Early Period Assessment of the Nutritional Status of Child Patients in the Earthquake Zone

Abstract

Objective:The objective of this study was to investigate the impact of earthquakes on the nutritional status and infection rates of children in the early stages of post-earthquake recovery. Material and Methods: Following the earthquakes on February 6, 2023, 80 out of 504 patients who presented to the pediatric examination tent in Hatay province were included in the study. Reasons for patient visits and weight loss compared to pre-earthquake measurements were examined. Results: A total of 80 patients were examined across three different age groups [1 month-5 years (29 patients), 5-10 years (34 patients), and 10-18 years (17 patients)]. In all three age groups, a statistically significant decline was observed in body weights, weight percentiles, and age-specific standard deviations when compared to their pre-earthquake measurements (p<0.001). Besides, frequently occurring illnesses were respiratory tract infections (51.25%) and acute gastroenteritis (38.75%). Conclusion: Ensuring appropriate and adequate nutrition for children in the aftermath of a disaster is of critical importance for sustaining normal growth and preventing of diseases. Therefore, emergency plans should include expert pediatricians and prioritize children.

Keywords

• Children
• Disaster
• Earthquake
• Nutrition

Deprem Bölgesindeki Çocuk Hastaların Beslenme Durumunun Erken Dönem Değerlendirmesi

Abstract

Amaç: Bu çalışmanın amacı, deprem sonrası iyileşmenin erken evrelerinde depremlerin çocukların beslenme durumu ve enfeksiyon oranları üzerindeki etkisini araştırmaktır. Gereç ve Yöntemler: 2023 yılı 6 Şubat’taki depremler sonrasında, Hatay ilindeki çocuk muayene çadırına başvuran 504 hastadan 80’i çalışmaya dahil edilmiştir. Hastaların ziyaret nedenleri ve deprem öncesi ölçümlere göre kilo kayıpları incelenmiştir. Bulgular: Toplam 80 hasta, üç farklı yaş grubunda incelenmiştir [1 ay-5 yaş (29 hasta), 5-10 yaş (34 hasta) ve 10-18 yaş (17 hasta)]. Üç yaş grubunda da, deprem öncesi ölçümlerle karşılaştırıldığında, vücut ağırlıklarında, ağırlık persentillerinde ve yaşa özgü standart sapmalarda istatistiksel olarak anlamlı bir düşüş gözlemlenmiştir (p<0.001). Ayrıca, sık görülen hastalıklar solunum yolu enfeksiyonları (%51.25) ve akut gastroenterit (%38.75)’di. Sonuç: Felaket sonrası çocuklar için uygun ve yeterli beslenmenin sağlanması, normal büyümenin sürdürülmesi ve hastalıkların önlenmesi için kritik öneme sahiptir. Bu nedenle, acil durum planları uzman çocuk doktorlarını içermeli ve çocuklara öncelik vermelidir.

Keywords

• Çocuklar
• Deprem
• Felaket
• Beslenme

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