Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 7, 2026

A Metadata Extraction Approach for Clinical Case Reports to Enable Advanced Understanding of Biomedical Concepts
07:50

A Metadata Extraction Approach for Clinical Case Reports to Enable Advanced Understanding of Biomedical Concepts

Published on: September 20, 2018

Severe cough and retinal hemorrhage in infants and young children

Michael Goldman1, Zahi Dagan, Mordish Yair

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, Assaf Harofeh Medical Center, Zerifin, Israel. mgoldman@walla.co.il

The Journal of Pediatrics
|June 14, 2006
PubMed

Insights

No retinal hemorrhages were found in 100 children with severe, persistent coughing. The presence of retinal hemorrhage in young children with cough warrants investigation for child abuse.

Area of Science:

  • Ophthalmology
  • Pediatrics
  • Forensic Medicine

Background:

  • Persistent coughing in children can be concerning.
  • Retinal hemorrhages in children are often associated with abusive head trauma.
  • The link between severe coughing and retinal findings requires clarification.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the occurrence of retinal hemorrhages in young children presenting with severe, persistent coughing.
  • To determine if severe coughing is a potential cause of retinal hemorrhages in pediatric patients.
  • To inform clinical practice regarding the differential diagnosis of retinal hemorrhages in children.

Main Methods:

  • A prospective study involving 100 consecutive children aged 3 months to 2 years with severe, persistent coughing.
  • Ophthalmic examination to detect the presence or absence of retinal hemorrhages.
  • Data collection on clinical presentation and cough severity.

Main Results:

  • None of the 100 children examined showed any retinal hemorrhages.
  • The 95% confidence interval for retinal hemorrhages in this cohort was 0% to 3%.

Conclusions:

  • Severe, persistent coughing in young children does not appear to be associated with retinal hemorrhages.
  • The finding of retinal hemorrhages in a child with a cough strongly suggests the need to exclude non-accidental injury (child abuse).
  • This study supports the critical importance of considering child abuse in cases of unexplained retinal hemorrhages.

More Related Videos

Oxygen-Induced Retinopathy Model for Ischemic Retinal Diseases in Rodents09:28

Oxygen-Induced Retinopathy Model for Ischemic Retinal Diseases in Rodents

Published on: September 16, 2020

Related Concept Videos

Diabetic Retinopathy01:27

Diabetic Retinopathy

DefinitionDiabetic retinopathy is a microvascular complication of diabetes affecting the retinal blood vessels.Risk FactorsDiabetic retinopathy is present in almost all individuals with type 1 diabetes and more than 60% of those with type 2 diabetes after two decades of disease.The risk increases with poor glycemic control, hypertension, dyslipidemia, smoking, pregnancy, and puberty.Although cataracts and glaucoma are also more frequent in people with diabetes, retinopathy remains the leading...
Respiratory Syncytial Virus Disease01:29

Respiratory Syncytial Virus Disease

Human respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a widespread pathogen that primarily targets infants and young children but also poses a serious health risk to elderly and immunocompromised individuals. Belonging to the Pneumoviridae family, RSV is a negative-sense, single-stranded RNA virus within the Pneumovirus genus. Its global health burden is significant, with millions of cases annually resulting in hospitalizations and mortality, particularly in resource-limited settings. Although most...
Photoreceptors and Visual Pathways01:22

Photoreceptors and Visual Pathways

At the molecular level, visual signals trigger transformations in photopigment molecules, resulting in changes in the photoreceptor cell's membrane potential. The photon's energy level is denoted by its wavelength, with each specific wavelength of visible light associated with a distinct color. The spectral range of visible light, classified as electromagnetic radiation, spans from 380 to 720 nm. Electromagnetic radiation wavelengths exceeding 720 nm fall under the infrared category, whereas...
Upper Respiratory Drugs: Antitussives, Expectorants, and Mucolytics01:23

Upper Respiratory Drugs: Antitussives, Expectorants, and Mucolytics

Respiratory symptoms, such as congestion and cough, commonly accompany respiratory tract conditions. Various medications, such as antitussives, expectorants, and mucolytics, play crucial roles in providing relief.
Antitussives include codeine, dextromethorphan (Robitussin), and benzonatate (Tessalon). Codeine and dextromethorphan exert their effects centrally by suppressing the cough reflex center in the medulla.  Benzonatate operates peripherally within the respiratory tract by anesthetizing...
Pulmonary Cycle: Exhalation01:17

Pulmonary Cycle: Exhalation

In terms of human respiration, the act of expelling air, known as exhalation (or expiration), operates on the principle of pressure gradients. During expiration, the pressure within the lungs exceeds that of the surrounding atmosphere. Under normal conditions, quiet breathing involves passive exhalation and is free of muscular contractions. This is because the exhalation process is driven by the natural elastic recoil of the lungs and chest wall, both of which have an inherent tendency to...
Drug Dosing: Infants and Children01:29

Drug Dosing: Infants and Children

Pediatric patient dosages diverge from adults due to disparities in body surface area, total body water, and extracellular fluid per kilogram of body weight. The dosing regimen considers the variations in pharmacokinetics and pharmacology across distinct age groups, encompassing preterm newborns, infants, young children, older children, and adolescents. Calculation of pediatric patient doses is predicated on determining body surface area, which exhibits a superior correlation with the child's...