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.