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Wang Xiang Li
Emergency Medicine
About me
Associate Chief Physician, Chaoyang Central Hospital in Liaoning Province, Emergency Department.
Proficient in diseases
Diagnosis, rescue, and treatment of common critically ill patients in the emergency department.
Voices
Why does a burn from hot oil itch?
After being scalded by oil and experiencing itchy sensations, there are several scenarios: First, after the acute phase of an oil burn, if there is no local infection, the patient may feel itching in the burned area. This sensation is caused by the proliferation and repair of new epidermal tissue, which is a normal occurrence. The patient should not worry, but it is important to remember not to scratch the area to prevent local infection and rupture of the skin tissue, which could delay the healing of the wound; The second scenario occurs when there is an infection in the burn. The patient will also feel itching in the affected area, and they should go to the hospital promptly for local debridement and disinfection; The third scenario occurs when the wound heals but leaves a scar, which can also cause itching. In this case, scar treatment medications can be applied for treatment.
Can I eat lamb after a burn?
Whether a burn patient can eat mutton mainly depends on the severity of the patient's condition. It is best not to eat mutton because mutton is quite pungent and is considered a hot-natured food. Eating such food after being burned is not conducive to the recovery of the burn and can make the burn more severe, easily causing local wound infection and inflammation. Apart from mutton, spicy and stimulating foods are also not recommended, such as raw onions, raw garlic, chili peppers, Sichuan peppers, leeks, fish, shrimp, beef, and dog meat. Patients should also avoid smoking and alcohol, and it is better for them to have a bland diet, which can promote metabolism and facilitate the recovery from burns.
Do you need to bandage after a burn?
Whether bandaging is needed depends on the severity of the burn. Generally, if it's just simple redness, no bandaging is needed. After the local skin is scalded, if blisters form, it is considered a superficial second-degree burn. You can first rinse with cold water or soak in cold water for more than half an hour, or apply ice to reduce the pain. Before bandaging, clean the wound with hydrogen peroxide, then disinfect the wound surface with iodine, release the water inside the blister while keeping the blister skin, then apply burn ointment on the gauze, cover the wound surface, and then use multiple layers of dry gauze for bandaging. Generally, change the dressing every three days, and recovery can occur within two weeks, leaving no scars later. Patients should maintain a light diet, eat fresh vegetables and fruits, avoid spicy and stimulating food, and abstain from alcohol.
How to treat a burn from hot oil
After being scalded by hot oil, quickly wipe off the hot oil with a clean cloth and rinse the affected area with plenty of cold water or running tap water for more than half an hour, or until the pain eases. Then disinfect with iodine. If blisters occur after the burn and they are small and few, apply a moisturizing burn ointment locally to promote healing at the burn site. Generally, small blisters can absorb on their own. For larger blisters, use a sterile syringe to puncture the blister at its base and squeeze out the fluid, but keep the blister skin intact to maintain a sterile environment on the wound surface, and apply a burn moisturizing cream. If the epidermis is broken, seek treatment at a regular hospital. After a burn, it is advised to eat fresh vegetables and fruits to promote wound healing, avoid spicy and irritating foods, and keep the wound dry to prevent infection.
What should I do if I am allergic to tetanus shots?
The full name of the tetanus shot is tetanus antitoxin serum, which is mainly made from horse serum and has certain allergenic properties. If a patient is allergic to tetanus antitoxin serum, desensitization injections can be used, which involves gradually injecting one milliliter of the tetanus antitoxin serum into the body in four or more sessions, with each injection spaced about twenty to thirty minutes apart. After each injection, it is important to closely observe the patient's reaction, including checking for signs of itching in the nose, hives throughout the body, or difficulty breathing. If any of these symptoms occur, emergency treatment should be administered. If the injections of tetanus antitoxin serum cannot be completed multiple times, or if the patient is unwilling to accept this method of injection, tetanus immunoglobulin can be administered instead of tetanus antitoxin serum. Tetanus immunoglobulin does not require a sensitivity test and can be directly injected into the body without causing an allergic reaction, although it is more expensive.
What fruit is good to eat for burns?
After a burn, one should consume more high-calorie, high-protein foods that are easy to digest. It is also appropriate to eat more foods that are high in vitamin C content. This is because vitamin C can promote wound healing and prevent infection. Foods rich in vitamin C include kiwi, citrus, oranges, dates, grapes, etc. Besides vitamin C, zinc also promotes wound healing, reduces scarring, and prevents infection. Foods rich in zinc include kelp, sesame, pork liver, oysters, shrimp shells, seaweed, legumes, etc. Avoid spicy and stimulating foods, and refrain from smoking, alcohol, strong tea, and coffee, especially peppers, onions, and pepper powder. This can effectively prevent wound infection and promote wound healing, killing two birds with one stone.
How to deal with burns that have broken the skin?
After a burn that breaks the skin, you can first assess the size of the burned area. For small burns, promptly rinse with cold water for about 20 minutes, or apply a cold compress to the affected area. Then, disinfect and clean the burn site with povidone-iodine, keeping the wound exposed to promote healing. If the burn is extensive, affecting the superficial dermis and reaching shallow second-degree or higher burns, after addressing the site, sterile dressings and treatments such as antibacterial and anti-inflammatory are necessary. Therefore, after the initial simple treatment, it’s crucial to seek professional medical treatment at a hospital promptly.
How to treat baby's burns with blisters
If the burn has just occurred, first ensure the baby is quickly removed from the heat source, and soak the affected area in running tap water or cold water for over half an hour. Alternatively, a cold towel can be used to moisten and cover the wound, which can reduce the thermal damage to the burn area and minimize the formation of weeping wounds. If the blistered area is small, a moisturizing burn ointment can be applied. If there are small blisters, they may be left untreated, but do not break them; this maintains a sterile environment and allows the blister to absorb slowly. However, if it is a large burn area, it is necessary to seek immediate medical attention at a nearby burn unit for proper dressing and treatment of the burn. Additionally, care should be taken to avoid squeezing the burned area and to prevent the wound from getting wet.
Can you drink alcohol after being scalded by oil?
After being scalded by oil, one should not drink alcohol, as alcohol can accelerate local blood circulation at the burn site, thereby worsening local congestion, swelling, and pain, and also prolonging the healing time of the wound. Therefore, after being scalded by oil, it is not advisable to consume beer, spirits, fruit wines, or yellow wine. Patients also need to be mindful of their diet and avoid consuming spicy foods such as raw onions, raw garlic, chili peppers, and leeks, which, like alcohol, can cause an increase in local congestion, swelling, and pain.
How to relieve pain after a burn or scald
Cold therapy is the best way to alleviate pain after a burn. Firstly, you should use running tap water or cold water to soak the affected area for more than half an hour. This can prevent heat from continuing to affect the wound and can dull the peripheral nerves in the area, reducing pain, exudation, and swelling. Secondly, you can apply some dilute saltwater to the wound to relieve pain and reduce inflammation, and then apply burn ointment to the burned area. In severe cases, oral pain relievers such as ibuprofen can be taken, and if necessary, pain medication can be administered via muscle injection. If the burned area is large, it is necessary to go to the hospital for formal treatment in a timely manner.