Referral to emergency

If any of the following are present or suspected, please refer the patient to the emergency department (via ambulance if necessary) or seek emergent medical advice if in a remote region.

  • nil

For clinical advice, please telephone the relevant metropolitan Local Health Network switchboard and ask to speak to the relevant specialty service.

Southern Adelaide Local Health Network

Women's and Children's Health Network

Category 1 (appointment clinically indicated within 30 days)

  • nil

Category 2 (appointment clinically indicated within 90 days)

  • more than 3 to 4 presentations of lower respiratory infections requiring antibiotics in the past 12 months

Category 3 (appointment clinically indicated within 365 days)

  • nil

For more on outpatient referrals, see the general referral information page.

Essential referral information

Completion required before first appointment to ensure patients are ready for care. Please indicate in the referral if the patient is unable to access mandatory tests or investigations as they incur a cost or are unavailable locally.

  • identifies as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander
  • relevant social history, including identifying within your referral if you feel your patient is from a vulnerable population, under guardianship/out-of-home care arrangements and/or requires a third party to receive correspondence on their behalf
  • interpreter required
  • description of lower respiratory tract symptoms with supporting investigations e.g. chest x-ray, sputum culture, white cell count
  • details of antibiotics previously prescribed for respiratory tract infections
  • any environmental factors which may increase susceptibility to infection e.g. housing, environmental smoke, tobacco smoke exposure
  • any medication storage/administration needs, particularly if prolonged courses of antibiotics are expected to be required

Additional information to assist triage categorisation

  • relevant allied health/diagnostic/imaging reports, including location of company and accession number

Clinical management advice

  • if child experiences symptoms of an upper respiratory tract infection with a cough which lasts < 4 weeks and resolves spontaneously, no further assessment or treatment is needed
  • if suspected protracted bacterial bronchitis (PBB) (chronic wet cough with no signs or symptoms suggesting an alternative diagnosis):
    • treat with a 2 to 4 week course of oral antibiotics until resolution of wet cough
    • suggest empirical treatment with broad spectrum antibiotic such as amoxicillin/clavulanic acid 25mg/kg (max 875mg amoxicillin component) twice a day
    • if penicillin-allergic, consider azithromycin or co-trimoxazole
    • if the child has experienced ≥ 3 episodes of PBB within the last 12 months, consider referral to Paediatric Respiratory Medicine for evaluation of any underlying or predisposing conditions.

Clinical resources

Consumer resources