Children whose parents ensure they get flu shots stand a significantly lower risk for death from influenza than children who are not vaccinated, according to new data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In fact, the CDC says between 2010 and 2014 flu vaccinations reduced the risk of flu-associated death by half among children with underlying high-risk medical conditions, and by nearly two-thirds among healthy children. The study, published in Pediatrics, is thought …
Read MoreAbstracts in Urgent Care: June, 2014
Modification of Wells criteria in cancer, previous DVT Key point: Wells criteria for deep venous thrombosis (DVT) may need modification for patients with cancer or previous DVT. Citation: Geersing GJ, Zuithoff NP, Kearon C, et al. Exclusion of deep vein thrombosis using the Wells rule in clinically important subgroups: individual patient data metaanalysis. BMJ. 2014;348:g1340. Possible DVT is an important diagnosis to make, however, many urgent cares do not have access to ultrasound. A combination …
Read MoreAn Age-Based Approach to Fever of Uncertain Origin in the Pediatric Patient
Urgent message: Fever in pediatric patients, while frequent, is rarely the result of a serious illness. Urgent care practitioners must be able to consistently distinguish between serious and benign causes with a minimum of invasive testing. BRENDAN KILBANE, MD, FAAP Introduction Ever is one of the most common chief complaints in pediatric patients who present for urgent evaluation. A surprising number of families continue to suffer from “fever phobia,” with one study noting that 91% …
Read MoreApril 2013
9-year-old female suffering after a blow to her right hand
The patient, a 9-year-old female, presented after a blow to her right hand. View the image taken and consider what your diagnosis would be.
Read More3-year-old boy suffering a blow to his leg
The patient, a 3-year-old, had a blow to his lower leg. View the image taken and consider what your diagnosis would be.
Read More5-year-old male exhibits irritability and persistent febrility
The patient was a 5-year-old male. His parents reported that he had been febrile for the past several days (fever between 101°F and 103°F [38.3°C to 49.4°C]) and had become increasingly irritable and ill appearing. Exam revealed bilateral conjunctival injection without exudate, dry red lips and red tongue, and perineal erythema with overlying scale. The patient’s lymph nodes were swollen. View the images taken (Figures 1, 2 and 3) and consider what your diagnosis would …
Read More9-year-old patient trips and receives a blow to right knee
The patient, an otherwise healthy 9-year-old, tripped, suffered a blow to the right knee and presented with the knee cap in an abnormal position. View the image taken and consider what your diagnosis and next steps would be
Read More2-1/2 year-old with recurrent abdominal pain
The patient, an otherwise healthy 2-1/2 year-old, experienced recurrent episodes of abdominal pain without vomiting or diarrhea. On exam, fullness of the abdomen was present. View the image taken and consider what your diagnosis and next steps would be. Click on the button below to see the resolution of the case.
Read MoreEar, Nose, and Throat Urgencies in Children
Urgent message: Many infections and injuries of the ear, nose, or throat are unique to the pediatric population. parents view many of these processes as urgent, leading them to seek immediate medical attention. Ann Mary Bacevice, MD Introduction Children tend to be especially susceptible to a wide range of infectious illnesses, as well as vulnerable to a host of minor traumas to or affecting the ear, nose, or throat. This, added to the fact that …
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