Paeds EMERGENCIES Flashcards
Recall 2 causes of neonatal collapse
Sepsis
CHD
Recall 4 possible causes of jaundice in the neonate
Breast milk
Sepsis
Feeding difficulty
Physiological
Recall 4 common causes of rash in the neonate
Nappy rash
Milia
Erythema toxicum
Mongolian blue spot
Recall 2 causes of seizures in the neonate?
Hypoglycaemia
HIE
What colours of skin would be a red flag in the traffic light system?
Pale/ mottled/ ashen/ blue
At what age is a child with fever always considered a red flag in the traffic light system?
<3 months
Recall how CPR differs in adults compared to children and neonates
Adults: 30:2
Children: 15:2
Neonates: 3:1
In the ABCDE formulation, what comes under ‘disability’?
AVPUG - Alert, voice, pain, unresponsive, glucose
What is the most common surgical emergency in newborn babies?
Necrotising enterocolitis
Describe the decorticate and decerebrate positions
Decorticate = bending wrists up to neck
Decerebrate = wrists pointing out, arms straight down by sides
What is SIRS?
Generalised inflammatory response, defined by >/= 2 criteria:
Must inculde 1 of:
- Abnormal temp (<36, >38.5)
- Abnormal WCC
The other criteria are:
- Abnormal HR
- Raised RR
How is a high risk sepsis diagnosed?
CVS: hypotension, prolonged cap refil, O2 needed to maintain SpO2
Blood lactate >2
Pale, mottled or non-blanching purpuric rash
RR abnormal or grunting
What is the sepsis 6 pathway in adults?
Oxygen
Blood + blood cultures
IV Abx
IV fluids
Check serial lactates
Check urine output
What is the difference between Sepsis and SIRS?
Sepsis = SIRS with infection
How is severe sepsis defined?
Sepsis with CV dysfunction, ARDS or dysfunction 2 or more organs
How is septic shock defined?
Sepsis with CV dysfunction persisting after >, 40mL/kg of fluid resuscitation in 1 hour
What are the common organisms implicated in early onset neonatal sepsis?
Group B streptococcus (most common gram +ve)
E coli (most common gram -ve)
L monocytogenes
Which organism is most likely to cause late onset neonatal sepsis?
Coagulase-negative staphylococcus (CoNS) eg. Staph. Epidermis
Which children with sepsis should have an LP?
<1 month old
1-3 months who appear unwell/ have WCC <5 or >15
What is the sepsis 6 pathway in children?
Give:
1. High-flow O2
2. Abx
- Early-onset neonatal = cefotaxime, amikacin + ampicillin
- Late-onset neonatal =meropenem+ amikacin + ampicillin
- >3m old = ceftriaxone)
3. Early senior input
4. Early inotropic support
5. Fluid resus if indicated (20mls/kg 0.9% NaCl over 5-10 mins)
Take:
1. Bloods:
FBC (abnormal WCC?)
U&E + CRP (?urosepsis)
Glucose
Clotting (?DIC)
ABG + lactate
Which Abx are most useful in meningococcal sepsis?
IM benzylpenicillin (in community)
or
IV cefotaxime (in hospital)
Which Abx are most useful in early onset neonatal sepsis?
Most likely to be GBS, L. monocytogenes or E coli so:
IV cefotaxime + amikacin + ampicillin
Which Abx are most useful in late onset neonatal sepsis?
Most likely to be CoNS (s. epidermis) so:
IV meropenem + amikacin + ampicillin
What is opisthotonos?
Hyperextension of neck + back
What are the two ‘signs’ indicative of meningitis?
Kernig’s sign: pain on leg straightening
Brudzinski’s sign: supine neck flexion –> knee/ hip flexion
What type of rash is often present in meningitis and what type of meningitis is this most common in?
Non-blanching: meningococcal
How does the HR change throught the course of illness in meningitis?
Starts high to compensate for brain ischaemia, then drops to as baroreceptors sense high BP
What symptoms make up Cushing’s triad of high ICP?
High BP
Low HR
Irregular RR
In what order should meningitis investigations be done?
First: LP if not contraindicated to identify source of infection
Next:
1. VBG: including glucose + lactate
2. Blood cultures (BEFORE empirical abx started)
3. FBC, CRP, U+E and creatinine
(After this: give broad spec abx at highest possible dose without delay)
As well as sepsis 6 pathway + Abx, what should the management be in meningitis in children?
Steroids (dexamethosone) if CSF shows purulent CSF, WBC >10000, WCC + protein >1g/L, bacterial gram stain + ONLY if it’s not meningococcal
Mannitol (to reduce ICP)
IV saline NaCl
What potential longterm complications of meningitis might need to be discussed with a child’s family?
Hearing loss, renal failure, neurodevelopmental conditions
Purpura fulminans: haemorrhagic skin necrosis from DIC
What are the most common causes of viral meningitis?
Coxsackie Group B
Echovirus
What is encephalitis?
Inflammation of the brain parenchyma
What are the 3 possible aetiologies of encephalitis?
- Direct invasion of cerebellum (eg HSV)
- Post-infectious encephalopathy = delayed brain swelling following neuroimmunological response to antigen
- Slow virus infection (eg HIV or SSPE following measles)
What are the signs and symptoms of encephalitis?
Same as meningitis: might not be able to tell the difference clinically! If behavioural change is more likely to be encephalitis