Chemical burn

Chemical burn
Classification and external resources
Chemical burn caused by exposure to a sodium hydroxide solution.
ICD-10	T26-T28
ICD-9	949
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), and silver nitrate (AgNO₃). 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.

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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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  Severe skin burns with Roundup are very rare, but possible

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  HF burns, not evident until a day after

See also

• Acid throwing

External links

• Chemical burns