The treatment of burned children

Abstract

Burn shock in infants and children is satisfactorily treated by the initial intravenous administration of balanced hypertonic sodium solutions; monitoring of plasma sodium and/or osmolarity permits necessary adjustment of the sodium concentration of administered fluids. This approach has been safe. Its principal advantage is in minimizing acute gains in body weight, which may be alarming otherwise, especially in children. Clinical and bacteriological data are presented indicating that cerium nitrate-silver sulfadiazine cream is a highly efficient topical antiseptic agent for both major and minor burn wounds and that it has low toxicity. Cerium nitrate-silver sulfadiazine cream can be readily employed in any clinical setting.