Pediatric sepsis: a case study

Abdominal pain with vomiting is a common pediatric complaint in the emergency department setting that can lead to a more insidious disease state. The article depicts a case study of a 21-month-old male child presenting with these signs and symptoms that ultimately resulted in a diagnosis of septic shock. The importance of physical assessment, rapid response to findings with time-constrained empirical interventions, the relevance of pediatric sepsis to the provider, the consideration of access to health care, and a holistic approach to treatment of the patient and the family are highlighted. The application and explanation of evidence-based guidelines is also depicted in the management of the patient.