Hammer J 2013 Acute respiratory failure is the most common medical emergency in children. One aim of this review is to discuss the physiologic peculiarities that explain the increased vulnerability of infants and children to any pathology affecting the respiratory tract. The other aim is to highlight the importance of history taking and correct physical examination for early recognition of an impending catastrophic progression of respiratory failure. Under most circumstances, correct physical examination alone allows one to pinpoint the cause to a particular part of the respiratory system and to make the appropriate decisions for a proactive and life-saving management of the critically ill child. https://sonar.ch/global/documents/110917 eng info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/doi/10.1016/j.prrv.2013.02.001 info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/pmid/23601209 Paediatric respiratory reviews. - 2013 Acute Disease Child Emergencies Humans Intensive Care Units, Pediatric Respiratory Insufficiency Acute respiratory failure in children. http://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_6501