gastroenteritis, toddler diarrhoea and colic Flashcards
1
Q
What is colic?
what is it associated with?
A
- paroxysmal crying because of intestinal pain
- discomfort and distension caused by over feeding
- swallowing air
2
Q
what are the clinical features?
A
- sudden onset crying
- lasts several hours
- tense and distended abdomen
- face flushed, legs drawn up
- relief on passing flatus or faeces
3
Q
what must you be careful to rule out in colic?
what age does it occur in?
A
- intussusception
- strangulated hernia
- volvulus
- less than 3 months
4
Q
how can you manage colic?
A
- holding the baby in a sling
- support and sympathy
- resolves by 3 months old
5
Q
what is the most common cause for gastroenteritis in young children?
what are the clinical features?
A
- Viral gastroenteritis (rotavirus)
- low grade fever
- vomiting
- anorexia
- diarrhoea
6
Q
what is the most common causes of bacterial gastroenteritis? (4)
A
- E.coli
- Shigella
- Salmonella
- Campylobacter
7
Q
what organisms cause bloody stools?
what does shigella infection cause apart from gastroenteritis?
A
- shigella
- campylobacter
- shigella
8
Q
How should it be treated?
What should you worry about with E.coli infections?
A
- supportive treatment
- IV antibiotics if septicaemia
- manage dehydration
- E.coli 0157 causes renal failure and haemolytic uraemic syndrome
9
Q
what is toddler diarrhoea?
A
- non-specific diarrhoea , likely to be caused by rapid gastrocolic reflex
10
Q
what do parents tend to report in the stools?
A
- particles of food
- meat, fibres, peas and beans
11
Q
how should toddler diarrhoea be treated?
A
- if toddler thriving then just reassurance
- if not thriving then investigations
- as the child matures it tends to resolve, can give loperamide to reduce transit time
