Adolescent Health Flashcards
1
Q
What is the impact of adolescence on chronic conditions such as diabetes?
A
- deterioration in HbA1c in diabetes
- associated with lasting complications (e.g. cardiovascular disease, neuropathy, retinopathy.
2
Q
Be familiar with the impact of adolescence on graft success?
A
- highest graft failure rates
- 35% lose kidney
- 1.8 times higher than the rate of people < 17 and > 24 years
3
Q
what is adolescence?
A
- specific, unique developmental stage
- occurs between 11-25 years (not ‘teenagers’, not just puberty)
- period of unique and significant development > biological, psychological, social
4
Q
key points about adolescent brain development
A
- prefrontal cortex: area reasponsible for complex thinking, planning, and impulse control, is still developing during adolescence, leading to potential challenges with decision making and long-term planning.
- limbic system highly active, contributing to heightened emotional responses and potentially impulsive behaviour
- grey matter volume decreases and white matter volume increases
- ## dopamine pathway more sensitive > reward seeking behaviours
5
Q
Describe the HEADSS model for taking a social history from an adolescent.
A
- Home
- Education (or employment)
- Activities: hobbies, friends etc.
- Drugs/alcohol
- Sexuality: are you sexually active? contraception?
- Suicide/self-harm
6
Q
what are some physiological differences in children compared to adults?
A
- higher surface area:volume ratio > can more easily get cold
- higher % water content > more easily dehydrates
- less metabolic reserves > more easily hypoglycaemic
- faster pulse, RR
- lower BP, maintained until very shocked
- immune system: robust but not yet fully exposed
7
Q
list some chronic conditions with childhood onset
A
- asthma
- autism
- cerebral palsy
- cystic fibrosis
- gastroschisis
- Hirchsprungs disease
- spina bifida
- many others
