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Gunshot Wounds in Children Under 10 Years of AgeA New Epidemic
Gary J. Ordog, MD;
Jonathan Wasserberger, MD;
Ivan Schatz, MD;
Deborah Owens-Collins, PA-C;
Kerry English, MD;
Subramanian Balasubramanian, MD;
Theodore Schlater, MD
Am J Dis Child. 1988;142(6):618-622.
Abstract
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• Before 1980 we had not treated any children with gunshot wounds who were younger than 10 years of age, but the number has increased dramatically each year since then. Thirty-four children younger than 10 years of age were treated for gunshot wounds from 1980 to 1987. Sociologic and epidemiologic data were assessed by a child-abuse team and police. Other studies have concluded that gunshot wounds in young children were usually caused by unintentional injury, child abuse, or neglect.1-7 From our present study we add a further, and very disturbing, category, that of attempted or intentional pediatric homicide. The children in this category were shot in retaliation for gang activities of their older siblings. This study demonstrates that the majority of our patients' childhood gunshot wounds were related to gang violence and retaliation, the availability of handguns in the home, and child neglect. The prevalence of childhood gunshot wounds in the inner city is increasing dramatically.
(AJDC 1988;142:618-622)
Author Affiliations
From the King/Drew Medical Center, the Drew/UCLA School of Medicine, and the UCLA School of Medicine.
Footnotes
Accepted for publication Feb 25, 1988.
Read before the Sixth Annual Trauma Symposium, June 28, 1985, Anaheim, Calif.
Reprint requests to Box 219-12021 S Wilmington Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90059 (Dr Ordog).
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