A burn is an injury or damage to the skin or body tissues caused by heat, chemical, radiation or friction. Burns can be minor or life threatening as it can cause swelling, blistering, scarring and in severe cases, shock and even death. It can also lead to infections because they damage the protective barriers of the skin.

Burns are the most common household injuries, especially in children. Mostly, burns are due to heat from hot liquids (called scalding), solids or fire. In 2015, fire and heat related injuries resulted in 67 million injuries with 2.9 million hospitalization and 176,000 deaths.

Types of Burns

First degree burns-

The first degree burns damage the epidermis which is the outer layer of the skin. They cause minimal skin damage and heals within 7 to 10 days without scarring. These are also called superficial burns.

Second degree burns-

Second degree burns damage both the epidermis and the dermis. They affect the outer layer of the skin and the layer under the skin. These are more serious, have a wet or moist wound and may form blisters. Deep second degree burns are more likely to scar.

Third degree burns-

Third degree burns are most severe and affect the epidermis, dermis and reach into the fat layer beneath the skin, causing damage to the bones, tendons and nerves. They take a longer time to heal with scarring.

Symptoms of Burns

Symptoms vary according to the type of burn.

Symptoms of first degree burns are-

• Redness.
• Minor swelling.
• Pain.
• Dry, peeling skin as the burn heals.

Symptoms of second degree burns are-

• Redness with clear blisters.
• Wet or moist appearance.
• Pain.
• Swelling.
• Yellow, white or splotchy skin.

Symptoms of third degree burns are-

• Numbness due to nerve damage.
• Waxy and leathery skin.
• Black or white burned skin.

Causes of Burns

Various external factor that causes burns may include-

• Fire.
• Hot liquids from exposure to hot tap water in a bath or shower, hot cooking oil or steam.
• Chemicals such as strong acids, paints or gasoline.
• An electrical voltage such as from electrical cords, electrical outlets and sometimes lightning.
• Radiation from ultraviolet lights (sun, tanning booths), X rays or radiation therapy.
• Hot metal, glass or other objects.

Risk Factors for Burns

Major risk factors are-

• Young children are more prone to burns.
• Use of alcohol and other illegal drugs.
• Too much sun exposure.
• Careless handling of combustibles (flammable substances).
• Careless smoking.
• Families with low socioeconomic status.

How to Prevent Burns?

You can take the following steps to reduce the risk of burns-

• Use sunscreen.
• Set the water heater in your home below 120 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Always test the water in a shower or bath before entering or bathing a child.
• Keep out from the reach of chemicals, lighters and matches.
• When cooking, use the back burner of the stove as much as possible, turn the handle of pots and pans to avoid bumping into them, and don't leave the stove unattended.
• Keep children away from hot objects such as stoves.
• Install and test smoke detectors regularly in your home.
• Equip your home with fire extinguishers and know how to use them.
• Cover electrical outlets.

Diagnosis for Burns

The severity of a burn is determined by the size of body parts affected. Diagnosis always includes a physical examination and other diagnostic procedures.

During a physical examination, your doctor will examine the burned skin and check for the total body surface area involved.

Lab tests and X rays are also done to check for other injuries or determine if the burn has affected the rest of the body.

Treatment for Burns

Proper and quick treatment of burn will reduce the risk and severity of scarring. Most minor burns can be treated with home care. Treatment may include-

• Soaking the burn in cool water for 5 minutes or longer.
• Taking medications for pain relief.
• Applying burn cream and ointments to soothe the skin.
• Gauze bandage to protect the skin and reduce the risk of infections.

For serious or major burns, treatment may include-

• Medications.
• Wound dressing.
• Therapy, to help stretch the skin and encourage motion in the joints.
• Surgical procedures like skin graft, tube feeding, plastic surgery and breathing assistance.

Home Remedies for Burns

Lavender oil-

This oil is widely used for its medicinal values such as its antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties, which helps in healing minor burns and prevents scarring.

Peppermint oil-

Peppermint oil is rich in menthol, which provides a cooling effect on burns. In addition, the analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties of peppermint oil can relieve pain and swelling associated with burns.

