Thyroid disease is a common consideration for the ill adult patient, but not as commonly considered in children. That being stated, we have mentioned several conditions which may be related to thyroid disease in children (ex, Bulging Fontanelle, Fever of…
The PedEM Morsels often focus on remaining vigilant. That certainly does not mean ordering a million unnecessary tests, but rather strives to augment our awareness of the complex systems we evaluate and appreciate that certainty is a fool’s proclamation.…
Our job can be deeply satisfying. When you are able to relieve a patient’s pain or able to help detect impending disaster and avoid it, you feel like a superhero. Sometimes something as simple a fixing a Nursemaid’s Elbow will…
We have discussed previously how poisonings (Childhood Injury) is one of the top leading causes of death in children. Obviously, knowing your friendly, neighborhood toxicologist or the number to the local Poison Control Center is very helpful when working in…
Most of us entered into the practice of medicine to “make a difference.” {Having read a lot of applicants’ personal statements, I know this to be true.} The realm of Pediatric Emergency Medicine often…
Cerebral edema is the most feared emergent complication of pediatric diabetic ketoacidosis. Fortunately, it is relatively rare, but the rarity can lead to some confusion when it comes to its management. We recently discussed the use of mannitol and…
No one likes to be made to look like a fool, but overlooking the potential for hypoglycemia is a guaranteed way to cause you to facepalm yourself. Having been on the receiving end of the facepalm over missed hypoglycemia too…
Vigilance in the face of apparently common or benign presentations is a common theme of the PedEM Morsels. As we have said, Grandma can diagnose the gastroenteritis; we need to consider the other sinister ailments that masquerade as the benign. …
Ketogenic Diet and Pediatric Seizures During this holiday season many people are looking for the perfect diet to help them balance out all of the high caloric intake. What could be more perfect than trying to loose your excess holiday…
Apparent Life-Threatening Event (ALTE) Being specialists of emergencies we are facile with managing events that have the potential to threaten a person’s life. It is interesting, then, that when a child presents to the ED with an Apparent Life-Threatening Event…