Abstract The emergency department can be a particularly challenging environment for the care of pediatric patients presenting with acute agitation. Agitation is a behavioral emergency requiring prompt intervention. Timely recognition of agitation and proactive implementation of de-escalation strategies are critical for safe and effective management of agitation, as well as prevention of recurrent episodes. This article reviews the definition of agitation, explores the domains of verbal de-escalation, and considers multidisciplinary management strategies for children with acute agitation.

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