About PEMCalc

PEMCalc is an open-access clinical decision support tool designed for healthcare professionals working in Paediatric Emergency Medicine (PEM). The project aims to reduce cognitive load during high-pressure scenarios by providing rapid, accessible calculations for resuscitation, fluids and drug dosing.

Editorial Team & Guidelines

Development

PEMCalc was developed by Dr. Kiran Nesarajah, Adult & Paediatric Emergency Medicine Consultant based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. These tools are systematically reviewed by a small team of Emergency Physicians and registrars to ensure alignment with current protocols.

Medical References

All calculators utilize standard international algorithms:

• Resuscitation: Advanced Paediatric Life Support (APLS) Guidelines and Resuscitation Council guidelines.
• Fluid Management: Holiday-Segar formula for maintenance; WHO/NICE guidelines for dehydration deficit.
• Burns: Parkland Formula (3-4ml x kg x %TBSA).
• Drug Doses: British National Formulary for Children (BNFC), Australian Medicines Handbook, Malaysian National Formulary.
• Vital Signs by Age: Advanced Paediatric Life Support (APLS) Guidelines, Paediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) standards, and Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) reference ranges.
• Blood Pressure Percentiles: Fourth Report on the Diagnosis, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure in Children and Adolescents (2004) and 2017 AAP Clinical Practice Guideline for Screening and Management of High Blood Pressure in Children and Adolescents. Percentiles based on the 50th percentile for height.
• PECARN Head Injury Rules: Kuppermann N, et al. "Identification of children at very low risk of clinically-important brain injuries after head trauma: a prospective cohort study." Lancet 2009;374(9696):1160-1170. Validated clinical decision instrument from the Pediatric Emergency Care Applied Research Network.
• Growth Percentiles: WHO Child Growth Standards (0-24 months) and CDC Growth Charts (2-20 years). Based on WHO Multicentre Growth Reference Study (2006) and CDC/NCHS reference data (2000). BMI-for-age classifications per CDC guidelines.
• PICU Mortality Risk Scores: PIM3: Straney L, et al. "Paediatric Index of Mortality 3: an updated model for predicting mortality in pediatric intensive care." Pediatr Crit Care Med 2013;14(7):673-681. PRISM IV: Pollack MM, et al. "The Pediatric Risk of Mortality Score: Update 2015." Pediatr Crit Care Med 2016;17(1):2-9. For population-level risk stratification and PICU benchmarking.
• Westley Croup Score: Westley CR, et al. "Nebulized racemic epinephrine by IPPB for the treatment of croup: a double-blind study." Am J Dis Child 1978;132(5):484-7. Validated scoring system for assessing severity of laryngotracheobronchitis. Score ranges from 0-17 with cutoffs: mild (0-2), moderate (3-7), severe (≥8).

Found a bug? Contact us at: pemcalc@nesarajah.com.

Data Privacy & Legal Disclaimer

1. Data Privacy Policy

PEMCalc is architected with a privacy-first approach suitable for clinical environments. We adhere to a strict "No Data Transmission" policy.

Client-Side Processing

PEMCalc operates exclusively as a client-side web application using JavaScript. This means that all algorithmic processing, variable storage, and mathematical calculations occur locally within your device's browser environment.

No Server Storage

No patient data is transmitted to, or stored on, any external server. Input values (such as weight, age, or clinical parameters) are volatile and are cleared when the browser session is closed or refreshed.

2. Medical Liability Disclaimer

By using this application, you acknowledge and agree to the following terms:

Educational Aid Only

This software is intended strictly for educational and reference purposes to assist qualified healthcare professionals. It is not a substitute for professional medical judgment, diagnosis, or treatment.

Limitation of Liability

The developers, contributors, and hosting providers of PEMCalc accept no liability for errors, omissions, or patient outcomes resulting from the use or misuse of this tool.

Tester Acknowledgement

Testing Status

To all the dedicated testers who helped validate the PEMCalc algorithms and interface, we extend our sincere gratitude. Your feedback has been critical in ensuring the accuracy of our drug dosages and airway calculations.

Performance Metrics

Next Steps