From studies within the USA, Israel, Norway and France, it has been estimated that the incidence of brain injury in children up to 14 years of age is 180 out of 100 000 per annum. Between 40 and 50% of children dying from acute traumatic injuries in the USA during 1991 had brain injury as part of their diagnosis and this proportion has been born out by other reports. However, death rates of children admitted for brain injury from whatever cause, which range from 2–3% to 14%, are not very helpful as the aetiology and admission criteria can vary widely.