Thermal (Heat or Fire) Burns

Bad Bugs Slideshow

• Thermal Burns Overview
• Thermal Burns Causes
• Thermal Burns Symptoms
• When to Seek Medical Care
• Exams and Tests
• Thermal Burns Treatment
• Self-Care at Home
• Medical Treatment
• Medications
• Next Steps
• Follow-up
• Prevention
• Outlook
• Multimedia
• Synonyms and Keywords
• Authors and Editors

Thermal Burns Overview

From simple sunburn on vacation to touching a hot pot on a stove, many of us have experienced minor burns at one time or another. Thermal burn injuries are very common. Annually, 500,000 people receive medical treatment for burn injuries. Children are particularly at risk due to accidental burns.

The type of burn and the severity of the burn depend on the number of layers of skin affected. Most burns are mild, but some may be severe. Most importantly, 75% of burns are estimated to be preventable.