title: [Accidents with foreign bodies in children under 15 years of age: epidemiological analysis of first aid services, hospitalizations, and deaths].
abstract: This study aims to analyze accidents involving foreign bodies among children less than 15 years of age residing in Londrina, Paraná State, Brazil, in terms of first aid, hospitalization, and death (2001). Data were obtained from general hospital records and the Municipal Mortality Database. A total of 434 accidents were analyzed, with a 3.7% hospitalization rate and 0.7% mortality. Boys predominated (53.7%), and the incidence rate was highest among children one to three years of age (7.2 per 1,000 children). Foreign body penetration in natural orifices (eyes, nostrils, and ears) accounted for 94%, inhalation/ingestion of food 2.8%, inhalation/ingestion of objects 2.5%, and aspiration of gastric contents 0.7%, and these causes accounted for all the deaths. The results contribute to epidemiological knowledge on such accidents and indicate the need to restructure health services in order to decentralize care for less complex injuries, besides emphasizing the need for preventive measures.
authors.affiliation: Hospital Universitário, Universidade Estadual de Londrina, Londrina, Brasil. leocris2001@terra.com.br
authors.forename: Christine Baccarat de Godoy
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Martins
authors.forename: Selma Maffei de
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Andrade
mesh_terms: D000059:Accidents / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000293:Adolescent; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005392:First Aid; D005547:Foreign Bodies / Q000145:classification / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012737:Sex Factors