Ch 34 - Pediatric Emergencies
Wong-Baker FACES Pain Rating 0
No hurt (Wong-Baker FACES Pain Rating)
Blood Pressure Range for Neonates: 1 day to 4 days
60-76 Systolic Blood Pressure Range
Blood Pressure Range for Neonates: 4 days to 1 month
67-84 Systolic Blood Pressure Range
Blood Pressure Range for Infants: 1 month to 3 months
73-94 Systolic Blood Pressure Range
Blood Pressure Range for Infants: 3 months to 6 months
78-103 Systolic Blood Pressure Range
Blood Pressure Range for Infants: 6 months to 1 year
82-105 Systolic Blood Pressure Range
Blood Pressure Range for Children: 1 year to 2 years
85-104 Systolic Blood Pressure Range
Responsive Pulse Rate for Newborn to 3 months
85-205 beats/min
Blood Pressure Range for Children: 2 years to 7 years
88-106 Systolic Blood Pressure Range
Blood Pressure Range for Children: 7 years to 15 years
96-115 Systolic Blood Pressure Range
toddler
A child age 1 to 3 years.
epiglottitis
A disease in which the epiglottis becomes inflamed and enlarged and may cause an upper airway obstruction.
school age
Children between ages 6-12 years.
Responsive Pulse Rate for >10 years
60-100 beats/min
Responsive Pulse Rate for 2 years to 10 years
60-140 beats/min
Responsive Pulse Rate for 3 months to 2 years
100-190 beats/min
Blood Pressure Range for Adolescents: 15 years to 18 years
110-131 Systolic Blood Pressure Range
Respiratory Rate for Adolescents 13-18 years
12-16 breaths/min
Respiratory Rate for School-Ages 6-12 years
18-30 breaths/min
Respiratory Rate for Preschool-Ages 4-5 years
22-34 breaths/min
Respiratory Rate for Toddlers 1 to 3 years
24-40 breaths/min
Respiratory Rate for Infants 1 month to 1 year
30-60 breaths/min
shaken baby syndrome
A syndrome seen in abused infants and children; the patient has been subjected to violent, whiplash-type shaking injuries inflicted by the abusing individual that may cause coma, seizures, and increased intracranial pressure due to tearing of the cerebral veins with consequent bleeding into the brain.
length-based resuscitation tape
A tape used to estimate an infant or child's weight on the basis of length; appropriate drug doses and equipment sizes are listed on the tape.
Neisseria meningitides
A form of bacterial meningitis characterized by rapid onset of symptoms, often leading to shock and death.
child abuse
A general term applying to all forms of abuse and neglect of children.
generalized tonic-clonic seizure
A seizure that features rhythmic back-and-forth motion of an extremity and body stiffness.
pediatrics
A specialized medical practice devoted to the care of the young.
pediatric assessment triangle (PAT)
A structured assessment tool used to rapidly form a general impression of the infant or child without touching him or her; consists of assessing appearance, work of breathing, and circulation to the skin.
A (Child Abuse Assessment Mnemonic)
Affect
Pediatric ABC's
Airway, Breathing, Circulation, Disability, Exposure
A (AEIOU TIPS)
Alcohol
AEIOU TIPS
Alcohol, Epilepsy/endocrine/electrolytes, Insulin, Opiates and other drugs, Uremia (kidney failure), Trauma/temperature, Infection, Poisoning/psychogenic causes, Shock/stroke/seizure/syncope/space-occupying lesion/subarachnoid hemorrhage. Mnemonic to assess causes of altered mental status.
