Shelter in Place and an Alarming Increase in Penetrating Trauma in Children and Concerning Decrease in Child Abuse.
COVID
pediatric surgery
penetrating trauma
trauma
Journal
The American surgeon
ISSN: 1555-9823
Titre abrégé: Am Surg
Pays: United States
ID NLM: 0370522
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
29 Dec 2022
29 Dec 2022
Historique:
entrez:
30
12
2022
pubmed:
31
12
2022
medline:
31
12
2022
Statut:
aheadofprint
Résumé
On March 14, 2020, schools across North Carolina (NC) closed in response to Covid-19, forcing completion of the school year at home. Most pediatric trauma occurs at home with a higher prevalence when children are out of school. We queried the state trauma database to assess if the 2020 "shelter in place" was associated with an increase in pediatric trauma statewide. The NC trauma database was queried for injuries in children (age < 18 yrs) from 13 March-1 August 2020, and the corresponding months of 2018 and 2019. The number and type of injuries were compared. We also queried the NC death certificate and child welfare databases. Data were analyzed by standard statistical methods using chi-squared or Kruskal-Wallis test. Total pediatric trauma cases were lower during 2020 (71.6 per 100,000) compared to 2018 (92.4 per 100,000) and 2019 (80 per 100,000) ( While overall pediatric trauma decreased during the Covid-19 pandemic, there was an alarming increase in penetrating injuries in children. Child abuse trauma and reports decreased, which is concerning for lower identification of abuse.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
BACKGROUND
On March 14, 2020, schools across North Carolina (NC) closed in response to Covid-19, forcing completion of the school year at home. Most pediatric trauma occurs at home with a higher prevalence when children are out of school. We queried the state trauma database to assess if the 2020 "shelter in place" was associated with an increase in pediatric trauma statewide.
METHODS
METHODS
The NC trauma database was queried for injuries in children (age < 18 yrs) from 13 March-1 August 2020, and the corresponding months of 2018 and 2019. The number and type of injuries were compared. We also queried the NC death certificate and child welfare databases. Data were analyzed by standard statistical methods using chi-squared or Kruskal-Wallis test.
RESULTS
RESULTS
Total pediatric trauma cases were lower during 2020 (71.6 per 100,000) compared to 2018 (92.4 per 100,000) and 2019 (80 per 100,000) (
CONCLUSION
CONCLUSIONS
While overall pediatric trauma decreased during the Covid-19 pandemic, there was an alarming increase in penetrating injuries in children. Child abuse trauma and reports decreased, which is concerning for lower identification of abuse.
Identifiants
pubmed: 36583224
doi: 10.1177/00031348221148361
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM