Definition
Burns are probably among the most painful injuries and affect all age groups. In babies, frequent causes are too warm bath water, too warm food and hot water bottles. Depending on the severity of the burn, it can be reddened, blistered or even open wounds. The treatment also depends on the severity of the burn and ranges from skin creams to transplantations in a specialized clinic.
Therapy
The therapy depends on the severity and area of the burn. In the case of slight redness, no specific therapy is often necessary. A cooling ointment can be used to relieve the pain and skin care creams can prevent the burnt skin from drying out.
Further damage to the skin should be avoided, so good sun protection is particularly important. In the case of more severe burns, the wound must be examined by a doctor and dressed in a sterile dressing, otherwise infections may occur. For larger areas, treatment must be carried out by an emergency doctor and later by a burn intensive care unit for children.
At first, fluid therapy and pain therapy are necessary. The wounds are sterilely bandaged with BurnKits to prevent adhesions. Antibiotics are also usually given to prevent infections.
In some cases a skin transplantation with split skin is necessary. For this, a thin layer of healthy skin is removed and placed on the burn wound where it grows. Even after discharge, special compression shirts and thorough skin care are necessary, as otherwise the scars can lead to severe limitations.
This is a particular danger for babies, as they are still growing rapidly. Aloe vera ointments and cooling gels such as Fenistil are suitable for cooling and pain relief in case of minor burns. These are the same ointments used for sunburn and are available in pharmacies and drugstores.
Perfume-containing ointments should be avoided, as they can cause additional damage to the skin. Later, the skin can be soothed with ordinary skin care creams and protected from drying out. For more severe burns, no creams should be used, but medical help should be sought directly.
For minor burns, the therapy can be done homeopathically and no medical care is necessary. In any case, however, a pediatrician should be consulted to assess the severity of the burn. For more severe burns, homeopathic treatment is not sufficient. Among the remedies recommended by homeopaths are Calendula, Arsenicum album, Cantharis and Causticum. These remedies are said to be effective against inflammation and alleviate pain.
