The AVICOU study, the results of which were published on September 24, carried out by teams from Inserm and Sorbonne University, analyzed data collected from 162 general practitioners and 31 private pediatricians over a period of one year, from May 2022 to June 2023.
The results are striking: more than 550,000 annual consultations in community medicine are linked to everyday accidents among children under 15 years old.
These accidents, which include domestic, sporting, school and leisure incidents, constitute the leading cause of death among children aged 1 to 4 and the second among those aged 5 to 14.
Various causes depending on the age
The study also reveals that the nature of accidents changes with age. Among children under 10 years old, the home is the main place of accidents, with furniture frequently being involved among the youngest. For those over 10, outdoor sports and leisure activities are more involved. Note that, whatever the age, falls remain the main cause of accidents.
Notably, in three-quarters of cases, the accident did not require a trip to the emergency room. Which does not mean the absence of gravity.
Since 80% of consultations for everyday accidents required a prescription (medication, care, unfitness for sport, absence from school).
Faced with these findings, prevention becomes a priority. The 2024-2030 roadmap on pediatrics and child health plans in particular to strengthen preventive actions, in particular for children aged 1 to 4 years.
Awareness and communication campaigns adapted to different age groups will soon be deployed to the general public.
