The evaluation of disease distribution profiles of adolescents admitted to pediatric emergency department

The Evaluation of Disease Distribution Profiles of Adolescents Admitted to Pediatric Emergency Department Introduction and Objective: The adolescent period is the final stage of rapid growth that represents the completion of sexual and psychosocial development and the transition from childhood to adulthood. Trauma, murder and suicide are common causes of adolescent mortality and it is noted that rates of unintended pregnancy, sexually transmitted infections, alcohol and substance use have reached undesirable levels in developing countries. The aim of this study is to evaluate the disease distribution profiles of adolescents admitted to the department of pediatric emergency. Material and Method: The sample of the single-center retrospective study consisted of 1,269 adolescent patients among 3807, selected one of three, who applied to Adnan Menderes University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pediatric Emergency between 1 January 2017 and 31 December 2017. The data were analyzed using SPSS 20.0. Results: It was determined that 57.1% of the cases were girls and 43% were boys, 61.1% lived in the urban center and the mean age of the girls and boys was 13.5 ± 2.29 and 13 ± 2.25 years, respectively. The findings were grouped according to the systems and it was found that upper respiratory tract infections, genitourinary tract infections and gastrointestinal infections were the most common diagnoses in both groups, respectively, and the most frequent complaint of admission was abdominal pain. When the symptoms were grouped according to the systems, the most frequent and common ones were determined as gastrointestinal tract symptoms, respiratory system symptoms and neurological/psychiatric system symptoms, respectively. It was determined that 49% of the cases admitted with an ordinary complaint of pain (p=0,000). It was also found that admissions were mostly made during the winter period (p=0.008) when they were examined according to the seasons, 48.3% of the patients were decided to receive medical treatment, 26% were treated at the emergency room and 14.9% were hospitalized. It was found in the distribution of the examination status by gender that female patients were requested more examinations and the difference was statistically significant (p=0,011). When the distribution of patients requesting consultation and their referral and hospitalization status by gender were examined, no statistically significant relationship was found (p>0.05). 398 of undiagnosed cases (31.4%) were noted. When diagnosed and undiagnosed cases were evaluated according to gender, admissions due to pain, consultation request and hospitalization, it was determined that the rate of diagnosis was significantly lower in those who admitted due to pain complaints (p=0.000). It was noted that more consultation was requested from undiagnosed cases (p=0.002) and the rate of their hospitalization was lower (p=0.027). No significant difference was found between those diagnosed and not diagnosed according to their gender (p=0.492). Conclusion: Consequently, it was found in this current study that the majority of adolescent cases mostly admitted with upper respiratory tract infections during the winter months and the admission rate was higher in girls. When it was generally evaluated, emergency department was found to be frequently admitted by general outpatient patients rather than emergency cases. It was determined that certain cases were not suitable due to the easy access to the emergency room and the desire of families to get quick and satisfactory results in health problems. Primary health care services and pediatric outpatient clinics in other steps should be provided adequate service in order to prevent emergency services from being engaged by regular outpatients other than serious cases. In addition, providing training for patients about frequent health problems in children and the way they should follow will prevent non-urgent emergency department usage.