Condition Lookup
Category:
Pediatric Emergencies
Number of Conditions: 6
Bronchiolitis
Specialty: Emergency and Urgent Care
Category: Pediatric Emergencies
Sub-category: Respiratory Conditions
Symptoms:
runny nose; cough; wheezing; rapid breathing; retractions (chest wall pulling in); poor feeding; fever
Root Cause:
Inflammation and mucus build-up in the small airways (bronchioles), most commonly caused by respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).
How it's Diagnosed: videos
Clinical evaluation of symptoms; nasal swab tests for RSV may be used; chest X-rays only for severe cases.
Treatment:
Supportive care, including hydration, oxygen supplementation if needed, and suctioning of nasal secretions.
Medications:
No routine medications; bronchodilators or nebulized hypertonic saline may be used in selected cases.
Prevalence:
How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Affects 20–30% of infants under 1 year old, with higher rates during winter and spring.
Risk Factors:
Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Premature birth, age under 6 months, exposure to cigarette smoke, crowded living conditions, daycare attendance.
Prognosis:
The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Most recover with supportive care; severe cases may require hospitalization and oxygen therapy. Rarely leads to long-term respiratory issues.
Complications:
Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Respiratory distress, hypoxia, dehydration, and secondary bacterial infections such as pneumonia.
Croup
Specialty: Emergency and Urgent Care
Category: Pediatric Emergencies
Sub-category: Respiratory Conditions
Symptoms:
barking cough; hoarseness; stridor (high-pitched wheezing); difficulty breathing; fever; nasal congestion
Root Cause:
Swelling and inflammation of the upper airway, typically caused by viral infections such as parainfluenza virus.
How it's Diagnosed: videos
Clinical evaluation based on characteristic symptoms and physical examination; imaging or additional tests are rarely needed.
Treatment:
Supportive care (hydration, humidified air), corticosteroids to reduce airway inflammation, and nebulized epinephrine for severe cases.
Medications:
Dexamethasone or prednisone (corticosteroids) to reduce inflammation; nebulized epinephrine (adrenergic agonist) for acute airway swelling.
Prevalence:
How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Common in children aged 6 months to 3 years, particularly during fall and winter months.
Risk Factors:
Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Young age, exposure to viral infections, attending daycare, family history of respiratory conditions.
Prognosis:
The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Most cases resolve with supportive care; severe cases respond well to medical treatment. Rarely requires hospitalization.
Complications:
Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Severe airway obstruction, hypoxia, bacterial superinfection, and, in rare cases, respiratory failure.
Pediatric Sepsis
Specialty: Emergency and Urgent Care
Category: Pediatric Emergencies
Sub-category: Infections
Symptoms:
fever or hypothermia; rapid heart rate; rapid breathing; altered mental state; low urine output; cold, clammy skin; pale or mottled appearance
Root Cause:
A systemic inflammatory response to infection leading to organ dysfunction, caused by bacteria, viruses, fungi, or other pathogens entering the bloodstream.
How it's Diagnosed: videos
Clinical evaluation; laboratory tests such as complete blood count (CBC), blood cultures, lactate levels, and inflammatory markers (e.g., CRP, procalcitonin); imaging studies to identify the infection source.
Treatment:
Immediate resuscitation with fluids, administration of broad-spectrum antibiotics, and management of organ dysfunction with oxygen, vasopressors, and sometimes dialysis or mechanical ventilation.
Medications:
Broad-spectrum antibiotics (e.g., ceftriaxone , piperacillin-tazobactam, or vancomycin ) are first-line treatments, often combined with antifungal (e.g., fluconazole ) or antiviral agents (e.g., acyclovir ) if indicated. Vasopressors like norepinephrine or dopamine may be used to stabilize blood pressure.
Prevalence:
How common the health condition is within a specific population.
A leading cause of morbidity and mortality in children, with approximately 75,000 cases annually in the U.S. and higher rates globally in low-resource settings.
Risk Factors:
Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Prematurity, weak immune systems, chronic illnesses, malnutrition, recent surgery, or central venous catheters.
Prognosis:
The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Early identification and treatment improve survival rates; untreated or delayed treatment can lead to septic shock and multi-organ failure.
Complications:
Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Septic shock, multi-organ failure, long-term neurological or developmental deficits, and death.
