Question

What are the major causes of burns in children? Explain the differences between superficial (first degree), partial thickness (second degree), and full thickness (third degree) burns?

Answer 1

Burns is a type of injury to skin caused by exposure to heat, electricity, chemical, radiation etc. The causes of burn injury in children varies depending on the age of the child.

The major causes are as follows:

Flame and scald injuries - this includes playing with fire matches, cigarette lighters, fires in fireplaces, barbecue pits, and trash fires . The scald injuries includes kitchen injury from tipping scalding liquids ,bathtub scalds often associated with lack of supervision or child abuse. These types of burns are most common among younger children.

Electrical burns- caused by climbing utility poles or antennae etc..

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN FIRST, SECOND AND THIRD DEGREE BURNS

Superficial or first degree burns:

These are minor burns and affect only the epidermis layer. Hence, it is also called as superficial burns. Here the skin will appear red, slightly swollen with pain. There are no blisters formed here. These wounds are healed within a few days. Application of cold compress, topical oinments and protecting the burned area from infection will aid in faster healing process.

Partial thickness or Second degree burns:

The second degree burns involves epidermis and a part of dermis layer of skin. Here the area will appear blistered and red with swelling and severe pain. The wound will take about 1 - 3 weeks to heal. Daily wound cleaning and dressing, antibiotic oinments, fluid replacement and other topical oinments are used to treat this degree burns.

Full thickness or third degree burns:

Third degree burn involves the entire epidermis and dermis. Sometimes the underlying muscles, bones and tendons will also be affected. Here, the area will appear black, brown or white and the skin may look lethary. Full thickness burns or third degree burns are less painfull due to the damage of nerve ends. It requires intensive treatment which includes early cleaning and debriding , IV fluids containing electrolytes , IV or oral antibiotics, topical oinments and creams, tetanus toxoid shot and surgery. It usually take more than 3 weeks to heal and might require a skin grafting.