A study of energy-related injuries from hospital admissions among children and adults in South Africa.

Introduction: Burn and ingestion injuries are common in developing countries because of poor access to safe energy sources, crowded living conditions, and insufficient knowledge of potential risks. The purpose of this study is to understand the scope of burn and ingestion injuries due to various energy source usages in South Africa.

Methods: Patients at 16 regional hospitals throughout South Africa presenting with an energy-related injury between 2006 and 2012 were interviewed to obtain demographics and injury characteristics.