First report in a decade quantifies healthcare for U.S. children

Asthma, injuries and mental health problems are the leading causes of hospitalization of children over 5 years old, according to a report prepared by researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health and other colleagues. Infections and birth-related problems send more preschoolers and infants to the hospital, while youths aged 15 to 17 are hospitalized primarily for problems related to pregnancy and childbearing. Other findings include: • Infection is the diagnosis for 41.5 percent of hospitalizations for children aged 1 to 4. • Pregnancy and delivery accounts for 30.1 percent of hospitalizations for children aged 15 to 17. • Hispanic children were the racial/ethnic group most likely to be uninsured (21.2 percent).