This month's cover photo shows a child being cared for in the ICU at Fann Hospital in Dakar, Senegal. We chose this photo to call attention to an underrecognized issue among hospitalized children, delirium, which is discussed in this month's original research CE article. Pediatric ICU patients are particularly at risk for developing the condition, which is characterized by a rapid onset of symptoms such as hallucinations, agitation, and disorientation.
Delirium, which may be experienced by an estimated 5% to 28% of hospitalized children (though its pediatric prevalence is not as well documented as its prevalence among adults), is associated with prolonged hospital stays and high mortality rates. However, early recognition of delirium in children can facilitate better management and cut down on unnecessary testing-and nurses can be instrumental in this effort. To learn more about symptoms to look for, as well as factors that make pediatric patients more susceptible to this condition, read "Recognizing Delirium in Hospitalized Children: A Systematic Review of the Evidence on Risk Factors and Characteristics."-Diane Szulecki, editor