Paediatrics Flashcards
Brain injury is a common feature contributing to the course and outcome of meconium aspiration
True or False?
True
Loss of sphincter control in the uterus is unlikely as it is a poorly developed reflex, therefore uncommon in neonates and is often associated with listeria infection. For term babies this reflex is well developed and is more common.
• Term babies will require hypoxic and ischaemic insults in order to relax sphincter
• A further strong inspiratory reflex is required to inspirate
• Inspiration of meconium is a sign of severe hypoxic ischaemic brain injury
Neonatal Respiratory Distress Syndrome is expected to improve following the initial 24 hours after birth
True or False?
False
NRDS affects premature babies due to surfactant deficiency (Hyaline membrane disease). It begins at 6 hours after birth and is worst between 24-48 hours before improving
• Treatment include giving steroids during pregnancy and tocolytics to prevent early delivery
• Once delivered management is with surfactant and CPAP
In the absence of fever, hypothyroidism is the most common cause of sleepiness in a newborn baby
True or False?
False
The cause of sleepiness may be physiological or pathological. It is important to differentiate between the two in order to
• Physiological – due to the stressful nature of birth/sleep cycle is much faster in neonates
• Pharmacological – maternal intake of medication during birth/whilst breast feeding
• Pathological – non specific sign of illness e.g. hyponatraemia/hypoglycaemia/infection/hypothyroidism
Intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis protects babies against Group B Streptococcal sepsis throughout the neonatal period
True or False?
False
It prevents Group B Streptococcal sepsis at the beginning but not the entire duration of the neonatal period.
• E.Coli/Group B streptococcal (and gram negatives) are present in the digestive tract and so are the most common causative first organisms
• Can present in the first 48hrs after birth or delayed within the first few months, usually presenting as meningitis
• It is a medical emergency due to aggressive nature of infection
• Treatment is two doses @12hours of penicillin given Intrapartum that protects for the first 48hours after birth but not for duration of neonatal period
Neck rigidity and bulging fontanelle are useful features for the diagnosis of bacterial meningitis in newborn babies
True or False?
False
Young infants are very bad at amounting an immune response.
• It will take a long time for neck rigidity to manifest due to irritation of meninges
• Bulging fontanelle will take a while as there is a lot of room for expansion
• Both present too late and are not a useful measure
Cardiac murmurs detected on routine neonatal check 72 hours after birth, require more prompt assessment than those during a screening visit at two years of age
True or False?
True
Changes from foetal to neonatal circulation occur following birth
• This is an important time as duct dependency will manifest itself. Has three distinct casues:
(1) Severe tetraphalogy or conditions with impaired right ventricular circulation leading to a LR shunt
(2) Severe left ventricular circulation impairment that leads to a RL shunt
(3) No mixing between the two circulations (transposition of the great vessels)
APGAR score includes RR.
True or False?
False
APGAR score includes capillary return
True or False?
False
APGAR score at 5 min has an important role in determining resuscitation interventions.
True or False?
False
Used at 5/10/15/20 minutes for prognostic information to see how neurodevelopment will occur
APGAR scores are important determinants of the need for intensive care of extremely premature babies
True or False?
False
APGAR scores can be artificially lowered by intra-partum use of analgesia and sedation
True or False?
True
In resuscitation of babies at birth, adrenaline should be given if the hear rate is below 40 per minute
True or False?
False
In adults primary event leading to cardiac arrest is cardiovascular. In children it is most commonly due to respiratory events with cardiac arrest occurring as a secondary complication.
• Management: initial O2 and mucosal aspiration, if no response, cardiac assistance (adrenaline)
Intra-ventricular haemorrhage is a recognised complication of forceps delivery
True or False?
False
Intra-ventricular haemorrhage is specific to premature births. Occurs due to large rapid changes in blood pressure that causes damage to poorly developed choroid plexus
Low body temperature is a sign of systemic infection in young infants
True or False?
True
This can occur due to the larger surface area and thinner skin in infants
Peri-umbilical redness precedes cord separation
True or False?
False
Umbilical stump will fall off within two weeks due to necrosis
• Redness SHOULD NOT extend to the area around the umbilicus
• If it is red it require IV antibiotics and admission to hospital as it is an easy site of peritoneal infection
Seizures in premature babies can manifest only in colour change
True or False?
True
Due to lack or presence of myelin so are unable to have visible seizures just localised ones
• It is believed that you are born with the same amount of nerves as when you die. However, it is due to myelination that we develop progression of higher cognition and motor development
Breast fed babies are at a higher risk of haemorrhagic disease of the newborn
True or False?
