The Intensity and Duration of Thermal Burn Determines Severity of Burn and the Burn Care Required
Mass trauma and disasters such as explosions and fires can cause a
variety of serious injuries, including burns. Acute and chronic thermal burns
are an important cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. They have
significant physical, emotional and financial impact and can result in
devastating, long-term injuries. Thermal burns also lead to significant
healthcare burden. For 2000, direct costs for care of children with burns in
the United States of America exceeded US$ 211 million (WHO). In Norway, costs
for hospital burn management in 2007 exceeded €10.5 million (WHO).
The intensity and duration of a thermal burn will determine the
severity of the burn and the burn care required. Acute burn is less intense and
usually only affects one to three layers of the skin. These are normally red
and tender. The healing time varies and may take months or years depending on
how much damage has been done. A chronic thermal burn is one that has been
sustained over a long period of time. It is an extreme burn injury that
involves extensive tissue damage. The tissue and muscle damage is permanent.
The effects of a chronic burn may affect the ability to feel pain or the
ability to move the body. The burn is often so severe that it can cause death.
It is essential to seek medical help immediately when experiencing a burn.
Anti-infectives are medicines that are used in burn
care. These drugs prevent or treat infections, they include antibacterials,
antivirals, antifungals, and antiparasitic medications.
Development of novel anti-infectives that address dermal and
ocular infections is expected to boost burn care. For instance, in March 2019,
Destiny Pharma, a clinical phase biotechnology company, partnered with MedPharm
Ltd., a contract provider of topical and transdermal product design and
development services, to develop new topical formulations from the company's
antimicrobial XF-platform.
People who are working in the construction industry or have fire
hazards should wear protective clothing to protect them from burns. Working in
such a hazardous environment, increases the possibility of suffering an injury
from a burn. People should be careful not to use heat in construction work.
Heat rays can be damaging to the eyes, nose, skin and internal organs. In
construction, many workers come into direct contact with hot materials
including concrete, asphalt, clay, wood and metals. Such materials can easily
become hot enough to trigger an accident.
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