Paediatric Respiratory Disease Flashcards
What respiratory conditions MUST I know about?
- Asthma
- LRTI
- URTI
What else would be good to know about?
- Pleural effusions
- Inhaled forgein body
- TB
- Whooping cough
A newborn presents with a harsh expiratory sound on breathing.
Form a list of differentials for stridor in this age group.
- Pharyngeal collapse
- Laryngeal atresia/webbing
- Vocal cord paralysis
- Micrognathia (small jaw e.g. in DiGeorge syndrome)
- Subglottic stenosis
An infant presents with a harsh expiratory sound on breathing.
Form a list of differentials for stridor in this age group.
- Viral croup
- Rhinitis
- Laryngomalacia
- Subglottic stenosis
- Laryngeal web/cyst
How can upper airway obstruction be subdivided?
- Supraglottic
- Glottic
- Subglottic
A small child presents with a harsh expiratory sound on breathing.
Form a list of differentials for stridor in this age group.
- Viral croup
- Bacterial tracheitis
- Forgein body
- Retropharyngeal abscess
- Tonsilar/adenoid hypertrophy
An older child presents with a harsh expiratory sound on breathing.
Form a list of differentials for stridor in this age group.
- Inhalation injury
- Foreign body
- Angioedema
- Anaphylaxis
- Trauma
- Peritonsilar abscess
- Mononucleosis
What is the most common cause of chronic upper airway obstruction in children?
Adenoid or tonsillar hypertrophy
Tell me about adenoid or tonsillar hypertrophy.
- Often due to recurrent infection/allergy/inhaled irritants
- Predisposes to recurrent/persistent otitis media
- Assess with lateral radiography
- Rx with removal
Define croup.
Viral infection of the middle respiratory tract in infants causing airway inflammation.
What are the common pathogens that cause croup?
- Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)
- Parainfluenza virus 1, 2, 3, & 4.
A child a year old is brought in by his father because he has stridor and difficulty breathing. Croup is suspected.
What might we see on examination of the child?
- Inspiratory stridor, although may be biphasic
- Laboured breathing
- Recession (suprasternal/intercostal/subcostal)
- Wheeze, if lower airway involved
What is the most common life limiting autosommal recessive condition in caucasians?
Cystic fibrosis
What is the pathophysiology of CF?
AR defect in the CF transmembrane protein leading to defective ion transport in exocrine glands.
When and how do most people with CF present?
As a newborn via the blood spot testing done at 5-8 days
If the blood spot test doesn’t pick up CF in a newborn, how else might they present?
- Prolonged jaundice (14 days +)
- Meconium ileus
How many CF mutations can the Guthrie card pick up?
29 CFTR gene mutations
How do most children present with CF? (Not Guthrie test)
With:
- Malabsorption
- Failure to thrive
- Recurrent chest infections
How can we investigate suspected CF?
- Sweat test
- CXR
- Lung function
- Genetic testing for known CF mutations
- IRT levels
What is the positive sweat teast for CF?
Chloride levels above 60mmol/L
Part of the screening programme for CF is measuring IRT.
A parent wants to know what this means. What should you tell them.
One of the organs affected by CF is the pancreas.
This produces enzymes which normally empties into the small intestine.
In CF, the ducts from pancreas to gut get blocked, so the enzymes back up and build up.
Immunoreactive trypsin is the built up enzyme which is present in the gut.
A neonate is diagnosed with CF.
What complications should you tell the parents they might have to deal with in infancy?
- Meconium ileus
- Neonatal jaundice
- Hypoproteinaemia and oedema
A child is diagnosed with CF.
What complications should the child and parents look out for?
- Recurrent LRTIs
- Poor appetite
- Rectal prolapse
- Bronchiectasis
A child is diagnosed with CF.
What problems might they develop in their adolescence?
- Bronchiectasis
- Diabetes mellitus
- Cirrhosis and portal HTN
- Pneumothorax
- Haemoptysis
- Psychological problems
How frequently should a CF patient have a full multisystme review?
Once a year
Which HCPs are involved in the long term care of pts with CF?
- Paediatric pulmonologist
- Physio
- Dietician
- CF Nurse
- Teachers/school
- Psychologist
How can we manage pulmonary care in patients with CF?
- Physio (chest oercussion, postural drainage, deep breathing exercises)
- Antimicrobials (oral when well, IV for acute exacerbations, nebulised for chronic Pseudomonas infections)
- Other - flu vaccines, bronchodilators, mucolytics, oral azithromycin
What GI management can we do for CF?
- Laxatives and fluid intake for obstruction
- Creon
- High calorie diet
- Salt supplements
- Fat soluble vitamin supplements (multivit/E/K)
What is apnoea?
Cessation of respiratory airflow for 20 seconds or more
What are the 3 types of apnoea?
- Central
- Obstructive
- Mixed
What is the pathophysiology of central apnoea?
Medullary responsiveness is not adequate for proper respiration so muscle contraction is poor or absent
What is the pathophysiology of obstructive apnoea?
An airway obstruction causes poor or no air exchange
What are the causes of central apnoea?
- Prematurity
- Head trauma
- Toxin-mediated apnoea
What is the most common form of obstructive apnoea in children?
obstructive sleep apnoea
A child present with multiple episodes of “stopping breathing”.
What questions do you want to ask?
- HPC - how long are the episodes, how long have they been going on for, any other symptoms at the time of episodes, when do they happen (day/night/during activity). Get accurate picture of an episode, parents mnay have filmed it. Any specific triggers noticed. Any recent or current infections? Any snoring at night?
- PMH - Any pre-existing medical conditions? Congenital or genetic are most common, but also neuro/cardiac/GORD/metabolic. Do they have any touble with eating/swallowing?
- Pades Hx - were pregnancy, delivery, and neonatal period ok? Were they premature? Is the child well-behaved?
In an episode of apnoea where the child has some unusual movements, what important differential do you want to investigate/rule out?
Seizures
How should we approach examining a child with apnoea?
ABCDE with system examinations as indicated by the history.
Why is it important to ask about recent or current infections with a child presenting with apnoea?
It may be a symptom of sepsis in the child
Name 3 conditions in which obstructive sleep apnoea is commonly seen.
- Down’s Syndrome
- Sickle cell disease
- Obesity
What are the signs and symptoms specific to obstructive sleep apnoea?
- Snoring
- Sleeping in funny positions
- Breathing through mouth at night
- Signs of sleep deprivation
How is sleep apnoea diagnosed?
Hx and Ex.
By doing a sleep study, measuring breahting pattern, and resp and heart rate throughout the night.
How is OSA managed?
Treat the cause.
Make ENT referral - may need tonsils removing, or have other problem that could be corrected with surgery.
Nasal prongs.
CPAP.
Define bronchiolitis.
An acute viral infection of the lower airways that affects infants under 2 years of age.
Tell me about who bronchiolitis affects.
Infants under the age of 2.
Peaks between 3 and 6 months of age.
Most common in under 1s.
What is the most common pathogen causing bronchiolitis?
What other organisms can cause bronchiolitis?
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)
Adenovirus/rhinovirus/parainfluenza/influenza
What are the social and environmental risk factors for bronchiolitis?
- Older siblings
- Nursery attendance
- Passive smoking
- Overcrowding
How does bronchiolitis typically present?
1-3 day hx of coryzal symptoms with:
- persistent cough
- respiratory distress/increaded effort
- wheeze +/or crackles