Children hospitalized for accidental injuries: Israeli experiences.
Of the total 411 cases of accidents occurring in the State of Israel during 1999, the 314 which were hospitalized at the Edith Wolfson Medical Center, constituting 7.2% of the total pediatric hospitalizations in that regional hospital, were analyzed and summarized. Mean age of the children was 6.6+/-4.4, and ratio of boys to girls was 65:35. Accidents were classified by location of occurrence: home (52.3%); road (19.3%); sports (17.4%); and school (11.6%). Grades of severity were as follows: light (children were discharged without handicaps) (13.2%); moderate (children had undergone surgical intervention with prolonged or permanent disability) (74%); severe (children were treated in intensive care units and had permanent irreversible handicaps) (12.9%). Loss of conscientiousness occurred in 13.3% of cases. Affected body parts included: limbs (52.7%); head and face (32.7%); spine (7%); and multisystem injury (14.6%). Mean duration of hospitalization was 3.1 (+/-2.6 days). Accidental injuries most often occurred in the afternoon and in the absence of parental supervision. These findings generate conclusions for preventive interventions.
Department of Pediatrics, Edith Wolfson Medical Center, 58100, Holon, Israel.
Uzi
U
Brook
Mona
M
Boaz
D000056:Accident Prevention; D000059:Accidents / Q000145:classification / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017677:Age Distribution; D002648:Child; D002669:Child Welfare; D002673:Child, Hospitalized / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D019988:Children with Disabilities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006291:Health Policy; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D015601:Injury Severity Score; D007557:Israel / Q000453:epidemiology; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D020380:Needs Assessment; D016487:Parenting; D011159:Population Surveillance; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013997:Time Factors