7.9 Hepatitis Franz E. Babl Essentials 1 Hepatitis A, B and C are the main viral agents of acute hepatitis in children in Australia. 2 Aboriginal children in certain areas…

16.5 Haemolytic uraemic syndrome Karen McCarthy Essentials 1 Diagnosis is based on the presence of microangiopathic haemolytic anaemia, thrombocytopenia and renal impairment. 2 Diarrhoea-associated haemolytic uraemic syndrome accounts for 90%…

10.4 Adrenal crisis Yuresh Naidoo Essentials 1 The prompt recognition of the possibility of adrenal crisis or the risk of adrenal insufficiency is paramount to early and appropriate management. 2…

8.4 Acute weakness Richard Lennon Essentials 1 The fact that a child has acute weakness may be obscured by an inability to communicate and a smaller repertoire of activities. The…

1.1 Approach to the paediatric patient Ian Everitt, Andrew Jan, Andrew Harris, Tom Everitt, Lisa Coutts Essentials 1 Gaining rapport with the child and the confidence of the parents is…

8.6 Headache Alistair Murray, John Ryan Essentials 1 The primary role of an emergency physician is to exclude a significant underlying cause for a headache, most urgently that of infection,…

5.1 Cyanotic heart disease and tetralogy of Fallot spells Robin Choong Essentials 1 Cyanosis is dependent on haematocrit and oxygen saturation. 2 Cyanosis is caused by arterial oxygen desaturation or…

5.2 Heart failure Robin Choong Essentials 1 Congestive heart failure (CHF) is a clinical syndrome and may result from: • excessive workload caused by increased pressure or volume, usually increased…

15.1 Paediatric gynaecology Pamela Rosengarten, Sonia Grover Essentials Prepubescent girls 1 Vaginal examination is inappropriate in paediatric patients and usually provides little information. Ultrasound may provide further information or, if…

18.1 Sexual assault Matt Ryan Essentials 1 Sexual assault occurs when a child is engaged in sexual activity that the child cannot comprehend, for which the child is developmentally unprepared…