What makes burns life threatening

There are many types of injuries that a person may endure and recover from with often very little help; however, burn injuries often pose a much greater challenge and a need for professional medical care.

But if the human body is able to withstand and recover from many types of injuries and illnesses, what makes burns so difficult to recover from? Burns range in severity; the more severe a burn and the larger the burn, the harder it will be to heal and recover from. In many cases, health care providers cover the burned area using sterile bandages with topical antibiotics skin creams or ointments or long-acting, silver-containing dressings to prevent infection.

For third-degree burns and some second-degree ones, patients need extra fluids to maintain blood pressure and prevent shock. Surgeons may treat large burns by removing burned tissue and covering the burn wound with a skin graft. Depending on the severity, location, and nature of a burn, doctors may treat the injury with a combination of natural skin grafts, artificial skin products, and laboratory-grown epidermis.

People with minor burns may be treated at their local hospital. Those with more serious burns might be transferred to a hospital with a special burn unit. Serious burns include any burns that are likely to lead to impaired physical or psychological recovery. The American Burn Association maintains a searchable list of verified burn centers in the U.

A few decades ago, burns covering half the body were often fatal. Now, thanks to research—a large portion of it supported by the National Institute of General Medical Sciences NIGMS —people with burns covering 90 percent of their bodies can survive, although they often have permanent impairments and scars. NIGMS funds research on how the body responds to and recovers from burns, the best ways to treat these injuries, and the long-term physiological outcomes of people who have been burned.

Researchers have also learned how to replace skin by growing epidermal skin cells in a laboratory and by developing artificial skin products that can temporarily protect the burned area while the body heals. Past research has revealed new and better ways to replenish fluids, clean wounds, control infection, support nutrition, and minimize pain.

Research continues in these areas. NIGMS does not provide specific medical advice, but rather provides users with information to help them better understand health and disease. This is a medical emergency and you'll need to call for an ambulance. Read more about what to do if someone has heat exhaustion or heatstroke. Wounds can become infected if bacteria get into them. If your burn or scald has a blister that's burst, it may become infected if it's not kept clean. Seek immediate medical attention if you think your burn has become infected.

An infection can usually be treated with antibiotics and painkilling medication, if necessary. In rare cases, an infected burn can cause blood poisoning sepsis or toxic shock syndrome.

These serious conditions can be fatal if not treated. Treatments and Therapies. Related Issues. Videos and Tutorials. Statistics and Research. Burn Incidence and Treatment in the U. Clinical Trials. Article: Multicentre, longitudinal, observational cohort study to examine the relationship between neutrophil Article: Application of mNGS to describe the clinical and microbial characteristics of