Paediatrics Flashcards
Achondroplasia
Dwarfism
No treatment
Acute epiglottitis
A rare but serious infection caused by Haemophilus influenzae type B.
Features
-rapid onset
-high temperature, generally unwell
-stridor
-drooling of saliva
-‘tripod’ position: the patient finds it easier to breathe if they are leaning forward and extending their neck in a seated position
Investigations;
-Do not examine the neck if you suspect this
-Diagnosis is made by direct visualisation (only by senior/airway trained staff)
-X ray of neck may help (Thumb sign)- avoid! nothing that could compromise airway
Management;
-immediate senior involvement (those able to provide emergency airway support (e.g. anaesthetics, ENT))
- possible endotracheal intubation (don’t examine neck)
-oxygen
-IV antibiotics as per local policy
Acute lymphoblastic anaemia (ALL)
the most common malignancy affecting children and accounts for 80% of childhood leukaemias. The peak incidence is at around 2-5 years of age and boys are affected slightly more commonly than girls
Features may be divided into those predictable by bone marrow failure:
-anaemia: lethargy and pallor
-neutropaenia: frequent or severe infections
-thrombocytopenia: easy bruising, petechiae
And other features
-bone pain (secondary to bone marrow infiltration)
-splenomegaly
-hepatomegaly
-fever- (infection or constitutional symptom)
-testicular swelling
Poor prognostic factors
-age < 2 years or > 10 years
-WBC > 20 * 109/l at diagnosis
-T or B cell surface markers
-non-Caucasian
-male sex
APGAR Score
Activity (muscle tone)
Pulse
Grimace (reflex irritability)
Appearance (colour)
Respiratory effort
0-3 is very low score
4-6 is moderate low
7 - 10 means the baby is in a good state
Appendicitis in children
Appendicitis is one of the most common acute surgical problems facing children. Diagnosis is often made difficult by a presentation which is far from the classically history of:
-central abdominal pain which later radiates to the right iliac fossa
-low-grade pyrexia
-minimal vomiting
Children who are younger or have a retrocaecal/pelvic appendix are more likely to present in an atypical way
Appendicitis is uncommon in children under 4 years old but in this group often presents with perforation
List some autosomal dominant conditions
Huntington’s
Myotonic dystrophy
Osteogenesis imperfecta
Retinoblastoma
Tuberous sclerosis
Von Hippel-Lindau syndrome
Von Willebrand’s disease (type 3 is recessive)
List some autosomal recessive conditions
Albinism
Cystic fibrosis
Gilbert’s syndrome (sources differ)
Haemochromatosis
Sickle cell anaemia
Thalassaemias
Wilson’s disease
Benign rolandic epilepsy
Benign Rolandic epilepsy is a form of childhood epilepsy that typically occurs between the age of 4 and 12 years.
Features
-seizures characteristically occur at night
-seizures are typically partial (e.g. paraesthesia affecting face) but secondary generalisation may occur (i.e. parents may only report tonic-clonic movements)
-child is otherwise normal
EEG characteristically shows centro-temporal spikes
Prognosis is excellent, with seizures stopping by adolescence
Biliary atresia
a paediatric condition involving either obliteration or discontinuity within the extrahepatic biliary system, which results in an obstruction in the flow of bile. This results in a neonatal presentation of cholestasis in the first few weeks of life.
Patients typically present in the first few weeks of life with:
-Jaundice extending beyond the physiological two weeks
-Dark urine and pale stools
-Appetite and growth disturbance, however, may be normal in some cases
-Hepatomegaly with splenomegaly
-Possible cardiac murmurs
Investigations and management of biliary atresia
Investigations:
-Total bilirubin normal, conjugated bilirubin high
-Liver function tests (LFTs) usually raised
-Serum alpha 1-antitrypsin: Deficiency may be a cause of neonatal cholestasis
-Sweat chloride test: CF can involve biliary tract
-USS of the biliary tree and liver: May show distension and tract abnormalities
-Percutaneous liver biopsy with intraoperative cholangioscopy
Management:
-Surgical intervention (definitive)
-Medical intervention includes antibiotic coverage and bile acid enhancers following surgery
Complications:
-Unsuccessful anastomosis formation
-Progressive liver disease
-Cirrhosis with eventual hepatocellular carcinoma
Prognosis:
-Prognosis is good if surgery is successful
-In cases where surgery fails, liver transplantation may be required in the first two years of life
Bronchiolitis
a condition characterised by acute bronchiolar inflammation. Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the pathogen in 75-80% of cases. It is the most common cause of a serious lower respiratory tract infection in < 1yr olds (more common in winter too)
Features
-coryzal symptoms (including mild fever) precede:
-dry cough
-increasing breathlessness
-wheezing, fine inspiratory crackles (not always present)
-feeding difficulties associated with increasing dyspnoea are often the reason for hospital admission
NICE recommend immediate referral (usually by 999 ambulance) if they have any of the following:
-apnoea (observed or reported)
-child looks seriously unwell to a healthcare professional
-severe respiratory distress, for example grunting, marked chest recession, or a respiratory rate of over 70 breaths/minute
-central cyanosis
-persistent oxygen saturation of less than 92% when breathing air.
NB- clinical diagnosis, but in AE would want CXR, ABG etc.
Management is largely supportive
-humidified oxygen is given via a head box and is typically recommended if the oxygen saturations are persistently < 92%
-nasogastric feeding may be needed if children cannot take enough fluid/feed by mouth
-suction is sometimes used for excessive upper airway secretions
NB- the infection is more serious if bronchopulmonary dysplasia (e.g. Premature), congenital heart disease or cystic fibrosis
Caput succedaneum
describes oedema of the scalp at the presenting part of the head, typically the vertex. This may be due to mechanical trauma of the initial portion of the scalp pushing through the cervix in a prolonged delivery or secondary to the use of ventouse (vacuum) delivery.
