paediatrics Flashcards
what is leukaemia?
cancer of the stem cells in the bone marrow
what are the risk factors for leukaemia?
- Down’s syndrome
- Kleinfelters syndrome
- Radiation exposure during pregnancy
- Noonan syndrome
what are the clinical symptoms of leukaemia?
- Persistent fatigue
- Unexplained fever
- Faltering growth
- Weight loss
- Night sweats
- Anaemia
- Petechiae and abnormal bruising
- Unexplained bleeding
- Abdominal pain
- Generalised lymphadenopathy
- Hepatosplenomegaly
Which type of leukaemia peaks in 2-3 year olds?
ALL
Which type of leukaemia peaks in under 2 year olds?
AML
What would require a specialist assessment in suspected leukaemia?
unexplained petechiae or hepatomegaly
What would an FBC show in leukaemia, and when should it be done?
anaemia, leukopenia and thrombocytopenia
within 48 hours
which investigations are needed to diagnose leukaemia?
Full blood count, which can show anaemia, leukopenia, thrombocytopenia and high numbers of the abnormal WBCs
Blood film, which can show blast cells
Bone marrow biopsy
Lymph node biopsy
what is the management of leukaemia?
CHEMOTHERAPY
+/- radiotherapy
+/- bone marrow transplant
+/- surgery
What is the prognosis for ALL?
overall cure rate is 80%
what are the complications of chemotherapy for leukaemia?
Failure to treat the leukaemia
Stunted growth and development
Immunodeficiency and infections
Neurotoxicity
Infertility
Secondary malignancy
Cardiotoxicity
what is a Wilm’s Tumour?
originates from embryonal renal tissue, usually presenting before the age of 5
How do Wilm’s tumours present?
- Large abdominal mass, often incidentally found in an otherwise well child
- Abdominal pain
- Anorexia
- Haematuria
- HTN
What investigations can confirm Wilm’s Tumour?
CT/ MRI
What is the management of Wilm’s Tumour?
Initial chemotherapy followed by delayed nephrectomy
what are the possible causes of jaundice <24 hours after birth?
Always pathological
- G6PD deficiency
- spherocytosis
- Rhesus disease
- blood group incompatibility
what are the possible causes of jaundice over 14 days (21 in preterm infants)?
Prolonged jaundice
- biliary atresia
- hypothyroidism
- breast milk jaundice
- UTI/ infection
what tests should be done in neonatal jaundice?
TCB for gestation over 35 weeks
Serum bilirubin (conj. and unconj.)
Coombs test
Infection screen
what is biliary atresia?
obstruction of the biliary tree due to sclerosis of the bile duct, reducing bile flow
what are the risk factors for biliary atresia?
- female
- cholestasis at 2-8 weeks
- CMV infection
how does biliary atresia present?
Jaundice post 2 weeks
dark urine
pale stools
appetite disturbances
hepatosplenomegaly
what is caput succedaneum?
boggy superficial scalp swelling that can cross suture line
what can cause caput succedaneum or cephalohaematoma?
traumatic, prolonged or instrumental delivery
what is a cephalohematoma?
a collection of blood between the skull and the periosteum
how can a caput succedaneum be differentiated from a cephalohematoma?
CS crosses suture lines, CH does not.
what are the risks of caput succedaneum or cephalohematoma?
anaemia and jaundice
what are the 2 main reasons for neonatal jaundice?
- increased bilirubin production, foetal haemoglobin has 70 day lifespan compared to adult 120
- decreased bilirubin conjugation due to liver immaturity
what is the pathophysiology behind breastmilk jaundice?
feeding difficulties => dehydration + impaired bilirubin elimination
what is kernicterus?
acute bilirubin encephalopathy caused by unconjugated bilirubin deposition in the basal ganglia and brainstem after it exceeds albumin binding capacity
how can kernicterus present?
less responsive, floppy, drowsy baby with poor feeding
later, seizures, hypertonia, opisthotonos
what are the long term risks of kernicterus?
cerebral palsy, learning disabilities and sensorineural deafness
what are the possible treatments of neonatal jaundice?
phototherapy or exchange transfusion if over threshold
what are the prenatal signs of oesophageal atresia?
polyhydramnios- the baby cannot swallow the amniotic fluid
what are postnatal signs of oesophageal atresia?
blowing bubbles
salivation and drooling
cyanotic episodes on feeding
respiratory distress and aspiration
how does bowl obstruction present?
