All issues > Volume 33(12); 1990

Original Article

J Korean Pediatr Soc. 1990;33(12):1631-1638. Published online December 31, 1990.

Clinical Analysis on Childhood Accidents.

Won Seop Kim¹, Youn Jin Hong¹, Don Hee Ahn¹, Keun Chan Sohn¹

¹Department of Pediatrics, National Medical Center, Seoul, Korea

Received: August 13, 1990;  Accepted: September 28, 1990.

Abstract

We carried out a stastical & clinical analysis on 2,593 cases of childhood accidents visiting emergancy room of National Medical Center during last 5 years, from Jan. 1, 1984 to Dec. 31, 1988. The results were as follows: 1) The total percent of accidents among EMR visitors showed 6% increase in 1988 compared to that of in 1984 2) The most common type of accidents was trauma which accounted for 1,224 cases (47.2%) of accidents followed by falls (474 cases, 18.3%), traffic accidents (375 cases, 14.5%), bum (227 cases, 8. 8%), foreign body aspiration (135 cases, 5.2%), poisoning (126 cases) & dog bite (29 cases, 1.1%) in the order of frequency. 3) Male to female ratio was 1.9 ： 1 and the age group of 3-5 years showed the highest incidence (29. 4%). 4) The incidence of trauma, fall, traffic accident and poisoning was highest in the age group of 3 -5 years and that of burn and foreign body was highest under 3 years of age. 5) The incidence of trauma and traffic accident had been increased as the year elapsed and the incidence of fall and bum had been decreased. 6) As for the seasonal distribution, total accidental injuries occured more in summer (29.3%) and relatively less occured in winter (17.5%). 7) As for poisoning, CO gas (46.0%) was the most common cause, followed by insecticides, sedatives and aspirin in the order of frequency. 8) As for the bum patients, scaldings (74.9%) were the most common cause, followed by flames, electric and chemical burns in the order of frequency. 9) Among the various vehicles, small automobiles were the most common cause of traffic accidents. 10) As for the injured site, head injury (44.5%) was the most common. 11) Among total 2,593 cases of childhood accidental injury, 757 cases (29.2%) were hospitalized for further care.

Keywords :Childhood Accident, Incidence