The Impact of the SARS-COV-2 pandemic on the Prevalence of Injuries among Children and Adolescents at the Upper Silesian Child Health Center in Katowice

Authors

  • Adrianna Słotwińska-Pawlaczyk Department of Pediatric Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Chairs of Pediatric Surgery, Medical University of Silesia, Poland Author
  • Bogusława Orzechowska-Wylęgała Department of Pediatric Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Chairs of Pediatric Surgery, Medical University of Silesia, Poland Author
  • Katarzyna Latusek Department of Pediatric Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Chairs of Pediatric Surgery, Medical University of Silesia, Poland Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.47363/JDSR/2023(5)149

Keywords:

Dento-Alveolar Trauma, COVID-19, Child

Abstract

Background: Maxillofacial injuries quite often relate to children. The etiology of injuries occurring among children and adolescents differs in different age groups. In December 2019, the new SARSCoV-2 coronavirus was identified. Pandemic and the preventive actions had a significant impact on the epidemiology and etiology of injuries in children and adults. The aim of this analysis is assessing the impact of the SARSCoV-2 pandemic and the social restrictions on the frequency and type of maxillofacial injuries among children and adolescents treated at the Children’s Trauma Center in Katowice and the Upper-Silesian Child Health Center. Material and Methods: A retrospective analysis of the medical records of patients with craniofacial fractures is based on six periods of time: February-May 2019 [Spring 2019], February-May 2020 [Spring 2020], June September 2019 [Summer 2019], June-September 2020 [Summer 2020], October-January 2019 [Autumn 2019], October-January 2020 [ Autumn 2020]. Results: Craniofacial injuries were the most common in the age group of 10-18 years (65.2%) in March-May 2019 while in March-May 2020 injuries were as well common in the both age group. Violence, sports and traffic accidents were the cause of injuries in 27.3% each in June-September 2019, but playing sport was the main cause of injury in June-September 2020 (42.9%). Differences in the overall number of patients with craniofacial
trauma were observed in every period of time. Conclusion: There were differences in the number of patients reporting to the Upper Silesian Child Health Center. In the peak periods of COVID-19 in the spring and autumn, the number and variety of cases of injuries were significantly different from the previous norms.

Author Biographies

  • Adrianna Słotwińska-Pawlaczyk, Department of Pediatric Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Chairs of Pediatric Surgery, Medical University of Silesia, Poland

    Adrianna Słotwińska-Pawlaczyk, Department of Pediatric Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Chairs of Pediatric Surgery, Medical University of Silesia, Poland.

  • Bogusława Orzechowska-Wylęgała, Department of Pediatric Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Chairs of Pediatric Surgery, Medical University of Silesia, Poland

    Department of Pediatric Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Chairs of Pediatric Surgery, Medical University of Silesia, Poland.

  • Katarzyna Latusek, Department of Pediatric Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Chairs of Pediatric Surgery, Medical University of Silesia, Poland

    Katarzyna Latusek, Department of Pediatric Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Chairs of Pediatric Surgery, Medical University of Silesia, Poland.

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Published

2023-10-06

Issue

Vol. 5 No. 2 (2023): Volume 5 Issue 2

Section

Articles