The Turkish Journal of Pediatrics 2007 , Vol 49 , Num 4
Characteristics of household falls in children under 2 years of age
1Child Protection Program, University of Iowa, Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, Iowa, USA
2Department of Pediatrics, Adnan Menderes University Faculty of Medicine, Aydın, Turkey
Oral R, Floryanovich A, Goodman J, Türkmen M. Characteristics of household falls in children under 2 years of age. Turk J Pediatr 2007; 49: 379-384.

We hypothesized that young children uncommonly acquire significant injuries due to household falls that necessitate medical attention.

Data on recalled fall experiences were collected from parents of children younger than two years visiting the University Pediatrics Clinic. Statistical analysis was performed using Student’s t test and chi square test.

Of 573 children, 36% experienced no falls, while 64% experienced 782 falls. Eleven percent of falls occurred from a distance of three to five feet (~90-150 cm). In 6% of all falls, medical care was sought. In 40% of this subcategory, examination was normal; in 33%, medical work-up revealed normal results; in 23%, injuries necessitated subsequent intervention. No fall led to neurological findings.

This study supports that it is uncommon for household falls to cause injuries significant enough to require professional medical care. Even falls from a distance of greater than three feet result in only mild injury with no neurological findings. Keywords : Household falls, population survey, injury, child

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