Paediatrics (1) Flashcards
(183 cards)
Aetiology of pneumonia in children
<5YO = viruses (most common = RSV)
>5YO = Mycoplasma pneumoniae/ Strep. pneumoniae/ Chlamydia pneumoniae
Clinical presentation on pneumonia in children
Fever, cough, rapid breathing (usually preceded by URTI)
Other: nasal flaring, chest indrawing, poor feeding, ‘unwell’ child
Management of pneumonia children
Supportive - oxygen, analgesia, IV fluids
Admission criteria: O2<92%, recurrent apnoea, inability to maintain to adequate fluid/ feed
Medical - oral amoxicillin (consider erythromycin if >5YO)
Why might you admit a child with pneumonia to hospital?
Admission criteria: O2<92%, recurrent apnoea, inability to maintain to adequate fluid/ feed
What is croup?
viral laryngotracheal infection characterised by barking cough + acute stridor, most common in infants (6 months - 3YO) in winter
Most common age for croup in children
6 months to 3YO
Most common aetiology of croup
Parainfluenzae = most common
Clinical presentation of croup
Upper resp symptoms (e.g. runny nose), fever, hoarseness, barking cough, inspiratory stridor
Mild = no stridor at rest, barking cough, mild work of breathing
Moderate = stridor at rest, mild work of breathing, no agitation
Severe = significant stridor at rest, severe respiratory distress, child = anxious/ pale/ tired
Investigations of suspected croup
Clinical Dx - Upper resp symptoms (e.g. runny nose), fever, hoarseness, barking cough, inspiratory stridor
CXR if unclear (steeple sign = indicative, subglottic tracheal narrowing)
What does the steeple sign on a CXR indicate?
Croup
Management of croup
Mild: oral dexamethasone (0.15mg/kg) + discharge with advice
Moderate: oral dexamethasone (0.15-0.3mg/kg) + observe for improvement/ discharge when stable
Severe: nebulised adrenaline, oxygen, oral OR IV/IM dexamethasone (0.3-0.6mg/kg) + monitoring
Assessing the severity of croup
Mild = no stridor at rest, barking cough, mild work of breathing
Moderate = stridor at rest, mild work of breathing, no agitation
Severe = significant stridor at rest, severe respiratory distress, child = anxious/ pale/ tired
Define asthma
chronic respiratory condition associated with airway inflammation + hyperresponsiveness, presents with multiple trigger wheeze
List potential triggers for asthma
Dust, excercise, cold, emotional upset, animal dander
Pathophysiology of asthma
Environmental triggers (e.g. cold air, dust, exercise, animal dander, emotional upset) + genetic predisposition + atopy → bronchial inflammation → bronchial hyperresponsiveness to inhaled stimuli → airway narrowing (reversible airflow obstruction) → symptoms
Clinical presentation of asthma
Multiple episodic wheeze associated with cough/ SOB/ chest tightness
Personal/ family Hx of atopic diseases
Diurnal variation (worse at night/ early in morning)
Positive response to asthma therapy
Diagnosis of asthma
Usually clinical.
Spirometry - reversible obstructive pattern (FEV1:FVC <70%)
Improvement of FEV1 by 12% or 200ml w/ bronchodilator
Improvement of FEV1 by 400ml w/ bronchodilator
PEFR - diurnal variation + reversible airflow obstruction
Other - skin prick test (suggest atopy), FeNo (>= 35ppb eosinophilic inflammation
Spirometry findings that are indicative of asthma
reversible obstructive pattern (FEV1:FVC <70%)
Improvement of FEV1 by 12% or 200ml w/ bronchodilator
Improvement of FEV1 by 400ml w/ bronchodilator
Management of chronic asthma
PRN SABA (salbutamol OR ipratropium bromide) → + ICS (e.g. beclomethasone/ budesonide) → + LABA (salmeterol)/ LTRA (Montelukast)
Severity of asthma attacks
Moderate - able to talk, O2 sat>92%, peak flow >50% [best]
Severe - too SOB to talk, O2 sat <92% (if <12YO), peak flow 33-50% [best]
Life-threatening - silent chest, cyanosis, poor respiratory effort, exhaustion, altered consciousness, peak flow <33% [best], O2 sat <92% (all ages)
Features of a life-threatening asthma attack
silent chest, cyanosis, poor respiratory effort, exhaustion, altered consciousness, peak flow <33% [best], O2 sat <92% (all ages)
Management of a life-threatening asthma attack
high flow oxygen + SABA nebulised + oral prednisolone/ IV hydrocortisone + nebulised ipratropium
Management of a moderate asthma attack
Moderate: SABA via spacer (2-4 puffs, increase by 2 puffs every 2 mins until 10 puffs) +/- oral prednisolone (1-2mg/kg, max 40mg)
Define bronchiolitis
mucosal inflammation + swelling of bronchioles, usually caused by an acute viral illness (RSV = 80%), peak incidence at 3-6 months in winter