Paediatrics Flashcards
Acute epiglottitis
What is the most common causative organism?
Haemophilus Influenzae Type B (HIB)
Acute epiglottitis
What are the signs and symptoms?
Intense swelling of epiglottis and surrounding tissues
Very acute onset (few hours)
High fever >38.5C
Immobile child, sitting propped up with mouth open
Child unable to speak or swallow, often drooling
Absent/slight cough
No preceding coryza
Acute epiglottitis
What is the management?
IV or oral (if tolerated) antibiotics - cefuroxime for 3-5 days
Intubation
Blood cultures
Rifampicin prophylaxis for close contacts
Nephrology
What are the 3 main renal causes of oedema in children?
Nephrotic syndrome
Nephritic syndrome
Henoch Scholein Purpura (HSP)
Nephrology
What causes increased interstitial fluid?
Pathophysiology
Lymph drainage (lymphoedema)
Venous drainage and pressure (obstruction e.g., venous thrombosis)
Lowered oncotic pressure - low albumin/protein (malnutrition, decreased production or increased loss)
Salt and water retention (in the kidney due to impaired GFR or due to heart failure)
Nephrology
How does nephrotic syndrome cause oedema?
Increased loss of albumin/protein in the kidneys –> low oncotic pressure –> oedema
Heavy proteinuria and hypoalbuminaemia
Nephrology
What are the three types of nephrotic syndrome?
Congenital NS (<1 year old)
Steroid sensitive NS
Steroid resistant NS
Nephrology
What are the features in the clinical presentation of steroid sensitive nephrotic syndrome?
- normal BP
- no macroscopic haematuria
- normal renal function
- no features suggesting nephritis
- responds to steroids
- “minimal change” on histology
Nephrology
What are the features in the clinical presentation of steroid resistant nephrotic syndrome?
- elevated BP
- haematuria
- renal function may be impaired
- features may suggest nephritis
- failure to respond to steroids
- histology - various, underlying glomerulopathy, basement membrane abnormality
Nephrology
What is the peak age of onset for steroid sensitive nephrotic syndrome?
2-5 years old
Nephrology
What gender is steroid sensitive nephrotic syndrome most common in?
Male
Nephrology
What ethnicity has a higher incidence of steroid sensitive nephrotic syndrome?
Asian sub-continent
Nephrology
What is the prognosis of nephrotic syndrome?
- recurrent relapses common, about 5% continue into adult life
- normal renal function steroid responsive
Nephrology
What is the treatment of steroid sensitive nephrotic syndrome?
For first episode:
- prednisolone 60mg/m^2 for 4 weeks
- prednisolone 40mg/m^2 on alternate days for 4 weeks
Consider: sodium and water moderation, diuretics, Pen V, measles and varicella immunity, pneumococcal immunisation
Nephrology
What is the clinical presentation of acute glomerulonephritis?
- haematuria (often macroscopic)
- proteinuria (varying degree)
- impaired GFR
- rising creatinine
- salt and water retention - hypertension and oedema
Nephrology
What is the most common cause of acute glomerulonephritis?
Group A B-haemolytic streptococcus, nasopharyngeal or skin infections e.g., tonsillitis
Nephrology
What is the underlying pathophysiology of acute post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis?
Antigen-antibody complexes in the glomerulus and complement activation
Nephrology
How does acute post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis present?
Presents 10 days after the infection with clinical nephritis
* haematuria
* swelling
* decreased urine output
* oedema
* hypertension
* signs of cardiovascular overload
Nephrology
What is the management of acute post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis?
Fluid balance: measurement of input/output, fluid moderation, diuretics, salt restriction
Correction of other imbalances: potassium, acidosis
Dialysis if needed.
Penicillin for streptococcal infection.
Nephrology
What is the prognosis of acute post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis?
95% make a full recovery
Not recurrent
No long term implication for renal function if full recovery
Nephrology
What investigations are performed for acute post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis?
FBC - mild normocytic, normochromic anaemia
U&Es - increased urea and creatinine, hyperkalaemia, acidosis
Immunology - raised ASOT/antiDNAse B titre, low C3 and C4
Throat/other swabs
Urinalysis - haematuria (macroscopic usually), proteinuria (dipstick, protein:creatinine ratio), microscopy (RBC cast)
Nephrology
What is Henoch-Schonlein Purpura?
It is a vasculitis of the skin, joints, gut and kidneys
Nephrology
What is the renal presentation of Henoch-Schonlein Purpura nephritis?
Variable
* haematuria/proteinuria
* nephrotic syndrome
* acute nephritis
* renal impairment
* hypertension
Nephrology
What are the differences between nephritic and nephrotic syndrome?
