Burns are not uncommon in our daily lives, especially for children. Severe burns can cause great harm, and many people use some home remedies to treat them. So what are the causes of burns and what can we do to prevent them?
Common Causes of Burns:
1. Boiling water, hot soup, and hot porridge should be placed out of reach of children, preferably at a distance of 40-50 centimeters. Rice or dishes with less hot liquid can be placed closer, but soup should always be kept far away.
2. Do not place boiling water bottles, hot water kettles, or water heaters within reach of children.
3. When bathing, never pour hot water first and then add cold water. In this situation, if the parent turns around to get cold water after adding hot water, the child may mistakenly think it is safe to enter the water and end up with burns on their legs or buttocks. The correct sequence is to add cold water first and then bring in hot water.
4. When carrying hot liquids, be careful not to fill the container too full to avoid spillage. Remember to go slow and steady. This also applies to situations like carrying hot soup or hot dishes in a restaurant.
5. When using appliances such as electric kettles or rice cookers, do not let the power cords hang in the air or on the ground. If a child accidentally trips over the cord, it may cause hot water or soup to spill from the appliance and result in burns.
Common Mistakes in Treating Burns:
1. Using toothpaste for treatment. Many people apply toothpaste to burns, thinking that it has a cooling effect. However, toothpaste does not have any anti-infection properties and may contain bacteria. The abrasives in toothpaste can irritate the wound and the foaming and flavoring agents have no therapeutic effect. They can also lead to excessive granulation and wound infection.
2. Applying purple medicine, red medicine, or soy sauce to the wound. These are common "home remedies" that people use without realizing that they can exacerbate the injury. Purple medicine, red medicine, and soy sauce are not effective in preventing infections, and the dark color can obscure the wound, making it difficult for medical professionals to accurately assess the extent and area of the burn, which can affect subsequent treatment.
3. Sprinkling baking soda or edible alkali on the wound. During my practice, I have found that some people sprinkle baking soda or edible alkali on wounds, which shows a lack of chemical knowledge. Acid-base neutralization releases a large amount of heat, causing thermal burns and worsening the injury. Another misconception is that drinking a large amount of plain water after a burn can help with rehydration. However, excessive water intake can dilute electrolytes in the blood, leading to water intoxication. The correct approach is to replenish with an appropriate amount of electrolyte-rich water, such as saline solution.
Complications Associated with Burns:
1. Shock
In the early stages, it is mostly hypovolemic shock. When complicated by infection, septic shock may occur. Severe burns can also cause immediate shock due to intense injury.
2. Septicemia
Burns compromise the skin's barrier function against bacteria. Patients with more severe burns may also have impaired white blood cell function and weakened immune function, making them more susceptible to infections. Pathogenic bacteria can be the resident bacteria on the skin (such as Staphylococcus aureus) or bacteria from external contamination (such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa). Suppurative infections can occur on the wound surface and beneath the eschar. Infections can also develop into sepsis and septic shock. Furthermore, after the use of broad-spectrum antibiotics, especially in patients with systemic debilitation, secondary fungal infections may occur.
3. Pulmonary Infections and Acute Respiratory Failure
Pulmonary infections can have various causes, such as burns to the respiratory mucosa, pulmonary edema, atelectasis, and septicemia. They can also lead to adult respiratory distress syndrome or pulmonary embolism, resulting in acute respiratory failure.
4. Acute Renal Failure
Pre-shock and post-shock periods can lead to renal ischemia, and severe cases can cause degeneration of renal tubules and renal cysts. Hemoglobin, myoglobin, and infection toxins can all damage the kidneys, leading to acute renal failure.
