Age differences in brain injury characteristics.
OBJECTIVE
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in children. Despite the high incidence of head injury among children, the mortality rate is low. There is a lack of studies that describe children's age-specific symptoms in relation to outcome. The purpose is to investigate if other described symptoms could be used as a predictor of intracranial injury in children.


METHODS
Retrospective review of data from all children who during 1 year were admitted due to a brain injury.


RESULTS
During 1 year 724 children visited the ED due to a brain injury. A significant difference was found between age groups and other documented initial symptoms, but no single symptoms could be used as a predictor for intracranial injury.


CONCLUSIONS
Unconsciousness as a predictor for brain injury should be used with caution in children. Significant differences were found in other documented symptoms between age groups.
Falk
Ann-Charlotte
AC
Karolinska Institut, Woman and Child Health, Astrid Lindgren Childrens Hospital, Neuropediatric Research Unit, Stockholm, Sweden.
D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D011379:Prognosis; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014474:Unconsciousness / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy