Admission Patterns in the Children’s Emergency Room of Enugu State University Teaching Hospital, during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Aims: This study aimed to compare the difference in admission rates and severity of illness in 2019 and during the peak time period of the global SARS-CoV-2 pandemic of 2020 in children presenting at the Children’s emergency room (CHER) of Enugu State University Teaching Hospital, Enugu.

Study Design: This was a cross-sectional study.

Place and Duration of Study: Children’s emergency room (CHER) of Enugu State University Teaching Hospital, Enugu, from June 1 to August 31, 2019 and 2020 were reviewed, respectively.

Methodology: The admission records of all the children that were admitted into CHER of Enugu State University Teaching Hospital (ESUTH), Enugu, over a three-month period from June 1 to August 31, 2019 and 2020 respectively were reviewed.

Results: A total of 310 and 184 patients were seen during the study period for 2019 and 2020, respectively (40.6% decrease). A significant number of patients spent two days on admission in the children’s emergency room in 2020 than in 2019 (P < .001). Emergency admissions were 3 times more in year 2020 than in year 2019 (OR = 2.624, 95% C.I = 1.797 – 3.833, P < .001).

Conclusion: Although this study reported decreased emergency room admissions, there was an increase in the mortality rate and emergency presentations.