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BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic has decimated non-pandemic hospital admissions worldwide. This population-based study was carried out in order to ascertain whether there were any differences in numbers or characteristics of acute paediatric medical admissions during the first wave of COVID-19 in Malta compared with the corresponding 2019 period.
METHODS: Data was collected from Maltas only acute general hospital using health records and computer databases including iSoft Clinical Manager (ICM) and Electronic Case Summaries (ECS). Data was collected for 1/3-9/5/2019 (control period) and the corresponding 2020 period (study period).
RESULTS: Acute paediatric medical admissions dropped by 63.5%. Neonates increased by 5.25% (p = 0.001). An increase in child abuse/social paediatric cases (p < 0.001) was noted. Data analysed after school closure revealed a significant drop in the number of communicable (infectious) disease admissions (p < 0.001). There was also a negative correlation between daily paediatric admissions and active COVID-19 cases in Malta (p = 0.005). No significant delay in the presentation of patients was noted and no increased admissions to the NPICU was recorded.
CONCLUSION: Our findings demonstrate a decrease in paediatric illnesses due to school closures, possibly exacerbated by fear of contracting COVID-19 in hospital environments. Public health measures to alleviate guardians' concerns are important to decrease further potential avoidable consequences from the ongoing pandemic.