What is the most common cause of death in children over the age of 1 year?

The most common cause of death in children over the age of 1 year is trauma. This encompasses a wide range of incidents, including motor vehicle accidents, falls, drownings, and other unintentional injuries. As children grow and become more active, their exposure to potentially dangerous situations increases, which can lead to significant injuries that result in fatalities.

Trauma has consistently been identified in various studies and reports as a leading cause of death in this age group, surpassing other causes such as infections, congenital abnormalities, and cardiac conditions. While infections can be serious and congenital abnormalities are also significant, they tend to have different prevalence rates based on age, with trauma becoming a major risk factor as children begin to explore their environments more independently. Understanding this information is crucial for implementing effective prevention measures and educating caregivers about safety.