True
Breast feeing can casue generalised jaundice
• Haemorrhagic disease in the newborn is caused by a lack of vitamin K
• Formulae milk has Vitamin K addition, whereas breast does not
Asthma is a common cause of recurrent wheezing in infancy
True or False?
DK
There is no conclusive evidence to point to this
• Wheeze is a dry, continuous, polyphonic noise
• Asthma is caused by reversible airways obstruction due to hyper-responsive airways caused by IgE mediated inflammation (usually) that is brought on by either allergic/infective or autoimmune parameters
Apnoea is common in young babies with bronchiolitis
True or False?
True
Preterm infants or full term infants in the first 4 weeks of life can present with this
Babies with bronchiolitis showing respiratory distress but no wheeze can be managed at home
True or False?
False
This requires muscular effort and babies will eventually tire, leading to lack of inspiration and eventual resp failure
Dehydration is a frequent complication of bronchiolitis
True or False?
True
This can occur due to a lack of appetite
Hospitalised infants with bronchiolitis are at risk of fluid overload
True or False?
True
Most commonly due to SIADH where respiratory manifestation is most common
In a baby with vomiting and significant METABOLIC ACIDOSIS
Pyloric stenosis is a common underlying cause
True or False?
False
Due to the production of bicarbonate caused by excessive vomiting metabolic alkalosis would occur. So this is false.
• Additionally repeatedly vomiting would relax your pyloric sphincter, lessening your stenosis and would lead to a less severe form of alkalosis
In a baby with vomiting and significant METABOLIC ACIDOSIS
Hyperkalaemia maybe present despite potassium depletion
True or False?
True
In this situation a shift from intracellular to extracellular concentration can occur
• This gives a false value and an impression of normal values
• Management: give fluids then K+ once kidneys are well perfused (unless in situations of pyloric stenosis or diabetes)
In a baby with vomiting and significant METABOLIC ACIDOSIS
Tetany can occur despite normal calcium levels
True or False?
False
This is caused by hypocalcaemia
• Calcium is in the blood (50% bound/50% unbound)
• Unbound is “active calcium”
• Acidosis does not change total calcium levels but it does cause a shift towards unbound “active” calcium leading to hypercalcaemia
• Alkalosis causes a shift towards bound “non-active” calcium leading to hypocalcaemia and subsequent tetany
o Hyperventilation/renal failure
In a baby with vomiting and significant METABOLIC ACIDOSIS
High lactate may suggest poor circulation
True or False?
True
Poor circulation/sepsis or infection leads to increased lactate caused by poor perfusion
In a baby with vomiting and significant METABOLIC ACIDOSIS
High ketones may be the explanation
True or False?
True
Ketones are acidotic and can be caused by starvation
In a baby with vomiting and significant METABOLIC ACIDOSIS
In the presence of hypoglycaemia, ketonuria would point to hyperinsulism
True or False?
Uncertain
In a baby with vomiting and significant METABOLIC ACIDOSIS
Genetic metabolic disorders need to be considered
True or False?
False
If no other diagnosis is possible
Clindamycin IV +/- Immunoglobulin, 3rd Generation Cephalosporin IV, 3rd Generation Cephalosporin plus Vancomycin IV, IV co-amoxiclave, 3rd Generation Cephalosporin plus Flucloxacillin IV, 3rd Generation Cephalosporin plus Acyclovir plus a Macrolide IV, Trimethoprim orally, None, Oral Penicillin V
What is the most suitable antimicrobial treatment for: Scarlet Fever
Oral Penicillin V
Generation Cephalosporin IV, 3rd Generation Cephalosporin plus Vancomycin IV, IV co-amoxiclave, 3rd Generation Cephalosporin plus Flucloxacillin IV, 3rd Generation Cephalosporin plus Acyclovir plus a Macrolide IV, Trimethoprim orally, None, Oral Penicillin V
What is the most suitable antimicrobial treatment for:
Reseola Infantum in a 2 year old
None
Generation Cephalosporin IV, 3rd Generation Cephalosporin plus Vancomycin IV, IV co-amoxiclave, 3rd Generation Cephalosporin plus Flucloxacillin IV, 3rd Generation Cephalosporin plus Acyclovir plus a Macrolide IV, Trimethoprim orally, None, Oral Penicillin V
What is the most suitable antimicrobial treatment for:
Fever with no focus in 4 year old
None
