Children are not little adult lecture Flashcards
Q: What are the age definitions for neonate, infant, child, and adolescent?
A:
Neonate: 1-28 days
Infant: 28 days to 1 year
Child: 1-10 years
Adolescent: 10-19 years
Q: Why are children more likely to experience significant airway obstruction compared to adults?
Smaller airway size
Larger tongue relative to free space
More pliable trachea and immature tracheal rings
Floppy epiglottis
Q: What makes children more prone to hypothermia and dehydration?A:
Greater surface area to volume ratio.
Thinner skin with higher absorption rates.
Q: How does the pediatric blood-brain barrier (BBB) differ from adults?
A:
Immature BBB with enhanced CNS receptivity.
Increased vulnerability to neurotoxic agents.
Q: What are unique fracture patterns seen in children?
A:
Torus or buckle fractures.
Greenstick fractures.
Plastic bowing.
Q: How do children compensate for shock differently than adults?
A:
Use tachycardia rather than stroke volume to maintain cardiac output.
Maintain blood pressure until late stages of shock.
Q: Why are infants more prone to gastroesophageal reflux?
A:
Immature gastroesophageal sphincter.
Rapid gastric emptying.
Q: How does bone growth differ in children compared to adults?
A:
Bones are more porous and bend before breaking.
Growth plates (physes) allow for longitudinal growth.
Q: What is the thymus, and how does it change over time?
A:
The thymus matures T cells and shrinks after puberty.
Replaced by adipose tissue as its immune role diminishes.
