Haematology Flashcards
most common haematological conditions in children?
- anaemia
- ALL
- Primary antibody deficiencies
important factors to ask about when taking history for anaemia?
- travel
- diet
- CMPI
- ethnic origin
what is the peak age of iron-deficiency anaemia?
18 months
how does iron deficiency anaemia affect development?
reduced psychomotor development & poor cognition
common causes of iron-deficiency anaemia?
- diet
- coeliac
- if recurrent –> suspect bleeding ie meckel’s diverticulum
rx of iron-deficiency anaemia
ferrous fumerate syrup
causes of haemolysis
- malaria
- sickle cell disease
- hereditary spherocytosis
- main cause in northern european countries
when determining cause of purpura in a child, what are 2 very important questions to ask?
- is child ill
- what is the platelet count
- If child ill and platelets
- Meningococcal septicaemia
- If ill and platelet count normal or increased
- Viruses eg measles; enteroviruses; vasculitis (95% petechial rashes will be viral)
- If well(ish) & platelet count normal
- HSP
- If well and platelet count reduced
- ITP
aetiology of ITP?
- auto-immune reaction towards own platelets
- can happen spontaneously or be triggered by a viral infection
presentation of ITP?
- bleeding
- bruising
- petechial/ purpuric rash
Mx of ITP?
- 70% is self-limiting within 3 months
- treatment if actively bleeding or severely thrombocytopenic (platelets <10):
- IV IG
- Prednisolone
- blood / platelet transfusions if required
disadvantage of platelet transfusions?
only work temporarily as antibodies will begin destroying transfused platelets
in sickle cell disease, homozygotes are symptomatic from what age?
6 months, as this is when production switches from HbF
general Mx of sickle cell disease
- Neonatal screening
- Abx prophylaxis w Pen V, vaccination against encapsulated organisms
- Hydroxycarbamide
- Blood transfusions , BMT
acute Mx of painful crises
- IV fluids
- Opiate analgesia
- Incentive spirometry
- Blood transfusion
