Pediatric emergency care
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Septic shock is frequent in children and is associated with high mortality and morbidity rates. Early recognition of severe sepsis improve outcome. Shock index (SI), ratio of heart rate (HR) and systolic blood pressure (SBP), may be a good noninvasive measure of hemodynamic instability that has been poorly studied in children. The aim of the study was to explore the usefulness of SI as an early index of prognosis for septic shock in children. ⋯ In our population of children with septic shock, SI was a clinically relevant and easily calculated predictor of mortality. It could be a better measure of hemodynamic status than HR and SBP alone, allowing for the early recognition of severe sepsis.
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Mumps virus infection primarily affects the salivary glands and may incur various complications. Laryngeal edema is such a rare complication that few adult cases have been reported. We report the first known pediatric patient with mumps with laryngeal edema. ⋯ He did not need tracheotomy and did not experience any other complications. Laryngeal edema must be regarded as a rare, potentially life-threatening complication of mumps. When mumps is diagnosed with significant swelling of the neck, an emergency airway should be established to prevent airway obstruction.
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Procedures are common in pediatric emergency departments and frequently cause distress from pain and/or anxiety. The objective of this study was to describe the incidence, types, and magnitude of long-term behavior changes after procedures in the emergency setting. ⋯ In this pilot study, a significant percentage of children undergoing common emergency procedures exhibited an appreciable burden of negative behavior change at 1 week; these results demonstrate the need for further rigorous investigation of predictors of these changes and interventions, which can ameliorate these changes.