Injuries in Children with ASD

Synonyms

Trauma; Wounds

Definition

Injury may be defined as physical damage to the body caused by sudden or brief exposure to energy at levels that exceed what the body can tolerate (Peden et al. 2008). The energy that most commonly causes injury is mechanical, for example, impact with a moving or stationary object as in a road traffic crash. Other types of energy that cause injury include thermal (e.g., from a flame or hot water), chemical (e.g., from a poison), and electrical energy. Most injuries to children are unintentional, that is, not deliberately caused, for instance, falls, burns, and drowning. Intentional injuries resulting from acts of violence to oneself or by another person, such as assault or suicide, also occur in children, especially during adolescence (Pinheiro 2006). Injuries are a major cause of emergency treatment, hospitalization, death, and disability in children worldwide (Global Burden of Disease Pediatrics Collaboration 2016). Annually, tens of millions of...