An analysis of gastrointestinal symptoms in causalities of catastrophic earthquake of Bam, Iran

Gastrointestinal diseases are among the most common problems occurring during the post earthquake period. This study conducted to determine the frequency of gastrointestinal disorders after the Bam earthquake disaster. The injured people of Bam earthquake, admitted in some hospitals of Tehran, Yazd, Esfahan and Shiraz during the first 10 days of earthquake were studied. The epidemiological data and gastrointestinal complaints were fulfilled in the questionnaires. According to the type and severity of the physical injuries, the patients were divided into four groups (grade 1-4). 737 injured people including 361 (%49) male and 376 (%51) female with mean age of 3014 were studied. Abdominal pain 143(19.4%), nausea 167(22.7%), vomiting 104(14.1%) and excessive gas 161(21.8%), anorexia 287(38.9%), early satiety 200(27.1%), heartburn 188(25.5%), fullness 154(20.9%), bloating 144(19.5%), distention 114(15.5%), belching 93(12.6%), regurgitation 74 (10%), dysphagia 34 (4.65), diarrhea 32 (4.3%) constipation 200 (27.1%), melena 24(3.3%), hematemesis 10(1.4) and hematochezia 5 (0.7%). According to the grade of physical injury, patients divided to 4 groups as follow: 139 (18.9%) patients in grade 1, 323(43.8%) patients in grade 2, 210(28.5%) grade3 patients in and 65(8.8%) patients in grade 4. Excessive gas, abdominal pain, belching and dysphagia were significantly more prevalent among patients with grade 3 injury. Anorexia, early satiety, distention and constipation were significantly more prevalent among patients with grade 3 injury. As a result, gastrointestinal disorders are relatively frequent among injured people of earthquake. Excessive gas, abdominal pain, belching and dysphagia were more prevalent among patients with grade 3 injury.