Question

A 2-year-old child’s hand was burned by boiling water. After washing with water and applying some oil, more blisters formed. Then, the child was treated with ointment, but there are still two large blisters at the junction of the index and middle fingers. What should be done for a child’s burned hand?

Answer

For mild burns in children, intravenous fluid administration is usually not required, and treatment can be provided at an outpatient clinic. Here are the steps to follow:

  1. Prevent infection: Oral antibiotics can be taken. Choose broad-spectrum antibiotics. Commonly used medications include penicillin and cephalosporin antibiotics. Generally, take for 3 to 5 days until the body temperature returns to normal.
  2. Prevent tetanus: After burns, it is routine to inject TAT 1500 IU or tetanus toxoid 0.5ml to prevent tetanus bacteria infection.