ABSTRACT

Introduction:

The need of prompt management of acute and usually complicated health problems, problems in referral and service chains and the misconception about the concept of true emergency by the parents result in a great stress deal in pediatric emergency departments.

Aim:

To find some clues about the misuse of pediatric emergency department by parents.

Material and Method:

Final Diagnosis, the average age of admitting patients, the outcome of the patients and the time of admission to emergency department were all reviewed retrospectively between January and December 2003.

Results:

Most of the patients admitted due to mostly elective diseases like upper respiratory tract infections, acute gastroenteritis, and urinary tract infections. In addition most of the patients admitted between 16:00 and 24:00.

Conclusion:

Although it is hard to say that all the admissions to the emergency department is inappropriate, there are clues that at least some of the admissions are not appropriate. The reasons for these inappropriate admissions should be sought and effective measures should be taken.