Gastrointestinal/Nutritional System Flashcards
What is the first symptoms of an appendicitis?
crampy or “colicky” pain around the navel (periumbilical)
What are the other symptoms of an appendicitis as it progresses?
- there is usually a marked reduction in or total absence of appetite, often associated with nausea, and occasionally, vomiting and low-grade fever
- as the inflammation increases, the abdominal pain tends to move downward - begins in epigastrium - umbilicus - RLQ
- right lower quadrant - “McBurney’s point” this “rebound tenderness” suggests inflammation has spread to the peritoneum
What are the physical exam signs of appendicitis?
- Rovsing - RLQ pain with palpation of LLQ
- Obturator sign - RLQ pain with internal rotation of the hip
- Psoas sign - RLQ pain with hip extension
What is the clinical diagnosis of appendicitis?
- imaging if atypical presentation - apply ultrasound or abdominal CT scan
- CBC - neutrophils supports the diagnosis
What is the tx of appendicitis?
surgical appendectomy
What is colic?
severe and paroxysmal crying in the late after to evening
-unexplained paroxysms of irritability, fussing, crying that may develop into agonized screaming, an infant may draw up knees against the abdomen
What is the peak age of colic?
2-3 months, ends around 4 months
What is the cause of colic?
unknown, very common though
How is colic dx?
rule of 3’s = cry >3 hrs/day, 3 d/wk, for 3 weeks
- complete history
- physical exam: r/o pathology
What is the tx of colic?
patient eduction and reassurance
- DONT SHAKE YOUR BABY
- assure them their baby is healthy and crying can increase and likely stop by 3-4 months
- assure them they are not to blame
- make sure the baby is not hungry, soiled, or tired
- swaddle, gentle motions, pacifier
- get help from family to get to break
- possible formula switch or GERD tx
What are the characteristics of constipation?
- common and almost always functional without an organic etiology
- stool rendition can lead to fecal incontinence in some parties
- <2 bowel movements per week
- > 1 episode of encopresis per week (poop in the rectum, loose stool leaks)
What is the diagnostic criteria used for constipation?
Rome III for diagnosing functional constipation in children
What is included in the Rome II criteria?
at least two of the following in a child with a developmental age younger than four years
-two or fewer bowel movements per week
-at least one episode of incontinence per week after the acquisition of toileting skills
-history of excessive still retention
-history or painful or hard bowel movements
-presence of a large fecal mass in the rectum
-history of large diameter stools that may obstruct the toilet
At least two of the following in a child with a developmental age of four year os older with insufficient criteria for irritable bowel syndrome
-two or fewer bowel movements in toilet per week
-at least one episode of fecal incontience per week
-history of retentive posturing or excessive voluntary stool retention
-history of painful or hard bowel movements
-presence of a large fecal mass in the rectum
-history of large diameter stools that may obstruct the toilet
What is timing 3 main transition of constipation?
- solid foods or cow milk
- toilet training
- school entry introduction to solid food
- pureed veggies, fruits and fiber infant
- decrease cow milk
What are the issues with toilet training and constipation?
- stool withholding
- inadequate fiber (5-10 g/day)
- reluctant to use at school
How is constipation dx?
- often, a medical history and physical examination are sufficient to diagnose functional constipation
- further evaluation for Hirschsprung disease, a spinal cord abnormality, or a metabolic disorder may be warranted in a child with red flags, such as onset before one month of age, delayed passage of meconium after birth, failure to thrive, explosive stools, and severe abdominal distension
- pain with defecation, bleeding, fissures, hard stool
- abdominal x-ray
What is the tx of constipation?
