Childhood head injuries in Israel: epidemiology and outcome.

Results are reported of a regional survey of hospitalized head injuries in Israeli children aged 0-7 years during the period 1970-1976. There were 370 such cases surveyed. Incidence of head injury requiring hospitalization was 1.71/1000 per year. Follow-up examination 4-10 years after injury was achieved in 50 per cent of the cases. Late seizures and focal neurological deficit were rare, while school failure and various neuropsychiatric symptoms were common. Prevalence of seizures and new nervous habits was significantly related to severity of injury, while the prevalence of fears, nightmares, dizziness and school failure was not.