SPOPs Paediatrics Flashcards
(223 cards)
AEIOU TIPS Mnemonic for ALOC - What to Look For
Alcohol - too much/too little
Epilepsy/electrolytes
Insulin - (Overdose/underdose/diabetes
Overdose/oxygen - (Drugs/poisons/toxins or hypoxia)
Uremia – Renal failure
Trauma – History and/or evidence of
Infection – sepsis
Psychiatric - behavioural, mental health disorders
Stroke/shock - Aneurysm, subarachnoid bleed, hypovolemia, MI
AEIOU TIPS - Alcohol - What to Look For
Is their evidence on scene suggestive of alcohol ingestion?
Previous hx of same
If suspected – What type of alcohol, how much, what time frame etc
AEIOU TIPS - Electrolytes - What to Look For
Paediatrics with any acute illness or condition affecting the input, distribution or output of electrolytes and/or fluid in the body are at risk of electrolyte imbalance
(vomiting diarrhoea, decreased food intake, recent illness)
AEIOU TIPS - Epilepsy - What to Look For
Look for any signs of seizure activity
Could this be post-ictal behaviour?
Manage appropriately with any active or ongoing seizure activity.
Look for key signs: Incontinence, injury around face areas, nystagmus
AEIOU TIPS - Infectious - What to Look For
febrile and/or extremely cold
Any obvious signs of infection
Any history around recent sickness?
Think….could this be sepsis?
AEIOU TIPS - Insulin - What to Look For
Hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia
Is there a known history of diabetes
Consideration for first presentation type 1 diabetes in DKA
Any recent vomiting and or diarrheoa?
Recent sickness
AEIOU TIPS - Overdose (drugs/poisons/toxins) - What to Look For
dangerous substances
AEIOU TIPS - Oxygen - What to Look For
respiratory distress
Auscultate the chest
SP02 values
Don’t look at one of these in isolation
AEIOU TIPS - Psychiatric - What to Look For
potential mental, emotional and/or behavioural disorder?
Be aware of surroundings
Is there a history of same
What are preceding events/triggers?
AEIOU TIPS - Stroke/Shock - What to Look For
Control any haemorrhages, assess for signs of internal bleeding
Rule out MI through 12 lead ECG
Always perform a FAST assessment in any patient that is altered level of consciousness
Consider anaphylactic shock
AEIOU TIPS - Trauma - What to Look For
Evidence of visible trauma
History is key in ruling out any trauma
Thorough head to toe assessment
paediatrics aren’t well protected through the abdominal region, so small impacts an result in large trauma
They compensate well
AEIOU TIPS - Ureamia - What to Look For
Any potential issues with kidneys
History taking around all things toileting
ALOC is associated with conditions such as…
Inadequate brain perfusion
Hypoxia or increased carbon dioxide levels
Metabolic disturbances
Drugs or toxins
Primary CNS disorder
Asthma Risk Factors
Genetics
Boys
Early exposure to environmental irritants
Asthma Signs and Symptoms
Frequent coughing that worsens with viral infection, occurs while asleep or triggered by exercise or cold air
whistling/wheezing when breathing out
Shortness of breath
Chest congestion or tightness
Trouble sleeping due to shortness of breath, coughing or wheezing
Delayed recovery or bronchitis after a respiratory infection
Trouble breathing that hampers play or exercise
Fatigue, which can be due to poor sleep
Why are paediatrics more prone to respiratory failure?
Poor accessory muscle development
Less rigid, more horizontal thoracic cage
Increased metabolic and oxygen requirements
Decreased respiratory reserves
Less fatigue resistant twitch fibres
The younger the child the less able to compensate
At what age can children generally begin to participate in communication about their health care?
3 years
At what age do children reach the comprehension abilities of an adult?
12 years
Bronchiolitis Symptoms
runny nose
low grade fever
nasal congestion
coughing
wheezing
no appetite/poor feeding
Causes of Epilepsy
60% idiopathic
Brain abnormalities that occur in utero
Low oxygen during birth
Brain injury (TBI)
Brain infection
(meningitis or encephalitis)
Stroke
Brain tumour
(benign or malignant)
Neurodegenerative diseases
(Alzheimer’s disease)
Conditions that increase the likelihood of developing epilepsy
(Cerebral Palsy or Down syndrome)
Causes of Seizures
high fever
high or low blood sugar
alcohol or drug withdrawal
brain concussion
Characteristics of Asthma
Bronchospasm
Mucosal oedema
Airway inflammation
Characteristics of Croup
Appearance - well looking
Onset - viral prodrome, slower onset
Fever - <38.5 moderate
Stridor - usually mild - moderate
Cough - barking, seal-like quality
Speech - hoarse voice
Secretions - able to swallow
Characteristics of Epiglottitis
Appearance - toxic and unwell
Onset - abrupt 4-6 hrs
Fever - >38.5
Stridor - usually moderate - severe
Cough - minimal or absent
Speech - unable to speak
Secretions - unable to swallow, drooling of saliva