Burn Care in Children
A burn is an injury to the skin or the tissues under the skin. There are three types of burns:
- First degree. These burns may cause the skin to be red and slightly swollen.
- Second degree. These burns are very painful and cause the skin to be very red. The skin may also leak fluid, look shiny, and develop blisters.
- Third degree. These burns cause permanent damage. They turn the skin white or black and make it look charred, dry, and leathery.
Taking care of your child’s burn properly can help to prevent pain and infection. It can also help the burn to heal more quickly.
What are the risks?
Complications from burns include:
- Damage to the skin.
- Reduced blood flow near the injury.
- Dead tissue.
- Scarring.
- Problems with movement, if the burn happened near a joint or on the hands or feet.
Severe burns can lead to problems that affect the whole body, such as:
- Fluid loss.
- Less blood circulating in the body.
- Inability to maintain a normal core body temperature (thermoregulation).
- Infection.
- Shock.
- Problems breathing.
Children younger than 2 years old have a greater risk of complications from burns.
How to care for a first-degree burn
Right after a burn:
- Rinse or soak the burn under cool water until the pain stops. Do notput ice on your child’s burn. This can cause more damage.
- Lightly cover the burn with a sterile cloth (dressing).
Burn care
- Follow
instructions from your child’s health care provider about:
- How to clean and take care of the burn.
- When to change and remove the dressing.
- Check
your child’s burn every day for signs of infection. Check for:
- More redness, swelling, or pain.
- Warmth.
- Pus or a bad smell.
Medicine
- Give your child over-the-counter and prescription medicines only as told by your child’s health care provider. Do notgive your child aspirin because of the association with Reye syndrome.
- If your child was prescribed antibiotic medicine, give or apply it as told by his or her health care provider. Do notstop using the antibiotic even if your child’s condition improves.
General instructions
- To prevent infection, do notput butter, oil, or other home remedies on your child’s burn.
- Do notrub your child’s burn, even when you are cleaning it.
- Protect your child’s burn from the sun.
How to care for a second-degree burn
Right after a burn:
- Rinse or soak the burn under cool water. Do this for several minutes. Do notput ice on your child’s burn. This can cause more damage.
- Lightly cover the burn with a sterile cloth (dressing).
Burn care
- Have your child raise (elevate) the injured area above the level of his or her heart while sitting or lying down.
- Follow
instructions from your child’s health care provider about:
- How to clean and take care of the burn.
- When to change and remove the dressing.
- Check
your child’s burn every day for signs of infection. Check for:
- More redness, swelling, or pain.
- Warmth.
- Pus or a bad smell.
Medicine
- Give your child over-the-counter and prescription medicines only as told by your child’s health care provider. Do notgive your child aspirin because of the association with Reye syndrome.
- If your child was prescribed antibiotic medicine, give or apply it as told by his or her health care provider. Do notstop using the antibiotic even if your child’s condition improves.
General instructions
- To
prevent infection:
- Do notput butter, oil, or other home remedies on the burn.
- Do notscratch or pick at the burn.
- Do notbreak any blisters.
- Do notpeel skin.
- Do notrub your child’s burn, even when you are cleaning it.
- Protect your child’s burn from the sun.
How to care for a third-degree burn
Right after a burn:
- Lightly cover the burn with gauze.
- Seek immediate medical attention.
Burn care
- Have your child raise (elevate) the injured area above the level of his or her heart while sitting or lying down.
- Have your child drink enough fluid to keep his or her urine clear or pale yellow.
- Have your child rest as told by his or her health care provider. Do notlet your child participate in sports or other physical activities until his or her health care provider approves.
- Follow
instructions from your child’s health care provider about:
- How to clean and take care of the burn.
- When to change and remove the dressing.
- Check
your child’s burn every day for signs of infection. Check for:
- More redness, swelling, or pain.
- Warmth.
- Pus or a bad smell.
Medicine
- Give your child over-the-counter and prescription medicines only as told by your child’s health care provider. Do notgive your child aspirin because of the association with Reye syndrome.
- If your child was prescribed antibiotic medicine, give or apply it as told by his or her health care provider. Do notstop using the antibiotic even if your child’s condition improves.
General instructions
- To
prevent infection:
- Do notput butter, oil, or other home remedies on the burn.
- Do notscratch or pick at the burn.
- Do notbreak any blisters.
- Do notpeel skin.
- Do notrub your child’s burn, even when you are cleaning it.
- Protect your child’s burn from the sun.
- Keep all follow-up visits as told by your child’s health care provider. This is important.
Contact a health care provider if:
- Your child’s condition does not improve.
- Your child’s condition gets worse.
- Your child has a fever.
- Your child’s burn changes in appearance or develops black or red spots.
- Your child’s burn feels warm to the touch.
- Your child’s pain is not controlled with medicine.
Get help right away if:
- Your child has redness, swelling, or pain at the site of his or her burn.
- Your child has fluid, blood, or pus coming from his or her burn.
- Your child develops red streaks near the burn.
- Your child has severe pain.
- Your child who is younger than 3 months has a temperature of 100°F (38°C) or higher.
