Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 25, 2026

Scanning Skeletal Remains for Bone Mineral Density in Forensic Contexts
07:56

Scanning Skeletal Remains for Bone Mineral Density in Forensic Contexts

Published on: January 29, 2018

Trends in pediatric mortality from food choking in children with intellectual disability during 1991-2005

Mohammed Morad1, Isack Kandel, Jason Ahn

  • 1Department of Family Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel.

International Journal of Adolescent Medicine and Health
|February 24, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Food choking is a rare but serious risk for children with intellectual disability in residential care. Prevention through caregiver education and hazard identification is crucial for reducing these unintentional injury deaths.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Public Health
  • Disability Studies

Background:

  • Unintentional injury is a leading cause of childhood mortality.
  • Choking, often caused by food or small objects, obstructs the airway and can be fatal.
  • Children with intellectual disability in residential care face unique risks.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the incidence of food choking deaths among children with intellectual disability in Israeli residential care centers.
  • To analyze data from 1991-2005 to understand the scope of this issue.
  • To inform prevention strategies for this vulnerable population.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective analysis of mortality data from the Office of the Medical Director (OMD) in Israel.
  • Data extracted from the OMD's mortality register for the period 1991-2004.
  • Focus on deaths caused by food choking in children under 18 with intellectual disability.

Main Results:

  • Over 15 years (1991-2005), 1,107 deaths were reported in residential centers.
  • Five cases (0.245%) were attributed to food choking in children.
  • The average food choking rate was 8.98 per 100,000 children in the study population.

Conclusions:

  • Food choking deaths, while infrequent, represent a significant concern for children with intellectual disability in residential settings.
  • Prevention is paramount, requiring identification of risk factors and education for caregivers and professionals.
  • Minimizing exposure to common choking hazards is essential for protecting at-risk children.

Related Concept Videos

Intellectual Disability01:29

Intellectual Disability

Intellectual disability (ID) is a neurodevelopmental condition characterized by deficits in intellectual and adaptive functioning that manifest during the developmental period. This condition encompasses challenges in reasoning, memory, problem-solving, and learning, accompanied by impairments in everyday life skills, such as communication, self-care, and social interactions. Intellectual disability affects approximately 1% of the population in the United States, impacting an estimated 5...
Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Overview and Drug Absorption01:23

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Overview and Drug Absorption

Understanding the physiological differences in the pediatric population is crucial for effective pharmacotherapy. Neonates, infants, and children exhibit significant variations in gastric pH, gastric emptying time, intestinal transit time, and biliary function. These variations profoundly affect oral drug absorption, necessitating a nuanced approach to pediatric dosing.Neonates present with a unique physiological profile, having a gastric pH greater than 4 and faster and more irregular gastric...
Pyloric Obstruction01:11

Pyloric Obstruction

Pyloric obstruction, also referred to as gastric outlet obstruction, is a condition characterized by narrowing or blockage at the pylorus—the muscular valve regulating the flow of stomach contents into the duodenum. When this passage becomes impaired, the stomach cannot effectively empty its contents into the small intestine. This disruption leads to a range of gastrointestinal symptoms, including early satiety, bloating, epigastric pain, postprandial nausea, persistent vomiting, and...
Intestinal Obstruction II: Pathophysiology01:07

Intestinal Obstruction II: Pathophysiology

Intestinal obstruction triggers a series of physiological responses, starting with gas and fluid accumulation in the bowel segment proximal to the obstruction, leading to distension. This distended intestine compresses the diaphragm, hindering lung expansion and potentially leading to reduced respiratory effort, atelectasis, and pneumonia.To overcome the blockage, the gut intensifies contractions, causing colicky abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting, which reduces fluid and food intake and...
Esophageal Strictures-II: Clinical Features and Management01:26

Esophageal Strictures-II: Clinical Features and Management

Patients with esophageal strictures often experience a range of symptoms. Initially, they may have difficulty swallowing solid foods, which can progress to include liquids. Additional symptoms may involve chest pain or discomfort, regurgitating food and fluids, heartburn, unintentional weight loss, coughing or choking during meals, and hoarseness.
Healthcare providers should gather a comprehensive medical history and conduct a physical examination for diagnosis. If esophageal stricture is...
Environmental Influences on Intelligence01:29

Environmental Influences on Intelligence

Despite the strong genetic influence on traits like intelligence, environmental factors significantly shape outcomes. For example, while over 90% of height variation is due to genetic differences, environmental factors such as nutrition also have a notable impact. Similarly, for intelligence, changes in a child's surroundings can significantly alter their IQ. Research shows that enriched environments boost children's academic success and help them develop key cognitive skills. Children from...