Newark, NJ—Across the country, emergency departments
are treating more pediatric patients that ever. Each year the Centers
for Disease Control (CDC) publishes an annual report, called the National
Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey, one of its National
Health Statistics Reports. In the most recent report (2006), four
of the ten most common conditions for admittance were related to
the respiratory system—pneumonia, asthma, acute bronchitis,
and upper respiratory infections—collectively accounting
for about 133,900 hospital stays that began in emergency departments.
“This is especially true in the youngest children, 0 to
4 years of age, for whom these respiratory conditions account for
many ED visits and admissions to the hospital,” reports Michael
Rosen, MD, Pediatric Director of the Emergency Department at Newark
Beth Israel Medical Center.
According to the report, an estimated 9.2 million children visit
emergency departments each year for unintentional
injuries. Falls caused the most non-fatal injuries (about
2.8 million each year) and were associated with over half of the
nonfatal injuries involving children less than one year. Drowning and poisoning were
also leading causes of non-fatal injuries among children less than
four years old.
The report also notes that between 2000 and 2005, unintentional
injuries resulted in 73,052 deaths among children and teens, with
transportation-related deaths leading the way. Such deaths were
highest among children 15 to 19 years of age.
Top Reasons Children Visit the ED
The top 10 reasons for ER visits among children under 15 for 2006
were:
1. Fever (1,659,000 visits, 7.6%)
2. Cough (828,000 visits, 3.8%)
3. Vomiting (611,000 visits, 2.8%)
4. Unspecified injuries to the head, neck, and face (368,000
visits, 1.7%)
5. Facial area symptoms (352,000 visits, 1.6%)
6. Ear ache or ear infection (347,000 visits, 1.6%)
7. Skin rash
8. Stomach and abdominal pain or cramps (277,000 visits, 1.35)
9. Throat symptoms (239,000 visits, 1.1%)
10. Difficulty breathing (dyspnea; 203,000 visits, 0.9%)
Emergency Care When You Need It
“We are equipped to handle all types of pediatric emergencies
with a separate pediatric waiting area and board-certified pediatric
emergency specialists,” says Dr. Rosen. “Parents should
feel comfortable that their children are receiving the best, most
advanced care possible with a sensitive touch.”
The Lester M. Borenstein Department of Emergency Medicine is staffed
by full-time emergency physicians and nurses treating approximately
80,000 patients annually. The Department's board-certified emergency
physicians and specialized emergency nurses handle all medical,
surgical and psychiatric emergencies.
For a referral to a Newark Beth Israel Medical Center physician,
please call 1-888-724-7123.
Date: May 6, 2009
CONTACT: Beth Salamon, Public Relations, (973) 322-4926
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