It is a lesion in the body tissues, in this case at the level of the head, caused by heat, chemicals, electricity, sun or radiation.
There are three types of burns: first-degree burns, which damage only the outer layer of skin; second-degree burns, which damage the outer layer and the layer below it; third-degree burns, which damage or destroy the deeper layer of skin and the tissues below it.
They may cause swelling, blistering and/or scarring depending on the severity of the burn.
Diagnosis is made through clinical history and physical examination.
Treatment depends on the cause, depth and extent of the affected body. In mild burns, the affected area should be moistened with water. For more severe burns, treatment may be needed to clean the wound, replace the skin and ensure proper hydration and nutrition of the patient.
- Phillip L Rice, Jr, MD. Dennis P Orgill, MD, PhD. Classification of burns. UpToDate, Aug 11, 2016.
- Arek Wiktor, MD, David Richards, MD, FACEP. Treatment of minor thermal burns. UpToDate, Sep 17, 2015.
- Summer GJ, Puntillo KA, Miaskowski C, et al. Burn injury pain: the continuing challenge. J Pain 2007; 8:533.
- http://ameriburn.org/who-we-are/media/burn-incidence-fact-sheet/ (Accessed on June 21, 2018).
- Luis Miguel Gallego Torromé, Silvia Honorato Guerra, Domingo García Almagro. Quemaduras. Manual de protocolos y actuación en urgencias. Hospital Virgen de la Salud, Complejo Hospitalario de Toledo. Tercera edición. 2010. Páginas: 1191-1196.
- Efectos nocivos causados por la luz y las radiaciones. Farreras Rozman. Medicina Interna. Volumen II. Duodécima edición. Páginas: 2574 - 2580.
