Canadian family physician Médecin de famille canadien
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I see many children suffering from sore throat and acute pharyngitis. Some adult studies describe faster pain relief when sore throat is treated with steroids. Would a single dose of a steroid, as an anti-inflammatory agent, provide accelerated pain relief for sore throat in children? ⋯ A single dose of oral dexamethasone (0.6 mg/kg, maximum 10 mg) leads to significantly (P < .05) faster onset of pain relief and shorter suffering, especially in children with severe or exudative group A β-hemolytic streptococcus-positive acute pharyngitis.
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A healthy 19-year-old man presents to your emergency department complaining of weakness and lethargy for the past 2 weeks. He sleeps 10 hours a day, yet remains tired. His appetite has been poor and he constantly feels thirsty. ⋯ A bedside glucometer displays “High-High-High.” Laboratory investigations reveal a white blood cell count of 14.2 × 109/L, a hemoglobin level of 143 g/L, a platelet count of 365 × 109/L, a sodium level of 133 mmol/L, a potassium level of 2.9 mmol/L, a chloride level of 103 mmol/L, a blood urea nitrogen level of 17 mmol/L, a creatinine level of 144 μmol/L, a glucose level of 29.7 mmol/L, an arterial pH of 7.10, a Pco(2) of 23 mm Hg, a Po(2) of 95 mm Hg, a bicarbonate level of 11 mmol/L, and an oxygen saturation of 95%. Urinalysis results are positive for high levels of ketones and glucose. How would you approach this patient?