Level 1 - Neonate, Infections, Haematology Flashcards
What is jaundice?
- Yellow colouration of skin and sclerae (whites of the eyes)
Jaundice is caused by?
o accumulation of bilirubin which is mainly produced from the breakdown of red blood cells
o Red blood cell breakdown creates unconjugated bilirubin which circulates mostly bound to albumin
o Unconjugated bilirubin is metabolised by the liver to produce conjugated bilirubin which is excreted in the stool
Why is there higher bilirubin levels in neonates?
o Higher bilirubin levels in neonates because they have a higher concentration of red blood cells, which also have a shorter lifespan (70 days) and liver less efficient
Epidemiology of neonatal jaundice?
- 60% of term and 80% of preterm babies develop jaundice in the first week of life
- 10% of breastfed babies are still jaundiced at 1 month
Risk factors for neonatal jaundice?
- Low birth weight
- Breast-fed babies
- History of jaundice in family
- Maternal diabetes
- Males
What is physiological jaundice? When does it occur and disappear?
- Increased erythrocyte breakdown and immature liver function.
- Presents at 2 or 3 days of age, begins to disappear towards the end of the first week and has resolved by day 10
- Baby remains well
What causes jaundice <24 hours (early) after birth?
Pathological
- Sepsis
- Haemolytic disorders
- Congenital infections
What haemolytic disorders cause early neonatal jaundice?
Rhesus
ABO
G6PD deficiency
Spherocytosis
Describe rhesus incompatibility and how it presents?
Usually identified antenatally and monitored
Only presents in Rh negative mother and Rh positive foetus
Antibodies against Rhesus D antigen are produced by mother and can then cross placenta
Birth affected with anaemia, hydrops and hepatosplenomegaly
Develop severe jaundice
Describe ABO incompatibility and how it presents?
Now more common, some group O mothers have IgG anti-A haemolysin which crosses placenta (can have anti-B haemolysins)
Can get severe jaundice but hepatosplenomegaly is absent
Coombe’s test for antibody is positive
Describe G6PD deficiency and how it presents?
X-linked disease
Seen in Mediterranean, Middle and Far East
Enzyme which prevents oxidative damage to RBCs
List of drugs need to be avoided
Describe spherocytosis and how it presents?
Recognised by spherocytes on blood film
What congenital infections cause early jaundice?
o TORCH infections
o Conjugated bilirubin
Definition of prolonged jaundice?
Longer than 2 weeks in term, 3 weeks in preterm baby
Name the causes of prolonged jaundice which causes unconjugated hyperbilirubinaemia?
Breast milk jaundice (most common) Infection Hypothyroidism Haemolytic Anaemia (G6PD deficiency) Pyloric stenosis
Name the causes of prolonged jaundice which causes conjugated hyperbilirubinaemia?
o Bile Duct Obstruction
o Neonatal Hepatitis
o Biliary Atresia
What is breast milk jaundice?
Mechanism unknown
Common in healthy, term, breastfed babies. Weight gain, stools, urine output, and examination are normal and the neonate is well
Usually presents within the first week of life (day 2-4) and peaks on day 7 to 15. In some cases, it can persist for up to 12 weeks
How does an infection cause jaundice?
Results from poor fluid intake, haemolysis, reduced hepatic function, increase in entero-hepatic circulation
UTI especially
Symptoms of neonatal jaundice?
What is kernicterus?
Jaundice
- First becomes visible in the face and forehead
- Visible on the trunk and extremities
Drowsiness
May have Hepatosplenomegaly, petechiae and microcephaly
- Associated with haemolytic anaemia, sepsis and congenital infections
Jaundice and pale stools and dark urine
- Hepatitis (eg, congenital rubella, CMV, toxoplasmosis) and biliary atresia
Kernicterus
- Encephalopathy resulting from deposition of neurotoxic unconjugated bilirubin in basal ganglia
- Lethargy, poor feeding, irritability, increased muscle tone, seizures, coma
Investigations in neonatal jaundice?
