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.
Brook
Uzi
U
Department of Pediatrics, Edith Wolfson Medical Center, 58100, Holon, Israel.
Boaz
Mona
M
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