Journal of paediatrics and child health
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J Paediatr Child Health · Apr 2019
The role of skin testing and extended antibiotic courses in assessment of children with penicillin allergy: An Australian experience.
To determine if skin testing (ST) in addition to extended oral provocation challenge (OPC) is necessary for beta-lactam allergy verification in an Australian paediatric population. ⋯ A direct OPC with the culprit drug in Australian children can be safely performed, avoiding resource-intensive and painful ST. Our data demonstrate that a prior history of anaphylaxis does not necessarily predict IgE-mediated allergy, as detected by positive immediate ST or reactions to oral challenge. Such history should not detract from efforts to assess these children for antibiotic allergy. We suggest that extended courses of at least 5 days are important in paediatric antibiotic de-labelling as six children (4.5% of those who were prescribed the extended course) reacted in our study and even developed symptoms late in the extended course, from days 2 to 6.
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J Paediatr Child Health · Mar 2019
Facial nerve palsy in children: A retrospective study of 124 cases.
To report the causes and clinical evaluation of children with facial nerve palsy (FNP) admitted to an affiliated university hospital during a 5-year period (2011-2015). ⋯ Facial palsy in children is a manifestation of a heterogeneous group of causes. The most common aetiology of FNP in children in our study was idiopathic (Bell's palsy), followed by infective causes, such as acute otitis media and neurotropic herpes viruses. Therefore, treatment should be adapted to each patient depending on the underlying disease and severity of FNP.
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J Paediatr Child Health · Feb 2019
Paediatric cardiopulmonary resuscitation: Knowledge and perceptions of surf lifeguards.
To conduct a comprehensive analysis of surf lifeguards' real and perceived ability in paediatric cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), knowledge of child resuscitation protocols and technical competency during a simulated CPR scenario. ⋯ Surf lifeguards are less confident in paediatric CPR. The overall performance of observed and technical CPR skills, which were mostly ANZCOR guideline compliant, suggests that performance could be improved if paediatric-specific training is provided to supplement the adult-focused methods currently in use. The use of electronic feedback manikins is recommended to address the technical compression and ventilation issues identified in this study.
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J Paediatr Child Health · Dec 2018
Emergency department presentations of febrile children to an Australian public hospital.
We investigated the presentations of children with unspecified fever to an Australian emergency department (ED): (i) to determine the proportion of these presentations that could be classified as potentially avoidable and (ii) to identify factors associated with an increased risk of hospital admission. ⋯ To our knowledge, this is the first Australian study that has assessed the impact of unspecified childhood fever on an Australian ED. Further investigation of presentations classified as potentially avoidable is warranted to investigate whether these could be managed in the primary care setting.
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J Paediatr Child Health · Dec 2018
The last 2 years of life for children with severe physical disability: Observations from a tertiary paediatric centre.
To describe the clinical course for children with severe physical disability (SPD) in the 2 years prior to their death and to identify whether these children had palliative care involvement and advance care planning prior to death. To investigate whether there is a difference between children with progressive (PSPD) and non-progressive (NPSPD) aetiologies of SPD. ⋯ The increase in hospital admissions prior to death in children with SPD suggests an opportunity for greater consistency in offering advanced care planning and palliative care, especially to those with NPSPD.