Definition Burns are injuries caused to the skin or underlying tissues by direct heat or extreme cold; scalds are burns caused by hot liquids or gases (such as steam). The severity of burns is measured in two ways: by the depth of the burn (see sidebar) and by the size of the affected area. Doctors use the “ (TBSA) has been burned. In adults, the head and neck together count as 9 percent of the body; each arm also counts as 9 percent. The front of the trunk, the back, and each leg are considered to each represent 18 percent of the TBSA. Doctors count only second- and third-degree burns in estimating the affected areas of the body. Thermal burns (and scalds) are defined as burns caused directly by heat or by chemical reactions that release heat. They are divided into several categories according to the specific cause: rule of nines ” to evaluate how much of a person ’ s total body surface area • fire. Flame burns may take the form of a sudden flash burn produced by a flammable liquid
Bulimia is defined as an eating disorder characterized by recurrent episodes of binge eating followed by self-induced vomiting, laxative or diuretic abuse, vigorous exercise, or fasting. Description The (DSM-IV), the reference that doctors use to diagnose mental illness, specifies that a person must have an eating binge and try to compensate for it on average twice a week for three months to meet the diagnostic criteria for bulimia. A binge is an episode in which someone consumes a larger amount of food within a limited period of time than most people would eat in similar circumstances. Most bulimics report feelings of loss of control associated with bingeing. A second criterion of bulimia is excessive concern with one There are two subtypes of bulimia, purging and nonpurging, according to the methods used by the patient to prevent gaining weight after a binge. People who have the purging subtype use vomiting, laxatives, enemas, or diuretics to keep from gaining weight; in the nonpurg