- schedule time between classes, increase fiber to 11-24 g/day - wheat, fruits, veggies, fluids
- decreased cows milk = slow intestinal motility - <24 ounces/day
- mineral oil 15 to 30 ml per year of age per day
- lactulose 1 ml per kg day once or twice per day, single dose or in two divided doses
- fiber, decrease milk, increase fluids
- enema, bathroom training
- referral to a subspecialist is recommended only when there is a concern for organic disease or when constipation persists despite adequate therapy
What is dehydration?
a significant depletion of body water and to varying degrees, electrolytes
What are the there categories of dehydration?
mild (3-5%), moderate (6-9%), and severe (>10%) cases
What is the most accurate signs of moderate or severe dehydration?
prolonged capillary refill, poor skin turgor, and abnormal breathing
-other useful findings (when used in combination) include sunken eyes, decreased activity, lack of tears, and a dry mouth
What are some reassuring signs of dehydration?
normal urinary output and oral fluid intake
What testing can be done for dehydration?
laboratory testing is of little clinical benefit is determining of the degree of dehydration and thus the use of urine testing or ultrasounds is generally not needed
What is a duodenal atresia?
the congenital absence or complete closure of a portion of the lumen of the duodenum
What does a duodenal atresia cause?
increased levels of amniotic field during pregnancy (polyhydramnios) and intestinal obstruction in newborn babies
-early biliary vomiting in newborn
What is duodenal atresia associated with?
Down’s syndrome
How is duodenal atresia dx?
the diagnosis of duodenal atresia is commonly made prenatally, either as an isolated lesion or due to its association with other chromosomal abnormalities
- X-ray: double bubble
- Malrotation: corkscrew
What is the tx of duodenal atresia?
- suction/drain sections, respiratory
- elevate head, IV glucose and fluid, ABX
- definitive: surgery
What is encopresis?
defined as the developmentally inappropriate release of stool, unrelated to an organic etiology
What is encopresis associated with?
almost always associated with severe constipation: liquid stool leaks around a hard, retained stool mass and is involuntarily released through the distend anorectal canal
How is encopresis predominantly seen in?
males
What is the cause of encopresis?
- functional: chronic constipation
- emotional: school, divorce, etc.
What are the signs and symptoms of encopresis?
- abdominal pain, fecal mass
- dilated rectum packed with stool
- urinary frequency
What is the goal of encopresis?
daily, soft stools without pain every 1-2 days without
What is the dx of encopresis?
rectal exam, KUB
What is the acute treatment of encopresis?
- peg/miralax
- glycerin suppository for infants up to 3d
What is the chronic treatment of encopresis?
- elimination of cows milk 1-2 week trial
- maintenance laxatives for 6 months - 1 year
- high fiver diet and increase fluids
- toilet sitting: same time 5-10 minutes after meal
What is a foreign body aspiration?
ingestions are often unwitnessed and a child may not develop symptoms
Who do foreign body aspiration most often occur to?
children 6 months - 3 years of age
What are some characteristics of foreign body aspiration?
- majority of foreign bodies will pass spontaneously without ill effects, however complications can occur such as bowel peroration or obstruction
- aspiration of gastric contents, inert material toxic material, or poorly chewed food
- the degree of injury depends on the substance
What is typically swallowed when there is a foreign body aspiration?
radio-opaque objects are swallowed - coins, screws, button-batteries, small toy parts
What are the signs and symptoms of foreign body aspiration?
choking and coughing, wheezing or hemoptysis
What are the complications of foreign body aspiration?
asphyxia, pneumonia, acute gastric aspiration
What are the symptoms of esophageal foreign body?
- may be asymptomatic
- symptoms, when present, may include: bloody saliva, coughing, drooling, dysphagia, failure to thrive, decreased feeding, gagging, irritability, neck/throat/chest pain, recurrent aspiration pneumonia, respiratory distress, stridor, tachypnea, vomiting, wheezing
Where does a foreign body need to get pass through the body?
once beyond the esophagus, objects typically pass but with an increased risk of complications
What are the complications of a foreign body?
bowel obstruction, perforation, erosion to adjacent organs - abdominal pain, nausea/vomiting, fever, hematochezia, melena
Where are common obstruction locations for a foreign body?
- cricopharyngeal
- middle 1/3 esophagus
- lower esophageal sphincter
- pylorus
- ileocecal valve
What is the dx of foreign body?
- radiographs of the chest, neck, upper abdomen - regional hyperinflation caused by check valve effect
- a normal chest radiograph does not exclude the presence of a foreign body
What might a chest radiograph of a foreign body show?
