IMPACT OF COVID-19 PANDEMIC ON PEDIATRIC OCULAR TRAUMA DURING SUMMER BREAK

R ZAFAR; SN MALIK; N UZAIR

doi:10.54112/bcsrj.v2024i1.1311

Authors

R ZAFAR Department of Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus Al-Shifa Trust Eye Hospital Rawalpindi, Pakistan
SN MALIK Department of Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus Al-Shifa Trust Eye Hospital Rawalpindi, Pakistan
N UZAIR Department of Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus Al-Shifa Trust Eye Hospital Rawalpindi, Pakistan

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.54112/bcsrj.v2024i1.1311

Keywords:

COVID-19, Eye Injuries, Pandemics, Pediatric Ophthalmology, Wounds and Injuries

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic reshaped nearly every aspect of daily life, imposing restrictions that altered children’s routines and environmental exposures. Objective: To study the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on pediatric ocular trauma during summer break in a tertiary care eye hospital in Pakistan. Methods: This retrospective comparative study was conducted at the Department of Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus at Al-Shifa Trust Eye Hospital, Rawalpindi during summer vacation, spanning from 1st June to 31st August of 2019 (a year before covid-19 pandemic, i.e pre-pandemic period) and same duration in 2020 (pandemic period). Data was collected from 385 pediatric patients who were admitted for ocular trauma treatment during these two study periods. Results: Among 385 patients, 190 cases arise from pre-pandemic and 195 from pandemic period. In both study periods, the majority involved male patients (60%), with female cases making up 40%. The average age of affected children remained consistent at 8.5 years, and the most frequently affected age group was 6-10 years. Blunt trauma cases increased from 45% (86 cases) pre-pandemic to 50% (98 cases) during the pandemic, likely due to increased time spent indoors with potential household hazards. Penetrating injuries, however, decreased from 30% (57 cases) to 25% (49 cases), possibly reflecting reduced outdoor play. Conclusion: It is concluded that the COVID-19 pandemic led to an increase in household-related pediatric ocular trauma, with a higher proportion of severe injuries and delayed treatment impacting recovery outcomes

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Kaur K, Muralikrishnan J, Hussaindeen JR, Deori N, Gurnani B. Impact of Covid-19 on Pediatric Ophthalmology Care: Lessons Learned. Pediatric Health, Medicine and Therapeutics. 2023:309-21.

Yiu RC, Yiu C-PB, Li VQ. Evaluating the WHO’s framing and crisis management strategy during the early stage of COVID-19 outbreak. Policy Design and Practice. 2021;4(1):94-114.

Filip R, Gheorghita Puscaselu R, Anchidin-Norocel L, Dimian M, Savage WK. Global challenges to public health care systems during the COVID-19 pandemic: a review of pandemic measures and problems. Journal of personalized medicine. 2022;12(8):1295.

Munsamy AJ, Chetty V, Ramlall S. Screen-based behaviour in children is more than meets the eye. South African Family Practice. 2022;64(1):5374.

Kaur K, Gurnani B, Nayak S, Deori N, Kaur S, Jethani J, et al. Digital eye strain-a comprehensive review. Ophthalmology and therapy. 2022;11(5):1655-80.

Chen GL, Yam JC, Pang CC. Special issue “pediatric eye disease: screening, causes and treatment”. MDPI; 2023. p. 654.

Kapoor S, Eldib A, Hiasat J, Scanga H, Tomasello J, Alabek M, et al. Developing a pediatric ophthalmology telemedicine program in the COVID-19 crisis. Journal of American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus. 2020;24(4):204-8. e2.

Breazzano MP, Shen J, Abdelhakim AH, Glass LRD, Horowitz JD, Xie SX, et al. Resident physician exposure to novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV, SARS-CoV-2) within New York City during exponential phase of COVID-19 pandemic: report of the New York City residency program directors COVID-19 research group. MedRxiv. 2020:2020.04. 23.20074310.

Ahmed S, Sanghvi K, Yeo D. Telemedicine takes centre stage during COVID-19 pandemic. BMJ Innov. 2020;6(4):252-4.

Pellegrini M, Roda M, Lupardi E, Di Geronimo N, Giannaccare G, Schiavi C. The impact of COVID‐19 pandemic on ophthalmological emergency department visits. Acta ophthalmologica. 2020;98(8):e1058.

Salvetat ML, Salati C, Busatto P, Zeppieri M. The impact of COVID-19 related national lockdown on ophthalmic emergency in Italy: a multicenter study. European Journal of Ophthalmology. 2022;32(3):1782-94.

Jin Y-P, Canizares M, El-Defrawy S, Buys YM. Backlog in ophthalmic surgeries associated with the COVID-19 pandemic in Ontario 2020. Canadian Journal of Ophthalmology. 2023;58(6):513-22.

Chaudhry Z, Santhakumaran S, Schwartz J, Toffoli D. Impact of COVID-19 on pediatric ophthalmology in the epicentre of the Canadian outbreak. Canadian Journal of ophthalmology Journal Canadien D'ophtalmologie. 2022;58(1):e16.

Robbins SL, Packwood EA, Siegel LM, Arnold R, Bartiss M, Buffenn AN, et al. The impact of the COVID-19 shutdown on US pediatric ophthalmologists. Journal of American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus. 2020;24(4):189-94.

Davis AL, Sunderji A, Marneni SR, Seiler M, Hall JE, Cotanda CP, et al. Caregiver-reported delay in presentation to pediatric emergency departments for fear of contracting COVID-19: a multi-national cross-sectional study. Canadian Journal of Emergency Medicine. 2021;23(6):778-86.

Poyser A, Deol SS, Osman L, Kuht HJ, Sivagnanasithiyar T, Manrique R, et al. Impact of COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown on eye emergencies. European journal of ophthalmology. 2021;31(6):2894-900.

Shah K, Camhi SS, Sridhar J, Cavuoto KM. Impact of the coronavirus pandemic on pediatric eye-related emergency department services. Journal of American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus. 2020;24(6):367-9.

Bourdon H, Jaillant R, Ballino A, El Kaim P, Debillon L, Bodin S, et al. Teleconsultation in primary ophthalmic emergencies during the COVID-19 lockdown in Paris: experience with 500 patients in March and April 2020. Journal francais d'ophtalmologie. 2020;43(7):577-85.