Contributor: Jared Scott, MD Educational Pearls: Using LET, procedural sedation, and distraction techniques are often needed to successfully perform painful procedures in pediatrics patients The technique of clown therapy has been studied as an adjunct to LET and other distraction techniques for procedures in pediatric patients One randomized-controlled trial from 2016 found anxiety was greatly…

  Contributor: Neil Cella, MD Educational Pearls: Pylorus becomes hypertrophied and does not allow food or liquid to pass through to the duodenum Occurs between the ages of 3 weeks to 3 months Classic presentation includes projectile nonbilious vomiting and palpable abdominal mass Ultrasound can visualize/diagnose pyloric stenosis and the treatment is surgical correction Be…

Contributor: Neil Cella, MD  Educational Pearls: <29 day old well-appearing febrile infant: 10% of patients <29 days old with a fever (>100.4) have an serious bacterial infection Most of these are UTIs, but also consider pneumonia and meningitis Requires CXR, LP, labs, and UA to work up cause of fever 29-60 day old well-appearing febrile…

Contributor: Aaron Lessen, MD Educational Pearls: Traditionally, fingernails were replaced after avulsion using sutures Sometimes artificial material was placed when the fingernail was not available Recent study evaluated treatment of fingernail avulsions pediatric patients by replacing the nail versus cleaning and putting a non-adhesive dressing No difference in the aesthetics or patient satisfaction with the…

Contributor:  Aaron Lessen, MD Educational Pearls: Facial nerve palsy (Bell’s palsy) can occur in pediatric patients with Lyme disease, viral infection, or even leukemia One trial sought out to find if steroids and acyclovir would benefit pediatric patients with facial nerve palsy However, during screening process, around 1% of enrollees had leukemia (5 of the…

Contributor:  Peter Bakes, MD Educational Pearls: Febrile Seizure clinical criteria 6 months – 5 years of age Rapid rise in temp No preexisting seizure disorder No other explanation for the seizure Nonfocal seizure lasting less than 15 minutes If the seizure does not meet the above criteria, a full workup needs to be completed Regardless…

Contributor: Peter Bakes , MD Educational Pearls: Pediatric Fever + Rash Differential: scarlet fever, measles, rubella, chicken pox, fifth’s disease, HHV-6, adenovirus, anaphylaxis, Kawasaki’s disease Kawasaki’s is diagnosed clinically with prolonged fever (>7 days fever in <6 months > 5 days of fever >6 months with 4 of the following:  Strawberry tongue/fissured lips Bilateral conjunctival…

Contributor: Jared Scott, MD Educational Pearls: Bilirubin is natural breakdown product of red blood cells but can be neurotoxic if levels become too high Fetal red blood cells are fragile and break down easier, leading to higher bilirubin levels in neonates  Immature livers and increased intestinal absorption from sterile bowels also contribute to elevated levels…