PAEDS - opthalmology, ENT, derm/allergy Flashcards
what are the 2 types of squint in paeds? which is more common?
- concomitant squint - MORE COMMON, due to differences in the control of the extraocular muscles
- paralytic squint - due to paralysis in one or more of the extraocular muscles
causes of a squint
in otherwise healthy children - IDIOPATHIC
other:
- hydrocephalus
- cerebral palsy
- space-occupying lesion e.g. retinoblastoma
- trauma
why does a squint happen?
- eyes are misaligned
- images on retina won’t match and child experiences double vision
- brain copes by reducing signal from the less dominant eye
- results in one dominant eye and one lazy eye
what is ambylopia?
can happen if a squint isn’t fixed - lazy eye becomes progressively more disconnected from the brain and problem gets worse
investigations for a squint
- to detect squint - use Hirschberg’s test
- to identify nature of squint - Cover test
what is Hirschberg’s test and the cover test? what will the result be if the child has a squint?
Hirschberg’s - shine torch on patient’s eye, light will reflect asymmetrically on the pupils rather than symmetrically
Cover test - one eye covered, other eye focuses on object. cover is moved to the other eye and in a squint the noncovered eye will drift in or out
why is it important to manage a squint before the age of 8?
visual fields are still developing up to this age
management options for a squint
mainstay = occlusive patch over dominant eye
alternative = atropine drops in dominant eye (makes it blurry)
what is periorbital cellulitis? how does it differ from orbital cellulitis?
a superficial infection of the eyelid, anterior to the orbital septum. ocular function remains intact.
in orbital cellulitis, the muscle and fat within the orbit (posterior orbital septum) is infected
causes of periorbital cellulitis
normally a superficial tissue injury (chalazion, insect bite etc) or adjacent sinusitis
RFs for periorbital cellulitis (5)
- sinusitis infection
- young age
- male sex
- lack of Hib vaccine
- recent insect bite/stye etc
signs and symptoms of periorbital cellulitis
- redness and swelling of eye
- eyelid oedema
investigations and findings for periorbital cellulitis
- ophthalmological examination - no decreased vision but eyelid oedema and erythema seen
- bloods - elevated WBC
- CT sinus and orbits - inflammation of tissues anterior to orbital septum, LACK of orbital inflammation
management for mild periorbital cellulitis
PO cefalexin or cefuroxime
management for moderate periorbital cellulitis
IV flucloxacillin/ceftriaxone
investigations and management of severe periorbital cellulitis/orbital cellulitis?
- urgent opthal/ENT advice
- urgent CT scan (orbits, sinuses and brain)
- FBC, cultures, G&S +- LP
tx with 3rd gen cephalosporin + fluclox
what can periorbital cellulitis progress to?
orbital cellulitis - a medical emergency requiring hospital admission
complication of periorbital cellulitis
mastoiditis
how does mastoiditis present?
- postauricular (behind ear) erythema and tenderness
- fever
- otalgia
- otorrhoea (discharge)
how is mastoiditis investigated and managed?
- need to do CT of mastoid bone and brain
- needs IV abx and fluid resus if unstable, analgesia and antipyrexials
- if complications, incision and drainage
what is glue ear?
a condition where viscous inflammatory fluid builds within the middle ear cavity, sometimes resulting in conductive hearing impairment
epidemiology of glue ear
most common cause of transient deafness in children
8 out of 10 children will have it by age 10