Effect of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Epidemiology of Pediatric Traumatic Brain Injury in Brazil

AimIn response to the coronavirus 2019 disease (COVID-19) pandemic, governments worldwide implemented measures to prevent infection, resulting in restricted school activities, restricted children’s freedom of movement, and increased risk of violence and injuries at home, including traumatic brain in...

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Published in:	Curēus (Palo Alto, CA) Vol. 15; no. 11; p. e48896
Main Authors:	Ferreira Furtado, Leopoldo Mandic, Da Costa Val Filho, José Aloysio, Da Silva Pereira, Victor, Coimbra, Yasmin S, Caldas, Vitor Hugo R, Magalhães, Anne R, De Carvalho, Bruna Athayde S, Moreira, Saulo G, Teixeira, Antônio L, De Miranda, Aline Silva
Format:	Journal Article
Language:	English
Published:	Palo Alto Cureus Inc 16-11-2023
Subjects:	COVID-19 Epidemiology Mortality Pediatrics Traumatic brain injury Brazil United States > US
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Summary:	AimIn response to the coronavirus 2019 disease (COVID-19) pandemic, governments worldwide implemented measures to prevent infection, resulting in restricted school activities, restricted children’s freedom of movement, and increased risk of violence and injuries at home, including traumatic brain injury (TBI), among children. In Brazil, the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic on the causes, severity, and mortality of pediatric TBI have not yet been investigated. Thus, our study aimed to determine whether the COVID-19 pandemic has affected the epidemiology of pediatric TBI among Brazilian children.Materials and methodsWe investigated the patients with TBI aged <18 years who visited a tertiary trauma center in Brazil in 2019 and 2020. TBI-related variables, such as classification, mechanism, clinical manifestations, need for intervention, morbidity, and mortality, were recorded. Furthermore, we used a nationwide databank to collect information on mortality from external causes of trauma and violence in the pediatric population in 2019 and 2020. The Mann-Whitney test was used to compare quantitative variables related to the mechanisms and severity of TBI in both periods in order to determine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.ResultsOf the patients with traumatic brain injury, 1371 visited the trauma center in 2019 and 1052 in 2020. No difference was noted in the incidence rate of abusive head trauma between these periods (p=0.142) or in mortality from violence in Brazil. Recreational causes of pediatric TBI increased during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil and falls from bicycles significantly increased during the pandemic (p<0.001).ConclusionA global reduction in pediatric admissions to emergency rooms as well as no impact on mortality and severity of pediatric TBI were observed during the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil. Additionally, a public education program regarding child safety during recreational activities, particularly how to avoid falls from bicycles was recommended.
Bibliography:	ObjectType-Article-1 SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1 ObjectType-Feature-2 content type line 23
ISSN:	2168-8184 2168-8184
DOI:	10.7759/cureus.48896