Pediatrics: Newborns and Infants Flashcards
Danger Signals: Failure to Thrive
Definition:
- weight for age falls below 3rd-5th percentile for gestation-corrected age and gender when plotted on appropriate growth chart (on more than 1 occasion)
- infants whose weight ↓ over ≥2 major percentile lines (90th, 75th, 50th, 25th, and 5th) = failure to thrive (FTT) ; ex: child at 50th percentile goes down to 5th percentile over a few months
- Use WHO growth chart until 2 yo, then CDC’s
In most cases in primary care, causes are usually:
- inadequate dietary intake
- diarrhea
- malabsorption (celiac, CF, food allergy)
- poor maternal bonding
- frequent infections
Danger Signals: Down Syndrome
- genetic defect caused by trisomy of chromosome 21 (3 copies instead of 2)
- Most common chromosomal ds
- avg lifespan is 60 yo
S/Sx
- round face that appears “flat” (↓ anterior-posterior diameter)
- upward-slanting eyes (palpebral fissures)
- low-set ears
- chronic open mouth d/t enlarged tongue (macroglossia)
- shorter neck
- short fingers
- small palms
- broad hand w/ transverse palmar crease (Simian crease)
NB:
- hypotonia
- poor Moro reflex
- Higher risk of intellectual disability
- congenital heart defects (50%)
- feeding difficulties
- congenital hearing loss
- thyroid disease
- cataracts
- sleep apnea
- early onset of Alzheimer’s ds (avg age 54 years)
Education:
- importance of cervical spine positioning
- monitor for myelopathic s/sx
- contact sports (football, soccer, gymnastics) may place higher risk of spinal cord injury
- avoid trampoline use unless under professional supervision
- Special Olympics requires specific screening for some sports
Danger Signals: Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
- AKA Fetal alcohol Spectrum Ds
Classic FAS facies:
- small head (microcephaly)
- shortened palpebral fissures (narrow eyes) w/ epicanthal folds
- flat nasal bridge
- thin upper lip w/ no vertical groove above upper lip (smooth philtrum)
- ears are underdeveloped
- can range from neurocognitive and behavioral problems (e.g., ADD to more severe intellectual disabilities)
- NO safe dose or time for alcohol during pregnancy
- Alcohol adversely affects CNS, somatic growth, and facial structure development
Danger Signals: Cryptorchidism
Undescended Testicle
- Empty scrotal sac(s)
- most cases involve undescended testicles
- 1-2 testicles may be missing
- Testis does NOT descent w/ massage of inguinal area
- Majority cases (90%) of cryptorchidism as a/w patent processus vaginalis
- Infant should be sitting and exam room should be warm to relax muscles when massage inguinal canal
- another option is to exam child after warm bath
- ↑ risk of testicular CA of testicles are not removed from abdomen
- surgical correction (orchiopexy) necessary within 1st year of life if testicle doe snot spontaneously descend
Danger Signals: Gonococcal Ophthalmia Neonatorum
- S/sx usually show within 2-5 days after birth
- infection can rapidly spread → blindness
- DO NOT delay treatment by waiting for culture results
S/Sx
- injected (red) conjunctiva w/ profuse purulent discharge
- swollen eyelids
Majority of cases are acquired during delivery (intrapartum)
- Coinfection w/ chlamydia is common
- any neonates w/ acute conjunctivitis presenting within ≤30 days from birth should be tested for chlamydia, gonorrhea, herpes simplex, and bacterial infection
Dx:
- Gram stain
- gonococcal culture (Thayer-Martin media)
- PCR for Neisseria gonorrhoeae, herpes simplex culture, Chlamydia trachomatis of eye exudate
→ Hospitalize and tx w/ high-dose IV or IM cefotaxime
- Preferred prophylaxis is topical 0.5% erythromycin ointment (1-cm ribbon per eye) immediately after birth
- Test and treat mother and sexual partner for STDs/STIs
Danger Signals: Chlamydial Ophthalmia Neonatorum (Trachoma)
- Sx shows in 4-10 days after birth
S/Sx
- edematous eyelids
- erythematous eyes w/ profuse watery discharge initially that later becomes purulent
When obtaining sample, collect not only exudate but also conjunctival cells
- R/O concomitant chlamydial PNA
Tx:
- systemic abx (e.g., PO erythromycin base or erythromycin ethylsuccinate QID x 14 days)
- only 80% effective
- may need 2nd course
- use only systemic abx
- Prophylaxis ointment used will NOT prevent neonatal chlamydial conjunctivitis or extraocular infections ► IMPORTANT for prenatal screening and treatment