Nephritic: acute onset, decreased GFR, reduced urine output, haematuria, hypertension, some proteinuria, normal/slightly low albumin, high creatinine, red cell casts
Nephrotic: more insidious onset, decreased or normal GFR, normal urine output, little/no haematuria, normal BP, high proteinuria, hypoalbuminaemia, hyperlipidemia
Nephrology
What are the long term complications of a UTI?
Kidney scarring, hypertension and chronic kidney disease
Nephrology
What are the signs and symptoms of a UTI in a child under 3 months old?
Most common on top:
* fever
* vomiting
* lethargy
* irritability
* poor feeding
* failure to thrive
* abdominal pain
* jaundice
* haematuria
* offensive urine
Nephrology
What are the signs and symptoms of a UTI in a child older than 3 months old that is pre-verbal?
Most common on top:
* fever
* abdominal pain
* loin tenderness
* vomiting
* poor feeding
* lethargy
* irritability
* haematuria
* offensive urine
* failure to thrive
Nephrology
What are the signs and symptoms of a UTI in a child older than 3 months old that is verbal?
Most common on top:
* frequency
* dysuria
* dysfunctional voiding
* changes to continence
* abdominal pain
* loin tenderness
* fever
* malaise
* vomiting
* haematuria
* offensive urine
* cloudy urine
Nephrology
When should you request a urine sample?
When a child presents with:
* symptoms and signs of UTI
* an unexplained fever of 38C or higher
* an alternative site of infection but remains unwell
Nephrology
What is the initial management of a child <3 months old with a UTI?
Any infant under 3 months old with a suspected UTI should be referred to paediatric specialist care and urine should be sent for urgent microscopy and culture
Nephrology
What is the most common causative organism for UTIs in girls?
E. coli
Nephrology
Which causative organism of UTIs is more commonly found in boys?
Proteus
Nephrology
Which causative organism of UTIs may indicate structural abnormalities?
Pseudomonas
Nephrology
What is the management of a UTI in infants under 3 months old?
Minimum 2-4 days IV abx followed by oral
Nephrology
What is the management of a UTI in a systematically well child, no significant fever and no systemic features?
3 days oral abx
Advise to return if no better at 24-48hrs
Nephrology
What is the management of a UTI in a systematically unwell child, fever >38C +/- loin pain?
7-10 days oral abx
Consider IV abx
Nephrology
What is the management of a UTI in a systematically well child, no significant fever and no systemic features?
3 days oral abx
Advise to return if no better at 24-48hrs
Nephrology
What is classed an atypical UTI?
When it involves:
* septacaemia
* requires IV abx
* poor urine flow
* abdominal mass/bladder mass
* raised creatinine
* failure to respond to treatment with suitable abx within 48hrs
Nephrology
What is classed as a recurrent UTI?
2+ episodes of UTI, at least one episode included systemic symptoms or signs
OR
3+ episodes of UTI without systemic symptoms/signs
Nephrology
What investigations are performed in a UTI?
Ultrasound renal tract
Micturating cystourethrogram
DMSA scan
Nephrology
What investigation is performed when vesicoureteric reflux is suspected?
Micturating cystourethrogram
Nephrology
What is vesicoureteric reflux?
Retrograde flow of urine from bladder into ureter/pelvicalyceal system/intrarenal system
It is associated with UTIs
Nephrology
Which investigation is done to look for renal scarring?
DMSA scan
Diabetes
At what age is Type 1 Diabetes most commonly diagnosed in children?
2 peaks: 4-5 years and 10-11 years
Diabetes
What is the pathophysiology of Type 1 diabetes?
Autoimmune destruction of the insulin-producing pancreatic Beta cells
Associated with HLA types DR3 and DR4
Diabetes
What are the presenting features of type 1 diabetes in children?
Polyuria
Polydipsia (extreme thirst)
Weight loss
Tiredness
Diabetes
What conditions is type 2 diabetes associated with in children, on presentation?
Hypertension - 44% have it on presentation
Kidney disease - 25% have it on presentation
Diabetes
What are the risk factors for type 2 diabetes in children?
Obesity, girls, non-white ethnicity and deprivation
Diabetes
What is the pathophysiology of type 2 diabetes?
Diminished response to insulin –> insulin resistence
It is initially countered by an increase in insulin production to try to maintain glucose homeostasis.
Diabetes
How is type 2 diabetes diagnosed?
Oral glucose tolerance test
Diabetes
What are the criteria for a diagnosis of diabetes?
Diabetes symptoms AND:
* a random venous plasma glucose of at least 11.1 mmol/L OR
* a fasting plasma glucose of at least 7.0 mmol/L OR
* who hour plasma glucose of at least 11.1mmol/L two hours after 75g anhydrous glucose in an OGTT
HbA1c of 48mmol/mol or more, but a lower value does not exclude
Diabetes
What is the management of type 1 diabetes?
