Pediatric emergency care
-
Pediatric emergency care · Dec 2021
Internationally Acquired Severe Systemic Infections in Febrile Pediatric Travelers Presenting to the Emergency Department.
Most children in the United States who visit the emergency department (ED) with fever have minor illnesses not requiring treatment or hospitalization. However, when a child has recently immigrated or traveled abroad, internationally acquired severe systemic infections (ISSIs) must be considered. We sought to describe children who have traveled internationally and present to the ED with a complaint of fever and to determine risk factors associated with ISSIs in these patients. ⋯ Children who travel internationally and present with fever upon return are at substantial risk for developing ISSIs. The diagnosis of ISSIs is often overlooked, but certain risk factors have the potential to aid clinicians.
-
Pediatric emergency care · Dec 2021
Sound and Air: Ultrasonographic Measurements of Pediatric Chest Wall Thickness and Implications for Needle Decompression of Tension Pneumothorax.
Needle decompression is potentially life-saving in cases of tension pneumothorax. Although Advanced Trauma Life Support recommends an 8-cm needle for decompression for adults, no detailed pediatric guidelines exist, specifically regarding needle length or site of decompression. ⋯ The standard 1.25-in (3.175 cm) catheters are sufficient to treat most tension pneumothoraces in pediatric patients.
-
Pediatric emergency care · Dec 2021
Reversible Cortical Blindness in Pediatric Native Valve Endocarditis.
Native valve endocarditis, a rare phenomenon in children, can present with septic embolization and devastating consequences. We present a healthy child with bilateral cortical blindness due to native mitral valve endocarditis. After prompt medical and surgical therapy, he regained complete vision. Early surgical intervention resulted in the best outcome.
-
Although community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is one of the most common infections in children, no standardized risk classification exists to guide management. The objective of this study was to develop expert consensus for factors associated with various degrees of disease severity in pediatric CAP. ⋯ This study presents factors deemed important for risk stratification in pediatric CAP by consensus of a multidisciplinary expert panel. This initial step toward identifying and formalizing severity criteria for CAP informs critical knowledge gaps and can be leveraged in future development of clinically meaningful risk stratification scores.
-
Pediatric emergency care · Dec 2021
Validity Analysis on the Findings of Dehydration in 2 to 24-Month-Old Children With Acute Diarrhea.
The most common cause of diarrheal mortality in children is dehydration. In this study, we aimed to assess the validity (sensitivity and specificity) of history and the clinical and laboratory findings in in the diagnosis of dehydration in children younger than 2 years with acute diarrhea. ⋯ In children with acute diarrhea, diarrheal frequency and last urination time should be asked, thirst, dry mucous membranes, weakness, sunken eyes, and hoarse crying should be examined.