Renal/urology Flashcards
What are the symptoms of a UTI?
Older children- dysuria, frequency, abdominal (especially loin) pain, vomiting
Young babies and neonates- lethargy and irritability
How is the diagnosis of acute pyelonephritis made?
A temperature greater than 38 degrees
Loin pain or tenderness
What are you looking for on a urine dipstick?
Nitrites (gram negative bacteria convert nitrates into nitrites) Leucocyte esterase (shows the amount of leucocytes there are)
If neither are present then the patient is unlikely to have a UTI
Send a MSU to the lab to be cultures and have sensitivity testing if both are present.
What is the management of UTIs?
All children should under 3 months with a fever should start immediate IV Abx (ceftriaxone) and have a full septic screen- blood cultures, bloods and lactate, lumbar puncture.
Typical Abx choices: trimethoprim, nitrofurantoin, cefalexin, amoxicillin
How do you investigate recurrent UTIs?
Children under 6 months with their first UTI should have an Abdominal US scan within 6 weeks or during the illness if there are recurrent UTIs or atypical bacteria.
Children with recurrent UTIs should have an abdominal US within 6 weeks
Children with atypical UTIs should have an abdominal US during the illness
When do you do a Dimercaptosuccinic acid scan?
These should be used 4-6 months after the illness to assess for damage from recurrent or atypical UTIs.
What does the DMSA involve?
Works by injecting isotope into a childs vein which is then absorbed by the kidney, the scan shows function and location and scarring of the kidneys.
What is vesico ureteric reflex?
This is where urine has a tendency to flow from the bladder back into the ureters, this predisposes patients to developing Upper UTIs and subsequent renal scarring.
How is vesicoureteric reflex diagnosed?
Micturating cystourethrogram
What is the management of vesico ureteric reflex?
It depends on the severity .avoid constipation .avoid excessively full bladder .prophylactic Abx .surgical input from paediatric urology
When is micturating cystourethrogram used?
Used to investigate atypical or recurrent UTIs in children under 6 months
Used when there is a family history of VUR
Dilatation of ureter on US
Poor urinary flow
What does micturating cystourethrogram involve?
It involves catheterising the child and injecting contrast into the bladder and taking a series of xray films to determine whether the contrast is refluxing back into the ureters. Children are usually given Abx for around 3 days around the time of investigation.
What is vulvovaginitis and what is it caused by?
Inflammation and irritation of the vulva and vagina, it is a common condition affecting between 3 and 10 year olds.
It can be exarcebated by wet nappies, chlorinated pools, use of soaps, tight clothing, poor toilet hygiene, constipation, threadworms, pressure on the area.
Why is vulvovaginitis much less common after puberty?
Oestrogen helps keep the skin and vaginal mucosa healthy and resistant to infection.
What would vulvovaginitis present with?
Erythema Itchiness Discharge Dysuria Constipation Urine dipstick may show leucocytes and therefore it may be misdiagnosed as UTI
What is the management of vulvovaginitis?
Avoid washing with soaps/chemicals
Avoid perfumed or antiseptic products
Good toiler hygiene
Keep area dry
Emollients such as sudocreme can sooth area
Loose cotton clothing
Treating constipation and worms where applicable
Avoiding activities that exacerbate the problem
What is nephrotic syndrome?
This is when the basement membrane in the glomerulus becomes highly permeable to protein, allowing proteins to leak from the blood into the urine. It is most common between 2 and 5 years.
How does nephrotic syndrome present?
Classic triad of:
Low serum albumin (hypoalbuminaemia)
High urine protein content (more than 3+ proteins on urine dipstick)
Oedema
Why may children with nephrotic syndrome be dehydrated?
This is because the oedema represents all the fluid going into 3rd fluid spaces, so there is less in the intravascular system.
Other than the classic triad of nephrotic syndrome, what other important features are there in terms of nephrotic syndrome?
. Hypercoagulability
. High blood pressure
. Deranged lipid profile- high levels of cholesterol, triglycerides, low density lipoproteins
What is the most common cause of nephrotic syndrome in children?
Minimal change disease
Causing over 90% of cases in children under ten
Other than minimal change disease, what can cause nephrotic syndrome?
It can be secondary to intrinsic kidney disease- focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis
It can also be secondary to an underlying systemic illness:
Diabetes
Infection (HIV, hepatitis, malaria)
Henoch schonlein purpura
What is the management of nephrotic syndrome?
Management is with corticosteroids (prednisolone) the prognosis is good and most children make a full recovery.
Low salt diet
Diuretics to treat the oedema
Albumin infusions can be required in severe hypoalbuminaemia
Antibiotic prophylaxis given in severe cases (due to the oedema and ascites)
In nephrotic syndrome, how long should steroids be given for?
High dose steroids should be given for 4 weeks and then gradually weaned over the next 8 weeks.
Steroid sensitive= children who respond to steroids (80% of children respond)
Steroid dependent= patients that struggle to wean steroids due to relapses
Steroid resistant= patients that do not respond to steroids
Steroid resistant children are children with nephrotic syndrome who do not respond to steroids, what should you give in these cases?
ACE inhibitors and immunosuppresants (cyclosporine, tacrolimus, rituximab).
What are the complications of nephrotic syndrome?
Hypovolaemia- occurs as fluid leaks from the intravascular space into the interstitial space causing oedema and low blood pressure.
Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis
Thrombosis (proteins that normally prevent blood clotting are lost in the kidneys)
Infection as kidneys leak immunoglobulins (weakens the capacity of the immune system)
Relapses
Acute or chronic kidney failure