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Pediatric Respiratory Emergencies

Amber M Richards1

  • 1Department of Emergency Medicine, Maine Medical Center, Tufts University School of Medicine, 22 Bramhall Street, Portland, ME 04103, USA.

Emergency Medicine Clinics of North America
|November 29, 2015
PubMed

Insights

Pediatric respiratory emergencies are common in the emergency department (ED). This review covers the prompt diagnosis and management of critical pediatric respiratory illnesses, including foreign body aspiration and asthma exacerbation.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Emergency Medicine
  • Respiratory Medicine

Background:

  • Respiratory emergencies are a leading cause of pediatric emergency department (ED) visits.
  • Respiratory failure is the primary cause of cardiopulmonary arrest in children.
  • Prompt recognition and management of severe respiratory illnesses are crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the diagnosis and management of common and critical pediatric respiratory emergencies in the ED.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of key pediatric respiratory emergencies.
  • Focus on conditions requiring urgent intervention.

Main Results:

  • Detailed review of foreign body aspiration, asthma exacerbation, epiglottitis, bronchiolitis, community-acquired pneumonia, and pertussis.
  • Emphasis on diagnostic criteria and therapeutic strategies for each condition.

Conclusions:

  • Emergency clinicians must be adept at recognizing and managing pediatric respiratory emergencies.
  • Effective management strategies are vital for improving outcomes in critically ill children.

Keywords:
AsthmaBronchiolitisEpiglottitisForeign body aspirationPediatric respiratory emergencyPneumonia

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