PEM Currents: The Pediatric Emergency Medicine Podcast
Episodes
Croup
15 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Croup is a clinical syndrome of upper airway obstruction defined by barking cough, stridor, and hoarseness. Management hinges on severity assessment, ...
Migraines
02 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of PEM Currents: The Pediatric Emergency Medicine Podcast, we take a structured, evidence-based approach to the acute treatment of mig...
Psychogenic Nonepileptic Seizures (PNES)
29 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNES) are common, often misunderstood, and increasingly encountered in pediatric emergency care. These events close...
Osteomyelitis
16 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Osteomyelitis in children is common enough to miss and serious enough to matter. In this episode of PEM Currents, we review a practical, evidence-base...
Night Terrors
17 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Night terrors are dramatic but benign episodes that can leave caregivers frightened and confused. In this episode of PEM Currents: The Pediatric Emerg...
BRUE: Brief Resolved Unexplained Events
22 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
BRUE, Brief Resolved Unexplained Events, are a common and anxiety-provoking condition that presents to the Emergency Department. In this episode we ex...
Penicillin Allergy?
24 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Is that penicillin or amoxicillin allergy real? Probably not. In this episode, we explore how to assess risk, talk to parents, and refer for delabelin...
The Limping Child
04 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Limping is a common complaint in pediatric emergency care, but the differential is broad and the stakes are high. In this episode, we walk through a d...
Managing Pain in Sickle Cell Vaso-Occlusive Crises
28 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Vaso-occlusive pain episodes are the most common reason children and adolescents with sickle cell disease present to the Emergency Department. Prompt,...
Penetrating Neck Injuries
25 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Penetrating neck injuries in children are rare—but when they happen, the stakes are high. In this episode of PEM Currents: The Pediatric Emergency ...
Advanced Imaging of Children in the ED: Ultrasound, CT, and MRI
20 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of PEM Currents: The Pediatric Emergency Medicine Podcast, Brad Sobolewski discusses advanced imaging in pediatric emergency care wit...
Parvovirus B19 (Fifth Disease)
30 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, we tackle the clinical mischief of Parvovirus B19, a common viral infection with a surprisingly wide range of manifestations—from t...
The Unvaccinated Child with Fever
03 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This episode of PEM Currents: The Pediatric Emergency Medicine Podcast focuses on the approach to unvaccinated or undervaccinated children aged 3–...
Mycoplasma pneumoniae
28 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode we dive into the resurgence of Mycoplasma pneumoniae—an atypical bacterial cause of community-acquired pneumonia that’s making wav...
Inhalant Misuse: From Glue to Galaxy Gas
16 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of PEM Currents: The Pediatric Emergency Medicine Podcast, we explore the complex and often underrecognized issue of inhalant misuse. ...
‘Twas the Night Before Christmas (in the Pediatric Emergency Department)
24 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In lieu of a traditional episode this holiday season I wanted to share a reading of the Pediatric Emergency Medicine version of a famous Christmas poe...
Pertussis
04 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of PEM Currents: The Pediatric Emergency Medicine Podcast, we explore pertussis, also known as whooping cough – a disease that remai...
Gastroesophegeal Reflux and Gastritis
02 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of PEM Currents: The Pediatric Emergency Medicine Podcast, I explore the complexities of gastroesophageal reflux (GER) and gastritis i...
ECPR
20 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This episode of PEM Currents discusses ECPR (Extracorporeal Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation), an advanced procedure used in cases of cardiac arrest when...
Syphilis
10 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Syphilis has gone by many nicknames over the years including “The Great Pretender” and “The Great Imitator.” Emily Labudde, MD, a Pediatric Em...
Cervical Spine Injuries
05 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Cervical Spine Injuries are fortunately rare in children. this episode is all about learning when to suspect them, how to immobilize the C-spine prope...
Febrile Seizures
09 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Febrile Seizures are among the most common neurological problema in young children, occurring in 1 out of 50 children between the ages of 6 months and...
Metabolic Disorders
27 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This episode will help you better prepare for and manage children with inborn errors of metabolism in the Emergency Department. Consider it a suppleme...
Vitamin K Deficient Bleeding (Hemorrhagic disease of the newborn)
22 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Newborn infants need intramuscular injections of Vitamin K in order to produce critical clotting factors. If they don’t get it they can have potenti...
Cellulitis
17 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This episode will help you recognize cellulitis and even differentiate it from erysipelas which is totally a different thing. You’ll also learn abou...
