Peer-reviewed article
Hospitalized pediatric drowning in Zhejiang, China (2010-2021): an epidemiological analysis.
Zhu S, Liu L, Chen F, Chen X, Lin Y et al. ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-haiku-4-5-20251001This study analyzed 296 children hospitalized for drowning in Zhejiang, China between 2010 and 2021. Most drowning cases occurred in 1-3-year-old boys during summer afternoons in natural water bodies in rural areas, which were more dangerous than swimming pools. Early cardiopulmonary resuscitation and shorter drowning duration were strongly associated with better outcomes. The research found that pediatric drowning remains a persistent public health problem requiring targeted prevention in rural areas and improved caregiver education.
Key points
- 1-3-year-old male children have the highest incidence of drowning, occurring in summer afternoons
- Natural water in rural areas is significantly more dangerous than swimming pools
- Pre-hospital CPR time and drowning time are significantly associated with patient outcomes
- Clinical indicators including Glasgow Coma Scale score, blood lactate, blood pH, and blood glucose correlate with outcomes when drowning time is unknown
- Pediatric drowning incidence showed no significant change due to COVID-19 pandemic or national control measures
Limitations
This study is a retrospective analysis of hospitalized cases only, so it does not capture the full epidemiology of drowning including fatal cases or non-hospitalized incidents. The findings are specific to one province in China and may not generalize to other regions with different water environments and population characteristics.
Abstract
Background Despite advancements in public health awareness in China, pediatric drowning remains a significant concern with no marked decline in incidence. This study is to explore the changes in the epidemiological characteristics of children drowning. Methods We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 296 drowning children who received treatment from January 2010 to December 2021. Results We found that 1-3-year-old male children have the highest incidence of drowning in the afternoon of summer, especially in natural water in rural areas, which are more dangerous than swimming pools. The pre hospital cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) time and drowning time are significantly associated with the outcome of the patient. In children without clear drowning time, our study found that clinical indicators such as Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score, blood lactate level, blood pH value, and blood glucose have a certain association with the outcomes of the children. The occurrence of child drowning incidents did not show significant changes due to the COVID-19 pandemic or the national control measures. Conclusions Pediatric drowning persists as a critical public health issue, with rural areas posing the greatest risk. Early rescue and high-quality basic life support are key to improving outcomes. Targeted prevention strategies should prioritize rural water safety and caregiver education, while clinical indicators may aid in assessment of outcomes when drowning history is unavailable.