Generation Cephalosporin IV, 3rd Generation Cephalosporin plus Vancomycin IV, IV co-amoxiclave, 3rd Generation Cephalosporin plus Flucloxacillin IV, 3rd Generation Cephalosporin plus Acyclovir plus a Macrolide IV, Trimethoprim orally, None, Oral Penicillin V
What is the most suitable antimicrobial treatment for:
Severe peri-orbital celulitis
3rd Generation Cephalosporin plus Flucloxacillin IV (caused by Staph aureus, Pneumococcus, Staph Epidermis)
Generation Cephalosporin IV, 3rd Generation Cephalosporin plus Vancomycin IV, IV co-amoxiclave, 3rd Generation Cephalosporin plus Flucloxacillin IV, 3rd Generation Cephalosporin plus Acyclovir plus a Macrolide IV, Trimethoprim orally, None, Oral Penicillin V
What is the most suitable antimicrobial treatment for:
UTI in a 4 year old
Trimethoprim only
Generation Cephalosporin IV, 3rd Generation Cephalosporin plus Vancomycin IV, IV co-amoxiclave, 3rd Generation Cephalosporin plus Flucloxacillin IV, 3rd Generation Cephalosporin plus Acyclovir plus a Macrolide IV, Trimethoprim orally, None, Oral Penicillin V
What is the most suitable antimicrobial treatment for:
Septic knee arthritis in non-immunised 2 year old
3rd Generation Cephalosporin plus Flucloxacillin IV (if immunised can given only Flucloxacillin) you are worried about Haemophilus Influenza B in non immunised child
Generation Cephalosporin IV, 3rd Generation Cephalosporin plus Vancomycin IV, IV co-amoxiclave, 3rd Generation Cephalosporin plus Flucloxacillin IV, 3rd Generation Cephalosporin plus Acyclovir plus a Macrolide IV, Trimethoprim orally, None, Oral Penicillin V
What is the most suitable antimicrobial treatment for:
Florid meningitis in a 3 year old with encephalopathic picture preceded by respiratory problems
3rd Generation Cephalosporin plus Vancomycin IV (for atypical infections such as Aspergillus)
Generation Cephalosporin IV, 3rd Generation Cephalosporin plus Vancomycin IV, IV co-amoxiclave, 3rd Generation Cephalosporin plus Flucloxacillin IV, 3rd Generation Cephalosporin plus Acyclovir plus a Macrolide IV, Trimethoprim orally, None, Oral Penicillin V
What is the most suitable antimicrobial treatment for:
Semi-comatosed 8 year old with encephalopathic picture preceded by respiratory symptoms
3rd Generation Cephalosporin plus Acyclovir plus a Macrolide IV (this is triple therapy for a picture of Encephalitis/Meningitis. Herpes is particularly severe and macrolide is used to treat Mycoplasma
Generation Cephalosporin IV, 3rd Generation Cephalosporin plus Vancomycin IV, IV co-amoxiclave, 3rd Generation Cephalosporin plus Flucloxacillin IV, 3rd Generation Cephalosporin plus Acyclovir plus a Macrolide IV, Trimethoprim orally, None, Oral Penicillin V
What is the most suitable antimicrobial treatment for:
A child with an infected skin lesion who developed generalised erythema, diarrhoea and postural hypotension
Clindamycin IV +/- immunoglobulin (This is toxic shock syndrome. Clindamycin weakens the bacteria and reduces toxin production whilst immunoglobulins neutralise the pre-produced toxins in order to reduce toxic effect)
The following are indications for admission to hospital for a young infant with bronchiolitis:
RR of 45 per minute
True or False?
False
Respiratory rates and age groups:
• Very preterm:
The following are indications for admission to hospital for a young infant with bronchiolitis:
Reduced feeding intake
True or False?
True
Reduced feeding intake is worrying as it can lead to acute starvation and dehydration
The following are indications for admission to hospital for a young infant with bronchiolitis:
HR of 80 per minute
True or False?
False
Hypoxia in infants results in a bradycardic effect
The following are indications for admission to hospital for a young infant with bronchiolitis:
Concerns regarding social history
True or False?
True
Must be confident that the parents are able to provide for the child, regardless of situation
The following are indications for admission to hospital for a young infant with bronchiolitis:
Sleepiness
True or False?
True
Sleepiness combined with respiratory pathology is a worrying situation
In a 7 year old child during an acute asthmatic attack, the following signs are reassuring:
Haemoglobin oxygen saturation monitor reading of 92%
True or false?
False
A normal saturation does not mean an absence of pathology. You can have serious progression (down to 7PaO2) before any changes in saturation are noticed
• Even at lowest saturation i.e. venous blood haemoglobin uptake is roughly at 75%
• Remember the sigmoid curve