A Comparative Analysis of Pediatric Emergency Department Admissions Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Objectives This study aims to evaluate the outbreak's impact on emergency services, with findings obtained from patients who applied to our pediatric emergency service before and during the pandemic period. Methods In this study, the Pediatric Emergency Polyclinic of Hatay Mustafa Kemal Univers...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Curēus (Palo Alto, CA) CA), 2024-04, Vol.16 (4), p.e58436-e58436
Main Authors: Çalışkan, Osman Fırat, Trabzon, Gül, Güllü, Ufuk Utku, Yazarlı, Esra Gezmen, Sarı, Ferhat, İpek, Sevcan, El, Çiğdem
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Age groups
Animal bites
COVID-19
Disease
Emergency medical care
Noncitizens
Pain
Pandemics
Patients
Pediatrics
Poisoning
Sociodemographics
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Summary:Objectives This study aims to evaluate the outbreak's impact on emergency services, with findings obtained from patients who applied to our pediatric emergency service before and during the pandemic period. Methods In this study, the Pediatric Emergency Polyclinic of Hatay Mustafa Kemal University (MKU) Department of Pediatrics was evaluated during the COVID-19 pre-pandemic period and the COVID-19 pandemic period. Demographic features, complaints, discharge situations, diagnostic groups, and diagnoses of 16,730 non-traumatic patients one month to 18 years old were compared retrospectively. Results Comparing the pre-pandemic period and the pandemic period, it was determined that there was a statistically significant difference in the average age of patients, age groups, admission hours, triage classification, complaints, and diagnoses seen. Conclusion According to the findings obtained in the study, pediatric emergency department admissions decreased significantly during the pandemic period. As a result of the pandemic measures taken, the incidence of diseases caused by infectious agents, such as respiratory tract infections, decreased. The change in pediatric emergency service habits with the pandemic highlights the importance of conducting more comprehensive epidemiological studies in terms of more efficient and effective use of pediatric emergency health services in Turkey.
ISSN:2168-8184
2168-8184
DOI:10.7759/cureus.58436