Geez, thats a tough gig. Kids are bad enough when they are not sick or hurt.
Actually, they are so much better than adults! Kids want to get better and go back to playing. Adults malinger, and abuse themselves (and others), and lie for no apparent reason.
Kids lie because they are afraid, but no maliciously.
Good point, adults play head games, kids just don't know any better. Good on ya! Kids still scare me.
It really comes down to familiarity. A kid with fever comes into my ED and we are all like, another kid with fever, no big deal. In a general ED, that kid we thing of as routine is a major emergency. OTOH, an adult with chest pain comes into our ED, and its like OMG, what is that adult doing here, call the ambulance and get them to the adult hospital. That same adult in a general ED is like, ho hum, another adult with chest pain. Start the rule out MI protocol!
