Burns Society of Kenya — Patient Education Resource

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BEFORE YOU LEAVE THE HOSPITAL

Make sure you have been given:

• A clear diagnosis of your burn depth and size
• A dressing that has been applied by a healthcare professional
• A written wound care plan
• A follow-up appointment date
• Adequate pain medication to take home
• Emergency contact details for your treating facility

If you have not received any of these, ask before you leave.

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UNDERSTANDING YOUR BURN

Burns heal at different rates depending on their depth.

• Superficial burns — redness, no blisters. Usually heal within 7–10 days with good wound care.
• Superficial partial thickness burns — blistered, very painful, moist. Usually heal within 14–21 days.
• Deep partial thickness burns — pale, less painful, may need skin grafting. Healing takes longer and scarring is more likely.
• Full thickness burns — these almost always require surgery. Home wound care alone is not sufficient.

If you are unsure what type of burn you have, ask your doctor or nurse before discharge.

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CLEANING YOUR WOUND

• Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water before touching the wound
• Clean the wound gently with clean, cool, running water or saline solution once daily
• Use a clean soft cloth or gauze — never cotton wool, which sheds fibres into the wound
• Do not scrub the wound — clean with gentle dabbing motions
• Pat the surrounding skin dry before applying dressing
• Do not apply methylated spirit, hydrogen peroxide, Dettol, or any antiseptic directly onto the wound — these damage healing tissue

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CHANGING THE DRESSING

• Change the dressing as instructed by your healthcare provider — typically every 1–3 days depending on the dressing type
• If the dressing is stuck, soak it gently with clean water or saline before removing — do not pull it off dry
• Apply the new dressing as demonstrated at the facility
• If you have been given a specific dressing product, use only that product unless advised otherwise
• Keep a small supply of dressings at home so you never miss a change
• If dressings are unavailable or unaffordable, return to the facility — do not improvise with cloth, leaves, or herbal preparations

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WHAT TO APPLY TO THE WOUND

Use only what your healthcare provider has prescribed. Commonly used products in Kenya include:

• Paraffin gauze (Jelonet) — non-adherent, gentle on the wound
• Silver sulfadiazine cream (Flamazine) — for partial thickness burns, applied thinly
• Honey dressings — medical-grade honey only, not commercial honey
• Simple non-adherent dressings covered with absorbent gauze and a bandage

Do not apply:

• Toothpaste, butter, ghee, cooking oil, or margarine
• Aloe vera directly from the plant without medical advice
• Any traditional herbal preparation
• Methylated spirit or iodine directly on the wound bed

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PAIN MANAGEMENT AT HOME

• Take paracetamol or ibuprofen regularly as prescribed — do not wait until pain becomes severe
• Take pain medication 30–45 minutes before a dressing change to make the process more manageable
• If pain is not controlled with prescribed medication, return to the facility — undertreated pain slows healing and increases stress on the wound
• Children should receive weight-appropriate dosing — ask your pharmacist or nurse to confirm the correct dose

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SIGNS OF INFECTION — RETURN TO HOSPITAL IMMEDIATELY IF YOU NOTICE

• Increasing redness, warmth, or swelling around the wound
• Wound becoming more painful rather than less painful over time
• Yellow, green, or foul-smelling discharge from the wound
• Fever above 38°C
• The wound appearing to enlarge or deepen
• Red streaks spreading from the wound
• The patient becoming generally unwell, confused, or very weak

Wound infection in burns can become life-threatening quickly. Do not manage it at home.

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NUTRITION DURING HEALING

Burns significantly increase the body’s nutritional demands. Healing requires protein, calories, vitamins, and fluids.

• Eat three full meals per day — do not skip meals during recovery
• Prioritise protein at every meal: eggs, beans, lentils, meat, fish, milk, or groundnuts
• Eat fruits and vegetables daily for vitamins A and C, which support skin healing
• Drink at least 2–3 litres of water or fluids daily unless your doctor has restricted fluids
• Avoid alcohol during recovery — it impairs wound healing and interacts with pain medication
• If appetite is poor, eat small frequent meals rather than large ones

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PROTECTING THE HEALING WOUND AND SCAR

Once the wound has closed:

• Keep the healed skin moisturised — apply petroleum jelly (Vaseline) or an unscented moisturising cream twice daily
• Protect from direct sunlight completely for at least 12 months — healed burn skin burns very easily and discolours permanently. Use clothing to cover rather than sunscreen alone.
• Do not scratch healing skin even if it itches — itching is a sign of healing but scratching can reopen the wound
• If you have been given a compression garment, wear it as instructed — typically 23 hours per day

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FOLLOW-UP APPOINTMENTS

Burns require close follow-up even when they appear to be healing well.

• Attend every scheduled appointment — do not miss follow-up because the wound looks better
• Bring your dressing materials and any medications to each appointment
• If you cannot afford transport to the facility, contact the social work department — do not simply stop attending
• Children especially must be followed up regularly to monitor for developing contractures as they grow

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WHEN TO SEEK URGENT CARE

Return to hospital urgently if:

• Signs of infection appear (see above)
• The wound reopens or enlarges
• Bleeding from the wound that does not stop with gentle pressure
• Severe pain not controlled by home medication
• Fever
• Difficulty moving a joint near the burn
• Any concern you cannot resolve — it is always better to be seen

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Burns Society of Kenya | burnsociety.or.ke If you are unsure about anything in this guide, do not guess — return to your healthcare provider.