Working group
Guidelines

Significant clinical variation in diagnosis and treatment remains across hospitals and regions in paediatric care in Belgium. The BAoP Working Group Guidelines (jointly led by the Scientific Taskforce and Young BAoP) facilitates the development, validation, and dissemination of uniform, national evidence-based paediatric guidelines to reduce unwarranted variation and harmonise quality of care.

Master Document (PDF)Contact us

Operations & Matchmaking

Team Structure

Every project brings together at least 2 junior researchers (residents/trainees) with at least 2 experienced senior supervisors from different healthcare institutions.

National Representation

Teams are structured to include both Dutch- and French-speaking members, ensuring balanced representation across university and regional hospitals in Flanders, Brussels, and Wallonia.

Matchmaking

Candidates and supervisors can sign up via the BAoP (guidelines@baop.be) for priority topics or submit new project proposals.

Workflow & Validation

The development trajectory encompasses harvesting local hospital protocols, conducting a systematic literature review, and building broad consensus (e.g., via the Delphi method). Methodological support can be requested from the Guideline WG.

A guideline may be formally endorsed and designated as a BAoP National Guideline once it has been published in a peer-reviewed journal (such as the Belgian Journal of Paediatrics) or, if unpublished, following a structured peer review by appointed BAoP experts and relevant subspecialty groups.

Existing and newly published guidelines will be made available in the Knowledge Center. Each guideline undergoes formal review and updating every 5 years or sooner when applicable.

Master Document

Review the complete workflow, eligibility criteria, and governance in the BAoP Guidelines Master Document.

Download (PDF)

Academic Integration

Master's Thesis

Guideline development offers an excellent framework for a Master's thesis or advanced research project during residency. Trainees and supervisors must proactively align specific thesis requirements and authorship agreements with their home faculty and training coordinator prior to starting.

Candidate Priority Topics

A non-exhaustive list of candidate topics for national alignment. These or other relevant topics may also be suitable.

Cardiovascular & Respiratory

  • Asthma
  • Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD)
  • Bronchiolitis
  • Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) and hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP)
  • Heart failure
  • Myocarditis
  • Pericarditis
  • Primary ciliary dyskinesia
  • Pulmonary hypertension

Gastrointestinal & Hepatology

  • Acute diarrhea
  • Appendicitis
  • Biliary atresia
  • Diverticulitis
  • Gastroenteritis
  • Hirschsprung disease
  • Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)
  • Intussusception
  • Liver failure
  • Pancreatitis
  • Portal hypertension
  • Short bowel syndrome

Nephrology & Urology

  • Balanitis
  • Cystitis
  • Glomerulonephritis
  • Hydronephrosis / Hydro-ureteronephrosis
  • Nephrotic syndrome
  • Pyelonephritis
  • Renal failure (acute and chronic)

Endocrinology & Metabolic

  • Diabetes (first presentation)
  • G6PD deficiency
  • Galactosemia
  • Hyperthyroidism
  • Hypothyroidism
  • MCAD deficiency
  • OTC deficiency
  • Panhypopituitarism
  • Phenylketonuria (PKU)

Hematology, Rheumatology & Immunology

  • Anaphylaxis
  • Aplastic anemia
  • Chronic vasculitis
  • Fever in sickle cell anemia
  • Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH)
  • Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP)
  • Juvenile dermatomyositis
  • Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA)
  • Sickle cell crisis
  • Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)

Neurology & Neurodevelopmental

  • ADHD
  • Cerebellitis
  • Duchenne muscular dystrophy
  • Epilepsy
  • Guillain-Barré syndrome
  • Herpes encephalitis
  • Migraine
  • Multiple sclerosis
  • Neurofibromatosis
  • Peripheral facial palsy
  • Rett syndrome
  • Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA)
  • Spina bifida

Multisystem & Other Conditions

  • Anorexia nervosa
  • Cystic fibrosis (Mucoviscidosis)
  • Hemangioma
  • Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C)

Clinical Complaints & Symptoms

  • Abdominal pain
  • Bradycardia
  • Chronic diarrhea
  • Constipation
  • Cough
  • Eczema
  • Fatigue
  • Fever without focus
  • Frequent fever episodes
  • Headache
  • Hematuria
  • Hirsutism
  • Hypertension
  • Melena
  • Night sweats
  • Persistent fever episode
  • Proteinuria
  • Red blood per anus (RBPA / Rectal bleeding)
  • Shortness of breath
  • Short stature
  • Tall stature
  • Weight loss

Laboratory Findings

  • Abnormal / Elevated transaminases
  • Anemia
  • Hypogammaglobulinemia
  • Leukocytosis
  • Leukopenia
  • Lymphopenia
  • Neutropenia
  • Thrombocytopenia
  • Thrombocytosis

Contact & Submissions

For questions, new topic proposals, or submitting existing national guidelines for inclusion in the Knowledge Center. Co-leads Dr. Levi Hoste & Dr. Tim Hoerée.

guidelines@baop.be