with respiratory is
CRITICAL
Tertiary burn: no pain, nerve damaged
Primary and secondary burn: with pain

 References:
http://www.healthline.com/health/burns
http://
www.webmd.com/first-aid/tc/burns-topic-overv
iew
http://
www.mayoclinic.org/first-aid/first-aid-burns/b
asics/art-20056649