Pediatric fractures
Specialty: Emergency and Urgent Care
Category: Pediatric Emergencies
Sub-category: Trauma
Symptoms:
pain and swelling at the site of injury; deformity or abnormal positioning of the limb; inability or refusal to move the affected limb; bruising or discoloration; tenderness to touch
Root Cause:
Bone breakage in children caused by trauma, often due to falls, sports injuries, or accidents. Children's bones are more flexible and prone to specific fracture patterns like greenstick or buckle fractures.
How it's Diagnosed: videos
Physical examination, patient history, and imaging studies such as X-rays, CT scans, or MRIs if necessary.
Treatment:
Immobilization with casts or splints, reduction of displaced fractures (manual or surgical), and surgical fixation in severe cases (e.g., rods, plates, or screws).
Medications:
Pain management is typically prescribed, including acetaminophen (analgesic) or ibuprofen (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug). For severe pain, opioids (e.g., codeine ) may be used for a short duration.
Prevalence:
How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Common in children, with fractures accounting for 10-25% of all pediatric injuries.
Risk Factors:
Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
High levels of physical activity, weak bone structure due to nutritional deficiencies (e.g., calcium or vitamin D), certain medical conditions affecting bone strength, and lack of supervision during play or sports.
Prognosis:
The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Generally excellent with appropriate treatment. Children's bones heal faster than adults, often within weeks.
Complications:
Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Malunion, growth disturbances in the growth plate (physeal fractures), and long-term deformities if untreated.
Non-accidental trauma (child abuse)
Specialty: Emergency and Urgent Care
Category: Pediatric Emergencies
Sub-category: Trauma
Symptoms:
unexplained or inconsistent injuries; multiple fractures in various stages of healing; bruises in atypical patterns (e.g., shapes of objects); burn marks or scars; behavioral changes such as fearfulness or withdrawal; failure to thrive; injuries that don't match the history provided by caregivers
Root Cause:
Intentional physical harm inflicted on a child, often involving repetitive or severe trauma. This is part of child abuse and neglect, which may include physical, emotional, or sexual abuse.
How it's Diagnosed: videos
Careful history taking to identify inconsistencies, physical examination for patterns of injury, and imaging studies to assess the type and age of fractures or injuries. Additional assessments may include consultation with child protection services and psychological evaluation.
Treatment:
Immediate stabilization of physical injuries, ensuring the child's safety by involving child protective services, and comprehensive care including mental health support and social interventions.
Medications:
No specific medications directly treat the abuse. However, medications might be prescribed for pain management (e.g., acetaminophen , ibuprofen ) or treatment of physical injuries (e.g., antibiotics for infected wounds).
Prevalence:
How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Non-accidental trauma is a significant public health concern. Approximately 1 in 7 children experiences abuse annually in the United States, with higher risks in socioeconomically disadvantaged populations.
Risk Factors:
Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Parental substance abuse, domestic violence, poverty, mental health disorders in caregivers, lack of social support, and history of abuse in the caregiver's childhood.
Prognosis:
The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Variable depending on the severity of injuries and psychosocial support. Early intervention improves outcomes, but long-term emotional and physical impacts may persist.
Complications:
Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Chronic physical disabilities, psychological trauma, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), developmental delays, and in severe cases, fatality.
Emergent Management of Pediatric Patients with Fever
Specialty: Infectious Diseases
Category: Pediatric Emergencies
Sub-category: Fever of Unknown Origin
Symptoms:
fever >38°c; irritability; lethargy; rash; vomiting; seizures (febrile); respiratory distress
Root Cause:
Fever in children may indicate an underlying infection, inflammatory condition, or other systemic issues requiring prompt evaluation.
How it's Diagnosed: videos
History and physical examination, blood tests (CBC, blood cultures), urinalysis, imaging studies (e.g., chest X-ray), lumbar puncture for meningitis suspicion.
Treatment:
Antipyretics, empiric antibiotics if bacterial infection is suspected, IV fluids for dehydration, and treatment of specific underlying conditions.
Medications:
Acetaminophen or ibuprofen for fever; empiric antibiotics such as ceftriaxone or ampicillin in suspected sepsis or meningitis; antiviral agents like acyclovir for herpes encephalitis .
Prevalence:
How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Fever is one of the most common presentations in pediatric emergencies worldwide.
Risk Factors:
Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Young age, incomplete vaccination status, recent illness or infection, and exposure to sick individuals.
Prognosis:
The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Good in most cases with timely diagnosis and treatment; prognosis depends on the underlying cause of the fever.
Complications:
Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Febrile seizures, dehydration, sepsis, and delay in diagnosing life-threatening conditions.