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Where have the children with epilepsy gone? An observational study of seizure-related accesses to emergency department at the time of COVID-19.
Davico, Chiara; Marcotulli, Daniele; Lux, Caterina; Calderoni, Dario; Terrinoni, Arianna; Di Santo, Federica; Ricci, Federica; Vittorini, Roberta; Amianto, Federico; Urbino, Antonio; Ferrara, Mauro; Vitiello, Benedetto.
  • Davico C; Department of Public Health and Pediatric Sciences, Section of Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry, University of Turin, Piazza Polonia 94, 10100, Turin, Italy. Electronic address: chiara.davico@unito.it.
  • Marcotulli D; Department of Public Health and Pediatric Sciences, Section of Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry, University of Turin, Piazza Polonia 94, 10100, Turin, Italy.
  • Lux C; Department of Public Health and Pediatric Sciences, Section of Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry, University of Turin, Piazza Polonia 94, 10100, Turin, Italy.
  • Calderoni D; Section of Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry, University of Rome "La Sapienza", Rome, Italy.
  • Terrinoni A; Section of Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry, University of Rome "La Sapienza", Rome, Italy.
  • Di Santo F; Section of Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry, University of Rome "La Sapienza", Rome, Italy.
  • Ricci F; Department of Public Health and Pediatric Sciences, Section of Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry, University of Turin, Piazza Polonia 94, 10100, Turin, Italy.
  • Vittorini R; Department of Public Health and Pediatric Sciences, Section of Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry, University of Turin, Piazza Polonia 94, 10100, Turin, Italy.
  • Amianto F; Department of Neuroscience, University of Turin, Turin, Italy.
  • Urbino A; Emergency Pediatrics, Department of Child Care, Regina Margherita Hospital, Turin, Italy.
  • Ferrara M; Section of Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry, University of Rome "La Sapienza", Rome, Italy.
  • Vitiello B; Department of Public Health and Pediatric Sciences, Section of Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry, University of Turin, Piazza Polonia 94, 10100, Turin, Italy.
Seizure ; 83: 38-40, 2020 Dec.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1023744
ABSTRACT

PURPOSE:

The COVID-19 pandemic and related lockdown measures drastically changed health care and emergency services utilization. This study evaluated trends in emergency department (ED) access for seizure-related reasons in the first 8 weeks of lockdown in Italy.

METHODS:

All ED accesses of children (<14 years of age) at two university hospitals, in Turin and Rome, Italy, between January 6, 2020 and April 21, 2020, were examined and compared with the corresponding periods of 2019.

RESULTS:

During the COVID-19 lockdown period (February 23-April 21, 2020), there was a 72 % decrease in all pediatric ED accesses over the corresponding 2019 period (n = 3,395 vs n = 12,128), with a 38 % decrease in seizure-related accesses (n = 41 vs n = 66). The observed decrease of seizure-related ED accesses was not accompanied by significant changes in age, sex, type of seizure, or hospitalization rate after the ED visit.

CONCLUSION:

The COVID-19 lockdown was accompanied by a sudden decrease in seizure-related hospital emergency visits. School closure, social distancing, reduced risk of infection, and increased parental supervision are some of the factors that might have contributed to the finding.
Subject(s)
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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Seizures / Emergency Service, Hospital / Epilepsy / SARS-CoV-2 / COVID-19 Type of study: Experimental Studies / Observational study / Prognostic study Topics: Long Covid Limits: Adolescent / Child / Humans Country/Region as subject: Europa Language: English Journal: Seizure Journal subject: Neurology Year: 2020 Document Type: Article

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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Seizures / Emergency Service, Hospital / Epilepsy / SARS-CoV-2 / COVID-19 Type of study: Experimental Studies / Observational study / Prognostic study Topics: Long Covid Limits: Adolescent / Child / Humans Country/Region as subject: Europa Language: English Journal: Seizure Journal subject: Neurology Year: 2020 Document Type: Article