Changes in pediatric seizure-related emergency department attendances during COVID-19 – A territory-wide observational study

Journal of the Formosan Medical Association

Ryan Wui-hang Ho¹  Hoi-Shan Sophelia Chan²  Ting Gee Annie Chiu²  William C.Y. Leung³  Richard Shek-kwan Chang³  Qiqi Zhang⁴  Eric H.Y. Lau⁴ 

[1] Department of Medicine, Queen Mary Hospital, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong;Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Queen Mary Hospital, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong;Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, Queen Mary Hospital, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong;School of Public Health, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong;

关键词: COVID19;    Epilepsy;    Respiratory tract infections;    Medical help seek-behaviour;    Febrile seizures;   

DOI  :  

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

A territory-wide retrospective observational study was conducted in Hong Kong between January 23 to April 22, 2020 to demonstrate changes in pediatric seizure-related accident and emergency department (A&E) visits during the COVID-19 pandemic. Parallel periods from 2015 to 2019 were used as control.All-cause A&E attendances in all paediatric age groups decreased significantly during the study period. Seizure-related attendances decreased across all pediatric age-groups in 2020 (RR 0.379, 95% CI 0.245–0.588), with a disproportionately large decrease in the 0–6 years age group (RR 0.303, 95% CI 0.174–0.526) compared with the 7–18 years age group (RR 0.534, 95% CI 0.393–0.719). Decrease in RTI-related A&E attendances was also more drastic in the 0–6 age group. The two time trends are congruent in the 0–6 years but not the 7–18 years age group. Such a trend is suggestive of the usefulness of infection control measures in seizure prevention, especially amongst young children.

【 授权许可】

Unknown