[14][17] During World War I, Henry D. Dakin and Alexis Carrel developed standards for the cleaning and disinfecting of burns and wounds using sodium hypochlorite solutions, which significantly reduced mortality.

[14] In the 1940s, the importance of early excision and skin grafting was acknowledged, and around the same time, fluid resuscitation and formulas to guide it were developed.

[27] In the United States, the most common causes of burns are: fire or flame (44%), scalds (33%), hot objects (9%), electricity (4%), and chemicals (3%).

[28] Most (69%) burn injuries occur at home or at work (9%),[15] and most are accidental, with 2% due to assault by another, and 1–2% resulting from a suicide attempt.

[25] Specific risk factors in the developing world include cooking with open fires or on the floor[5] as well as developmental disabilities in children and chronic diseases in adults.

[31] Scald injuries are most common in children under the age of five[2] and, in the United States and Australia, this population makes up about two-thirds of all burns.

[34] In the United States, for non-fatal burn injuries to children, white males under the age of 6 comprise most cases.

[39] Risk factors for being struck include involvement in outdoor activities such as mountain climbing, golf and field sports, and working outside.

[24] While electrical injuries primarily result in burns, they may also cause fractures or dislocations secondary to blunt force trauma or muscle contractions.

Disruption of these functions can lead to infection, loss of skin sensation, hypothermia, and hypovolemic shock via dehydration (i.e. water in the body evaporated away).

[4] There are a number of methods to determine the TBSA, including the Wallace rule of nines, Lund and Browder chart, and estimations based on a person's palm size.

[11] More accurate estimates can be made using Lund and Browder charts, which take into account the different proportions of body parts in adults and children.

This is assessed based on a number of factors, including total body surface area affected, the involvement of specific anatomical zones, the age of the person, and associated injuries.

[50] Preventive measures include: limiting hot water temperatures, smoke alarms, sprinkler systems, proper construction of buildings, and fire-resistant clothing.

[63] The formulas are only a guide, with infusions ideally tailored to a urinary output of >30 mL/h in adults or >1mL/kg in children and mean arterial pressure greater than 60 mmHg.

[2] Cleaning with soap and water, removal of dead tissue, and application of dressings are important aspects of wound care.

[78] As of 2008[update], guidelines do not recommend their general use due to concerns regarding antibiotic resistance[68] and the increased risk of fungal infections.

[37] Recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) in those with burns that involve more than 40% of their body appears to speed healing without affecting the risk of death.

[80] Allogeneic cultured keratinocytes and dermal fibroblasts in murine collagen (Stratagraft) was approved for medical use in the United States in June 2021.

[81] Wounds requiring surgical closure with skin grafts or flaps (typically anything more than a small full thickness burn) should be dealt with as early as possible.

[93] In low income countries, burns are treated up to one-third of the time with traditional medicine, which may include applications of eggs, mud, leaves or cow dung.

[29] There are a number of other methods that may be used in addition to medications to reduce procedural pain and anxiety including: virtual reality therapy, hypnosis, and behavioral approaches such as distraction techniques.

[94][better source needed] Metabolism in burn patients proceeds at a higher than normal speed due to the whole-body process and rapid fatty acid substrate cycles, which can be countered with an adequate supply of energy, nutrients, and antioxidants.

Enteral feeding a day after resuscitation is required to reduce risk of infection, recovery time, non-infectious complications, hospital stay, long-term damage, and mortality.

Risk of thromboembolism is high and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) that does not resolve with maximal ventilator use is also a common complication.

Psychological support is required to cope with the aftermath of a fire accident, while to prevent scars and long-term damage to the skin and other body structures consulting with burn specialists, preventing infections, consuming nutritious foods, early and aggressive rehabilitation, and using compressive clothing are recommended.

[22] The score is determined by adding the size of the burn (% TBSA) to the age of the person and taking that to be more or less equal to the risk of death.

[4] In order of frequency, potential complications include: pneumonia, cellulitis, urinary tract infections and respiratory failure.

[22] The hypermetabolic state that may persist for years after a major burn can result in a decrease in bone density and a loss of muscle mass.

[106] Intentional burns are also a common cause and occur at high rates in young women, secondary to domestic violence and self-harm.