Other Paediatric Conditions Flashcards
(nephrology)
A child has a fever, vomiting, and offensive smelling urine on presentation. What should the first investigative step be?
Urine dipstick
What is the main diferential diagnosis for and urine dipstick with: \+ve leukocytes \+ve nitrites 1+ blood 1+ protein
UTI
When nitrites are negative on a dipstick in children, why can a UTI not be ruled out?
The bacteria and urine need to be in contact for a few hours before enough nitrites are present to show up. Children often empty their bladders more frequently than that, specially at a very early age.
If a urine dipstick is positive, what should the next step be?
Urine microscopy - can sometimes see bacteria, and will see white cells with UTI.
Why do we do this extra step, instead of just getting a urine culture?
Cultures can take around 48 hours and a child might become septic in that time.
What are the causes of recurrent UTIs in infants?
- Vesicoureteral reflux
- Hydronephrosis
- Dysfunctional voiding
- Infrequent urination (may be psychological)
If recurrent UTIs are a problem in infants due to structural problems, what can we do?
Give prophylactic trimethoprim up until ~age 3 when structural problems seem to resolve
If a structural abnormality is suspected as a cause of recurrent UTIs in children, what should the next step be?
USS to find the cause
What is a micturating cystourethrogram?
Scan of bladder and kidney using contrast as the gold standard of vesicoureteric reflux.
Who should we do micturating cystourethrograms on, and why not anyone else?
Infants under 1 year of age, as it is very unpleasant and only under 1 year olds won’t remember or be traumatised by it.
A child presents with facial and abdominal swelling, and reduced urine output.
What are the next steps?
Perform observations and examination, and do urinalysis.
A child presents with facial and abdominal swelling, and reduced urine output.
Obs are normal for his age. He is well perfused but has ascites and oedema.
What investigation results would lead us to believe this child has nephrotic syndrome?
Proteinuria on urine dipstick
Hypoalbuminaemia on blood tests
What is the triad of nephrotic syndrome?
Proteinuria
Hypoalbuminaemia
Oedema
How do we treat idiopathic childhood nephrotic syndrome?
Steroids - most is steroid sensitive, so try them all on steroids, and see if there’s a response. If not, there is another pathway.
Oral prednisolone
(genetics)
Define Down’s syndrome and its pathophysiology.
Congenital disorder caused by a trisomy 21, characterised by intellectual impairment and physical abnormalities.
What is trisomy 21?
An extra copy of the entire 21st chomosome.
Where does the extra 21 usually come from in Down’s syndrome?
The mother i.e. it is maternally derived.
What is the incidence of Down’s syndrome?
1 in 650-1000 newborns
A mother is screened for her risk of having a child with Down’s syndrome.
What is the strongest risk factor for Down’s syndrome, and what else do we need to know?
Maternal age is the strongest risk factor.
Any family history of the syndrome?
A mother aged 27 wants to know her risk of having a child with Down’s syndrome.
At her age, what is the risk?
If she were 37, what would her risk be then?
At 27 -> 0.84 per 1000
At 37 -> 4.72 per 1000
You examine a baby who you are told has Down’s syndrome.
In the face and head alone, what signs would you expect to find?
- Brachycephaly (short skull with flat back of head)
- Oblique palpebral fissures (upslanting eyes)
- Epicanthic folds (skin fold of the upper eyelid covering the inner corner of the eye)
- Small, neat ears
- Flat nasal bridge
- Protruding tongue
- High arched palate
You examine a baby who you are told has Down’s syndrome.
In the neck, hands and feet, what signs would you expect to find?
Neck - loose skin at the nape.
Hands - single palmar creases, incurved little fingers, short fingers.
Feet - sandal-gap (gap between hallux and second toes)
What 2 major internal defects are strongly associated with Down’s syndrome?
- Congenital heart defects
- Duodenal atresia
A child with Down’s syndrome doesn’t appear to be putting on weight in the weeks after birth.
What problem may they be experiencing?
Feeding problems
Constipation
Hypotonia
You examine a baby who you are told has Down’s syndrome.
What general signs might you elicit on examination?
- Hyperflexibility
- Muscular hypotonia
Later on in life, what problem may people with Down’s syndrome experience?
Early onset Alzheimer’s
You examine a baby with Down’s syndrome and notice that her nasal bridge is flat, and she has brachycephaly.
What problems may this lead to in life?
Blocked tubes around the face -> glue ear, upper airway obstruction, obstructive sleep apnoea, sinusitis, pharyngitis.
A newborn baby has trisomy 21, and needs to be screened. What screening do we do for him?
- Echocardiogram
- Hearing screen
- TSH and free thyroxine for subclinical thyroid disease
- FBC -> acute leukaemia, polycythemia, and transient myeloproliferative disorder.
What is the most common cardiac defect associated with trisomy 21?
