المستخلص: |
The Hajj season in Saudi Arabia is one of the largest annual gatherings in the world, bringing together millions of pilgrims from diverse backgrounds and regions. This massive gathering poses unique public health challenges, particularly in the field of emergency medicine. The high population density increases the risk of transmission of infectious diseases, injuries, and other health conditions. This study aims to analyze the epidemiological patterns and most common injuries in emergency departments during the Hajj season and assess their impact on health planning. A comprehensive literature review was conducted using PubMed, Science Direct, and Cochrane databases, along with a manual search in Google Scholar. All relevant studies were included in the review without restrictions on age, publication type, or publication date. The results indicate that infectious diseases have historically been the leading cause of illness and death during Hajj, including respiratory and gastrointestinal infections, with an increasing contribution from non-communicable diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, and hypertension. Thermal injuries, stampede injuries, and falls are also major challenges, along with environmental conditions such as high temperatures and high population density.
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