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Illness and injuries at summer camp
1Department of Pediatrics, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston 29425, USA.
Southern Medical Journal
|May 1, 1997
Summary
Summer camp children frequently visit the infirmary for injuries and infectious diseases. Infectious illnesses like gastroenteritis appeared later in the session than injuries, while preventive care reduced common issues.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Health
- Camp Medicine
- Public Health
Background:
- Children attending summer camps face risks of injury and illness.
- Established guidelines exist for medical care in residential camps.
- Understanding common medical issues is crucial for camp health management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To document illness and injury types in 730 children over two weeks.
- To analyze infirmary usage and disease onset patterns.
- To assess the effectiveness of preventive care for common camp ailments.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of infirmary records for 730 children.
- Categorization of diagnoses into injuries and infectious diseases.
- Comparison of the onset timing for different medical conditions.
Main Results:
- 921 infirmary visits occurred, with injuries and infectious diseases being most common.
- No significant difference in infirmary visits or diagnosis distribution between genders.
- Infectious diseases (e.g., gastroenteritis) showed later onset than injuries and increased towards session end.
Conclusions:
- Injuries and infectious diseases are primary concerns in summer camps.
- Preventive measures can effectively mitigate common camp-related health problems like sunburn and otitis externa.
- Camp health services should anticipate later-onset infectious disease trends.