Resumen

REYES G, Alma; ESCOBAR Y, José Lempira  y  VALERIO H, Mayela. Suicidio en niños. Med. leg. Costa Rica [online]. 1998, vol.15, n.1-2, pp.51-55. ISSN 2215-5287.

Statistical study made in Costa Rica about 16 years of autopsies  (1980-1996), finding 26 suicides in children less than 13 years old in 28 584 autopsies. From this 26 cases, the larger number of cases presented between 1988-1991 with 11 cases (42%), in which 5 cases (19%) ocurred in 1990. The masculine sex prevailed with 20 cases and the femenine presented only 6 cases. The ages that seemed to be more prevailing were between 10 and 13 years, been this considered a pre-puberty age. Corresponding to the days of the week, Sundays predominated with a 26%, followed by Tuesdays 19% and Thursdays 14%. the most frequent manner of suicide was asfixiation, hanging with 14 cases (54%). Five cases were caused by intoxication with pesticides, being these easy access and free sale and also 7 cases presented gunshot wounds. The prefered place to do the suicides seems to be the bedroom with 17 cases. The suicide  presented in children is due to various factors that should be taken into consideration when examinig potential risk children for example family issues, school issues, etc, with the porpouse of avoiding that the young take such drastic measures.

Palabras clave : pre-puber; school; children; depression; behavior; punishment; mother; hangings; toxics.