Since 1996, at least 150 children have died as a result of being trapped in hot, parked vehicles. Contrary to what would be expected, these deaths occurred throughout all regions of the United States, making it important for all emergency medicine physicians to be familiar with the resuscitation of a child with a heat-related illness. This article provides an overview of heat-related illnesses in children and prevention and management strategies to facilitate care.
Whether a bite or sting results in an anaphylactic reaction, impressive
local effects, or a life-threatening systemic reaction, the emergency
physician must be able to institute appropriate and effective
treatment. Emergency physicians also must be able to recognize clinical
envenomation patterns, since some critically ill patients may not be
able to convey the details of the attack. Since all areas of the
country are represented in the envenomation statistics, all emergency
physicians should be familiar with identification and stabilization of
envenomated patients and know what resources are available locally for
further management of these often complicated patients.
This issue is the second and final part in our series on urinary tract infection. Part I of the series examined epidemiology, emerging resistance patterns, and patient-specific treatment strategies. In part II, we will cover antibiotic selection, new treatment options, and special considerations.
