Citation

Ahuja RB, Bhattacharya S. Br. Med. J. BMJ 2004; 329(7463): 447-449.

Affiliation

Department of Burns, Plastic, Maxillofacial, and Microvascular Surgery, Lok Nayak Hospital and associated Maulana Azad Medical College, New Delhi, India.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2004, BMJ Publishing Group)

DOI

10.1136/bmj.329.7463.447

PMID

15321905

PMCID

PMC514214

Abstract

Developing countries have a high incidence of burn injuries, creating a formidable public health problem. High population density, illiteracy, and poverty are the main demographic factors associated with a high risk of burn injury. The exact number of burns is difficult to determine: judicious extrapolation suggests that India, with a population of over 1 billion, has 700 000 to 800 000 burn admissions annually. The high incidence makes burns an endemic health hazard. Social, economic, and cultural factors interact to complicate the management, reporting, and prevention of burns.