Altered Mental Status in Children

In this episode of the Pediatric Emergency Playbook, Tim Horeczko discusses altered mental status in children, emphasizing the importance of a broad differential diagnosis and avoiding anchoring bias. He presents two case studies: a toddler who ingested a clonidine patch and a child with influenza-induced encephalopathy, illustrating the application of the mnemonic "Vitamins" (Vascular, Infection, Toxins, Accident/Abuse, Metabolic, Intussusception, Neoplasm, Seizures) to guide assessment. The episode further explores a case of a teenage girl with lupus cerebritis, highlighting the challenges in diagnosis and management, and the need to consider underlying medical conditions in patients presenting with psychiatric symptoms. Horeczko underscores the significance of thorough investigation, appropriate interventions, and collaboration with specialists in pediatric emergency care.