Common sources of poisoning in children
Alcohol, aspirin and acetaminophen, cosmetics, household cleaning products, houseplants, iron, prescription medications, illicit (street) drugs (such as crack, cocaine, or PCP), vitamins
grunting
An "uh" sound heard during exhalation; reflects the child's attempt to keep the alveoli open; a sign of increased work of breathing.
whooping cough
An airborne bacterial infection that affects mostly children younger than 6 years, in which the patient is feverish and exhibits a "whoop" sound on inspiration after a coughing attack; highly contagious through droplet infection. Also called pertussis.
pertussis
An airborne bacterial infection that affects mostly children younger than 6 years, in which the patient is feverish and exhibits a "whoop" sound on inspiration after a coughing attack; highly contagious through droplet infection. Also called whooping cough.
apparent life-threatening event (ALTE)
An event that causes unresponsiveness, cyanosis, and apnea in an infant, who then resumes breathing with stimulation.
work of breathing
An indicator of oxygenation and ventilation; reflects the child's attempt to compensate for hypoxia.
meningitis
An inflammation of the meningeal coverings of the brain and spinal cord; it is usually caused by a virus or bacterium.
croup
An inflammatory disease of the upper respiratory system that may cause a partial airway obstruction and is characterized by a barking cough; usually seen in children.
tripod position
An upright position in which the patient leans forward onto outstretched arms with the head and chin thrust slightly forward.
sniffing position
An upright position in which the patient's head and chin are thrust slightly forward to keep the airway open; the optimum position for the uninjured child who requires airway management.
ALTE
Apparent Life-Threatening Event. An event that causes unresponsiveness, cyanosis, and apnea in an infant, who then resumes breathing with stimulation.
fontanelles
Areas where the neonate's or infant's skull has not fused together; usually disappear at approximately 18 months of age.
B (Child Abuse Assessment Mnemonic)
Bruises of varying ages
Consolability (TICLS)
Can the child be consoled or comforted by the parent or care giver or by the EMT? Or is the child's crying or agitation unrelieved by gentle reassurance?
adolescents
Children between ages 12 to 18 years.
preschool age
Children between ages 3-6 years.
C (Child Abuse Assessment Mnemonic)
Consistency of the injury with the child's developmental age
sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)
Death of an infant or young child that remains unexplained after a complete autopsy.
D (Child Abuse Assessment Mnemonic)
Delay in seeking care
Provocation/palliation (Pediatric OPQRST)
Does anything make the pain or discomfort better or worse? In what position is the patient the most comfortable?
Look or gaze (TICLS)
Does the child fix his or her gaze on a face, or is there a "nobody home," glass-eyed stare?
E (Child Abuse Assessment Mnemonic)
Environmental clues
E (AEIOU TIPS)
Epilepsy, endocrine, electrolytes
Medications (Pediatric SAMPLE)
Exact names and doses of ongoing drugs (including over-the-counter, prescribed, herbal, and recreational drugs). Timing and amount of last dose. Time and dose of analgesics and antipyretics.
H (Child Abuse Assessment Mnemonic)
History inconsistent with injury
Interactiveness (TICLS)
How alert is the child? How readily does a person, object, or sound distract the child or draw the child's attention? Will the child reach for, grasp, and play with a toy or examination instrument, like a penlight or tongue blade? Or is the child uninterested in playing or interacting with the parent or caregiver or with the EMT?
Onset (Pediatric OPQRST)
How long has the patient been experiencing this event? What was the patient doing when the symptoms began?
Wong-Baker FACES Pain Rating 6
Hurts even more (Wong-Baker FACES Pain Rating)
Wong-Baker FACES Pain Rating 2
Hurts little bit (Wong-Baker FACES Pain Rating)
Wong-Baker FACES Pain Rating 4
Hurts little more (Wong-Baker FACES Pain Rating)
Wong-Baker FACES Pain Rating 8
Hurts whole lot (Wong-Baker FACES Pain Rating)
Wong-Baker FACES Pain Rating 10
Hurts worst (Wong-Baker FACES Pain Rating)
I (Child Abuse Assessment Mnemonic)
Inappropriate parental concerns
tachypnea
Increased respiratory rate.
