History of presenting complaint
History can be gathered from a number of sources, including the child and / or the caregiver.
Children suffer different patterns of injury from adults in trauma. Mechanism of injury is an important part of assessment, as it is in adults, and can be used to predict patterns of injury. For example, a greenstick fracture is typical in a young child suffering from a fall. Child protection issues must be a consideration( see Chapter 10 – Mandatory reporting).
It is important to ascertain recent potential contact with infectious diseases, such as chicken pox.
Past history
Co-morbid factors should be evaluated for the likely effect on their acute condition and therefore clinical urgency. For example, premature infants or children with congenital heart or lung disease have a greater propensity to developing significant cardiorespiratory dysfunction from respiratory infections.
Paediatric past history should also consider perinatal and immunisation history.
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Table 8.2 shows paediatric physiological discriminators for the ATS using the primary survey method.
Department of Health and Ageing – Emergency Triage Education Kit