Paeds Endocrinology + Gastroenterology Flashcards
name the three phases of growth
- infant
- childhood
- pubertal
name some causes for symmetrical SGA?
mother is small or chromosomal abnormalities
name some causes of asymmetrical SGA?
smoking, alcohol, drugs
placental issues (e.g. insufficiency)
name the two important hormones in growth
growth hormone and thyroid hormone
how can growth hormones deficiency present? in neonates and older children
neonates:
- micropenis
- hypoglycaemia
- severe jaundice
older infants:
- poor growth (slowing from age 2/3)
- short stature
- slow development of movement and strength
- delayed puberty
names the causes of short stature?
chronic disease e.g. coeliac
GH deficiency
skeletal dysplasia
syndromes e.g. turner, down, prader-willi
endocrine e.g. hypothyroidism, hypopituitarism, cushings
psychosocial e.g. child abuse (pituitary shuts down)
what Ix would be done to check for causes of short stature?
- growth hormone stimulation test -> stimulate growth hormone release by glucagon, insulin, arginine or clonidine and measure levels of GH.
- test for adrenal or thyroid deficiency
- MRI brain - structural pituitary or hypothalamus abnormalities
- genetic testing - prader-willi, turner
- xray - DEXA scan can determine bone age
Tx for growth hormone deficiency?
- daily subcut injections of growth hormone (somatropin)
- Tx of other hormone deficiencies
- monitoring of height and development
how is congenital hypothyroidism screened for these days?
newborn blood spot screening test
what are teh features of congenital hypothyroidism?
Prolonged neonatal jaundice
Poor feeding
Constipation
Increased sleeping
Reduced activity
Slow growth and development
ix for congenital hypothyroidism?
TFTs (TSH, T3, T4)
thyroid USS
thyroid antibodies
tx of congenital hypothyroidism?
levothyroxine
what is the most common cause of acquired hypothyroidism?
hashimoto’s (autoimmune thyroiditis)
what does the newborn blood spot screening test pick up?
- phenylketonuria
- congenital hypothyroidism
- medium chain acyl-coA-dehydrogenase deficiency (MCADD)
- sickle cell disease
- cystic fibrosis
name some lfiestyle facttors that can cause constipation?
- habitually not opening bowels
- low fibre diet
- poor fluid intake and dehydration
- sedentary lfiestyle
- psychosocial problems
secondary cuases of constipation in children?
hirschsprungs disease
cystic fibrosis (meconium ileus in particular)
hypothyroidism
spinal cord lesions
sexual abuse
intenstinal osbtruction
anal stenosis
cows milk intolerance
complications of constipation?
- pain
- reduced sensation
- anal fissures
- heamorrhoids
- overflow an soiling
- psychosocial morbidity
Mx of primary constipation?
- treat reversible lifestyle factors
- start laxatives (movicol first line)
- faecal impaction may require disimpaction regimen with high doses of laxatives at first
- bowel diary, star charts, encourage opening bowels
what is hirschsprungs disease?
birth defect in which some nerve cells are absent in distal bowel and rectum = obstruction in bowel
what other syndromes is hirschsprungs associated with?
- downs syndrome
- neurofibromatosis
- waardenburg syndrome
- multiple endocrine neoplasia type II
presentations of hirschsprungs disease?
- delay in passing meconium (>24hrs)
- chronic constipation since birth
- abdo pain and distention
- vomiting
- poor weight gain and failure to thrive
what is hirschsprung associated enterocolitis?
inflammation and obstruction of intestine
presents 2-4 wks after birth with features of hisrchsprungs + fever +/- sepsis
can lead to toxic megacolon and bowel perforation
Tx of hirschsprung associated entercolitis?
abx
fluid resus
decompression of obstructed bowel
Ix for hirschsprungs disease?
AXR
rectal biopsy (gold standard) - look at bowel histology