Common Childhood Conditions Flashcards
What are some common childhood conditions?
Acute diseases: URTI, LRTI, rashes, fever, UTI, vomiting, diarrhoea
Chronic diseases: asthma, diabetes, epilepsy, congenital disease
Developmental issues
Behavioural problems
Social issues
What are some childhood skin conditions?
Eczema: popular, erythema, dry, scaly, thick skin
Cradle cap: seborrhoeic dermatitis with thick yellow crusting rash
Neonatal Milia: small white spot lesions on nose, scalp, face, heal spontaneously
Paronychia: erythema, nailbed swelling, pus, staphylococcal infection
What are examples of vulnerable babies/children?
Born prematurely Developmental problems (cerebral palsy) Small babies Chronic illnesses Children from families with significant social issue
How do you assess severity of childhood illness?
Age of child - serious infection more common in babies less than 6 months
Activity: happy and playing vs sleeping and miserable
Function: eating and drinking, vomiting, wet nappies?
Length of illness
Other symptoms
Does the child look generally unwell?
What are some differences to baby’s organs compared to adult function?
Cardiac: limited stroke volume and cardiac output = heart rate higher is normal
Large surface area to weight ratio = poor temperature regulation so more likely to get dehydrated
Breathing = less able to increase tidal volume, smaller number of alveoli
Poorer glucose metabolism = hypoglycaemia is a red flag in shocked states
Liver = poor processing of drugs
Kidneys = high vascular resistance and immature tubular function = dehydration poorly tolerated
What are some causes of a fever in a child?
Post immunisation URTI Otitis media LRTI Pneumonia Gastroenteritis UTI Osteomyelitis Septicaemia Meningitis
What are red flags for meningitis in a child?
Generally ill looking Neck stiffness Bulging fontanelle Decreased level of consciousness Convulsive status epilepticus Non blanching rash - especially purpura Capillary refill time > 3 second
What are red flags for pneumonia in a child?
Crackles in the chest Nasal flaring Chest in-drawing (recessions) Cyanosis Oxygen saturation < 95%
How is tachypnoea classified up until 12 months?
Age 0-5 months > 60 bpm
Age 6-12 months > 50 bpm
Age 12 months > 40 bpm
What’s the traffic light system for identifying risk of serious illness?
Red = high risk
Pale, no response to social cues, doesn’t wake, grunting, RR > 60bpm, severe chest in-drawing
Amber = intermediate risk
Pallor of skin reported by parent, not responding normally to social cues, no smile, wakes on prolonged stimulation, nasal flaring, reduced urine output, decreased activity
Green = child able to be cared for at home with appropriate advice for parents and carers with advice on when to seek further attention
What are some common causes of child asthma?
Environmental allergens: mould, dust, grass pollen, pet hair
Viral infections: rhinovirus, RSV, parainfluenza virus
Cold air
Irritant vapours eg cigarette smoke
What’s the triad of asthma pathology?
Airway obstruction (reversible)
Airway hyper-responsiveness
Airway inflammation
How do you treat childhood asthma? (What drugs)
Regular preventer containing corticosteroids
Add-on preventer = corticosteroids + long acting B2 agonists
So corticosteroid preventer + B2 agonist reliever
Spacers are used in children to ensure all contents from inhaler enter
How would a child present differently in acute severe and life-threatening asthma?
Acute severe:
Can’t complete sentences
HR >125 bpm (or >140 bpm if age under 5)
RR > 30 bpm (or >40 bpm if under 5)
Life-threatening: Silent chest Cyanosis Hypotension Exhaustion Confusion
In both cases SpO2 <92%
Which findings would you record in an acute asthma attack?
Pulse rate RR and degree of breathlessness Use of accessory muscles of respiration Amount of wheezing Degree of agitation and conscious level
