Which doctor should I go to for a burn?

2023 Author: Alfred Shackley | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-05-21 13:14

Burns are one of the most painful injuries that belong to the thermal category of body injuries. Depending on the size of the burn received, a treatment plan is drawn up. If the wound is larger than the palm of your hand, and bubbles have formed on it, it is imperative to see a doctor. If the area of the burned area is small and shallow, you need to provide first aid yourself.

For example, cool the affected area for 30 minutes after injury, then apply a sterile bandage or anti-burn napkin.

With a high degree of pain and a large area of skin lesions, it is recommended to consult a specialist. In some cases, an emergency ambulance is called. Before answering the question of which doctor to go to in case of a burn, it is necessary to understand the types of thermal injury and its features.

What do you need to know about burns?

When the thermal injury is serious, for example, the mucous membrane or deep skin tanks are affected, the primary question is which doctor treats the burns. Most help is provided by a surgeon, but not always. Based on the type of wound, you will need the help of another specialist.

Today, there are 5 main categories of thermal injury. Its classification is based on the source of the lesion. Types of injury:

• A thermal burn is a wound that is the result of contact of the body with hot liquids or objects with a high temperature.
• Chemical damage. The source of the wound is a substance in gaseous, solid or liquid form with a chemical base. These products include household and industrial substances.
• An electrical type of injury occurs when a conductive element (device) comes into contact with the human body.
• Radiation injuries usually occur when undergoing procedures in a solarium, as well as with prolonged exposure to sunlight / X-rays.
• Inhalation injury that damages the lungs or other organs of the respiratory system. The most common source of injury is large amounts of inhaled high temperature air.

A type of thermal injury is also the basis for answering the question of which doctor to contact for a burn.

The choice of the attending doctor is also influenced by the intensity of the lesion, therefore it is important to know and be able to determine the degree of injury:

• I Art. characterized by reddening of the skin area, unpleasant burning sensation;
• II Art. differs in the appearance of bubbles (blisters) after 3-5 minutes;
• III Art. implies the appearance of a deep wound. Deep tissues of the epidermis and nerve endings are affected. As a consequence, transplantation of the epidermis is required at the site of the formation of a maroon wound.
• IV Art. characterized by an even larger area of the site and a deeper lesion. Often, with such a burn, the patient falls into a state of shock.

Burn doctor: which specialist should I contact?

The basis for contacting a doctor is 15% of the total surface area of the skin affected by a burn. Also, the reason for calling the doctor is the appearance of redness in areas of the body, accompanied by high fever. Usually, such symptoms are characteristic of III-IV degrees.

Treatment of thermal injuries of moderate severity is carried out in a polyclinic. Severe forms are treated in a burn / trauma department or in an intensive care unit. With a mild degree of tissue damage, when answering the question of which doctor to go to with a burn, the patient is advised to consult a surgeon.

With a severe lesion, a narrow specialist in this branch of medicine can prescribe the correct treatment. Most people do not know what a burn doctor is called correctly. A specialist whose specialization is the treatment and elimination of the consequences of burn wounds, their negative impact on the patient, is called a combustiologist.

Before prescribing the course of treatment necessary for the victim, the doctor directs the patient to take biochemical tests of blood, urine, blood for protein content. It is also recommended to undergo a coagulogram - to diagnose the level of blood coagulation; determination of her group and Rh factor.

The main range of activities of a combustiologist includes:

• checking the condition and functioning of the circulatory system;
• testing for airway injuries;
• solving problems associated with the need for skin transplantation;
• complex measures for the rehabilitation of the patient, the appointment of the necessary procedures (including dressings).

In the most difficult situations, the patient is hospitalized. Such an event is a prerequisite for a grade IV burn: the patient needs a sterile antibacterial ward, a special microclimate and conditions. Hospitalization is necessary for the convenience of carrying out difficult surgical operations.

It should be noted that at any stage of thermal damage to the skin in children and people over the age of 60, mandatory consultation, examination and, possibly, treatment by a doctor are required. Such recommendations are given by leading medical workers with many years of work experience, justifying them with age-related changes and characteristics of the body. If the victim believes that a burn doctor is not needed, it is imperative to take measures for pain relief and wound treatment at home.

First aid for thermal injuries

Regardless of who is treating a burn victim, the instructions for providing assistance must be followed:

• take off clothes very carefully (especially synthetic ones). It is necessary to undress so as not to damage the blisters or burst bubbles.
• place the wound under cold water. Please note that the water must be in the vessel. Doctors forbid the use of running tap water. Using cold water not only relieves pain, but actually slows down the spread of the burn.
• dry the damaged area.
• close the wound with a sterile bandage or a piece of natural cotton fabric. It is important to apply it in such a way as to eliminate tightness in tightening the skin.

For this reason, do not fill the burned areas with fat, oil, ointment, alcohol, iodine, brilliant green, hydrogen peroxide, cosmetics. A distinctive feature of their effect is the formation of a film. It, performing a protective function, prevents heat dissipation. In addition, due to the high risk of infection of an open wound, medical professionals do not recommend the use of traditional medicine and urine therapy.

In case of thermal injury, it is allowed to use drugs containing such components as olazol, panthenol. Such medicines give an effective result, having a "2 in 1" effect: they provide the healing process and accelerate the action of the main components.

They also alleviate the patient's condition by minimizing pain. Almost all preparations are applied by aerosol method. Gel-based anti-burn wipes also have an effective effect. You can buy all of the above funds at your nearest pharmacy.