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Paediatric Emergencies: How they are Managed at MGM

• For any parent, not knowing what’s troubling their child can be very worrying. A sneeze, a cough, a bit of a tummy ache almost always warrants a trip to the doctor. But what happens when any of these symptoms suddenly turn into something worse very quickly? Or an accident involving the child or seizures (fits) that need medical intervention? What do you do then?

• Call 044-45242444 or bring your child into MGM Children’s Emergency Care.

• Headed by a team of experienced paediatric specialists along with trained paediatric nurses, MGM Children’s 24×7 emergency care centre is adept at handling any emergency.

Paediatric emergencies include:

• Persistent high fever with or without rash

• Fast breathing or breathing difficulty

• Bluish discoloration of lips, tongue or fingers

• Seizures

• Unconsciousness or unresponsiveness

• Lethargy or poor activity that appears disproportionate

• Persistent or worsening severe pain

• Vomiting or coughing of blood

• Persistent severe vomiting and/or loose motions

• Reduced urine output

• Sudden swelling of lips or face

• Swelling of joints, restriction of movements of one or more limbs

• Trauma, especially when followed by bleeding from ears or nose,

• unconsciousness, vomiting, weakness of limbs, abnormal position of limbs with pain, restricted movements, excessive bleeding, breathlessness, severe stomach pain, passing of red-coloured urine, a visible defect of skin and other tissues that might require closure or other danger signs

• Serious chemical, electrical or thermal injuries and near drowning

• Insertion of a foreign body into nostril, ears or throat

• Ingestion of a foreign body or poisonous substances, especially sharp objects, button batteries, paint, pesticide

• Animal bites/insect stings

• The first step in treating a child brought to the emergency room is to perform a quick assessment — what is called a Paediatric Assessment Triangle (PAT). The paediatric nurse who first examines the child checks their vitals while the paediatric emergency specialist examines the child. They check three aspects — appearance, breathing and circulation to the skin.

• Doctors take action based on the demeanour of the child. If the child is unresponsive, there is no time to ask questions. The first step is to resuscitate the child and stabilise them. If the child is smiling or even in pain, the doctors get a brief history of the child from the parents/guardian before proceeding. Based on the clinical status, the type of care the child requires is decided. It could be:

Outpatient care,

• where the doctor prescribes the necessary medication and the child goes home

Inpatient care

• where the child requires hospitalisation (in the ward or ICU) and a few days of monitoring and treatment

Short stay care

• an intermediary alternative to hospitalisation where the treatment is only for a few hours, like when a wheezing child needs nebulisation. The child is treated at MGM Children’s dedicated short stay area till they are ready to be sent home

• Any child under 18 years brought into ER is channeled through the Paediatrics department. With a promise of comprehensive and integrated care, specialists from other departments are also involved in the child’s treatment based on their condition. For example, if a child is brought in with a fracture, the Orthopaedic specialists are involved. Conditions requiring complex procedures of the bowels like endoscopy will warrant the involvement of a paediatric gastroenterologist.

• At MGM Healthcare, patients are at the core of everything we do, especially the little ones who depend on us. Our brand of comprehensive care ensures that your child gets the best care and treatment in a safe environment.