The Home Accident Cases Applying to The Pediatric Emergency Department during the Covid-19 Pandemic: What Did the Pandemic Change?

Abstract

Background: Whether the pandemic caused an increase in the number of home accidents (HA) admitted to the pediatric emergency department (PED) was investigated. Applications in a similar quarter in 2019 and 2020 were compared. Methods: The study was retrospective. Their demographic data, the reason for admission to the hospital, the time of admission, the length of hospital stay, intensive care rate, and interventional procedures were recorded. The two groups were compared to find whether there was any difference. Results: There were 700 and 597 admissions for specified reasons during the specified period in 2019 and 2020, respectively. In 2019, 9.46% of all cases admitted to the PED were HA whereas the rate was 24.43% in 2020. The male/female ratios were similar (p=0.520). The median age in 2020 (36 months) was significantly higher than that in 2019 (33 months) (p=0.010). The main clinical presentations also differed significantly. The incidence of falls, the gastric/intestinal foreign bodies, and the penetrating stab injuries were significantly higher in those in 2020 (p<0.001). Significant differences were also found regarding diagnostic and therapeutic interventions. During the specified period in 2019, 623 patients (89.5%) were discharged from the PED. The rate of discharge in 2020 (84.9%) was significantly lower. Also, there were significantly more hospitalizations in other wards in 2020 than those in 2019 (3.7% vs. 1.0%) (p=0.004). Conclusion: The Covid-19 pandemic caused an increase in the number of HAs cases admitted to the PED relative to all hospital admissions. The most common type of accident was falls, as in the non-pandemic period. The pandemic caused delays in accessing healthcare services, especially for critically ill patients, more frequent hospitalizations, and a decrease in the rate of discharge from the PED.

The Effect of the Covid-19 pandemic on emergency service home service calls due to home accidents in children aged 0-6 in Sakarya, Türkiye?

“…Mann et al (2021) found that burns in children aged 2-3 years is less prevalent than other types of accident (45%).25 Unlike our results; according toGüleryüz et al (2021), the incidence of falls, stomach/intestinal foreign bodies, and stab wounds (in Türkiye) were significantly higher during the COVID-19 period among children26 . Similarly, Liguro et al (2021) report that ingestion/breathing of foreign bodies and burns were more frequently diagnosed in children who presented to the pediatric emergency department during the pandemic period15 Chaiyachati et al (2020).…”

Influencia de la pandemia por COVID-19 en la atención a urgencias en un hospital privado

“…Es probable que esta reducción sea por diversos factores, tales como el uso de cubrebocas, aumento en la frecuencia del lavado de manos y el distanciamiento social. 9 Lo anterior se relaciona con el hecho de la reducción de pacientes con infecciones respiratorias, ya que disminuyeron hasta en 80%. Este porcentaje no es muy diferente al reportado en otros países, tanto para infecciones respiratorias, 7,8,13,14 como gastrointestinales.…”

“…El confinamiento afectó de distintas formas la salud de los niños y adolescentes, en particular, redujo la transmisión de enfermedades infecto-contagiosas (como era la meta de las autoridades), dada la escasa convivencia con sus pares, aunado al incremento en la frecuencia y calidad de las medidas higiénicas. [6][7][8][9] Pero, también el confinamiento pudo tener repercusión en los accidentes intradomiciliarios; los informes, en general, indican aumento de los accidentes en niños durante la pandemia. [7][8][9] Una forma indirecta de evaluar el impacto del confinamiento de los niños sobre su salud física es la revisión de las solicitudes de atención médica en los servicios de urgencias.…”

“…[6][7][8][9] Pero, también el confinamiento pudo tener repercusión en los accidentes intradomiciliarios; los informes, en general, indican aumento de los accidentes en niños durante la pandemia. [7][8][9] Una forma indirecta de evaluar el impacto del confinamiento de los niños sobre su salud física es la revisión de las solicitudes de atención médica en los servicios de urgencias. [6][7][8][9][10][11] En general, estos servicios atienden dos tipos de consultas: las sentidas y las reales.…”

“…[7][8][9] Una forma indirecta de evaluar el impacto del confinamiento de los niños sobre su salud física es la revisión de las solicitudes de atención médica en los servicios de urgencias. [6][7][8][9][10][11] En general, estos servicios atienden dos tipos de consultas: las sentidas y las reales. Las primeras corresponden a la solicitud por parte de los familiares para recibir atención, aunque en realidad el cuadro clínico no compromete la vida o integridad del menor.…”