Paediatrics ILA 4-6 Flashcards
what is posseting?
small amounts of milk that accompany returns of swallowed air?
what is regurgitation?
losses of fluid orally that are larger than posseting
what is vomiting?
forceful ejection of gastric contents
what are 4 causes of GORD in infancy?
- inappropriate relaxation of the lower oesophageal sphincter
- fluid diet
- horizontal posture
- shorter intra-abdominal length
at what age do most instances of infantile GORD resolve?
12 months/1 year
what 3 infant groups is GORD more likely in?
- preterm babies
- post-surgery for oesophageal atresia
- cerebral palsy
how do you diagnose complicated GORD in infants?
- clinical history
- 24 hour oesophageal pH monitoring
- 24 hour impedance monitoring
- oesophageal biopsies and endoscopy
how do you treat uncomplicated GORD?
- thickening agents
2. smaller, more frequent feeds
how do you treat complicated GORD?
- H2 receptor antagonists
- PPI
- Nissen fundoplication surgery
what are 5 signs that GORD in a baby is complicated?
- struggling to gain weight
- begins after 6 months
- projectile vomiting
- coughing or gagging
- blood in poo or persistent diarrhoea
what is pyloric stenosis?
a condition where there is hypertrophy of the pyloric muscle, resulting in obstruction of the gastric outlet
what is the ratio of boys to girls in babies that suffer pyloric stenosis?
4:1
what are 5 signs and symptoms of pyloric stenosis?
- vomiting (that is increasing in forcefulness and frequency and becoming projectile)
- hunger after vomiting
- dehydration
- weight loss
how do you diagnose pyloric stenosis?
- test feed
- possible palpable pyloric mass in RUQ
- US
how do you treat pyloric stenosis?
- correct fluid and electrolyte balance with IV fluids
2. pyloromyotomy
what are three metabolic imbalances that are associated with pyloric stenosis?
- hyponatraemia
- hypokalaemia
- hypochloraemic alkalosis
what are 4 signs and symptoms of IBS?
- non-specific abdominal pain
- bloating
- feelings on incomplete defecation
- constipation
what accounts for 60% of cases of gastroenteritis in developed countries?
rotavirus
what are three bacteria that cause gastroenteritis, and what is an associated symptom for each infection?
- campylobacter- severe abdo pain
- shigella- blood and pus in stool
- cholera- rapidly dehydrating diarrhoea
what are 3 groups that are at extra risk of dehydration in gastroenteritis?
- infants <6 months with low birthweight
- unable to tolerate extra fluids
- > 6 stools in 24 hours
what electrolyte imbalance is common in children with profuse diarrhoea as a result of gastroenteritis and how might it present in a severe case?
hyponatraemia, presents with seizures
what electrolyte imbalance is present in children with profuse diarrhoea as a result of gastroenteritis where the loss of water exceeds the loss of salt and how might it present?
hypernatraemia, jittery movements, increased tone, seizures
how do you diagnose gastroenteritis if the child is septic?
stool culture
what blood levels should be checked if a child with gastroenteritis required IV fluids?
- plasma electrolytes
- urea
- creatinine
- glucose
how do you treat gastroenteritis?
- primary and overarching treatment is oral rehydration solution
- IV fluids in shock
- antibiotics with sepsis
what 3 things might precipitate constipation?
- dehydration
- reduced fluid intake
- anal fissure
what are 5 conditions that must be considered in a constipated infant/child?
- hirschprung’s disease
- coeliac disease
- hypercalcaemia
- anorectal abnormalities
- hypothyroidism
what is the clinical presentation of long-standing constipation?
overdistended rectum with involuntary soiling and overflow diarrhoea
how do you treat constipation?
- stool softeners- polyethylene glycol and electrolytes (on a reducing dose over months)
- stimulant laxatives- senna
- osmotic laxatives- lactulose, if stool softeners are intolerable
- encourage child to sit on the toilet after mealtimes
how do you treat severe fecal retention?
enemas
what are 5 signs and symptoms of acute appendicitis?
- anorexia
- vomiting
- abdo pain centrally then localising to the right iliac fossa
- fever
- pain aggravated by movement
- persistent tenderness and guarding at mcburneys point
how do you diagnose acute appendicitis?
- clinical presentation and history
- ultrasound
- X-ray for faecaliths in younger children
how do you treat appendicitis with generalised guarding, and appendicitis with progressed symptoms?
- generalised guarding- antibiotics and fluid resuscitation
2. progressed symptoms- laparotomy
what % of boys get inguinal hernias?
