OVERVIEW

Corticosteroid Use in Management of Pediatric Emergency Conditions (Pharmacology CME) is organized by EB Medicine.

Date of Original Release: March 1, 2018
Date of most recent review: February 15, 2018
Termination date: March 1, 2021.
CME Expiration Date: April 1, 2021

Target Audience:
This enduring Online CME material is outlined for emergency medicine physicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, and residents.

CME Credits:
4 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™, 4 ACEP Category I Credits, 4 AAFP Prescribed Credits, 4 AOA Category 2-A or 2-B Credits.

Specialty CME Credits: Incorporated as part of the 4 credits, this CME activity is available for 4 Pharmacology CME credits

About this Issue:
Even though corticosteroids have been used for over half a century, their application for the management of many pediatric conditions is controversial. In this issue, you will learn:
• The mechanisms of corticosteroid influences
• Which corticosteroids are utilized for the treatment of pediatric conditions, their associated properties, and prescribed pediatric dosing
• Evidence-based references for whether or not to employ corticosteroids in the management of pediatric patients with an asthma exacerbation, croup, acute pharyngitis, anaphylaxis, acute spinal injury, or bacterial meningitis
• Chosen routes, dosages, and corticosteroids, as well as alternate choices
• Which adverse effects have been shown to be correlated with corticosteroid use

Goals:
At the conclusion of this Online CME Course, you should be able to:
• Describe medical decision-making based on the strongest clinical evidence;
• Cost-effectively diagnose and provide treatment options for the most critical ED presentations
• Explain the most common medicolegal pitfalls for each topic covered.

CME Objectives:
By the end of this article, you should be able to:
• Pitch the circumstances and conditions that explain the use of corticosteroids, including the relevant route, dose, and frequency of administration.
• Recognize the conditions that have theoretical, but not proven, benefits of corticosteroid use.
• Consider the common adverse effects of corticosteroids in a pediatric patients.