Pediatrics Flashcards
(47 cards)
Define gestational age (GA)
Time from conception until birth
Define postnatal age (PA)
Chronological age since birth
What is post-conceptual age (PCA)/Corrected Gestational Age (CGA)/ Postmenstrual Age (PMA)?
- Age since conception
- PCA = GA + PNA
Lucy is an 11 day old neonate that was born at 30 weeks, 2 days gestational age. What is Lucy’s corrected gestational age?
31 weeks, 6 days
How old is a premature neonate?
< 37 weeks gestational age
How old is a full term neonate?
Neonate born 37-41+6/7 weeks gestational age
How old is a neonate?
- Full term neonate up to 28 days PNA
- Premature neonate whose PCA is <= 42-46 weeks
How old is an infant?
1 month to <1 year of age
How old is child/children?
1 year to 12 years of age
How old is adolescent?
13 years to <18 years of age
How does pH of a child differ from an adult?
How does that affect absorption of acid labile compounds and weak acids?
Changes in gastric pH (higher pH earlier in life)
- Absorption of acid labile compounds is increased (e.g., penicilin)
- Absorption of weak acids is decreased (e.g., phenobarbital)
How does absorption differ for neonates? (4)
- Gastric motility increases with age (normalizes at ~4 months of age)
- Increased time for gastric emptying and decreased intestinal motility in first months of life
- Slower drug absorption and longer Tmax in neonates and young infants vs older infants and children - Increased topical absorption in neonates/infants
- Reduced skeletal muscle blood flow and inefficient muscular contractions in neonates
- Higher density skeletal-muscle capillaries in infants compared to older children
- Altered absorption in subcutaneous and intra-muscular drug absorption
How does total body water change during the following stages of life:
1. Fetus
2. Preterm neonate
3. Term neonate
4. Adults
- 94%
- 85%
- 78%
- 60%
How does distribution differ for neonates/infants? (3)
- Neonates + Infants have very large extracellular and total-
body fluid
- Higher Vd of hydrophilic drugs (e.g. gentamicin) - Decreased circulating albumin and alpha-1-acid glycoprotein
- Increased unbound (free) fraction drug - Higher amount of endogenous products (i.e. unconjugated bilirubin, free fatty acids)
- Displace drugs from binding sites
What CYP enzymes appear at the following stages of life?
1. First few hours (2)
2. 2. First week (3)
3. First 1-3 months (1)
- Appear in first few hours: CYP 2D6 and CYP 2E1
- First week of life: CYP 2C19, CYP 2C9, CYP 3A4
- First 1-3 months of life: CYP 1A2
How do phase II enzymes change with age?
Glucoronyltransferase (UGT) increases with age
- Ex// acetaminophen and morphine
How is elimination different for pediatrics? (3)
- Tubular secretion is immature in neonates/infants
- Glomerular filtration increased with age
- Rapid increase in 1st two weeks of life
- Reaches adult values at 8-12 months of age - Impacts drugs with primarily renal clearance
- Ex. Vancomycin, aminoglycosides
What is the best equation to estimate CrCl in pediatrics?
Bedside Schwartz uses k = 0.413
What are some considerations when using the Schwartz equation? (3)
- Remember: this is only an ESTIMATE! Clinical picture and trends remain crucial when evaluating
- Validated mostly in chronic kidney disease patients, up to moderate CKD (eGFR 15-75 mL/min)
- Study Limitations:
- Rapidly changing serum creatinine*
- Infants < 1 year
- Obesity
- Malnutrition
- Muscle wasting
What are some dosing considerations for pediatrics? (3)
- Doses are generally based on body weight
- CHECK: mg/kg/day or mg/kg/dose - Body Surface Area
- Chemotherapy and some biologics
- Mosteller Formula most commonly used - Total daily dose of a medication should not exceed adult
maximums
- Caution in overweight children
- Example: ceftriaxone, amoxicillin
- Few exceptions: ex// vancomycin or antibiotics used in cystic fibrosis
Should maybe know some professional resources for pediatric meds and conditions (4)
- Pediatric and Neonatal Lexi-Drugs
- BC Children’s Online Formulary (pedmed.org)
- NeoFax
- CHOP or Toronto SickKids Hospital
Many dosage forms are not suitable for children. Which ones/why? (5)
- Capsules
- Tablets
- Can they Swallow? - Syrups
- Ketogenic Diet? - Suspensions
- Solutions
- Palatability?
- What is the volume?
What are some way to increase palatability for oral meds? (5)
- Chocolate/strawberry syrup – coats tongue
- Peanut butter – coats tongue
- Applesauce – masks flavor, provides medium for mixing
- Ice cream – cold minimizes flavor, numbs taste buds
- Flavoring agent
- Risk of “ruining” flavor for patient
What are some considerations when using the Aliquot method? (3)
- Final volume must be a volume the child can tolerate
- E.g. don’t dilute into 50 mLs for a 1-year old child – that’s too much volume! - Is the final volume something that is easily measurable?
- 2 mLs vs 2.5 mLs vs 2.58 mLs - Is the tablet readily dissolvable in solution?
- Is the tablet available in chewable?
- Is it enteric coated or time release?