** - Reportable disease
- Test and treat mother and sexual partner for STDs
Danger Signals: Chlamydial Pneumonia
- obtain nasopharyngeal culture for chlamydia
S/Sx
- frequent cough w/ bibasilar rales
- tachypnea
- hyperinflation
- diffused infiltrates on CXR
Tx:
- Erythromycin QID x 2 weeks
- Daily follow-up
**- Reportable disease
Danger Signals: Sudden Infant Death Syndrome
- a sudden infant death in apparently healthy infants <12 months
- cannot be explained after a thorough case investigation, including a scene investigation, autopsy, and review of clinical hx
RF:
- prematurity
- low birth weight
- maternal smoking and/or drug use
- poverty
Causes: multifactorial convergence of intrinsically vulnerable infant (genetic predisposition) during a critical development period w/ exogenous stressors
To ↓ risk:
- position infants on their backs (supine)
- use a firm sleep surface
- encourage breastfeeding
- routine immunizations
- room share without bedsharing
- offer a pacifier for sleep times
- avoid soft objects and loose bedding in sleep area
- avoid smoke exposure
- avoid overheating infant
Danger Signals: Excessive Weight Loss (>10%)
- NB expected to lose weight during the first few days of life
- Weight loss can vary by feeding method and delivery type
- Infants delivered by C-section tend to lose a larger % of birth weight than vaginally delivered babies
- Formula-fed infants may lose up to 5%
- breast-fed infants may lose 7-10%
Any lose should be regained within 10-14 days
- Weight loss beyond 10% in neonates is considered abnormal
- assess infant for dehydration, electrolyte disturbances, hyperbilirubinemia, and mother/infant for lactation difficulties
** Weight loss 7-10% starts after birth but should regain birth weight in 2 weeks
Danger Signals: Dehydration
- Signs of severe dehydration:
- > 10% weight lose
- weak and rapid pulse
- tachypnea or deep breathing
- parched mucous membranes
- anterior fontanelle markedly sunken
- skin turgor showing tenting
- cool skin
- acrocyanosis
- anuria
- change in LOC (lethargy to coma)
→ Refer severely dehydrated infants to ED for IV hydration
- Severe dehydration d/t/ acute gastroenteritis is one of the leading causes of death of infants in developing world
Skin lesions: Congenital Dermal Melanocytosis
Mongolian Spots
- Most common type of pigmented skin lesions in NB
- present in almost all Asians (85-100%), >50% of Native American, Hispanic, and Black neonates
- Blue- to black-colored patches or stains
- common location: lumbosacral area, but can be anywhere on body
- may be mistaken for bruising or child abuse
- usually fade by 2-3 years
Skin lesions: Milia
Miliaria, or “Prickly Heat”
- most common in neonates
- multiple 1- to 2-mm papules located mainly on forehead, cheeks, and nose
- d/t retention of sebaceous material and keratin
- resolves spontaneously
Skin lesions: Erythema Toxcum Neonatorum
- Small pustules (whitish-yellow color), 1- to 3-mm in size
- surrounded by red base
- erupt during 2nd-3rd day of life
- located on face, chest, back, and extremities
- last from 1-2 weeks and resolves spontaneously
Skin lesions: Seborrheic Dermatitis
“Cradle Cap”
- Excessive thick scaling on scalp of younger infants
- treated by softening and removal of thick scales on scalp after soaking scalp a few hours (to overnight) w/ vegetable oil or mineral oil
- shampoo scalp and gently scrub scales w/ soft comb
- prevention is by frequent shampooing w/ mild baby shampoo and removing scales w/ soft brush/comb
- self-limited condition, resolves spontaneously within few months
Skin lesions: Faun Tail Nevus
- Tufts of hear overrlying spinal colum usually at lumbosacral area
- may be sign of neural tube defects (spina bifida, spina bifida, occulta)
- perform neuro exam on lumbosacral nerves (fecal/urinary incontinence, problems w/ gait)
- Order US of lesion to R/O occult spina bifida
Skin lesions: Cafe Au Lait Spots
- Flat light-brown to dark-brown spots >5 mm (0.5 cm)
- If ≥6 spots >5 mm (0.5 cm) in diameter are seen → R/O neurofibromatosis or von Recklinghausens’ ds (e.g., neurologic ds marked by seizures, learning disorders)
→ Refer to pediatric neurologist if spots meet the same criteria to R/O neurofibromatosis
