[Respiratory emergencies in adolescents].
BACKGROUND
The aim of this paper was to examine the present situation of adolescents admission for respiratory emergency, management of these patients, identify strategies for the best therapeutic options and better collaboration.


METHODS
We have gathered data of adolescent patients who were referred to the Emergency Unit of "G. Gaslini" Children's Hospital, and "San Martino" Hospital in Genoa and to the Intensive Care Unit of both Hospitals and to the Emergency Service 118 in Liguria district. Respiratory emergency in adolescence is a rare condition and it is usually due to a poor control of respiratory chronic diseases, i.e. respiratory distress in patients with asthma.


RESULTS
We found that there is an increased number of respiratory emergencies because of psychological problems, drugs addiction, multiple trauma; in other words, we had an increased number of admissions due to behavioural problems. Temporary in-patients care has been showed to be the best therapeutic option after the admission in the Emergency Unit.


CONCLUSIONS
In conclusion, adolescent patients need to be hospitalized, but appropriate spaces and structures need to be found either in pediatric or adult Hospitals and qualified personnel must be trained.
Pirlo
D
D
Dipartimento di Emergenza e Accettazione (DEA), Istituto G. Gaslini, Genova, Italy.
Gastaldi
R
R
Di Pietro
P
P
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D004630:Emergencies; D006801:Humans; D012120:Respiration Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology