Misc Paeds (capsule, passmed, etc) Flashcards
What is Epstein’s pearl?
- A congenital cyst found in the mouth.
- Common on the hard palate, but may also be seen on the gums where the parents may mistake it for an erupting tooth.
- No treatment is generally required as they tend to spontaneously resolve over the course of a few weeks.
What is an antalgic gait?
What is a Pavlik harness?
Used to treat Developmental dysplasia
- Pavlik harness = fabric splint
- Secures both of baby’s hips in a stable position and allows to normal development of hips.
What are serum anti-Ro and anti-La antibodies used in the assessment of?
Support the diagnosis of Sjögren’s syndrome
Sjögren’s syndrome is commonly associated with dry eyes and mouth + ~ joint pain.
Summarise transient synovitis
- Transient synovitis is sometimes referred to as irritable hip.
- It generally presents as acute hip pain following a recent viral infection.
- It is the commonest cause of hip pain in children.
- The typical age group is 3-8 years.
- Features
- limp/refusal to weight bear
- groin/hip pain
- a low-grade fever is present in a minority of patients
- high fever should raise the suspicion of other causes such as septic arthritis
- self-limiting, requiring only rest and analgesia.
What must be excluded in a patient with hip pain and fever?
septic arthritis
Summarise septic arthritis
it is an infection in the synovial fluid and joint tissue.
Kocher criteria can be used to distinguish transient synovitis and septic arthritis (fever, raised ESR/ WCC, and inability to weight bear).
What chromosomal abnormality is seen in Turner’s syndrome?
What are some characteristic features?
- Turner’s = 45 XO
- Features
- lymphoedema in neonates (especially feet)
- multiple pigmented naevi
- short stature
- shield chest, widely spaced nipples
- webbed neck
- high-arched palate
- short 4th metacarpal
- Medical complications:
- bicuspid aortic valve (15%), coarctation of the aorta (5-10%)
- primary amenorrhoea
- cystic hygroma (often diagnosed prenatally)
- elevated gonadotrophins
- hypothyroidism is much more common in Turner’s
- horseshoe kidney: the most common renal abnormality in Turner’s syndrome
- increased incidence of autoimmune disease (especially autoimmune thyroiditis) and Crohn’s disease
What is the anti-TTG antibody test used to assess?
- useful to assess for coeliac disease
- in patients who consume gluten & are displaying symptoms of gluten intolerance
What are serum IL-6 and matrix metalloproteinase-9 used to assess?
assessment of severe asthma patients
- are not used routinely in clinical practice for the assessment of the likelihood of developing asthma.
What do all breech babies delivered at or after 36 weeks gestation require?
- USS for developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) screening
- at 6 weeks of age
- regardless of mode of delivery
What are the RFs for developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH)?
- female sex: 6 times greater risk
- breech presentation
- positive FHx
- firstborn children
- oligohydramnios
- birth weight > 5 kg
- congenital calcaneovalgus foot deformity
Is developmental dysplasia of the hip more common in one hip than the other? How many cases are bilateral?
- DDH is slightly more common in the left hip.
- Around 20% of cases are bilateral.
Which infants require routine screening for developmental dysplasia of the hip? What does this screening invovle?
Routine USS:
- first-degree FHx of hip problems in early life
- breech presentation at or after 36 weeks gestation,
- irrespective of presentation at birth or mode of delivery
- multiple pregnancy
Barlow and Ortolani tests:
- all infants are screened at
- newborn check + the six-week baby check
What is involved in the clinical examination assessment of ?developmental dysplasia of the hip?
- Barlow test: attempts to dislocate an articulated femoral head
- Ortolani test: attempts to relocate a dislocated femoral head
- other important factors include:
- symmetry of leg length
- level of knees when hips and knees are bilaterally flexed
- restricted abduction of the hip in flexion
What imaging is used to confirm the diagnosis of developmental dysplasia of the hip?
- US is generally used to confirm the diagnosis if clinically suspected
- however, if the infant is > 4.5 months, then x-ray is 1st line investigation
What is the Mx of developmental dysplasia of the hip?
- most unstable hips will spontaneously stabilise by 3-6 weeks of age
- Pavlik harness (dynamic flexion-abduction orthosis) in children younger than 4-5 months
- older children may require surgery
How is Prader-Willi syndrome inherited?q
Imprinting
where the phenotype depends on whether the deletion occurs on a gene inherited from the mother or father:
- Prader-Willi syndrome if gene on Chr15 deleted from father
- father’s copy of the gene is not present, and the mother’s copy of the gene is present but epigenetically silenced and therefore not expressed
- Angelman syndrome if same gene on Chr15 deleted from mother
What are the features of Prader-Willi syndrome?
- hypotonia during infancy
- dysmorphic features
- short stature
- hypogonadism and infertility
- learning difficulties
- childhood obesity
- behavioural problems in adolescence
Summarise Slipped upper femoral epiphysis
- Slipped upper femoral epiphysis is the commonest adolescent hip disorder.
- Occurs most commonly in obese males.
- May often present as knee pain which is usually referred from the ipsilateral hip.
