By Thato Mgoma
Picture Sourced
Robert Mangaliso Sobukwe Hospital, previously known as Kimberley Hospital, receives 200 burn cases annually. The number increases in winter with wounds varying from hot water, acid burn and open fire.
According to Dr Maria Giaquinto-Cilliers, a Plastic Surgeon and Head of the Burn Unit, some of these wounds are accidental or self-inflicted. They are not discriminating against children, adults or gender. She said, “the most common burns suffered by children are avoidable and can be prevented. Parents often put a child on their laps while drinking hot liquids”.
She warns the public not to light candles and leave them unattended, especially for the entire night. The Doctor requested that people follow the manufacturers’ instructions when buying and using hot water bottles, paraffin stoves and other appliances.
“Keep children away from electrical appliances and open fire. Don’t wear loose clothes when cooking”, she continued, mentioning a few causes of burns, including gender-based violence where hot water or acid is used in romantic relationships fights. Individuals sometimes prefer burning themselves as an attempt to commit suicide.
She also explained how they categorise the degrees of burns as follows: 1st-degree burns are burns that heal within ten days without treatment. Second-degree burns are treated with medication. The most severe burns are called 3rd-degree burns, require skin grafting and some can be fatal. Skin grafting is when a surgeon takes skin from a part of the patient’s body and places it in the burned area.
“Burning causes trauma, whether accidental or self-inflicted. Patients are treated by a multi-disciplinary team, including a Psychologist to deal with the trauma. Anti-depressants are prescribed where necessary and follow-up treatment even when the patient has been discharged”, explained Giaquinto-Cilliers.
People are encouraged to donate skin as this can save lives. Patients wit
h severe burns or if 50% of their body is burned, they cannot be saved due to a lack of healthy skin. Giaquinto-Cilliers indicated that other countries use pig or fish skin. “The skin is only used to cover the wound and prevent infection it peels off after seven days. Therefore colour or race does not matter”, she said.
Dr Maria Giaquinto-Cilliers, has extensive experience in medicine. She graduated in De Jenairo, Brazil in 1990, is married a South African and has been in the country relocated to 2005.
Comments are closed.