2: Sick Child 2 - recognising the sick child

Question 1

What are the general causes of death in children?

Answer 1

PREMATURITY

CONGENITAL DISEASE

INFECTION

…EVENTUALLY TRAUMA IN ADOLESCENCE

Question 2

What is a common trauma-related cause of death for adolescents?

Answer 2

Road traffic collisions

Question 3

What is the commonest reason for acute illness in children?

Answer 3

Sepsis

Question 4

As an infant ages, what happens to their

a) heart rate
b) resp. rate
c) systolic BP?

Answer 4

a) decreases

b) decreases

c) INCREASES

Question 5

What tends to come first in children - respiratory or cardiac arrest?

Answer 5

Respiratory arrest

leading to cardiac arrest

Question 6

(Hypertension / hypotension) is a pre-terminal sign in children.

Answer 6

Hypotension

Question 7

What type of heart rhythm do children tend to have if they have a cardiac arrest following a respiratory arrest?

Answer 7

Asystole

so their chances aren’t very good

Question 8

What is the difference between effort and efficiency of breathing?

Answer 8

Effort - what you put into breathing:

RR; Recession; Nasal flaring; Accessory muscles; Grunting

Efficiency - what your lungs get out of that effort:

Chest expansion; Breath sounds; General signs of hypoxia; Pulse oximetry