British Paediatric Surveillance Unit

The BPSU is a world leading centre for rare paediatric disease surveillance. It enables doctors and researchers to investigate how many children in the UK and Republic of Ireland are affected by particular rare diseases, conditions or treatments each year.

Studies currently on the eReporting card ('orange card')

Acute hepatitis 22
Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID)
Button battery ingestion, inhalation or insertion
Chronic recurrent multifocal osteomyelitis/chronic nonbacterial osteomyelitis (…
Congenital rubella
Conservative care in end-stage kidney disease
Glucocorticoid induced adrenal suppression
Multisystem inflammatory syndrome, Kawasaki disease and toxic shock syndrome
Neonatal complications of coronavirus disease (COVID-19)
Neonatal stroke
Outcome of resuscitated term babies with no heart rate detected at 10 minutes o…
PIND (Progressive Intellectual and Neurological Deterioration)
This month's reporting instructions for these studies

Apply to the BPSU

We welcome applications from clinicians and researchers who wish to carry out national surveillance on rare childhood diseases.
Apply to the BPSU
Going from start to finish icon - for guideline

Impact of BPSU

SInce 1985 we have facilitated research on over 100 rare conditions, and have immensely influenced decisions about these diseases and the impact on patients.
About our impact

Get eReporting cards

If you are a consultant paediatrician or SAS doctor with your own case load working in the UK or Republic of Ireland, and do not already receive the BPSU eReporting cards, please complete our form.
Sign up
Search all BPSU current studies

Our latest annual report

The BPSU 2020-21 annual report explains how the orange eCard surveillance system works, has a yearly review of activities from the BPSU chair and includes updates on current BPSU studies - and much more.

All BPSU annual reports

Other BPSU content

Past studies
Patient and public involvement
Research using health records
Bulletins
Rare disease tea party - reports from past events
Governance Board
Scientific Committee
BPSU Sir Peter Tizard research bursary
Surveillance of HIV infection and vertical HIV exposure
Other research activities at RCPCH

Research news from the College

More news
Man at laptop with notes
Announcement
17 March 2022

BPSU will soon launch a new data collection platform

We've worked with the University of Dundee Health Informatics Centre on a new platform to collect data on rare diseases - making it easier for clinicians to report cases and complete their clinical questionnaires.
Rare is many | Illustration, featuring Rare Disease Day logo
Announcement
28 February 2022

Rare Disease &Us - views from children, young people and families

Over the last year, children, young people and families have been thinking about rare diseases and what matters to them. To mark Rare Disease Day 2022, the RCPCH Engagement Committee has pulled together views and thoughts in this letter.