1 / 100
#100. Medical examination/evaluation
Total number of visits: 247,120
Rate of visits per 100,000 persons: 78
Top 100 reasons for emergency room visits
Casual viewers of prime-time television programs like "Grey's Anatomy" or "The Resident" might be forgiven for thinking their local ER is loaded with victims of car crashes, explosions, and other dramatic events on a daily basis. The reality, however, is a little more mundane. While emergency rooms across the country certainly deal with all manner of serious conditions, the fact is quite a few of the patients who come into the ER are there for relatively minor, non-life-threatening reasons.
Stacker analyzed data from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality's Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project to determine the 100 most common reasons for emergency room visits in the United States. The data, which was last updated in 2014, gives some fascinating insight into ER usage in America. Some visits, like those for sprains or fatigue, were non-emergent (a growing problem in American medical care). Others were for much more serious conditions. Think you can guess the top 10? Read on to see the full list—no spoilers, but we bet our #1 isn't what you think it is!
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2 / 100
#99. Disease of mouth, excluding dental
Total number of visits: 249,374
Rate of visits per 100,000 persons: 78
3 / 100
#98. Other infections, including parasitic
Total number of visits: 256,766
Rate of visits per 100,000 persons: 81
4 / 100
#97. Other complications of birth, puerperium affecting management of the mother
Total number of visits: 257,848
Rate of visits per 100,000 persons: 81
5 / 100
#96. Other screening for suspected conditions (not mental disorders or infectious disease)
Total number of visits: 258,147
Rate of visits per 100,000 persons: 81
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6 / 100
#95. Transient cerebral ischemia
Total number of visits: 269,156
Rate of visits per 100,000 persons: 84
7 / 100
#94. Other circulatory disease
Total number of visits: 285,685
Rate of visits per 100,000 persons: 90
8 / 100
#93. Phlebitis, thrombophlebitis and thromboembolism
Total number of visits: 290,076
Rate of visits per 100,000 persons: 91
9 / 100
#92. Abdominal hernia
Total number of visits: 305,331
Rate of visits per 100,000 persons: 96
10 / 100
#91. Skull and face fractures
Total number of visits: 307,521
Rate of visits per 100,000 persons: 96
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11 / 100
#90. Ovarian cyst
Total number of visits: 310,713
Rate of visits per 100,000 persons: 97
12 / 100
#89. Acute and chronic tonsillitis
Total number of visits: 316,355
Rate of visits per 100,000 persons: 99
13 / 100
#88. Fracture of neck of femur (hip)
Total number of visits: 321,708
Rate of visits per 100,000 persons: 101
14 / 100
#87. Anemia
Total number of visits: 324,745
Rate of visits per 100,000 persons: 102
15 / 100
#86. Other eye disorders
Total number of visits: 330,150
Rate of visits per 100,000 persons: 104
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16 / 100
#85. Hypertension with complications and secondary hypertension
Total number of visits: 336,272
Rate of visits per 100,000 persons: 106
17 / 100
#84. Poisoning by nonmedicinal substances
Total number of visits: 339,725
Rate of visits per 100,000 persons: 107
18 / 100
#83. Appendicitis and other appendiceal conditions
Total number of visits: 346,825
Rate of visits per 100,000 persons: 109
19 / 100
#82. Mycoses
Total number of visits: 360,999
Rate of visits per 100,000 persons: 113
20 / 100
#81. Diabetes mellitus without complication
Total number of visits: 371,185
Rate of visits per 100,000 persons: 116
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21 / 100
#80. Menstrual disorders
Total number of visits: 376,243
Rate of visits per 100,000 persons: 118
22 / 100
#79. Respiratory failure, insufficiency, arrest (adult)
Total number of visits: 379,269
Rate of visits per 100,000 persons: 119
23 / 100
#78. Intestinal obstruction without hernia
Total number of visits: 391,692
Rate of visits per 100,000 persons: 123
24 / 100
#77. Coronary atherosclerosis
Total number of visits: 392,003
Rate of visits per 100,000 persons: 123
25 / 100
#76. Burns
Total number of visits: 401,445
Rate of visits per 100,000 persons: 126
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26 / 100
#75. Pancreatic disorders (not diabetes)
Total number of visits: 403,329
Rate of visits per 100,000 persons: 127
27 / 100
#74. Esophageal disorders
Total number of visits: 415,466
Rate of visits per 100,000 persons: 130
28 / 100
#73. Poisoning by other medications and drugs
