Paediatrics

Could nebulised hypertonic saline prevent admission for infants with bronchiolitis? This 2013 journal club examines a Cochrane review, separating findings in hospitalised children from the smaller emergency and outpatient studies, and highlighting the uncertainty around admission avoidance.

Starting a job that involves seeing children can feel daunting. This 2013 collection introduces paediatric emergency medicine resources on examining children, recognising serious illness, assessing sick babies and approaching resuscitation, with links to short talks, podcasts and further learning.

How should we approach petechiae in a child who appears well? This 2013 review explores causes beyond meningococcal disease, the uncertainty around investigation, and safeguarding considerations, emphasising the importance of the wider history, examination and discussion with colleagues.

Simon Carley’s SMACC 2013 talk challenges the fear that can delay intervention when general emergency physicians treat critically ill children. The written introduction explains its provocative title, its focus on resuscitation skills and the fictional cases used to stimulate debate.

How much confidence should we place in age-based estimates of a child’s weight? This 2013 report compares APLS formulae with measured weights in a local study, explores variation hidden by average accuracy and argues for measuring weight whenever circumstances allow.

A 2013 journal club explores an Australian observational study of childhood CT exposure and subsequent cancer diagnoses. It puts relative risk headlines into perspective and considers how clinicians balance the immediate benefits of diagnosis against possible harms that may emerge much later.