Neonatal Presentations Flashcards
Describe the different colors you could see a neonate?
- Yellow (Jaundice - see separate deck)
- Pale
- Red (Plethora - Polycythaemia)
- Cyanosed
It’s very common (50-70%) for babies to develop a red maculopapular rash after birth. What do we call this and how is it managed?
Erythema Toxicum
Reassure, it clears by it’s self within 1-2wks
Babies of races with pigmented skin are often born with blue-grey patches on lower back/buttocks, What is this?
Mongolian blue spots
Due to accumulation of melanocytes
Leave it an it will fade
Sometimes babies are born with light pink marks on the back of the neck or midline of face, what do we call this and what do we do?
Stork Marks (or Naevus Simplex)
It’s just dilated capillaries, leave it and it will disappear within 2 yrs
What are the major causes of hypoglycaemia in newborns?
- Premature
- Diabetic mum –> Hyperinsulinaemia
- Hypothermia
- Sepsis
- Small/Large for Gestational Age
What might a hypoglycaemic baby look like?
Jittery or lethargic
Hypothermic
Hypotonic!
Apnoea or irregular breathing
Poor feed and vomiting
High pitched weak cry
If bad –> Seizures
How do we diagnose hypoglycaemia in a kid?
Bedside skin prick glucose. If its <2.6mmol/L we send for a lab sample to confirm
Babies often present hypothermic following birth, how do we prevent this?
During resuscitation:
- Dry quickly
- Remove wet linens
- Use warmed towels
- Provide a radiant warmer
- Use heated/humidified O2
What is a “tongue Tie”
A short or thick frenulum, it may be attached too anteriorly to the base of tongue
What’s the problem of a tongue tie and how do we treat it?
They can make feeding difficult
In which case we would do a frenotomy
What are the types of Cleft lip/palate and what causes it?
Incomplete
Unilateral
Bilateral
Maxillary & Medial Nasal processes fail to fuse around wk 5
What do we do with a cleft lip baby?
Use special bottle/teat
Check for airway problems
Check for ass anomalies with hearing screen, cardio exam, echo & exam for signs of trisomies
What is the most common problem picked up on ophthalmology exam in babies?
Lack of red reflex, usually meaning cataracts
We can do lens removal and give an artificial lens
Mum finds some bloody mucousy discharge in her baby girls nappy?
Probably pseudomenstruation
Very common and due to hormones from mum. It’ll clear up itself
Spinal Dimples can be a sign of nothing or a sign of something more serious, when and how would we investigate?
US & MRI if:
- Large
- Red or swollen
- Off midline
- Above sacral area
- Pigmented
- Tender
- Fluid
