Definition

• Burn is define as a injury to tissue or breakdown in

the continuity of the skin result from direct exposure
to any thermal, chemical, electrical or radiation
source.
 Etiology
• Burns can be caused from a number of substance or
item that come into direct contact with the skin or
body.
• Types of burn or burn injuries are categorized by
mechanism of injury.
Thermal burn
• Thermal burns are caused from exposure to flame,
hot liquid/ semisolid(tar) or hot object.
• Specific example of thermal burns are those sustained
in residential fires, cooking accident, crackers.
Chemical burn
• Chemical burns caused by contact with srong acid,
alkalis.
• The concentration, volume, type of chemical, as well
as the duration of contact, determine the severity of
injury.
Electric burn
• Electric burn injuries are caused by heat that is
generated by the electrical energy as it passes through
the body.
• Electrical injuries result from contact with faulty
electrical wiring or high voltage power lines.
• The extent of injuries is influenced by the duration of
contact, the intensity of the current the type of
current.
• Current greater than 1000 v is considered to be high
voltage current and is associated with extensive tissue
damage.
Radiation burn
• Radiation burn are the least common type of burn
injury that caused by exposure to a radio active
source.
• These type of injuries have been associated with
nuclear radiation accident, use of ionizing radiation in
industry, and therapeutic irradiation, sunburn and
prolong exposure to ultraviolet rays is also considered
to be a radiation burn.
• The amount of radio active energy recived after
exposure depends on the distance between person and
the radiation source, the duration of the exposure, the
extent of body surface area exposed.
Inhalation burn
• Exposure to smoke commonly occurs with flame
injuries, particularly if the victim was trapped in an
enclosed and smoke filled space.
• Exposure to smoke, poisonous gases and direct
thermal heat cause the inhalation injury.
 Types of burn
burn is classified

according to depth of injury

1. 1st degree burn
2. 2nd degree burn
3. 3rd degree burn
4. 4th degree burn
according to mechanism of injury
1. Thermal burn
2. Chemical burn
3. Electrical burn
4. Radiation burn
5. Inhalation burn
• 1st degree:
 effected epidermis
 Erythema, blanches without pressure
 painful
• 2nd degree:
 Wet, shiny, blisters
 Blanches with pressure
 Painful
 Very sensitive to touch, air
• 3rd degree:
 Colour variable( deep red, white, black, brown)
 Dry surface
 Visible vessels
 No blanching
 Pinprick sensation but pain less
• 4th degree:
 Colour variable, limited movement
 Visible bone or muscles
 painless