Medicines 37 Flashcards
What is spina bifida and how is it prevented?
Spina bifida is a neural tube defect where the spine and spinal cord fail to develop properly during early pregnancy, leading to a gap in the spinal column. This can cause nerve damage and physical disabilities ranging from mild to severe.
Prevention
The primary way to reduce the risk of spina bifida is by ensuring adequate folic acid (vitamin B9) intake before and during early pregnancy:
✅ Folic acid supplementation:
400 micrograms daily for women planning pregnancy and during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy.
5 mg daily for high-risk women (e.g., previous neural tube defect pregnancy, diabetes, or taking antiepileptic drugs).
What does the acronym MDRD?
MDRD stands for “Modification of Diet in Renal Disease.”
It refers to the MDRD equation, which is used to estimate the glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and assess kidney function. This formula takes into account serum creatinine, age, gender, and race to estimate kidney function in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD).
What are the side effects of glucocorticoids and mineral corticoids?
🔹 Mineralocorticoid Side Effects:
⬆ Hypertension
💧 Sodium & Water Retention
⬇ Potassium & Calcium Loss
📌 Most marked with: Fludrocortisone
📌 Significant with: Hydrocortisone, corticotropin, tetracosactide
📌 Negligible with: Betamethasone, dexamethasone
📌 Slight with: Methylprednisolone, prednisolone, triamcinolone
🔹 Glucocorticoid Side Effects:
🍬 Diabetes
🦴 Osteoporosis & Fractures (hip, vertebrae)
⚠ Avascular necrosis of femoral head
💪 Muscle wasting (proximal myopathy)
⚡ Psychiatric reactions
🩸 Weak link to peptic ulceration & perforation
What is considered as the first line treatment for nocturnal enuresis?
Enuresis alarms are generally considered a first-line treatment for bedwetting
❌ Do not use an enuresis alarm if:
🚫 The child/parents do not want to use one.
💧 Bedwetting is less than 1–2 times per week.
😓 Parents struggle emotionally with the burden of bedwetting.
😠 Parents express anger, negativity, or blame toward the child.
👶 The child is under 7 years old and cannot use an alarm.
