Pediatrics AI Flashcards
(26 cards)
What is the most common source of infection for bacterial septicemia in neonates?
Umbilicus
Other sources include the gastrointestinal tract, respiratory or urinary infections, and skin wounds.
What are the clinical signs of bacterial septicemia?
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea with red inflamed anus
- Persistent vocalization
- Weakness
- Abdominal pain
- Fever
- Dehydration
- Sloughing of skin on extremities
These signs indicate severe illness in neonates.
How is bacterial septicemia diagnosed?
By clinical signs, hypoglycemia, neutrophilia with left shift, or neutropenia from severe sepsis. Definitive diagnosis is made by blood or urine culture.
What types of parasites can infect puppies and kittens?
- Roundworms (Toxocara and Toxascaris sp.)
- Hookworms (Ancylostoma sp.)
These infections can occur transplacentally and transmammarily.
What is the preferred drug for deworming the dam in late pregnancy?
Fenbendazole
Treatment usually starts at day 40 of gestation and continues until 14 days postpartum.
List some possible birth defects that should be evaluated in neonates.
- Cleft palate
- Heart murmur
- Atresia ani
- Patent urachus
- Suckling and righting reflexes
What virus can cause cerebellar hypoplasia in neonates?
Feline Panleukopenia virus
It can also cause vomiting, diarrhea, leukopenia, and death in infected neonates.
What is the common cause of neonatal mortality?
- Congenital abnormalities
- Teratogens
- Nutritional deficiencies
- Trauma
- Poor husbandry
- Infection
- Low birth weight
- Neonatal isoerythrolysis
Normal mortality rates can range from 15% to 40% during the first 12 weeks.
What are the main areas of concern in treating a sick neonate?
- Temperature regulation
- Hydration
- Nutrition
- Drugs indicated (antibiotics, antiparasitics)
- Oxygen therapy
Fill in the blank: The four H’s in pediatric care refer to _______.
[Hypothermia, Hypoglycemia, Hypoxia, Hydration]
What is the normal body temperature for neonates during the first week of life?
96-98°F
What should be done immediately after tube feeding a neonate?
- Burp the neonate
- Stimulate genitals with a moist cotton ball
This helps with urination and defecation.
What is the required nest box temperature for neonates?
85-90°F
What is the risk associated with hypothermia in neonates?
Respiratory depression, bradycardia, and reduced gastrointestinal motility.
What is the recommended method for warming hypothermic neonates?
SLOWLY over 30 or more minutes
What glucose level is considered significant for hypoglycemia in neonates?
Lower than 50 mg/dl
What should be avoided until a hypothermic neonate is normothermic and rehydrated?
Food intake
What are common drugs to avoid in lactating dams?
- Aminoglycosides
- Chloramphenicol
- Tetracyclines
- Antineoplastics
What are the effects of the immature blood-brain barrier in neonates?
Increased risk of toxicity with certain drugs
What anesthetic drugs should be approached with caution in neonates?
- Thiobarbiturates
- Ketamine
These require lower doses for induction and are poorly tolerated in early life.
What is the recommended method for administering oxygen to hypoxemic neonates?
Intranasal administration by nasal catheter
Fill in the blank: The neonate’s physiologic differences can greatly alter how drugs are handled by the body, including _______ regulation of body temperature.
[poor]
What is a common cause of ‘fading puppy/kitten syndrome’?
- Maternal neglect or trauma
- Environmental problems
- Poor colostral intake
- Inadequate milk production
- Septicemia
- Congenital defects
- Neonatal isoerythrolysis in kittens
Other theories suggest possible thymic or thyroid dysfunctions.
What is the average weight gain for puppies and kittens in the first 10 days of life?
Puppies double their weight, orphans take 14 days