I (AEIOU T-I-PS)
Infection
bronchiolitis
Inflammation of the bronchioles that usually occurs in children younger than 2 years and is often caused by the respiratory syncytial virus.
tracheitis
Inflammation of the trachea.
I (AE-I-OU TIPS)
Insulin
Tone (TICLS)
Is the child moving or resisting examination vigorously? Does the child have a good muscle tone? Or is the child limp, listless, or flaccid?
Speech or cry (TICLS)
Is the child's cry strong and spontaneous or weak or high-pitched? Is the content of speech age-appropriate or confused and garbled?
Events leading up to the illness or injury (Pediatric SAMPLE)
Key events leading up to the current incident; Fever history.
Allergies (Pediatric SAMPLE)
Known drug reactions or other allergies.
L (Child Abuse Assessment Mnemonic)
Lack of supervision
Unresponsive (AVPU Scale)
No response to any stimulus
Severity (Pediatric OPQRST)
Observe nonverbal cues (such as wincing or posture). Ask the pediatric patient to rate his or her symptoms using the Wong-Baker FACES pain scale.
Signs and symptoms (Pediatric SAMPLE)
Onset and nature of symptoms of pain or fever. Age-appropriate signs of distress.
OPQRST
Onset, Provocation/palliation, Quality, Region/radiation, Severity, Timing
O (AEIOU TIPS)
Opiates or other drugs
Responsive to Pain (AVPU Scale)
Patient does not respond to verbal stimuli but moves or cries out in response to pain (eg, pinched ear lobe)
Awake and Alert (AVPU Scale)
Patient is awake; the eyes visually track people and objects
Responsiveness to Verbal Stimuli (AVPU Scale)
Patient opens the eyes or moans, speaks, or moves in response to your voice
PAT
Pediatric Assessment Triangle. A structured assessment tool used to rapidly form a general impression of the infant or child without touching him or her; consists of assessing appearance, work of breathing, and circulation to the skin.
P (AEIOU TIPS)
Poisoning, psychogenic causes
central pulses
Pulses that are closest to the core (central) part of the body where vital organs are located; include the carotid, femoral, and apical pulses.
neglect
Refusal or failure on the part of the parent or caregiver to provide life necessities.
S (AEIOU TIPS)
Shock, stroke, seizure, syncope, space-occupying lesion, subarachnoid hemorrhage
SAMPLE
Signs and symptoms, Allergies, Medications, Pertinent past medical history, Last oral intake, Events leading up to the illness or injury
bradypnea
Slow respiratory rate; ominous sign in a child that indicates impending respiratory arrest.
SIDS
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. Death of an infant or young child that remains unexplained after a complete autopsy.
S (Child Abuse Assessment Mnemonic)
Suspicious circumstances
nares
The external openings of the nostrils. A single nostril opening is called a naris.
infancy
The first year of life.
Timing (Pediatric OPQRST)
When did the symptoms begin? Have the symptoms been constant or do they come and go?
Pertinent past medical history (Pediatric SAMPLE)
Timing of the child's last food or drink, including bottle or breastfeeding.
blanch
To turn white.
TICLS
Tone, Interactiveness, Consolability, Look or gaze, Speech or cry
T (AEIOU TIPS)
Trauma, temperature
U (Child Abuse Assessment Mnemonic)
Unusual injury patterns
U (AEIOU TIPS)
Uremia (kidney failure)
Quality (Pediatric OPQRST)
What does the pain feel like? "Dull," "sharp," or "cramping" are common descriptions. Does it come in waves?
Region/radiation (Pediatric OPQRST)
Where does the patient feel the symptoms?
Common causes of seizures
child abuse, electrolyte imbalance, fever, hypoglycemia (low blood glucose level), infection, ingestion, lack of oxygen, medications, poisoning, seizure disorder, recreational drug use, head trauma
abnormal breathing sounds
crackles, stridor, wheezing, grunting, absent breath sounds (silent chest)