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Airway infectious disease emergencies

Keyvan Rafei1, Richard Lichenstein

  • 1Pediatric Emergency Department, University of Maryland Hospital for Children, Baltimore, 21201, USA. krafei@peds.umaryland.edu

Pediatric Clinics of North America
|April 1, 2006
PubMed

Insights

Pediatric emergency visits for respiratory infections are common. This review details the clinical features of upper and lower airway infections to aid in diagnosis and treatment.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Emergency Medicine
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Respiratory Medicine

Background:

  • Upper and lower respiratory infections are frequent reasons for pediatric emergency department visits.
  • These infections account for 10% of all pediatric emergency visits and 20% of hospital admissions.
  • Common causes include croup, epiglottitis, pneumonia, and bronchiolitis.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the clinical characteristics of upper and lower airway infections in children.
  • To highlight the importance of differentiating between upper and lower airway infections for effective treatment.
  • To provide a comprehensive overview of these common pediatric conditions.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of clinical characteristics of pediatric respiratory infections.
  • Analysis of signs and symptoms differentiating upper and lower airway infections.
  • Synthesis of information on common etiologies and presentations.

Main Results:

  • Upper airway infections include conditions like croup, epiglottitis, and pharyngitis.
  • Lower airway infections encompass illnesses such as pneumonia and bronchiolitis.
  • Overlapping signs and symptoms necessitate careful clinical evaluation.

Conclusions:

  • Accurate differentiation of upper and lower respiratory infections is crucial for appropriate pediatric care.
  • Understanding varied clinical presentations aids in timely diagnosis and management.
  • This review provides essential information for emergency department physicians treating pediatric respiratory illnesses.

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