National Child Mortality Database publishes its latest findings

Infection Related Deaths of Children and Young People in England, is the sixth National Child Mortality Database (NCMD) thematic report. Based on data from April 2019 to March 2022, the report aims to identify common characteristics of children and young people who died with and because of an infection, investigate factors associated with these deaths, identify common themes, and draw out learning and recommendations for service providers and policymakers. The key findings include:

• There were 1,507 infection related child deaths in the three-year period – an overall rate of 4.20 deaths per 100,000 children per year. This was the equivalent of 15% of all child deaths in this period.

• In 37% (n=553) of these deaths, the infection was thought to be a complete and sufficient explanation of death.

• The risk of death varied according to the age of the child. Children under one year of age were more at risk of dying from infection than any other age group. Over half (61%) of deaths where infection was thought to provide a complete and sufficient explanation of death occurred in children under one year of age.

• Risk varied by ethnicity. Children from an Asian/Asian British or black/black British ethnic background were at higher risk.

• Overall, in 90% of the infection related deaths, the child had an underlying health condition including 68% who had a life-limiting condition (eg cerebral palsy) and 22% who had another underlying health condition, including prematurity.

To read the NCMD report visit: www.ncmd.info/publications/child-death-infection