CDC: New Data Show Flu Shots Save Children’s Lives

CDC: New Data Show Flu Shots Save Children’s Lives

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 …

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Abstracts 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 …

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An Age-Based Approach to Fever of Uncertain Origin in the Pediatric Patient

An 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% …

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5-year-old male exhibits irritability and persistent febrility

5-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 …

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Ear, Nose, and Throat Urgencies in Children

Ear, 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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