Human myiasis in rural South Africa is under-reported.

Background: Myiasis is the infestation of live tissue of humans and other vertebrates by larvae of flies. Worldwide, myiasis of humans is seldom reported, although the trend is gradually changing in some countries. Reports of human myiasis in Africa are few.

Survival function and protein malnutrition in burns patients at a rural hospital in Africa.

Background: The aim of this study was to estimate the incidence of acute malnutrition and to identify predictors of case fatality among burn patients in the poorest South African province, Eastern Cape.

Methods: This longitudinal follow-up study was conducted among consecutive burn patients admitted to Nelson Mandela Academic Hospital, Mthatha, South Africa, between 2006 and 2008. Patients were monitored and treated daily from admission to discharge.

Thermal injuries in under-4-year-old children: the Lesotho experience.

The Queen Elizabeth II Hospital is the apex of the health care services in the Kingdom of Lesotho but has no designated burns unit. A review of patients managed during a 5-year period was done to document our experience so as to show what can be achieved even without a standard burns unit. We reviewed the clinical course of children who were admitted for care of acute thermal injuries during a 5-year period, May 1997 to April, 2002 inclusive.

Mature sacrococcygeal teratoma: a case report and literature review.

Background: Sacrococcygeal teratomas are derived from embryonic germ cell layers. They present mostly in infancy and are extremely rare in adults; with an associated risk of malignancy. Modern imaging technique may be helpful to delineate the extent of the mass but surgical excision is generally indicated at the time of detection.