Pediatric Emergencies Module

Introduction:

Welcome to the EMCT Pediatric Emergencies module, part of the core series of modules. In this module we will focus on the “not just little adults” population of patients that present to the emergency department. It is true that this is a unique and dynamic population of patients with a spectrum of medical conditions that require specific attention to their work-up and management. Pediatric visits represent over 20% of all emergency department visits, or nearly 30 million visits annually in the U.S.^1,2,3 There is a lot at stake in taking care of this young population and with the frequency of presentations, it pays to be prepared and do your best to serve this vulnerable group. Parents put their trust in you as a qualified provider, so possessing proper pediatric knowledge and skills are essential to working in the ED. It is frightening for parents to see their child acting perfectly normal one moment but a short time later be very ill. It is up to you, the emergency provider, to identify those serious pediatric conditions that can result in death or serious disability and reassure the child’s caregiver when serious conditions do not in fact exist.

As in other EMCT modules, we will again help you build on your differential diagnosis for various patient presentations. In the end, as usual, we will engage in scenario based learning to review the presentations and management of patient complaints related to pediatrics. Details of conditions discussed in this module may also be discussed in more or less detail in other related systems modules: e.g. Meckel’s Diverticulum in this module and in the EMCT GI module.