Do burns make you feel sick? Understanding the systemic effects

September 24, 2025 •

3 min read

While first-degree burns may only cause localized pain, severe burns can trigger a widespread inflammatory response throughout the body. This systemic reaction is a key reason why burns can make you feel sick, affecting more than just the injured skin.

Quick Summary

Severe burns can cause systemic effects like inflammation, dehydration, and immune system stress, which can lead to feelings of sickness, including nausea, fever, and fatigue. These symptoms indicate the body is reacting to trauma beyond the burn site itself.

Key Points

Systemic Inflammation: Severe burns can cause a widespread inflammatory response, releasing chemicals that affect the entire body and cause flu-like symptoms such as fever and malaise.
Burn Shock and Dehydration: Fluid loss from a severe burn can lead to a state of shock and dehydration, which commonly causes symptoms like nausea, dizziness, and weakness.
Infection and Sepsis: Compromised skin from a burn increases infection risk. Systemic infections like sepsis can trigger high fevers, vomiting, and extreme sickness.
Sunburn and Sun Poisoning: Even severe sunburns can cause a systemic reaction known as 'sun poisoning,' leading to fever, chills, fatigue, and nausea due to intense inflammation and dehydration.
Hypermetabolic State: After a major burn, the body enters a high-energy metabolic state to promote healing, which can cause fatigue and overall feelings of being unwell for an extended period.
Psychological Factors: The intense pain and psychological trauma associated with burns can stress the nervous system and lead to physical symptoms like nausea and gastrointestinal upset.

The Body's Systemic Response to a Burn

When a person experiences a burn, the body's response is not always confined to the injured area. Depending on the burn's severity, a broader systemic reaction can occur, affecting multiple organ systems. This is particularly true for second- and third-degree burns, where a larger portion of the skin's protective barrier is compromised. The systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) is a key part of this reaction, where the immune system releases inflammatory mediators that can affect the entire body, causing a range of symptoms that make you feel sick.

Why Severe Burns Cause Sickness

Severe burns trigger a complex physiological response. Intense inflammation can cause fluid to leak from blood vessels, potentially leading to hypovolemic shock in large burns, characterized by weakness, pale skin, and a rapid pulse. Nausea and vomiting are common symptoms in this state. The damaged skin barrier also increases the risk of infection, which can lead to sepsis, a dangerous condition causing high fever, dizziness, and vomiting.

Can Even a Sunburn Make You Sick?

Yes, a severe sunburn, sometimes called "sun poisoning," can cause sickness. This is an intense inflammatory response to UV damage that can lead to flu-like symptoms such as fever, chills, nausea, and fatigue. Severe sunburn also causes dehydration and electrolyte imbalances, contributing to headaches, dizziness, and nausea. The body's immune system is also stressed while repairing the skin, adding to feelings of malaise.

The Hypermetabolic State

Following a severe burn, the body enters a hypermetabolic state to aid healing, increasing energy expenditure and stress hormones. This can cause fatigue, muscle wasting, and contribute to feelings of being unwell, including nausea.

Psychological and Neurological Impact

Pain, anxiety, and stress from a burn can also cause physical sickness through the brain-gut connection, leading to nausea and vomiting. Conditions like PTSD can also cause physical symptoms such as headaches and dizziness.

Comparison of Symptoms Across Burn Severity

This table outlines the differences in how burn severity can affect systemic symptoms like feeling sick.


Feature	First-Degree Burn	Second-Degree Burn	Third-Degree Burn
Sickness Symptoms	Generally none, unless extensive (e.g., severe sunburn) leading to flu-like symptoms.	Nausea and dizziness possible due to pain, dehydration, or potential infection.	High risk of nausea, vomiting, and systemic sickness due to burn shock, sepsis, and metabolic changes.
Underlying Cause	Primarily localized inflammation. Severe cases (sunburn) can cause broader inflammatory response.	Localized inflammation and fluid loss. Increased risk of infection.	Systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS), massive fluid shift (shock), high infection risk (sepsis), and organ system stress.
Dehydration Risk	Moderate to high with severe sunburn.	Significant, especially with larger partial-thickness burns.	Very high, leading to rapid fluid shifts and potential burn shock.
Fever Potential	Possible with severe sunburn due to inflammatory response.	Possible, especially if infection develops.	Likely due to systemic inflammation or infection (sepsis).
Pain Level	Painful, with redness and minor swelling.	Very painful, with blisters.	Can be painless initially if nerves are destroyed, but pain returns during healing.
Medical Attention	Often treatable at home with basic first aid.	Seek medical attention for large burns, blisters, or signs of infection.	Requires immediate emergency medical care.

When to Seek Medical Help

Seek medical attention if you or someone else experiences signs of systemic sickness after a burn. For minor burns, contact a healthcare provider if infection symptoms like increased pain, pus, or fever appear. For more severe burns, look for these serious signs:

Nausea and vomiting: Especially if persistent or severe.
Dizziness or lightheadedness: Possible signs of dehydration or shock.
Fever or chills: Can indicate infection or significant inflammation.
Signs of dehydration: Including decreased urination, thirst, and dry skin.
Changes in alertness: Such as confusion or weakness, which may signal shock.

Your healthcare provider will assess the burn, manage fluids, and monitor for infection. For more information, visit the American Burn Association website.

Conclusion

Burns can make you feel sick, with symptoms worsening with burn depth and size. Severe burns trigger systemic responses causing nausea, fever, and fatigue. Recognizing these signs indicates a larger bodily reaction and the need for prompt medical attention. Proper care is essential for managing systemic effects and ensuring recovery.

Frequently Asked Questions

While less common, minor burns can cause temporary nausea due to intense pain or shock. This is more likely with a severe sunburn that triggers a systemic inflammatory response, sometimes called 'sun poisoning.'

A fever after a burn is a sign of your body's systemic response. It can be caused by the widespread inflammatory reaction to the trauma or, more seriously, by an infection setting in, which is more common with deeper burns.

Feeling sick initially can be part of the body's general inflammatory response to trauma, especially with severe burns. However, persistent or worsening sickness, accompanied by increasing pain, pus, or red streaks from the burn site, strongly suggests a developing infection.

Yes, burns can significantly affect your appetite. Nausea and vomiting can reduce your desire to eat, and the body's hypermetabolic state can also suppress appetite while increasing energy needs.

The duration depends on the burn's severity. Systemic symptoms like fever and nausea from a severe inflammatory response often peak within the first few days. Sickness from infection or metabolic changes can last much longer, requiring medical treatment.

Dizziness is not normal and can be a sign of a serious issue. It can be caused by dehydration from fluid loss, a drop in blood pressure (shock), or a severe infection. You should seek medical attention if you experience dizziness after a burn.

You should go to the hospital immediately if you experience persistent nausea, vomiting, severe dizziness, fever, or any signs of shock, such as weakness, clammy skin, or confusion, after a burn. This is especially important for second- or third-degree burns.