Laryngomalacia
14 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Laryngomalacia, is the most common cause of infant stridor. Early diagnosis is crucial as it can impact a child’s growth and development. Most infan...
Meckel Diverticulum
28 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Meckel diverticulum is a congenital anomaly of the small intestine that can present with various clinical manifestations, including rectal bleeding an...
Respiratory viral panels
26 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Just because you can test for dozens of viruses with a single swab should you? Is this actually measuring a current infection, or a recent virus from ...
Constipation: Diagnosis, X-Rays, and more
19 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Where else is the poop going to be? Constipation is by and large a clinical diagnosis. This episode reviews how to make the diagnosis, red flags, and ...
Do we need labs or a head CT after simple febrile or unprovoked seizures?
12 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Labs or CT scans are not necessary to provide additional diagnostic information or reassurance for most children who recover completely following simp...
Do we need labs to medically clear a patient for psych admission?
05 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
For most children requiring admission to an inpatient psychiatric facility laboratory studies are generally not required. Many of the children and ado...
Do children with bronchiolitis, croup, asthma, or first-time wheezing need a Chest X-Ray?
29 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
For most children with children with bronchiolitis, croup, asthma, or first-time wheezing chest X-Rays are not necessary. These X-Rays are often obtai...
Henoch–Schönlein Purpura (HSP)
08 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Henoch–Schönlein Purpura (HSP) is a common vasculitis seen in younger children. The classic skin finding is palpable purpura in gravity dependent ...
Stings and Envenomations
27 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
It is summertime, so the bees and bugs are out! In this episode, Dr. Ben Grebber, a pediatric resident at Boston Children’s Hospital/Tufts Children’...
Agitation Episode 5: The boarded ED patient
14 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
We are in the midst of a staggering mental health crisis. Thousands of children and adolescents spend days at time in Emergency Departments waiting fo...
Agitation Episode 4: Safe prehospital transport
07 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
There are protocols in place that assist highly trained Emergency Medical Service providers in assuring that agitated children are safely transported ...
Agitation Episode 3: Pharmacologic management
31 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
When we think of managing agitated patients we think of medicines – but that shouldn’t be our first option. However, medications can be adjuncts t...
Agitation Episode 2: Non-pharmacologic management
24 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Agitated children should always be treated with dignity and respect. This entails utilizing the least invasive non-pharmacologic means of assisting th...
Agitation Episode 1: Differentiating organic versus psychiatric
17 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Most children who present to Pediatric Emergency Departments these days with mental health concerns – including agitation – have a known psychiatr...
Gun Violence and Safety (2023)
26 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Dr. Kit Carney and Dr. Kristen Humphrey discuss gun violence, its impact on our patients and their families, as well as practical tips on advocating f...
Epiglottitis
12 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The epiglottis is the toilet seat of the airway. That’s a useful function. But what if becomes so swollen and inflamed that it leads to airway obstr...
Norovirus
28 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Norovirus is the leading cause of viral gastroenteritis worldwide and is also a major cause of food borne illness. It spreads rapidly and causes vomit...
Agitation in Neurodivergent Children
24 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
“Neurodivergent” is a term used to describe brain functionality and how it differs in some people. These individuals perceive, interpret and inter...
Commotio Cordis
06 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Commotio cordis is caused by the blunt impact of a hard object directly over the heart occurring during a specific window of ventricular repolarizatio...
Peritonsillar Abscesses
08 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Peritonsillar Abscesses are the most common deep neck infection in adolescents and young adults. You will see them in grade schoolers as well. Learn a...
Tongue Lacerations
01 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Tongue lacerations are surprisingly common in the Emergency Department. Fortunately most of them don’t require any specific interventions. You just ...
Periorbital Cellulitis
27 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Perioribital cellulitis (AKA Preseptal cellulitis)is a soft tissue infection of the eyelids and skin anterior to the orbit. It must be differentiated ...
Neutropenic enterocolitis
28 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Bad things happen when you don’t have enough neutrophils. After getting cytotoxic chemotherapy you tend to have even fewer neutrophils. This can put...
Chicken Pox
11 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Dewdrops on a rose petal. You’ve all heard the description, right? But how many of you have actually seen chicken pox in the wild. And what about mo...
Hand, Foot, & Mouth Disease
19 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Hand, Foot, and Mouth (and Butt) disease is incredibly popular in the summer/warm weather months in the Northern Hemisphere (August through October). ...
Pain management for laceration repair in children
21 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Laceration repair is one of the quintessential procedures that children undergo in Emergency Departments. Minimizing pain and anxiety for children is ...
