Pediatric emergency care
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Pediatric emergency care · Jul 2024
Incomplete Fractures of Distal Long Bones Among Children in Early Stages of Mobility: Few Concerns for Physical Child Abuse at a Single Pediatric Level I Trauma Center.
This study aimed to describe the characteristics, reported mechanism of injury, fracture morphology, and level of physical abuse concern among children in the early stages of mobility diagnosed with an incomplete distal extremity long bone fracture. ⋯ This age group presents a unique challenge when designing evidence-based algorithms for the detection of occult injuries in emergency departments. Incomplete fractures of a distal limb are commonly related to a fall and may be considered "low specificity" for physical abuse. However, some publications conclude they should prompt universal physical abuse screening. Our small study indicated that the presence or absence of certain risk factors may provide additional information which could help guide the need for a more thorough evaluation for occult injury in early-mobile children with incomplete distal extremity long bone fractures. Ongoing research is warranted.
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Pediatric emergency care · Jul 2024
Urinalysis in Suspected Child Abuse Evaluation in the Emergency Department.
Intra-abdominal injury (IAI) is the second leading cause of mortality in abused children. It is challenging to identify in young patients due to their limited verbal skills, delayed symptoms, less muscular abdominal wall, and limited bruising. ⋯ No subjects were diagnosed with abdominal trauma based on urinalysis during evaluation in the emergency department who would not have been identified by other standard testing. In addition, patients' disposition was delayed while waiting for urinalysis.
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"One Pill Can Kill" is a meme originating in the 1990s. This construct lists pharmaceuticals that have the alleged potential for fatality after the ingestion of a single pill by a toddler. ⋯ The negative outcome of the one pill can kill construct is inappropriate management manifested by over-referral of young children by poison centers to emergency departments for care, overly prolonged emergency department observation and needless hospital admissions. A more accurate construct is that one pill of anything other than opioids will not kill anybody with the caveat being that we are referring to regulated pharmaceuticals.
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Pediatric emergency care · Jul 2024
Effect of Routine Child Physical Abuse Screening Tool on Emergency Department Efficiency.
Physical abuse is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality for children. Routine screening by emergency nurses has been proposed to improve recognition, but the effect on emergency department (ED) workflow has not yet been assessed. We sought to evaluate the feasibility of routine screening and its effect on length of stay in a network of general EDs. ⋯ Routine screening identifies children at high risk of physical abuse without increasing ED length of stay or resource utilization. Next steps will include determining rates of subsequent serious physical abuse in children with or without routine screening.
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Pediatric emergency care · Jul 2024
Unveiling the Dark Side of Datura in Pediatric Poisoning With Insights From Jordanian Experience: A Retrospective Clinical Study.
Datura stramonium , jimsonweed, is a toxic plant with hallucinogenic properties. Although there are many studies on Datura poisoning, none reported cases in Jordan. This study offers a comprehensive review on D. stramonium ingestion, covering its epidemiology, clinical presentation, and treatment. We aimed to provide better understanding of the factors for Datura ingestion, identify prevention and management strategies, and address research challenges. ⋯ Understanding the risks associated with D. stramonium poisoning and implementing effective prevention and management strategies are crucial. This study highlights the importance of recognizing Datura poisoning as a potential diagnosis in children presenting with unexplained anticholinergic symptoms or agitation to the emergency room.