[Epidemiologic profile of accidents in Tunisian children]

Abstract

The results of a retrospective study of 2,108 accidents in 0-14-year-old children are presented, recorded over a 1-year period at the Sfax Medical Centre, Tunisia. The average age of the children was 6 years 4 months. Our results show that 85% of the accidents were domestic (traumatisms 72%; poisoning 11%). The frequency and gravity of poisoning due to scorpion bites is emphasized: it represented 7% of the accidents, 35% of mortality due to accidental causes and a lethality rate of 10%. The total mortality rate due to accidental causes was 2%. Five per cent of the patient population had sequelae. Factors influencing the nature and gravity of the accident have been analysed and some recommendations have been made regarding prevention of accidents in children.