Electrolyte Disturbances Christopher J. LaRosa DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS LIST* Sodium imbalance Potassium imbalance Calcium imbalance Magnesium imbalance Phosphate imbalance Metabolic acidosis Metabolic alkalosis *Normal pediatric laboratory parameters vary according to age…

Fever Fran Balamuth Elizabeth R. Alpern INTRODUCTION Fever is the abnormal elevation of body temperature. It is a nonspecific sign of disease. The significance of fever lies in its indication…

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…