DS has burned his arm. Assuming it was on the bbq yesterday but didn't spot it until today :(

[follygirl]

I feel absolutely terrible. Yesterday we had a bbq with a lot of people round. I wasn't able to supervise my children as I would have liked as I was playing hostess. This morning when he came into bed to see me I noticed a mark on his arm. It is a burn. How is it possible that he didn't scream the house down yesterday. How is it possible that I bathed him and dressed him and didn't notice it? My dh and I are in bits. He's been to A&E and they have said it's not deep and should heal within 2 weeks. The skin was blistering but didn't come off when she cleaned it. We have to be vigilant about infection now.
He is having his dressing redone on Wednesday. It didn't seem to hurt him as he was rubbing his arm against me this morning. He even went to sleep fine and didn't complain at all last night. Poor baby.
I normally check them over in the bath and I cannot believe that I didn't notice it.
This is the first 'big' accident we have had and I'm absolutely horrified that I wasn't able to prevent it and more importantly that I didn't notice it yesterday. I am so angry with myself and dh is blaming himself too.
My ds seems fine, he's playing games and having a whale of a time with a huge bandage on his arm. The area is huge, it's about the size of his palm. I really hope it doesn't scar, my poor baby, he is only 4.

Awww you poor thing! Don't beat yourself up about it, if he didn't tell you about it himself then it probably looks much worse than it is. Perhaps you didn't notice it in the bath because it was just a faint red mark that was easily missed and has looked worse over night?
Everyone hates it when their child gets hurts buit it sounds like it's bothering you a lot more than it is him. Things these happen and doesn't make you a bad or neglectful parent!! He sounds fine about it, so try not to worry to much! He'll be loving showing off his big boys' bandage!! xx

Are you sure it's not sunburn? The way I read it was that he'd had an accident or lent against the bbq but surely he would have shouted. Just a thought. Hope he and you are better soon.

DelGirl I don't think it's sunburn because of where it is. I am surprised he didn't scream but then he is funny about hurting himself. He gets all embarassed and hates the fuss. It doesn't seem to hurt him which is strange. The nurse didn't suggest it was sunburn so I'm assuming it's just a 'normal' burn.
It is being redressed on Wednesday so we should know more about it then. I just hope it doesn't get infected.

hi, I don't want to worry you as i'm sure the nurse knows what she's doing but there was a thread on here, I thought it was recent but I can't find it at all where someone had a burn. They couldn't feel any pain either and I think there was nerve damage, hence no pain.

I'm sure it's nothing to worry (any more than you are already) but thought I would just mention it as it rang a bell with me. It may be worth a second opinion perhaps? I hope i've not alarmed you but I didn't want to withold something that might help perhaps? xx

Thanks for your input DelGirl. I have been googling like mad and feel that it is a first-degree burn and not a second or third one. It hadn't blistered at all which is a sign of a more serious burn. I don't think that there would have been any nerve damage as it was fairly superficial.

I really don't think it's sunburn as it was in a funny place on his arm. He had been wearing cream and although was running around it's not as if he fell asleep in the sun with his arm exposed. He has told me that he touched the bbq and from what I have read and seen on the net, it looks as if he just lightly touched it.

Anyway the nurse at my gp will be looking at it tomorrow so I will ask more questions then. We will also find out whether it has become infected. I have been so paranoid about his arm that the bandage is still pristine white as I know that it has to stay dry and clean.

Crossing fingers for tomorrow now.