Prehospital Assessment and Treatment of Infants and Toddlers in Respiratory Distress: A Retrospective Analysis

The authors aim to evaluate how well emergency medical services (EMS) clinicians can distinguish between upper and lower airway diseases in infants and toddlers experiencing respiratory distress, as this differentiation is crucial for appropriate management. They analyze patient characteristics, EMS clinician assessments, and prehospital treatments for children under three years old diagnosed with conditions such as croup or acute bronchitis in the emergency department. The study seeks to understand the implications of these distinctions on care provided in the prehospital setting.