Burns primarily disrupt which homeostatic balance?

• A. Fluid and electrolyte balance
• B. Oxygen transport
• C. Metabolic rate
• D. Blood pressure

Answer: (A)

Burn injuries primarily disrupt fluid and electrolyte balance. The skin normally helps regulate water loss and keeps fluids and salts distributed between body compartments. When the skin is burned, the barrier is damaged and inflammatory processes increase capillary permeability, causing fluid and plasma proteins to leak into the interstitial space. This shifts fluid out of the intravascular compartment (third-spacing), leading to hypovolemia and electrolyte disturbances as the body tries to maintain osmotic balance and perfusion. The resulting decreased circulating volume can drop blood pressure and impair organ function, so aggressive fluid management is often required. While burns can later impact oxygen delivery and metabolic rate, the immediate and principal disruption is the loss and imbalance of fluids and electrolytes.