Pediatrics

Pediatric vital signs and growth parameters must be interpreted using age- and sex-specific percentiles rather than absolute thresholds. Blood pressure percentiles, weight-for-age, height-for-age, and BMI-for-age percentiles follow WHO and CDC growth standards, identifying children who require further evaluation for growth disorders, hypertension, or malnutrition.

Pediatric emergency decision rules reduce unnecessary radiation exposure while maintaining diagnostic accuracy. The PECARN rules for head trauma identify children at very low risk of clinically important traumatic brain injury who can safely forego CT imaging. The CHALICE rule provides an alternative clinical decision tool for pediatric head injury assessment.

Pediatric medication dosing requires weight-based and age-based adjustments to ensure therapeutic efficacy while avoiding toxicity. Fluid management using the Holliday-Segar method, maintenance electrolyte replacement, and weight-based resuscitation protocols are tailored to the developmental physiology of children.