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. 2024 Nov;96(6):1519-1525.
doi: 10.1038/s41390-024-03598-2. Epub 2024 Sep 30.

Not too sick, not too well: reducing the diagnostic void in pediatric emergency medicine

Damian Roland  1   2 , Timothy Horeczko  3   4 , Edward Snelson  5
Affiliations

Not too sick, not too well: reducing the diagnostic void in pediatric emergency medicine

Damian Roland et al. Pediatr Res. 2024 Nov.

Abstract

Emergency clinicians must rapidly evaluate the acutely ill or injured child. In a resource-stressed environment, "spotting the sick child" is essential for appropriate stabilization, treatment, and further management. Overlooking clinical features in a child's presentation may impede timely care. Complicating factors include the volume of patients seeking care, unfettered access to emergency services, parental perceptions and expectations, and clinician biases. Notwithstanding, after an appropriate history and physical exam, some children do not fall under the standard rubric of "sick or not sick". This article explores strategies to recognise the child who may lie in the diagnostic void between those who are obviously well and those who are not.

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing interests: DR is social media editor of Pediatric Research. The other authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
An early warning system decision tree approach to decision making in the Emergency Department.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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