What are the leading causes of death in children under 10 in America?

Leading Causes of Death for Children Under 10 in America

Unintentional injuries are the leading cause of death for children under 10 in America, followed by drowning, congenital abnormalities, cancer, and homicide/firearm-related injuries.

Leading Causes by Age Group

Infants (Under 1 year)

1. Congenital abnormalities
2. Complications of prematurity
3. Sudden Unexpected Infant Death (SUID)
4. Unintentional injuries, particularly suffocation
   • Suffocation deaths among infants increased by 20% from 2010-2019 1

Children 1-4 years

1. Unintentional injuries
   • Drowning is the leading cause of death in this age group 2
2. Congenital abnormalities
3. Cancer
4. Homicide

Children 5-9 years

1. Unintentional injuries
   • Motor vehicle crashes
   • Drowning
   • Fire/burns
2. Cancer
3. Congenital abnormalities
4. Homicide

Breakdown of Unintentional Injuries

Unintentional injuries remain the overall leading cause of death for children aged 1-9 years in the United States 2, 1. The specific types include:

1. Motor Vehicle Traffic (MVT) Injuries

   • Highest rate among all unintentional injury deaths (4.0 per 100,000) 1
   • Risk increases with rurality (6.8 in urban areas vs. 17.8 in rural areas per 100,000) 1

2. Drowning

   • Particularly high risk for children 1-4 years 2
   • Third most common cause of unintentional injury death among all adolescents 3

3. Suffocation/Asphyxiation

   • Especially concerning for infants 1
   • Includes choking on food and other objects

4. Poisoning

   • Increasing rates, particularly among Black (37% increase) and Hispanic (50% increase) children 1
   • Second most common cause of unintentional injury death among adolescents 3

5. Fire/Burns

   • Higher risk in homes without working smoke alarms 4

Demographic Disparities

Significant disparities exist in child mortality rates:

• Gender: Males have higher unintentional injury death rates than females (11.3 vs. 6.6 per 100,000) 1

• Race/Ethnicity: American Indian/Alaska Native and Black children have higher rates than White children (19.4 and 12.4 vs. 9.0 per 100,000) 1

  • Motor vehicle traffic deaths increased among Black children by 9% from 2010-2019 1

• Geographic: Rural areas have significantly higher death rates than urban areas 1

Firearm-Related Deaths

While not the leading cause for children under 10, firearm-related deaths are a significant concern:

• Firearm-related deaths are among the top causes of death in American youth 2
• The absence of guns from children's homes is the most reliable measure to prevent firearm-related injuries 2
• Safe gun storage (unloaded and locked, ammunition locked separately) reduces children's risk of injury 2

Prevention Strategies

Evidence-based prevention strategies include:

1. Motor Vehicle Safety

   • Age-appropriate restraints (car seats, booster seats)
   • Graduated driver licensing laws for teen drivers

2. Drowning Prevention

   • Four-sided fencing with locked gates around pools
   • Supervision during water activities
   • Swimming lessons

3. Suffocation Prevention

   • Safe sleep practices for infants
   • Keeping small objects away from young children

4. Poisoning Prevention

   • Childproof caps on medications and household chemicals
   • Proper storage of medications and toxic substances

5. Fire Safety

   • Working smoke alarms
   • Home fire escape plans
   • Keeping matches/lighters out of reach

Clinical Implications

Healthcare providers should:

1. Provide age-appropriate injury prevention counseling at all well-child visits
2. Screen for risk factors and provide targeted interventions
3. Advocate for policy changes to improve child safety
4. Recognize demographic disparities and provide culturally appropriate prevention strategies

Understanding these leading causes of death is essential for developing targeted prevention strategies to reduce childhood mortality and improve quality of life outcomes.