AVSD
A newborn with trisomy 21 has an abnormal hearing screen.
What % of pts with Down’s syndrome have some form of hearing loss?
90%
A child with Down’s syndrome comes into a GI clinic.
Without any more information, form a list of things this child might be here with.
- Constipation
- Oesophageal or duodenal atresia
- Hirschsprung’s disease
- Imperforate anus
- GORD
Tell me about the prognosis of Down’s syndrome.
Much better than it used to be.
Median age of death is mid 50s.
Most mortality due to cardiac issues (existing or new), and respiratory infections.
Who is offered screening for Down’s syndrome?
All women of all ages who see a healthcare professional while pregnant.
A pregnant lady is screened for Down’s syndrome in her baby.
She comes out at a high risk. What is the next stage for her, should she choose to find out more?
Offered diagnostic testing by amniocentesis (over 13 weeks gestation) or chorionic villus testing (under 13 weeks).
What is the balance when thinking about screening women for Down’s syndrome in their babies?
Risk of invasive procedure causing miscarriage vs identifying women with a high enough risk to justify an invasive test.
(ENT)
A parent brings their 7 year old child in to the GP because they are experiencing ear pain and a sore throat.
Form a list of differentials.
Ear - otitis externa, otitis media, mastoiditis, perforated eardrum.
Nose - sinusitis
Throat - acute tonsillitis, epiglottitis
Other - teeth/jaw, all of above associated with a URTI
A parent brings their 7 year old child in to the GP because they are experiencing ear pain and a sore throat.
O/E of ENT, you see bilaterally inflammed and red tonsils, with exudate present.
What is your initial management?
- Determine whether likely viral or bacterial using the Centor criteria.
- Supportive Rx - paracetamol and ibuprofen
- Check for systemic symptoms e.g. dehydration an manage these symptoms
What are the Centor criteria?
- Pus on tonsils
- Pyrexia
- No cough
- Tender cervical lymph nodes
A score of 4 suggests possible bacterial cause -> abx.
What centor score is required for use of abx in tonsillitis?
4 (sometimes 3 depends on the full clinical picture).
What % of tonsillitis is bacterial?
Only 30%
What % of tonsillitis resolves within a week without treatment?
90%
If we investigate tonsillitis at all, what can we do?
Throat swab for Group A haemolytic Strep
A parent brings their 7 year old child in to the GP because they are experiencing ear pain and a sore throat. They report no cough.
O/E:
- red tonsils with exudate
- temperature of 39 degrees
- Tender lymph nodes in neck.
What is their centor score and how will you treat?
4, meets all the criteria for trying antibiotics.
Penicillin V (phenoxymethylpenicillin) or erythromycin in pen. allergic.
A child is brought to A+E with a sore throat, a high fever, and drowsiness with decreased food intake.
Form a list of differentials.
- Tonsilitis
- Quinsy
- URTI
- Common cold
- Glandular fever
- Epiglottitis
A child is brought to A+E with severe throat pain, a high fever, and drowsiness with decreased food intake.
O/E of the throat, there is a unilateral swelling and a deviated uvula.
What is this, and what other complications of tonsillitis can occur?
Untreated bacterial tonsillitis -> Quinsy/peritonsillar abscess
Can also get:
- Otitis media
- Ear pain
- Dehydration from inability to swallow
What should be avoided if we suspect tonsillitis is possible?
Amoxicillin should be avoided!!
Why should we avoid amoxicillin if tonsillitis is a differential?
If it turns out to be glandular fever, this plus amoxicillin -> nasty urticarial rash
(surgery)
A child falls off their bike onto their outstretched arm.
What injuries and fractures are common in children who do this?
- # Clavicle
- Supracondylar #-
Which upper limb # do you see pretty much only in children?
Supracondylar #
A mother pulls her child out of the way of a passing car by grabbing the child’s arm.
What injury is this child likely to have if they turn up to A&E?
Pulled elbow (aka Nursemaids elbow)
Radial head slips from joint socket -> pain and inability to use the arm.
What is the most common childhood cancer?
Acute Lymphoblastic leukaemia
A 4 yo boy presents to his GP with tiredness, lymphadenopathy in his neck, and bone pain.
What other signs/symptoms do you need to find out about?
Infections Bruising/bleeding Rash Pallor Splenomegaly Hepatomegaly Testicular swelling Fever Weight loss Night sweats
A 4 yo boy presents to his GP with tiredness, lymphadenopathy in his neck, and bone pain.
What findings in GP would prompt an urgent referral to haematology for assessment?
Unexplained hepatosplenomegaly or petechial rash
A 4 yo boy presents to his GP with tiredness, lymphadenopathy in his neck, and bone pain.
What findings in GP would prompt an urgent FBC and referral under the 2ww guidelines?
