Chemical burn

Chemical burn
Chemical burn caused by exposure to a sodium hydroxide solution after 44 hours.
Classification and external resources
ICD-10	T26-T28
ICD-9	949
MedlinePlus	000059
eMedicine	derm/777
MeSH	D002057

A chemical burn occurs when living tissue is exposed to a corrosive substance such as a strong acid or base. Chemical burns follow standard burn classification and may cause extensive tissue damage. The main types of irritant and/or corrosive products are: acids, bases, oxidizers, solvents, reducing agents and alkylants. Additionally, chemical burns can be caused by some types of chemical weapons e.g. vesicants such as mustard gas and Lewisite, or urticants such as phosgene oxime.

Chemical burns may:

• need no source of heat,
• occur immediately on contact,
• be extremely painful, or
• not be immediately evident or noticeable
• diffuse into tissue and damage structures under skin without immediately apparent damage to skin surface

Presentation

The exact symptoms of a chemical burn depend on the chemical involved. Symptoms include itching, bleaching or darkening of skin, burning sensations, trouble breathing, coughing blood and/or tissue necrosis. Common sources of chemical burns include sulfuric acid (H₂SO₄), hydrochloric acid (HCl), lye (NaOH), lime (CaO), silver nitrate (AgNO₃) and hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂). Effects depend on the substance: hydrogen peroxide removes a bleached layer of skin, while nitric acid causes a characteristic color change to yellow in the skin. Chemical burns may occur through direct contact on body surfaces including skin and eyes, inhalation, and ingestion. Lipophilic substances that diffuse efficiently in human tissue, e.g. hydrofluoric acid, sulfur mustard and dimethyl sulfate, may not react immediately, but produce the burns and inflammation hours after the contact. Chemical fabrication, mining, medicine, and related professional fields are examples of occupations where chemical burns may occur.

Gallery

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  Chemical burns to the arm, caused by a blister agent e.g. mustard gas.

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  Chemical burns caused by exposure to mustard gas during the First World War.

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  Soldier with severe mustard gas burns to back and arms circa 1918. These burns are severe enough to be life-threatening.

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  Soldier with mustard gas burns, circa 1918.

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  Severe skin burns with blisters are very rare, but possible

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  Hydrofluoric acid (HF) burns, which were not evident until a day after exposure

See also

• Acid throwing

External links

• Chemical burns

  General wounds and injuries (T08-T35, 870-949) General wound/ trauma Blunt trauma/ superficial/closed abrasions Abrasion Avulsion blisters Blister (Blood blister Coma blister Delayed blister Edema blister Fracture blister Friction blister Sucking blister) bruises Bruise/Hematoma/Ecchymosis Battle's sign Raccoon eyes Black eye Subungual hematoma Cullen's sign Grey Turner's sign Retroperitoneal hemorrhage bites Animal bite: Insect bite Spider bite Penetrating trauma/open Animal bites: Snakebite Lizard bite Other: Ballistic trauma Stab wound Foreign body In alimentary tract Bezoar Other Aerosol burn Burn/Corrosion/Chemical burn Frostbite Occupational injuries Traumatic amputation By region Hand injury Head injury Chest trauma Abdominal trauma Index of skin Description Anatomy Physiology connective tissue Development Disease Infections by morphology Vesiculobullous Dermatitis and eczema factitial Papulosquamous Urticaria and erythema Radiation-related Pigmentation Mucinoses Keratosis, ulcer, atrophy, and necrobiosis Vasculitis Fat Neutrophilic and eosinophilic Congenital Neoplasms and cancer nevi and melanomas epidermis dermis Symptoms and signs eponymous Terminology Treatment Procedures Drugs antibiotics disinfectants emollients and protectives itch psoriasis other Wound and ulcer