- The knee itself is normal.
- The hip often limits internal rotation.
-
X-rays = displacement of the femoral epiphysis
- Degree of its displacement may be calculated using the Southwick angle.
- Tx = preventing further slippage which ~ → avascular necrosis of femoral head.
What is Perthes disease?
A self-limiting disease of the femoral head comprising of:
- necrosis
- collapse
- repair
- remodelling,
that presents in the first decade of life
Summarise Perthes disease’s:
- mode of presentation
- Tx
- X ray findings
2nd line Ix = MRI
Summarise Slipped upper femoral epiphysis’s:
- mode of presentation
- Tx
- X ray findings
Summarise Transposition of the great arteries (TGA)
form of cyanotic congenital heart disease. It is caused by the failure of the aorticopulmonary septum to spiral during septation. Children of diabetic mothers are at an increased risk of TGA.
Basic anatomical changes
- aorta leaves the right ventricle
- pulmonary trunk leaves the left ventricle
Clinical features
- cyanosis
- tachypnoea
- loud single S2
- prominent right ventricular impulse
- ‘egg-on-side’ appearance on chest x-ray
Management
- maintenance of the ductus arteriosus with prostaglandins
- surgical correction is the definite treatment.
How is transposition of the great arteries managed once ‘foetal aorta and pulmonary trunk lying in parallel with an absence of crossing’ is found on USS?
- Give prostaglandin E1 IV to neonate (post-delivery)
- maintains the ductus arteriosus, ensuring a route of alternate blood flow.
- maintain the patency of the ductus arteriosus through dilation of vascular smooth muscle
- Otherwise, parallel circulatory systems caused by TGA means that ductus arteriosus closure will result in profound cyanosis and circulatory failure.
What is adenosine given for?
convert supra-ventricular tachycardias to sinus rhythm
What is indomethacin used for?
NSAIDs, e.g. indomethacin: inhibit prostaglandin synthesis → closure of the ductus arteriosus
What is Epispadias?
urethral opening on the dorsal aspect of the penis
What is hypospadias?
urethral meatus is located on the ventral aspect of the penile shaft,
rather than the distal glans penis
What other condition do children with hypospadias also have?
cryptorchidism, ~ 10% of neonates with hypospadias also have cryptorchidism.
This reflects an underlying defect in embryological urogenital migration thought to be associated with endocrine disturbances, such as low serum androgens, during pregnancy.
What is Obstructive uropathy with a patent urachus
The urachus is an embryological passage between the bladder and umbilicus that closes at the end of the first trimester in normal development.
Urethral atresia or strictures may cause obstructive uropathy, often presenting as oligohydramnios in utero.
What are Posterior urethral valves associated with?
- associated with increased susceptibility to UTIs
- ~ be screened for via USS for children presenting with atypical UTIs.
What is Intussusception?
Commonly occurs at 3-12 months
Intussusception presents with:
- vomiting
- abdominal distention
- rectal bleeding (red currant jelly stools)
What is Necrotising enterocolitis?
Necrotising enterocolitis is one of the leading causes of death among premature infants.
Initial symptoms can include:
- feeding intolerance,
- abdominal distension
- bloody stools
which can quickly progress to:
- abdominal discolouration,
- abdo perforation
- peritonitis.
How is ?necrotising enterocolitis diagnosed?
AXR:
- dilated bowel loops (often asymmetrical in distribution)
- bowel wall oedema
- pneumatosis intestinalis (intramural gas)
- portal venous gas
- pneumoperitoneum resulting from perforation
- air both inside and outside of the bowel wall (Rigler sign)
- air outlining the falciform ligament (football sign)
What might an elevated bilirubin level in a neonate born via forceps (extensive facial bruising) be due to?
bruising
What are some causes of jaundice in the first 24hrs of birth?
- rhesus haemolytic disease
- ABO haemolytic disease
- hereditary spherocytosis
- glucose-6-phosphodehydrogenase
What might Jaundice in the neonate from 2-14 days be due to?
Jaundice in the neonate from 2-14 days is common (up to 40%) and usually physiological.
It is due to a combination of factors, including:
- more red blood cells (due to foetal Hb being broken down)
- more fragile red blood cells
- less developed liver function.
It is more commonly seen in breastfed babies
What rate must chest compressions be given at in a child during BLS?
100-120 per minute
What is Kawasaki disease? Is it common? What is its main complication?
Kawasaki disease is a type of vasculitis which is predominately seen in children.
Kawasaki disease is uncommon it is important to recognise as it may cause potentially serious complications, including coronary artery aneurysms.
What are the features of Kawasaki disease?
-
high-grade fever which lasts for > 5 days.
- Fever is characteristically resistant to antipyretics
- conjunctival injection
- bright red, cracked lips
- strawberry tongue
- cervical lymphadenopathy
-
red palms and soles of feet
- which later peel
What is the Mx of Kawasaki disease?
- High dose aspirin
- IV Ig
- echocardiogram (rather than angiography) is used as the initial screening test for coronary artery aneurysms
When is the only indication for aspirin in children? Why is this usually contraindicated?
