recent articles

perspectives

An Understated Myth? Strep Throat & Rheumatic Fever

Sore throat (aka, pharyngitis) is the 3rd most common complaint for physician visits.  Although the overwhelming majority of these cases are viral in origin (rhinovirus ~20%), the major focus of our attention in the ED stems around the question of “strep (GAS) vs not strep” and who gets antibiotics…. does anyone need antibiotics? And what about rheumatic fever?

Pain Profiles

ED Management of Sickle Cell Vaso-occlusive Crises: Myths, Facts, and A Novel Approach to Acute Pain Management

Last week marked the release of the updated American Society of Hematology (ASH) ASH Draft Recommendations Sickle Cell Disease-Related Pain.  This EMDocs article addresses each of the draft recommendations listed on behalf of ASH as related to the ED-setting.