Paediatrics Flashcards
Define acute epiglottitis
Rapidly progressing infection causing inflammation to epiglottis. Paediatric emergency as epiglottis can block upper airway
What are the causes of acute epiglottis?
Haemophilus influenza B virus
Rare now as many children are vaccinated, but always check
What is the presentation of acute epiglottitis in a child?
High fever, ill, toxic looking, intensely painful throat, difficulty swallowing or speaking, drooling down chin, soft inspiratory stridor, rapidly increasing resp rate, child sat immobile upright with open mouth
What is the management of acute epiglottitis?
- Secure airway, endotracheal intubation may be necessary
- Once airway secure, take cultures and examine throat
- Treat with IV antibiotics: cefuroxime
Aetiology of acute lymphocytic leukaemia (ALL)?
Malignant clonal disease that develops when a lymphoid progenitor cell becomes genetically altered through somatic changes and undergoes proliferation.
Leads to ALL, early lymphoid precursors replace normal haematopoietic cells of bone marrow
Who is affected by acute lymphocytic leukaemia (ALL)?
Children under 6 and adults over 80
What is the presentation of acute lymphocytic leukaemia (ALL) in children?
Any child presenting to GP with bruising, enlarged lymph nodes, and systemic illness should be referred.
- Lymphadenopathy most common sign
- hepatosplenomegaly, pallor/petechiae, fever, fatigue, dizziness, weakness, epistaxis
How is acute lymphocytic leukaemia (ALL) diagnosed?
Through bone marrow biopsy
What are some triggers for an acute asthma exacerbation?
(paeds)
Exposure to allergens such as dust, pollution, animal hair or smoke
What is the pathophysiology behind an acute asthma exacerbation?
(paeds)
Exposure to allergen triggers an IgE type 1 hypersensitivity reaction, leading to smooth muscle contraction, bronchial oedema and mucus plugging
Presentation of an acute asthma attack?
(paeds)
- fast onset breathlessness
- wheeze; may be audible bedside or if not should be bilaterally on auscultation
- possible subjective chest tightness
What are some signs of an acute severe asthma attack?
(paeds)
- Respiratory distress (resp rate >30/min in children over 5, unable to complete sentence)
- Tachycardia (>125bpm in children over 5)
- peak expiratory flow rte 33-50% of predicted
What are some lifethreatening features of a severe asthma attack in a child?
- peak expiratory flow rate <33% of predicted
- oxygen sats <92%
- silent chest on auscultation
- weak or no respiratory effort
- hypotension
- exhaustion
- confusion
What are the differentials for an asthma attack in children?
- pneumothorax
- anaphylaxis
- inhalation of foreign body
- cardiac arrhythmia
Management of an acute exacerbation of asthma in a child
Stepwise approach:
1. Inhaled slabutamol
2. nebulised salbutamol
3. add nebulised ipratropium bromide
4. if O2 sats<92% add magnesium sulfate
5. oral or intravenous steroids
6. add intravenous salbutamol if no response to inhaled therapy
7. if severe or life threatening not responsive to inhaled therapy add aminophylline
O2 sats should be maintained between 94-98% with high flow oxygen if necessary
What is the definition of an atrial septal defect?
Relatively common cardiac malformation where there is a hole between the left and right atria (caused by a defect in the septum secundum during development)
Pathophysiology of atrial septal defect
hole - causes flow from higher pressured left atrium into lower pressured right atrium.
low pitched diastolic rumble in tricuspid area (lower left sternal border), flow murmur over pulmonary valve.
ejection murmur sternal edge
Presentation of an atrial septal defect
May be aysymptomatic or present with late onset cyanosis or even heart failure
How is an atrial septal defect diagnosed?
Echocardiogram
Management of an atrial septal defect
depends on severity
most managed conservatively
some require surgery
routine echocardiograms
Complications of an atrial septal defect
Heart failure - later on in life (20’s+30’s)
paradoxical embolisms
What is the aeitiology of ADHD?
associated with reduced activity in the frontal lobe causing in problems in executive functioning
impairs ability to focus on different tasks and inhibit impulsive behaviours
Management of ADHD
Conservative: behavioural techniques, extra support in school
Medical: stimulant medication (methylphenidate)
What is autistic spectrum disorders?
characterised by a spectrum of social, language and behavioural deficits
Socially, children with autism don’t enjoy or seek comfort from company with other people and aren’t able to imagine the persepctive of other people