Paeds - ILAs Flashcards
What is stridor?
harsh monophonic noise on breathing, primarily during inspiration, caused by turbulent airflow in the upper airway
from the THORACIC INLET UPWARDS
What are the causes of stridor
3 broad categories
Narrowing of airway:
- Croup
- Epiglottitis
- Bacterial tracheitis
- Anaphylaxis
Inhaled foreign body
Congenital airway abnormalities
What is wheeze?
Polyphonic expiratory whistling noise due to turbulent flow in the lower airway
(if severe it can be on inspiration too)
CASE:
2 year old child with coryza
Then barking cough, noisy breathing, hoarse cry
Healthy and up to date with immunisations
Diagnosis?
Croup
Diagnostic features of croup (symptoms)
Barking cough
Hoarse voice
Stridor
Preceded by coryzal symptoms and fever
What is epiglottitis
Intense swelling of epiglottis and surrounding tissue associated with sepsis
What is the causative pathogen for epiglottitis?
HiB - haemophilus influenzae B
What is the causative pathogen for croup?
Parainfluenza
+ can be:
Influenza
RSV
Human metapneumovirus
What is the typical age for a child with croup?
6 months to 6 years
Peak in second year of life
Classical presentation of a child with epiglottitis
Very unwell - toxic looking
Painful throat
Stridor
Unable to swallow - so drooling / dribbling
Immobile and upright - trying to keep airway open
Distinguishing features between croup and epiglottitis
Croup = days, epiglottitis = hours
Croup = coryzal prodrome
Cough - barking in croup, minimal in epiglottitis
Mouth closed in croup, drooling and dribbling in epiglottitis
Keeping upright in epiglottitis
Fever - mild in croup, high fever in epiglottitis
CASE:
5 year old girl
Sore throat, drooling of saliva, high fever
Increasing difficulty with breathing over 8 hours
Not up to date with immunisations
Diagnosis?
Acute epiglottitis
How do you treat epiglottitis?
General management
Medication
Prophylaxis for close contacts
Hospital admission
Call anaesthetist / paediatrician / ICU
Take cultures after airway secure / intubated
IV cephalosporin for 7-10 days
Cefuroxime, Ceftriaxome or Cefotaxime
+ prophylaxis for close contacts = Rifampicin
Why shouldn’t you examine the throat in a child with stridor?
Could cause a partial obstruction to become a full obstruction
If epiglottitis - due to laryngospasm
What is the first line treatment for croup?
+ DOSE
Oral dexamethasone - 0.15mg/kg stat dose
If none - prednisolone
If unable to take oral:
- Nebulised budesonide
- IM dexamethasone
How would you manage a child with croup who’s developing respiratory depression?
Call anaesthetist - get ready to intubate + ICU
High flow oxygen
Nebulised adrenaline
CASE: Child with Difficulty breathing Difficulty feeding Dry cough Coryza Unwell for 2 days but worse overnight
+ signs of respiratory depression
Widespread crepitations
Wheeze
DIAGNOSIS
Child who is 6 months
Child who is 2 years
6 months = bronchiolitis (up to 1 year)
2 years = viral induced wheeze (1 - 3.5 years)
What are the causative pathogens for bronchiolitis?
RSV most common Parainfluenza Influenza Adenoviruses Rhinoviruses Metapneumovirus Chlamydia Mycoplasma pneumoniae
What are the risk factors for bronchiolitis?
Child <1 year of age Chronic lung disease of prematurity Congenital heart disease Immunodeficiency Other lung disease eg cystic fibrosis
What is the diagnostic investigation for bronchiolitis?
PCR nasal secretions
Maybe chest x ray - unsure tbh
How would you treat a child with bronchiolitis?
Supportive treatment Oxygen to get sats above 92% Fluids CPAP / mechanical ventilation Infection control Bronchodilator for wheeze Antivirals if immunodeficient / underlying heart or lung disease
How would you prevent bronchiolitis?
