“Severe burns can be treated with traditional medicine” – Is the truth as the rumors say?
Currently, some parents, when their child unfortunately suffers burns, instead of providing medical first aid or taking the child to the hospital, use some types of herbal medicine to apply to the burn. Is this method really as effective as what has been circulated?
Recently, the International Pediatric Center at Hai Phong International Obstetrics and Pediatrics Hospital has continuously received many cases of hospitalization for treatment due to infections from burns caused by applying unverified herbal medicine.
One case is that of patient Trần.N.M P, 1 year old, who unfortunately spilled hot porridge on his right leg. However, instead of taking the child to the hospital for treatment, the parents listened to a friend and took the child to a herbalist to apply herbal medicine. On the fourth day after applying the medicine, seeing the child had a high fever and pus discharge, the child was finally taken to the hospital. After admission, the child was treated by the doctors in the Pediatric Surgery department, who cleaned the pus and thoroughly sanitized the burn area, while also providing systemic treatment, administering antibiotics, fluids, pain relief medication, changing dressings, and daily monitoring and assessing the burn damage. After treatment at the hospital, the infected burn healed; the patient stabilized and was discharged.
Another case is that of patient L.M.A, who was hospitalized due to a diagnosis of second and third degree scald burns covering approximately 2% of the right foot and infected due to herbal treatment. The patient is currently receiving intensive treatment in the Pediatric Surgery department.
Applying unverified herbal medicine that is not clean to the wound or burn is very dangerous, as it can worsen the injury, spread the infection, or turn a non-infected wound into an infected one. If not treated promptly, it can lead to sepsis, causing complications such as: purulent inflammation of the heart membrane, meningitis, purulent pleurisy, lung abscess, osteomyelitis, and even death or lifelong complications for the child. The Pediatric Surgery doctor stated: Children’s skin is thinner and the connection between layers is looser than that of adults, so burns are often more severe and deeper. Especially, infants under 6 months old have weaker immune systems, so the risk of infection in the burn area as well as burn shock is higher even if the burn area is not large. Therefore, when a child is burned, they need to be given early and proper first aid.
– If the child is burned by boiling water, steam, or porridge: Immediately after the child is burned, immerse the burned area (hand, foot) in clean, cool water (from 16 to 20 degrees Celsius, preferably within the first 30 minutes after the burn). If the child is burned on the face, use a soft wet cloth to apply to the face; if the burn area is large, be sure to keep the child warm in the areas not burned.
– For children burned by electricity: Quickly separate the victim from the power source (turn off the circuit breaker, use a wooden stick to push away high voltage) and take the patient to a cool place. The family needs to assess the respiratory circulation, the child’s consciousness, and check for other injuries if there was a fall, to find the correct way to provide first aid, avoiding injury to the cervical spine or the child’s limbs. If the child stops circulation, perform proper external chest compressions while calling for medical support.
– For children burned by chemicals: Immediately wash the burned area with as much clean water as possible. If there is a chemical burn to the eyes, the eyes need to be rinsed by submerging the face in a basin of water and blinking continuously to wash out the chemicals. Quickly remove any clothing that has come into contact with the chemicals. Do not remove the clothing of the burned person as it can easily cause skin peeling; it is best to…should cut or tear off clothes that are contaminated with chemicals.
“Immediately after first aid, the family needs to quickly take the child to a medical facility with a burn specialty for timely examination and treatment. Absolutely do not listen to advice from unqualified individuals, applying inappropriate leaves or medications to the wound, which can endanger the child.”
Proactively prevent burn accidents for children To effectively prevent burn accidents and limit unfortunate risks that may occur, parents should pay attention to the following points:
• Do not allow children to play in areas where cooking is taking place or near sources of electricity, electrical wires, power outlets… Hot food and drinks, and flammable materials such as gasoline, oil, alcohol, matches… must be kept in a safe place and out of reach of children.
• Do not store chemicals in drinking water bottles like Lavie, C2 tea…, to avoid possible confusion.
• Do not store oral medications with disinfectants or topical medications.
• When supervising children, adults need to maintain close and regular supervision.
