Recognition of the sick child
Pre reading : Please read the following clinical practice guideline on recognising the sick child from NSW Health, then answer the following questions. You may also find the 'Spotting the Sick Child' website useful to refer to, it has some good videos of sick children.
| NSW Health : Recognition of the Sick Child |
Recognizing the Sick Child : Workbook Questions
- Name one physiological difference in children compared with adults for each of the following categories: Airway, Breathing and Circulation
- Complete the table in your workbook with the normal observations for children of different ages
- How would you assess a child’s airway?
- If there were significant stridor on presentation would you make any interventions?
- What signs would you look for in a child that suggests increased work of breathing?
- What signs would you look for on examination to suggest adequate tissue perfusion and effective circulating volume?
- Describe how you would insert a peripheral IVC? What adaptions will you make to your normal technique when performing this procedure on a young child?
- If you are unable to insert an IV cannula in a critically unwell child, what would be your next choice in obtaining definitive access and how would you perform this?
- How would you assess an infant’s GCS? How does this differ to an adult?
- What else would you look for in your initial primary survey that is not covered within ABCD?