The epidemiology of pediatric trauma.

Trauma is the leading cause of death in children. Children in the toddler and preschool age groups are more prone to falls, poisonings, and foreign body aspirations, whereas school-age children are more likely to be involved in pedestrian and bicycle accidents. In all age groups, males are more likely to receive injuries than females. Major mechanisms of injury include motor-vehicle--occupant and -pedestrian accidents, bicycle accidents, and falls. Most injuries are blunt in nature and occur to the central nervous system, musculoskeletal system, and thoracic-abdominal area. Head injuries account for most of the injuries and fatalities in pediatric multiple trauma patients.