5. Burns can cause swelling, blistering, scarring and, in serious cases, shock and even death. They also can lead to infections because they damage your skin's protective barrier. Antibiotic creams can prevent or treat infections. After a third-degree burn, you need skin or synthetic grafts to cover exposed tissue and encourage new skin to grow. First- and second-degree burns usually heal without grafts.

6. Etiology  Thermal burns may result from any external heat source (flame, liquids, solid objects, or gases).  Radiation burns most commonly result from prolonged exposure to solar ultraviolet radiation (sunburn) but may result from prolonged or intense exposure to other sources of ultraviolet radiation (eg, tanning beds) or from exposure to sources of x-ray or other non solar radiation.

7. Etiology  Chemical burns may result from strong acids, strong alkalis (e.g, lye, cement), phenols, cresols, mustard gas, or phosphorus. Skin and deeper tissue necrosis due to these agents may progress over several hours.  Electrical burns result from the electrical generation of heat; they may cause extensive deep tissue damage despite minimal apparent cutaneous injury.

8. Risk Factors

12. Diagnostic Tests

14. Pathophysiology

18. 9 18 9 18 9 18 1

19. Symptoms:

24. Interventions

27. Rehabilitative phase - final phase of burn care - overlaps the acute care phase and goes well beyond hospitalization - goals of this phase are designed so that the client can gain independence and achieve maximal function Acute phase - begins when the client is hemodynamically stable, capillary permeability is restored, and diuresis has begun - usually begins 48 - 72 hours after the time of injury - emphasis during this phase is placed on restorative therapy, and the phase continues until wound closure is achieved - the focus is on infection control, wound care, wound closure, nutritional support, pain management, and physical therapy

28. Management