Skin lesions: Vascular Leions - Salmon Patches
Nevus Simplex
- aka “stork bites” or “angel kisses”
- flat pink patches found on forehead, eyelids, and nape of neck
- usually appear on both sides of midline (e.g., on both eyelids or across entire nap of neck)
- blanchable but color changes w/ crying, breathing holding, and room temp changes
- Consider Beckwith-Wiedemann or FAS if glabellar lesion seen
- Typically fade by 18 months
Skin lesions: Vascular Lesions - Port Wine Stain
Nevus Flammeus
- pink-to-red
- flat
- stain like lesions located on upper and lower eyelids or on V1 and V2 branches of trigeminal nerve (CN V)
→ Referred to pediatric ophthalmologist to R/O congenital glaucoma
- blanches to pressure
- irregular in size/shape
- usually unilateral
- large lesions located on half of the facial area may be sign of trigeminal nerve involvement and Sturge-Weber syndrome (rare neurologic ds)
- lesions do NOT regress and grow w/ child
- lesions can be treated w/ pulse-dye laser (PDL) therapy
Skin lesions: Vascular Lesions - Hemangioma
Strawberry Hemangioma
- raise vascular lesions ranging in seize from 0-.5 - 4.0 cm
- bright red
- feels soft to palpation
- usually located on head of neck
- lesions often grow rapidly during first 12 months of life but majority will involute gradually over the next 1-5 years
- watchful waiting is usually strategy
- can be tx w/ PDL therapy
Vision Screening: NB Vision
- NBs are nearsighted (myopia) and have a vision of 20/400
- can focus best at a distance of 8-10 inches
- during first 2 months, infant’s eyes may appear crossed (or wander) at times (normal finding)
- if one eye is consistently turned in/out, refer to pediatric ophthalmologist
- human face is preferred by NB
- NBs do NOT shed tears because lacrimal ducts are not fully mature at birth
- Caucasian neonates are born w/ blue-gray eyes; normal for their eye color to change as they mature
- Retinas (CN II) are immature at birth and reach maturity at age 6 years
Vision Screening: Infant Screening
1. 1 month
2. 3 months
3. 6 months
4. 12 months
5. Retina and optic disc
- infant can fixate briefly on mother’s face; prefers human face
- infant will hold hands close to face to observe them; hold a bright object or a toy in front of the infant; watch behavior as the infant fixates and follows toy for a few seconds
→ avoid using object/toys that make noises when testing vision - Makes good eye contact
- turns head to scan surroundings w/ 180º visual field - makes prolonged eye contact when spoken to
- will actively turn head around 180º to observe people and surroundings for long periods
- recognizes self in a mirror and parents and fav people from a longer distance - Set fundoscope lens at 0 to -2 diopeters
- fundus appears dark orange to red (red reflex)
- red reflex of both eyes should be symmetrical in shape and color
- Set fundoscope lens at 0 to -2 diopeters
Vision - Abnormal Findings: Strabismus
- Misalignment of the eye
- Horizontal strabismus may be esotropia or exotropia
- Vertical strabismus may be hypertropia or hypotropia
- Uncorrected strabismus can result in permanent visual loss and abnormal vision such as diplopia
Tx:
- eyeglasses
- eye exercise
- prism
- eye muscle surgery
Esotropia
inward turning of the eyes
Exotropia
Outward turning of the eyes
Hypertropia
one one higher than the other
Hypotropia
one eye lower than the other
Diplopia
double vision
Vision - Abnormal Findings: Amblyopia
“Lazy eye”
- If corrected early, affected eye can have normal vision
Vision - Abnormal Findings: Esotropia
- misalignment of one or both eyes (“crossed-eye”)
- Infants (<20 weeks) may have intermittent esotropia, which usually resolves spontaneously
- some infants with obvious epicanthal folds appear “cross-eyed” (pseudostrabismus), but corneal light reflex will be normal
→ Refer to pediatric ophthalmologist if in doubt
Vision - Abnormal Findings: Indications for Referral
- Abnormal red reflex (R/O retinoblastoma, cataract, glaucoma)
- Presence of white reflex (R/O retinoblastoma)
- Strabismus (R/O CN III, IV, and VI abnormalities, retinoblastoma)
- > 2-line difference b/w each eye
- Esodeviation presents after 3-4 months of age
- Corneal light reflex test w/ abnormal results
- Shape/appearance of pupils not equal
- New onset of strabismus (e.g., retinoblastoma, brain mass, bleeding, lead poisoning)