Tea tree oil-

Tea tree oil is known for its strong antiseptic, anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving properties. These properties make it one of the best treatments for painful burns.

Aloe vera-

Aloe vera gel heals burns with its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. It also prevents infection of wounds, scars and blistering.

Honey-

Honey has a natural pH balance that prevents infections from burning. It has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, which help burns heal faster.

Toothpaste-

Toothpaste relieves pain and soothes burn due to its cool minty nature. Milk- Milk is rich in zinc and protein, which can help soothe burns and heal faster.

Baking soda-

The antiseptic properties of baking soda heals the burned area. Baking soda can also help restore your skin's natural pH balance, which in turn reduces pain and burning.

Coconut oil-

Coconut oil has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties that can help cool down burns and prevents blisters and scars on burned skin.

Vinegar-

Vinegar is a natural and antiseptic remedy which consists mainly of acetic acid. Acetic acid is known for its anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving properties. These properties of vinegar can be useful in treating and healing minor burns.

Raw potato-

Rubbing a piece of raw potato on the burn will help relieve the pain and reduce the chances of blisters forming.

When to see a doctor?

Call your doctor if burns or blisters don't heal within two weeks.

Rabies is a viral disease, treatment should not be delayed at all because doing so increases the risk of further spread. Rabies is transmitted to humans through bites or scratches from infected animals. It is generally believed that rabies is only caused by dog ​​bites but this is not the case.

Rabies virus can be found in the saliva of any warm-blooded animal. This virus is found especially in animals like dogs, cats, monkeys, bats etc. Apart from biting and scratching these animals, this virus can also affect the central nervous system by reaching the human body on licking due to which the body gets traumatized gradually. Rabies is called Jalantak and Alark in Hindi. Let's talk about how rabies affects a person and what are its symptoms, causes and home remedies.

What are the Causes of Rabies?

Rabies is caused by the Lisa virus. It is mainly a disease of animals which spreads from infected animals to humans. This virus lives in the saliva of infected animals and when these infected animals (especially dogs or bats) bite humans, the virus enters the human body. Apart from this, even if the saliva of an infected animal comes in contact with the human eye, mouth, nose or any wound on the body, the rabies virus starts growing in humans which affects the salivary glands and nervous system of humans.

What are the symptoms of Rabies?

Most symptoms of rabies take several years to appear but the initial symptoms begin to appear within 1 to 3 months after a bite or scratch from an infected animal. The initial symptom of rabies is feeling of tingling in the muscles of the area where the animal bites or scratches. After this the virus starts reaching the brain through the nerves in the body which causes the following symptoms:-

• Constant headache.
• Frequent fever.
• Feeling exhausted.
• Stiffness and pain in muscles and joints.
• Irritability and fiery temper.
• Constant disturbance.
• Strange thoughts come to mind.
• Loss of appetite.
• Bad taste in mouth.
• Excessive production of saliva and tears.
• Irritation from bright light and sound.
• Difficulty speaking.
• Abnormal change in behavior.

When the infection increases, then the following symptoms start to appear:-

• Multiple vision.
• Difficulty moving the muscles of the mouth.
• Excessive production of saliva and foam in the mouth.
• Appearance of paranoid symptoms in the victim.

How to prevent or control Rabies?

• Pets Vaccination: Animals such as dogs, cats and monkeys should be vaccinated against rabies.
• Limit pet outings: Keeping pets indoors and supervising them when going out helps to avoid the pets coming in contact with wild animals.
• Keep small pets safe: Small pets such as rabbits cannot be vaccinated against rabies. So keep these animals indoors and away from wild animals.
• Report wild animals: Report feral dogs and cats to your local animal control authorities.
• Do not contact with wild animals: Stay away from any animal that appears to be suffering from any kind of disease.
• Rabies vaccination: Get vaccinated when traveling to a country or state where the risk of rabies is high or take the advice of your doctor.

