Paeds - GI & Renal Flashcards
What is GORD?
- Contents from the stomach reflux through the lower oesophageal sphincter into the oesophagus, throat and mouth.
What are signs of problematic reflux? (6)
-Chronic cough
-Hoarse cry
-Distress, crying or unsettled after feeding
-Reluctance to feed
-aspiration Pneumonia
-Poor weight gain
Management of GORD
Practical
-Small, frequent meals
-Burping regularly to help milk settle
-Not over-feeding
-Keep the baby upright after feeding (i.e. not lying flat)
Medical
-Gaviscon mixed with feeds
-Thickened milk or formula
-Proton pump inhibitors
What is sandifers syndrome
rare condition causing brief episodes of abnormal movements associated with gastro-oesophageal reflux in infants
Two features of sandifer syndrome
Torticollis: forceful contraction of the neck muscles causing twisting of the neck
Dystonia: abnormal muscle contractions causing twisting movements, arching of the back or unusual postures
Differential diagnosis of sandifers syndrome
-Infantile spasms (West syndrome)
-seizures.
What are some secondary causes of constipation in children
Hirschprungs disease
CF
Hypothyroidism
Cerebral palsy
Typical features of constipation
-Less than 3 stools a week
-Hard stools that are difficult to pass
-Rabbit dropping stools
-Straining and painful passages of stools
-Abdominal pain
-Holding an abnormal posture, referred to as -retentive posturing
-Rectal bleeding associated with hard stools
-Faecal impaction causing overflow soiling, with -incontinence of particularly loose smelly stools
-Hard stools may be palpable in abdomen
-Loss of the sensation of the need to open the bowels
What is encopresis
- a sign of chronic constipation where the rectum become stretched and looses sensation
-the large hard stools remain but the loose stool sneak around and leak out
Causes of encopresis
Spina bifida
Hirschprung’s disease
Cerebral palsy
Learning disability
Psychosocial stress
Abuse
Lifestyle factors causing constipation
- not regularly opening the bowels
-low fibre diet
-poor fluid intake and dehydration
-sedentary lifestyle
-abuse
Red flags that are serious when it comes to come constipation
Not passing meconium - may suggest CF or Hirschprungs
Vomiting - may suggest obstruction or Hirschprungs
-ribbon stool - anal stenosis
-neurological Sx - may suggest cerebral palsy or spinal cord lesion
-abnormal lower back - spina bifida
Managment of constipation in children
- recommend high fibre diet and hydration
- laxative - movicols 1st line, senna
-encourage going to the toilets - e.g using schedules and diaries
Faecal impaction tx
Disimpaction regimen with high laxative at first then slowly tapered off
What is the definition of constipation
the infrequent passage of dry, hardened faeces often accompanied by straining or pain
What is hirschprungs disease
Congential condition where nerve cells of the myentetic plexus are absent in the distal bowel and rectum resulting in narrowing of the bowel segment
What syndromes are associated with hirschsprungs
-Downs syndrome
-Neurofibromatosis
-Waardenburg syndrome (a genetic condition causing pale blue eyes, hearing loss and patches of white skin and hair)
-Multiple endocrine neoplasia type II
Presentation of Hirschprungs (5)
-Delay in passing meconium (more than 24 hours)
-Chronic constipation since birth
-Abdominal pain and distention
-Vomiting
-Poor weight gain and failure to thrive
What is Hirschprungs associated enterocolitis
Inflammation and obstruction of the intestine occur in gin 20% of children with hirschprungs
Presentation of HAEC
-fever
-abdominal distension
-diarrhoea ( can be with blood)
What are the complications of HAEC
-perforation of the bowel
-toxic megacolon
-death
Mx of HAEC
-ABX
-fluid resuscitation
-decompression of obstructed bowel
Diagnosis of Hirschprungs
GS
Suction rectal biopsy - to find absence of myenteric ganglion
Barium/ anaorectal manometry - to determine length of a ganglionic segment
MX of Hirschprungs
Colostomy - Removing the aganglionic part of the bowel