Categories
Infectious Diseases

Community Acquired Pneumonia

Fever, tachypnea and rales – it must be a community acquired pneumonia… right? Learn more about the diagnosis and management of this common problem in the Pediatric Emergency Department.

Essential Reading

Bradley JS, Byington CL, Shah SS, Alverson B, Carter ER, Harrison C, Kaplan SL, Mace SE, McCracken GH Jr, Moore MR, St Peter SD, Stockwell JA, Swanson JT; Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society and the Infectious Diseases Society of America. Executive summary: the management of community-acquired pneumonia in infants and children older than 3 months of age: clinical practice guidelines by the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society and the Infectious Diseases Society of America. Clin Infect Dis. 2011 Oct;53(7):617-30. PMID: 21890766.

Categories
Infectious Diseases

Rabies

This edition of PEM Currents is a bite-sized rundown on rabies, or more accurately rabies post-exposure prophylaxis since most of you will never see it clinically, but will encounter a kid who meets an unscrupulous animal.

Categories
Infectious Diseases Podcast

Strep Pharyngitis

This may be a bit hard to swallow, but not every disease process in the Emergency Department is exciting. Streptococcal pharyngitis is an incredibly common condition, especially in the Pediatric Emergency Department and I wanted to take this opportunity to answer some common questions. Who knows, perhaps after listening to this edition of PEM Currents you too will start treating strep throat with once a day dosing of Amoxicillin.

Categories
Infectious Diseases

The Febrile Newborn

This episode of PEM Currents tackles a bread and butter issue in Pediatric Emergency Medicine, the newborn with fever. I discuss management, specifically how it differs for babies under 28 days of age as well as when to get labs and how to interpret them. I also reference procalcitonin, and touch on its emerging role. Read more at PEMBlog.com.

Categories
Infectious Diseases Podcast

An interview with Todd Florin on bronchiolitis, hypertonic saline and more

I’m delighted to share the latest PEM Currents podcast! I recently sat down with Todd Florin, one of the faculty physicians at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center and talked about bronchiolitis, delving into the controversies around the use of hypertonic saline, albuterol and more. Todd also recommended that all of my listeners check out the current AAP Bronchiolitis Guideline, which I’ve linked here. AAP Bronchiolitis Guideline

 

Categories
Infectious Diseases

Acetaminophen versus Ibuprofen

This edition of PEM Currents, the Pediatric Emergency Medicine podcast, reviews the safety and comparative efficacy of acetaminophen and ibuprofen. If you work in a Pediatric Emergency Department you’ll certainly have broken a sweat over this hot debate time and time again.

Categories
Infectious Diseases

Ondansetron for vomiting in acute gastroenteritis

This edition of PEMCurrents echoes a recent post on the PEMBlog and reviews the use of ondansetron in acute gastroenteritis. Specifically highlighting the reduction in risk of further episodes of emesis, need for intravenous fluids and immediate admission to the hospital.

Categories
Infectious Diseases Orthopedics Podcast

Antibiotic Therapy for Osteomyelitis

Recognizing osteomyelitis can be challenging. Treating it doesn’t have to be – especially in the Pediatric ED. This edition of PEM Currents reviews the current evidence surrounding the initial choice of antibiotic, monitoring treatment response and overall therapeutic duration.