The characteristics of SARS-CoV-2-positive children in Australian hospitals: a PREDICT network study.

Objectives: To examine the clinical characteristics and short term outcomes for children with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infections who presented to Australian hospitals during 2020 and 2021.

Design, Setting: Retrospective case review study in nineteen hospitals of the Paediatric Research in Emergency Departments International Collaborative (PREDICT) network from all Australian states and territories, including seven major paediatric tertiary centres and eight Victorian hospitals.

Participants: SARS-CoV-2-positive people under 18 years of age who attended emergency departments or were admitted to hospital during 1 February 2020 - 31 December 2021.

Factors predictive for computed tomography use and abnormality in paediatric head injuries in Australia and New Zealand.

Objectives: To investigate patient-level factors predictive for computed tomography of the brain (CTB) use and abnormality in head injured children in Australia and New Zealand.

Methods: Retrospective data from tertiary, urban/suburban and regional/rural EDs including factors predictive for CTB use and abnormality.

Results: Of 3072 children at 31 EDs, 212 (6.

Variation in CT use for paediatric head injuries across different types of emergency departments in Australia and New Zealand.

Objectives: CT of the brain (CTB) for paediatric head injury is used less frequently at tertiary paediatric emergency departments (EDs) in Australia and New Zealand than in North America. In preparation for release of a national head injury guideline and given the high variation in CTB use found in North America, we aimed to assess variation in CTB use for paediatric head injury across hospitals types.

Methods: Multicentre retrospective review of presentations to tertiary, urban/suburban and regional/rural EDs in Australia and New Zealand in 2016.

Burden and emergency department management of acute cough in children.

Aim: In children presenting to an emergency department (ED) with an acute coughing illness, the aims of this study were to: (i) describe the frequency of doctor visits and medication use; and (ii) describe management and relate it to current evidence-based guidelines.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study in ED of a major teaching hospital (Royal Children's Hospital, Brisbane, Australia). Participants included 537 children (<15 years) presenting with acute (<2 weeks) cough, with a median age of 2.

Bell's palsy in children: Current treatment patterns in Australia and New Zealand. A PREDICT study.

Aim: The aetiology and clinical course of Bell's palsy may be different in paediatric and adult patients. There is no randomised placebo controlled trial (RCT) to show effectiveness of prednisolone for Bell's palsy in children. The aim of the study was to assess current practice in paediatric Bell's palsy in Australia and New Zealand Emergency Departments (ED) and determine the feasibility of conducting a multicentre RCT within the Paediatric Research in Emergency Departments International Collaborative (PREDICT).