Paediatrics Flashcards
What is pityriasis versicolor and how is it treated?
common fungal skin infection that becomes more noticeable when spending time in the sun/after suntan: commonly affects trunk, patches may be hypopigmented, pink or brown, scaling is common, mild pruritis
Treatment is with ketoconazole shampoo
What causes scarlet fever?
Group A haemolytic streptococci - usually Strep pyogenes
What are the features of scarlet fever?
incubation period of 2-4 days:
fever
malaise, headache, nausea/vomiting
sore throat
strawberry tongue
rash -> fine punctuate erythema which generally appears on top of torso and spares the palm and soles, has rough sandpaper texture
How is scarlet fever managed?
oral penicillin V for 10 days
Children can return to school 24 hours after commencing antibiotics
scarlet fever is a notifiable disease
What are the features of Edward’s syndrome (trisomy 18)?
Micrognathia - where lower jaw is undersized
Low-set ears
Rocker bottom feet
Overlapping of fingers
What are features of Fragile X?
Learning difficulties
Macrocephaly
Long face
Long ears
Macro-orchidism - testes twice the normal size for age
What are the features of William’s syndrome?
Short stature
Learning difficulties
Friendly, extrovert personality
Transient neonatal hypercalcaemia
Supravalvular aortic stenosis
What are the features of Prader-Willi syndrome?
Hypotonia
Hypogonadism
Obesity
What is hydrops fetalis?
when abnormal amounts of fluid build up in two or more body areas of a foetus or newborn
What electrolyte abnormality is seen in pyloric stenosis?
hypochloraemic, hypokalaemic alkalosis
What is the standard test for Down’s syndrome?
combined test
done at 11-13+6 weeks
nuchal translucency measurement + serum BHCG + pregnancy associated plasma protein (PAPP-A_
What results from the combined test suggest an increased chance of Down’s syndrome?
increased HCG
decreased PAPP-A
thickened nuchal translucency
What is laryngomalacia? And how does it present?
Congenital abnormality of the larynx, typically presents at 4 weeks with stridor
what are the features of minimal change disease?
nephrotic syndrome - haematuria, slight proteinuria
normotension - hypertension is rare
highly selective proteinuria
renal biopsy shows normal glomeruli on light microscopy
What is a cephalohaematoma?
swelling due to bleeding between the periosteum and the skull, most commonly noted in the parietal region and is associated with instrumental deliveries
what is caput succadeneum?
commonly seen in newborns immediately after birth, occurs due to generalised scalp oedema, which crosses suture lines
How does Noonan syndrome present?
webbed neck
pectus excavatum
short stature
Pulmonary stenosis
what is the classical murmur heard in PDA?
continuous machine whirring murmur throughout cardiac cycle
what is the treatment of PDA?
only required if the baby is symptomatic
1/3 may require treatment with an NSAID - these inhibit prostaglandin synthesis which normally help maintain ductal patency
What are the classic symptoms of measles?
development of a fever above 40 degrees
coryzal symptoms
conjunctivitis followed by a rash about 2-5 days after onset of symptoms
koplik spots -> small grey discolouration of the mucosal membranes in the mouth and appear 1-3 days after symptoms begin during the prodrome phase of infection –> PATHOGNOMONIC for measles infection
measles symptoms tend to develop 10-14 days post-exposure to an infected individual and last for 7-10 days
how can measles be diagnosed?
1st: measles specific IgM and IgG serology (ELISA) is most sensitive 3-14 days after onset of rash
2nd: measles RNA detection by PCR best for swabs taken 1-3 days after rash onset
how can measles be diagnosed?
1st: measles specific IgM and IgG serology (ELISA) is most sensitive 3-14 days after onset of rash
2nd: measles RNA detection by PCR best for swabs taken 1-3 days after rash onset
how is measles managed?
supportive care -> antipyrexial
vitamin A in all children under 2
Ribavarin may reduce duration of symptoms but use is not routinely recommended
what are the complications of measles?
acute otitis media
bronchopneumonia
encephalitis
How does oesophageal atresia present?
antenatal: polyhydramnios - as the oesophagus is blind-ending, fluid cannot pass through the baby to be absorbed, resulting in accumulation of fluid outside the baby
postnatal: respiratory distress, distended abdomen, choking/problems with swallowing, baby will have difficulty feeding and has overflow saliva, neonatal doctors will find difficulty passing the NG tube down
what is meconium aspiration syndrome?
presence of meconium in the amniotic fluid may lead to development of meconium aspiration syndrome
MAS is caused by passage of meconium from the amniotic fluid into the foetal lungs
It can cause blockage and inflammation of the airways and is associated with significant morbidity and mortality
what is meconium ileus?
condition where the meconium is thickened and causes obstruction of the bowel in the neonate - most commonly an early sign of cystic fibrosis
Meconium ileus usually presents as bilious vomiting, a distended abdomen and failure to pass meconium within the first 12-24 hours of life
It is important to recognise the obstruction may lead to bowel perforation, peritonitis, malrotation of the bowel and intestinal atresia
what are the diagnostic criteria for whooping cough/pertussis?
should be suspected if there is an acute cough that has lasted for 14 days or more without another apparent cause, and has one or more of the following features:
- paroxysmal cough
- inspiratory whoop
- post-tussive vomiting
- undiagnosed apnoeic attacks in young infants
how is whooping cough diagnosed?
per nasal swab culture for bordatella pertussis
What are features of congenital hypothyroidism?
peripheral features: dry, thick skin, brittle hair, scanty 2ndary sexual hair
head and neck features: macroglossia, puffy face, loss of lateral 3rd of eyebrow, goitre
cardiac features: bradycardia, hepatomegaly
neurological features: carpal tunnel syndrome, slow relaxing reflexes, cerebellar ataxia, peripheral neuropathy
What causes roseola infantum?
a.k.a sixth disease
caused by human herpes virus 6
what are the features of roseola infantum?
- high fever: lasting a few days followed by
- maculopapular rash
- nagayama spots: spots on the uvula and soft palate
- febrile convulsions occur in around 10-15%
- diarrhoea and cough are also commonly seen
What is Kallmann’s syndrome?
recognised cause of delayed puberty secondary to hypogonadotropic hypogonadism
usually inherited as an X-linked recessive trait
What are the features of Kallmann’s syndrome?
- delayed puberty
- hypogonadism, cryptorchidism
- anosmia - lack of smell
- sex hormone levels are low
- LH, FSH levels are inappropriately low/normal
What are the features of Kallmann’s syndrome?
- delayed puberty
- hypogonadism, cryptorchidism
- anosmia - lack of smell
- sex hormone levels are low
- LH, FSH levels are inappropriately low/normal
- patients are typically of normal or above-average height
presenting complaint is usually boy with delayed puberty who has lack of smell
What murmur is a VSD associated with?
pan systolic murmur which is louder in smaller defects
What is hand foot and mouth disease and how does it present?
self-limiting condition affecting children
commonly caused by coxsackie A16 and enterovirus 71
very contagious and typically occurs in outbreaks at nursery
Clinical features:
- mild systemic upset: sore throat, fever
- oral ulcers
- followed later by vesicles on palms and feet