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What is the leading cause of death and disability in children and early adults?

User Daniel Kim
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Final answer:

For children under five in low-income countries, the leading causes of death and disability include pneumonia, diarrhea, and malaria. Adolescents and early adults face head and traumatic brain injuries as main threats, and during early adulthood, homicides, car crashes, and sui_cides are prevalent causes of death.

Step-by-step explanation:

The leading cause of death and disability in children and early adults varies depending on age and the socioeconomic context of the country. For children under five in low-income countries, the most frequent causes of death are pneumonia, diarrhea, congenital anomalies, preterm birth complications, birth asphyxia/trauma, and malaria. These conditions can often be prevented or treated with affordable interventions such as immunization, proper nutrition, access to clean water and food, and quality care by trained health professionals. Unfortunately, the availability of such healthcare resources is markedly lower in low-income countries compared to high-income ones.

In the case of young children (ages 0-4 years), adolescents (15-19 years), and the elderly (over 65 years), head and traumatic brain injuries from falls and motor vehicle accidents are also a major cause of immediate death and disability. Early adulthood, covering the ages of 20s to early 30s, tends to see minor health problems, but the most common causes of death are homicides, car crashes, and sui_cides.

Health problems later influence early adulthood, where establishing intimate relationships, careers, and completing education are primary focuses. However, environmental factors during childhood, such as indoor air pollution, lack of sanitation, and malnutrition, increase susceptibility to developing illnesses which can continue affecting health into adulthood.

User Shaheen G
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