Community Paediatrics Flashcards
Who assesses children in the community?
GPs - it makes up 20% of their work!
Wht common things do GPs deal with in paediatrics?
Immunisation
Screening
Child protection concerns
Minor illness
What is the key to a good GP-child interaction?
Good communication and trust development with the child
What can we class as behavioural problems in children?
- Poor sleeping
- Poor eating
- Soiling
- Over activity/poor concentration
- Unusual/repetitive behaviour
- Worries and fears
- Disobedience/argumentative
How common are mental health disorders in children (up to 15 years old)?
1 in 10 children have a mental health disorder.
How does the rate of mental health disorders in children change with age?
Increasing rate with age.
What factors can contribute to childhood behavioural problems?
- Genetics
- Gender
- Intellectual ability
- Development
- Temperarment
- Chronic illness
- Family influence
- Environment
What kinds of family influences affect childhood behavioural disorders?
- Early attachment
- Divorce/marital discord
- Family structure
- Parental style
- Parental illness/mental illness
What environmental factors influence childhood behavioural disorders?
- Social class
- Neighbourhoods
- Physical abuse/neglect
- Sexual abuse
- School/Day care
What complaints may a parent have for the GP regarding a childs sleep patterns?
- Refusing to go to bed
- Frequently waking at night
- Parasominas
- Medical problems (rarer)
What are parasomnias?
Episodic sleep behaviours - a disorder characterized by abnormal or unusual behaviour of the nervous system during sleep.
What kinds of parasomnias are common?
Head banging Sleep walking Bruxism Nightmares Night terrors
What are the 4 types of abuse a child may experience?
- Physical
- Sexual
- Emotional
- Neglect
What child factors (that are in no way the child’s fault) put a child at increased risk of abuse?
- Being unplanned/unwanted
- Low birth weight
- Prematurity
- Crying persistently
- Under age 4
- Chronic health problems
- Disability
What adult factors put a child at increased risk of abuse?
- Mental illness
- Lack of socail or medical support
- Drugs/alcohol/crime
- PHx of abuse
- Financial difficulty
- Learning disability
What is physical abuse?
Intentionally causing physical harm to a child
What might you notice in a hx where you suspect physical abuse?
- Mechanism and injuryitself are not compatible
- Childs developmental age isn’t compatible with injury sustained
- Little/no explanation
- Inconsistencies
- Recurrent presentations, especially to A&E
- Delay in presentation
- Parental reaction is not as expected
A child presents with suspicious bruising.
What features of the bruising might make it suspicious?
- Location - soft parts of body, or hidden areas such as behind ears.
- Shape - may be shaped very specifically, e.g. like a hand.
- Colouration - if multiple with different colours, but only one explanation given.
If a child presents with bruises but you aren’t convinced abuse is involved, what can you do?
Ring safeguarding team for advice.
Investigate differentials possible.
What differentials are there for bruising, other than abuse?
- Bleeding disorder
- Birth marks
- Vasculitic disorder
- Infection (-> rash that looks like a bruise)
- Drug related (NSAIDs)
- Malignancy
Do unmobile children get bruises?
No, very very uncommon if a child isn’t mobile.
If you see a bruise on a child and abuse is a differential, what should you add to the notes?
A body map and photographs of the bruises seen.
What should we consider if a child presents with a suspicious burn?
Physical abuse or neglect, or both.
What about a burn on a child can make it suspicious of abuse?
Shape - small and circular -> cigarette.
Location - glove and stocking, involving creases, symmetrical, bilateral, involving buttocks.
A child presents with a scold affecting his head and shoulders.
What are the possible mechanisms of injury here?
Child pulled a pan of the over over it’s own head - accidental, ?neglect but not always.
Deliberate or accidental injury by parent.
Would need to do a thorough history for this one.
Which age group are fractures caused by abuse most common in?
Children less than 18 months
When would a rib fracture be suspicious?
In the absence of major trauma (97% are abuse)
What are the 3 core features of ADHD?
- Overactivity/hyperactivity
- Inability to concentrate/Inattention
- Impulsivity
What are the 3 core features of ASD?
Difficulties associated with:
- Social communication
- Social interaction
- Repetative/ritualistic behaviours
Roughly how many UK children are affected by ADHD?
1 in 20
Can ADHD have a genetic component?
Yes - often runs in families.
What age does ICD-10 say ADHD symptoms needs to be observed by?
6 years of age