Key result
Acute pediatric pericarditis presents with chest pain in ~88% of cases and drives high admissions.
Why the study?
Pediatric pericarditis can lead to significant morbidity if not promptly addressed, motivating a consolidation of evidence on clinical presentation, diagnosis, and outcomes in emergency settings.
Meta-Analysis (n=346)
Pediatric pericarditis typically presents with chest pain and fever, often showing ST-segment elevation and cardiomegaly, and is associated with high admission rates but a generally favorable prognosis.
Supports prompt pericarditis evaluation in children with chest pain and fever; reinforces high admission rates in acute settings.
Purpose of Review Pediatric pericarditis, though rare, can lead to significant morbidity if not promptly addressed. This systematic review and meta-analysis aim to consolidate evidence on the clinical presentation, diagnosis, and outcomes of pediatric pericarditis in emergency settings, with a focus on identifying gaps in diagnostic variability and outcomes. Recent Findings A comprehensive literature search identified nine studies encompassing 346 pediatric patients, predominantly male, with a mean age of 13.13 years. The most frequent clinical presentations were chest pain (87.5%), fever (71.3%), and dyspnea (26.3%). Other notable symptoms included abdominal pain, fatigue, vomiting, and precordial rub. Key ECG findings were ST-segment elevation (63.8%) and normal ECG (27.0%). Imaging findings revealed normal chest radiographs in 60.3% of cases, with cardiomegaly observed in 86.6%. Elevated C-reactive protein levels were a consistent finding. High admission rates (88.6%) and low mortality rates were associated with a generally favorable prognosis when timely intervention occurred. Summary Pediatric pericarditis presents with a distinct clinical profile, prominently featuring chest pain and significant ECG and imaging findings. The high admission rates underscore the need for immediate and standardized management. Implementing comprehensive diagnostic and treatment protocols is essential to improving care and prognosis for pediatric patients with pericarditis.
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Alsabri et al. (2025) conducted a meta-analysis in Pediatric Pericarditis (n=346). Pediatric pericarditis in acute care settings most frequently presented with chest pain (87.5%) and fever (71.3%), and was associated with a high admission rate (88.6%).
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