The Effects of the February 6 Earthquake on the Pediatric Health and Diseases Service: A Dual-Center Experience.
The Kahramanmaraş-centered earthquakes of February 6, 2023 severely disrupted healthcare services, with children-one of the most vulnerable groups-being at particular risk for trauma, infections, and interruptions in chronic disease management. This study evaluated the demographic and clinical characteristics of pediatric inpatients in 2 hospitals in Hatay (Defne State Hospital and Mustafa Kemal University Hospital) by comparing pre- and post-earthquake periods.
This retrospective cross-sectional study included pediatric patients admitted between December 2020-March 2022 (pre-earthquake) and December 2023-March 2024 (post-earthquake). Medical records were reviewed for demographic data, diagnoses, length of hospital stay, and discharge outcomes.
A total of 920 patients were included (313 pre-earthquake, 607 post-earthquake). After the earthquake, children admitted were younger (mean age 3.6 ± 4.3 years), had shorter hospital stays (2.6 ± 2.1 days), and were less often foreign nationals compared to the pre-earthquake cohort. Respiratory system infections were the leading diagnosis overall (61.7%), with a notable increase in the post-earthquake period (75.9%). Pediatric neurology and nephrology wards were entirely closed, while endocrinology admissions nearly disappeared. Most patients (90.1%) were discharged in good condition, and referral rates to higher-level centers remained low.
Respiratory infections emerged as the leading cause of pediatric hospitalizations after the earthquake. The rapid re-establishment of pediatric inpatient services allowed most cases to be treated locally, yet the closure of pediatric subspecialty wards underscores long-term challenges. Disaster preparedness must therefore encompass not only acute trauma care but also sustained management of pediatric infections and chronic diseases.
This retrospective cross-sectional study included pediatric patients admitted between December 2020-March 2022 (pre-earthquake) and December 2023-March 2024 (post-earthquake). Medical records were reviewed for demographic data, diagnoses, length of hospital stay, and discharge outcomes.
A total of 920 patients were included (313 pre-earthquake, 607 post-earthquake). After the earthquake, children admitted were younger (mean age 3.6 ± 4.3 years), had shorter hospital stays (2.6 ± 2.1 days), and were less often foreign nationals compared to the pre-earthquake cohort. Respiratory system infections were the leading diagnosis overall (61.7%), with a notable increase in the post-earthquake period (75.9%). Pediatric neurology and nephrology wards were entirely closed, while endocrinology admissions nearly disappeared. Most patients (90.1%) were discharged in good condition, and referral rates to higher-level centers remained low.
Respiratory infections emerged as the leading cause of pediatric hospitalizations after the earthquake. The rapid re-establishment of pediatric inpatient services allowed most cases to be treated locally, yet the closure of pediatric subspecialty wards underscores long-term challenges. Disaster preparedness must therefore encompass not only acute trauma care but also sustained management of pediatric infections and chronic diseases.
Authors
Dönger Dönger, Çalışkan Çalışkan, Çay Çay, Püren Yücel Püren Yücel, Trabzon Trabzon, Güllü Güllü, El El
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