Lyme Disease
02 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Update 6/6/22 – there is ongoing work to determine the optimal treatment for meningitis in Lyme between doxy and ceftriaxone. The original episode ...
Toxic Shock Syndrome
11 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Toxic Shock Syndrome can be hard to recognize and differentiate from clinical entities such as Kawasaki, MIS-C, and DRESS. This brief podcast episode ...
Toxicology Season 3 Episode 3: Iron
26 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Iron ingestions always show up on standardized tests and are definitely one of those “many kids are fine but some aren’t and it’s hard to figure...
Toxicology Season 3 Episode 2: Calcium Channel Blockers
19 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Now this is a frightening ingestion! Calcium channel blockers are hard to manage with refractory shock being one of my main “please don’t let this...
Toxicology Season 3 Episode 1: Bupropion
12 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
There are some scary ingestions out there and I think we’d all agree that bupropion (Wellbutrin) is on the short list of drugs that should make us w...
Ultrasound for Appendicitis
25 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
This episode of PEM Currents: The Pediatric Emergency Medicine podcast is focused on the use of ultrasound to make the diagnosis of acute appendicitis...
Nosebleeds
09 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
You will see a child with a nosebleed in the ED. It is a mathematical certainty. Chances are it has already stopped. Even if it hasn’t you can stop ...
Intussusception
11 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Any list of “Top 10 Emergency Department diagnoses in children you can’t miss” should include intussusception. This episode reviews the diagnosi...
Urinary retention
19 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
This episode of PEM Currents: The Pediatric Emergency Medicine Podcast is a brief review of the management of urinary retention in children. The most ...
DVT
19 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Your time is valuable and so is mine. That’s why I’m sharing brief, focused podcast episodes that will hone in on a single problem. This time, it’...
Stress Dose Steroids
09 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Your time is valuable and so is mine. That’s why I’m sharing brief, focused podcast episodes that will hone in on a single problem. This time, it’...
Ovarian Torsion
03 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Your time is valuable and so is mine. That’s why I’m sharing brief, focused podcast episodes that will hone in on a single problem. This time, it’...
Cannabis Hyperemesis Syndrome
29 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Your time is valuable and so is mine. That’s why I’m sharing brief, focused podcast episodes that will hone in on a single problem. This time, it’...
Firearm Safety
27 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
This episode was produced with Libby Ireson (@LibbyIreson on Twitter), Pediatric Resident at Cincinnati Children’s and is being released in conjunct...
Concussions
01 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Concussions and closed head injuries are incredibly common in the Pediatric Emergency Department and in general Emergency Department, especially as we...
Shoulder Dislocations
22 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
What’s the best maneuver for reducing a dislocated shoulder? My guess is as good as yours. There are multiple maneuvers that work – and work well ...
Finger Dislocations
15 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
It is much more common for children to break a finger than dislocate one. Why? Those darn growth plates. Nevertheless reducing a dislocated digit is o...
Patella Dislocations
07 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Reducing a dislocated patella is super satisfying – both for the clinician and the patient. This episode reviews management of this common orthopedi...
Nursemaid’s Elbow
30 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Never has there been a more anachronistic name for such a common malady. Hailing from the time when the wealthy had female domestic workers who cared ...
Adolescent sexual and reproductive health in the ED
02 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
This episode features three members of the Pediatric Emergency Care Applied Research Network (PECARN) Adolescent Sexual Health Working Group. PECARN i...
Magnet Ingestions
19 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
This episode focuses on high-powered magnet ingestions in children and was a collaboration with Elizabeth Curtis – @egcurtismd and Libby Ireson –...
Drowning
12 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
With the warm weather upon us here in the Northern Hemisphere it will soon be time for the pools to open. This episode is therefore incredibly timely,...
Toxicology Season 2 Episode 3: Nicotine
16 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
This is Season 2 of the Toxicology podcast series that Seattle Childrens’ Toxicologist Suzan Mazor, MD and I put together. This three episode season...
Toxicology Season 2 Episode 2: Marijuana
09 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
This is Season 2 of the Toxicology podcast series that Seattle Childrens’ Toxicologist Suzan Mazor, MD and I put together. It is a joint effort so t...
Toxicology Season 2 Episode 1: Opioids
02 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
This is Season 2 of the Toxicology podcast series that Seattle Childrens’ Toxicologist Suzan Mazor, MD and I put together. This three episode season...
