Epidemiology of Pediatric Trauma and Its Patterns in Western Iran: A Hospital Based Experience

Abstract

Background and Objective:Trauma is a major cause of mortality in children aged 1 to 14 years old and its patterns differs from country to country. In this study we investigated the epidemiology and distribution of non-intentional trauma in the pediatric population.Materials and Methods:The archives of 304 children below 10 years old who presented to Taleghani trauma care center in Kermanshah, Iran from March to September 2008, were reviewed. Patients’ demographic and injury related information were registered. The participants were categorized into three age groups of 0-2, 3-6 and 7-10 years old and the data was compared among age groups and between both sexes.Findings:The most common cause for trauma was falling from heights (65.5%) and road traffic accidents (16.4%). The most common anatomical sites of injury were the upper limbs followed by the head and neck (36.8% and 31.2%, respectively). Injuries mostly occurred in homes (67.4%). The injuries were mostly related to the orthopedics and the neurosurgery division (84.1% and 13.1%, respectively). Accident rates peaked during the hours of 18-24 (41.3%). Male and female patients did display any difference regarding the variables. Children between the ages of 0-2 years old had the highest rate of injury to the head and neck area (40.3%) (p=0.024). Falls and road traffic accidents displayed increasing rates from the ages of 0-2 to 3-6 and decreasing rates to the ages of 7-10 years old (p=0.013). From the ages of 0-2 to 3-6 years old, street accidents increased and household traumas decreased. After that age household trauma rates increased and street accidents decreased (p=0.005). Children between the ages of 7-10 years old had the highest rate of orthopedic injury (p=0.029).Conclusion:Special planning and health policies are needed to prevent road accidents especially in children between the ages of 3-6 years old. Since homes were the place where children between the ages of 0-2 were mostly injured, parents should be educated about the correct safety measures that they need to take regarding their children’s environments. The orthopedics department needs to receive the most training and resources for the management of pediatric trauma.

Mortality and Epidemiology in 256 Cases of Pediatric Traumatic Brain Injury : Korean Neuro-Trauma Data Bank System (KNTDBS) 2010–2014

“…As reported in previous studies and our study, there were more male pediatric patients than the female 2 , 9 , 12 , 21) , and in particular, THI incidences was most prominent among schoolchildren; the implication is that boys have more physical activities than girls.…”

“…Falls and traffic accidents account for the majority of injuries in pediatric head trauma 2 , 7 – 9 , 12 – 14 , 19 – 21) . We found similar results in this study.…”

Patterns and outcomes of paediatric trauma at a tertiary teaching hospital in Kenya

“…Most of the injuries occurred in private homes, accounting for 42.4%, with an additional 25.7% happening in other residential buildings such as apartment complexes. This finding is echoed by Jalalvandi et al in Iran in 2015, who found that 67.4% of traumatic injuries occurred in homes [16] . Similarly, a study in Tanzania by Simon et al in 2013 found that 57.3% of injuries occurred in homes [17] .…”

Epidemiology of Injuries in Children Younger Than Five Years Old - Tabriz

“…Stroke and falling was reported by Mobasheri et al (18), as accidents with high incidence frequency in children. In a study from western Iran, it was demonstrated that falling and traffic accidents were the most frequent accidents in children under six years old (26). Moreover, Lawoyin et al (27) and Ganveer and Tiwari (17) reported falling as the most common accident in children.…”