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

## TL;DR

This study compares pediatric emergency department visits before and during the pandemic, finding significant changes in patient demographics and disease patterns.

## Contribution

The study provides new insights into how pandemic measures affected pediatric emergency care usage and disease incidence in Turkey.

## Key findings

- Pediatric emergency department admissions decreased significantly during the pandemic period.
- There was a statistically significant difference in patient age, admission times, and diagnoses during the pandemic.
- Infectious disease-related complaints, like respiratory tract infections, declined due to pandemic measures.

## Abstract

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.