I often think of our medical knowledge as a collection of cross-referenced manilla folders that are stored in giant drawers in a large web of neurons. In the beginning, those folders have labels but are filled with sparse information. Through…
Caring for children who present in distress is clearly challenging. There are innumerable conditions and entities to rapidly consider (ex, IEM, Heart Failure, Aortic Coarctation, Asthma, Hypoglycemia, Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia, Thyroid Storm, … Occult Abdominal Trauma) while deftly taking critical…
Soft tissue infections are commonly encountered when caring for children. From finger infections (Whitlow, Flexor Tenosynovitis) to faces (Periorbital cellulitis, Orbital cellulitis) and within pits and creases (Intertrigo, Perianal Strep), anywhere there is skin we may find an infection. Certainly,…
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…
Yes. It is indubitable. Children will present for evaluation of fever. Many, if not most, will be well and likely have a self-limited illness (but, do NOT say “it’s just a virus”!). Some, however, will have fevers associated with other…
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…
The critically ill infant and child can be “tricky” to spot sometimes. Often the phrase “That kid just doesn’t look right,” is heard around the room of critically ill children. So we recognize that “something isn’t right,” but have a hard time putting…