Etiologia e tratamento de queimaduras provocadas por agente químico: scoping review

It is estimated that over 60,000 different chemicals might be used in industry, agriculture and the home environment. Chemical burns account for only 3% of the total, yet account for approximately 30% of burn deaths. The aim of the study was to identify the latest evidence on treatment of skin burns caused by chemical agents. A scope review was chosen, and articles published between 2013 and 2019 were selected. The research was conducted with the following descriptors: chemical burn* and skin burn* or skin injury or burn* care or treatment burn* and therap*. CINAHL, MEDLINE, MedicLatina and Cochrane Database were searched. The survey was conducted in January and February 2019. Eleven articles were selected, such as case studies, retrospective and prospective studies. The circumstances in which the burns occurred were workplace accidents, home accidents and personal attacks. The chemical agents used were acid and base type. The burned body area was between 30% and 0.5%. The most severe outcome was three deaths. The first-line treatment approach to the lesion was prolonged lavage or H2O. Continuity of treatment integrates systemic, topical pharmacological measures, pain control, surgical and non-pharmacological therapies. The etiology of skin burns by chemist is multiple. The treatment integrates particularities that distinguish it from other burn types, and an appropriate approach has significant results in survival and recovery of the person with chemical burn.