Paediatric Haematology Flashcards
what are the 5 most common causes of thrombocytopaenia/ platelet function abnormalities in a child?
Malignancy - Leukaemia / lymphoma
Bone Marrow Failure - aplastic anaemia, fanciness anaemia, Ewing’s sarcoma
Inheritied Platelet Conditions - Glanzman;s thrombasthenia
What is the most commonly seen symptom in a child presenting with a a disorder of the blood or bone barrow?
Pallor or anaemia
Easy bruising, abnormal bleeding, hepatosplenomegaly or propensity to infection can also be the presenting feature
What are the 3 main causes of iron deficiency anaemia in children?
Nutritional
Occult blood loss (meckels)
Malabsorption (coeliac disease)
What is the most common haemoglobinpathy in children?
beta-thalassaemia
What are the most common haemolytic causes for anaemia in children?
spherocytosis
Sickle cell disease
Thalassaemia
enzyme deficiencies
What are the 2 most common enzyme deficiencies which cause haemolysis in children
G6DP def
pyruvate kinase deficiency
What are the 2 main causes of GI blood loss in children?
Meckel’s diverticulum
Hookworm infection
What 2 things may a pancytopenia in children suggest?
Bone marrow failure
Hypersplenism
What are the 2 most important differentials in excessive bruising?
Bleeding disorder
Non-accidental injury
What 4 investigations would you arrange in a child whom you suspect has a bleeding disorder?
Blood film
LFTs & U+Es
Platelet count
Coagulation Screen
Bleeding disorders can be categorised into 3 groups of causes, what are they?
Vascular defects
Platelet defect
Coagulation defect
What are the 4 most common acquired causes of vascular defects leading to bleeding disorders in children?
Henoch-schonlein purpura
Vit C def (scurvy)
Cushings
Meningococcal Septicaemia
What are the 4 most common inherited causes of vascular defects leading to bleeding disorders in children?
Hereditary Haemorrhagic Telangactasia
Ehlers-danlos syndrome
What is Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome?
An inherited disorder which leads to the malformation of collagen and bleeding disorders
What are the 3 inherited coagulation defects leading to bleeding disorders in children?
Haemophillia A
Haemophilia B
Von Willebrand disease
A child presents with a newly formed purpuric rash of the buttocks and lower limb, what is the most likely diagnosis?
Henoch-schenlein purpura
Give some causes of splenomegaly in children
Infections - EBV, CMV, Septicaemia, Malaria
Haematological - Spherocytosis, Beta-thassasaemia
Malignancy - lymphoma, myleoma
Connective tissue disease - Ehlers-Dalos, SLE
What are the 5 features of an enlarged lymph node that would make you worried in children?
Rapid growth Skin ulceration Fixation to skin or fascia >3cm with hard consistency >3cm for more than 6 wk despite treatment
What are the likely causes of a persistent enlarged cervical lymph node in children
Malignancy - Lymphoma, neuroblastoma
TB
What are the 3 investigations you would carry out in a child presenting with a persistently swollen cervical lymph node
FBC
CXR - for TB or lymphoma
Tuberculin Skin Test
What 6 investigations would you carry out in a child with generalised lymphadenopathy?
FBC Monospot and EBV Abs CXR Abdo USS ?bone barrow aspirate ?lymph node biopsy
What antibody types is tested while investigating epstein-barr virus?
IgM
What does the Monospot blood test for?
Epstein-Barr Virus
What are the foetal complications of Rh isoimmunisation?
Erythroblastosis fetalis with haemolytic anaemia
Jaundice and hepatosplenomegaly
Kernicterus
Hydrops fetalis
