Acute opioid overdose in pediatric patients.

Recent increases in pediatric and adolescent opioid fatalities mandate an urgent need for early consideration of possible opioid exposure and specific diagnostic and management strategies and interventions tailored to these unique populations. In contrast to adults, pediatric methods of exposure include accidental ingestions, prescription misuse, and household exposure. Early recognition, appropriate diagnostic evaluation, along with specialized treatment for opioid toxicity in this demographic are discussed. A key focus is on Naloxone, an essential medication for opioid intoxication, addressing its unique challenges in pediatric use. Unique pediatric considerations include recognition of accidental ingestions in our youngest population, critical social aspects including home safety and intentional exposure, and harm reduction strategies, mainly through Naloxone distribution and education on safe medication practices. It calls for a multifaceted approach, including creating pediatric-specific guidelines, to combat the opioid crisis among children and to work to lower morbidity and mortality from opioid overdoses.

Vital signs among emergency department trauma patients in the setting of alcohol or drug use.

INTRODUCTION: The incidence of alcohol use among trauma patients has been estimated at 19-55%. This study was undertaken to identify any relationship between vital signs and alcohol and drug use among Emergency Department (ED) patients with trauma. METHODS: In this retrospective case control study, eligible subjects included trauma patients ages 18 and over, with trauma and drug or alcohol use, between 2018 and 2022. The control group was comprised of trauma patients ages 18 and over, with trauma and no drug or alcohol use, who were matched by Injury Severity Score (ISS). Vital signs on ED arrival were compared among patients with and without alcohol use, and with and without recreational drug use. RESULTS: Among 16,159 eligible trauma subjects, 5,323 had tests available for drugs and alcohol of whom 2,750 had complete ISS and vital signs data. 684 subjects were identified with alcohol intoxication, 707 subjects were identified with recreational drug use. Patients with alcohol use had lower mean systolic blood pressure (Mean=133, SD=26.7), compared to patients without alcohol use (Mean=143, SD=29.4) (p < 0.001). Patients with alcohol use had higher mean heart rate (Mean=93, SD=19.9) compared to patients without alcohol use (Mean=91, SD=19.7) (p = 0.01). Patients with recreational drug use had lower mean systolic blood pressure (Mean=137, SD=28.5) compared to patients without drug use (Mean=143, SD=29.6) (p < 0.001). Patients with drug use had higher mean heart rate (Mean=94, SD=22.8), compared to patients without drug use (Mean=91, SD=20.0) (p = 0.002). Cannabinoids were associated with lower SBP (Case Mean=136 (25.4) vs. Control Mean=141 (31.0), p = 0.009). Opioids were associated with lower SBP (Case Mean=138 (28.0) vs. Control Mean=145 (29.4), p = 0.01). Benzodiazepines were associated with increased HR and decreased SBP and RR. CONCLUSIONS: There appear to be no clinically relevant differences in vital signs among trauma patients with drug use and/or alcohol use, compared to patients without drug or alcohol use. Abnormal vital signs should not be prematurely attributed solely to acute substance intoxication before fully evaluating for associated traumatic injuries.

An Interesting Presentation of Lyme Pseudothrombophlebitis.

An 8-year-old boy presented to the emergency department with swelling and pain of his left knee and calf for approximately 1 week. His examination was significant for moderate knee effusion and swelling of the posterior calf with erythema and warmth of the affected areas. An ultrasound obtained at an outside hospital showed a large heterogeneous mass in the gastrocnemius, and a magnetic resonance imaging revealed a large, heterogeneous, rim-enhancing collection in the medial head of the left gastrocnemius muscle with surrounding myositis involving the gastrocnemius muscle. The child was taken to the operating room by the orthopedic team for drainage and irrigation of the knee effusion and of the collection in the gastrocnemius. The diagnosis of Lyme pseudothrombophlebitis was made through Lyme serology testing of aspirated fluid. He improved after this drainage but required a prolonged antibiotic course.

An Unusual Cause of Back Pain in a 10-Year-Old Girl.

A 10-year-old girl with a 2-week history of atraumatic back pain presented to the emergency department with difficulty ambulating and a history of 2 episodes of urinary incontinence in the past week. Her examination was significant for pain with movement, tenderness to palpation in the lower thoracic spine, and no neurological deficits. In this case, the child was found to have a Schmorl node at T8 in the superior aspect of the vertebral body. Schmorl nodes are protrusions of the cartilage of the intervertebral disc through the vertebral body endplate and into the adjacent that is more commonly reported in the adult population. In this child, radiographic findings were normal, with no evidence of the Schmorl node. The diagnosis was made by magnetic resonance imaging. The child's symptoms significantly resolved with ibuprofen anti-inflammatory therapy. In children with atraumatic back pain lasting greater than 2 weeks with a sudden increase in severity and associated with a neurological deficit, advanced imaging is strongly recommended.