Paediatrics Flashcards
Grading the severity of croup
When should you consider admission for a child with croup?
- < 6 months of age
- known upper airway abnormalities (e.g. Laryngomalacia, Down’s syndrome)
- uncertainty about the diagnosis (important differentials include acute epiglottitis, bacterial tracheitis, peritonsillar abscess and foreign body inhalation)
Investigations for Croup
- Clinical Diagnosis
- CXR:
- PA view shows subglottic narrowing (steeple sign)
- Lateral view shows swelling of the epiglottis - the ‘thumb sign’
Management of Croup
- Single dose of oral dexamethasone (0.15mg/kg) to all children regardless of severity
- prednisolone is an alternative
- Emergency treatment
- high-flow oxygen
- nebulised adrenaline
Medical asthma management (5-16)
- Short-acting beta agonist (SABA)
- SABA + paediatric low-dose inhaled corticosteroid (ICS)
- SABA + paediatric low-dose ICS + leukotriene receptor antagonist (LTRA)
- SABA + paediatric low-dose ICS + long-acting beta-agonist (LABA)
- SABA + switch ICS/LABA for a maintenance and reliever therapy (MART), that includes a paediatric low-dose ICS
- SABA + paediatric moderate-dose ICS MART
- SABA + one of the following options:
increase ICS to paediatric high-dose, either as part of a fixed-dose regime or as a MART
- Consider trial of theophylline
- Seek advice
How do you diagnose asthma?
FeNO
- in adults level of >= 40 parts per billion (ppb) is considered positive
- in children a level of >= 35 parts per billion (ppb) is considered positive
Spirometry
- FEV1/FVC ratio less than 70% (or below the lower limit of normal if this value is available) is considered obstructive
Reversibility testing
- in adults, a positive test is indicated by an improvement in FEV1 of 12% or more and increase in volume of 200 ml or more
- in children, a positive test is indicated by an improvement in FEV1 of 12% or more
Definition of asthma
Episodic, reversible airway obstruction due to bronchial hyper-reactivity to a variety of stimuli.
Conservative management of asthma
M TAME
General
- MDT: GP, specialist nurses, respiratory physician
- Technique for inhaler use
- Avoidance: allergens, smoke (ing), dust
- Monitor: Peak flow diary (2-4x/d)
-
Educate
- Liaise with a specialist nurse
- Need for Rx compliance
- Emergency action plan
Features of acute asthma exacerbations
Anormal pCO2 in an acute asthma attack indicates exhaustion and should, therefore, be classified as life-threatening.
Features of bronchiolitis
- coryzal symptoms (including mild fever) precede:
- dry cough
- increasing breathlessness
- wheezing, fine inspiratory crackles (not always present)
- feeding difficulties associated with increasing dyspnoea are often the reason for hospital admission
When should you definitely admit a child with bronchiolitis?
- Apnoea (observed or reported)
- Child looks unwell
- Severe respiratory distress
- grunting
- marked chest recession,
- RR > 70 breaths/minute
- Central cyanosis
- Oxygen saturation
When should you consider admission to a hospital for a child with bronchiolitis?
- RR > 60
- Difficulty with breastfeeding/ oral intake (50-75%)
- Clinical dehydration
Management of bronchiolitis
- Humidified oxygen via a head box (for persistently < 92%)
- NG if refusing feeds
- Suction for excess secretions
- Consider palivizumab
How do you manage respiratory disease caused by CF?
1st Line: Physio to mobilise secretions. VEST therapy (a vest which vibrates at high frequencies)
- Plus: Inhaled bronchodilator
- Plus: Inhaled mucolytic (hypertonic saline)
- Adj: Inhaled tobramycin for chronic Pseudomonas
- Adj: Inhaled corticosteroid
- Adj: Ivaftor- CFTR potentiator (increases the number proteins carried to the cell surface
2nd Line: Lung transplant
General management for CF patients
- high calorie diet, including high fat intake*
- patients with CF should try to minimise contact with each other to prevent cross infection with Burkholderia cepacia complex and Pseudomonas aeruginosa
- vitamin supplementation
- pancreatic enzyme supplements taken with meals