Common Paediatric Conditions Flashcards
(22 cards)
What is Croup?
A SYMPTOM of a viral infection in which the larynx and trachea swell and make the airways narrower. This results in a harsh, barking or high pitched cough
What’s it called when breathing in causes a squeaky high pitched noise?
Stridor
What is bronchiolitis?
A common chest infection in young children in which inflammation and mucus build up in the airways makes it more difficult to breath
What steps should be taken to treat asthma?
Follow action plan
Get vaccinations
Identify and avoid asthma triggers
Monitor the child’s breathing
Identify and treat attacks early
Pay attention to increasing quick relief inhaler use
What is cystic fibrosis?
A genetic illness without a cure that usually appears within the first two months of like. It causes the build up of a very sticky and thick mucus in the lungs, pancreas, liver, reproductive organs and sweat glands
What are the common treatments for CF?
Daily chest physio, oral antibiotics, special diet, enzymes, salt tablets and nebulizer treatments
What are some common signs that a child you’re assessing may have a heart condition?
Poor 02 saturation <89%
Irregular heart beat or ECG
Poor BP (low or high)
Irregular heart sounds (murmur)
Which new findings are worrying in a child with a pre existing heart condition?
Pale skin
Irritability
Heavy sweating
Difficulty breathing
Difficulty feeding
Poor growth
What is CP?
Cerebral palsy, a condition in which damage to the brain restricts control of movements which can include stiff muscles, weakness, reduced coordination and balance or tremors
What are the three main types of CP?
Spastic: muscles stiff and difficult to stretch
Dyskinetic: uncontrolled, involuntary movements
Ataxic: poor coordination, unsteadiness, shakiness
How can you treat febrile convulsions?
Managing infection causing fever with antibiotics or by administering antipyretics
Define anaphylaxis
Severe, life threatening, systemic hypersensitivity reaction
What is the most common trigger for anaphylaxis?
Food
What are the common signs and symptoms of anaphylaxis?
Difficulty/noisy breathing, persistent cough, dyspnea, bronchospasm, stridor, dysphonia, aphonia, respiratory distress
Hypotension, tachycardia
Adbo cramps, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea
Swelling, itching, extremity edema
Feeling of impending doom, light-headedness, loss of consciousness
What is the immediate treatment of anaphylaxis?
Adrenaline administration, first IM then IV. Can also be inhaled
Antihistamines
Corticosteroids
When is a child considered febrile?
> 38 degrees
When is a child considered in neutropoenia?
Low neutrophil count of <500/mm3
Describe the process of paediatric cancer staging
Stage 1: tumour is isolated to one part an the entirety of the visible tumour has been removed surgically
2A: isolated to one part of the body but not all of the visible part was removed surgically
2B: isolated to one part of the body and has been removed by surgery but there are cancer cells in nearby lymph nodes
3: tumour has not been completely removed by surgery and has spread to the other side of the body or lymph nodes
4: Tumour has spread to other parts of the body including distant lymph nodes, liver, bones or skin
4S: the child is less than 1 year old, the tumour is only in 1 part of the body, all the tumour can be seen but the cancer has already spread to the liver, skin, bone or lymph nodes
What is leukaemia?
A cancer of the blood in which blood cells don’t mature properly and crowd the bone marrow which reduces the number of healthy cells that can be produced
Symptoms of leukaemia
Higher risk of infection
Increased bruising
Increased fatigue
What are methods of assessing and diagnosing cancer?
Blood tests
Urine tests to examine kidney function
Medical imaging
Biopsy
Bone marrow aspirate
Lumbar puncture
What is the first step in treating a child diagnosed with cancer?
Insertion of a central line
