Paediatric utilization of a general emergency department in a developing country

• Published in: Acta Paediatrica 2003-08, Vol.92 (8), p.965-969
• Main Authors: Goh, AY, Chan, TL, Abdel-Latiff, ME
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Age Factors; Anesthesia. Intensive care medicine. Transfusions. Cell therapy and gene therapy; Biological and medical sciences; Child; Child, Preschool; Developing Countries; Developing country; Emergency and intensive care: techniques, logistics; emergency department; Emergency Service, Hospital - statistics & numerical data; hospital admission; Humans; Infant; Intensive care medicine; Intensive care unit. Emergency transport systems. Emergency, hospital ward; Malaysia; Medical sciences; Pediatrics; Prospective Studies; utilization
• ISSN: 0803-5253; 1651-2227
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1651-2227.2003.tb00632.x

Aim: Knowledge of the spectrum and frequencies of paediatric emergencies presenting to an emergency department (ED) of individual developing countries is vital in optimizing the quality of care delivered locally. Methods: A prospective 6 wk review of all paediatric (< 18y) attendees to an urban ED was done, with patient age, presenting complaints, diagnoses, time of arrival and disposition recorded. Results: Complete data were available on 1172 patients, with an age range of 4 d to 18 y (mean ± SD 6.9 ± 5.6 y); 43% were aged ≤4 y. The main presenting complaints were injuries (26.9%), fever (24%) and breathing difficulties (16.6%). The most common diagnosis was minor trauma (24.2%), with soft‐tissue injuries predominating (80.6%). The other diagnoses were asthma (12.6%), upper respiratory infections (12.1%), other infections (12.1%) and gastroenteritis (11.8%). Equal proportions of patients were seen throughout the day. 25% of patients were admitted. Young age (