RESUMEN
OBJECTIVE: The main objective of this study is to analyse the management of paediatric emergencies by Family Doctors in Primary Care. The secondary objective is to determine the appropriateness of hospital referrals. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A retrospective, observational, and descriptive study was performed. An analysis was carried out on the visits made by children less than 14years-old during one year in continued care opening hours in a basic health area, after single-stage cluster random sampling of 45days. RESULTS: A total of 447 emergency consultations were made by paediatric patients with a mean age of 6.83years (SD=3.82). Almost all (92.8%) the emergency consultations made by children less than 14years were resolved in situ. The referral rate to hospitals was 7.2% (95%CI: 4.9-10). Just over half (56%: 95%CI: 37.7-73.6) of the children referred had some type of hospital intervention (tests, treatments, assessments by other non-paediatric specialists, observation and or admission). CONCLUSIONS: The referral rate was 7.2%, which is in the upper limit of that found in other studies. Just over half of the children required some type of intervention, which could be considered as justified referrals. Furthermore, good agreement was found (Kappa index=0.778) between the diagnosis from Primary Care and the final diagnosis by paediatricians, inferring that the diagnosis made on paediatric patients by Family Doctors are correct.