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Childhood Deaths (childhood + death)

Distribution by Scientific Domains

Medical Sciences	100%

Selected Abstracts

Death due to electrocution in childhood and early adolescence

JOURNAL OF PAEDIATRICS AND CHILD HEALTH, Issue 1 2003
RW Byard
Objectives: To delineate the clinicopathological features of fatal childhood electrocutions and to identify specific risk factors. Methods: Coronial files in Adelaide (Australia) were searched from 1967 to 2001 and Medical Examiners' files in San Diego (USA) were searched from 1988 to 2001, for cases of deaths of children and adolescents younger than 16 years attributed to electrocution. Results: Sixteen cases were identified aged between 10 months and 15 years (mean 8.0 years) with a male : female ratio of 5 : 3. Deaths were due to accidents occurring while playing with or near faulty electrical equipment at home or at school (n = 8), electrical equipment while in the bath (n = 2), damaged outdoor electrical equipment (n = 1), overhead wires (n = 1), and a high voltage electricity substation (n = 1). In addition, one death was due to suicide involving an electrical appliance placed in a bath, and two other deaths occurred in older children who were moving equipment under overhead wires. No homicides were identified. Conclusions: Childhood deaths due to electrocution are rare and are more likely to occur when children are playing around electrical wires or equipment, and often result from either faulty apparatus, or a lack of understanding of the potential dangers involved. The majority of deaths (11/16; 69%) occur in the home environment. In contrast to adult electrical deaths, high-voltage electrocutions, suicides and workplace deaths are uncommon. Strategies for eliminating childhood electrocution should concentrate on ensuring safe domestic environments with properly maintained electrical devices. [source]

Childhood deaths due to electrocution in Adana, Turkey

ACTA PAEDIATRICA, Issue 3 2007
R Akçan
Abstract Aim: This retrospective study was conducted to determine the general features of childhood deaths due to electrocution, and draw the attention of community to these preventable deaths. Methods: The autopsy records of the Morgue of the Adana Branch of the Turkish Forensic Medicine Council were used. Thirty-seven cases of childhood (under 18) electrocution during the period 1999,2004 were analyzed. Results: Electrocution deaths comprised 0.8% of all the medico-legal autopsy cases (4515) during these 6 years. Thirty-one (83.8%) of the victims were male and only six (16.2%) were female. They were between 18 months and 18 years of age, and the mean age was 11.35, and all deaths were recorded as accidental. Conclusion: Medical units, and paramedical and educational centres should play important roles in formulating public health strategies to tackle preventable deaths such as electrocution. [source]

Vitamin D status and acute lower respiratory infection in early childhood in Sylhet, Bangladesh

ACTA PAEDIATRICA, Issue 3 2010
DE Roth
Abstract Aim: Acute lower respiratory tract infection (ALRI) is the most important global cause of childhood death. Micronutrient deficiencies may increase the risk of ALRI. A case,control study was conducted to assess the association between vitamin D status and ALRI in rural Bangladesh. Methods: Children aged 1,18 months hospitalized with ALRI (cases) were individually matched to controls on age, sex, and village (N = 25 pairs). The mean serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentration [25(OH)D] in cases and controls was compared using paired t -test. The unadjusted and adjusted odds of ALRI were assessed by multivariate conditional logistic regression. Results: Mean [25(OH)D] was significantly lower among ALRI cases than controls (29.1 nmol/L vs. 39.1 nmol/L; p = 0.015). The unadjusted odds of ALRI was halved for each 10 nmol/L increase in [25(OH)D] (OR 0.53, 95% CI 0.30,0.96). Adjustment for confounders increased the magnitude of the association. Conclusion: Vitamin D status was associated with early childhood ALRI in a matched case,control study in rural Bangladesh. Randomized trials may establish whether interventions to improve vitamin D status can reduce the burden of ALRI in early childhood. [source]