Expert: Jim B - 12/10/2008

Question
QUESTION: my husband was burned with a flash burn while stirring a fire and something exploded on Friday.  I'm in Baja, Mexico.  Went to dr. (which is 2 hrs away on a 16 mile very dusty road) said he had first degree burn all over his face/neck, arms from end of t-shirt sleeve down to fingers and from bottom of his swim trunks down to top of his sock line, both back and front.  had some blisters on his thumb and index finger and on leg some skin was gone.  Dr. said if a bit worse would have sent to hospital.  Anyway, Dr. put him on iv drip and pain killers and put on a cream of sulfadiazina, 1.0g.  When the iv bag was finished doc sent us home with more cream to put on him for 3 days, some  drugs:  one pill containing naproxeno sodico, 275mg and paracetamol, 300 mg. to be taken 3x/day --box of 10 pills, which runs out today (Monday at 2:30p.m.); 10 tablets of clonixinato de lisina, 250mg to be given like the first drug only 15 to 20 minutes after; and 12 tablets of ciprofloxacino, 500mg to be taken 2x/day for 5 days.  I quit giving him the clonixinato on Sunday as it made him nauseated and found on internet that some people vomited with the pill.  he seems to be doing okay with pain without it.  a little more uncomfortable.  Today is the last day of the cream.  after reading this website we found out we could pop some of his blisters that had developed when we got home.  we popped them Sunday-some as big as a roma tomato. after popping we put on the cream.  He's still sluffing off skin and oozing from blisters and new skin.  Should I continue putting on the cream?  When the naproxeno runs out, what should I give him for pain? I have alleve and tylonol p.m. and aspirin.

ANSWER: Hi Julia,

OUCH! OK,first things first! Continue all medecines. And continue to change the dressings over any area where there are any open or raw burn areas. MAke sure that any area that has open or raw skin showing is covered with both silvadene and sterile gauze for at least 12 days. The pain should resolve over the next 5 to 6 days. Any pain relief needed should be taking BOTH Tylenol and alleve. Watch out for infection developing and watch out for using only boiled water only for cleaning the burns!

Jim

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: they never told me to or covered the open areas.  when I do put on gauze and take it off, it comes off with yellowish looking ooze and bleeds.  most of the open areas have not been covered and he showers with dial soap, regular water.  I need to cover the open areas?  this morning put neosporin on open areas.

Answer
Hi Julia,

Just cover any open areas, that is any skin area that has lost its orignal skin and has no longer regained any new skin. The open areas will be any area that still needs skin. Also any other area that was in burned but has lost new skin, but has still has solid good skin, will NOT need any dressing.

Jim