Hypothermia
Key Points Print Section Listen Intoxication with either alcohol or drugs is very common in patients with hypothermia. Most emergency thermometers cannot accurately read body temperatures below 34.4°C (94°F). Many…
Pharyngitis
Key Points Print Section Listen Distinguish potentially life-threatening (epiglottitis, peritonsillar, and retropharyngeal abscess) and benign (uncomplicated pharyngitis) conditions. Use a scoring system to guide management of pharyngitis. Suspected group A…
Heat-Related Illness
Key Points Print Section Listen Always consider secondary causes of hyperthermia. Heat exhaustion and heat stroke should be diagnoses of exclusion. Do not fluid overload elderly patients while rehydrating them…
Cyclic Antidepressants
Key Points Print Section Listen Cyclic antidepressants remain a leading cause of poisoning-related fatalities among psychoactive medications. Patients will frequently present with minimal signs and symptoms only to abruptly decompensate…
Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
Key Points Print Section Listen Consider carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning in all patients with headaches, flu-like symptoms, altered mental status, or an unexplained anion gap metabolic acidosis. Immediately administer supplemental…
Salicylate Toxicity
Key Points Print Section Listen Salicylate toxicity causes a mixed respiratory alkalosis, metabolic alkalosis, and elevated anion gap metabolic acidosis. Chronically intoxicated patients will be more seriously ill at lower…
Toxic Alcohols
Key Points Print Section Listen Consider toxic alcohol poisoning in cases of an unexplained anion gap acidosis or an elevated osmol gap. Focus your initial treatment on the early inhibition…
Acetaminophen Toxicity
Key Points Print Section Listen Acetaminophen is the most popular over-the-counter analgesic in the United States and is widely prescribed in combination form with alternative pain relievers, resulting in frequent…
Respiratory Distress
Key Points Print Section Listen Respiratory disorders are potentially life-threatening and must be identified and treated rapidly. Certain physiologic differences make pediatric patients more at risk of respiratory failure than…
Otitis Media
Key Points Print Section Listen Distinguish between acute otitis media (AOM) and otitis media with effusion (OME), both of which present with a middle ear effusion. Clinical findings most suggestive…
