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The diagnosis and treatment of delirium in children

Sean Hatherill1, Alan J Flisher, Rene Nassen

  • 1a Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry , Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital and University of Cape Town , Rondebosch , 7701 , South Africa.

Journal of Child and Adolescent Mental Health
|April 14, 2015
PubMed

Insights

Delirium in children is often misdiagnosed due to challenges in applying standard criteria. This study offers a practical guide for identifying pediatric delirium symptoms and a treatment algorithm, including when to use antipsychotics.

Area of Science:

  • Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
  • Pediatric Neurology
  • Behavioral Pediatrics

Background:

  • Delirium is frequently observed in pediatric consultation-liaison psychiatry.
  • Current diagnostic criteria for delirium are often difficult to apply in children, leading to misdiagnosis.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To present a practical approach for identifying signs and symptoms of delirium in pediatric patients.
  • To propose a treatment algorithm for pediatric delirium.

Main Methods:

  • Development of a practical approach to elicit delirium signs and symptoms in children.
  • Creation of a treatment algorithm incorporating environmental management and pharmacotherapy guidelines.

Main Results:

  • The proposed approach facilitates the identification of delirium in pediatric cases.
  • The treatment algorithm provides clear thresholds for antipsychotic medication use.

Conclusions:

  • A structured approach can improve the diagnosis of delirium in children.
  • The proposed algorithm aids in managing pediatric delirium effectively, guiding environmental and pharmacological interventions.

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