What is a burn?

Burns are damage from exposure to heat, chemicals, electricity, or fumes.

Burns can affect the skin, breathing passages, and digestive tract.

What are the symptoms of a burn?

Skin typically turns red and hot and is painful.
Breathing passages and the digestive tract can become swollen, bleed, or scar, making it difficult to breathe or swallow.

Home care

Burns that cause blistering, charring or persistent pain (second and third degree burns) should be evaluated by our office.

Try to see if your child swallowed or inhaled whatever caused the burn.

If your child’s burn continues to be painful or develops blisters, Call Our Office Now.

Run cold water over burns to cool the skin and reduce the damage from heat.

Severe face and hand burns should be evaluated in our office.

Do NOT put butter, Vaseline®, or toothpaste on the burns.

If the burn has blistered, do not break the blisters.

Use acetaminophen (Tylenol®, Tempra®, or Panadol®) or ibuprofen (Advil®, Motrin®) for pain and discomfort. Avoid ibuprofen if your child is dehydrated or unable to take anything by mouth.

Follow the package instructions to determine the appropriate dose by your child’s WEIGHT or age for acetaminophen or ibuprofen.

Do not use aspirin because of the increased risk of Reye’s Syndrome with certain infections.

Change bandages at home as directed by our office by:

Washing your hands
Taking off the old bandage gently
Washing the burn gently with soap and water
Checking for signs of infection listed below
Reappling cream if prescribed by our office
Re-bandaging the burn with clean gauze pads

Prevention

Keep your child away from electrical cords which can get frayed and cause burns to the lips and mouth.

Cover all electrical outlets with safety caps.

Turn all pot handles toward the back of the stove so that toddlers and young children cannot reach them.

Shield your children from radiators and hearth fires.

Keep matches and lighters out of your child’s reach.

Warning signs – Call our office for advice if:

You suspect your child has swallowed or inhaled something that has caused a burn, call the poison control center or Call Our Office Now.

Your child has been burned and there is blistering, charring or persistent pain Call Our Office Now.

Your child has been burned on the hands, face, or buttocks, Call Our Office Now.

You notice any signs of infection after we have evaluated the burn, Call Our Office Now.

Increased redness or red streaking up the extremity
Increased swelling around the burn area
Increased pain
Fever
Drainage of cloudy pus

You have any questions or concerns, or if you have any doubts about the severity of your child’s symptoms, Call Our Office Now.