Injuries among children--some cost considerations in USA.

Unintentional and intentional injuries are a major cause of morbidity and mortality among children under the age of 19. The large number of premature death and disabilities due to injury and accompanying high economic cost, including public sector expenditures, emphasize the need to reduce the burden of injury. Productivity losses are greater from injury than from the three other leading causes of death--heart disease, stroke and cancer. Implementation of known injury-control interventions can substantially reduce the incidence, severity, and accompanying cost of injury. Because financial resources are limited, decision-makers need to consider the cost and effectiveness of alternative prevention strategies. Injury causes with the highest cost per injury could make a priority, especially within maternal and child health programs; as an alternative, projected total injury cost could determine program priority.