Persistent vomiting. This may be bilious, containing bright green bile.
Abdominal pain and distention
Failure to pass stools or wind
Abnormal bowel sounds. These can be high pitched and “tinkling” early in the obstruction and absent later.
when would malrotation/ volvulus typically present?
later at 2-30 days, will have passed meconium normally
what sign on x-ray would indicate duodenal atresia?
double bubble sign
what sign would indicate volvulus on x-ray?
coffee bean sign
what can help pass meconium in CF?
therapeutic contrast enema (gastrografin)
what is hirschsprung’s disease?
congenital absence of ganglia (both myenteric and submucosal plexus in a segment of the colon
where does Hirschsprung’s most commonly affect?
rectosigmoid junction (75%)
what are the clinical features of Hirschsprung’s?
failure to pass meconium within 24-48 hours
abdominal distension and late bilious vomiting
what would a PR reveal in Hirschsprung’s?
contracted distal segment followed by a rush of liquid stool and temporary relief of symptoms
what does an abdominal X-ray show in Hirschsprung’s?
contracted distal segment and dilated proximal segment
what is the gold standard investigation for Hirschsprung’s?
rectal suction biopsy
how common are undescended testes?
common:
5% of term babies
20% of preterm babies
when in pregnancy does testicular descent occur?
the 8th month, requires testosterone
how will most undescended testes resolve?
will spontaneously descend by 6 months to 1 year
how will undescended testes be managed if not dropped by 1 year?
orchidopexy
what is a hydrocele?
a hydrocele is a collection of fluid within the tunica vaginalis that surrounds the testes
what is the most common heart defect?
ventricular septal defect
what are the risk factors for VSD?
premature birth
genetic conditions such as Down’s, Edward’s and Patau’s
family history
how does VSD present?
- Often can by symptomless
- Pansystolic murmur at the lower left sternal border
- Poor feeding
- Tachypnoea
- Dyspnoea
- Failure to thrive
How is VSD diagnosed?
- Echo
- ECG
- X- ray which may show cardiomegaly
what is the treatment for VSD?
- Diuretics to relieve pulmonary congestion
- ACE inhibitors to reduce systemic pressure
- Surgical repair
what are the complications of VSD?
- Eisenmenger’s
- Endocarditis
- Heart failure
what are the risk factors for atrial septal defect?
- maternal smoking in 1st trimester
- family history of CHD
- maternal diabetes
- maternal rubella
how does atrial septal defect present?
- Tachypnoea
- Poor weight gain
- Recurrent chest infections
- Soft, systolic ejection murmur heard in 2nd intercostal space
- Wide, fixed split S2 sound
how is atrial septal defect managed?
- If small, can be managed conservatively and will close within 12 months of birth
- Surgical closure, usually if ASD >1cm
what are the complications of ASD?
- Stroke from DVT
- Atrial fibrillation
- Pulmonary HTN
- Eisenmenger’s syndrome
what is the most common congenital CYANOTIC heart disease?
tetralogy of fallot
what are the four features of tetralogy of fallot?
- Overriding aorta
- Large VSD
- Pulmonary stenosis
- Right ventricular hypertrophy
what are the risk factors for tetralogy of fallot?
- More common in males
- Rubella
- Increased age of the mother (>40)
How does tetralogy of fallot present?
- Clubbing
- Poor feeding
- Poor weight gain
- Ejection systolic murmur in pulmonary region (caused by pulmonary stenosis)
- Tet spells
- Irritability
- Cyanosis
What would X-ray show in tetralogy of fallot?
boot shaped heart
what is the treatment of tetralogy of fallot?
- Prostaglandin infusion PGE1 to maintain ductus arteriosus
- Beta blockers
- Morphine to reduce respiratory drive
- Surgical: repair under bypass 3 months - 4 years but needs ICU post op
what is transposition of the great arteries?
aorta rises from the right ventricle and pulmonary artery from the left, meaning deoxygenated blood is delivered systemically.
what must be present with transposition of great arteries for the baby to survive?
Mixing must occur- patent foramen ovale, VSD or PDA
what is the clinical presentation of transposition of the great arteries?
- Cyanosis in the first 24 hours of life
- Right ventricular heave
- Loud S2 heart sound
- Systolic murmur if VSD present
- Sometimes PD/VSD can make symptoms however within a few weeks they will
develop respiratory distress, poor feeding etc