Explaining the Different Types of Medications Prescribed to Burn Victims

Posted in blog,Uncategorized on May 30, 2016

Burn victims require a heightened level of care for effective recovery. This includes proper treatment of wounds, dietary supplements, and specific medications. Depending on the type of burn a victim suffers, doctors prescribe different medications. Understanding what prescriptions your burn may require can help you keep track of what you should and should not take for your injury.

Thermal Burns

Thermal burns are the most common burn. Contact with hot liquids, flames, or an external heat source causes thermal burns. Thermal burns can occur in a car accident, building fire, or around the house – cooking with hot oils or spilling boiling water. Doctors must treat thermal burns with analgesics and topical antibiotics. Analgesics are medications prescribed for pain control. For a severe burn, analgesics may include morphine sulfate, Demerol, and Vicodin.

Doctors will also administer a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agent for thermal burns. Thermal burns result in immediate swelling of the affected tissues, accompanied by acute pain. Doctors use anti-inflammatory agents such as Motrin or Advil to relieve mild-to-moderate pain. Other options for anti-inflammatory medications include Anaprox, Ansaid, and Naproxen. Topical antibiotics are necessary to prevent infection for thermal burns. Doctors will usually apply Neosporin for minor burns and Silvadene for more severe burns.

Chemical Burns

Chemical burns occur when the skin contacts a strong acid or other harmful chemical, such as gasoline, battery acid, paint thinners, ammonia, and bleach. Many chemical burns occur around the home from common household cleaners, teeth whitening chemicals, and pool chlorination products. Chemical burns can result in blackened skin, dead skin, and redness and burning of the affected area.

Doctors generally prescribe standard IV fluid and narcotic therapy to chemical burn victims. They may also use medications such as topical antibiotics, calcium, and magnesium salts. Topical antibiotics help prevent infection. For chemical burns, a doctor will prescribe Silvadene, which sterilizes the affected area against bacterial and fungal infections. Pain management medication for chemical burns may include morphine and acetaminophen. If a patient sustained a chemical burn to the eyes, the doctor may recommend sedation.

Electrical Burns

Electrical burns are burn sustained from contact with electrical currents. Electrical burns can occur from a lightning strike or by simply touching a faulty wire. In general, electrical burns cause worse subdermal damage, or damage beneath the skin, than other types of burns. Electrical currents run through the body and can severely damage deep tissues, tendons, and organs. Common causes of electrical burns are short-circuiting, falling into electrified water, probing electrical sockets, and high-voltage workplace injuries.

The most important factor for healing electrical burns is to give the patient plenty of fluids. The body needs hydration to reduce muscle damage and morbidity. The doctor will administer an IV with lactated ringers for fluid resuscitation. Due to the increased risk of internal injury with electrical burns, doctors may prescribe a variety of medications and procedures to reduce the risk of complications – ranging from skin grafting to repair of damaged organs.

Have You Suffered a Burn Due to Someone Else’s Negligence?

If you sustained a thermal, chemical, or electrical burn due to someone else’s negligence, you may be concerned about your medical bill and lost wages. Compensation can include financial awards for medical costs, pain and suffering, lost wages, and mental anguish. Workplace burns, burns sustained from defective products, burns due to a manufacturer’s failure to provide clear warnings, and other negligence-related burns may be grounds for a lawsuit.

Contact Liljegren Law Group for a professional opinion if you’re unsure whether negligence caused your burn. We have experience throughout San Diego helping burn victims win compensation, and we are happy to speak with you in a free case evaluation.