Paediatrics Flashcards
Signs of an unwell child
Lethargic, poor interaction, inconsolability, tachycardia, tachypnoea, cyanosis, poor peripheral perfusion
Localising signs: ENT exam, neck stiffness, increased WOB, abdo signs, skin rash, joint swelling
Febrile child workup <1month corrected
Call for help
Full sepsis workup - FBC + film, blood culture, urine culture, LP +/- CXR (if respiratory sx and signs)
Admit for empirical ABs
Febrile child workup 1-3 months
Call for help Full sepsis workup - FBC + film, blood culture, urine culture, +/- LP +/- CXR (if respiratory sx and signs) D/C home with review in 12hrs if: -previously healthy -Looks well - WCC 5-15 - Urine MCS clear - CXR and CSF (if taken) are clear
If child is unwell or above criteria are not satisfied admit for obs +/- ABs
Febrile child workup >3months with fever of clear focus
Child looks well - treat as clinically indicated
Child look unwell - discuss with reg/consultant, Ix as appropriate, admit for rx
Febrile child workup >3months and no clear focus of infection
Child looks well - Urine MCS (SPA if <12months), DC home on treatment with review in 24hrs
Child looks unwell
- FUll sepsis workup –> FBC, blood culture, urine MCS, +/- CXR, LP
- ADmit for obs +/- ABs
History and examination features of meningococcal disease.
Rapid onset of sx
- Fever, malaise, lethargy, vomiting, vomiting, headache, myalgia, arthralgia, ALOC
- May have schock
Management of meningitis
- IV access within 15 mins
- Take culture and administer ceftriaxone
- Fluids
- Steroids- consider dexamethasone in undifferentiated meningitis
- Contact chemoprophylaxis in anyone who has had contact in last 7 days with rifampicin
Common causes of otitis media
Viral (25%)
Streptococcus pneumoniae (35%)
Non-typable strains of HIB (25%)
Moraxella catarrhalis (15%)
Management of acute otitis media
> 12mo, mildly unwell, immunocompetent –> give analgesia with no abs for first 48hrs –> if sx not resolving give amoxycillin TDS for 5 days
Advise parents to seek medical review if ear sx, hearing difficulty or persitent irritability after 2-3 months
CSF findings in meningits
Bacterial: +++ neutrophils, + lymphocytes, protein ++, glucose -
Viral: Neutrophils +, lymphocytes +++, protein -, glucose N
Criteria for Kawasaki’s disease
Fever for >5 days + 4 out of 5
- Polymorphous rash
- Bilateral non-purulent conjunctivitis
- Mucous membrane changes - red lips, strawberry tongue, red pharynx/oral mucosa
- Peripheral changes - palmar erythema, sole erythema, oedema of hand/feet, convalescence desquamation
- Cervical lymphadenopathy
Exclusion of diseases with similar presentation - Scalded skin syndrome, toxic shock syndrome, scarlet fever, measles, other viral exanthems, drug reaction, juvenile RA
Other common features - arthritis, d+v, coryza, cough, uveitis, gallbladder hydrops
Ix for a child with suspected Kawasaki’s disease
- ASOT, anti-DNase B
- Echo (at least twice, 1 at initial presentation, if -ve then again at 6-8 wks)
- PLatelet count (thrombocytosis common in 2nd week of illness)
Management of Kawasaki’s disease
- Admit
- IV immunoglobulin within first 10 days, but also to pts after 10 days if evidence of ongoing inflammation
- Aspirin 3-5mg/kg for 6-8 wks
Common causes of osteomyelitis/septic arthritis
- Most commonly caused staph aureus
- GAS
- HIB
Features of osteomyelitis
-Subacute onset of limp/refusal to use limb/not weight bearing
- Localised pain
- Pain on movement
- Soft tissue swelling/redness may not be present
+/- fever
Features of septic arthritis in paeds
- Acute onset of refusal to use limb/limp
- Pain on movement and at rest
- Loss of movement/limited range
- SOft tissue redness and swelling often present
- Fever
Ix for osteomyelitis and septic arthritis
FBC ESR - monitoring progress Blood culture Xray Bone scan Joint aspirate in septic arthritis
Management of septic arthritis and osteomyelitis
- Refer to orthopaedics
- Septic arthritis requires urgent aspiration +/- arthrotomy and washout
- ABs –> flucloxacillin
- Elevate and immobilise the limb
Management of orbital cellulitis
Surgical emergency - consult ENT surgeons and ophthalmologist.
Urgent CT - differentiate those with abscess to those without
Surgical drainage of abscess = decompression of orbit + material for gram-stain and culture
Abs - ceftriaxone, flucloxacillin
Features of orbital cellulitis
Proptosis
Ophthalmoplegia
Poor acuity
Severe or persistent headache
Organisms that cause orbital and periorbital cellulitis
<5yo - strep. pneumoniae, strep. pyogenes
>5 - staph. aureus
Hib can also cause, but not common anymore
Features of peri-orbital cellulitis
Eyelid erythema and oedema without signs of orbital cellulitis
Common presentation of Henloch Schonlein Purpura
Autoimmune vasculitis presenting at 2-8yo. 50% are post URTI. Palpable purpura in all patients Other features - Arthritis/arthralgia - Abdo pain - Renal involvement --> haematuria, proteinuria, HTN - Pulmonary and neuro involvement rare