Return to sports following COVID-19
04 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Even though we won’t be “clearing” patients in the ED we still need to be familiar with return to sports recommendations for children and adoles...
Hypertrophic pyloric stenosis
12 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Hypertrophic pyloric stenosis results from progressive thickening of the pyloric muscle, which leads to gastric outlet obstruction and vomiting in new...
Toxicology Season 1 Episode 4: Salicylates
13 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
This is episode four of season one of the Toxicology series that Suzan Mazor, the Medical Director for Toxicology at Seattle Children’s, and I are p...
Toxicology Season 1 Episode 3: Acetaminophen
06 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
This is episode three of season one of the Toxicology series that Suzan Mazor, the Medical Director for Toxicology at Seattle Children’s, and I are ...
Toxicology Season 1 Episode 2: Decontamination and Elimination
29 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
This is episode 2 of season one of the Toxicology series that Suzan Mazor, the Medical Director for Toxicology at Seattle Children’s, and I are putt...
Toxicology Season 1 Episode 1: General approach to the poisoned patient
22 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
This is episode 1 of season one of the Toxicology series that Suzan Mazor, the Medical Director for Toxicology at Seattle Children’s, and I are putt...
Mastoiditis
14 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Does mastoiditis always present with the classic triad of swelling behind the ear, otalgia, and protrusion of the auricle? Do you need to get a CT to ...
Delirium
09 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Yes, PEM Currents is a Pediatric Emergency Medicine podcast, but during the COVID-19 pandemic we may be tasked with seeing patients outside of our are...
Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children
21 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C) is an evolving clinical entity that is occurring, possibly in association with or following a CO...
Pulmonary Embolism
14 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Yes, PEM Currents is a Pediatric Emergency Medicine podcast, but during the COVID-19 pandemic we may be tasked with seeing patients outside of our are...
Vasopressors
05 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Vasopressor use in the Pediatric Emergency Department has been a moving target for my entire career. Back when I was a resident and fellow we used Dop...
Stroke in Adults
22 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Yes, PEM Currents is a Pediatric Emergency Medicine podcast, but during the COVID-19 pandemic we may be tasked with seeing patients outside of our are...
Status Epilepticus
25 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Status epilepticus can be very stressful in the Pediatric Emergency Department. This episode of PEM Currents: The Pediatric Emergency Medicine Podcast...
Hemophilia
18 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Factor First! OK, did I get your attention? Hopefully I did, because giving replacement factor to children with hemophilia presenting to the Emergency...
Talking with patients and families about the flu
20 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
I recently had the pleasure of sitting down with the always delightful Dr. Patricia Chambers to talk about influenza. In our conversation we reviewed ...
Disaster Preparedness
25 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
This episode of PEM Currents: The Pediatric Emergency Medicine Podcast is all about disaster medicine. I interviewed Brent Kaziny, Disaster Medicine a...
Foot Fractures
27 Sep 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Don’t toe the line when it comes to your education. Step up, don’t be a heel, and listen to this episode of PEM Currents: The Pediatric Emergency ...
Femur Fractures
20 Sep 2019
Contributed by Lukas
The fifth episode of the Fracture Season of PEM Currents, the Pediatric Emergency Medicine podcast focuses on fractures of the tibia and fibula, inclu...
Tibia and Fibula Fractures
13 Sep 2019
Contributed by Lukas
The fifth episode of the Fracture Season of PEM Currents, the Pediatric Emergency Medicine podcast focuses on fractures of the tibia and fibula, inclu...
Hand Fractures
06 Sep 2019
Contributed by Lukas
This is the 4th episode in the Fracture Season of PEM Currents. You will learn about carpal fractures – especially the dreaded scaphoid fracture, me...
Humerus Fractures
30 Aug 2019
Contributed by Lukas
This episode in the Fracture Season of PEM Currents, the Pediatric Emergency Medicine podcast focuses on humerus fractures. The humerus is a super dup...
Elbow Fractures
23 Aug 2019
Contributed by Lukas
This episode in the Fracture Season of PEM Currents, the Pediatric Emergency Medicine podcast focuses on elbow fractures. Did you know that the elbow ...
Forearm and Wrist Fractures
16 Aug 2019
Contributed by Lukas
This summer, in honor of the 7th anniversary of PEMBlog and PEM Currents I will be releasing a mini-season of fracture focused podcasts. This episode ...
SVT
04 Jun 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Three of my favorite letters in the Pediatric Emergency Department are S, V and T. This episode of PEM Currents, the Pediatric Emergency Medicine Podc...