Venipuncture is collecting a small sample of blood from a vein, usually in the arm or hand, for tests such as blood counts, infection markers or thyroid and kidney tests. In babies, blood may be drawn from the heel instead.
Children are prepared with a simple explanation. A numbing cream can be used beforehand, and a parent may hold or comfort the child. A tourniquet is applied, the skin is cleaned, and a thin needle collects the sample. It takes only a minute or two, and a small dressing is placed afterwards.
How the Procedure Can Help
Blood tests help diagnose infection, anaemia, hormone problems and many other conditions and guide treatment.
Risks and Considerations
Brief pain, bruising and, rarely, fainting or infection at the site can occur. Swelling, redness or increasing pain after a blood draw should be reported.
Intravenous cannulation places a thin, flexible tube into a vein so that fluids, antibiotics or other medicines can be given directly into the blood. It is used for children who are dehydrated, cannot take medicines by mouth or need rapid treatment.
The skin is cleaned, and a numbing cream or spray may be used. The tube is inserted, secured with a dressing and protected so that it is not pulled out. The nurse checks the site regularly, and the tube is removed as soon as it is no longer needed.
How the Procedure Can Help
It allows rapid, reliable delivery of fluids and medicines, which is essential in serious illness.
Risks and Considerations
Risks include bruising, leakage of fluid into surrounding tissue, irritation of the vein and infection. Pain, redness, swelling or fever near the site should be reported at once.
A lumbar puncture collects a small sample of the fluid around the brain and spinal cord from the lower back. In children, it is mainly done to diagnose or exclude infections such as meningitis and sometimes to investigate seizures, fever in young infants or inflammation.
The child lies curled on the side or sits leaning forward, and the back is cleaned and numbed. A thin needle is passed between two bones of the lower spine, and a few drops of fluid are collected. A trained doctor performs the procedure, and in some children, sedation may be used. Parents are told in advance why the test is needed.
How the Procedure Can Help
It can confirm or rule out a serious brain infection quickly, which allows the right treatment to begin.
Risks and Considerations
Headache, back pain, bleeding and infection can occur, and the procedure may be delayed if the child has a bleeding problem or raised pressure in the head. Severe headache, fever, back pain or leg weakness afterwards needs urgent review.
Laceration repair closes cuts so that they heal cleanly. Depending on the depth and location, the doctor may use stitches, tissue glue or adhesive strips. Glue and strips are suitable for shallow, clean wounds, particularly on the face, and avoid the need for stitches.
The wound is washed thoroughly, and a numbing medicine is applied or injected. The doctor checks for damage to deeper structures and for foreign material, and the child's tetanus protection is reviewed. Stitches are placed carefully, and young children may need gentle holding or sedation to help them stay still.
How the Procedure Can Help
Proper cleaning and closure reduce the risk of infection and give the best chance of a neat scar.
Risks and Considerations
Possible problems include infection, bleeding, wound opening and scarring. Redness, swelling, pus, fever or increasing pain after repair needs prompt review.
Children often put small objects such as beads, seeds, food or coins in their ears and noses and may swallow or inhale small items. Removal is done by a trained doctor using suitable instruments, light and sometimes sedation.
Parents should not try to dig out the object at home, as the procedure can push it deeper.
Button batteries and magnets are emergencies because they can cause serious injury within hours. A child who is choking, coughing violently, wheezing or turning blue needs immediate emergency help.
After removal, the doctor checks for injury to the ear canal or nasal lining and may prescribe drops or antibiotics.
How the Procedure Can Help
Immediate removal prevents infection, tissue damage and breathing problems.
Risks and Considerations
Risks include bleeding, injury to the ear or nose lining and, rarely, pushing the object further in. Some objects need removal under anaesthesia. Pain, discharge, bleeding or breathing difficulty afterwards needs urgent attention.
An abscess is a painful, swollen collection of pus under the skin, often with redness and warmth. Small abscesses may sometimes be treated with warm compresses and antibiotics, but larger ones usually need to be opened and drained.
The area is cleaned and numbed, and the doctor makes a small cut to release the pus. The cavity is washed, and a dressing or small packing may be placed to keep it open for drainage. In some children, sedation or short anaesthesia is used. The pus may be sent for testing.
How the Procedure Can Help
Drainage relieves pain quickly and allows healing, which antibiotics alone often cannot achieve.
Risks and Considerations
Risks include bleeding, scarring and recurrence. Spreading redness, fever, increasing pain or swelling after drainage needs prompt review.
Splinting and casting support and protect broken bones or injured joints while they heal. A splint is a partial support used in the first days, when swelling is expected, while a cast encloses the limb more fully and is used once swelling settles.
The doctor examines the injury, and an X-ray may confirm a fracture. The limb is padded and supported with a splint or cast material, which sets within minutes. Parents are taught to keep the limb raised, keep the cast dry and watch for problems. Children's bones heal quickly, and growth areas near the ends of bones need special attention.
How the Procedure Can Help
It keeps the bone in position, reduces pain and allows healing.
Risks and Considerations
Risks include skin sores, tightness from swelling and stiffness. Severe pain, numbness, colour change, swollen fingers or toes, or a bad smell from the cast all need urgent attention.
