[Causes of death of children at the Hôpital des Enfants-Malades. Statistical study of 1 098 pathologic and clinical records collected from 1966 to 1975 (author's transl)].

The clinical and histopathologic records of 1 098 children under 15 years of age, deceased at the hôpital des Enfants-Malades from 1966 to 1975 were studied. This material represents 44% of the total deaths of the same period. This study uses both the international classification of diseases and W.H.O.'s criteria, for distinguishing in causes of death between the principal cause, the immediate cause and associated causes. A higher mortality rate was observed in boys (58%), during the first year of life (80%), during the first 12 hours following admission (13%) and during the night. Causes of death are rarely isolated (10%), more often multiple: double (50%), or even triple or more (40%). Malformations represent 40% of the main causes of death, infections 14%, perinatal mortality 11%. Among immediate causes, infectious diseases are responsible for 23% of the deaths, respiratory disorders for 15%. Among associated causes are seen, in decreasing order of frequency: surgical procedures, prematurity, known or unrecognized associated malformations. Infections occurring during hospitalization represent the principal iatrogenic disorders. Anatomico-clinical examination failed to find an immediate cause of death in 25% of the cases and a principal cause in 7%.