Different Types of Burns 🔥 & Vaccine Updates 💉

Welcome back everybody!!! I hope you all enjoyed your break...

On today's post we will discuss different types of burn as well as look into the development of the COVID-19 vaccine :)

Different types of burn

Thermal burns: These burns are due to external heat sources which raise the temperature of the skin and tissues and cause tissue cell death.

Radiation burns: These burns are due to prolonged exposure to ultraviolet rays of the sun, or to other sources of radiation such as x-ray.

Chemical burns: These burns are due to strong acids, detergents, or solvents coming into contact with the skin and/or eyes.

Electrical burns: Burns from electrical current, either alternating current or direct current.

Consequences of Burns

Burns can cause many devastating effects not only physically but also mentally. Burns can cause emotional problems such as depression or flashbacks not only for the person who suffered the injury, but also for the family. Also, persons with severe burns may be left with a loss of certain physical abilities.

Classification of Burns

First-degree burns First-degree burns affect only the epidermis. The burn site is red, painful, dry, and with no blisters.

Second-degree burns

Second-degree burns affect both the epidermis and the second layer of skin (dermis). It may cause swelling and red, white or splotchy skin. Blisters may develop, and pain can be severe.

Third-degree burns Third-degree burns destroy the epidermis and dermis. Third-degree burns may also damage the underlying bones, muscles, and tendons. The burn site appears white or charred. Third-degree burns can destroy nerves, causing numbness.

Complications

• Bacterial infection, which may lead to a bloodstream infection (sepsis)

• Dangerously low body temperature (hypothermia)

• Breathing problems from the intake of hot air or smoke

• Scars or ridged areas caused by an overgrowth of scar tissue (keloids)

• Bone and joint problems, such as when scar tissue causes the shortening and tightening of skin, muscles or tendons (contractures)

Some Preventions That You Can Take

• Never leave items cooking on the stove unattended.

• Keep hot liquids out of the reach of children and pets.

• Keep electrical appliances away from water.

• Check the temperature of food before serving it to a child. Don't heat a baby's bottle in the microwave.

• Unplug irons and similar devices when not in use.

• Be sure you have working smoke detectors on each floor of your home. Check them and change their batteries at least once a year.

• Keep chemicals, lighters and matches in safe places far from children's reach.

Covid-19 Vaccine Development

As many of us know, Pfizer and Moderna came out with vaccines who claim to have a 90% and up efficiency. This means that if 100 people were to receive the vaccine, 90 would be unlikely to get sick and the 10 other people would have a milder disease than someone who did not get vaccinated at all.

Both Pfizer and Moderna’s vaccine are mRNA based (ribonucleic acid). From a biology point of view, each of our cells' DNA produces messenger RNA which contains the templates to make proteins. It is called messenger RNA because it carries that information to other parts of the cell where the instructions are then read and followed to produce specific proteins.

What would happen when a patient is injected with the mRNA vaccine is that their cells will use that information to create a version of the spike protein. Then, the immune system would recognize that protein as a signal to produce antibodies and immune cells.

Now, some of you may wonder if this “new” vaccine could potentially give you other diseases in the future. However, scientists from “The College of Physicians of Philadelphia” say that it is very unlikely since when you are given an mRNA vaccine, the mRNA goes to your immune cell’s ribosomes and tells them to create the virus antigen which is the identifying protein. That antigen would then be recognized by your immune system, and the cells of the immune system would create the antibodies you need to fight off the virus. This skips the need for you to be infected. Furthermore, the vaccine has a very low risk of triggering an unwanted immune reaction, since it is nothing more than a blueprint for ribosomes to make proteins.

I wish everyone a great semester! That's it for today :))

Remember To Always Stay Alert!