Unexplained:
- pallor
- persistent fatigue
- fever
- persistent infection
- generalised lymphadenopathy
- bruising
- bleeding
- bone pain
A 4 yo boy presents to his GP with 2 weeks sudden onset tiredness, lymphadenopathy in his neck, and bone pain.
What blood tests would we do to investigate suspected ALL? Justify each investigation.
- FBC for Hb, WCC, Plts
- Clotting (DIC)
- Blood film (blast cells)
- LDH (raised in rapid cell turnover)
- LFTs and U&Es (incase need to start chemo, and for renal function)
- Appropriate investigations if infection present
Other than blood tests, what investigations can we do for suspected ALL?
Justify each one.
CXR - mediastinal mass, pneumonia, or lytic bone lesions.
Testicular USS if indicated (enlarged).
ECG/Echo
What more specific haematological tests can we do to diagnose/rule out ALL?
Bone marrow aspirate/biopsy
Immunophenotyping by flow cytometry
How can we manage ALL?
Supportive Management
Chemotherapy
How long is the treatment regime for ALL?
What are the stages of the regime?
3-4 years (longer for boys)
Induction of remission, consolidation/intensification, and maintenance.
What supportive treatments may be needed for a child with ALL?
Blood cell replacement (RBCs, platelets) Growth factors e.g. GCSF Antibiotics/antifungals for opportunistic infection Allopurinol Central venous access established
Why do we give allopurinol to ALL patients?
To control uric acid levels.
A 5 year old girl with known ALL is on chemotherapy. A routine blood test shows low calcium and high potassium.
What else might be deranged, and why is this?
High uric acid and phosphate levels.
This is due to tumour lysis syndrome.
A 5 year old girl with known ALL is on chemotherapy. A routine blood test shows low calcium and high potassium, phosphate, and urea.
What do we want to do to manage this complication?
- Give allopurinol for urate levels. Rasburicase given if WCC high.
- Place her on a tumour lysis syndrome fluid regime to wash out and protect kidneys.
- Manage hyperkalaemia if severe with ECG, insulin + glucose IV, and take K out of fluids, give IV calcium gluconate for cardioprotection.
- Monitor
What age groups have worse prognosis for ALL in children?
Those diagnosed under 2 years or over 10 years of age.
What site is common for disease to be present in in ALL remission?
Why?
CNS
Cytotoxic drugs penetrate CNS poorly, so intrathecal chemo is needed to prevent CNS relapse.
Why might an infant be iron deficient from diet?
Breastfeeding without iron supplementation
What pattern on bloods does iron deficiency anaemia follow?
- Microcytic, hypochromic red blood cells
- Increased transferrin/TIBC
- Low ferritin
What signs can you look for in a tired child that might indicate iron deficiency anaemia?
- Brittle nails
- koilonychia
- Swollen or sore tongue
- angular cheilosis
What Hb is considered anaemia in neonates?
Hb <140g/L
What Hb is considered anaemia in infants under 12 months?
Hb <100g/L
What Hb is considered anaemia in children aged 1-12 years?
<110g/L
What are the 3 main causes of iron deficiency anaemia?
- Inadequate intakes
- Malabsorption
- Blood loss
What is the management of iron deficiency anaemia?
- Dietary advice
- Supplement with oral iron
- Blood transfusion if severe
What dietary advice do we give for parents to help treat iron deficiency anaemia?
- Breast milk or infant formula better than cow’s milk.
- Solids supplemented with iron (ony 1% absorbed).
- Red meat or oily fish, and pulses, beans, dark green veg, and wholemeal products good.
Avoid lots of cows milk (in infants), tea, and high fibre foods.
When do most children achieve day and night time continence by?
3 or 4 years of age
What are the 2 types of nocturnal enuresis?
Primary (never achieved continence) and secondary (had previously been dry for 6 months +)
A mother brings her 3 year old in. She is concerned they’re still wetting the bed at night.
What can you do?
Reassure her that up until they turn 5, nocturnal bed wetting can still be normal.
Can give lifestyle advice and tell them to come back if it doesn’t resolve by age 5.
A mother brings her 5 year old in. She is concerned they’re still wetting the bed at night. This is the first time they have presented.
What can you do?
3 things:
- Look for a possible cause/trigger
- Lifestyle - Dietary and toileting behaviour advice.
- Enuresis alarm as under 7.
What tirggers/causes might there be for nocturnal enuresis?
Constipation
UTIs
Diabetes mellitus
What lifestyle advice can be helpful in nocturnal enuresis?
- Restrict fluid intake before bed.
- Dietary changes to prevent constipation.
- Toileting before bed.
- Reward system for agreed behaviours (rather than dry nights)
If a child with nocturnal enuresis is still bed wetting after a trial of lifestyle changes, reward systems, and enuresis alarms use, what can we trial?
Desmopressin