A3. Common paediatric conditions Flashcards
(37 cards)
How do paediatric patients differ in terms of symptoms?
-Babies and young children cannot explain pain/discomfort or answer questions
-Teenagers may be embarrassed?
-Parents should know what ‘normal’ looks like for their child
How do paediatric patients differ in terms of administration?
-Formulations – dose availability, palatability, excipients
-Adherence- intentional and non-intentional.
-Spit out, refuse, taken with interacting food, concealment
-Understanding the risks vs benefits
-Time constraints of a busy household
What are red flags?
-Warning signs indicating a more serious condition
-Will usually need referral or special consideration
-Can be general or specific
-Raise suspicions of something more severe going on
UK Vaccination Schedule?
-Vaccinations start at 8 weeks of age and continue until 14 years in childhood
-Further boosters and vaccinations later in life
-Parents should be encouraged to attend appointments
-Pharmacy:
-Public health role – promotion of vaccination
-Advice on missed vaccinations
-Answering queries/concerns/signposting
-Post-immunisation care
-Advice/antipyretics
ONE NOTE
Febrile Convulsions (Febrile Seizures)?
-Sometimes happen when a child has a high temperature.
-Not usually serious but can be frightening
-Important to get medical help if your child has a seizure
-Febrile seizures are unlikely to harm your child or cause long-term effects
-May occur during an illness or after vaccination
-Educate parents on managing temperature
-Reassurance
-ALWAYS refer
-Cannot be prevented
ONE NOTE
Describe RSV – Respiratory Syncytial Virus
-Common cause of coughs and colds
-Almost all children will have had an RSV infection by the time that they are 2 years old
-Not usually serious and usually get better by themselves in 1-2 weeks
-Symptoms start 4-6 days after infection
most common mild symptoms of RSV?
Most children only experience mild symptoms (may not all occur at the same time):
Runny nose
Sneezing
Fever
Wheezing
Cough
RSV in infants?
In very young infants, the only symptoms may be irritability, decreased activity, and breathing difficulties
Higher risk of serious illness:
-babies under 6 months
-young children born prematurely
-Immunocompromised
-Most common complication is bronchiolitis
Hygiene measures for RSV
Hand washing
Cleaning/disinfection
Use a tissue!
Don’t touch face/mouth/nose
Stay at home if unwell
red flags for bronchiolitis in infants?
-cyanosed
-tracheal tug
-exhaustion
-parental concerns
symptoms of bronchiolitis in infants?
-Runny nose
-Persistent cough
-Wheezing
-Reduced feeding
-Difficulty in breathing e.g. nasal flaring
Community pharmacy for bronchiolitis in infants?
-Nasal saline drops
-Paracetamol/ibuprofen (product licence/age)
-Non-pharmacological advice
-Keep upright, fluids
Hospital pharmacy for bronchiolitis in infants?
<3 months paracetamol if required
-Oxygen support
Describe reflux in infants
-Reflux - very common - 40% infants
-Higher risk if premature or complex neuro-disabilities
-Could be a sign of cows’ milk protein allergy (CMPA)
How to treat reflux in infants
-Non-pharmacological advice
e.g feed upright, smaller more frequent feeds
-OTC options:
Thickener (e.g. carobel) mixed with feeds, Gaviscon sachets
-GP: PPI (e.g. omeprazole)
red flags for reflux in infants
-failure to thrive
-chronic cough
-refusing feeds
-choking
Describe colic
-Colic is when a baby cries a lot for no obvious reason
-A baby may have colic if they cry more than 3 hours a day, 3 days a week for at least 1 week but are otherwise healthy
-Distressing for parents (and babies)
-Very common and usually gets better by 3-4 months old
-Parents know their babies best – seek help if concerned
Other symptoms of colic?
-it’s hard to soothe or settle your baby
-they clench their fists
-they go red in the face
-they bring their knees up to their tummy or arch their back
-their tummy rumbles or they’re very windy
What can you recommend for cholic?
-No evidence for colic drops/products
-Reassurance
-Cuddle or hold the baby. Rocking may help
-Hold the baby upright when feeding and wind them after
-Hold the baby upright when cuddling (on shoulder)
-Warm bath
-White noise
-Feed as normal
seek medical attention for cholic in infants if…
-your baby has a high pitched cry or their cry sounds different to normal
-You are struggling to cope
-Nothing seems to work
-Your baby is over 4 months old
Describe constipation
-Common condition
-8% of the population, boys more commonly affected than girls
causes for constipation
-Insufficient dietary fibre and fluid intake
-Stresses of “toilet training”
management for constipation?
-Non-pharmacological – diet, fluid, good toilet hygiene
-OTC laxatives - 1st line osmotic e.g Laxido/Movicol
Dis-impaction regime may be required
red flag symptoms of constipation?
-persistent symptoms
-severe abdominal pain
-distended abdomen
-blood in stool or rectal bleeding
-distended abdomen
