title: Characteristics of household falls in children under 2 years of age.
abstract: We hypothesized that young children uncommonly acquire significant injuries due to household falls that necessitate medical attention. Data on recalled fall experiences were collected from parents of children younger than two years visiting the University Pediatrics Clinic. Statistical analysis was performed using Student's t test and chi square test. Of 573 children, 36% experienced no falls, while 64% experienced 782 falls. Eleven percent of falls occurred from a distance of three to five feet (approximately 90-150 cm). In 6% of all falls, medical care was sought. In 40% of this subcategory, examination was normal; in 33%, medical work-up revealed normal results; in 23%, injuries necessitated subsequent intervention. No fall led to neurological findings. This study supports that it is uncommon for household falls to cause injuries significant enough to require professional medical care. Even falls from a distance of greater than three feet result in only mild injury with no neurological findings.
authors.affiliation: Child Protection Program, University of Iowa, Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, Iowa, USA.
authors.forename: Resmiye
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Oral
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Floryanovich
authors.forename: Jill
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Goodman
authors.forename: Münevver
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Türkmen
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000367:Age Factors; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D015370:Infant Equipment / Q000009:adverse effects; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007374:Interior Design and Furnishings; D008297:Male; D010290:Parents; D012420:Running / Q000293:injuries; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016138:Walking / Q000293:injuries; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy