Community paediatrics Flashcards
ADHD, ASD, behavioural problems, developmental delay, non-accidental injury, learning difficulties, FII, abuse
What is ADHD?
A triad of inattention, hyperactivity (cannot regular activity according to situation) + impulsivity (disorganised, poorly regulated, difficulty taking turns, social disinhibition)
AKA hyperkinetic disorder
Early onset-usually by 5y
RF for ADHD
Male, genetics
Who diagnoses ADHD?
Community paediatrician
Psychiatrists are sometimes involved
Educational psychologist
How is ADHD managed?
- Adv parents + teachers to build concentration skills, encourage quiet self-occupation
- Moderation of extreme behaviour
- Increase self-esteem
- Behavioural: clear rules + expectations, consistent use of awards, consequences for unacceptable behaviour
- Diet: role controversial, omega 3 may improve concentration, some children do have clear behaviour to certain foods, avoid caffeine
- Severe cases + >6y try medication, may need to continue to adulthood, regular trials off medication to see if need to continue
What drugs are used for ADHD?
- Stimulants e.g. methylphenidate, dexamphetamine. Monitor weight (can cause anorexia) + BP/HR (can cause HTN/tachycardia)
- Non-stimulants e.g. atomoxetine. Often cause mood disorders or suicidal ideation
What is the DSM-5 criteria for ADHD?
Lasts 6 months+, onset <12y, noticeable in 2+ settings, impacts social/academic/occupational function, not better accounted for by another mental disorder
Involves inattention (lack of attention to details, doesn’t seem to listen, easily side-tracked, organisation difficulties, avoids sustained mental effort, misplaces objects, easily distracted) and hyperactivity/impulsivity (fidgeting, feeling restless, excessively loud, talks excessively, blurts out answers, acts without thinking, difficulty waiting turn)
What is ASD?
A developmental disorder with onset before 3y and the triad of features, over a continuum of behavioural states:
- Impaired social interaction e.g. no close friends, no interest/ability interacting with peers, gaze avoidance, social/emotionally inappropriate behaviour, doesn’t appreciate social cues, doesn’t appreciate that others have feelings
- Speech + language disorder: delayed development, limited use of gestures/facial expression, formal language, over-literal interpretation of speech, echoes questions, may be superficially good expressive speech (learnt)
- Ritualistic + repetitive behaviour: to self or others, concrete play, stereotyped movements, poverty of imagination in play, repetitive adherence to specific interests
What is Asperger syndrome?
The social + repetitive behavioural abnormalities without the delay in language/cognition development
Uncertain classification + validity
RF for ASD
Boys, genetics, may be some organic processes
NOT due to emotional trauma, poor parenting or MMR vaccine
How is ASD diagnosed?
Specific number of features in the ICD-10/DSM-5 from observation of behaviour
How is ASD managed?
- Parent support + education
- Applied behavioural analysis can help reduce ritualistic behaviour + develop social skills, but needs up to 30h therapy pw so costly + time consuming
- Appropriate education placement for the child so that they can incorporate this in their teaching
What are the causes of childhood behaviour problems?
- Bio: genetics, prematurity, alcohol in utero, serious illness in infancy, epilepsy
- Psycho: low self esteem (restricts development of coping skills, or attention seeking), cognitive style
- Social: lack of positive early relationships + attachment, separation anxiety, adversities in the family, poor resilience (e.g. not spending time as a family ,poor sleep and exercise habits), bullying
Meal refusal
Try giving child frequent smaller snack
Food diary
Monitor growth
Sleep problems
Melatonin released from pineal gland main controller of the circadian rhythm
- Difficulty going to sleep-mostly separation anxiety in toddlers, create a routine
- Waking at night-normal but some times can’t settle
- Nightmares-bad dreams recalled by child, reassure the child, if recurrent/frequent may be a morbid preoccupation for some reason
- Night/sleep terrors-high arousal, child sitting up in bed disorientated + distressed, unresponsive for a few minutes, no recollection the next day
Disobedience + tantrums
V common-toddlers realise world not orientated around them
Analyse using Antecedents (triggers), Behaviour and Consequences
May be provoked by GDD< language issues, hearing impairment, certain meds
M: affection + attention pre-tantrum, distraction, ignoring (not surrender), time out, hold child firmly if putting self/others in danger
Aggressive behaviour in little child
Learned behaviour - keep calm, follow the 1-2-3 principle (1=stop, 2= warn, 3=go to room), actively manage
Enuresis
Can be at day or night
Causes: genetic delay in sphincter competence, stress, rarely organic thing like a UTI or severe faecal retention or osmotic diuresis
Dip urine if in daytime or sx of DM
M: normal up to 5y, then explain to parent + child that is beyond conscious control and can help with star chart, enuresis alarm, desmopressin (synthetic ADH in >7y if alarm nt working or need short term relief)
Faecal soiling
Abnormal >4y
Causes: faecal retention due to constipation/pain/fear of toilet, or no retention (uncommon, urgency for unknown reasons or a neuropathic bowel from a spinal problem or general LD or intentional)
Child loses awareness once rectum dilates so stool may seep out uncontrolled
M:
*disimpact with a stool softener (macrogol e.g. movicol) then stimulant laxative (may need an enema if severe), then maintenance laxative therapy + encourage regular use of toilet
Somatisation
Communication of emotional distress through bodily symptoms
Commonly recurrent abdomen pain (sharp central colicky pain [in general the further from umbilicus the more likely it is organic]), headaches, in older children limb pain/aching muscles/neuro sx
Tics
A quick sudden coordinated movement, recurs in same part of child’s body, can be suppressed to some extent. Mostly occur when child inactive and go when concentrate
Most around head like grunting, sniffing, throat clearing
Usually resolve by adulthood
*Tourette’s syndrome: multiple motor + vocal tics e.g. grunitng/coughing/squeaking (The swearing [coprolalia] is uncommon), M-CBT or if severe clonidine/risperidone