Home remedies of Rabies

• Tetanus injection: This is usually a simple and early treatment for rabies. In case of an animal bite or confirmation of rabies, a tetanus injection should be administered within 24 hours to control the infection.
• Lukewarm water: In case of any animal bite and its saliva getting on the body, wash the affected area thoroughly with lukewarm water. This helps to remove the virus to a great extent.
• Kiwi fruit: Kiwi fruit proves to be effective in rabies disease because vitamin C is found in this fruit, which is beneficial in rabies. For this, two to three kiwis should be consumed daily.
• Cumin: Cumin also proves to be very effective when bitten by a dog or other animal. For this, grind two tablespoons cumin and twenty black peppercorns, mix light water in it and make a paste and apply on the affected area. Doing this helps the wound to heal faster.
• Lavender: Lavender has antiseptic properties which proves beneficial in any type of wound. Infection can also be avoided by applying a paste of lavender on the bitten part.
• Water and soap: First of all wash the affected area thoroughly with water and soap after coming in contact with an animal suffering from any type of disease. Apart from this, after washing the wound with soap and water, contact the doctor immediately if the animal has bitten and scratched, without delay.
• Vitamin: Vitamin-rich foods are very beneficial in case of rabies infection. Therefore, consume a good amount of spinach, orange juice, tomato etc.

Infectious diseases should be treated without wasting time. Failure to do so may increase the risk of spreading diseases. One such infectious disease is leprosy which affects the person's skin, eyes, respiratory system and peripheral nerves. It is a disease that spreads through air or breathing which is caused by bacteria called Mycobacterium leprae. This bacterium was discovered in 1873 by a Norwegian physician Gerhard Hansen. It is also called 'Henson's disease' after his name.

How is Leprosy spread?

Leprosy is a disease that spreads through bacteria called Leprae present in the air. These bacteria come into the air only from a sick person. It takes about 4 to 5 years for this bacteria to grow in the body of a healthy person. In many cases it takes up to 20 years for the bacteria to grow (incubation). Ignoring the symptoms of leprosy at the primary stage can lead to disability. It is a contagious disease but it does not spread through human touch but staying with an infected person for a long time can cause this infection. If the patient is given medicine regularly, then there is no possibility of infection.

Causes of Leprosy

• Weakening of the body's immune system.
• Lack of nutritious food.
• Long-term use of contaminated food and beverages.
• Consuming spicy and oily food.
• Loss of blood in the body.
• Consuming drugs.

Symptoms of Leprosy

The most important identification of leprosy is that it causes white rashes on the body. These marks are numb i.e., they do not have any kind of sensation. Apart from this, there are some other symptoms as well. These other symptoms are listed below-

• Change in skin color.
• Loss of touch, pain and feeling on the skin.
• Wounds do not heal for weeks and months.
• Discharge of pus and fluid from the affected part.
• Continuous bleeding.
• Gradually wilting and destruction of organs and skin.
• Muscle weakness.
• Dry skin.
• Stuffy and bleeding nose.
• Ulcers on the soles of the feet.

Types of Leprosy

It is mainly of three types, which are as follows-

Tuberculoid Leprosy-

Tuberculoid Leprosy, also known as paucibacillary leprosy is a mild and less severe form of leprosy in which a person has only a few patches of pale and flat colored skin. The affected area of skin may have absence of sensation because of nerve damage. Tuberculoid leprosy is usually less contagious than the other forms of leprosy.

Lepromatous Leprosy-

Lepromatous Leprosy, also known as multibacillary leprosy, is a more severe form in which there are skin bumps and rashes on the whole-body including numbness and muscle weakness. It may also affect the nose, kidneys, and reproductive organs in men.

Borderline Leprosy-

This is a mixed form in which the symptoms of both the tuberculoid and lepromatous leprosy exist.

Ways to avoid Leprosy

• Avoid coming in contact with a person infected with leprosy.
• Keep yourself clean to avoid any kind of infection.
• Eat nutritious food like pulses, gram, milk, green vegetables, and fruits which keeps the immunity of the body strong.
• Do not take astringent things like potato, brinjal, lentils, red chili, kachalu, meat-fish etc.
• To avoid leprosy, get the Bacillus Calmette-Guerin vaccine.

