Bacterial Infections in Childhood

Question 1

What’s the definition of a fever?

Answer 1

Temperature greater than 37.8 degrees

Question 2

Why are children more susceptible to infection?

Answer 2

Lack of immune memory and maturity, thinner skin, shorter airways, and hygiene is poorer

Question 3

What are the symptoms of meningococcal septicaemia?

Answer 3

High temperature, flushed, NO RASH, NO NECK STIFFNESS OR PHOTOPHOBIA, tachycardia, high fever, tachypnoea

Question 4

Give an example of a prokaryocyte

Answer 4

Bacteria

Question 5

Give an example of a eukaryocyte

Answer 5

Fungi and protozoa

Question 6

Describe the structure of prokaryotes

Answer 6

Have a single circular chromosome, no nucleus or organelles and divide by binary fission

Question 7

Describe the structure of eukaryotes

Answer 7

Have multiple chromosomes and a membrane-bound nucleus and organelles, and divide by mitosis

Question 8

Name two groups of gram positive bacteria

Answer 8

Cocci and bacilli

Question 9

Name three types of cocci bacteria

Answer 9

Staphylococcus, streptococcus and enterococcus

Question 10

What type of bacteria are staphylococcus, streptococcus and enterococcus?

Answer 10

Gram positive cocci bacteria

Question 11

Name examples of bacilli (gram positive) bacteria

Answer 11

Corynebacterium, listeria, clostridium (tetani and botulinum) and bacillus

Question 12

What are the two types of bacterial toxin?

Answer 12

Exotoxin and endotoxin

Question 13

What are bacterial exotoxins?

Answer 13

Proteins that are secreted by the pathogen

Question 14

Give an example of a bacterial exotoxin

Answer 14

Cholera toxin or diphtheria toxin (from Corynebacterium diphtheria) which works to inhibit protein synthesis

Question 15

What are bacterial endotoxins?

Answer 15

These are part of the outer membrane of gram-negative bacteria and they are released during the lysis of the organism and this leads to macrophage activation

Question 16

What type of bacteria present endotoxins?

Answer 16

Gram-negative as it presents on the outer membrane

Question 17

What is meningitis?

Answer 17

The inflammation of the lining of the brain and spinal cord.due to infection of the meninges

Question 18

What factors put a child at higher risk of streptococcus pneumoniae infection?

Answer 18

Absent/non-functional spleen, hypoglobulinanaemia and HIV infection

Question 19

How may a streptococcus pneumoniae infection present in a child?

Answer 19

Non-invasive = acute otitis media and sinusitis 
Invasive = septicaemia, meningitis, arthritis etc.

Question 20

What two vaccinations are available against streptococcus pneumoniae?

Answer 20

Pneumovax and prevent (a conjugate vaccine)

Question 21

What are the most common bacterial causes of sepsis and meningitis in babies under 3 months?

Answer 21

Group B streptococcus, E. Coli and Listeria

Question 22

What are the most common bacterial causes of sepsis and meningitis in children older than 3 months?

Answer 22

Streptococcus pneumoniae, Neisseria meningitideis and haemophilus influenza B (HiB)

Question 23

What is neonatal sepsis?

Answer 23

Where sepsis occurs within the first 28 days of life

Question 24

What bacteria is responsible for tetanus?

Answer 24

Clostridium tetani (a gram positive bacilli)

Question 25

What are the common causes of tetanus infection in children?

Answer 25

Lack of maternal vaccination in pregnancy, use of unclean blade to cut the umbilical cord or the application of mud dung to the cord

Question 26

Name two types of superficial fungal infection in children

Answer 26

Candidiasis (nappy rash) and ringworm (tine corporis)

Question 27

What is candidiasis?

Answer 27

This is nappy rash, it’s a form of fungal infection that is treated with topical antifungals e.g. nystatin

Question 28

What is ringworm?

Answer 28

An infection due to tinea corporis fungus

Question 29

Name two types of invasive fungal infections

Answer 29

Candidaemia and pulmonary aspergillosis

Question 30

What is candidaemia?

Answer 30

Where nappy rash can cause a severe reaction in extremely preterm infants and can affect the kidneys and brain

Question 31

What is pulmonary aspergillosis?

Answer 31

Where aspergillum fungus can cause chronic granulomatous disease which affects neutrophil function

Question 32

What are the four main species of malaria?

Answer 32

• P.falciparum – most severe, cerebral malaria
• P. vivax
• P. ovale
• P. malariae

Question 33

What is congenital toxoplasmosis?

Answer 33

Passing on of the toxoplasma gondii protozoa

Question 34

Name two types of sporozoa protozoa

Answer 34

Plasmodium (malaria) and toxoplasma gondii (toxoplasmosis)