Burn injury

A burn injury is a type of injury that occurs when the skin or other tissues of the body are exposed to heat, radiation, chemicals, electricity, or friction. Burn injuries can range from mild to severe and can be classified into different categories based on their depth and severity. The different types of burns are:

First-degree burns: These are the mildest type of burn injury, and only affect the top layer of the skin. Symptoms may include redness, swelling, and pain.

Second-degree burns: These burns affect the first and second layers of the skin and may result in blistering, swelling, and severe pain.

Third-degree burns: These are the most severe type of burn injury and can affect all layers of the skin, as well as underlying tissue. Third-degree burns can cause permanent damage to the skin, nerves, and other tissues and may require surgical intervention.

Treatment for burn injuries may include cleaning and bandaging the wound, pain management, and medication to prevent infection. In severe cases, hospitalization may be required, and the patient may need to undergo surgery or skin grafting. It is important to seek medical attention immediately if you or someone you know has suffered a burn injury.

erstl et al. determined the global macroeconomic consequences of burn injuries and their geographic distribution.

Methods: Using the Institute of Health Metrics and Evaluation (2009 and 2019) database, mean and 95% uncertainty intervals (UI) data on incidence, mortality, and disability-adjusted life year (DALY) from injuries caused by fire, heat, and hot substances were collected. Gross domestic product (GDP) data were analyzed together with DALYs to estimate macroeconomic losses globally using a value of lost welfare approach.

Results: There were 9.0 (95%UI 6.8-11.2) million global burn cases and 111,000 (95%UI 88,000-132,000) mortalities in 2019, representing a total of 7.5 (95%UI 5.8-9.5) million DALYs. This represented welfare losses of 112 (95%UI 78-161) billion USD or 0.09% (95%UI 0.06-0.13%) of GDP. Welfare losses as a share of GDP were highest in LMIC regions Oceania (0.24%; 95%UI 0.09-0.42%) and Eastern Europe (0.24%; 95%UI 0.19-0.30%) compared to high-income country regions such as Western Europe (0.06%; 95%UI 0.04-0.09%). Mortality-to-incidence ratios were highest in LMIC regions highlighting a lack of treatment access, with Southern Sub-Saharan Africa reporting a mortality-incidence-ratio of 40.1 per 1,000 people compared to 1.9 for Australasia.

The burden of disease and resulting economic losses for burn injuries are substantial worldwide and are disproportionately higher in LMICs. Possible effective solutions include targeted education, advocacy, and legislation to decrease the incidence and investing in existing burn centers to improve treatment access ¹⁾.