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Paediatric emergencies

What are paediatric emergencies?
Paediatric emergencies require immediate medical attention and may be caused by an illness, injury, accident or allergic reaction. The most common paediatric emergencies seen in the emergency department include:
Croup
This is an infection of the upper airway, which obstructs breathing and causes a characteristic barking cough. The barking cough, as well as other symptoms of croup, are the swelling around the larynx (voice box), trachea (windpipe) and the bronchi (bronchial tubes).
Asthma
Childhood asthma is a condition that occurs when the lungs become inflamed when exposed to certain triggers like inhaling pollen or catching a cold or other respiratory infection. It can cause bothersome daily symptoms that may interfere with playing, sports, school and sleep. Left unmanaged, asthma may cause dangerous asthma attacks.
Persistent high fever
Fevers are normally a symptom of an underlying condition. In most cases, fevers are not a cause of concern; however, if a child’s fever is 40 degrees Celsius, it may cause a seizure. This is why it requires immediate medical attention. It may also indicate the presence of a life-threatening infection.
Prolonged seizures
Seizures or convulsions may be caused by a high-grade fever or an underlying condition such as epilepsy.
Congenital heart problems
These are heart problems that a child is born with. Some congenital heart defects are simple to treat or don’t require treatment. Some are more complex and may require surgical treatment. There are different types of congenital heart problems such as heart valve defects, heart wall defects and blood vessel defects.
How are paediatric emergencies treated?
Dr Nsele will first assess the little one’s situation using the Paediatric Assessment Triangle (PAT). PAT involves key features of an overall paediatric cardiopulmonary assessment (appearance, work of breathing, and circulation to the skin). Depending on the child’s condition, a suitable treatment plan will be made.
FAQ
The most common red flags or symptoms of paediatric emergencies include:
Poor feeding
Fever, especially if it is persistent
Vomiting
Dehydration
Profuse diarrhoea or bloody diarrhoea
Rapid heart rate
Weakness
Rapid/fast breathing
Yes, asthma may cause complications such as:
Poor sleep and fatigue
Permanent decline in lung function
Severe asthma attacks
Missed school days or falling behind with schoolwork.
Croup can be very scary; however, it isn't serious, and most children recover without experiencing any problems.
