Paediatric Emergencies

Question 1

What is the most common cause of cardiac arrest in paediatrics?

Answer 1

Respiratory arrest eg hypoxia

Question 2

Define infant and child in terms of age.

Answer 2

An infant is a child under 1 year, a child is between 1 year and puberty

Question 3

Paediatric BLS algorithm

Answer 3

1. unresponsive?
2. shout for help
3. open airway
4. look, listen, feel for breathing
5. give 5 rescue breaths
6. check for signs of circulation
7. 15 chest compressions:2 rescue breaths (compression:ventilation ratio: lay rescuers should use a ratio of 30:2. If there are two or more rescuers with a duty to respond then a ratio of 15:2 should be used)

Question 4

How is temperature measured in febrile children?

Answer 4

<4weeks: electronic thermometer in the axilla

>4 weeks: electronic/chemical dot thermometer in the axilla or an infra-red tympanic thermometer.

Question 5

What is the RR in tachypnoea?

Answer 5

> 50 breaths/minute, age 6-12 months

>40 breaths/minute, age >12 months

Question 6

What is the HR in tachycardia?

Answer 6

> 160 beats/minute, age <12 months
150 beats/minute, age 12-24 months
140 beats/minute, age 2-5 years