Retrospective analysis: the earthquake-injured patients in Barakott of Pakistan

Abstract

Objective: To provide the experience on medical rescue and care for any giant earthquake by analysing the patients treated by the Chinese Medical Rescue Team in the Barakott earthquake of Pakistan.

Methods: On October 8, 2005, a giant earthquake (7.8 Richter scale) earthquake occurred in the northwest Pakistan. We belonged to the Chinese Medical Rescue Team and worked in the earthquake-affected town---Barakott from October 28, 2005 to November 17, 2005. The patients were classified into upper respiratory tract infection, diarrhea, trauma and other diseases. All the data of patients who were injured during the earthquake were analysed. The difference was analyzed by X(2) test.

Results: Of the 2 194 patients treated by the Chinese Medical Rescue Team, trauma patients only accounted for 29%, diarrhea patients for 4%, upper respiratory infection patients for 14%, and other types of diseases for 52%. Among the 630 trauma patients, 426 patients were injured during the earthquake. Of the 426 patients, 291 (68%) patients were found having open wounds, 85 (20%) patients mainly complained of soft tissue pain without any wound or fracture, and 76 (18%) patients had fractures with or without open wound. The most frequent site of wound was lower extremity. Head injury in children was 30%, obviously higher than that in the adults. Wound infection was common among the injured patients, with the rates of 72%, 64% and 78% in male, female adult patients and children, respectively.

Conclusions: Prevalence of common diseases, trauma, wound infection and fracture are main problems presented at late stage of the giant earthquake. Great attention should be paid to head and lower extremity injuries.