Paediatric trauma at Kenyatta National Hospital, Nairobi Kenya

Abstract

Background: Medical Literature identities injuries as the most important preventable cause of death and disability in children beyond the first few months of life.
Methods: A descriptive prospective study undertaken between October 2003 and July 2004 at Kenyatta National Hospital on children below the age of 13 years.
Results: A total of 187 patients were admitted to KNH with trauma during that period. The age range was liont3 weeks to 12 years 4 months with a mean age of 3.9 years. There were 53.5% males and 46.5% females. Burns accounted for 34.8% falls 25.1%. Foreign bodies 17.6% while 8% were a result of road traffic accidents.
Conclusions: Traumatic burns accounted for the highest single cause of trauma at 34.8% (n = 65). 92.3% of those burnt were aged 5 years and below. Most of these burns occurred in homes and were preventable.