Trauma in children in a general hospital

Acute Medical Needs of Adolescents in an Urban Community

“…School accident figures included a considerable number of athletic injuries, particularly among the 15 to 16-year-old boys. Assaults in the form of muggings, fights and rape were perpetrated on 15 to 16 year olds more often than on other groups (Table 4).…”

“…About 85 per cent of these visits were for early bleeding of pregnancy, threatened abortion, or active labor, and occurred almost entirely among the 17 to 20 year olds. Of the eight 13 to 16 year olds for whom gynecologic advice was needed, six had been raped. Menstrual complaints were unconmon as presenting symptoms.…”

“…The extent to which adolescents in big cities use hospital ',emergency rooms has not yet been documented in any detail, nor has a study been made of the kinds of dif~culties teenagers bring to this easily available &dquo;walkin&dquo; facility, although some such information is now available for younger children 15, 16 and for adul tS. 17 Appreciation of the nature and patterns of acute medical problems of adolescents can be of val-ue in planning eernrr~u--nity health and medical care services for this large segment of people.…”