Medical and public health advances have contributed to reductions in the number of deaths among children and adolescents.39 Deaths from infectious disease and cancer have declined with the introduction of vaccination, antibiotics, and the improved detection and treatment of cancer.40 However, 19,660 deaths occurred among those ages 1–19 in 2018.41 Knowing the patterns of the leading causes of death for this age group may help target medical and public health interventions.39, 40
Figure 12: Death rates among children ages 1–4 by selected leading causes of death and metropolitan status, 2018
NOTE: Underlying causes of death are based on the International Classification of Diseases, 10th revision. Unintentional injuries is another term for accidents. Unintentional injury deaths are identified by codes V01–X59 and Y85–Y86. Cancer (malignant neoplasms) deaths are identified by codes C00–C97. Birth defect (congenital malformations, deformations, and chromosomal abnormalities) deaths are identified by codes Q00–Q99. Homicide deaths are identified by codes U01–U02, X85–Y09, and Y87.1. The U.S. Office of Management and Budget classifies counties as within a metropolitan or a micropolitan statistical area. The remaining counties are not classified and are considered rural in this report. Rural counties may include small urban areas, as well as completely rural areas. Nonmetropolitan counties include counties in micropolitan statistical and rural areas.
SOURCE: National Center for Health Statistics, National Vital Statistics System.
Figure 13: Death rates among children ages 5–14 by selected leading causes of death and metropolitan status, 2018
‡ Reporting standards not met; the number of deaths is too few to calculate a reliable rate.
NOTE: Underlying causes of death are based on the International Classification of Diseases, 10th revision. Unintentional injuries is another term for accidents. Unintentional injury deaths are identified by codes V01–X59 and Y85–Y86. Cancer (malignant neoplasms) deaths are identified by codes C00–C97. Suicide deaths are identified by codes U03, X60–X84, and Y87.0. Most suicides in the 5–14 age group are among those ages 10–14. Birth defect (congenital malformations, deformations, and chromosomal abnormalities) deaths are identified by codes Q00–Q99. Homicide deaths are identified by codes U01–U02, X85–Y09, and Y87.1. The U.S. Office of Management and Budget classifies counties as within a metropolitan or a micropolitan statistical area. The remaining counties are not classified and are considered rural in this report. Rural counties may include small urban areas, as well as completely rural areas. Nonmetropolitan counties include counties in micropolitan statistical and rural areas.
SOURCE: National Center for Health Statistics, National Vital Statistics System.
Figure 14: Death rates among adolescents ages 15–19 by selected leading causes of death and metropolitan status, 2018
NOTE: Underlying causes of death are based on the International Classification of Diseases, 10th revision. Unintentional injuries is another term for accidents. Unintentional injury deaths are identified by codes V01–X59 and Y85–Y86. Suicide deaths are identified by codes U03, X60–X84, and Y87.0. Homicide deaths are identified by codes U01–U02, X85–Y09, and Y87.1. Cancer (malignant neoplasms) deaths are identified by codes C00–C97. Heart disease deaths are identified by codes I00–I09, I11, I13, and I20–I51. The U.S. Office of Management and Budget classifies counties as within a metropolitan or a micropolitan statistical area. The remaining counties are not classified and are considered rural in this report. Rural counties may include small urban areas, as well as completely rural areas. Nonmetropolitan counties include counties in micropolitan statistical and rural areas.
SOURCE: National Center for Health Statistics, National Vital Statistics System.
39 Guyer, B., Freedman, M. A., Strobino, D. M., & Sondik, E. J. (2000). Annual summary of vital statistics: Trends in the health of Americans during the 20th century. Pediatrics, 106(6), 1307–1317. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.106.6.1307
40 National Center for Health Statistics. (2018). Multiple cause of death data file 2020. Hyattsville, MD: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics.
41 Cunningham, R. M., Walton, M. A., & Carter, P. M. (2018). The major causes of death in children and adolescents in the United States. New England Journal of Medicine, 379(25), 2468–2475. https://www.nejm.org/doi/10.1056/NEJMsr1804754