- Transcutaneous Bilirubinometer Reading
- Bloods
o Serum bilirubin (conjugated/unconjugated/total)
o FBC, U&Es, LFTs
o If sepsis suspected - septic screen
Other tests if prolonged/pathological o Blood type and Rhesus o Blood film o Coomb’s test (Rhesus) o TFTs - USS if obstruction suspected - MC&S urine - G6PD levels
When to refer in neonatal jaundice?
- Referral for urgent hospital assessment if jaundice presents in the first 24 hours of life, the baby is jaundiced and unwell, or for prolonged jaundice
Management of neonatal jaundice?
- Treatment of any underlying illness (such as infection)
- No treatment — for well neonates with physiological or breastmilk jaundice and a bilirubin level below the treatment threshold
- Phototherapy — absorption of light through the skin converts unconjugated bilirubin into products that are more easily excretable in the stool and urine.
- check bilirubin every 6-12 hours, stop phototherapy when 50 below treatment line
- Exchange transfusion — indicated if the baby has signs of bilirubin encephalopathy and considered if the risk of kernicterus is high or jaundice is not responding to phototherapy.
- Early surgical treatment — required for conditions such as biliary atresia
How to assess whether to treat neonatal jaundice?
Age adapted chart used to measure serum bilirubin and whether to start treatment
What is meningitis?
- Inflammation of the meninges
Pathogenesis of meningitis?
o Colonization and invasion of the nasopharyngeal epithelium
o Invasion of the blood stream
o Attachment to and invasion of the meninges
o Induction of inflammation with leak of proteins leading to cerebral oedema (hydrocephalus)
o Alteration in cerebral blood flow and metabolism
o Cerebral vasculitis
What are considerations to take in infants with meningitis?
- Infants do not get classical symptoms of meningism with meningitis
- Perform lumbar puncture as part of septic screen in infants with unexplained fever or seizures
Epidemiology of meningitis?
- UK around 5% incidence
- Viral Meningitis is most common
Which viruses most common and prognosis of meningitis?
o Enteroviruses = more common in autumn and winter
o 95% have complete recovery with no neurological complications
Epidemiology of bacterial meningitis?
o 80% of cases of bacterial meningitis occur in <16yr olds in UK
o 5-10% mortality
Risk factors for meningitis?
o Impaired Immunity
Young age, complement defects, splenic defects from sickle-cell disease or asplenia (Strep pneumonia and Hib susceptibility)
o Factors associated with low socio-economic status
Most common viral causative agents in meningitis?
Enteroviruses (80%)
EBV, CMV, VZV, HSV
Adenovirus
Mumps (pre-MMR)
Most common bacterial causative agents in meningitis in neonates?
- Group B Streptococcus
- E. coli
- Listeria monocytogenes
Most common bacterial causative agents in meningitis in 1m-6y?
- Neisseria meningitidis (meningococcus) (mainly type b)
- Haemophilus influenzae Type B (unvaccinated)
- Streptococcal pneumoniae
Most common bacterial causative agents in meningitis in >6y?
- Neisseria meningitidis (gram negative diplococci)
* Streptococcal pneumoniae
What other organism can cause meningitis in all ages?
Mycobacterium Tuberculosis
Symptoms of meningitis in neonate?
Fever, irritability, lethargy, seizures
Crying, poor feedings
Rash may/may not be present (meningococcal septicaemia)
Symptoms of meningitis in infants/children?
Fever, lethargy
Headache, neck stiffness, photophobia Meningism
Altered Consciousness, seizures
Nausea & Vomiting, refusing food/drink
Rash
Focal cranial nerve signs common in tuberculous or cryptococcal meningi
tis
Signs of meningitis?
o Neck Stiffness – meningeal irritation prevents neck flexion
Not always present in infants
o Rash – Purpuric or petechial:
Usually non-blanching (but may initially be blanching)
Characteristic of meningococcal infection
o Bulging fontanelle
o Signs of shock
o Signs of raised ICP
What special signs are present in meningitis?
o Brudzinski’s Sign
Flexion of the neck with the child supine causes flexion of the knees and hips
o Kernig’s Sign
In supine position, when knee and hip are flexed, extension of knee leads to pain
What are the signs of raised ICP in meningitis?
Papilledema (rare) ↓ level of consciousness focal neurology • VI nerve palsy • Cushing reflex (High BP, Low HR)