ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of many of these associated complications. Burns are categorized by the depth of injury. Burns involving only the epidermis are first-degree burns and require no specific therapy. Burns involving part of but not the entire thickness of the dermis are second-degree burns. The risk of complications begins at the time of burning. Maneuvers performed to extinguish flames, such as rolling on the ground or immersing the wound in standing water, may contaminate the wound. Aeromonas infection can occur when the wound is immersed in a natural body of water. If water or ice is applied to large burns, systemic hypothermia can occur. Some patients who suffer thermal injury experience inhalation injury. Inhalation injury is chemical tracheobronchitis and acute pneumonitis caused by inhalation of smoke and other irritative products of incomplete combustion. The fluid requirements of patients with thermal burns can be estimated more accurately than can those of the electrically burned patient.
