Common symptoms in Children Flashcards
MENINGITIS
What is Meningitis?
What are symptoms?
inflammation of the membranes that surround and protect the brain and the spinal cord
Fever
cold hands and feet
vomiting
seizures
rash or blotchy, mottled and pale skin
rapid breathing
Babies with high pitched cry
joint and muscle pain
FEVER IN CHILDREN
What are red flag symptoms?
What is the grace period?
Neck stiffness
Non blanching rash
fits/seizures
child is bothered by light
pale, botchy, blue/grey skin
Breathing difficulty
Generally self-limiting but the temperature should go down after three or four days.
INFANTILE COLIC
What is it?
What are symptoms?
Repeated excessive episode and inconsolable crying in an infant who otherwise is thriving and healthy. Baby may have colic if they cry more than 3 hours a day, 3 days a week for at least 1 week.
Crying in the afternoon and evening
Baby cannot be comforted
Red and flushed in the face
Clenching first and arching back
INFANTILE COLIC
What are referral symptoms?
High temperature but cold hands and feet
Rapid breathing/ panting
Hard to wake up or appearing disorientated
Green vomit
INFANTILE COLIC/ trapped wind:
What is treatment for both?
Simeticone
Baby massage
taking baby for a drive
TEETHING
What is it?
A process in which deciduous teeth emerge through gums
Ages 3 months to 3 years
TEETHING
What are symptoms?
Normally occur 3-5 days prior
their gum is sore and red where the tooth is coming through
they have a mild temperature of less than 38C
1 flushed cheek
a rash on their face
rubbing their ear
dribbling more than usual
gnawing and chewing on things a lot
more fretful than usual
not sleeping very well
TEETHING
What are treatment options?
Anbesol teething gel
teething rings that are cooled in the fridge
NAPPY RASH
What is it?
What causes it?
It is irritant contact dermatitis confined to the nappy area. Nappies cause the skin to become waterlogged and fragile and hold irritant substances in place, resulting in irritation and inflammation.
Prolonged contact of urine and faeces with skin or irritant effects of soaps/detergents/bubble baths
NAPPY RASH
What can it commonly lead to and How is this treated?
Colonisation with Candida albicans and this can be treated with miconazole/clotrimazole twice daily
NAPPY RASH
What are treatment options? and how do they work?
Emollients
white soft paraffin
metanium- nappy rash ointment
These create a barrier against irritants
HEADLICE
What age is it common in?
How can you check for lice?
Ages 4-11 (more common in girls)
wet-combing
presence of headline and eggs
HEADLICE
What are treatment options?
what treatment option cannot be given in asthma?
Physical insecticides:
dimeticone (hedrin)
Chemical insecticides:
Malathion
Permethrin
HEADLICE:
How do you wet comb?
How many sessions do you need to wet comb for?
On wet/damp hair
section hair
comb from root to tip, combing each section at a time
Wipe contents with each stroke
May take longer with longer/thicker hair
Ideally:
4 sessions over 2 weeks
on days 1,5,9 and 13
THREADWORM
What is it?
Thread/pinworm-parasitic worm that infects intestines of humans seen in faeces as white cream-coloured threadlike objects up to 13mm in length
THREADWORM
What are symptoms
Itchy bottom especially at night time
loss of sleep may lead to tiredness and irritability
Severe cases may include diarrhoea and vaginal itching- which may need referral.
THREADWORM
What are treatment options?
What is non-pharmacological advice?
Mebendazole
Treatment should be for entire family as it is very easily transmitted.
Bath/shower with washing of the perianal area, immediately after rising will remove eggs laid during the night
Family after each visit to toilet
THREADWORM
What are referral criteria?
Recent travel abroad
medication failure
children younger than 2
pregnant/breastfeeding
ORAL THRUSH
What is it?
who is it most common in?
An infection of the lining of the mouth caused by yeast like organism.
Babies especially in first few weeks of life
ORAL THRUSH
What are associated medical conditions and medication ?
What are red flag symptoms
Nappy rash
antibiotics-broad spectrum therapy can wipe out flora allowing yeast overgrowth
immunosuppressive-suppresses immune system which can increase risk of infection
Corticosteroids - inhaled deposited at the back of throat
avoided by rinsing with water after use or using space device
failed medication
lasts longer than a week
recurrent and persistent
babies <4 months
ORAL THRUSH
What is the treatment option?
What else should you look out for?
Miconazole -daktarin
for babies being breastfed- care needs to be taken in cleaning treats and nipples
check if breasts are infected- look for cracked, itchy nipples - treat with miconazole cream.
For babies bottle fed- sterilise bottles and teats
Check for nappy rash
Both can be treated concurrently
