Management of febrile infants and children by pediatric emergency medicine and emergency medicine: comparison with practice guidelines.

OBJECTIVES: Management of febrile infants and children remains controversial despite the 1993 publication in Pediatrics and Annals of Emergency Medicine of practice guidelines. Our aim was to determine the management of febrile infants and children by pediatric emergency medicine (PEM) fellowship directors and emergency medicine (EM) residency directors and compare their approach with the published practice guidelines. METHODS: Four case scenarios were sent to 64 PEM directors and 100 EM directors in the United States and Canada, describing four febrile, nontoxic infants and children aged 25 days (case 1), 7 weeks (case 2), 5 months (case 3), and 22 months (case 4). Respondents were asked to select which laboratory tests and radiographs they would obtain and to decide on treatment and disposition for each hypothetical case. RESULTS: Ninety-two percent (53/64) of PEM directors and 64% (64/100) of EM directors responded (overall response rate 74%). Compliance with the guidelines (PEM/EM) was 54%/16% for case 1, 31%/6% for case 2, 35%/19% for case 3, and 20%/11% for case 4. Only 11% of PEM and 2% of EM directors followed the guidelines for all four cases. Overall, directors performed fewer laboratory tests, ordered more chest radiographs and treated fewer patients with antibiotics than the expert panel suggested. EM directors ordered more chest radiographs (cases 1-4) and admitted more patients (case 2) than PEM directors. CONCLUSIONS: There is poor compliance with published practice guidelines in the management of febrile infants and children among PEM and EM directors.

Use of the skeletal survey in the evaluation of child maltreatment.

The radiologic skeletal survey is an important tool for evaluating occult trauma in suspected child abuse. The purposes of this study were: (1) to determine the incidence of clinically unsuspected fractures detected by skeletal survey, and (2) to identify high-risk groups of children who would benefit from skeletal surveys. We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 203 children admitted over a 30-month period to Children's National Medical Center for alleged physical abuse. Skeletal surveys were ordered based on the treating physicians' clinical suspicions. Patients in whom skeletal surveys were positive for an occult fracture were studied in more detail. There were 96 skeletal surveys performed; of these, 25 were positive for at least 1 clinically unsuspected fracture. Eighty percent of occult fractures were found in children younger than 1 year old. Presenting with a new fracture or an intracranial injury placed the child at higher risk of occult fracture. In contrast, patients with burn injuries had a very low yield of occult fractures. The patient's age and type of suspicious injury can help guide the physician as to when to obtain a skeletal survey.

Atlantoaxial rotary subluxation in children.

Traumatic torticollis is an uncommon complaint in the emergency department (ED). One important cause in children is atlantoaxial rotary subluxation. Most children present with pain, torticollis ("cock-robin" position), and diminished range of motion. The onset is spontaneous and usually occurs following minor trauma. A thorough history and physical examination will eliminate the various causes of torticollis. Radiographic evaluation will demonstrate persistent asymmetry of the odontoid in its relationship to the atlas. Computed tomography, especially a dynamic study, may be needed to verify the subluxation. Treatment varies with severity and duration of the abnormality. For minor and acute cases, a soft cervical collar, rest, and analgesics may be sufficient. For more severe cases, the child may be placed on head halter traction, and for long-standing cases, halo traction or even surgical interventions may be indicated. We describe two patients with atlantoaxial rotary subluxation, who presented with torticollis, to illustrate recognition and management in the ED.

Febrile seizures: a clinical review.

Febrile seizures occur in 2 to 5% of children ages three months to five years. Evaluation of children with febrile seizures begins with a thorough history and physical examination. Therapy and long-term management should focus on treatment of the febrile illness and counseling.

Group A beta-hemolytic streptococcal epiglottitis as a complication of varicella infection.

A rare complication of varicella in an otherwise normal host is described: epiglottitis caused by group A beta-hemolytic streptococci (GABHS). The resurgence of invasive disease secondary to GABHS is discussed. The rarity of GABHS bacteremia and epiglottitis in the context of varicella is emphasized.

Emergency department evaluation of a rapid assay for detection of cocaine metabolites in urine specimens.

We evaluated the Abuscreen ONTRAK assay for cocaine metabolites, a rapid immunoassay for the detection of cocaine metabolites in a pediatric emergency department (ED) setting. The ONTRAK uses a cutoff point of 300 micrograms/L for benzoylecgonine (BEC), cocaine's major urinary metabolite. One hundred and thirty-two urine specimens obtained from infants, children, and adolescents whose clinical findings warranted toxicology screening were evaluated. The ONTRAK identified all 15 specimens with BEC values of 300 micrograms/L, but did not detect seven additional specimens positive for cocaine metabolites at concentrations less than 300 micrograms/L. One third of the positive specimens for cocaine metabolite identified by fluorescent polarization immunoassay (FPIA), cutoff point set at 80 micrograms/L, and confirmed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GUMS), cutoff point 50 micrograms/L, were not detected by the ONTRAK. These false negative specimens were seen exclusively in young children, whose concentration of cocaine metabolite was less than the ONTRAK's cutoff value. The test was sensitive to drug concentration at or around the stated cutoff values. The ONTRAK test for cocaine metabolites, although both a sensitive and specific screening test for adolescents who smoke or snort cocaine, lacks the sensitivity to be a useful screening too[ for detecting cocaine metabolites in young children. Limitations of currently performed toxicology screening tests (ie, stated cutoff levels) may cause emergency physicians to miss most young children whose symptoms may he related to cocaine exposure.

Penetrating injury to the oral cavity: a case report and review of the literature.

Penetrating injury to the oral cavity, although rare, may cause serious morbidity and mortality in the pediatric population. Impalement injuries are known to cause delayed vascular injury to the internal carotid artery, leading to significant neurologic sequelae. We present an unusual case of impalement injury and make recommendations regarding the successful evaluation and management of such injuries.