Category Procedures / Tips

Tinea Capitis & Kerions

I think that we all believe we are adept at diagnosing tinea capitis in the pediatric emergency department. We certainly see it enough… but, remember: The diagnosis can be unclear: Tinea Capitis (caused by a dematophyte fungal infection in the…

Proteinuria

In the ED (as well as the primary care office), we obtain a lot of urine samples. Most often looking for signs of infection, but also looking for potential evidence of renal disease (in the child who presents with swollen…

Contrast Dye and Breastfeeding

Working in the Pediatric ED will often make you the default expert in ALL realms of pediatrics. Even if the actual patient isn’t a child, the issue may revolve around concerns for a child… and you are the lucky one…

Gross Growth Estimates

One of the most unique aspects of pediatrics is growth and development… and how these impact your evaluation. Even in the emergency department these must be considered. For instance, when determining if that 6 month old was able to crawl…

Acute Otitis Media

You may be rolling your eyes right now at the thought of reading about AOM. Certainly it is not as exciting to think about as Hirschsprung’s Enterocolitis and we see it so often there certainly can’t be anything new to…

Febrile Seizure Evaluation

On this April Fool’s Day, do not let the seizing patient with a fever make a fool of you. Naturally, anytime a patient has a fever and a seizure, the first concerning diagnosis that comes to mind is meningitis; however,…

Interosseous Access for the Neonate in Need

Interosseous Access for the Neonate in Need The neonate in shock strikes fear into even the most veteran physicians (and certainly makes my brain slip a gear or three). Part of the reason is that it happens relatively infrequently (why…