Category Gastrointestinal

Infectious Diarrhea

Infectious Diarrhea

Diarrhea is no joking matter (although it can be the butt of many jokes – see what I did there?). It causes a large burden to patients (ex, dehydration), care providers, and the healthcare system. Fortunately, more often than not,…

Acute Cholecystitis

Acute Cholecystitis

When caring for children, we are all prepared for evaluating abdominal pain as it seems like every condition leads can cause belly pain. Fortunately, this means the odds favor it not being caused by a critical condition; however, it therefore mandates…

Uveitis

Uveitis in Children

The “Pediatric Red Eye” is a commonly encountered presentation that we are all accustomed to evaluating.  The vast majority of the time, the eye redness and irritation is related to a standard conjunctivitis; however, as with many presentations, we need…

Short Gut Syndrome

Short Gut Syndrome

Sometimes it seems like the intestines are connected to every organ system as children present with abdominal complaints related to so many conditions. These can be intra-abdominal issues (ex, CRAP, Appendicitis, Intussusception, Hirschsprung’s) as well as extra-abdominal issues (ex, Strep Pharyngitis, Pneumonia, Testicular Torsion, HSP).  Unquestionably, the…

Umbilical Hernia

Pediatric Umbilical Hernia

Hernias can lead to significant pain and even emergent complications. We have previously discussed inguinal hernias and the need to always consider them as a cause of inconsolability or acute abdominal pain and/or vomiting in a child.  It is really…

Infant Formula Primer

Primer on Infant Formula

Often a little knowledge of primary care topics can help our evaluation and management of infants presenting to the ED. We have discussed some of these previously (ex, Growth, Developmental Milestones), but let us take a moment to review another…

Neonate with Bloody Stool

Bloody Stool from Neonate

While the pediatric population deserves special attention (the purpose of this website), kids are not aliens… they are just small humans with unique anatomy and physiology that must be consider when caring for them.  The neonate, on the other hand,…