The report finds that children under one were at greater risk of infection related death than other age groups, but also that risk varied by ethnic and socio-economic background. Children from an Asian/Asian British or black/black British ethnic background were at higher risk, with children from a Pakistani ethnic background at the highest risk of all. The chance of dying of infection in the most deprived neighbourhoods was twice that of those living in the least deprived neighbourhoods. 

Children with underlying health conditions and learning disabilities were also over-represented. Ninety per cent of the children whose deaths were infection related had an underlying health condition, and 67% of the children who died between five and 17 years of age had a learning disability. 

The report presents recommendations to improve and save children’s lives in future, as well as learning from the detailed child death review that takes place whenever any child dies in England. In 36% of the cases, the child death overview panel reviewing the death identified modifiable factors – circumstances that may, by means of a locally or nationally achievable intervention, be modified to reduce the risk of future child deaths. 

Read the full University of Bristol news item

‘Infection related deaths of children and young people in England’ by Karen Luyt, Tom Williams, David Odd, Vicky Sleap, Sylvia Stoianova et al. published 14 December 2023.