Warning Signs in Paediatric Emergencies

Paediatric patients are generally in the best position, physiologically, to compensate to any injury or illness. This said, children do not decompensate very well and it is important to recognise immediately when there is a sign of a paediatric emergency.

These are the basic warning signs in paediatric emergencies:

Airway – imminent airway obstruction or new onset of stridor.

Breathing – Apnoeas, decreasing respiratory rate (often secondary to exhaustion, particularly in asthma), markedly increased respiratory rate, absent breath sounds, hypoxaemia.

Circulation – severe increase in heart rate, absent peripheral pulses, hypotension.

Disability – responds only to pain, new or prolonged seizure activity.

Exposure – fever greater than 41.0 Centegrade or hypothermia less than 34.0 Centegrade.

Fluids – significant bleeding or fluid loss

Glucose – BGL less than 2mmols.

If any of these warning signs are present the child is in serious danger and requires urgent transport to hospital and medical interventions.