Citation

Ballesteros MF, Schieber RA, Gilchrist J, Holmgreen P, Annest JL. Inj. Prev. 2003; 9(2): 173-176.

Affiliation

Epidemic Intelligence Service, Division of Applied Public Health Training, Epidemiology Program Office, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA. mballesteros@cdc.gov

Copyright

(Copyright © 2003, BMJ Publishing Group)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

12810747

PMCID

PMC1730956

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Leading causes of fatal and non-fatal injury among US children aged < 15 years were compared. METHOD: A descriptive study was conducted using nationally representative data on injury related deaths (National Vital Statistics System) and on non-fatal injury related emergency department visits (IEDV; National Electronic Injury Surveillance System-All Injury Program). Data were accessed using a publicly available web based system. RESULTS: Annually, an estimated 7100000 pediatric IEDV and 7400 injury deaths occurred. The overall non-fatal to fatal ratio (NF:F) was 966 IEDV:1 death. Among deaths, the leading causes were motor vehicle traffic occupants (n = 1700; NF:F = 150:1), suffocations (n = 1037; NF:F = 14:1), and drownings (n = 971, NF:F = 6:1). Among non-fatal injuries, falls (estimated 2400000) and struck by/against (estimated 1800000) were the most common causes, but substantially less lethal (NF:F = 19000:1 and 15000:1, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The leading causes of pediatric fatal and non-fatal injuries differed substantially. This study indicates the need for consideration of common causes of non-fatal injury, especially falls.