The new epidemic in children: penetrating injuries.
OBJECTIVE
It is our hypothesis that there has been a dramatic increase in penetrating injuries in children. The purpose of this study is to verify this "new" epidemic in children and to note some of its characteristics.


METHODS
We performed a 7-year retrospective review of the trauma registry at our urban pediatric (< 16 years of age) trauma center (UPTC).


RESULTS
The percentage of admissions due to penetrating injuries at our UPTC has gradually risen over the past 7 years primarily due to gunshot wounds. In 1992 and 1993, compared to 1987 and 1988, the incidence of penetrating injuries has increased from 20 to 36% in all children and from 45 to 66% in the 12-to-15-year-old age group.


CONCLUSIONS
Injuries due to penetrating trauma have, indeed, increased to epidemic proportions.
D000293:Adolescent; D002641:Chicago / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014950:Wounds, Penetrating / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality