Burns

Abstract

Burn injuries often result in profound physical and metabolic insult. Those most at risk include alcoholics, epileptics, drug addicts and the mentally handicapped. Children under six are most liable to scald injuries from bath water, hot drinks and kettle spills. The mortality associated with severe burn injury reaches 90% in patients: with>40% surface area burns; over 60 years of age; and those with concomitant inhalation injury(a). Treatment involves an aggressive approach, with close collaboration between the intensivist, plastic surgeon and microbiologist, to curb mortality from fluid loss and sepsis.