Citation

Gaillard M, Hervé C. Ann. Pediatr. (Paris) 1991; 38(5): 311-317.

Vernacular Title

L'aide medicale urgente et les accidents domestiques graves de l'enfant. A propos

Affiliation

SAMU 94, CHU Henri-Mondor, Creteil.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1991, Societe Edition Assoc, Enseignement Med. Hop De Paris)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

1872524

Abstract

Among calls put through to the Mobile Emergency Unit of a Paris urban area district for a pediatric problem over a five-year period (n = 630), 19% were for a household injury (with or without physical injury) and 22% (n = 712) were for a physical injury outside the home. Thus, injuries were the reason for over 40% of pediatric calls and half these injuries occurred in the child's home. Household injuries were serious, with a prehospital mortality rate of nearly 5% and intensive care treatment in one-third of cases. Fifty-five per cent (60% in boys) of household injuries occurred in preschool-age children. Half these injuries (burns excluded) were physical injuries (66% in boys). Forty per cent of household injuries (n = 251) were caused by a fall, from over one meter in half the cases. Most of these injuries occurred around mealtimes (3/4 of cases). As compared with out-of-home childhood injuries, prehospital mortality rate was significantly higher (p less than 0.001) and single injuries significantly more prevalent (p less than 0,001) in household physical injuries. Prevalences of lesions of the face, head and neck, chest, abdomen, and pelvis were comparable for out-of-home and at-home physical injuries; conversely, lesions of the upper limbs were more common in household injuries (p less than 0,01), whereas lesions of the lower limbs were more prevalent in out-of-home trauma. Lastly, household physical injuries occurred mainly in children under five, whereas out-of-home childhood injuries were more common after five years of age (p less than 0,001).

(Language: fr)