Children represent nearly 30% of all emergency room visits. They are one of the most diverse and challenging patients for an emergency physician, which is why having pediatric emergency doctors, nurses and pediatric care rooms on hand is so important.
There are many reasons why children end up in one of our emergency centers, luckily only about 5% of the patients are critically ill or injured.
Some of the common reasons why parents bring their children to the ER include:
Infections can be viral, bacterial, or fungal, and they range from mild to life-threatening. It is important to remember that any infection which is not treated properly can cause serious harm to any patient but especially children.
Types of Infections Treated in the ER
Skin conditions vary greatly in symptoms and severity, some are temporary while others are chronic, some are accompanied by pain, itchiness, or some other form of discomfort, while others are painless. Some skin conditions are due to genetic factors others are related to viral illnesses or exposure to certain substances.
Types of Skin Conditions Treated in Our Pediatric Emergency Rooms
Pain has many causes, pain that is produced by having hit against something is something that is usually temporary, and, in most cases, it won’t require medical attention, whoever, if the trauma was severe enough it could cause hairline fractures which will require x-rays to diagnose.
Pain can also be caused by inflamed organs, or some illnesses and these will require an evaluation by a pediatric physician.
Types of Pain Diagnosed and Treated in the Emergency Room
Sometimes the medical emergency is caused by an environmental cause, being exposed to toxic substances, fire, water submersion, etc.
Types of Environmental Injuries Treated in Our Centers
When a child is involved in an accident be it as a pedestrian, on their bicycles, in a car crash, a fall, or when playing sports, moderate to severe trauma can occur. These situations will always require a visit to the doctor or emergency room depending on the severity of the injuries.
Types of Trauma Treated in the ER
Children are exposed to numerous viruses and bacteria, and some have undiagnosed food allergies or sensitivities which can cause digestive problems.
Digestive Issues Treated in All Our Centers
When to Go to the Emergency Room
When it comes children, parents need to trust their instincts, nobody knows or understands the patient better than the parents, in general terms parents should bring their kids into the emergency room for an emergency pediatric evaluation when:
