Head Injury in Children, An Epidemiological Study of 417 Cases.

Abstract

Head injury is the most frequent type of emergency coming to paediatric or neurosurgical centres. A prospective study of 417 cases presenting to our department was carried out on a structured proforma. There were 298 (71.46%) males and 119(28.53%) females with a ratio 2.5:1. About half 210(50.53%) were below 5 years of age. Cases coming from urban area 252(60.43%) were of more than rural 165(34.56%) area. Out of 417 children 304(72.90%) belonged to low socioeconomic group. Fall from height was the common mechanism of injury. 224(53.71%), followed by road traffic accident (pedestrian and passenger injury) 167(40.05%) and 26(6.22%) were cases from other causes. Amongst 210 cases of 0—5 years of age, fall was the commonest 168(80%) cause. Road traffic accident was the commonest mechanism of injury among 176 cases of 5-10 years of age range and 31 cases of 1042 years of age Amongst 176 cases of 5-10 years of age, road traffic accidents (RTA) was commonest 114(64.72%) cause and out of 31 cases of 10-12 years of age, RTA was again the commonest 19(61.29%) cause. The correlation of mechanism of injury with sex and preventive measures have also been discussed.