brûlure

Brûlure is the French word for a burn, a form of tissue injury resulting from exposure to heat, chemicals, electricity, radiation, or sunlight. It encompasses damage to the skin and, in deeper burns, underlying tissues. The term is used in medical and clinical contexts to describe the extent and depth of injury.

Burns are typically classified by depth: first-degree (superficial epidermal involvement, red and painful), second-degree (partial-thickness with blisters), and third-degree (full-thickness involving all skin layers and possibly underlying tissue). Some classification schemes add fourth-degree burns that extend to muscle or bone. Burns are also categorized by cause: thermal, chemical, electrical, or radiative/UV.

Symptoms vary with depth and size, including pain, redness, swelling, blistering, and, in deeper burns, numbness or absent sensation. Large burns or those covering important areas require urgent medical assessment; signs of concern include extensive surface area, facial or airway involvement, or signs of shock.

First aid focuses on cooling, cleaning, and protection. Cool the area with cool running water for 10–20 minutes, remove constricting jewelry, and loosely cover with a clean nonadherent dressing. Do not apply ice or heavy ointments. For chemical burns, rinse with water for at least 20 minutes. Seek medical care for moderate or severe burns, suspected electrical or inhalation injuries, signs of infection, or if the patient is a child, elderly, or has other health problems. Treatments may include analgesia, wound cleaning, topical antimicrobials, sterile dressings, tetanus prophylaxis, and, for extensive burns, fluid resuscitation and specialized burn care.

Prevention focuses on fire safety, protective equipment, safe handling of chemicals, sun protection, and early treatment of minor burns to minimize scarring and complications. Brûlure is a common medical condition worldwide, with managed care reducing long-term sequelae.