Pediatric emergency care
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Pediatric emergency care · Sep 2022
Benzodiazepine Use for Pediatric Patients With Suspected Nonconvulsive Status Epilepticus With or Without Simplified Electroencephalogram: A Retrospective Cohort Study.
In the present study, we aimed to determine the changes in the administration rate of benzodiazepines for pediatric patients with suspected nonconvulsive status epilepticus (NCSE) before and after the introduction of simplified electroencephalography (sEEG) in the emergency department. ⋯ Simplified electroencephalography might aid in determining the need for anticonvulsant treatment for suspected NCSE in pediatric patients. Albeit not a definitive diagnostic tool, sEEG might be a reliable choice in the evaluation of pediatric patients with suspected NCSE.
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Pediatric emergency care · Sep 2022
Emerging Trends in Smartphone Photo Documentation of Child Physical Abuse.
Photo documentation of injuries on children is universally recommended in cases of suspected child physical abuse. As technology improves, the ability to document physical examination findings through smartphone photography is increasingly accessible and practical. ⋯ However, in cases of child physical abuse, practitioners have been hesitant to adopt smartphones as a primary means of photo documentation because of concerns around image quality, privacy, and security. In this article, we discuss the technology of available smartphone cameras and current evidence regarding their use for photo documentation, use existing guidelines to propose a workflow to improve the yield of smartphone photo documentation in child physical abuse, and discuss common medicolegal concerns.
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Pediatric emergency care · Sep 2022
Antibiotic Prescribing Patterns for Pediatric Urgent Care Clinicians.
Previous studies have reported high rates of inappropriate antibiotic prescriptions in urgent care (UC). Specific prescribing patterns for the most common diagnoses are not known. The aim of the study is to determine the diagnoses for which antibiotics are prescribed in pediatric UC settings. ⋯ In this sample of pediatric UC encounters, only 5% of diagnoses receiving antibiotic prescriptions were made up of tier 3 diagnoses, determined to almost never require antibiotics. While viral respiratory infections have been reported to frequently be treated with antibiotics in general UC centers, our study of pediatric UC centers showed that this was infrequent. However, otitis media with effusion and otalgia should be further investigated. With most antibiotic prescriptions being tier 2 diagnoses, pediatric UC providers can use evidence-based prescribing practices, shared decision making, and contingency plans to reduce unnecessary antibiotic exposure.
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Pediatric emergency care · Sep 2022
Caregiver Practices and Knowledge Regarding Leftover Prescription Medications in Homes With Children.
The aims of the study were to determine the frequency of and factors associated with leftover or expired prescription medication ("leftover medication") presence in homes with children and to assess caregivers' reported behaviors and knowledge regarding disposal of leftover medications in the home. ⋯ Leftover medications are commonly stored in homes with children and most caregivers do not receive guidance on medication disposal. Improved education and targeted interventions are needed to ensure proper medication disposal practices.