Paediatrics Flashcards
Name 5 categories of child abuse
(PENS-F) Physical Emotional/psychological Neglect Sexual Fabricated/induced illness
When should solid foods be introduced into an infants diet?
6 months
Until what age should breast feeding continue?
2 years
What is the normal cut off for weight loss that should occur during the first week of a child’s life?
They should not lose more than 10% of their birth weight in the first week, and this weight should be regained again by day 14
Describe the breast feeding hormone reflex
AP produces prolactin
PP produces oxytocin
suckling stimulates the AP and PP
Prolactin causes alveolar cells to make milk, and oxytocin lets the milk ‘down’
Baby then suckles and the breast is emptied
FIP (feedback inhibitor polypeptide) is released when the baby is not suckling which inhibits the alveolar cells from making milk
List 4 benefits of breast feeding to the baby
A-D
- less allergies
- close BOND with mother
- Complete nutritional source
- Developmental (high IQ)
Reduced infections (ear, gut, resp) Reduced autoimmune conditions Reduced SIDS risk Reduced cardiovascular disease Increases cognitive ability
List 4 benefits of breast feeding to the mother
E-H
- economic (free)
- fit (helps with weight loss)
- guards (reduces breast, ovarian and uterine cancer risks)
- reduced risk of Haemorrhage post partum
Reduced breast cancer risk Reduced ovarian cancer risk Reduced diabetes risk Helps with weight loss Builds bond with baby Reduces post-natal depression
How is CF inherited, and describe the mutation?
Autosomal recessive
affects 1/2500 births
F508 mutation on chromosome 7 in the CFTR protein
Describe the pathophysiology of CF
Normal CFTR protein = allows chloride ions to leave mucosal cells and enter the lumen of organs
Defective CFTR = chloride ions cannot leave mucosal cells which leads to thickened, sticky secretions which cannot be cleared
Affects many organ systems:
- lungs
- pancreas (exocrine deficiency)
- liver (fibrosis and thick bile)
- reproductive system (non-functioning vans deferens and thickened cervical mucous)
- poor growth and delayed puberty
What ENT complications can CF patient suffer from
Nasal polyps
Sinusitis
What common types of chest infections do CF patients get?
Pseudomonas aeriginosa
Mycobacterium abcessus
Burkholderia cepacia
Describe CF screening
Look for raised IRT (immunoreactive trypsin levels) on neonatal blood spot -> as the pancreatic duct shrivels up antenatally this means that enzymes get backed up into the blood
Genetic testing -> for CFTR mutation e.g. F508
Describe how CF may present
Meconium ileus
Recurrent infections
Failure to thrive
Describe the diagnostic tests for CF
Sweat testing (positive is Cl in sweat is >60mmol/L)
Stool testing (look for reduced faecal elastase)
Describe the treatments of CF
MDT involvement Chest physiotherapy Dieticians ?gastrostomy Prophylactic antibiotics Fat soluble vitamins and enzyme replacement
What is the incidence of down syndrome and the 3 mechanisms of trisomy?
1/1000 births Trisomy 21 caused by: - non-disjunction (90%) - translocation (5%) - mosaicism (1%)
List physical appearance features of a DS child
Prominent epicanthal folds Upward slanting palpebral fissures Small mouth and protruding tongue Round face Low set ears Single palmar crease Poor growth and short stature
List neuro complications of DS
Learning difficulties
Cataracts
Strabismus
Epilepsy
List cardiac complications of DS
Congenital heart disease in 50% children (get ECHO screened after birth)
AV septal defect is common, also VSD and tetralogy of fallot (= POR-V: pulmonary stenosis, overriding aorta, RV hypertrophy, VSD)
List GI complications of DS
Risk of duodenal atresia -> bilious vomiting and double bubble sign on AXR
Imperforate anus
Hirschprung’s disease
GORD
Coeliac disease
Describe screening for DS (invasive and non-invasive)
Non-invasive
- first trimester bloods e.g. B-HCG and PAPP-A + maternal age = risk calculation
- nuchal translucency on USS
Invasive:
- CVS/amniocentesis
What formula is used to calculate fluid requirements for children (not neonates)
4-2-1 rule
First 10kg = 4ml/kg/hr
Second 10kg = 2ml/kg/hr
Remaining kg = 1ml/kg/hr
What are the electrolyte requirements for paeds
Na = 2-4mmol/kg/hr Cl = 2-4mmol/kg/hr K = 1-2mmol/kg/hr
(0.45% NaCl is usually best)
What is the formula used to calculate the desired volume of blood for a child for transfusion?
Transfusion volume = Hb (g) (desired - actual) x Weight (kg) x 4
Describe fluid boluses given to children in resus:
Always give 20ml/kg of 0.9% NaCl and then reassess in resus
Except give 10ml/kg in DKA, cardiogenic shock or haemorrhagic shock
Describe the presentation of pyloric stenosis
(hypertrophy of pyloric muscle causing gastric outlet obstruction)
Projectile vomiting soon after feeding (no bile)
A hungry baby with weight loss -> they become dehydrated and eventually not interested in feeding
Common 2-6 weeks
5M : 1F
Maternal family history
How is pyloric stenosis diagnosed?
Low Na and K are found -> metabolic alkalosis
Carry out a test feed and an USS will show peristalsis and a thickened pylorus
O/Ex: a pyloric mass which feels like an olive is palpable in the RUQ
How is pyloric stenosis treated?
Fluid resuscitate and correct electrolytes (0.45% saline, 5% dextrose, potassium supplementation)
Definitive mgx: pyloromyotomy
What is malrotation?
