Classification of burn injuries allows doctors to accurately determine the methods and treatment of this type of injury.
First degree burn
This is the easiest burn injury. Characterize its redness and small swelling. The first degree burn heals independently even without special treatment in the case of 5 to 12 days. It almost leaves no traces, except for possible light pigmentation of the skin, which also eventually passes. But if you receive a first degree burn, you need to estimate the size of the injury. In some cases it is worth making a decision about the need for hospitalization:
- if the first degree burn takes more than 10% of the body;
- in the case when a first degree burn, occupying more than 1% of the body, affects the face, hands, feet;
- burn of eyelids and eyes.
Such evidence is justified by the fact that the hyperthermia of a large part of the body can lead to a violation of the thermoregulation of the whole organism, and also contribute to the development of a pain shock.
Second degree burn
Such a burn also refers to injuries of a light type, except for the defeat of large parts of the body or the most functional organs (eyes, eyelids, hands, feet). It develops against the background of a stronger impact of hot or chemical substances. The nature of such trauma is a strong reddening and swelling of the skin with the appearance of blisters filled with a clear liquid. As well as a first degree burn, medical care is required only in cases of large localization of skin lesions or lesions of the face, hands, feet. It is important to remember that when treating a second degree burn, you should not break the blister shell or remove fluid from them yourself.
It is better in such cases to wait until the violation of the envelope occurs naturally or to see a doctor.
Third degree burn
This is a more complex injury requiring immediate medical attention regardless of its location or size. There are two subspecies of third degree burns: 3A and 3B. The nature of the 3A burn is distinguished by the damage to the deep layers of the epidermis, as well as the dermis, the gradual build-up of the soft tissue edema and acute pain that soon subsides.
Reduction of the pain symptom is associated with necrosis of nerve endings. Blisters may be absent, but, as a rule, along with a third degree burn, burns of the first and second degree are present. Therefore, bubbles may appear on the edges of the burn wound. As the healing of such a burn, dying tissues are replaced with new ones. Often this replacement occurs with the appearance of hard scarring. Especially characterized by scarring on the hands and the back of the hands. With a 3B burn, a deeper skin lesion occurs with the formation of a scab. Rejection of necrotic tissue takes place up to 12 days, then healing of the burn wound begins. Treatment of a third degree burn can last more than 30 days.
Kinds and degrees of burns
The determination of the degree of burn also depends on how the burn is obtained. Kinds of burns:
- thermal;
- chemical;
- electric.
So, classify the following degrees of thermal burns:
- 1-st - a superficial trauma of a skin with easy reddening and an insignificant hypostasis;
- 2nd - skin damage with the formation of a stronger edema and blisters with a clear liquid;
- 3rd (A & B) - deep skin damage followed by necrosis of all layers of skin tissue;
- 4th - deep damage and charring of skin, subcutaneous, muscular or even bone tissue, nerve endings and tendons, followed by necrosis of all affected areas.
The degrees of chemical burns are divided on the same scale as the thermal ones. But the moment of the nature of the aggressive substance is important. For example, the treatment of acid burns cardinally will differ from the methods of treating burns with alkali.
The degree of electrical burns is very difficult to determine, because there is internal damage to tissues, invisible at first glance. Burning electricity, in most cases (if there is not a very high voltage burn with a subsequent thermal burn) looks like two point sculls on both sides of the input and output of electric current. However, the degree of electric burn is also divided into 4 types.