What had changed in patient incoming to ear, nose and throat policlinics during COVID-19 Pandemic?

Abstract

Covid-19 Pandemic had significant effects on the diagnosis and treatment process of the patients incoming to ENT (ear-nose-throat) policlinics. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the changes caused by covid-19 pandemic on the patient profiles and visiting reasons between the pre-pandemic and pandemic same periods. The data of the patients who had visited the ENT policlinics between 01.09.2020-31.12.2020 and the pre-pandemic same period (01.09.2019-31.12.2019) is collected from the automation system of our hospital and evaluated retrospectively. The number of incoming patients to ENT policlinics had decreased by 55.38% in 2020 when compared to the same period in 2019. The percentage of patients with facial paralysis is seen to increase in 2020. Both the percentage and number of patients with upper respiratory tract infections other than covid-19 and pediatric tonsillitis and adenoiditis are seen to decrease in 2020. However, it is observed that the patient incomings with upper respiratory tract infections other than the covid-19 and pediatric tonsillitis and adenoiditis are decreased because of the precautions taken to prevent the spread of the covid-19 infection, this decrease in patient incomings to the hospital is thought to have adverse effects on the diagnose and treatment of many other diseases.