Parents' perspective on pediatric emergency department visits for low-acuity conditions before and during the COVID-19 pandemic: a cross-sectional bicentric study.

Objectives: The primary objective of this study was to describe and compare the motivation of parents/guardians to bring children with low-acuity conditions to a tertiary-care pediatric emergency department (ED) versus a clinic before and after the pandemic. The secondary objectives were to describe and compare the demographic and clinical characteristics of the population studied and the impact of the pandemic on their access to primary care services.

Methods: This is a cross-sectional study based on a survey administered to parents/guardians of patients presenting with low-acuity conditions at one of two EDs.

An Atypical Case of Idiopathic Purpura Fulminans.

Idiopathic purpura fulminans (PF) is rare but has been reported in pediatric patients, commonly following infections. We present a case of a 5-year-old boy, heterozygous for factor V Leiden, with no history of recent infections, who presented with PF secondary to acquired protein S deficiency. Despite initial supportive treatment, the patient required surgical fasciotomy and extensive skin grafts.