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The article was written by Specialist Doctor II Phan Phi Tuan - Head of General Surgery Department, Department of General Surgery - Vinmec Phu Quoc International General Hospital.A burn is an acute injury to the body caused by heat, chemicals, electrical currents, radiation, and friction. This is a common accident in both peacetime and wartime. In the United States, an estimated 1.4-2 million people suffer burns each year, half of which are temporarily incapacitated, 70,000 to 108,000 require inpatient care, and approximately 6, 500 to 10,000 patients die from burns.
1. Causes of Burns
Most burns are caused by domestic accidents, accounting for about 60% - 65%. Occupational accidents cause about 5% - 10% of total burn patients. most of the cases are found in metallurgical, chemical, petroleum, cement kilns, mines, gas, synthetic plastics... Burns caused by traffic accidents account for about 2% of vehicle fires, ships, boats, planes. Burns caused by suicide (self-immolation) or harm (acid splash) account for a very low rate but cause severe consequences for both health and psychology. About <1% are burns due to treatment such as hot compress, hot paraffin, radiation therapy. Burns caused by natural disasters such as volcanic lava, this cause is almost absent in Vietnam. The extent of burns is sometimes single, but sometimes a series of burns such as car fires, house fires, oil pipeline explosions... Burns can be simple or combined with other injuries such as trauma, buried syndrome....
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2. Burning agent
2.1 Heat The most common cause can be wet or dry heat.
Wet heat: is a type of burn that is more common in children than adults. The agent is usually boiling water, hot food, hot oil, etc. The temperature of wet burns is usually not as high as dry burns. Dry heat: the most common is a fire burn with a temperature like firewood burning 1 3000C- 1 4000C, gasoline 8000C-1 4000C. In addition, it is also possible to burn fuel storage, synthetic plastics, chemicals, fire due to explosion of methane gas (CH4) in the pit, due to explosion of oxygen cylinders. Fire burns are extensive and deep and can cause respiratory burns. Spark burns are also thermal burns, very high temperatures up to 3 2000C- 4 8000C, in a short time, only 0.2-1 seconds. Mainly due to infrared radiation. Burns caused by direct impact of hot objects such as molten metal in metallurgical technology, red-hot metal such as irons, motorcycle mufflers... 2.2 Due to cold Very rare, due to exposure to wet conditions , wind or cold.
2.3 Electrical burns Is burns caused by electric current passing through the body, divided into 2 types;
High voltage: voltage over 1000V, lightning is the type of electric burn with the strongest voltage. Low voltage: Voltage below 1000V, usually household electricity. Electric currents when conduction through the body cause electric shock and electrical burns. The essence is that electrical energy turns into thermal energy, and due to the direct effect of electric current, it creates a punching effect that damages cell tissue.
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2.4 Due to radiation Burns caused by infrared rays, ultraviolet rays, X-rays, lasers, gamma rays, β particles...
2.5 Chemical burns Usually divided into 3 main groups: Strong acids and similar substances: H2SO4, HF... Strong Base and Similar Substances: NaOH, KOH Heavy metal salts and analogues such as KMnO4. Friction: usually mild, only minor damage, caused by rubbing the skin against a hard object. Vinmec International General Hospital is one of the hospitals that not only ensures professional quality with a team of leading doctors, modern equipment and technology, but also stands out for its examination and consulting services. and comprehensive, professional medical treatment; civilized, polite, safe and sterile medical examination and treatment space.
Customers can directly go to Vinmec Health system nationwide to visit or contact the hotline here for support.
