Pediatric health care professionals have marked deficiencies in their knowledge on pulse oximetry, particularly in regard to the principles underlying the method and its limitations. Strategies that are directed at improving knowledge on pulse oximetry are urgently needed at all levels of experience in pediatric care.

Background and aims: Our objective was to examine the epidemiology of poisonings among children hospitalized in a public Greek hospital in Kalamata.

Introduction: Cyclone Nargis struck on 2 nd May 2008 and was the worst natural disaster in the recorded history of Myanmar. More than 2 million people were affected by the cyclone which left 146, 000 people dead. Children made up a significant proportion of those affected by the cyclone and they formed a significant patient load during Team Singapore's medical relief mission. It was our aim to study the paediatric morbidity to help in planning for future disaster relief missions.Methods: Demographic and medical data from the medical records of the 4489 patients seen by our doctors was collected and analysed.Results: 1402 paediatric patients aged 16 years and below were seen in 9 operational days from our visits to a hospital, 8 camps/villages and an orphanage. They formed more than 30% of our total clinical workload. Most of them suffered from respiratory (36%) and gastrointestinal infections (29%). Injuries and wounds made up 12% of the attendances and 2.8% of the children presented with psychological manifestations/ post traumatic stress disorder. Conclusions:Children are more susceptible to infection and vulnerable to the effects of vomiting and diarrhea and often form a large population of victims in a disaster. Their psychological needs have to be addressed. The needs of children are unique and medical aid should be rendered by paediatric specialists trained to render medical assistance to children in extreme situations. The special requirements of children must be taken into account in the planning of any disaster relief mission. HEAD INJURIES IN CHILDHOOD

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