Paeds GI Flashcards
No meconium in 48hrs. Red flag for what?
Hirschprungs
Name an osmotic laxative
lactulose
Name two stimulant laxatives
sodium picosulphate, Senna
Name two stool softeners
Movicol
Klean Prep
When a child has overflow soiling or faecal mass palpable in abdo, it is likely there is faecal impaction. What is a disimpaction regime?
escalating dose of Movicol over 1-2wks
What does Movicol contain?
macrogol + electrolytes. It’s a stool softener
Disampaction regime has been successful! The child no longer has faecal impaction. What’s next?
Maintenance therapy.
After 2 weeks of increasing doses of Movicol, the child is still faecally impacted. What is the next step ?
If Movicol not disimpacted after 2wks, add a stimulant laxative (Senna / sodium picosulphate).
What should you warn families that might happen in the disimpaction regime?
It may initially increase overflow soiling …. and abdo pain
A child who has faecal impaction might leak poo constantly with no feeling. If they are disampacted, they will have the feeling that they need to go. True or false?
True
Child with faecal impaction is undergoing disimpaction regime. However, Movicol is not tolerated. What could you substitute?
A stimulant laxative (e.g. Senna / sodium picosulphate)
Could also add an osmotic laxative (e.g. lactulose)
Right so the child isn’t impacted and now needs maintenance therapy. What does this involve?
ongoing Movicol, adjusting dose to achieve for a type 4/5 poo every day
On disimpaction regime, want to increase the dose until they are having runny type 7s . Then decrease gradualy down to maintenance therapy. On maintenance what kind of poos are we aiming for?
type 4/5 daily
Osmotic laxatives like lactulose are used very frequently in children with constipation. True or false?
False. Movicol and stimulant laxatives always used first.
How long do children need maintenance therapy for? (constipation)
maybe months.
Continue for several wks after regular bowel habit established.
Then reduce the dose over a period of months (don’t stop abruptly)
Do you keep on giving the Movicol when the child has gastroenteritis?
No. Stop it and resume when they are well again.
But if they are just having runny poos this isnt diarrhoea, its just too much Movicol. Dont discontinue just reduce the dose.
If a child has constipation with red flags, do not treat them yet: send to specialist. What are some of the red flags?
- no meconium in 48hrs
- faltering growth
- gross abdo distension
- lower limb deformity (e.g. talipes)
- neuro signs (urinary incontinence, abnormal reflexes)
- signs of spina bifida
- abnormal anorectal anatomy
- perianal fistulae / fissures / abscesses
- perianal bruising (abuse)
How common is idiopathic constipation?
very common!
When is the only time you’d do a digital rectal examination for a constipated child?
if they have red flags, you suspect Hirschsprung, ONLY to be done by a professional competent to interpret the features of Hirschsprungs on DRE
Would you routinely do an AXR to investigate child’s constipation?
NO. Only if obstructed / requested by specialist.
Which blood screens might you do in a child with constipation?
coeliac, TFTs
Most constipation in kids is IDIOPATHIC. Name a few rare PRIMARY causes.
hypothyroidism coeliac Hirschsprungs lower spinal cord problems anorectal abnormalities
How does overflow soiling work?
chronic constipation –> rectum becomes overdistended –> no longer feel need to defecate –> contractions of full rectum overcome internal sphincter –> overflow
What general advice can you give the parents of child with constipation?
balanced diet. sufficient fluids.
non-punitive behavioural interventions - scheduled toileting, rewards (e.g. encourage to sit on toilet after mealtimes, star charts)
What is the difference between suppository and enema?
enema is liquid up rectum
suppository is solid medication up rectum
When would you give an enema to child with constipation?
only when all oral meds have failed
When would you do manual evacuation under anaesthetic in a constipated child?
only when all oral and rectal medications have failed
When all oral and rectal medications have failed in child with constipation, what would you consider?
Manual evacuation under anaesthetic
When a child is having overflow soiling, what is it important that the parents know?
soiling is INVOLUNTARY. Don’t punish and don’t reward for clean pants.
What is the aetiology of Hirschsprungs?
no ganglion cells in myenteric plexus of rectum and colon (spreads variably far up)
What are the findings on DRE in Hirschsprungs?
narrow rectum
stool/flatus GUSH when remove finger
Hirschsprung is usually diagnosed straightaway, when there is no meconium in 48hrs after birth. How can it present later on?
a) few wk old neonate
b) child
a) few wks old - Hirschsprung entercolitis
b) child - chronic constipation, abdo distension, green bilious vomiting, growth failure
What is the gold standard investigation for Hirschsprung???
RECTAL BIOPSY
(the myenteric plexus wouldnt have ganglion cells)
before this, do AXR and maybe contrast enema to find transition zone
The management of Hirschsprung disease if surgical. What are the two steps?
- Colostomy
2. Then ‘pull through procedure’ - cut out dodgy bowel and attach normal bowel to anus.
What is the classical triad of symptoms in Hirschsprung?
failure to pass meconium
abdominal distenstion
bilious green vomiting
Most cases of Hirschsprung’s cases are genetically sporadic (though some complex inheritance). Which sex do they affect most?
males (4:1)
What infective agent commonly causes gastroenteritis in children <2yrs in wintertime? (there is a vaccine for it)
rotavirus
As well as rotavirus, which other viruses cause gastroenteritis in children?
adenovirus
norovirus
Viral gastroenteritis is more common than bacterial gastroenteritis in children. True or false?
true!
Bacterial gastroenteritis is less common than viral in kids. But which bacteria tend be the ones?
campylobacter (painful)
shigella
cholera, E.Coli
Which protozoa can cause gastroenteritis in children?
giardia
cryptosporidium
A child with rapid onset loose watery stools with vomiting. Blood and pus in stools. Is this most likely to be bacterial or viral gastroenteritis?
blood in stools is sign of bacterial (though viral most common)
Gastroenteritis in children. In which scenarios would you take stool sample for miscroscopy, culture and sensitivities?
if blood / pus in stool
if foreign travel
if immuno-compromised
if diagnosis uncertain
Which bacterium causes dysentery?
shigella
Food poisoning and dysentery are notifiable diseases. True or false?
True!
Name some differential diagnoses for gastroenteritis (D+V) in children….
constipation with overflow coeliac cow's milk protein allergy acute appendicitis DKA UTI other inf - sepsis, meningitis, resp, otitis, hepatitis
Which children are particularly at risk from getting dehydrated in gastroenteritis?
infants - particularly LBW
malnourished.