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Approach to the bleeding child
Geoffrey A Allen1, Bertil Glader
1Division of Hematology/Oncology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, USA. allen@med.unc.edu
Insights
Pediatricians can identify abnormal bleeding in children by assessing symptoms and performing initial lab tests. This approach helps distinguish normal childhood bruising from potential hemostasis disorders, enabling accurate diagnosis.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Medicine
- Hematology
- Clinical Diagnostics
Background:
- Bruising and bleeding are common in childhood.
- Distinguishing normal occurrences from potential hemostasis defects is crucial for pediatricians.
Purpose of the Study:
- To guide pediatricians in evaluating children's bleeding symptoms.
- To empower pediatricians to perform initial diagnostic steps for hemostasis disorders.
Main Methods:
- Thorough medical history taking.
- Comprehensive physical examination.
- Initial laboratory evaluation by pediatricians.
Main Results:
- A detailed history and physical exam can identify children needing further assessment.
- Pediatricians can diagnose most cases of defective hemostasis with initial evaluations.
Conclusions:
- Pediatricians are equipped to manage initial evaluations of bleeding disorders.
- Early laboratory assessment by pediatricians can lead to correct diagnoses, potentially avoiding unnecessary specialist referrals.
Abstract:
Because bruising and bleeding are normal events of childhood, the pediatrician must be able to determine whether a child's symptoms are normal or perhaps indicative of a defective hemostasis. A thorough medical history and physical examination should enable the clinician to choose those patients warranting further evaluation. Rather than referral to a hematologist at that point in time, pediatricians should be quite capable of performing the initial laboratory evaluation and making the correct diagnosis in a majority of cases.
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