NCJ Number
55693
Date Published
1978
Length
24 pages
Annotation
CHARACTERISTICS OF BURNS CAUSED BY HOT OBJECTS, SCALDS, ELECTRICAL SOURCES, FIRE, CHEMICALS, AND FRICTION ARE REVIEWED. THE INCIDENCE OF MORTALITY IN GREAT BRITAIN, COMPLICATIONS IN TREATMENT, AND PROGNOSIS ARE COVERED.
Abstract
PHOTOGRAPHS ILLUSTRATE THE TYPE OF BURNS LEFT BY THE MOST COMMON CAUSES: FIRE AND FLAME, SCALDING LIQUIDS, CONTACT WITH HOUSEHOLD ELECTRICAL CURRENT, AND HOT OBJECTS. THE TYPES OF BURNS LIKELY TO BE DELIBERATELY INFLICTED IN CHILDREN BY ADULTS ARE BRIEFLY CONSIDERED, AS ARE BURNS ENCOUNTERED IN WAR. A SIMPLIFIED BURN PROBABILITY CHART SHOWS HOW CHANCES OF RECOVERY VARY WITH THE AGE OF THE VICTIM AND THE AREA OF THE BURN. SITE OF THE BURN AND OTHER FACTORS WHICH AFFECT PROGNOSIS ARE REVIEWED. THE PATHOLOGY OF THE SHOCK PHASE, INFECTION, AND THE PULMONARY COMPLICATIONS OF BURNS ARE REVIEWED. A TABLE LISTS THE OCCURRENCE OF THE MAJOR FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO THE CAUSE OF DEATH IN 88 BURN AUTOPSIES IN GREAT BRITAIN. SPECIAL SECTIONS DISCUSS BURNS RECEIVED IN OXYGEN-RICH ENVIRONMENTS, CHEMICAL BURNS, AND FRICTION BURNS. CHEMICAL BURNS ARE FOUND OCCASIONALLY IN CRIMINAL ASSAULTS AS WELL AS IN INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENTS. FRICTION BURNS OCCUR OFTEN IN ROAD ACCIDENTS. A TABLE SUMMARIZES THE EFFECTS OF VARIOUS TYPES OF CHEMICAL BURNS. BURN SCARS AND THEIR TREATMENT ARE THEN DISCUSSED. THE ARTICLE IS WELL ILLUSTRATED. REFERENCES ARE APPENDED. (GLR)