Total number of visits: 422,833
Rate of visits per 100,000 persons: 133
29 / 100
#72. Intestinal infection
Total number of visits: 472,936
Rate of visits per 100,000 persons: 148
30 / 100
#71. Inflammatory disease of female pelvic organs
Total number of visits: 473,080
Rate of visits per 100,000 persons: 148
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31 / 100
#70. Acute and unspecified renal failure
Total number of visits: 482,616
Rate of visits per 100,000 persons: 151
32 / 100
#69. Diverticulosis and diverticulitis
Total number of visits: 483,770
Rate of visits per 100,000 persons: 152
33 / 100
#68. Joint disorders and dislocations, trauma-related
Total number of visits: 506,865
Rate of visits per 100,000 persons: 159
34 / 100
#67. Administrative/social admission
Total number of visits: 522,717
Rate of visits per 100,000 persons: 164
35 / 100
#66. Malaise and fatigue
Total number of visits: 538,644
Rate of visits per 100,000 persons: 169
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36 / 100
#65. Acute myocardial infarction
Total number of visits: 560,223
Rate of visits per 100,000 persons: 176
37 / 100
#64. Complication of device, implant or graft
Total number of visits: 567,978
Rate of visits per 100,000 persons: 178
38 / 100
#63. Other fractures
Total number of visits: 616,450
Rate of visits per 100,000 persons: 193
39 / 100
#62. Gastritis and duodenitis
Total number of visits: 617,969
Rate of visits per 100,000 persons: 194
40 / 100
#61. Other female genital disorders
Total number of visits: 628,696
Rate of visits per 100,000 persons: 197
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41 / 100
#60. Hemorrhage during pregnancy, abruptio placenta, placenta previa
Total number of visits: 657,061
Rate of visits per 100,000 persons: 206
42 / 100
#59. Acute cerebrovascular disease
Total number of visits: 665,962
Rate of visits per 100,000 persons: 209
43 / 100
#58. Other ear and sense organ disorders
Total number of visits: 700,376
Rate of visits per 100,000 persons: 220
44 / 100
#57. Gastrointestinal hemorrhage
Total number of visits: 701,981
Rate of visits per 100,000 persons: 220
45 / 100
#56. Substance-related disorders
Total number of visits: 702,734
Rate of visits per 100,000 persons: 220
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46 / 100
#55. Biliary tract disease
Total number of visits: 707,356
Rate of visits per 100,000 persons: 222
47 / 100
#54. Complications of surgical procedures or medical care
Total number of visits: 714,900
Rate of visits per 100,000 persons: 224
48 / 100
#53. Schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders
Total number of visits: 767,102
Rate of visits per 100,000 persons: 241
49 / 100
#52. Influenza
Total number of visits: 782,665
Rate of visits per 100,000 persons: 246
50 / 100
#51. Intracranial injury
Total number of visits: 795,203
Rate of visits per 100,000 persons: 249
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51 / 100
#50. Inflammation, infection of eye (except that caused by tuberculosis and sexually transmitted diseases)
Total number of visits: 815,080
Rate of visits per 100,000 persons: 256
52 / 100
#49. Diabetes mellitus with complications
Total number of visits: 819,637
Rate of visits per 100,000 persons: 257
53 / 100
#48. Essential hypertension
Total number of visits: 831,977
Rate of visits per 100,000 persons: 261
54 / 100
#47. Genitourinary symptoms and ill-defined conditions
Total number of visits: 853,831
Rate of visits per 100,000 persons: 268
55 / 100
#46. Other upper respiratory disease
Total number of visits: 914,241
Rate of visits per 100,000 persons: 287
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56 / 100
#45. Other aftercare
Total number of visits: 920,511
Rate of visits per 100,000 persons: 289
57 / 100
#44. Congestive heart failure, nonhypertensive
Total number of visits: 998,700
Rate of visits per 100,000 persons: 313
58 / 100
#43. Other skin disorders
Total number of visits: 1,022,648
Rate of visits per 100,000 persons: 321
59 / 100
#42. Fracture of lower limb
Total number of visits: 1,034,462
Rate of visits per 100,000 persons: 324
60 / 100
#41. Anxiety disorders
Total number of visits: 1,055,444
Rate of visits per 100,000 persons: 331
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61 / 100
#40. Fluid and electrolyte disorders
Total number of visits: 1,089,760
Rate of visits per 100,000 persons: 342
62 / 100
#39. Epilepsy, convulsions
Total number of visits: 1,135,573
Rate of visits per 100,000 persons: 356
63 / 100
#38. Residual codes, unclassified
Total number of visits: 1,226,147
Rate of visits per 100,000 persons: 385
64 / 100
#37. Syncope
Total number of visits: 1,231,389
Rate of visits per 100,000 persons: 386