+ what groups of people would you do this for
Pavilizumab
IM injection for 5 months starting October
Preterm babies
Oxygen dependent infants at risk of RSV infection
Chronic lung disease eg cystic fibrosis
What is used in newborns to diagnose cystic fibrosis?
Heel prick test - Guthrie
What conditions are picked up on the newborn heel prick screening test?
Many Children Can Present More Severely Maple syrup urine disease Cystic fibrosis Congenital hypothyroidism Phenylketonuria MCADD Sickle cell disease
What is the pattern of inheritance for cystic fibrosis?
Autosomal recessive
Which gene is affected in Cystic fibrosis and what chromosome is this gene on?
CFTR - cystic fibrosis transmembrane regulator
Chromosome 7
Which organ systems are affected in cystic fibrosis? (6)
Lungs Liver Skin Pancreas GI Reproductive
How would an infant present with cystic fibrosis? (5)
Delayed passage of meconium Prolonged jaundice Failure to thrive Recurrent infections Malabsorption and steatorrhoea
How would a young child present with cystic fibrosis? (4)
Bronchiectasis
Rectal prolapse
Nasal polyps
Sinusitis
How would an older child present with cystic fibrosis? (6)
ABPA (allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis) Diabetes mellitus Cirrhosis / portal hypertension Distal intestinal obstruction Pneumothorax / recurrent haemoptysis Sterility in males
CASE
6 week old
3 week history of progressive wheeze, poor feeding, poor weight gain
Now appears short of breath, especially at end of feeds
Born at term with no difficulties
Neonatal exam normal
Differential diagnoses?
Heart failure Bronchiolitis Pneumonia Cystic fibrosis GORD Foreign body
How would you investigate a child with wheeze, poor feeding, poor weight gain, respiratory distress, harsh pansystolic murmur loudest at left sternal edge, palpable liver, creps in lungs?
ECG - upright T wave = pulmonary hypertension
CXR - for cardiomegaly and pulmonary vascular markings
ECHO - to look for congenital heart disease
Blood pressure in limbs - for coarctation of aorta
Pre and post ductal sats - for PDA
What medications would you give to a baby with heart failure?
Diuretics - furosemide
ACE inhibitor
How would you treat a baby with heart failure?
Medications - diuretics and ACE inhibitors
Surgical repair of VSD - at 3 months
Additional calorie input to make them bigger for surgery
What are the causes of heart failure in neonates? (4)
Hypoplastic left heart syndrome
Critical aortic stenosis
Severe coarctation of the aorta
Interruption of the aortic arch
What are the causes of heart failure in infants? (3)
VSD
AVSD
Large persistent ductus arteriosus
What are the causes of heart failure in older children? (3)
Rheumatic heart disease
Eisenmengers
Cardiomyopathy
What are the components of the septic screen?
Bloods
- FBC
- U&E
- CRP
- Cultures
- PCR (viral cause)
Urine
- Dipstick
- Microscopy
- Culture
- Virology
CXR Sputum culture Stool culture Lumbar puncture Rapid antigen test
What does the rapid antigen test identify?
Group A strep
What would you look for on a lumbar puncture in a septic child? (4)
Appearance
WBC
Glucose
Protein
What are the contraindications for a lumbar puncture in a septic child? (6)
Signs of raised ICP Reduced conscious level Local infection at site of LP Thrombocytopaenia Focal neurological signs Cardiac instability
Lumbar puncture results: Turbid appearance Increased polymorphs Increased protein Decreased glucose
Likely diagnosis?
Bacterial meningitis
What are the signs of raised ICP in a child? (5)
Coma High BP Low heart rate Papilloedema Bulging fontanelle
Lumbar puncture results: Clear appearance Increased lymphocytes Normal glucose Normal protein
Likely diagnosis?
Viral meningitis
Lumbar puncture results: Viscous appearance Increased lymphocytes Increased protein Decreased glucose
Likely diagnosis?
TB meningitis
Lumbar puncture results: Clear appearance Normal WCC Increased protein Decreased glucose
Likely diagnosis?
Encephalitis
What does the rash look like for meningococcal septicaemia?
