From the Guidelines
Common pediatric conditions include urinary tract infections, anxiety disorders, congenital heart disease, and 22q11.2 deletion syndrome.
Common Conditions
- Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs): UTIs are common in children and can be challenging to diagnose, especially in young children who are unable to verbalize symptoms 1.
- Anxiety Disorders: Anxiety disorders are among the most common psychiatric disorders in children and adolescents, with a lifetime prevalence of approximately 20-30% in the United States 1.
- Congenital Heart Disease: Congenital heart disease is a common condition in children, with a prevalence of approximately 6-13 per 1,000 live births 1.
- 22q11.2 Deletion Syndrome: 22q11.2 deletion syndrome is a multisystem disorder that can affect various aspects of a child's health, including cardiac, palatal, and immunological systems 1.
Key Considerations
- Diagnosis and Management: Accurate diagnosis and management of these conditions are crucial to prevent long-term complications and improve quality of life for children 1.
- Multidisciplinary Care: Multidisciplinary care is essential for managing complex conditions like 22q11.2 deletion syndrome, which requires coordination of care from various specialists 1.
- Age-Specific Considerations: Different conditions may have age-specific considerations, such as the median age of onset for anxiety disorders being approximately 11 years 1.
From the Research
Common Pediatric Conditions
- Respiratory distress, dehydration, anaphylaxis, seizures, and trauma are common emergencies encountered in pediatric office practice 2
- Upper respiratory tract infection, unspecified musculoskeletal pain, and gastroenteritis are common non-trauma related diagnoses in pediatric patients 3
- Fracture, wound, and contusion are common trauma-related diagnoses in pediatric patients 3
- Asthma, bacterial pneumonia, convulsions, dehydration, failure to thrive, gastroenteritis, and urinary tract infections are common pediatric conditions that may require hospitalization 4
Diagnosis and Management
- Pediatric patients with common conditions have a shorter length of stay in nonteaching hospitals than those admitted to teaching hospitals 4
- Musculoskeletal illness represents a significant portion of office visits to primary care physicians, and little emphasis is placed on learning pediatric orthopedics during medical school or residency 5
- Guidance regarding in-office management of common pediatric orthopedic disorders is essential for primary care physicians 5
Trends in Regionalization of Emergency Care
- Referral rates for common pediatric conditions such as asthma, croup, and gastroenteritis have increased over time, suggesting decreasing provision of definitive care and regionalization of inpatient care 6
- Referral rates are greatest in the lowest pediatric volume quartile, and changes over time in patient demographics or comorbidities do not account for these findings 6