5%
what is the basic clinical presentation of an inguinal hernia?
lump in the groin which can extend into the scrotum, it may be visible on straining.
what are 2 complications of an inguinal hernia?
- intestinal obstruction
2. testicular damage
how do you treat an inguinal hernia?
- gentle compression to reduce
2. surgery involving ligation and division of the processus vaginalis
what are five signs and symptoms of inflammatory bowel disease in children?
- weight loss
- abdominal pain
- bloody diarrhoea
- poor growth
- anaemia
how do you diagnose inflammatory bowel disease?
- FBC
2. CXR (for perforation), 3. colonoscopy (with biopsy)
how do you treat inflammatory bowel disease?
- steroids- prednisolone (in general, lots of differences in UC and crohns and severities)
- resective surgery
what are three symptoms that are suggestive of malabsorption?
- diarrhoea
- failure to thrive
- anaemia
what are 6 signs and symptoms of coeliac disease?
- anaemia
- fatigue
- diarrhoea
- weight loss
- short stature
- ‘irritable bowel’ symptoms
what are 2 conditions that are commonly associated with childhood crohn’s disease?
- type 1 diabetes
2. hypothyroidism
what are the two specific values that are raised in the bloods of someone with coeliac disease?
- IgA anti-tissue transglutaminase (IgA-tTG)
2. endomysial antibodies (EMA)
what blood value is most useful in diagnosing coeliac disease in children <18 months old
IgA anti-gliadin antibodies (IgA-AGA)
how do you diagnose coeliac disease?
- IgA-tTG, EMA or IgA-AGA in bloods
- villous atrophy on small bowel biopsy via endoscopy
- gluten challenge test- avoid until the diagnosis in in doubt
how do you manage coeliac disease?
gluten-free diet
what are 5 causes of malabsorption?
- coeliac disease
- cystic fibrosis
- post-enteritis enteropathy
- giardia
- rotavirus
- bacterial overgrowth
- worms
- short bowel syndrome
what is meant by ‘failure to thrive’?
poor weight gain in infancy where head circumference is preserved relative to height which is preserved relative to weight.
what are 7 features to note with a child who is failing to thrive?
- signs of abuse
- feeding patterns
- behaviour
- activity level
- family finances
- chart family heights
- dysmorphic face
what are 5 tests to do for a child who is failing to thrive?
- check feeding technique
- clean catch urine
- coeliac serology
- skeletal survey
- glucose
- LFT
- calcium
- proteins
- immunoglobulin
- crp
- TSH
what is marasmus and what condition is it associated with?
a lack of calories with a discrepancy between height and weight (height is preserved), associated with HIV.
what are five signs and symptoms of marasmus?
- distended abdomen
- diarrhoea
- infection
- mid-arm circumference <9.9cm
- decreased albumin
how do you manage marasmus?
- largely at home with 6 months+ of fortified feeds
2. may need parenteral feeding to restore hydration and renal function
what causes kwashiorkor?
decreased intake of protein and amino acids
what are 5 signs and symptoms of kwashiorkor?
- poor growth
- distended abdomen
- diarrhoea
- anorexia
- oedema
- skin and hair depigmentation
how do you treat kwashiorkor?
offer a gradually increasing high-protein diet
what is the pathophysiology of hirschprung’s disease?
congenital lack of ganglia in a segment of the colon leading to GI obstruction, constipation and megacolon
what is the main symptom of constipation?
therapy resistant constipation that cannot be treated by laxatives or stool softeners
what are 3 potential complications of hirschprung’s disease?
- GI perforation
- bleeding
- ulcers
how do you diagnose hirschprungs disease?
- rectal suction biopsy of the aganglionic section
2. staining for acetylcholinesterase-positive nerve excess
how do you treat hirschprungs disease?
surgical resection of the aganglionic section of colon +/- colostomy
what is the most common cause of intestinal obstruction in children?
intussusception
what are 5 signs and symptoms of intussusception?
- episodic inconsolable crying
- drawing up the legs
- red-currant jelly stools
- vomiting
- sausage shaped abdominal mass
how do you diagnose intussusception?
- ultrasound with reduction by air enema
2. CT
how do you manage intussusception?
- surgery
2. supportive care
what is meckel’s diverticulum?
a congenital defect involving an outpouching of the lower part of the small intestine, which contains embryonic remnants of gastric and pancreatic tissue
what are 2 signs and symptoms of meckel’s diverticulum?
