Chicken Pox (Varicella)

When I was young, Chicken Pox Parties were all the rage! Yup… a party to expose kids to illness (well, I guess it’s not the only illness associated with “parties” – ex, STDs), but the possible complications of Chicken Pox…

When I was young, Chicken Pox Parties were all the rage! Yup… a party to expose kids to illness (well, I guess it’s not the only illness associated with “parties” – ex, STDs), but the possible complications of Chicken Pox…

GBS, E. Coli, and Listeria: everyone is aware that those are the bad bugs we worry about in the sick neonate. We even, sometimes, worry about them in the well appearing neonate who is febrile (Never Trust a Neonate!). We…

Oh, the cacophony of coughing: it is like the theme music to the Pediatric ED during the winter months. While often benign, we do need to consider many conditions that may be the cause (ex, Pneumonia, Bronchiolitis, Asthma, Heart Failure).…

Children love animals. They are cuddly and cute and, often, a great source of reciprocal love and affection. Unfortunately, that is not always the case. Young children (and, let’s be honest, even adults) can misinterpret the intentions of an animal…

Ears! They are the focus of many ED visits! Things get stuck in them (ex, Ear Canal Foreign Body, Cerumen). They can become inflamed from swimming (ex, Swimmer’s Ear). Infection, though, is what we most often encounter. We are all…

We are aware that obtaining a good social history is important and asking about sexual activity may change the evaluation of a patient, particularly the teenage child. Certainly, our jobs would be easier if there were no concerns for alcohol…

Summertime brings many fun adventures. Unfortunately, it also brings predictable illness and injury (ex, Gastroenteritis, Handlebar Injuries, Sparkler Injuries). People also tend to wear less clothing and that can allow parents to see those areas that have been hidden all…