PAEDS - cardio, resp, GI Flashcards
(417 cards)
define croup
acute infective URT disease affecting young children
epidemiology of croup
a) time of year
b) age
a) spring/autumn
b) 6m-2y
what causes croup?
MAINLY parainfluenza virus
others:
- influenza
- adenovirus
- respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)
RFs for croup
- young
- family hx
- congenital/acquired airway narrowing
- male gender
pathophysiology of croup
- upper resp tract infection causes oedema in the larynx
- swelling of larynx, vocal cords and trachea
- narrowing of subglottic region
classic presentation of croup
classic:
- cold-like sx in days preceding (prodromal)
- acute stridor
- barking seal like cough
- worse at night
other:
- hoarse voice
- low-grade fever
- if severe»_space; resp distress
signs of croup with respiratory distress
seal-like barking cough with:
- recession
- agitation
- lethargy
investigations for croup
often clinical diagnosis
but consider:
- ABCDE
- ENT exam
- cervical lymph nodes exam
- lung auscultation
- CXR (to exclude other causes)
what classic CXR sign will be present in croup?
steeple sign (narrowing of trachea)
management of non-severe croup
- normally self-limiting (<48h)
- supportive with fluids and rest
- sit child up during attacks
- stay off school
- can give single dose of oral dexamethasone (150mcg/kg) and repeat after 12h if required
what did croup used to be caused by before vaccinations? what did it lead to?
diptheria
led to epiglottitis > high mortality
stepwise management options in severe croup
- oral dexamethasone
- oxygen
- nebulised budesonide
- nebulised adrenaline
- intubation and ventilation
what dose of dexamethasone should be given in croup?
0.15mg/kg (single dose)
define childhood pneumonia
- acute LRT infection
- infection and inflammation of the parenchyma with consolidation
epidemiology of childhood pneumonia
relatively common - 14% of all deaths of children <5
common bacterial causes of childhood pneumonia (inc most common) (6)
- MOST = streptococcus pnuemonia
- second = H.influenzae type B (Hib)
- group A strep
- group B strep
- S.aureus
- atypical = mycoplasma pneumonia/tuberculosis
which children are likely to contract pneumonia caused by…
a) H.Influenzae type b
b) group B strep
a) pre or unvaccinated children
b) pre-vaccinated infants
how is group B strep pneumonia contracted in children
often during birth as it colonises the vagina
common viral causes of childhood pneumonia (inc most common) (4)
- most common = respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)
- parainfluenza virus
- influenza virus
- adenovirus
risk factors for childhood pneumonia (5)
- young age
- unvaccinated for Hib
- immunocompromise
- pre exisiting illness e.g. CF, measles
- environment e.g. crowded home, parental smoking, indoor air pollution
pathophysiology of childhood pneumonia
inflammation of lung parenchyma (lung tissue) and sputum filling the airways and alveoli
signs and symptoms of childhood pneumonia
- cough (wet + productive)
- high fever (>38.5)
- lethargy
- delirium
- high RR
- tachypnoea
characteristic chest signs of childhood pneumonia (3)
- bronchial breath sounds (harsh, equally loud on inspiration and expiration)
- focal coarse crackles
- dullness to percussion
signs indicating sepsis secondary to childhood pneumonia (6)
- tachypnoea
- tachycardia
- hypoxia
- hypotension
- fever
- confusion