- gastric acid secretion causing GI pain
2. occult bleeding
how do you treat meckel’s diverticulum?
laporoscopic resection of the outpouching
what is toddler’s diarrhoea?
a chronic, non-specific diarrhoea mostly affecting boys age 1-5, 3 or more loose watery stools per day that may be pale or poorly digested.
how do you treat toddler’s diarrhoea?
- usually no treatment is needed particularly if symptoms are mild
- fat, fluid, fruit juices and fiber (4 F’s)- eat more fat, change fiber, dont drink too many fruit juices or fluids
what is colic?
paroxysmal, inconsolable crying with drawing up of knees and excessive flatus
what % of babies experience colic?
40%
when does colic usually resolve?
3-12 months
what does severe and persistent colic usually indicate?
cow milk protein allergy
what 3 things should always be checked in a child with colic?
- testes
- hernia orifices
- hip joints
what are 5 infective/inflammatory causes of colic?
- appendicitis
- referred pain from lower lobe pneumonia
- DKA
- UTI
- pancreatitis
what are the two types of cow’s milk protein allergies?
- IgE mediated
2. non-IgE mediated
what are 4 signs and symptoms of cow’s milk protein allergy?
- colic
- GORD
- blood/mucus in stools
- faltering growth
how do you diagnose cow’s milk protein allergy?
allergen test using cow’s milk
how do you manage cow’s milk protein allergy?
- breastfed- mother must exclude cow’s milk from her diet
2. formula fed- switch to hypoallergenic, extensively-hydrolysed or amino acid formula
what is biliary atresia?
biliary tree occlusion due to angiopathy (scarred and blocked bile ducts leading to inadequate drainage)
what are 4 signs and symptoms of biliary atresia?
in previously healthy term babies, onset mostly between birth and 6-8 weeks-
- jaundice
- yellow urine
- pale stools
- later, palpable spleen and hard and enlarged liver
how do you diagnose biliary atresia?
- conjugated bilirubin fraction
- review of newborn screen
- LFT and clotting screen
- abdominal ultrasound if after these steps, it remains a viable diagnosis
how do you manage biliary atresia?
- without end stage liver disease-hepatoportoenterostomy (intestinal limb attached to drain bile from porta hepatis)
- with end-stage liver disease- liver transplant
- ongoing antibiotic prophylaxis and ursodiol
what % of patients with choledochal cysts present before the age of 10 years?
80%
what is a choledochal cyst?
a congenital abnormality of the biliary tree that can cause swelling and backing up of bile
what are signs and symptoms of choledochal cysts?
- obstructive jaundice
- abdominal mass
- colic, jaundice and palpable RUQ in 20%
how do you diagnose choledochal cysts?
- abdominal ultrasonography
- abdominal CT/ MRI
- endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography
- can often be detected on antenatal ultrasound
how do you treat choledochal cysts?
surgical excision of the cyst
what are 4 signs and symptoms of neonatal hepatitis syndrome?
- faltering growth
- low birth weight
- jaundice
- hepatosplenomegaly
what are 3 causes of neonatal hepatitis syndrome?
- idiopathic
- viral- cytomegalovirus, rubella virus, hepatitis
- metabolic conditions
what are 5 signs and symptoms of acute liver failure?
- jaundice
- coagulopathy
- encephalopathy
- hypoglycaemia
- electrolyte disturbance
how do you manage acute liver failure?
- maintain glucose with IV dextrose
- broad spectrum antibiotics
- IV vitamin K and H2 blocking drugs to prevent GI haemorrhage
- fluid restriction to prevent cerebral oedema
what are five causes of chronic liver disease?
- hepatitis B
- autoimmune hepatitits
- wilson’s disease
- sclerosing cholangitis
- hepatitis C
what are five signs and symptoms of sclerosing cholangitis
- liver failure
- skin rash
- arthritis
- haemolytic anaemia
- nephritis
how do you diagnose sclerosing cholangitis?
- hypergammaglobulinaemia
- positive autoantibodies
- low serum C4
- histology
how do you manage sclerosing cholangitis?
- prednisolone and azathioprine
2. ursodeoxycholic acid
what are 5 signs and symptoms of wilson’s disease?
- liver disease
- tremor
- dysarthria
- parkinsonism
- ataxia
how do you diagnose wilson’s disease?
- LFT
- 24hr copper excretion is high
- serum copper and caeruloplasmin
how do you treat wilson’s disease?
