Childhood Drowning

Abstract

Objectives After completing this article, readers should be able to: 1. List preventive efforts that may decrease drowning rates in the pediatric population. 2. Name the physiologic consequences of hypoxic-ischemic injury in drowning victims. 3. Explain the importance of bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation for pediatric drowning victims. 4. Discuss the appropriate interventions for each stage of drowning-associated cardiac arrest. 5. Specify which pediatric drowning victims may be discharged from the emergency department. Definitions Terminology used to describe drowning often has been confusing and inconsistent. To alleviate this confusion, an international consensus conference was convened at the 2002 World Congress on Drowning with the goal of developing uniform terminology. The recently published recommendations define drowning as "a process resulting in primary respiratory impairment from submersion/immersion in a liquid medium." (Idris et al. 2003) Accordingly, the term "drowning" should be used regardless of the outcome. In addition, the consensus document specifically recommends that confusing and inconsistent terms, such as "near-drowning," "secondary drowning," "passive drowning," "silent drowning," "wet drowning," and "dry drowning" be abandoned. Epidemiology Drowning is a major source of pediatric mortality and morbidity worldwide. Although differences in lifestyle and exposure to water may affect the circumstances under which drowning occurs in different countries, drowning consistently remains a leading cause of death throughout the world. In the United States in 1998, more than 1,500 children younger than 20 years of age died from drowning, making it the second leading cause of accidental childhood death. For children 12 to 23 months of age, drowning was the leading cause of accidental death and the second leading cause of death overall. There is less information concerning morbidity, but it is estimated that for each drowning death, there are one to four nonfatal drowning events requiring hospitalization. Such hospitalizations often result in prolonged disability requiring considerable monetary and emotional resources. Within the pediatric population, rates of drowning peak during both the toddler and adolescent years. Age also influences the circumstances of drowning. Among younger children, drowning usually occurs within the home, often during brief lapses in adult supervision. Infants drown in bathtubs most frequently, either when they are left unattended or as the result of abusive injury. Toddlers typically drown in swimming pools. For both infants and toddlers, physical and cognitive immaturity limits their ability to rescue themselves from water. Adolescent drowning frequently occurs in natural bodies of water and is associated with risk-taking behavior and intoxication. Although most drownings occur in previously healthy children, certain pre-existing medical conditions may play a role. Children who have seizure disorders have a risk of drowning four times that of the general populatio...

Predictors of unintentional childhood injuries seen at the Accident and Emergency Units of three tertiary health care centres in Jos

“…[22] Several other studies show male dominance as victims of drowning and younger age group. [1,13,21,22,23] …”

Management bei Hypothermie und Ertrinken

“…Die in Bezug auf die Kör-permasse jedoch geringe Aspiratmenge beeinflusst nicht das osmotische Gleichgewicht des Wasser-Elektrolyt-Haushalts [8]. Es ist daher in der Regel nicht relevant, ob es sich um Süß-oder Salzwasser handelt [1,5].…”

A Rare Cause of Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome: Near Drowning in Detergent and Sodium Hypo Chlorite Containing Solution

“…Drowning, defined as a process resulting in primary respiratory impairment from submersion/immersion in a liquid medium, is a major cause of pediatric unintentional death worldwide (1)(2)(3). Drowning continues to be associated with high mortality and morbidity in both children and adults.…”

“…Drowning continues to be associated with high mortality and morbidity in both children and adults. Although differences in lifestyle and exposure to water may affect the circumstances under which drowning occurs in different countries, drowning consistently remains a leading cause of death throughout the world (2). Near-drowning, defined as survival following submersion, was described as a clinical problem in pediatric intensive care units (1).…”