Vision - Abnormal Findings: Red Reflex
- Screening test for cataracts and retinoblastoma
- abnormal if there are white-colored opacities (cataracts) or white spots (leukocoria)
- determine presence of white reflex → R/O retinoblastoma
→ Refer to infant/pediatric ophthalmologist ASAP - Even if test is normal during visit, but parent reports that one eye appears white on a digital photograph → Refer
- If absence or ↓ intensity of red reflex, R/O cataract and refer to pediatric ophthalmologist
Procedure:
- Perform test in a darkened room
- use a direct ophthalmoscope and shine light about 12-18 inches away from the infant
- Normal finding is symmetrical and round orange-red glow from each eye
Vision - Abnormal Findings: Congenital Cataracts
- Red reflex exam on neonate shows a round, white-colored pupil
Vision - Abnormal Findings: Hirschberg Test
Light Reflex Test or Corneal Light Reflex
- Screening test for strabismus
- abnormal if corneal light reflex is not clear or if it’s “off-center”
Procedure:
- Shine light directly in eyes (24 inches away) using a fixation target
- Infant or child must look directly forward w/ both eyes aligned
- Observe for the symmetry and brightness of light reflecting from both eyes
Hearing Screening: Universal screening
Universal screening for hearing loss is done while in nursery before discharge
Hearing Screening: Newborns
- Each state has its own rules about neonatal hearing exams
Hearing Screening: Auditory Brainstem Response
- ;Measures CN VIII by use of “click” stimuli
Hearing Screening: Otoacoustic Emissions
1. Gross hearing test
- as a response to loud noise, look for startles response (neonates), blinking, turning toward sound
- measures the middle ear mobility only
- less sensitive than auditory brainstem response (ABR)
Hearing Screening: Mnemonic Device (HEARS) for High-risk factors for Hearing loss
H - Hyperbilirubinemia
E - Ear infections (frequent)
A - Apgar scores low at birth
R - Rubella, cytomegalovirus (CMV), toxoplasmosis infections
S - Seizures
Premature infant sand infants admitted to NICUs have a higher incidence of hearing loss compared w/ full-term infants
Infant Lab Tests: Lab drawing techniques
- testing varies from state to state
- blood is obtained by heel stick or from cord blood
- a spot of blood is blotted into filter paper for stable transport
Infant Lab Tests: Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone
- federally mandated
- Lack of thyroid hormone results in mental and somatic growth retardation
- treated by thyroid hormone supplmentation
Infant Lab Tests: Phenylketonuria
- PKU testing is federally mandated
- severe intellectual disability results if not treated early
- inability to metabolize phenylalanine to tyrosine d/t defect in production of enzyme phenylalanine hydroxylaze
- Perform test only after infant has protein feeding (breast milk or formula) for at least 48 hours
- higher risk of false negatives if done too early (<48 hours)
Tx:
- following special diet (phenylalanine-free diet)
Infant Lab Tests: Sickle Cell Disease
- Required test can detect 4 types of hemoglobin: F, S, A, and C
Infant Lab Tests: Hemoglobin and Hematocrit
- normal NB have Hgb F (fetal hemoglobin) and Hgb A
- healthy term infants have enough iron stores to last up to 6 months
- screening for anemia is done in late infancy (9-12 months) for healthy full-term infants
- Not screened at birth because hemoglobin is ↑ from maternal RBCs mixed in fetal RBCs
Infant Lab Tests: Lead Screening
- high-risk children (e.g., children living below poverty level or living in homes built prior to 1978) should be screened at 1-2 years (12 and 24 months)
Nutritional Intake: what is preferred for babies?
Breastfeeding is preferred over formula
- If formula chosen, start w/ one fortified w/ iron
Breastfeeding
1. Give what vitamin w/breastfeeding?
2. How many calories per ounce?
3. Why breastfeeding?
- Give Vit D drops (400 IU of vit D) starting in first few days of life if breastfeeding because breast milk alone does not provide adequate levels of vit D
- Infant formula is supplemented w/ Vit D, iron, other vitamins, and essential fatty acids - Breast milk or formula contains 20 calories/ounce
- ↓ risk of infections (e.g., otitis media) during the first few weeks of life