- avoid foods with a high copper content
- lifelong penicillamine
- zinc to reduce copper absorption
- pyridoxine (vitamin B6) to prevent peripheral neuropathy
- liver transplant is considered
what are 4 signs and symptoms of encephalopathy?
- infants- irritability, sleepless
- changes to mood
- changes to sleep rhythm
- changes to intellectual performance
what is elevated in the plasma in encephalopathy?
ammonia
what should be restricted with encephalopathy?
protein
how do you treat pruritis?
- loose cotton clothing
- moisturising skin
- phenobarbitol and cholestyramine
what are 4 things that can precipitate encephalopathy in liver failure?
- GI haemorrage
- sepsis
- sedative drugs
- renal failure
what are 5 physical signs of cirrhosis?
- jaundice
- palmar erythema
- telangiectasia
- spider naevi
- hypotonia
what are 4 indications for liver transplant?
- severe malnutrition
- complications with medical management
- failure of growth
- poor quality of life
how do you treat variceal bleeding?
- blood transfusion
- H2 blockers
- octreotide infusion
- vasopressin analogue
- ligation
what are 4 factors that contribute to ascites?
- hypoalbuminaemia
- sodium retention
- renal impairment
- fluid redistribution
what are 5 signs and symptoms of a UTI?
- septicaemia
- collapse
- vomiting
- colic
- dysuria
- malaise
- fever
- irritability
- poor feeding
- suprapubic tenderness
what 2 conditions are the kidneys at risk of in a child with a UTI?
- renal scarring that if extensive can lead to renal failure
- chronic pyelonephritis
how do you diagnose a UTI and what 2 values will be raised in the primary diagnostic investigation?
- gold standard urine dipstick with a clean catch sample, raised nitrates or WCC +ve mean UTI is very likely
- urine microscopy and culture
what test can you do to look for renal scarring?
renography in children with a history of UTI’s
how do you manage a UTI?
- age <3 months- amoxicillin and gentamicin or cephalosporin and ampicillin
- uncomplicated- trimethoprim, nitrofurantoin or amoxicillin
- if ill- gentamicin also
how do you manage vesicoureteric reflux (cause of 35% of cases of UTI’s)?
prophylactic antibiotics and ureteric reimplantation
what is a UTI in the upper urinary tract called?
pyelonephritis (manifests the same as a lower UTI in general and has the same diagnostics and treatment)
what is nocturnal enuresis?
continued bedwetting in greater than 5 years and 6 years old in boys
what 3 things should sometimes be tested for with nocturnal enuresis?
- diabetes
- UTI
- GU abnormality
what is secondary enuresis and what might it indicate?
wetness after >6 months of dryness, could indicate worries, illness or abuse
how do you diagnose nocturnal enuresis?
- clinical presentation and history
2. can do urinalysis and urinary tract ultrasound to rule out UTI and GU abnormality
how do you manage nocturnal enuresis?
- advise and reassure
- avoid caffeine based drinks
- rewards for agreed behaviours
- setting alarms reminding to urinate
- desmopressin when it definitely needs to be avoided- EG school trips
what is hypospadias?
abnormal position of the external urethral meatus on the ventral penis
what procedure should be avoided in children with hypospadias?
circumcision
how do you manage hypospadias?
- reassurance and hygiene
- topical corticosteroid
- preputial surgery
what is phimosis?
excessively tight foreskin that causes difficulty with retraction over the glans
what are signs and symptoms of phimosis?
- ballooning foreskin on voiding
2. balanitis (can be chronic)
up to what age is it normal to have a non-retractile foreskin?
4 years old
how do you manage phimosis?
- stretching exercises
2. topical corticosteroid cream
what is the pathophysiology of haemolytic uraemic syndrome?
- acute microangiopathic haemolytic anaemia
- thrombocytopenia
- renal failure
- endothelial damage to glomerular capillaries
what symptom are 95% of cases of haemolytic uraemic syndrome associated with?
diarrhoea
what toxin is haemolytic uraemic syndrome associated with?
shiga toxin
what are 4 signs of haemolytic uraemic syndrome?
- colitis
- haemoglobinuria
- oliguria
- encephalopathy/ cns signs
- coma
how do you manage haemolytic uraemic syndrome?
- early dialysis if required with paediatric nephrology
- treat renal failure
- relapses can be prevented with steroids, splenectomy or vincristine
what are the two main signs/symptoms that would make you suspect acute kidney injury?
- rapid rise in creatinine
2. development of oliguria/anuria