[When children become acutely ill].

This article covers various aspects characteristic of acute paediatric medicine, such as special symptomatology and physical parameters that differ with age. The aim is to increase the confidence of newly trained colleagues in their examination of small children, and to make them alert to the development of alarming symptoms. Some simple routines for initial treatment in hospital are also suggested. Various topics like fever convulsion, status epilepticus, gastroenteritis and infections of the lower respiratory tract are dealt with individually.