- radio-opaque foreign bodies
- obstruction hyperinflation (asymmetric)
- collapse/atelectasis
- normal (15% of lower airway foreign body aspirations)
Who is bronchoscopy indicated for with a patient with foreign body?
indicated for all patients with suspected inhaled foreign body even if the chest radiograph is ‘normal’ - unless the child is completely asymptomatic with a normal physical and radiographic examination
- consider the possibility of radiolucent foreign body if no abnormality seen on radiograph (wooden, plastic or glass items, fish/chicken bones)
- other imagine studies may be used - US, CT, MRI
- cultures is post-obstruction pneumonia suspected
How do you treat a foreign body aspiration?
acutely with Heimlich maneuver
-bronchoscopy - diagnostic and therapeutic
What do you do if an object is thought to be in the esophagus (based on imaging and clinical presentation)?
- observe for 24 hours with serial radiographs and remove endoscopically if the object does not pass distally within the time-frame
- if the object causes symptoms or time-point of ingestion is unknown attempt immediate endoscopic removal
- if the ingested item appears relatively benign and has already progressed inferior to the diaphragm on imaging, observe and wait for spontaneous passage
- if the ingested object is sharp then remove immediately with endoscopy
- consider using a Foley catheter to remove retrograde from esophagus or bougienage to pass the object distally into the stomach
What do you do about an object distal to the esophagus (in stomach most commonly)?
-if symptomatic remove immediately with endoscopy
asymptomatic
-small blunt object - follow with serial radiographs, remove endoscopically if does not advance past pylorus in 3-4 weeks
-large object (>3 cm) - beyond pylorus then monitor with serial imaging, in the stomach then remove endoscopically
-sharp object - before pylorus then remove endoscopically, beyond pylorus monitor with serial imaging and remove if no progress for 3 daysw
What do you do about a button/disc batteries?
- always remove button/disc batteries as soon as possible for their risk of causing corrosive burns or tissue damage to the GI tract (unless it has already passed the pylorus and is making swift progress through GI tract)
- if acid/alkali is ingested
- do not induce emesis
- monitor ABC’s
- endoscopy 2-3 weeks later to assess the damage
What is gastroenteritis?
-also known as infectious diarrhea, is inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract that involves the stomach and small intestine
What are the signs and symptoms of gastroenteritis?
include some combination of diarrhea, anorexia, vomiting, and abdominal pain
-fever, lack of energy, myalgia, and dehydration may also occur
How long does gastroenteritis last?
typically lasts less then two weeks, it is unrelated to influenza though it has been called the stomach flu
What kind of exposures can cause gastroenteritis?
foreign travel, playing in creek, daycare. poultry
What are the causes of gastroenteritis?
usually caused by viruses, however bacteria, parasites, and fungus can also cause gastroenteritis
- if the stool is bloody, the cause is less likely to be viral and more likely to be bacterial
- viral in children, rotavirus is the most common cause of severe disease, norovirus (#1 in adults), adenovirus, enterovirus
- parasitic: cryptosporidium, giardia
- bacterial: campylobacter, e.coli, clostridium, salmonella (reptiles)
- some foods commonly associated with illness include raw or undercooked meat, poultry, seafood, and eggs, raw sprouts, unpasteurized milk and soft cheese, and fruit and vegetable juices
How is gastroenteritis dx?
- typically diagnosed clinically, based on a person’s signs and symptoms = determining the exact cause is usually not needed as it does not alter the management of the condition
- stool cultures should be performed in those with blood in stool, those who might have been exposed to food poisoning, and those who have recently traveled to the developing world
- it may also be appropriate in children younger than 5, old people, and those with poor immune function
What are the labs done for gastroenteritis?
- electrolytes and kidney function should also be checked when there is a concern about severe dehydration
- CBC: WBC, bands
- BMP/CMP: CO2, BUN/Cr
- Stool: culture, O&, virus (GE panel)
- UA: dehydration
What are the concerns with gastroenteritis?
- presence of blood or mucus
- weight loss
- low BP, sunken fontanelle, dry mucous membrane = want to know if crying, peeing
- decreased urine output
- reactive arthritis occurs in 1% of people following infections with campylobacter species
Traveler’s diarrhea is caused by what bacteria?
E. coli
What bacteria causes diarrhea after a picnic and egg salad?
Staphylococcus aureus
What bacteria causes diarrhea from shellfish?
Vibrio cholerae