- Kawasaki disease is one of the few indications for the use of aspirin in children.
- Due to the risk of Reye’s syndrome aspirin is normally contraindicated in children
What is Reye’s syndrome
swelling in liver and brain
What is Cephalohaematoma?
swelling on the newborns head
Compare Cephalohaematoma and caput succendaneum
Caput Succedaneum
Crosses Sutures
CephalhaematoMONTH
Caput SucceDAYneum
At what age do the majority of children achieve day and night time urinary continence?
The majority of children achieve day and night time continence by 3 or 4 years of age.
What are the components of the APGAR score?
Appearance = colour,
Pulse
Grimace = reflex irritability.
Activity = muscle tone
Respiration = respiratory effort,
How is an APGAR score assessed?
What is Pierre-Robin syndrome?
Autosomal recessive!
- Micrognathia
- Posterior displacement of the tongue (may result in upper airway obstruction)
- Cleft palate
What is Treacher-Collins syndrome?
Autosomal dominant - but otherwise same as Pierre-Robin syndrome
- Micrognathia
- Posterior displacement of the tongue (may result in upper airway obstruction)
- Cleft palate
What is a Wilm’s tumour?
AKA nephroblastoma
- one of the most common childhood malignancies
- typically presents in children under 5 yrs
- unilateral in most cases
- mets found in 20% of cases (most commonly lung)
Signs
- abdo mass (most common presenting feature)
- painless haematuria
- flank pain
- ~ anorexia
- ~fever
What is the Mx of a Wilm’s tumour?
- arrange paediatric review within 48hrs
- nephrectomy, chemotherapy, radiotherapy (if advanced)
- Prognosis: good, 80% cure rate
How does Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis normally present?
- fever,
- rash
- symmetrical joint pain and swelling.
What are the features of an osteosarcoma?
- unexplained lump,
- unexplained bone pain
- unexplained swelling.
How does Osteochondritis present?
- joint pain,
- locking
- swelling.
How does croup normally present?
- stridor,
- barking cough,
- mild pyrexia
- coryzal symptoms
What is the drug given to children with possible croup?
dexamethasone
What are the Ix for croup?
- Clinical diagnosis
- however, if a chest x-ray is done:
- a posterior-anterior view will show subglottic narrowing, commonly called the ‘steeple sign’
- in contrast, a lateral view in acute epiglottis will show swelling of the epiglottis - the ‘thumb sign’
What should prompt hospital admission for croup?
CKS suggest admitting any child with moderate or severe croup. Other features which should prompt admission include:
- < 6 months of age
- known upper airway abnormalities (e.g. Laryngomalacia, Down’s syndrome)
- uncertainty about diagnosis (important differentials include acute epiglottitis, bacterial tracheitis, peritonsillar abscess and foreign body inhalation)
What is the Mx of croup?
Management
- CKS recommend giving a single dose of oral dexamethasone (0.15mg/kg) to all children regardless of severity
- prednisolone is an alternative if dexamethasone is not available
Emergency treatment
- high-flow O2
- nebulised adrenaline
Summarise gasteroenteritis in children
- main risk is severe dehydration
- most common cause is rotavirus -
- typically accompanied by fever + vomiting for the first 2 days. The diarrhoea may last up to a week
- treatment is rehydration
Summarise Hirschprung’s disease
- presents soon after birth with:
- delayed passage of meconium (should pass in first 24 hrs of life)
- distended abdomen,
- bilious vomiting,
- lethargy
- dehydration
- Associated with Down’s syndrome + males
- Ix: abdo xray, rectal biopsy (gold standard for diagnosis)
How does pyloric stenosis usually present?
- biilous projectile vomiting
- palpable epigastric mass on feeding
How does Intussusception normally present?
- between 3-12 months
- colicky abdominal pain and drawing up of the infant’s legs.
- Blood in the stool is a late sign.
How does Duodenal atresia normally present?
- normally seen in antenatal screening
- presents with bilious vomiting hours after birth.
Between which ages do febrile convulsions usually occur?
6 months to 5 years
Summarise the epidemiology of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia
- peak incidence of 2-5 years,
- affects slightly more boys than girls
- accounts for 80% of childhood leukaemias.
- It is the most common malignancy affecting children
- associated with some genetic disorders e.g. Down’s syndrome
What is the Neonatal blood spot screening (previously called the Guthrie test or ‘heel-prick test’) used to screen for?
Sickle cell disease
When is the neonatal blood spot screening (previously called the Guthrie test or ‘heel-prick test’) usually performed?
performed at 5-9 days of life
Summarise Intussusception
- bowel folds in on itself, usually at the ileo-caecal region
- usually affects infants between 6-18 months old
- boys x2 more affected than girls
Features:
-
paroxysmal abdominal colic pain
- during paroxysm the infant will characteristically draw their knees up and turn pale
- vomiting
- bloodstained stool - ‘red-currant jelly’ - is a late sign
- ~ sausage-shaped mass in the right upper quadrant
Ix:
- Abdo USS → sausage shaped mass