Directory of Physicians and Dentists

Pediatric Emergency Care A Pediatric emergency care physician is a specialist in the care of children and teens who are acutely ill or injured. A pediatric emergency physician is trained to care for a wide range of problems that require immediate medical help. These problems are often serious and may be life-threatening. Your pediatrician may call on a pediatric emergency physician to help if your child has an acute illness or injury or special health care needs that require urgent assistance. Pediatric emergency physicians have expertise in all of the following areas:

• Dealing with medical emergencies. (These often require special techniques and procedures.)
• Providing treatment that meets the unique medical needs of infants, children, teens, and young adults. This includes giving medications and using special equipment in specific ways.
• Detecting problems in children who are unable to be patient and cooperative.
• Easing the pain and anxiety that a medical emergency can cause families.
• Research and education in pediatric emergency medicine.

Pediatric emergency physicians are experienced in the diagnosis and treatment of all types of emergencies in infants, children, teens, and young adults. They usually treat the following types of emergencies:

• Acute medical problems such as high or persistent fever, severe infections, difficulty breathing, severe pain, dehydration, seizures, and severe allergic reactions
• Major injuries such as fractures, head injuries, burns, and conditions resulting from motor vehicle crashes, falls, or other incidents
• Poisonings and overdoses
• Severe complications of chronic illnesses such as asthma, diabetes, sickle cell disease, and congenital (ie, existing at birth) or other disabling disorders
• Minor injuries such as cuts, animal bites, sprains, and foreign bodies