Did you know that there are lab panels that can test for more than a dozen viruses on a single swab, but that these panels are very expensive and don't actually change the clinical trajectory of our patients all that often?
Did you know that chest X-Rays are not recommended for most children with respiratory problems such as bronchiolitis, asthma exacerbations, croup, or first-time wheezing. Choosing Wisely recommends that doctors and all medical providers have detailed conversations with patients and their families about why X-Rays are unlikely to give new information or provide any additional reassurance. They also expose young children to unnecessary radiation. This video features Dr. Vincent Alexander who conducts a simulated discussion with a parent of a child with a respiratory illness.
This is a blog post and a podcast episode designed to disseminate the important work of Choosing Wisely, an initiative of the the American Board of Internal Medicine Foundation, the goal of which is the spark conversations between clinicians and patients about what tests, treatments, [...]
The epiglottis is the toilet seat of the airway. That’s a useful function. But what if becomes so swollen and inflamed that it leads to airway obstruction and respiratory failure. That’s bad. That’s also what epiglottitis is. You can also call it supraglottitis. Either way you need to recognize this potentially life threatening malady and secure a definitive airway in the sickest patients ASAP.
Dude - It's ringworm! So common, yet easily missed. Do yourself a favor and read this post, then look at a bunch of images so you can nail the diagnosis the net time you see it.
Norovirus is the leading cause of viral gastroenteritis worldwide and is also a major cause of food borne illness. It spreads rapidly and causes vomiting and diarrhea that lead to many ED visits. Hopefully this brief episode will enrich the discussions that you have with patients and their families when making the diagnosis of viral gastroenteritis.
SSSS is seen in infants and children and is secondary to exfoliate toxin strains of Staph aureus. Learn about the diagnosis and treatment in this brief review.
Infected stones are urologic emergencies and need prompt antibiotic therapy and decompression by Urology.
Here is a podcast episode that I recorded for Cincinnati Children's show "Young & Healthy" entitled "Parents, We Need Your Attention: Babies and Kids are Sick, Children’s Hospitals are Full, Wait Times are Long." It addresses why our EDs, Urgent Cares, and Hospitals are so busy, and offers caregiver focused advice on Bronchiolitis management.
There's an amoxicillin shortage right now... seriously. This post includes guideline resources and alternative option recommendations like tablets and capsules.