Paediatric Respiratory Flashcards
What are signs of respiratory distress in children?
Raised RR
Use of accessory muscles
Intercostal/subcostal recessions
Nasal flaring
Head bobbing
Tracheal tugging
What are causes of stridor? (mnemonic)
Croup - stridor + barking cough
Acute epiglottitis - stridor, drooling, acutely unwell
Inhaled foreign body - choking
Laryngomalacia
What is the cause of bronchiolitis?
RSV (Respiratory syncytial virus)
How does bronchiolitis present?
Coryzal symptoms - runny nose, watery eyes, sneezing
Dry cough
Mild fever
Wheeze
Dyspnoea
Tachypnoea
When should a child with bronchiolitis be admitted?
Immediate referral (999 Ambulance):
- Severe respiratory distress: RR > 70, deep recessions, head bopping, grunting
- Apnoea
- child looks unwell to HCP
- Oxygen sats <92%
Consider referral:
- RR>60
- difficulty with breastfeeding or inadequate oral fluid intake (50–75% of usual volume, consider referral)
- Clinical dehydration
Under 3 months
Pre-existing health condition
central cyanosis
How is bronchiolitis managed?
Supportive
Supplementary oxygen if required
Which children are at risk of severe bronchiolitis?
Bronchopulmonary dysplasia
Congenital heart disease
Cystic fibrosis
How to differentiate Asthma vs. Viral induced wheeze?
Viral induced wheeze..
Features of viral illness e.g. coryza, fever
Presents prior to 3 years
No atopy history
Only occurs during infections
How is viral induced wheeze managed?
1st line = Salbutamol
What is the stepwise management of Asthma in under 5’s?
- SABA (e.g. Salbutamol)
- Low dose ICS or Montelukast
- Add other option
- Refer to specialist
What is the most common bacterial and viral cause of pneumonia in children?
Strep pneumoniae
RSV
How does pneumonia present?
Productive cough
Fever
Tachypnoea
Tachycardia
Hypotension
How is pneumonia managed in children?
1st line = Amoxicillin
2nd line = Macrolide (Clarithromycin <1month, >1 month Erythromycin 7-10days, Azithromycin 3 days)
2nd line = co-amoxiclav/Co-trimoxazole (if macrolides are contra-indicated; not in pregnant adults ie increased risk of genital malformations or babies <6w)
What is croup? What is the most common causative organism?
Upper respiratory tract infection which causes laryngeal oedema, leading to stridor
Most common = Parainfluenza virus
How does croup present?
Stridor
Barking cough
Low grade fever
Coryza
Increased work of breathing
When should a child with croup be admitted?
Stridor at rest
Recessions
Any significant distress
Tachycardia
How is croup treated?
Single dose oral (0.15mg/kg/hour) Dexamethasone
-which can be repeated if required after 12 hours.
Oxygen if required
What organism causes epiglottitis?
Haemophilus influenza type B
How does epiglottitis present?
Acute onset
Sore throat
Stridor
Tripod position
High fever
Drooling of saliva
What is seen on neck XR in epiglottitis?
Thumb sign
How is epiglottitis managed?
IV Ceftriaxone
Oxygen
What is Laryngomalacia?
Soft larynx
Larynx causes partial airway obstruction
Causes chronic stridor on inhalation
How is Laryngomalacia managed?
Problem usually resolves as the larynx matures and grows
What is whooping cough?
URTI caused by Bordatella pertussis
How does whooping cough present?
Sats with coryza symptoms
Then - Severe coughing fits, worse at night
Inspiratory whoop at end of coughing fit
May be vomiting
May be apnoea attacks
How is whooping cough treated?
Supportive care
In first 21 days - can use oral macrolide
What do infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia receive to reduce infections?
Monthly injection of Palivizumab
What type of inheritance pattern does cystic fibrosis have?
Autosomal recessive
What are the first signs of CF?
Meconium ileus
Prolonged jaundice
What are features of CF?
Chronic cough
Thick sputum
Recurrent infections
Greasy stools
Finger clubbing
Pancreatic enzyme deficiency
What are common colonisers in CF?
Staph aureus
Pseudomonas