INDEX OF SUSPICION
This section of Pediatrics in Review reminds clinicians of those conditions that can present in a misleading fashion and require suspicion for early diagnosis. Emphasis has been placed on conditions in which early diagnosis is important and that the general pediatrician might be expected to encounter, at least once in a while. The reader is encouraged to write possible diagnoses for each case before turning to the discussion, which is on the following page. We invite readers to contribute case presentations and discussions. Case 1 Presentation A 3-year-old girl is brought to the emergency department because of 24 hours of fever, nonproductive cough, and shortness of breath that has worsened progressively. She has no history of significant illness. She has been taking amoxicillin for 1 week to treat otitis media and pharyngitis. On physical examination, the child appears in obvious respiratory distress. She has a temperature of 101°F (38.3°C), pulse of 150 beats/min, respiratory rate of 46 breaths/min, and blood pressure of 137/72 mm Hg. She is breathing with subcostal and intercostal retractions and nasal flaring. Her breath sounds are diminished in the area of the right upper lobe, and generalized inspiratory and expiratory wheezing is heard. Both tympanic membranes are red and distorted.