Delayed admission following treatment with topical preparations of unknown origin in two patients with burns: A report of two cases
Main Article Content
Abstract
Objective: To describe the clinical course and management challenges in two patients with burns admitted after treatment with topical preparations of unknown origin, and to identify lessons for practice.
Case presentation: A married couple sustained gas-flame burns on May 30, 2026. According to their accounts, concerns about pain and surgery led them to seek treatment at a local facility using topical preparations of unknown origin before hospital admission 7 and 11 days after injury, respectively. Adherent residue, purulent discharge and malodor were described. The 48-year-old man had burns involving 29% of the total body surface area (TBSA), described as superficial and deep partial-thickness burns, and received inpatient care for 20 days. The 43-year-old woman had burns involving 28% TBSA, including partial-thickness and full-thickness injuries; deep burns involving 18% TBSA. The manuscript reports a positive culture for Staphylococcus haemolyticus, two skin-grafting procedures and a 35-day hospital stay.
Conclusion: The two patients were admitted 7 and 11 days after injury with adherent topical residue and findings suggestive of burn wound infection; one underwent two skin-grafting procedures. These cases emphasize timely specialist burn assessment and caution regarding unverified topical preparations.
Keywords
burn; delayed admission; herbal preparation; burn wound infection; skin grafting.
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References
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