Mortality And Morbidity in Children As Traffic Accident Victims

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Background: Traffic accidents are still important causesof disabilities and death. In this study, we aimed to examinethe causes of morbidity and mortality in childrenthat are victims of a traffic accident and increase the awarenessto such causes.Methods: Children aged 0-18 years that were brought tothe emergency room because of a traffic accident betweenOctober 2012 and November 2013 were included inthe study to make sure that at least one year has passedafter the accident. Age, gender, type of the accident, season,injury sites, hospitalization requirement, hospitalizationtime, disabilities, death and causes of death werenoted.Results: Two hundred and sixty three children werebrought to the emergency room as victims of a traffic accident.Of these, 60.1% were boys and the mean age was11.2 years. School age group consisted 78.3% of the cases.While vehicle crashes made the largest group (54%),open vehicles made the smallest (16.7%). Most of the accidentsoccurred in summer (45.6). There was no seriousinjury needing hospitalization in 47,1% of the patients,39.9% suffered single site and 12.9% multiple site injuries.Mean hospitalization time was 6.9 days, 3.8% of thepatients died and 1.9% suffered permanent disabilities.Mortality and morbidity were higher in pedestrian injuries.Most of the mortality and morbidity resulted fromcentral nervous system injuries.Conclusion: Boys are more prone to traffic accidents. Pedestrianaccidents have higher mortality and morbidity,and more work needs to be done to prevent them.

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Traffic accident , Child , Mortality , Morbidity

Kocatepe Medical Journal

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Kocatepe Medical Journal