Home remedies for Leprosy

• Taking bath after boiling neem leaves in water and grinding neem leaves in cow's milk and applying it on the infected area cures leprosy. Apart from this, sleeping under neem leaves is very beneficial for leprosy patients.
• Taking the juice of henna leaves containing honey every morning purifies the blood. It is beneficial in skin diseases i.e., leprosy.
• Taking Chaulmoogra oil regularly with hot milk is beneficial.
• Mixing equal quantities of neem and chaulmoogra oil and applying it on the affected part cures skin diseases within a few days.
• Leprosy is destroyed by regular consumption of decoction (Kwath) made from Vijayasar wood.
• Grinding the leaves of Nirgundi and mixing it with water, taking it on an empty stomach in the morning is beneficial. Apart from this, applying the paste of its leaves on the affected area cures skin diseases.
• Taking the powder made from the bark of Champa thrice a day helps in all types of skin disorders.
• Taking equal quantities of amla and neem leaves with honey is beneficial in leprosy.
• Grinding the bark of Aak root with vinegar and applying it on the affected part is beneficial in leprosy.

Cerebral Malaria is the most dangerous and deadly form of malarial fever that affects the brain. If malaria parasites reach the brain, they prove to be very fatal. This condition is called cerebral malaria or meningitis. According to the WHO (World Health Organization), there are five types of malaria parasites. The most deadly of these is falciparum malaria. If this parasite reaches the brain through blood circulation, then it can have fatal consequences. It is the most serious neurological complication caused by Plasmodium falciparum (a protozoan parasite). Plasmodium is transmitted to the human body through the bite of an infected mosquito. Patients suffering from this have neurological (nervous system), memory loss and behavioral difficulties. Apart from this, cerebral malaria is one of the main causes of neurological disability and epilepsy in children. However, it is not yet known how the parasite of blood vessels becomes lethal to the brain. Falciparum malaria is a leading cause of neuro-disability and death in tropical countries. Many children around the world are affected by it.

In cerebral malaria, fluid leaks from the brain of the infected person and the person slips into coma. It infects more than 575,000 people every year out of which 20 percent of people die and 80 percent of the survivors develop long-term neurodevelopmental symptoms including seizures and mental disorders. It affects young children more.

Symptoms of Cerebral Malaria

The symptoms of cerebral malaria are few that are common in both children and adults, such as-

• Loss of consciousness.
• Impulse and neurological abnormalities.
• Coma (which can last up to three days)
• Persistent orthostatic hypotension freezing.
• Muscle pain.
• Low blood pressure.
• Mild jaundice.
• Enlargement of liver and spleen.
• Kidney damage.
• Blood in urine.
• Increase in intracranial pressure.
• Confusion and seizures.
• Increase in respiratory rate.

The symptoms usually occur in three stages:

Cooling stage:

It can last for 1-2 hours.

Hot stage:

It is characterized by headache, vomiting and seizures in young children and high fever up to 107°F. It can last for 3-4 hours.

Sweat phase:

It causes sweating and fatigue. This phase can last for 2-4 hours.

Causes of Cerebral Malaria

Malaria is caused by a type of parasite which is called plasmodium. There are several types of plasmodium parasites but only five of these parasites cause malaria in humans. Plasmodium parasites are mainly transmitted by female Anopheles mosquitoes. They bite mainly at dusk and at night. When an infected mosquito bites a human, it spreads the parasite into the bloodstream and as soon as it reaches the brain, the person becomes a victim of cerebral malaria.

Measures to Prevent Cerebral Malaria

• Use a mosquito net while sleeping.
• Do not use mosquito repellent coils in a closed room.
• Do not allow water to accumulate in the house.
• If there is standing water somewhere around, then spread it or put oil in it so that mosquitoes do not breed in it.
• Consult a doctor if there is even a slight fever.

Treatment of Cerebral malaria

There are many medicines available in the market for Cerebral Malaria but do not take any medicine without the doctor's advice because taking medicine without the advice of a doctor can cause serious harm to health.