HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS REGISTER		Author Keyword(s) Vol Page [Advanced]

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Submit a response Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this link to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Add article to my folders Download to citation manager Request Permissions Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Ballesteros, M F Articles by Annest, J L Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Ballesteros, M F Articles by Annest, J L

Differential ranking of causes of fatal versus non-fatal injuries among US children

¹ Epidemic Intelligence Service, Division of Applied Public Health Training, Epidemiology Program Office and Division of Unintentional Injury Prevention, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia
² Division of Unintentional Injury Prevention, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia
³ Office of Statistics and Programming, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia

Correspondence to:
Dr Michael F Ballesteros, Division of Unintentional Injury Prevention, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4770 Buford Highway, NE, Mailstop K-63, Atlanta, GA 30341, USA;
mballesteros{at}cdc.gov

ABSTRACT
Objective: Leading causes of fatal and non-fatal injury among US children aged <15 years were compared.

Method: A descriptive study was conducted using nationally representative data on injury related deaths (National Vital Statistics System) and on non-fatal injury related emergency department visits (IEDV; National Electronic Injury Surveillance System-All Injury Program). Data were accessed using a publicly available web based system.

Results: Annually, an estimated 7 100 000 pediatric IEDV and 7400 injury deaths occurred. The overall non-fatal to fatal ratio (NF:F) was 966 IEDV:1 death. Among deaths, the leading causes were motor vehicle traffic occupants (n = 1700; NF:F = 150:1), suffocations (n = 1037; NF:F = 14:1), and drownings (n = 971, NF:F = 6:1). Among non-fatal injuries, falls (estimated 2 400 000) and struck by/against (estimated 1 800 000) were the most common causes, but substantially less lethal (NF:F = 19 000:1 and 15 000:1, respectively).

Conclusions: The leading causes of pediatric fatal and non-fatal injuries differed substantially. This study indicates the need for consideration of common causes of non-fatal injury, especially falls.

Keywords: morbidity; mortality; surveillance

Abbreviations: CDC, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; GES, National Automotive Sampling System General Estimates System; ICD, International Classification of Diseases; IEDV, injury related emergency department visits; NEISS-AIP, National Electronic Injury Surveillance System-All Injury Program; NF:F, non-fatal to fatal ratio; NHAMCS, National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey; WISQARS, Web based Injury Statistics and Query System

This article has been cited by other articles:

				I. A. Claudius and A. L. Nager The Utility of Safety Counseling in a Pediatric Emergency Department Pediatrics, April 1, 2005; 115(4): e423 - e427. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Muir Hygieia J. Epidemiol. Community Health, November 1, 2004; 58(11): 964 - 964. [Full Text] [PDF]