Neck Masses
HIGH-YIELD FACTS Print Section Listen Most common neck masses in children are benign reactive lymphadenopathy and lymphadenitis. Congenital neck lesions can present even after the first decade of life often…
Crying Infant
HIGH-YIELD FACTS Print Section Listen The infant cry may signal hunger, an unmet need for attention, need for a diaper change, or distress or pain. An infant not interacting with…
Chest Pain
HIGH-YIELD FACTS Print Section Listen Children with chest pain present to the emergency department (ED) at a rate of 3 to 6 for every 1000 patient visits. In the majority…
Minor Head Trauma
HIGH-YIELD FACTS Print Section Listen Although minor head injury is a frequent reason for emergency department (ED) visits by children, clinically significant traumatic brain injury (TBI) is uncommon. Clinical decision…
Altered Mental Status and Coma
HIGH-YIELD FACTS Print Section Listen For coma to occur there must be an insult to both cerebral hemispheres or to the reticular activating system. Decorticate posturing signifies dysfunction of the…
Respiratory Distress
HIGH-YIELD FACTS Print Section Listen Tachypnea, hyperpnea, nasal flaring, and retractions are the key features of respiratory distress. Respiratory failure is the most common precipitating cause of cardiopulmonary arrest in…
The Febrile- or Septic-Appearing Infant or Child
HIGH-YIELD FACTS Print Section Listen Children typically have four to six febrile illnesses in the first two years of life with most of these being nonspecific viral illnesses. Widespread vaccination…
Brief Resolved Unexplained Events
HIGH YIELD FACTS Print Section Listen A brief resolved unexplained event (BRUE) is defined as “an event occurring in an infant younger than 1 year when the observer reports a…
The Febrile or Septic-Appearing Neonate
HIGH-YIELD FACTS Print Section Listen The risk of serious bacterial illness (SBI) is greatest during the neonatal period, defined as birth to 28 days of life. Some authorities recommend that…
Approach to the Child in the Emergency Department
HIGH-YIELD FACTS Print Section Listen The emergency physician must have a reasonable knowledge of the developmental stages to identify abnormal or delayed development. Observation of the young child during history…
