Gastroenterology Flashcards
Red Flags in patient with constipation?
not passing meconium within 48hrs
neuro signs or symptoms
vomiting
ribbon stool
abnormal anus
abnormal lower back or buttocks
failure to thrive
acute severe abdo pain or bloating
Complications of chronic constipation?
pain
reduced sensation
anal fissures
haemorrhoids
overflow and soiling
psychosocial morbidity
Mx of idiopathic constipation?
correct reversible RFs
high fibre diet
good hydration
laxatives (Movicol first line)
may require faecal disimpaction regime initially
scheduling visits, bowel diary, star charts
Causes of constipation?
idiopathic
Hirschprung’s disease
cystic fibrosis
hypothyroidism
spinal cord lesions
sexual abuse
obstruction
anal stenosis
CMPA
What is Gastro-Oesophageal Reflux?
when contents from the stomach reflux through the lower oesophageal sphincter into the oesophagus
v common in babies due to immature oesophageal sphincter (up to 1 yr)
Red flags in GOR?
chronic cough
hoarse cry
distress, crying after feeding
reluctance to feed
pneumonia
poor weight gain
Causes of vomiting?
overfeeding
GORD
pyloric stenosis
gastroenteritis
appendicitis
infections (UTI, tonsillitis, meningitis)
intestinal obstruction
bulimia
Mx of GORD?
small, frequent meals
keep baby upright after feeding
don’t overfeed
Gaviscon
thickened milk or formula
PPIs
What is pyloric stenosis?
hypertrophy and narrowing of the pyloric muscle in between the stomach and the duodenum
Presentation of pyloric stenosis?
first few weeks of life
hungry baby
failure to thrive
projectile vomiting
firm, round mass in abdomen
hypochloric metabolic alkalosis
Diagnosis of pyloric stenosis?
abdo US
Mx of pyloric stenosis?
laparoscopic pyloromyotomy (Ramstedt’s)
excellent prognosis
Causes of diarrhoea?
infection (gastroenteritis)
IBD
lactose intolerance
coeliac disease
cystic fibrosis
toddler’s diarrhoea
IBS
meds (antibiotics)
Causes of gastroenteritis?
viral:
norovirus
rotavirus
adenovirus
bacterial:
E coli (HUS)
campylobacter jejuni (traveller’s diarrhoea)
Shigella (HUS)
salmonella
bacillus cereus
yersinia enterocolitica
staph aureus toxin
giardia
Mx of gastroenteritis?
isolation
faeces for culture, sensitivity and microscopy
hydration
avoid antidiarrheal meds
Complications post-gastroenteritis?
lactose intolerance
IBS
reactive arthritis
Guillain-Barré syndrome
Antibodies in coeliac disease?
anti-TTG
anti endomysial
(always test IgA too for context)
Presentation of coeliac disease?
often asymptomatic
failure to thrive
diarrhoea
fatigue
weight loss
mouth ulcers
anaemia (iron, B12, folate)
dermatitis herpetiformis
neuro symptoms (peripheral neuropathy, cerebellar ataxia, epilepsy)
Who should always be tested for coeliac disease?
T1DM
Genetic associations in coeliac disease?
HLA-DQ2
HLA-DQ8
Diagnosis of coeliac disease?
must continue eating gluten for investigations
antibodies
endoscopy (villous atrophy, crypt hypertrophy)
Findings on endoscopy in coeliac disease?
villous atrophy
crypt hypertrophy
Associated diseases with coeliac disease?
T1DM
thyroid disease
autoimmune hepatitis
PBC
PSC
Down’s syndrome