Features
-soft, puffy swelling due to localised oedema
-crosses suture lines
No treatment is needed.
Cephalohaematoma
seen as a swelling on the newborns head. It typically develops several hours after delivery and is due to bleeding between the periosteum and skull. The most common site affected is the parietal region
Jaundice may develop as a complication.
A cephalohaematoma up to 3 months to resolve.
NB- does not cross the suture lines
Cerebral palsy
a disorder of movement and posture due to a non-progressive lesion of the motor pathways in the developing brain
Possible manifestations include:
-abnormal tone early infancy
-delayed motor milestones
-early hand dominance
-abnormal gait
-feeding difficulties.
Children with cerebral palsy often have associated non-motor problems such as:
-learning difficulties (60%)
-epilepsy (30%)
-squints (30%)
-hearing impairment (20%)
Management
-as with any child with a chronic condition a multidisciplinary approach is needed
-treatments for spasticity include oral diazepam, oral and intrathecal baclofen, botulinum toxin type A, orthopaedic surgery and selective dorsal rhizotomy
-anticonvulsants, analgesia as required
-physiotherapy, social work, occupational health and social workers, charity and support groups, SALT team
Chickenpox
caused by primary infection with varicella zoster virus. Shingles is a reactivation of the dormant virus in dorsal root ganglion
Chickenpox is highly infectious
-spread via the respiratory route
-can be caught from someone with shingles
-infectivity = 4 days before rash, until 5 days after the rash first appeared
Clinical features (tend to be more severe in older children/adults)
-fever initially
-itchy, rash starting on head/trunk before spreading. –Initially macular then papular then vesicular
systemic upset is usually mild
Management is supportive
-keep cool, trim nails
-calamine lotion
-school exclusion: NICE Clinical Knowledge Summaries state the following: Advise that the most infectious period is 1–2 days before the rash appears, but infectivity continues until all the lesions are dry and have crusted over (usually about 5 days after the onset of the rash).
-immunocompromised patients and newborns with peripartum exposure should receive varicella zoster immunoglobulin (VZIG). If chickenpox develops then IV aciclovir should be considered
Chickenpox complications
A common complication is secondary bacterial infection of the lesions
-NSAIDs may increase this risk
-whilst this commonly may manifest as a single infected lesion/small area of cellulitis, in a small number of patients invasive group A streptococcal soft tissue infections may occur resulting in necrotizing fasciitis
Rare complications include
-pneumonia
-encephalitis (cerebellar involvement may be seen)
-disseminated haemorrhagic chickenpox
-arthritis, nephritis and pancreatitis may very rarely be seen
Child abuse
Pass medicine page
Child abuse presentations
Children may disclose abuse themselves. Other factors which point towards child abuse include:
-story inconsistent with injuries
-repeated attendances at A&E departments
-delayed presentation
-child with a frightened, withdrawn appearance - ‘frozen watchfulness’
Possible physical presentations of child abuse include:
-bruising
-fractures: particularly metaphyseal, posterior rib fractures or multiple fractures at different stages of healing
-torn frenulum: e.g. from forcing a bottle into a child’s mouth
-burns or scalds
-failure to thrive
-sexually transmitted infections e.g. Chlamydia, Gonorrhoea, Trichomonas
Neglect- Failure to thrive, Inadequate hygiene eg severe nappy rash, infestation, Poor development of emotional attachment to child’s caregiver, Delay in development and speech and language, Poor attendance for school and health appointments e.g. immunisations, Failure to supervise eg toddler hit by car while roaming, Unsupervised young children at home- law not clear
Sexual abuse- Disclosure (please believe the child), Sexually transmitted disease, Sexualised behaviour, Pregnancy, Soiling, dysuria and painful defecation
Fictitious illness- Often on background of existing disease, Bizarre illness events, Strange new symptoms, Parental reportage out of keeping with physical findings, Symptoms eg fits not witnessed by others e.g. school, Unneeded operations e.g. tonsils removed because parents kept requesting
Child health surveillance
Passmed
Childhood infections
pass medicine
Childhood genetic syndromes
pass medicine
Cleft lip
Pathophysiology
-polygenic inheritance
-maternal antiepileptic use increases risk
-cleft lip results from failure of the fronto-nasal and maxillary processes to fuse
-cleft palate results from failure of the palatine processes and the nasal septum to fuse
Problems
-feeding: orthodontic devices may be helpful
-speech: with speech therapy 75% of children develop normal speech
-increased risk of otitis media for cleft palate babies
Management
-cleft lip is repaired earlier than cleft palate, with practices varying from repair in the first week of life to three months
-cleft palates are typically repaired between 6-12 months of age
Features of coeliac disease in children
Features may coincide with the introduction of cereals (i.e. gluten)
-failure to thrive
-diarrhoea
-abdominal distension
-older children may present with anaemia
-many cases are not diagnosed to adulthood
Congenital diaphragmatic hernia
It is characterised by the herniation of abdominal viscera into the chest cavity due to incomplete formation of the diaphragm. This can result in pulmonary hypoplasia and hypertension which causes respiratory distress shortly after birth.
May hear tinkling bowel sounds in the chest/absence of breath sounds (typically on the LHS)- child will require intubation and ventilation
Only around 50% of new-borns with CDH survive despite modern medical intervention.