65 / 100
#36. Noninfectious gastroenteritis
Total number of visits: 1,234,604
Rate of visits per 100,000 persons: 387
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66 / 100
#35. Conditions associated with dizziness or vertigo
Total number of visits: 1,260,172
Rate of visits per 100,000 persons: 395
67 / 100
#34. Calculus of urinary tract
Total number of visits: 1,278,974
Rate of visits per 100,000 persons: 401
68 / 100
#33. Septicemia (except in labor)
Total number of visits: 1,405,463
Rate of visits per 100,000 persons: 441
69 / 100
#32. Acute bronchitis
Total number of visits: 1,420,965
Rate of visits per 100,000 persons: 446
70 / 100
#31. Fever of unknown origin
Total number of visits: 1,442,629
Rate of visits per 100,000 persons: 452
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71 / 100
#30. Mood disorders
Total number of visits: 1,447,172
Rate of visits per 100,000 persons: 454
72 / 100
#29. Alcohol-related disorders
Total number of visits: 1,458,144
Rate of visits per 100,000 persons: 457
73 / 100
#28. Cardiac dysrhythmias
Total number of visits: 1,524,359
Rate of visits per 100,000 persons: 478
74 / 100
#27. Pneumonia (except that caused by tuberculosis and sexually transmitted diseases)
Total number of visits: 1,571,428
Rate of visits per 100,000 persons: 493
75 / 100
#26. Otitis media and related conditions
Total number of visits: 1,593,027
Rate of visits per 100,000 persons: 500
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76 / 100
#25. Viral infections
Total number of visits: 1,626,485
Rate of visits per 100,000 persons: 510
77 / 100
#24. Fracture of upper limb
Total number of visits: 1,763,258
Rate of visits per 100,000 persons: 553
78 / 100
#23. Other gastrointestinal disorders
Total number of visits: 1,763,900
Rate of visits per 100,000 persons: 553
79 / 100
#22. Allergic reactions
Total number of visits: 1,766,749
Rate of visits per 100,000 persons: 554
80 / 100
#21. Other nervous system disorders
Total number of visits: 1,833,973
Rate of visits per 100,000 persons: 575
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81 / 100
#20. Asthma
Total number of visits: 1,955,609
Rate of visits per 100,000 persons: 613
82 / 100
#19. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and bronchiectasis
Total number of visits: 2,011,535
Rate of visits per 100,000 persons: 631
83 / 100
#18. Other complications of pregnancy
Total number of visits: 2,054,894
Rate of visits per 100,000 persons: 645
84 / 100
#17. Nausea and vomiting
Total number of visits: 2,062,444
Rate of visits per 100,000 persons: 647
85 / 100
#16. Disorders of teeth and jaw
Total number of visits: 2,077,754
Rate of visits per 100,000 persons: 652
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86 / 100
#15. Other non-traumatic joint disorders
Total number of visits: 2,104,161
Rate of visits per 100,000 persons: 660
87 / 100
#14. Open wounds of head, neck, and trunk
Total number of visits: 2,223,328
Rate of visits per 100,000 persons: 697
88 / 100
#13. Other lower respiratory disease
Total number of visits: 2,383,777
Rate of visits per 100,000 persons: 748
89 / 100
#12. Other connective tissue disease
Total number of visits: 2,408,176
Rate of visits per 100,000 persons: 755
90 / 100
#11. Open wounds of extremities
Total number of visits: 2,906,900
Rate of visits per 100,000 persons: 912
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91 / 100
#10. Headache, including migraine
Total number of visits: 3,174,138
Rate of visits per 100,000 persons: 996
92 / 100
#9. Other injuries and conditions due to external causes
Total number of visits: 3,243,167
Rate of visits per 100,000 persons: 1,017
93 / 100
#8. Skin and subcutaneous tissue infections
Total number of visits: 3,318,272
Rate of visits per 100,000 persons: 1,041
94 / 100
#7. Urinary tract infections
Total number of visits: 3,455,199
Rate of visits per 100,000 persons: 1,084
95 / 100
#6. Spondylosis, intervertebral disc disorders, other back problems
Total number of visits: 4,158,826
Rate of visits per 100,000 persons: 1,304
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96 / 100
#5. Nonspecific chest pain
Total number of visits: 4,703,012
Rate of visits per 100,000 persons: 1,475
97 / 100
#4. Superficial injury, contusion
Total number of visits: 5,495,241
Rate of visits per 100,000 persons: 1,723
98 / 100
#3. Sprains and strains
Total number of visits: 5,755,484
Rate of visits per 100,000 persons: 1,805
99 / 100
#2. Other upper respiratory infections
Total number of visits: 5,802,239
Rate of visits per 100,000 persons: 1,820
100 / 100
#1. Abdominal pain
Total number of visits: 5,960,139
Rate of visits per 100,000 persons: 1,869
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