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ABSTRACT Objective: The aim of this study was to perform a narrative review of the leading pediatric triage systems in emergency departments (EDs). Data source: Articles published between 1999 and 2019 were identified by searching the MEDLINE, EMBASE, and PubMed databases using the keywords "pediatric triage", "pediatric assessment tools", and "emergency department triage" with an emphasis on studies that evaluated the validation and reliability of triage systems. Data synthesis: A total of 105 articles on pediatric emergency triage systems in 12 countries were evaluated. Triage systems were divided into two groups: color-stratified triage systems and alert systems. The color-stratified triage systems included in this review were the Canadian Triage and Acuity Scale (CTAS), Manchester Triage System (MTS), Emergency Severity Index (ESI), and Australasian Triage Scale (ATS), and the alert systems included were the Paediatric Observation Priority Score (POPS), Pediatric Early Warning Score (PEWS), and Pediatric Approach Triangle (PAT). Evidence corroborates the validity and reliability of MTS, PaedCTAS, ESI version 4, PEWS, POPS, and PAT in pediatric emergency services. Conclusions: These are fundamental tools for risk classification of patients seeking treatment in EDs. Not all triage systems have been assessed for validity and reliability; nor are they well suited for all regions of the world. Employing triage systems in Brazil requires cultural adaptation and rigorous training of the local health staff, in addition to validation and reliability studies in our country, since the social and cultural context of this country differs from those where these tools were developed.
RESUMO Objetivo: Realizar uma revisão narrativa dos principais sistemas de triagem pediátrica nos serviços de emergência. Fontes de dados: Artigos publicados entre 1999 e 2019, obtidos por meio de busca nos bancos de dados Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online (Medline), Embase e PubMed usando as palavras-chave "pediatric triage", "pediatric assessment tools" e "emergency department triage", com ênfase em estudos que avaliaram a validação e a confiabilidade desses sistemas. Síntese dos dados: Foram avaliados 105 artigos sobre sistemas de triagem na emergência pediátrica de 12 países. Os sistemas de triagem foram divididos em dois grupos: estratificados por cores e de alerta. Os sistemas de triagem com estratificação por cores incluídos nesta revisão foram: Canadian Triage and Acuity Scale (CTAS), Manchester Triage System (MTS), Emergency Severity Index (ESI) e Australian Triage Scale (ATS). Os sistemas de alerta incluídos foram: Paediatric Observation Priority Score (POPS), Pediatric Early Warning Score (PEWS) e Pediatric Approach Triangle (PAT). Há evidências que corroboram a validade e a confiabilidade do MTS, PedCTAS, ESI v.4, PEWS, POPS e PAT em serviços de emergência de pediátricos. Conclusões: Os sistemas de triagem são ferramentas fundamentais para o atendimento de pacientes que procuram serviços de emergência. Nem todos os sistemas de triagem foram avaliados para validação e confiabilidade nem se aplicam a todas as regiões do mundo. Para a aplicação de sistemas de triagem no Brasil, devem ser feitos adaptação cultural e treinamento do estafe de saúde local, bem como estudos de validação e confiabilidade em nosso país, dado o seu contexto social e cultural diferente daquele dos países onde essas ferramentas foram desenvolvidas.
ABSTRACT
Abstract Objective: In Brazil, telemedicine was allowed as an exception during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. Despite its recognized value and availability, telemedicine is not universally used, suggesting that some barriers prevent its adoption and acceptance within the community. This study aims to describe the implementation of a low-cost telemedicine service in a pediatric hospital in Brazil. Method: Retrospective descriptive study reporting the first three months (April to June 2020) of the experience of implementing a low-cost telemedicine emergency care program in a public tertiary hospital. The service was available to patients up to 18 years of age enrolled in this hospital. A tool for assessing the severity of the patient was developed, the aim of standardizing the procedure, while maintaining quality and safety. Guardian's satisfaction was assessed with a questionnaire sent after teleconsultations. Results: 255 teleconsultations were carried out with 140 different patients. Of the total consultations, 182 were from 99 patients that had performed the Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) test for the new coronavirus (SARS-Cov-2) or had direct contact with a person known to be positive for COVID-19. Only 26 (14%) were referred to an in-person consultation. No deaths, adverse events or delayed diagnosis were recorded. 86% of the patients who answered the satisfaction questionnaire were satisfied and 92% would use telemedicine again. Conclusion: This study presents an innovative implementation of a telemedicine program in a public and exclusively pediatric tertiary service, serving as a reference for future implementation in other public services in Brazil and developing countries.
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ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to answer several questions related to the assessment and treatment of fever, as well as other controversies that exist during its management in pediatric patients. First, an advisory board with medical experts was conducted to discuss the clinical journey of these patients, considering the main challenges and possible solutions. After this discussion, a non-systematic literature review was performed, between November 2019 and January 2020, to collect the most relevant evidence available in the scientific databases MEDLINE, Lilacs, and SciELO. A narrative review was carried out based on scientific evidence and on extensive experience of experts in clinical practice. The experts developed a set of recommendations and clarifications about the assessment of the severity of fever in pediatrics, the need for treatment and the choice of the most appropriate antipyretic. The most common controversies in the management of fever in pediatric patients were also addressed, such as alternating antipyretics, persistent fever, and dose equivalence. In primary management of pediatric patients, fever should be seen as a relevant symptom that requires treatment with antipyretics in potentially more complex or severe cases, when it causes discomfort to children or is associated with infectious diseases.