burn
is defined as a traumatic injury to the skin or other tissue in the body primarily caused by thermal or other acute exposures such as chemical, electrical, cold/frostbite, and radiation.
burn
There are various types of burns which include:
Thermal:
Chemical:
Electrical:
Cold exposure (frostbite):
Radiation:
This is the most common type of burn and includes flame burns, scalds (from hot liquids) and contact burns (from hot objects e.g. an iron or radiator).
Thermal
Acids and alkalis found in household chemical products can produce very deep burns through coagulative and liquefactive necrosis. They will continue to burn the skin until completely removed. It is therefore essential that the skin is thoroughly irrigated.4 Alkalis penetrate deeper than acids and those presenting with alkali burns (commonly due to cement) will require immediate attention.
Chemical
: As an electrical current travels through the body it creates an entry and exit point, damaging tissue along its path as it is converted from electrical to thermal energy. Electrical burns from domestic low voltage exposures tend to be less severe than high voltage electrical burns which can cause extensive tissue damage and limb loss. It is still very important that domestic electrical burns are taken seriously and an ECG is performed as the alternating nature of domestic current can cause arrhythmias.
Electrical
: These burns are caused by ice crystals which can form both intra and extracellularly. The subsequent fluid and electrical fluxes cause cell membrane lysis and cell death and a damaging inflammatory process is set up.
Cold exposure (frostbite)
: Radio frequency energy or ionising radiation causes tissue damage. The most common type of radiation burn is sun burn. Other patients at risk of getting radiation burns are those undergoing radiation therapy for cancer treatment.
Radiation