Pain
First-degree burns affect only the outer layer of the skin; second-degree burns damage the outer layer and the layer beneath it, while third-degree burns involve damage or complete destruction of the skin and underlying tissues. The swelling and blistering characteristic of burns is caused by the loss of fluid from damaged tissues. Burns often lead to infection, due to damage to the skin’s protective barrier. Few years ago the mortality rate in severe burns cases was very high, though it is still higher than in other accidents, today, patients with burns covering 80 percent of the body can survive.

Serious complications following burns injury may occur after the initial incident, often when the patient is in an intensive care unit (ICU).

Post-burn complications such as contractures, hypertrophic scarring and keloids can be decreased owing to early physiotherapy and the use of pressure garments and neck collars, but the rate is still high in Pakistan due to lack of resources and insufficient care facilities.

Facts

In Pakistan, there is a serious lack of burns treatment facilities. In Karachi, at least 8 to 10 burn patients are brought to the Civil Hospital Burns Ward everyday. Almost all 3rd degree high body surface burns are treated at the Civil Hospital. The Ward also caters to patients from the other parts of Sindh, Punjab and Balochistan.

Incidence of burn injuries in Pakistan is very common among women than in men, though, it can happen to anyone anywhere.

Most common causes of burn injuries in the country are related to the wide use of LPG for cooking, house electricity, the use of chemicals in homes, the use of hot water geysers, large families with many children, the widespread social habit of preparing food at ground level, and the increasing standard of living.

Major Causes of Burn

Scalding - hot water & other hot liquids
Hot Oil
Fire
Electric
Chemicals
Explosions
Contact – hot surfaces / steam
Other

The only possible way to reduce the incidence of burns injuries is through prevention. There is a need to create awareness at all levels of the society to impart information on prevention from burn injuries. At present there is no organization to promote this campaign and burn care units must therefore start the work of prevention through awareness. This will go a long way towards reducing the incidence of burns.