Etiology of pediatric forensic cases: comparison of emergency department admissions in childhood and adolescence

Background: This study aimed to examine the etiology of pediatric forensic cases by analyzing emergency department visits for forensic reasons among older children (ages 5–10 years) and young adolescents (ages 10–14 years), and to highlight the differences between the two age groups. Methods: Children presenting as forensic cases to the Emergency Department of Sakarya Training and Research Hospital (STRH EDs) between 01 January 2018 and 31 December 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. The study population was divided into the Older Childhood Age Group (OCAG) and Young Adolescence Age Group (YAAG). Data were evaluated in terms of demographic characteristics, presentation time, clinical outcomes and diagnostic categories. Statistical analyses were conducted using IBM SPSS (version 21.0 ) software. Results: In total, 1165 patients were analyzed. No significant differences were observed between the OCAG (n = 355) and the YAAG (n = 810) in terms of gender, presentation time and seasonality. However, significant differences were observed in hospitalization rates and the nature of traumatic or medical conditions. In the OCAG, the most common cases were assault, poisoning and falls, whereas in the YAAG, early pregnancy, substance use, assault and self-harm were more common. Traffic accidents, firearm injuries, and assaults were more frequent among boys, whereas sexual abuse were more common among girls. Conclusions: Forensic cases show significant differences between older childhood and young adolescence. Raising awareness of pediatric forensic cases, identifying at-risk groups, and guiding future prevention and intervention efforts are essential for the protection of children and adolescents.

Age groups; Clinical forensic medicine; Emergency department; Pediatric forensic cases

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