The Major Causes of Death in Children and Adolescents in the United States | NEJM

The Major Causes of Death in Children and Adolescents in the United States | NEJM

Motor vehicle accidents are the most common cause of death among kids

A new study breaks down the most common causes of death among the 20,360 kids and teens who died in the U.S. in 2016. Here’s a quick look at the numbers:

• Motor vehicle crashes were the leading cause of death for young people, accounting for 20 percent of all deaths.
• Firearm-related injuries were responsible for 15 percent of deaths, making them the second most common cause among adolescents. Of those deaths, 59 percent were homicides, 35 percent were suicides, 4 percent were unintentional, and 2 percent were undetermined.
• Cancer, which accounted for 9 percent of deaths among kids, was the third leading cause of death. It was followed by suffocation, which was responsible for 7 percent of deaths.