Preventable injuries in children

ABSTRACT

Paediatric trauma is a cause of significant morbidity and mortality. Although there is extensive data on this subject from the West, there is a dearth of information from the third world. The majority of injuries in children are preventable. A retrospective review was conducted at the Agha Khan University Hospital including all children admitted for management of three injuries, considered preventable i.e. head injuries burns and foreign body aspiration. The review covered a one year period from January to December, 1989. These injuries constituted 16.8% of all paediatric surgical admissions and 39% of pediatric surgical admissions through the emergency room. Injuries were found to be more common in boys [68%] and in children under 5 years of age [70%]. The head injury was the most common, with 70% occurring as a result of a fall at home. There was an overall mortality of 4.1% in patients with head injury. The average hospital cost of each patient was Rs. 6300, a significant burden on families in a country with an average income of Rs. 800 per month. In the third world countries government and private resources must be channelled towards prevention of these injuries rather than allocating them to curative measures: