[Pediatric emergencies attended at a primary care clinic (II): Epidemiological study]  .
OBJECTIVE
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.


METHODS
A prospective, longitudinal study, during the working days of alternate weeks between July 1 1996 and June 30 1997.


METHODS
Urban paediatrics clinic, on the afternoon shift (2 to 9 p.m.), of the Vicente Soldevilla Primary Care Team (PCT) in Vallecas (Madrid).


METHODS
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.
Fernández Cano
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Pediatras de Equipo de Atención Primaria, Madrid.
Martín Carballo
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D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003953:Diagnosis-Related Groups / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004632:Emergency Medical Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012621:Seasons; D013997:Time Factors