Why might a patient with a full-thickness burn not feel pain in the burned area?

• A. The nerve endings have been destroyed.
• B. Pain is present because of exposure to air.
• C. Pain is never felt in burns.
• D. Pain is masked by adrenaline.

Answer: (A)

When a burn goes through all layers of the skin, the nerve endings that carry pain signals are destroyed. Without those nerves intact, the burned tissue cannot send pain messages, so the area can feel numb despite severe injury. Surrounding, non-destroyed tissue may still be painful, and pain can also be present from adjacent areas or during movement. The idea that pain comes simply from air exposure isn’t correct, and while adrenaline can lessen pain temporarily, it doesn’t explain why the burned area can be numb in a full-thickness burn.