Not in DKA
Insulin:
* started on 0.5-0.8 units/kg/day
* 50% long acting and 50% short acting for meals
* pen therapy to start with, pump later if needed
* blood glucose testing at least 5 times a day
Diabetes
How does diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) present?
- nausea and vomiting
- abdominal pain
- hyperventilation
- dehydration
- reduced level of consciousness
Diabetes
How is the severity of diabetic ketoacidosis graded?
Mild = pH <7.3 or plasma bicarbonate <15 mmol/L
Moderate = pH <7.2 or plasma bicarbonate <10 mmol/L
Severe = pH <7.1 or plasma bicarbonate <5 mmol/L
Diabetes
How is diabetic ketoacidosis managed?
Fluids
Insulin - slow 0.05-0.1 units/kg/hr
Monitor glucose hourly
Monitor electrolytes, especially K+ and ketones
Very strict fluid balance
Hourly neuro obs
Diabetes
What are the possible complications of diabetic ketoacidosis?
Cerebral oedema, shock, hypokalaemia, vomit aspiration, thrombus
Diabetes
What is the initial management of type 2 diabetes?
**Metformin +/- insulin **
Consider GLP-1 agonists: Liraglutide (>10 years), semaglutide (>18 years)
Diet: calorie/carb reduction and weight loss
Lifestyle: physical activity, sleep, screentime
Diabetes
What are the autonomic symptoms of hypoglycaemia?
- irritable
- hungry
- shaky
- anxious
- sweaty
- palpitations
- pallor
Diabetes
What are the neuroglycopenic symptoms of hypoglycaemia?
- confused
- drowsy
- hearing or visual problems
- headache
- slurred speech
- unusual behaviour/moodiness
- coma
- seizures
Diabetes
What is the management of mild-moderate hypoglycaemia?
Check blood glucose
Glucose tablets, gel, glucose containing food or drink (not chocolate)
Check glucose in 15 minutes
Follow up with longer acting carb (bread or a biscuit)
Diabetes
What is the management of severe hypoglycaemia?
Glucagon injection
Diabetes
What are the short term complications of diabetes?
Hypo/hyperglycaemia
DKA
Diabetes
What are the long term complications of diabetes?
Microvascular: albuminuria, retinopathy
Macrovascular: hypertension, hypercholesterolaemia
Blindness, kidney failure, heart disease, stroke, amputations
Disability
What are the five types of impairments?
Physical
Sensory
Learning
Neurodevelopmental
Emotional/Behavioural
Disability
What is WHODAS?
- A generic assessment instrument for health and disability
- Used across all diseases inc., mental, neurological and addictive disorders
- A tool to produce standardised disability levels and profiles
- Directly linked at the level of the concepts to the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF)
Disability
What six domains of functioning does WHODAS 2.0 cover?
Cognition - understanding and communication
Mobility - moving and getting around
Self-care - hygiene, dressing, eating and staying alone
Social - interacting with other people
Life activities - domestic responsibilities, leisure, work and school
Participation - joining in community activies
Disability
What is the definition of quality of life?
The degree to which a person enjoys the important possibilities of his/her life
Disability
What are the three B’s of quality of life?
Being - who one is
Belonging - how one fits into the environment
Becoming - how to have purposeful activities in order to achieve one’s goals
Limping child
What are the 4 modified Kocher’s criteria used when assessing for likelihood of septic arthritis?
Modified Kocher’s criteria:
* Fever >38.5C
* Inability to weight bear
* CRP > 20mg/L
* WBC >12
Limping child
What is the pathophysiology of Perthe’s disease?
Avascular necrosis of the femoral head
Limping child
What are the common causes of a limp in a child under 3 years old?
Septic arthritis/osteomyelitis
Transient synovitis
Fracture/soft tissue injury
Developmental dysplasia of the hip
Toddler fracture
Non-accidental injury
Others:
* malignancy e.g., leukaemia
* non-malignant haematological disease e.g., haemophilia/sickle cell
* metabolic disease e.g., rickets
* neuromuscular disease e.g., cerebral palsy, spina bifida
* limb abnormality e.g., length discreptancy
Limping child
What are the common causes of a limp in a child between 3-10 years old?
Transient synovitis
Septic arthritis/osteomyelitis
Fracture/soft tissue injury
Perthe’s disease
Others:
* malignancy e.g., leukaemia
* non-malignant haematological disease e.g., haemophilia/sickle cell
* metabolic disease e.g., rickets
* neuromuscular disease e.g., cerebral palsy, spina bifida
* limb abnormality e.g., length discreptancy
* inflammatory joint or muscle disease e.g., JIA
Limping child
What are the common causes of a limp in a child older than 10 years old?
