After a Burn: When to Call Your Child's Health Care Provider

Any electrical burn or a burn where the skin is charred, leathery, burned away, or has no feeling is severe and should receive medical attention right away.

Any blistering, swollen burn that covers an area larger than the size of your child's hand, or any burn that is on the hand, foot, face, genitals, or over a joint, is a serious injury. It should be seen immediately by a pediatrician or in an emergency room.

Also, get medical care right away if your child has:

• A burn on the eye or eyelid.

• A burn that goes all the way around an arm or leg.

• A blistered burn and no past tetanus shots. (Note: Tetanus is the "T" in DTaP, Tdap, and Td vaccines.)

• A burn with a center that is white or charred.

• A burn caused by an explosion or gunpowder.

• A chemical burn (such as acid).

• Coughing after being near fire and smoke.

• A burn from a house fire.

• Severe pain that is not better 2 hours after your child takes pain medicine.

• A burn that looks infected (spreading redness, red streaks, swelling, or tender to the touch).

Contact your child's health care provider if your child has any of the following:

• Not eating or drinking well or a poor appetite

• Antisocial or disruptive behavior at home or school

• Signs of infection, such as the healing burn areas changing and becoming red, warm, swollen, very sore, or having a bad smell

• Uncontrollable itching

• Scar that cracks open or splits

• Tissues around a joint tightening so the joint is hard to move

• A burn on an arm or leg that makes moving that limb and the affected fingers or toes difficult

• A lot of swelling in the injured area

• Fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher, or as advised by the provider

If it seems that the dressing changes are painful for your child, talk about pain medicine with your child's provider.