Practical Approach to Minor Burns

Abstract

Most mild burns may be treated well in an outpatient environment and recover with little intervention. An precise categorization of burns is essential to ensuring effective treatment. Any non-superficial burn should be treated with a topical antibiotic to avoid infection. Although partial and full-thickness burns frequently require dressings, superficial burns typically do not. Especially in an emergency situation, a simple gauze patch offers enough burn protection. Increasing burn depth and contracture, monitoring for symptoms of infection, and providing appropriate analgesia are all parts of follow-up treatment. All suspected partial or full-thickness burn infections require prompt treatment, which may include hospitalization and parenteral antibiotics. Burn infections can increase the depth and breadth of a burn, turning a superficial partial-thickness burn into a deep partial-thickness or full-thickness burn in addition to producing sepsis.