One pill can kill... You need to know these medications when caring for pediatric patients.

Can mindfulness improve your well-being and patient care? What about speaking with your patients about mindfulness?

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?

A 59-year-old man presents to the ED for acute onset low back pain that started immediately after he moved furniture. He states his lumbar pain has been unrelenting, with mild pain radiating to down both legs.  He appears in pain and has mild midline and bilateral paraspinal tenderness to palpation over his lumbosacral spine.  He has bilateral loss of strength in the distal lower extremities, notably in dorsiflexion.  What diagnoses should you consider?

Our EM Educator post this week looks at considerations for endocarditis. How do we diagnose and manage this disease?

The ideal pharmacologic agent for controlling agitated patients is often debated. Ketamine and dexmedetomidine are two newer drugs that are starting to be used more frequently in the management of agitation in the emergency department.

Dr. Boushra is back with non-obstetric causes of abdominal pain in pregnancy.

Our wrap-up this week covers febrile seizure, duration of antibiotic therapy for strep throat, fluid bolus before intubation, and the 2019 ACEP policy on acute headaches.