Purpuric
Non-blanching
What is the likely diagnosis in a child with purpuric rash and fever?
Meningococcal sepsis
How would you immediately manage a child with meningococcal sepsis?
ABCDE Protect the airway Give high flow O2 Set up IVI If in shock give boluses of 0.9% saline (20ml/kg) If shock persists - intubate
What medical treatment would you give to child with suspected meningococcal sepsis if you were in primary care?
+ dose
+ route
IM benpen
300mg up to 1 year
600mg 1-9 years
1.2g >10 years
What medical treatment would you give to a child with suspected meningococcal sepsis in secondary care?
+ dose
+ route
Ceftriaxone 50-80mg/kg/day IV infusion
If <3 months cefotaxime + amoxicillin 50mg/kg qds
What measures would you use to monitor a child with meningococcal sepsis?
Pulse BP Resp rate Consciousness level WCC Platelets
How is N. Meningitidis carried?
Carried in the throat
How is N. Meningitidis passed on?
And who to?
Person-to-person through droplets of respiratory or throat secretions
Close and prolonged contact (kissing, sneezing, coughing) or living in close quarters
What is the definition of a close contact?
Household member or 8 or more hours of contact
What is the prophylactic treatment for meningococcal sepsis?
+ dose and how many
Rifampicin 4 doses orally, 12 hourly 5mg/kg <1 year 10mg/kg 1-12 years 600mg >12 years
What are the contraindications for Rifampicin? (4)
Liver disease
Diabetes
Porphyria
On antiretrovirals
What are the side effects for Rifampicin to warn people about? (4)
Turns urine red
Can stain contact lenses
Flu-like symptoms
Interacts with OCP + other P450 drugs eg Warfarin
CASE
3 year old with 7 day history of high fevers, red eyes, diffuse maculopapular rash, sore mouth and throat, cervical swelling, swollen palms
Differential diagnoses?
Kawasaki disease
Scarlet fever
Staph scalded skin
Toxic shock syndrome
What are the diagnostic criteria for Kawasaki disease?
Fever for >5 days with no other explanation
+ 4/5 of:
Conjunctivitis
Changes of mucous membranes of mouth - cracked lips, strawberry tongue
Swollen hands and feet –> peeling
Diffuse maculopapular rash (polymorphous exanthem)
Cervical lymphadenopathy >1.5cm (non-suppurative)
What would you see in the bloods of a child with Kawasaki disease? (8)
FBC - leucocytosis initially - thrombocytosis - normocytic, normochomic anaemia Increased coagulability Raised ESR (mainly, beyond fever) / CRP Raised LFTs Hypoalbminaemia B cell / circulating monocyte and macrophage activation
What is the first line management for Kawasaki disease?
+ doses
High dose IVIG
2g/kg over 12 hours single infusion
Aspirin
30-50mg/kg/day
When fever resolves - 3-5mg/kg/day for 6 weeks
How would you follow up a child with Kawasaki disease?
Serial ECHO from 6 weeks
If aneurysm –> warfarin
What are the complications with first line treatments for Kawasaki disease?
Infections from IVIG eg Hep C Reyes syndrome - aspirin Anaphylaxis / allergic reaction Acute renal failure Thrombosis Aseptic meningitis
What is the initial drug treatment for JIA?
NSAIDs - ibuprofen, diclofenac, naproxen
Other than NSAIDs, what types of medication can be used in the treatment of JIA? (4)
Methotrexate
Etanercept (anti-TNF)
Tocilizumab (anti-IL6)
Intra-articular steroid injections - Triamcinolone
What should be included in the follow up for a patient with JIA?
Regular screening for uveitis
Measuring growth
CASE
Child with weight loss, drinking and weeing a lot, unresponsive, stomach ache
GCS 8
Dehydrated
Diagnosis?
DKA
How would you immediately resuscitate a child in DKA?
ABCDE IV access Intubate if GCS 8 or below Boluses of 0.9% saline 10ml/kg - NOT TWENTY AS DKA
How do you calculate fluid requirements? (equation)
Overall fluid requirement = maintenance + deficit + ongoing losses