Emergency Department Archives - Resource Library - Sheffield Children's NHS Foundation Trust

The acute assessment unit (AAU) AAU is a busy 14 bedded unit. The unit is usually used for referrals, short stay admissions and Emergency Department (ED) patients that we need to watch for a longer time. Please use the use the entrance for the Emergency Department to get to AAU. Please bring any...

We understand that this is a worrying time and you are very concerned about your child. Hopefully this information will answer some of the questions you may have about your visit. Your journey through the Emergency Department Once you have booked in at the Emergency Department reception, please take...

We know that the last few years have been hard for everyone but there are a lot of organisations out there who may be able to provide the help you need to see you through. They may be able to help you increase your income, get access to the essentials, and become more involved in… Continue...

What are Navigators? Navigators support young people who may be involved in violence at home, school or in the community. When someone comes to Sheffield Children’s for help with a health problem related to violence, Navigators will offer support. This could be in the Emergency Department, if...

You are coming to this clinic because you may be constipated and are having problems going to the toilet. When you and your parents talk to the doctor or nurse you may hear words like bowel movements, motions or stools. All of these words mean the same as poo. You may have a different word…...

What is bronchiolitis? Bronchiolitis is an infection of the smallest breathing passages in the lungs (the bronchioles) which causes them to become inflamed. These small airway passages can become swollen and can produce sticky secretions, which makes it more difficult to breath. Babies and toddlers...

Paracetamol Paracetamol (often called Calpol) can be used for pain relief. For example it can be used for headaches, pain after an injury and to help reduce temperatures. More information on fever can be found here Emergency department advice for the care of children with fever. In what forms can...

What happens when a child swallows something they shouldn’t? Children sometimes swallow foreign objects such as coins, toys and batteries. When an object is swallowed it will normally travel through the digestive system (see picture) without causing any problems or side effects. If your child...

Throat and ear infections are the most common reasons for a child to become unwell. These include tonsillitis and otitis media (middle ear infection). Most of these infections are not dangerous and do not respond to antibiotics. There are things that can be done to help and some important things to...

Why is my child limping? We see many children who have been brought to the Emergency Department because they have developed a limp (or pain somewhere in the affected leg) for no clear reason. Usually, no tests are required. Sometimes, X-rays of the hip or lower limbs are performed, especially if...

What is a mallet finger? A mallet finger is an injury to the end of the finger that causes it to bend inwards towards the palm and prevents it from being straightened. This is because the tendon that usually straightens the fingertip has stretched or torn. It may also be painful and swollen. What...

Your child has sustained a ‘buckle’ fracture (break) of their wrist. This is the most common type of fracture in young children. What is a buckle fracture? Children’s bones are softer and more flexible than adults so instead of breaking all the way through it will often bend on one...

Why does my child need sedation? Your child needs sedation because they are due to have a procedure that may be painful or distressing. This could be something like cleaning and stitching a wound, or repositioning a broken bone. Sedation can make your child sleepy and relaxed and it aims to reduce...

My child’s nose is swollen, is it broken? There is often swelling of the nose and tissues around it when a child injures their nose. It is often difficult to tell if an injury has occurred that requires treatment until the swelling settles. If it is broken, the majority heal without any problems....

What is wheeze? Wheeze is a whistling noise made in the chest, usually when breathing out. It happens when the airways (tubes carrying air to the lungs) become inflamed and narrowed, this is often due to a viral infection (cough or cold). Wheeze is extremely common in young children. One in three...

What is a pneumothorax? A pneumothorax is where air leaks out of the lung. This air becomes trapped between the space between the outside of the lung and the inside of the ribcage (an area called the pleural space). The air can squash the lung and cause some or all of the lung to collapse.…...

What is a head injury? Minor head injuries are very common and simply cause a bump, bruise or small cut or graze. Sometimes the brain can be injured, and this is known as a traumatic brain injury. Concussion is a term for a mild traumatic brain injury that can happen after a head injury....

This resource has information on urinary tract infections (also called water infection, urine infection, bladder infection or UTI). Urinary tract infections are very common, especially in small children and more especially in girls. What causes urine infections? Urine infections are usually caused...

What to do if your child has a foreign object in their nose? Children sometimes put things in their nose. In most cases, the objects are soft and small such as tissue, clay, beads, toys, or food. Treatment involves removal of the object but sometimes it is not easily removed. In some cases, the...

What is a pulled elbow? A pulled elbow is a common childhood injury. It results from a slight movement of the radius, which is a bone in the forearm. Usually there is a strong, stretchy band called a ligament that holds the radius bone in place, but after an injury the ligament can be...

What is a fit? Watching your child have a fit can be a very frightening experience. You may even think that your child is dying. However fits are not as serious as they look. A fit is a disturbance of electrical activity in the brain that causes messages to become mixed up. There are...

What is Osgood-Schlatter disease? Osgood-Schlatter disease is a common cause of pain in the front of the knee. It is not a disease, but a condition or disorder. This condition is also referred to as ‘traction apophysitis’, meaning pulling on the growth plate causing inflammation. It is...

What is Mepitel? Mepitel is a non-stick silicone dressing that is very versatile as it can be used on all types of wounds including covering stitches, steristrips and skin glue. What does Mepitel do? Mepitel acts as a protective layer between the wound and the dressing, allowing fluid to pass...