Edema René VanDeVoorde INTRODUCTION Edema refers to the clinical condition in which an excessive amount of fluid accumulates in the extravascular interstitial space of the body. The balance of competing…

Ear, Painful Christine S. Cho INTRODUCTION Diseases that produce ear pain are common maladies of childhood. Many cases of otalgia are caused by acute otitis media. Otitis externa is also…

Drowning Mercedes M. Blackstone INTRODUCTION Terminology Historically, the terminology used to describe drowning events has been somewhat confusing. The World Congress on Drowning has suggested that the term drowning be…

Diarrhea, Chronic Andrew Grossman INTRODUCTION Stool output of 10 g/kg per day (in infants) or 200 g/kg per day (in children) is defined as diarrhea. Chronic diarrhea is the persistence…

Diarrhea, Acute Catherine C. Wiley INTRODUCTION Acute diarrhea is defined as stools with increased water content and frequency for a period of <5 to 7 days. Most cases of acute…

Dehydration Philip R. Spandorfer INTRODUCTION Dehydration is a total body fluid deficit and a cause of hypovolemic shock. It occurs when total fluid loss is greater than fluid intake. It…

Diabetes Stuart A. Weinzimer INTRODUCTION Diabetes mellitus is a disorder of glucose metabolism characterized by hyperglycemia caused by insulin deficiency. Diabetes encompasses several clinical syndromes including, but not limited to,…

Cyanosis Beth Ann Johnson Bradley S. Marino INTRODUCTION Cyanosis is a physical sign characterized by a bluish discoloration of the mucous membranes, skin, or nail beds. Cyanosis results from hypoxemia…

Cough Richard M. Kravitz INTRODUCTION Cough is one of the most common presenting symptoms in children. The duration of the symptoms determines the level of concern and degree of workup…

Constipation Kristin N. Fiorino INTRODUCTION Constipation is difficult passage of hard bowel movements, usually associated with a decrease in the frequency of bowel movements to <2 stools per week. Approximately…