Common paediatric emergencies

Abstract

There is a wide disparity between the anatomical, physiological and biochemical makeup of children and adults, this makes the aetiology and presentation of paediatric emergencies different from emergencies in the adult population. It, therefore, follows that the management approach to paediatric emergencies by health professionals differs from the management approach to emergencies in adults.
These biological factors dictate not only the differences between children and adults but among the different age groups of children. Other factors such as the fact that children undergo clinical deterioration more rapidly cause emergency evaluation and resuscitation of paediatric patients to be more challenging.
Healthcare workers are required to have the necessary skill, knowledge and training to provide appropriate emergency care for children of all ages. A standardised and organised approach should be taken in the management of emergencies in children.
This paper discusses paediatric emergencies, their management, categories under which paediatric emergencies may fall, and the epidemiology of some common paediatric emergencies in Nigeria.