International guidelines on paediatric resuscitation support parental presence during resuscitation.1 To ensure their needs are met, parents need dedicated support during their child’s resuscitation, whether they are present or not. Resuscitation is a stressful and potentially life-changing time for parents; however, there is little empirical evidence on who and how parental support should be provided. The aim of this...

Children sometimes have subtle illness presentations and symptom overlap with non-serious conditions.1 Young age also presents a communication barrier. The combination of these factors can lead to diagnostic delays and sometimes misdiagnosis, particularly in emergency department (EDs) that do not see high volumes of children. In the USA, one in three EDs sees fewer than five children daily. A prior study linked low-paediatric ED volume to diagnostic delays in...

Congenital heart disease (CHD) is the most prevalent birth defect that significantly affects infant and child mortality and morbidity.1 2 While medical advancements have extended the survival of children with CHD into adulthood, the financial burden on parents remains a growing concern. Indirect evidence links this to stress and family...

A growing number of individuals born with congenital heart disease (CHD) are surviving well into adulthood, and a successful transition from paediatric to adult healthcare is essential for their long-term health. However, discontinuity in care is prevalent.1 Parents play an important role in the transition process and may impact transition-related outcomes,2 but their experiences and...

The prevalence of anxiety disorders, particularly in adolescent girls, is increasing; smartphone addiction is a potential causal factor. Kosola et al1 evaluated the potential correlation between smartphone use and the mental health and well-being of adolescent girls, particularly anxiety disorders.

This population-based study recruited over a thousand adolescent girls from 21 socially diverse schools who completed online...

Central venous access devices (CVADs) are required by children to allow the safe delivery of intravenous therapies that must be delivered in the large central veins of the body. CVADs are associated with many complications such as infections, thrombosis and occlusions.1 A strategy used to prevent such complications is to instil a solution into the catheter to provide a ‘lock’. There are many ‘lock solutions’ available and used within paediatric medicine. Current...

Mild community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in children under 5 years is often viral in origin. Because of this, routine antibiotic treatment of mild CAP is discouraged in the 2011 Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society (PIDS)/Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) guideline.1 Despite these recommendations, antibiotics are still frequently prescribed, leading to avoidable adverse effects and further development of antibiotic resistance. Understanding the perspectives of parents,...

Gastrostomy tube feeding is a well-established safe and relatively common way of delivering nutrients to the gastrointestinal tract in individual who cannot use the oral route. In children, there are several indications for using chronic gastrostomy tube feeding, including neurodevelopmental conditions, cardiac problems, metabolic conditions, gastrointestinal diseases and malignancy.1 Nutrients delivered through the gastrostomy...

The importance of good communication with patients and their families is...

An increasing number of adolescents and young adults seek medical care for gender affirmation.1 Approximately 0.6%–2.0% of adolescents and young adults identify as transgender and non-binary (TNB).2 TNB youth and their caregivers need to be engaged in the developmentally appropriate multidisciplinary care that encompasses gender-affirming medical care and support.

Child abuse or neglect is estimated to occur in 10–30 per 100 000 infants in developed countries but is likely under-reported.1 Abusive head trauma, which includes all inflicted head trauma regardless of specific mechanisms such as shaken baby syndrome, is a severe form of physical abuse and linked to high rates of morbidity and mortality.2 Babies less than 1 year...

CMC are children who have complex chronic conditions, often with a spectrum of severity that requires ongoing healthcare.1 The changing landscape and increasing population of CMC across the world is due to improved health services and advancements in technologies.2 CMC are dependent on their parents and/or caregivers for the coordination of their care, including the...

Communication is a cornerstone of nursing practice and fundamental to establishing and maintaining relationships with individuals and their families. Nurses involved in the provision of perinatal palliative care work with women, babies and their families, during pregnancy, delivery and in the neonatal period. Effective therapeutic relationships with women and families empower parents, providing control and validation,1 enabling positive...

The prevalence of childhood excess weight continues to grow, adding to risk of metabolic syndrome and type II diabetes.2 Rigorous search methods were used to examine types of physical activity effective in reducing the risks of excess weight. Following quality assessment, study results from 3051 children 5–18 years old analysed...

Developing a trusting relationship with parents and caregivers is an essential component of paediatric nursing. Previous studies in this area have been largely conducted in western cultures and as such, the experiences of other cultures are not well understood. This study1 explored the experiences...

Diabetes is a long-term health condition that requires continuous high-intensity self-management to prevent complications. This can be challenging for teenagers striving for independence and developing a sense of self. Maintaining engagement with adolescents with diabetes has favourable outcomes. Coyne et al1 undertook a qualitative study in two clinics in Ireland. The study aimed to understand the perceptions of attending diabetes clinics and experiences of consultations from multiple viewpoints. Researchers completed individual interviews, or focus group, with adolescent patients, their parents and...

Childhood cancer is the leading cause of death in children over 1 year and a major cause of acquired disability.1 The wide range of clinical symptoms connected with childhood cancers can mean several differential diagnoses to consider. In child health, practitioners ordinarily adopt an approach of waiting for symptom progression, aiming to avoid investigatory procedures that could impact their ongoing health.2

Ordinarily, clinicians will piece together ‘red flag’ symptoms within...

Pain can impact cancer patients’ recovery and quality of life by compromising their physiological and psychological state.1 It is recognised that paediatric pain undertreatment remains an ongoing concern.2 Social support can act as a method of pain management, promote treatment adherence and well-being.