Health Status > Children

HOSPITALIZATION

In 2003, there were 3.7 million hospital discharges among children ages 1 to 21, or 4.4 discharges per 100 children. This represents little change from 2002. Hospital discharge rates generally decrease until about age 7 and increase during later adolescence.
While injuries are the leading cause of death among children older than 1 year, they accounted for only 9 percent of hospital discharges among children 1 to 14 years old in 2003. Diseases of the respiratory system were the major cause of hospitalization for children 1 to 9 years of age, accounting for 34 percent of discharges. Pregnancy and childbirth accounted for 67 percent of discharges of young women ages 15 to 21. Mental disorders were the second leading cause of hospitalization for adolescents.

Overall, there has been a significant decrease in hospital discharge rates among children over the past 20 years. From 1985 to 2003, there was a 33 percent decrease in discharge rates for children ages 1 to 14 years. During this period, hospital discharge rates for diseases of the respiratory system declined 35 percent for children in this age group.

> Bar Chart: Major Causes of Hospitalization, by Age: 2003