Related Experiment Videos
Childhood drownings and near-drownings in Japan
Insights
In Japan, toddlers are most at risk for drowning incidents. Bathtubs are the most common location for these submersion injuries among young children, highlighting a critical public health concern.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Drowning is a leading cause of death for children in Japan, particularly for those over one year old.
- Submersion injuries represent a significant public health challenge among pediatric populations in Japan.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the epidemiological factors contributing to drowning and near-drowning incidents in Japanese children.
- To identify age-specific patterns and risk factors associated with pediatric submersion injuries.
Main Methods:
- Epidemiological data collected via questionnaires from 49 hospitals across 22 Japanese prefectures.
- Analysis of 604 reported cases of submersion injuries, categorized into drowning, near-drowning with severe brain damage, and near-drowning with intact survival or mild impairment.
Main Results:
- Preschool-aged children, especially toddlers, face the highest risk of drowning and near-drowning.
- Boys over two years old exhibit a three-fold higher risk compared to girls.
- Bathtubs are the most frequent site for submersion injuries, particularly in children under four years old.
- Prolonged submersion duration and the need for emergency cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) upon hospital arrival are linked to fatal or severe outcomes.
Conclusions:
- Toddlers and young children are the most vulnerable demographic for drowning in Japan.
- Home environments, specifically bathtubs, pose a significant risk for pediatric submersion injuries.
- Timely intervention, including prompt CPR, is crucial for improving outcomes in near-drowning incidents.
Abstract:
In Japan, the leading cause of death for children over 1 year old is injury, and for children aged 0-14, drowning is the second leading cause of death. The purpose of the present study was to describe the epidemiological factors of drownings and near-drowning among Japanese children and to ascertain whether there are characteristic patterns for different age groups. Epidemiologic data was obtained by questionnaire. A total of 604 cases of submersion injuries were reported from 49 hospitals located in 22 Japanese prefectures. In the present paper, victims of drowning (n = 134) and near-drowning with permanent severe brain damage (n = 51) and those of near-drowning with intact survival or mild impairment (n = 419) were investigated. Preschool-aged children, especially toddlers, are at the greatest risk of drowning and near-drowning, and for children over 2 years of age, boys have three times greater risk than girls. The bathtub is the most common place of submersion injuries in Japan, especially for children under 4 years of age. The important risk factors for the victims who died or were severely impaired were associated with duration of submersion and necessity of emergency cardiopulmonary resuscitation on arrival at hospital.