When the normal rotation and fixation of the bowel that should happen during 4-12wks gestation does not. The caecum lies close to the duodenal-jejunal flexure. There is a narrow midgut mesentery which is liable to volvulus.
How is malrotation diagnosed and treated?
Diagnosis -> barium contrast studies
Tx: resus, laparotomy and ladds procedure
What is NEC and how does it present?
Necrotising enterocolitis = an acute inflammatory disease which occurs in premature infants where there is bacterial invasion and necrosis of the bowel.
Presentation: Obstruction with bilious vomiting is the normal presentation in the first few days of life but can present later -> distended abdomen, blood in stool, bilious vomiting, pyrexia and feeding intolerance
How is NEC treated?
Conservative: fluids and abx
Surgical: bowel resection and stoma formation
What is atresia of the intestine?
A congenital narrowing or absent section of the intestine
Can occur anywhere in GI tract, but most commonly jejunum/ileum
What genetic condition is duodenal atresia linked with?
30% of infants with duodenal atresia have Down’s syndrome
What is Hirschprung’s disease?
An aganglionic piece of bowel (i.e. which lacks special nerve cells) is present. This means the muscle in this area cannot perform peristalsis and poo gets stuck in the bowels.
Commonly occurs at the anus and progresses upwards
Causes bowel obstruction and enlargement of the colon
How does Hirschprung’s disease present
90% present with delayed passage of meconium
Later presentations = abdominal distension, constipation, failure to thrive
What is intussusception and at what age does it present
Full thickness invagination of proximal bowel into distal bowel segment (commonly at ileo-caecal area)
Peak age = 2 months - 3 yrs
What are the symptoms of intussusception
TRIAD:
- abdominal pain
- redcurrant jelly stools (due to blood stained mucous)
- vomiting (maybe bilious depending on intuss site)
How is intussusception diagnosed and treated?
Dx: USS -> will show a target lesion/doughnut sign
Tx:
Resus if needed
Rectal air insufflation (air enema) is both diagnostic and therapeutic -> ONLY if no peritonitis
Surgery if peritonitis is present
What is meconium ileus/plug?
When the meconium which is sticky can form a plug or become blocked in the bowel
90% of cases, the child has cystic fibrosis
What are the presenting features of meconium ileus?
Delayed meconium passage (ie. not within the first 24hrs of delivery)
Feeding reluctantly
Bilious vomiting
How is meconium ileus diagnosed?
AXR
How is meconium ileus treated?
NGT -> to drain bile from stomach
Stop feeds
IV fluids +/- Abx
May need an enema/stoma/surgery
Later -> CF testing
What is biliary atresia and how does it present?
Progressive and idiopathic necrotising inflammation of part/all of the biliary tree
S/Sx: jaundice, pale stools and hepatomegaly
How is biliary atresia treated?
Tx: urgent hepato-porto-enterostomy (to allow bile to flow out of the duct system into the gut)
70% children need liver transplant
Long term Mgx: optimising growth and nutrition
What is the formula to estimate a child’s weight based on their age?
(Age + 4) x 2 (in kg)
List the paediatric indications for a CT head
Witnessed LOC for >5 mins Amnesia >5 mins 3 or more episodes of discrete vomiting Signs of fractured base of skull A post traumatic seizure with no history of epilepsy
List 5 causes of bilious vomiting
Intussusception Meconium plug Hirschprung's disease Necrotising enterocolitis Gastroenteritis
Describe the differences between foetal and adult circulations AND what happens when the baby is born
- Ductus venosus - carries nutrient rich, oxygenated blood straight from the mother’s placenta to the foetal inferior IVC and into the RA of the heart (bypassing the liver)
- Foramen ovale - allows blood to pass RA -> LA (bypassing the lungs which are not yet functioning)
- Ductus arteriosus (becomes ligamentum arteriosum) - allows any blood which does pass into the RV and pulmonary artery to move straight from PA -> aorta (avoiding the lungs)
When baby takes first breath, this reduces pulmonary vascular resistance, there is an increase in LA filling as blood is returning from the now functioning lungs and the foramen ovale closes.
What is transient tachypnoea
Normally during labour the infant’s chest is squeezed as it passes through the birth canal and this helps to clear fluid from the lungs, however often infants can suffer from transient tachypnoea following a C-section when their lungs have not been squeezed as it can take several hours for the lung fluid to be resorbed, resulting in laboured & rapid breathing.
Describe respiratory distress syndrome
Deficiency of surfactant, often in premature babies, lowers surface tension leading to widespread alveolar collapse and inadequate gas exchange
Common in infants born < 28 weeks as type 2 pneumocytes have not secreted enough surfactant, rare at term but may occur in infants of DIABETIC mothers
Clinical signs = >60 breaths/min, laboured breathing
Tx: antenatal steroids (before birth)
Describe how choanal atresia may present?
Episodic cyanosis which is worse when the baby feeds and improves when they cry (due to occlusion of bone/soft tissue at the back of the nostril)
Why are pre-term infants at increased risk of infection?
As IgG is transferred across the placenta in the final trimester
Describe the common pathogens that can cause early and late onset infections in newborn infants
- Early onset sepsis (within 48hrs of birth)
Usually due to bacteria which ascended the birth canal and entered the amniotic fluid. Caused by E.COLI and mother may have fever during labour. Presents with resp distress, apnoea and temperature instability - Late onset sepsis (>48hrs from birth)
Nosocomial or environmental infections
STAPH EPIDERMIS is the most common pathogen in NICU from indwelling catheters - GROUP B STREP can cause LATE AND EARLY infection
20% of women have vaginal carriage of this bug
Colonised mothers can be given prophylactic Abx