Burn disease and its main stages

Burn disease is a specific general reaction of the body to burns of the skin and deep tissues. In this case, the peripheral and central nervous system is involved in the process . In some cases, such a syndrome leads to death.

Burns and their classification

Before considering the stages of a burn syndrome, it is necessary to understand what the burn itself is . This is a tissue damage that occurs when the skin is exposed to high temperatures, radiation or dangerous chemicals, including concentrated alkalis and acids. There are four main degrees of severity of burns:

• The first degree burn is the least dangerous for the human body. It affects only the upper layers of the skin and is characterized by the appearance on the surface of the skin of redness and slight puffiness;
• Second degree burn - here already detachment of the upper layer of the skin (epidermis) and the formation of small bubbles with liquid;
• Third degree burn - this form is characterized by damage not only to the epidermis, but also to the dermis. At the same time, small areas of healthy tissues remain in the zone of hair follicles, sweat and sebaceous glands. A severe third-degree burn is accompanied by the appearance of blisters with hemorrhagic fluid and consequent necrosis of the skin.
• The fourth degree burn is characterized by damage not only to the skin, but to the tissues that lie beneath it, including muscles and bones.

And if in the first two cases conservative treatment is required, then deep burns require prompt restoration of the skin (transplant).

Burn disease: when does it occur?

The likelihood of the development of such a reaction of the organism directly depends on the depth of burns and the area of their spread. It is believed that if at least 10-15% of the surface of the human body is affected by deep burns, then the general reaction of the body develops - a burn disease. The severity of such a syndrome depends on many factors, including the nature of the burns, the location of their localization (for example, a burn in the inguinal area causes the body to react even with minor damage), the patient's age, the presence of other diseases.

Burn disease and the main stages of its development

The course of this syndrome is divided into four main stages, each of which is characterized by certain symptoms and is accompanied by a number of changes.

• Burn shock. As it is known, burns cause strong painful sensations, which are collected from the entire damaged surface of the body and transferred to the nervous system. Such intense nerve impulses can cause a state of shock. At first the victim becomes extremely excitable, then, on the contrary, too depressed. The body temperature rises sharply, and then falls for no apparent reason. Shock affects other centers of the brain, including the center of blood circulation and breathing. The patient has a change in blood composition, a drop in blood pressure, a violation in the work of the kidneys.
• The second period. It is associated mainly with the entry into the blood of toxic products of decomposition of calcined tissues. These toxins affect the entire body, hampering the liver and kidneys. Then the inflammatory process begins in the lungs. The patient has a strong fever. This period is characterized by the development of post-burn anemia. The damaged surface is suppressed and becomes the gateway for penetration into the weakened organism of secondary infections.
• The third period occurs approximately 10 days after the burn injury. It is accompanied by severe inflammation and complications, including purulent nephritis, pneumonia and diseases of other organs and tissues.
• The fourth period develops slowly and is the result of exhaustion of the body. At this time there are purulent complications, as well as disruption of nutrition of tissues and organs, which leads to their slow atrophy.

It is worth noting that the severity of the burn disease depends on how quickly and correctly the patient was given medical assistance.