Mental Health

After a Burn: When to Call Your Child's Healthcare Provider

It's important to contact your child's healthcare provider if your child has any of these:

  • Not eating or drinking well

  • Antisocial or disruptive behavior at home or school

  • Signs of infection, such as the healing burn areas change and become red, warm, swollen, very sore, or have a bad smell

  • Uncontrollable itching

  • Scar cracks open or splits

  • Tissues around a joint tighten and the joint is hard to move

  • Burn is on an arm or leg and your child has trouble moving that limb and the affected fingers or toes

  • A lot of swelling in the injured area

  • Fever of 100.4°F (38°C), or higher, or as advised by the provider

If it seems that the dressing changes are painful for your child, talk about pain medicine with your child's provider.

Online Medical Reviewer: Amy Finke RN BSN
Online Medical Reviewer: Liora C Adler MD
Online Medical Reviewer: Tara Novick BSN MSN
Date Last Reviewed: 4/1/2022
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