Septic arthritis/osteomyelitis
Slipped upper femoral epiphysis
Perthe’s disease
Fracture/soft tissue injury
Others:
* malignancy e.g., leukaemia
* non-malignant haematological disease e.g., haemophilia/sickle cell
* metabolic disease e.g., rickets
* neuromuscular disease e.g., cerebral palsy, spina bifida
* limb abnormality e.g., length discreptancy
* inflammatory joint or muscle disease e.g., JIA
Limping child
What are the ACR criteria for the diagnosis of juvenile idiopathic arthritis?
- age at onset <16 years
- arthritis in one or more joints
- duration >/= 6 weeks
- exclusion of other forms of juvenile arthritis
Limping child
What are the three types of juvenile idiopathic arthritis and how do they present?
Polyarthritis: 5 or more inflamed joints, usually medium-sized joints (knees, ankles, elbows)
Oligoarthritis: <5 inflamed joints
Systemic: arthritis with characteristic fever
Morning stiffness, gradual resolution of pain with activity. Painful or decreased range of motion, especially in internal rotation if hip affected.
Limping child
What are the features associated with systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis?
- Pyrexia
- Salmon-pink rash
- Lymphadenopathy
- Arthritis
- Uveitis
- Anorexia and weight loss
Limping child
How does septic arthritis/osteomyelitis present?
- Usually febrile
- Most common <4 years old
- Pain
- Inability to weight bear
- Child often looks unwell
- Swollen, red joint in septic arthritis
- Passive movement of the joint is incredibly painful
- Femoral osteomyelitis presents similarily but there is some passive range of motion unless the infection has extended into the joint
Limping child
What investigations should be performed when you suspect osteomyelitis?
MRI
Limping child
How is osteomyelitis managed?
IV cefuroxime for 6 weeks first-line
If known staph. auerus then flucloxacillin for 6 weeks OR clindamycin if penicillin-allergic
Limping child
What investigations should be performed for septic arthritis?
Joint aspiration for culture, also shows raised WBC
CRP and ESR raised
Blood cultures
FBC: raised WCC
Limping child
When should you suspect septic arthritis rather than transient synovitis?
When the child has a high fever and/or is systematically unwell
Limping child
How does transient synovitis present?
- Typically acute onset following a viral infection
- No systemic upset
- Age 3-8 years old, peak at 5/6 years
- More common in boys
- No pain at rest and passive movement is only painful at the extreme range of movement
- Limp/refusal to weight bear
- Low-grade fever in minority of patients
- Recurs in up to 15% of children
Limping child
How is transient synovitis managed?
It is a self-limiting condition, requires only oral analgesia
Limping child
How does Perthe’s disease present?
- 5 times more common in boys
- Peak age 4-8 years old
- Around 10% of cases are bilateral
- Hip pain: develops progressively over a few weeks
- Limp
- Stiffness and reduced range of movement
- Widened joint space on x-ray, later changes include decreased femoral head size/flattening
Limping child
How is Perthe’s disease diagnosed?
Using a plain x-ray
Technetium bone scan or MRI if normal x-ray and symptoms persist
Limping child
What are the complications of Perthe’s disease?
Osteoarthritis and premature fusion of the growth plates
Limping child
How does slipped upper femoral epiphysis (SUFE) present?
- Usually 11-14 years
- More common in obese children and boys
- Bilateral in 20-40%
- X-ray shows displacement of the femoral head epiphysis posterio-inferiorly
- May present acutely following trauma or more commonly with chronic, persistent symptoms
- Hip, groin, medial thigh or knee pain
- Loss of internal rotation of the leg in flexion
Limping child
What investigation should be performed for slipped upper femoral epiphysis (SUFE)?
AP and lateral views - diagnostic
Limping child
How is slipped upper femoral epiphysis managed?
Internal fixation - single cannulated screw placed in the centre of the epiphysis
Limping child
What are the complications associated with slipped upper femoral epiphysis?
Osteoarthritis, avascular necrosis of the femoral head, chondrolysis, leg-length discrepancy
Spots and rashes
What is a macular rash?
A non-palpable rash with colour changes in limited areas
Spots and rashes
Give two causes of a macular rash
Measles, rubella
Spots and rashes
What is a papular rash?
A palpable rash with raised, solid lesions and colour changes in limited areas up to 0.5cm
Spots and rashes
What can cause a papular rash?
Pityriasis rosea
Spots and rashes
What is a vesicular rash?
Elevated lesions that are filled with clear fluid <0.5cm
Spots and rashes
Give three causes of a vesicular rash
Chicken pox, herpes simplex, herpes zoster
Spots and rashes
What is an ulcer?
A skin or mucous membrane lesion occuring as a result of the loss of superficial tissue, usually involving an inflammatory process