OBJECTIVES: To analyse the reasons for consultation (RC), diagnoses, treatments, further tests (FC), whether resolved at PC level, referrals and personal history, at a paediatrics emergency clinic. DESIGN: A prospective, longitudinal study, during the working days of alternate weeks between July 1 1996 and June 30 1997. SETTING: Urban paediatrics clinic, on the afternoon shift (2 to 9 p.m.), of the Vicente Soldevilla Primary Care Team (PCT) in Vallecas (Madrid). PARTICIPANTS: Population registered with the PCT: 2890 children between 0 and 14. RESULTS: 723 emergencies were attended. The main RC were: temperature (42.7%), catarrh (18.9%) and physical traumas (9.1%). The most common diagnoses were: tonsillitis/ENT focus (21.7%), upper passage catarrh (UPC) (15.9%) and acute gastro-enteritis (8.3%). 18.8% had some further test (x-rays 44.9% and urine cultures 43.4%). The most common treatments were antithermic, analgesic and anti-inflammatory drugs (41.8%), antibiotics (19.7%), oral tolerance and/or diets (9.8%) and trauma treatment (5.2%). 14.9% were treated at the health centre, 69.5% of which were trauma treatments. 95.8% of the consultations were resolved. The most common referrals (78.2%) were due to trauma. CONCLUSIONS: Temperature and catarrh symptoms were the most common RC in children under 10, and trauma in children over 10. Tonsillitis/ENT focus and UPC were the most common diagnoses in the under-10s, and trauma in the over-10s. Most requested further tests were X-rays and urine cultures. Most commonly prescribed medicines were antithermic, analgesic and anti-inflammatory drugs. Mainly trauma treatments were done at the health centre. Primary care is an effective filter of hospital emergencies. Traumas were the main cause of referrals to hospital.
OBJECTIVES: To analyse the reasons for consultation (RC), diagnoses, treatments, further tests (FC), whether resolved at PC level, referrals and personal history, at a paediatrics emergency clinic. DESIGN: A prospective, longitudinal study, during the working days of alternate weeks between July 1 1996 and June 30 1997. SETTING: Urban paediatrics clinic, on the afternoon shift (2 to 9 p.m.), of the Vicente Soldevilla Primary Care Team (PCT) in Vallecas (Madrid). PARTICIPANTS: Population registered with the PCT: 2890 children between 0 and 14. RESULTS: 723 emergencies were attended. The main RC were: temperature (42.7%), catarrh (18.9%) and physical traumas (9.1%). The most common diagnoses were: tonsillitis/ENT focus (21.7%), upper passage catarrh (UPC) (15.9%) and acute gastro-enteritis (8.3%). 18.8% had some further test (x-rays 44.9% and urine cultures 43.4%). The most common treatments were antithermic, analgesic and anti-inflammatory drugs (41.8%), antibiotics (19.7%), oral tolerance and/or diets (9.8%) and trauma treatment (5.2%). 14.9% were treated at the health centre, 69.5% of which were trauma treatments. 95.8% of the consultations were resolved. The most common referrals (78.2%) were due to trauma. CONCLUSIONS: Temperature and catarrh symptoms were the most common RC in children under 10, and trauma in children over 10. Tonsillitis/ENT focus and UPC were the most common diagnoses in the under-10s, and trauma in the over-10s. Most requested further tests were X-rays and urine cultures. Most commonly prescribed medicines were antithermic, analgesic and anti-inflammatory drugs. Mainly trauma treatments were done at the health centre. Primary care is an effective filter of hospital emergencies. Traumas were the main cause of referrals to hospital.