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Year 2 Child Health Care > Jaundice > Flashcards

Flashcards in Jaundice Deck (16)
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1
Q

What age range is physiological jaundice associated with?

A

2-5 days

2
Q

Generally what is the cause of physiological jaundice?

A

The immature liver conjugating pathways are unable to deal with the breakdown of foetal haemoglobin, leading to an increase in uncongugated haemoglobin.

3
Q

List some causes of physiological cases of jaundice?

A

Increased bilirubin production
Reduced bilirubin uptake and binding by liver cells
Reduced conjugation
Reduced excretion

4
Q

What is the main cause of pathological jaundice within the first 24 hours?

A

Haemolysis causing an increase in the bilirubin concentration.

5
Q

What are some causes of haemolysis within the first 24 hours?

A

ABO blood incompatability
Rh immunisation
Sepsis

6
Q

What investigations are undertaken in a suspected haemolytic jaundice in the first 24hrs?

A

Total and conjugated serum bilirubin
Maternal and babies blood group
Antibody titres
FBC

7
Q

What are some causes of a ‘too high bilirubin’ within 24hrs -10 days?

A

Mild dehydration/ lack of milk supply
Haemolysis
Polcythaemia

8
Q

In terms of haemolysis causing jaundice between 1-10 days what is the main causes?

A

Breakdown of extravasated blood from bruising during delivery to swallowed blood, the blood is broken down to form bilirubin.

9
Q

What is the main cause of polycythaemia ?

A

A rare disease resulting in a too high red cell concentration.

10
Q

What are some causes of pathological jaundice lasting longer than 10 days?

A
Breast milk jaundice
Continued poor milk intake ( dehydration)
Haemolysis
Infection
Hypothyroidism
11
Q

What is the suspected cause of breast milk jaundice?

A

A protein within the breast milk slows down the conjugating pathways within the liver leading to an increased bilirubin concentration.

12
Q

Why is persistent conjugated jaundice bad?

A

Conjugated jaundice is always a pathological and abnormal finding.

13
Q

What are the two main causes of conjugated jaundice?

A

Hepatitis

Biliary atresia

14
Q

What is biliary atresia?

A

The biliary duct doesn’t connect to the small intestine, this leads to obstructive jaundice and is fatal unless treated.

15
Q

What is the most commonly referred symptom for biliary atresia?

A

Pale clay coloured stool with dark urine

16
Q

List some signs of jaundice

A
Lethargy
Poor feeding 
Temperature
Arching of the back and neck
Spasticity seizures