Pediatric emergency medicine trisk 2919 2919

RELATED CHAPTERS
Signs and Symptoms
Coma: Chapter 17
Edema: Chapter 25
Gastrointestinal Bleeding: Chapter 33
Hypertension: Chapter 37
Pain: Abdomen: Chapter 53
Seizures: Chapter 72
Medical, Surgical, and Trauma Emergencies
Cardiac Emergencies: Chapter 86
Gastrointestinal Emergencies: Chapter 91
Infectious Disease Emergencies: Chapter 94
Neurologic Emergencies: Chapter 97
Pulmonary Emergencies: Chapter 99
Renal and Electrolyte Emergencies: Chapter 100
Abdominal Emergencies: Chapter 116
Neurosurgical Emergencies: Chapter 122
Behavioral and Psychiatric Emergencies: Chapter 126

SYSTEMIC LUPUS ERYTHEMATOSUS
CLINICAL PEARLS AND PITFALLS
The most common initial symptoms are the gradual onset of fever, fatigue,
and generalized lymphadenopathy.
The clinical presentation is highly variable and may include multiple body
systems.
The classic malar rash is present in only one-half of pediatric patients at
presentation.
Infection is the major cause of mortality in childhood systemic lupus
erythematous (SLE) because of immune dysregulation inherent in the
disease and the immunosuppressant medications used to treat SLE.
Patients taking corticosteroids may require stress doses during acute febrile

illness.
Corticosteroids may mask the symptom of pain.