Gastroenterology Flashcards
Guidelines on infant feeding?
- WHO recommend exclusive breastfeeding for 1st 6m
- NICE guidelines state 1st feed ideally within 1h of birth
Advantages of breast feeding for infant? (5)
- Ideal nutrition for 1st 4-6m
- Life-saving in developing countries
- Decrease in GI infection/preterm NEC
- Enhances mother-child relationship
- Decreased risk of IDDM, HTN and obesity in later life
Advantages of breast feeding for mother? (3)
- Promotes close attachment
- Increased time interval b/w children – important at reducing birth rate in developing countries
- Possible decrease in pre-menopausal breast cancer
Potential complications/disadvantages of breast feeding? (8)
- Unknown intake
- Breast milk jaundice
- Infection transmission (CMV, HBV, HIV)
- Drug transmission - inc recreational
- Nutrient inadequacies (if beyond 6m)
- Vit K deficiency
- Less flexible
- Emotional upset
How is colostrum different from normal breast milk? (2)
Higher protein
Higher immunoglobulin
What maternal hormones are important in breast feeding? (2)
Prolactin - increased milk production
- Ant pituitary
Oxytocin - let down reflex
- Post pituitary
Why is unmodified cow’s milk unsuitable for babies?
- Too much protein/electrolytes
- Inadequate iron/vitamins
From what age can pasteurised cow’s milk be given?
1y (formula before this)
- Still many vitamin deficiencies, so must have supplements unless on good mixed solid diet
- Should have full-fat up to 5y
When may specialised infant formula be needed? (5)
- Cow’s milk protein allergy/intolerance
- Lactose intolerance
- CF
- Neonatal cholestatic liver disease
- Following neonatal intestinal resection
Differences b/w cow’s milk formula and specialised formula?
Cow’s milk:
- Protein derived from cow’s milk protein
- CHO = lactose
- Fat mainly long chain triglycerides
Specialised:
- Protein either hydrolyzed cow’s milk protein, a-a’s or from soya
- CHO = glucose polymer
- Fat = combination of medium and long chain triglycerides
How is FTT categorised?
Mild - fall across 2 centile lines
Severe - fall across 3 centile lines
Causes of FTT? (broad categories) (5)
- Inadequate intake
- Inadequate retention - D/V, GORD
- Malabsorption - coeliac, CF, NEC etc
- Failure to utilise nutrients - Down’s, IUGR, metabolic disorders, storage disorders etc
- Increased requirements - thyrotoxicosis, CF, malignancy, HIV, CKD etc
What is the MUST tool?
Malnutrition universal screening tool
What are the 2 types of protein/energy malnutrition?
Marasmus (no oedema)
Kwashiorkor (oedema)
Features of Kwashiorkor?
Generalised oedema
Severe wasting
Plus
- A ‘flaky-paint’ skin rash with hyperkeratosis (thickened skin) and desquamation
- Distended abdo and enlarged liver (fatty infiltration)
- Angular stomatitis
- Hair which is sparse and depigmented
- Diarrhoea, hypothermia, bradycardia and hypotension
- Low plasma albumin, potassium, glucose and magnesium
Recommended intake for different age groups?
0-3m = 18-32 oz (530-950ml) 4-6m = 28-40 oz (830-1,180ml) 7-9m = 24-36 oz (710 – 1,060ml) + 1-2.5 cups solids 10-12m = 18-30 oz (530- 890ml) + 3-4.5 cups solids
Normal frequency of bowels opening in infants?
4/day in first few days
2/day by 1y
By 4y, have pattern of adults (3/d-3/w)
- -> YET highly variable
- Breast fed may not pass stools for days
4 things to consider if constipation in baby?
- Hirschprung’s
- Anorectal malformations
- Hypothyroidism
- Hypercalcaemia
Red flags in constipation? (8)
- Failure to pass stools in 1st 24h
(?Hirschprungs) - FTT (coeliac, hypothyroid)
- Gross abdo distension (Hirschprung/other GI motility disorder)
- Abnormal lower limb pathology/urinary incontinence - ?Lumbosacral
- Sacral dimple - spina biffida etc?
- Abnormal appearance of anus
- Bruising around anus (?abuse)
- Perianal fistulae/fissures/abscesses (Crohns?)
What is encoparesis?
Toilet-trained child soiling clothes
What is soiling due to overflow and aim of management?
- Rectum becomes overdistended with loss of feeling the need to defecate
- → Involuntary soiling may occur as contractions of full rectum inhibit internal sphincter
- Initial aim is to evacuate rectum completely
What is functional encoparesis?
Repeated involuntary faecal soiling not caused by organic defect or illness
How do you differentiate b/w functional encoparesis and soiling due to overflow?
- Check for s+s of constipation
- If yes –> overflow
What is Hirschprung’s disease and how much bowel is usually affected?
- Absence of ganglion cells from myenteric and submucosal plexuses of part of large bowel
- → Narrow, contracted segment
- Abnormal bowel extends from rectum for variable distance, ending in normally innervated, dilated colon
- 75% - confined to rectosigmoid
- 10% entire colon is involved