Paediatrics Flashcards
Question to ask in Cerebral Palsy?
- How old was he when he was able to hold his head up? (3 months)
- How old was he when he sat up?
- Does he have a hand preference?
- Tip-toe gait?
- Do any of his/her limbs stay in the same position? (flexed)
- Assess the rest of the developmental domains
Questions for Dyskinetic Cerebral Palsy?
- Chorea → irregular and sudden non-repetitive movements (brief)?
- Athetosis → fanning of fingers?
- Dystonia → twisting of repetitive movements?
Ataxic Cerebral Palsy
- Not symmetrical
- Not hypotonia
- No intention tremor
- Unsteady, shaky movements or tremor
- Difficulties maintaining balance
What are the risk factors for Cerebral Palsy?
- Pre-term - can cause damage via periventricular leukomalacia secondary to ischaemia and or severe intraventricular haemorrhage and venous infarction
- Post-natal - Meningitis, encephalopathy/phalitis, head trauma (accidental/non-accidental), hypoglycaemia, hydrocephalus, hyperbilirubinaemia
How do you treat Cerebral Palsy?
- To treat hypertonia - botulinum toxin injections in to muscles
- Selective dorsal rhizotomy (portion of the nerve roots in the spinal cord are selectively cut to reduce spasticity)
- Intrathecal Baclofen (skeletal muscle relaxant)
- Deep brain stimulation of the basal ganglia
Emollient Ladder
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Anaphylaxis
- ABCDE approach
- Call for help - lay them flat and raise their legs
(Repeat adrenaline every 5 minutes if they’re unwell)
- 0.15 ml (1:1000) - < 6 years
- 0.3 ml (1:1000) - 6-12 years
- 0.5 ml (1:1000) - > 12 years
When Equipment is Available
- Establish airway
- High flow oxygen Monitor
- IV fluid challenge - 20ml/kg
- Chlorphenamine
Monitor
- ECG
- Hydrocortisone
- Blood pressure
- Pulse oximetry
What are the life-threatening features of anaphylaxis?
Airway
- swelling
- hoarseness
- stridor
Breathing
- rapid breathing
- wheeze
- fatigue
- cyanosis
- SpO2 < 92%
- confusion
Circulation
- pale
- clammy
- low blood pressure
- faintness
- drowsy/coma
What is the definition of asthma?
Asthma is a chronic lung condition in which there is chronic inflammation of the airways, and hypersensitivity of the airways.
Symptoms include wheeze, cough, chest tightness and SOB (dyspnoea). It is often worse at night.
What are the symptoms in Otitis Media (w effusion)?
Otitis Media
- not seeming themselves
- less responsive
- shouting
- volume turned up when watching TV
- ear is red and painful
- recent ear infections?
- fever/feeding difficulties/general sepsis/unwell symptoms
Otitis Medai w Effusion
- hearing loss is a more predominant
N.B.
- acute otitis media occurs more rapidly with signs and symptoms of inflammation
- otitis media with effusion has no signs or symptoms of acute inflammation, generally asymptomatic
How is asthma assessed?
> 5 years old
- objective tests such as FeNO - fractional exhaled nitric oxide (of 35 ppb - parts per billion)
- spirometry (< 70% = positive for asthma)
- usually followed by bronchodilator reversibility test if > 12% increase = asthma)
- peak flow variability
< 5 years old
- treat based on observation and clinical judgement as they cannot do test
- review every 6 months
Examination of Otitis Media?
- bulging or fullness of the tympanic membrane (TM)
- erythema of the TM
- possible perforation with otorrhea
- possibe absence of light reflex
What are the risk factors for Otitis Media?
- trisomy 21 (Down’s Syndrome)
- cleft palate
- cystic fibrosis
What is the management of Otitis Media?
Investigation
- Otoscopy – ear drum may appear normal. usually no signs of discharge or inflammation O/E
- Exclude foreign body, wax, perforated eardrum
- Audiometry/Tympanometry - otitis media w effusion diagnosis
Management
- active observation over 6–12 weeks is appropriate for most children, as spontaneous resolution is common
- possible referral to ENT (down’s, signficiant impairment)
- amoxicillin
- recurrent otitis media = polymixin ear drops
- effusion = grommets (ventilation tubes)
What are the symptoms of rickets?
- Progressive bowing of legs (be aware that bowing of legs can be a normal finding in toddlers).
- Progressive knock knees.
- Painful wrist swelling.
- Rachitic rosary (swelling of the costochondral junctions).
- Craniotabes (skull softening with frontal bossing and delayed fontanelle closure).
- Delayed tooth eruption and enamel hypoplasia
Chronic Symptoms
- Long-standing (3 months or longer), unexplained bone pain
- Muscular weakness (for example difficulty climbing stairs, waddling gait, difficulty rising from a chair, or delayed walking)
- Features of hypocalcaemia (tetany or seizures)
- Cardiomyopathy (in infants)