Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on paediatric otolaryngology: a nationwide study

Eleonora M C Trecca; Michele Gaffuri; Giulia Molinari; Francesca Yoshie Russo; Mario Turri-Zanoni; Andrea Albera; Antonella Miriam di Lullo; Gennaro Russo; Giuditta Mannelli; Massimo Ralli; Task Force of the Young Otolaryngologists of the Italian Society of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery

doi:10.14639/0392-100X-N2452

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on paediatric otolaryngology: a nationwide study

Acta Otorhinolaryngol Ital. 2023 Oct;43(5):352-359. doi: 10.14639/0392-100X-N2452. Epub 2023 Jul 28.

Authors

Eleonora M C Trecca^{1

2}, Michele Gaffuri^{1

3

4}, Giulia Molinari^{1

5

6}, Francesca Yoshie Russo^{1

7}, Mario Turri-Zanoni^{1

8}, Andrea Albera^{1

9}, Antonella Miriam di Lullo^{1

10}, Gennaro Russo^{11

12}, Giuditta Mannelli^{11

13}, Massimo Ralli^{1

7}; Task Force of the Young Otolaryngologists of the Italian Society of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery

Collaborators

Task Force of the Young Otolaryngologists of the Italian Society of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery:
Marco Bonali, Pasquale Capasso, Carlo Cavaliere, Cristoforo Fabbris, Matteo Fermi, Pierre Guarino, Valeria Iannini, Niccolò Mevio, Davide Topazio

Affiliations

¹ Research group of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology of the Task Force of the Young Otolaryngologists of the Italian Society of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery.
² Department of Otolaryngology, University Hospital of Foggia, Foggia, Italy.
³ Department of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy.
⁴ Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.
⁵ Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
⁶ Department of Experimental Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
⁷ Department of Sense Organs, ENT Department, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
⁸ Division of Otorhinolaryngology, Department of Biotechnology and Life Sciences, University of Insubria, Varese, Italy.
⁹ Department of Surgical Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy.
¹⁰ ENT Unit- Department of Neuroscience, Reproductive and Odontostomatological Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy.
¹¹ Task Force of the Young Otolaryngologists of the Italian Society of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery.
¹² Otolaryngology Unit, AORN dei Colli, V. Monaldi Hospital, Napoli, Italy.
¹³ Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.

Abstract
in English, Italian

Objective: The COVID-19 pandemic profoundly modified the work routine in healthcare; however, its impact on the field of paediatric otorhinolaryngology (ORL) has been rarely investigated. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of COVID-19 on paediatric ORL.

Methods: A questionnaire was developed by the Young Otolaryngologists of the Italian Society of ORL-Head and Neck Surgery (GOS). The questionnaire consisted of 26 questions related to workplace and personal paediatric ORL activities. The link was advertised on the official social media platforms and sent by e-mail to 469 Italian otolaryngologists.

Results: The questionnaire was completed by 118 responders. During the pandemic, the main reduction was observed for surgical activity (78.8%), followed by outpatient service (16.9%). The conditions that were mostly impacted by a delayed diagnosis were respiratory infections in 45.8% of cases and sensorineural hearing loss in 37.3% of cases.

Conclusions: Paediatric ORL was highly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, with a significant reduction of surgical and outpatient activities and a delay in time-sensitive diagnosis. Therefore, the implementation of new strategies, such as telemedicine, is recommended.

Impatto della pandemia COVID-19 sull’otorinolaringoiatria pediatrica.

Obiettivo: L’impatto della pandemia COVID-19 sul settore dell’otorinolaringoiatria (ORL) pediatrica è stato poco studiato. Lo scopo di questa ricerca è stato, pertanto, quello di valutare l’impatto del COVID-19 sull’ORL pediatrica, concentrandosi sulle differenze con il periodo precedente la pandemia.

Metodi: Un questionario composto da 26 domande relative alle attività lavorative è stato sviluppato dal Gruppo Giovani della Società Italiana di ORL e Chirurgia Cervico-facciale (GOS). Il link è stato diffuso sui social media della società e inviato via e-mail a 469 otorinolaringoiatri.

Risultati: Il questionario è stato compilato da 118 otorinolaringoiatri. Durante la pandemia, la principale riduzione è stata osservata per l’attività chirurgica (78,8%), seguita dal servizio ambulatoriale (16,9%). Le condizioni maggiormente colpite da una diagnosi ritardata sono state le infezioni respiratorie nel 45,8% e l’ipoacusia neurosensoriale nel 37,3%.

Conclusioni: L’ORL pediatrica è stata influenzata dalla pandemia COVID-19 con una riduzione statisticamente significativa delle attività chirurgiche e ambulatoriali. Molte diagnosi che necessitano di un trattamento tempestivo sono state differite. Pertanto, si raccomanda di implementare nuove strategie, come la telemedicina.

Keywords: COVID-19; adenoidectomy; children; paediatric otolaryngology; tonsillectomy.

Abstract in English, Italian

Abstract
in English, Italian