This talk was recorded live at DFTB18 in Melbourne, Australia. With the theme of ‘Science and Story,’ we pushed our speakers to step out of their comfort zones and consider why we do what we do. Caring for children is not just about acquiring scientific know-how but also about looking beyond a diagnosis or clinical conundrum at the patient and their families.
Katie Tinning is a staff specialist in the emergency department at Queensland Children’s Hospital in Brisbane. In this talk she talks about a challenge every parent faces – trying to work out a baby is crying…all…of…the…time.
Katie reminded us to consider the crying, the patient, and the caregivers. Whilst the majority of crying is normal, it is up to us to identify the sick child and provide reassurance when needed, ideally backed up with science. No matter how much you may want to, it is important not to roll your eyes but to see the importance of this visit for the parents. Nobody wants to come to the hospital in the middle of the night – most of us would rather stay in bed.
For more on the crying infant, head over to the Pediatric Emergency Playbook and listen to our friend Tim Horeczko discuss the fussy infant.
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