[Accidents in children. Retrospective epidemiological study of 1671 cases collected at the Hotel-Dieu of Beirut].
Injuries are the first cause of death in children after the neonatal age; their prevention is still critical in Lebanon. At Hotel-Dieu de France Hospital, 1671 children aged less than 18 years have had their files reviewed in the emergency department. Minor traumas represent less than half the cases. Though most of the injuries were light, in 5% of cases primary care was necessary, and 11% were admitted (10% in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit); 0.5% of the children died upon arrival. Moreover, 15% of our Pediatric Intensive Care Unit population are admitted for accidents. Boys are more frequently affected (69%); toddlers, small children and adolescents are risky populations. After minor traumas, the most frequent accidents are: falls (21.3%), traffic road accidents (8.9%), poisoning (5.7%) and burns (5%). Firearms injuries seem rare (2.8%) but are, in this study, the first cause of mortality. Foreign body inhalation are very rare (< 1%) but are a significant source of morbidity. This analysis is compared to published data, and allows accurate and general recommendations for injuries prevention in children.
Gerbaka
B
B
Université Saint-Joseph, Département de pédiatrie, Centre hospitalier et universitaire Hôtel-Dieu de France, Beyrouth, Liban.
Rassi
P
P
Chaib-Ghosn
A
A
Beaufils
F
F
Akatcherian
C
C
D000056:Accident Prevention; D000059:Accidents / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006786:Hospitals, Urban; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007861:Lebanon / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D011159:Population Surveillance; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors