Health Problems of Infants

Question 1

Nutritionla imbalances

Answer 1

-Vitamin D
-Vitamin A
-Folic acid
-Vitamin B12

Question 2

Failture to thrive (FTT)

Answer 2

-AKA growth failure
-Deceleration of growth and height
-Based on growth parameter: drop more than 2 percentiles, persistently 3-5 percentiles, < 80% of median weight

Question 3

Organic FFT

Answer 3

-Inadequate caloric intake
-Inadequate absorption (CF, celiac disease)
-Increased metabolism
-Defective utilization

Question 4

Nonorganic FFT

Answer 4

-Refers to failure to thrive in a child who is younger than 5 y and has no known medical condition
-May be d/t lack of food or stimulus deprivation

Question 5

Severe acute malnutrition (protein and energy malnutrition or PEM)

Answer 5

-AKA severe acute malnutrition (SAM)
-Worldwide problem for children under 5 y d/t inadequate food or lack of sanitation (death from diarrhea)
-Occasionally seen in US d/t chronic illness

Question 6

Food sensitivity

Answer 6

-Food allergy is an immunologic response
-Food intolerance is a reproducible rxn w/o an immunologic response
-Breastfeeding helps w/ food allergies
-Solid foods after 6 m
-Introduce high-allergy foods soon after low-allergy foods

Question 7

Food allergy s/s

Answer 7

-Systemic: anaphylactic, growth failure
-GI, abdominal pain, vomiting, cramping, diarrhea
-Respiratory: cough, wheezing, rhinitis, infiltrates
-Cutaneous: urticaria, rash, atopic dermatitis

Question 8

Most common allergies

Answer 8

-Children: eggs, cow’s milk, peanuts
-Adults: soy, wheat, corn, tree nuts, shellfish, fish allergies

Question 9

IM EPI

Answer 9

-When severe s/s are present
-Itching sensation or tightness in throat, hoarseness, difficulty swallowing
-Barky cough, wheezing, dyspnea, cyanosis, respiratory arrest
-Mild cardiac dysrhythmia or mild hypotension
-Severe brady, hypotension, cardiac arrest, loss of consciousness

Question 10

Diaper dermatitis

Answer 10

-Inflammatory skin disorder caused by prolonged and repetitive contact w/ an irritant
-Caused by urine, feces, soaps, detergents, ointments, friction
-Change diaper as soon as it’s wet
-Don’t use hairdryer
-Apply ointment like zinc oxide

Question 11

Plagiocephaly

Answer 11

-Positional plagiocephaly has increased since implementation of Back to Sleep campaign
-Flat head

Question 12

Disorders of unknown etiology

Answer 12

-Abdominal pain
-Cramping
-Crying 3’s: baby crying more than 3 hours a day
-Drawing up legs to abdomen
-s/s increase in late afternoon
-Younger than 3 m

Question 13

Brief unresolved unexplained event (BRUE)

Answer 13

-Formerly known as LATE
-Suddenly frightening event may or may not include apnea (change in color, muscle tone, choking, gagging, coughing)
-Can require CPR (teach parents)
-Discharged after observation and testing w/ home apnea monitors

Question 14

SIDS

Answer 14

-Risk: LBW, preemies, low apgar scores, recent viral illness, siblings of 2 or more SIDS victims, male gender, infants of native american or african american ethnicity
-Practices: pacifier use, breastfeeding, supine sleeping position, vary infant head position to prevent plagiocephaly

Question 15

Caring to the family after SIDS

Answer 15

-Arrival at scene: emergency services)
-Medical examiner/coroner: autopsy
-Compassionate care
-Return to home environment
-Referrals and counseling

Question 16

Apnea

Answer 16

-Prolonged apnea is pathologic (after 37 weeks gestation)
-Marked change in skin and muscle tone, gagging, choking
-Give theophylline, caffeine
-Home apnea monitors
-CPR training

Question 17

Preemies

Answer 17

-Use adjusted age to determine outcomes
-Subtract # of weeks that infant was premature from infant’s chronological age
-Plot growth parameters