CAUSES OF DEATH IN CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS ACCORDING TO THE MATERIAL OF THE INSTITUTE OF FORENSIC MEDICINE IN NIŠ FOR THE PERIOD 2003-2012

This paper examines the causes of death in children and adolescents for a ten-year period (2003-2012) according to data from the autopsy records of the Institute of Forensic Medicine in Niš. The causes of death (natural or violent) were analyzed in relation to sex, age, season, and environment (rural and urban areas), socio-economic and living conditions, and the number of children in the family. The results obtained were statistically analyzed, plotted and discussed in relation to data from the literature available. Regarding the autopsy cases of children and adolescents (194), 106 (54.63%) were the cases of violent causes of death and 87 were the cases (44.84%) of natural causes of death, while in one case the cause of death could not be determined due to late-stage decomposition alterations of the corpse. The most common natural causes of death were asphyxia, immaturity of the fetus and acute pneumonia. Most common causes of violent death were contusion of the brain, destruction of the brain and brainstem, polytrauma, and bleeding