Revision - GI Flashcards
What is the 1st line preventative medication to remember for abdominal migraine?
Pizotifen (serotonin agonist) –> needs to be withdrawn slowly due to risk of withdrawal symptoms
At what age is encopresis considered pathological?
≥4y
What 2 conditions may not passing meconium within 48 hours of birth indicate?
CF or Hirschsprung’s
Prior to starting treatment for constipation, what does the child need to be assessed for?
Faecal impaction
What are some factors that suggest faecal impaction?
- symptoms of severe constipation
- overflow soiling
- faecal mass palpable in the abdomen (digital rectal examination should only be carried out by a specialist)
1st line management if faecal impaction is present?
Disimpaction regime with high doses of laxatives –> Polyethylene glycol 3350 + electrolytes (Movicol Paediatric Plain), using an escalating dose regimen.
What type of laxative is Polyethylene glycol 3350 (Movicol Paediatric Plain)?
Osmotic
2nd line management of faecal impaction if Movicol Paediatric Plain does not lead to disimpaction after 2 weeks?
Add stimulant laxative
What is the 1st line laxative for the management of constipation in children?
Movicol (osmotic)
What are some risk factors for GORD in infants?
1) prematurity
2) hiatus hernia
3) history of congenital diaphragmatic hernia or oesophageal atresia
4) neurodisability e.g. cerebral palsy
5) parental history of heartburn or acid regurgitation
GOR vs GORD?
Gastro-oesophageal reflux (GOR) is the passage of gastric contents into the oesophagus and is normal in infants if it is asymptomatic.
Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD) is the term used to describe this process in the presence of symptoms or complications from the reflux.
If the infant is breastfed with frequent regurgitation causing marked distress, what is the management step?
Use alginate (e.g. Gavisocon) mixed with water immediately after feeds.
If the infant is formula-fed with frequent regurgitation causing marked distress, what is the management?
Stepwise approach:
1) Ensure infant is not over-fed (no more than 150ml/kg/day total milk)
2) Decrease feed volume by increasing frequency (eg. 2-3 hourly)
3) Use feed-thickener (or pre-thickened formula)
4) Stop thickener and start alginate added to formula
For both bottle and breastfed infants with marked GORD, if there is no response to alginate therapy after a 2 week trial, what can be given?
PPI or histamine antagonist (e.g ranitidine).
If symptoms persist refer to paediatrics and reconsider differential diagnosis
What is Sandifer’s syndrome?
A rare condition causing brief episodes of abnormal movements associated with gastro-oesophageal reflux in infants. The infants are usually neurologically normal.
The condition tends to resolve as the reflux is treated or improves.
What are the 2 key features of Sandifer’s syndrome?
1) torticollis
2) dystonia
Is CMPA seen more frequently in breast or bottle-fed infants?
Bottle fed
Management of CMPA?
Breast feeding mothers should avoid dairy products
Replace formula with special hydrolysed formulas designed for cow’s milk allergy
What age should children grow out of CMPA?
Approx 3y
Cow’s milk intolerance vs CMPA?
Cow’s milk intolerance presents with the same gastrointestinal symptoms as cow’s milk allergy (bloating, wind, diarrhoea and vomiting), however it does NOT give the allergic features (rash, angio-oedema, sneezing and coughing).
Infants with cow’s milk allergy will not be able to tolerate cow’s milk at all, as it causes an allergic reaction, whereas infants with cow’s milk intolerance will be able to tolerate and continue to grow and develop, but will suffer with gastrointestinal symptoms whilst having cow’s milk.
Is vomiting in pyloric stenosis bilious or non-bilious?
Non-bilious
When does pyloric stenosis typically present?
First few weeks or life
What metabolic changes can vomiting in pyloric stenosis result in?
Hypokalaemic hypochloraemic metabolic alkalosis
What is a +ve US result in pyloric stenosis?
Pyloric thickness >3mm and pyloric length >15-17mm
What sign is often described on US in pyloric stenosis?
‘Target sign’ –> due to hypertrophied hypoechoic muscle surrounding echogenic mucosa
What is the definitive mx of pyloric stenosis?
Ramstedt’s pyloromyotomy
What is the role of NG tube insertion in pyloric stenosis?
This decompresses the stomach and allows accurate recording & replacement of gastric losses.
When is the rotavirus vaccination given?
At 2m & 3m
What is the most commonly reported bacterial cause of gastroenteritis in the UK?
Campylobacter
What increases the risk of haemolytic uraemic syndrome?
Antibiotics
Antibiotics should be avoided if E. coli gastroenteritis is considered.
What is the most common bacterial cause of gastroenteritis worldwide?
campylobacter
When should a stool sample should be sent in suspected infantile gastroenteritis?
1) septicaemia is suspected
2) blood or mucus present in stool
3) child is immunocompromised
What is the fluid requirement for 24 hours in children weighing:
a) 0-10kg
b) 10-20kg
c) >20kg
a) 100 ml/kg/day
b) 50 ml/kg/day
c) 20 ml/kg/day
What is a rare but significant complication of rotavirus gastroenteritis?
Toxic megacolon
Which part of the small intestine is most affected in Coeliac disease?
jejunum
What are the 2 key autoantibodies to remember in Coeliac disease?
1) anti-TTG
2) anti-EMA
These antibodies correlate with disease activity and will rise with more active disease and may disappear with effective treatment.
All patients with a new diagnosis of what are also tested for coeliac disease?
T1DM
What is dermatitis herpetiformis?
An itchy blistering skin rash that typically appears on the abdomen.
Associated with coeliac disease.
What are some conditions related with coeliac disease?
1) T1D
2) Down syndrome
3) Turner syndrome
4) Other autoimmune diseases e.g. thyroid disease, rheumatoid arthritis & Addison’s disease.
What does histology show in Coeliac?
Crypt hyperplasia & villous atrophy
What is the ‘atypical’ presentation of coeliac?
Usually no intestinal symptoms but associated extra-intestinal symptoms e.g. osteoporosis, peripheral neuropathy, anaemia and infertility.
What are 5 extra-intestinal symptoms of coeliac?
1) osteoporosis
2) anaemia
3) dermatitis herpetiformis
4) peripheral neuropathy
5) infertility
What gene is most associated with coeliac?
HLA-DQ2
What is it important to also test for when testing for autoantibodies in coeliac?
Total IgA
If total IgA is low (in IgA deficiency) the coeliac test will be negative even when they have the condition.
1st line investigation in coeliac?
Serology –> test for total immunoglobulin A (IgA) and IgA tissue transglutaminase (tTG)
How long before testing for coeliac must patients be eating gluten for?
6 weeks
The diagnosis of which conditions indicates the need to test for coeliac disease?
T1DM & autoimmune thyroid disease
When testing for coeliac, if the patient is IgA deficient, what should you use?
Consider using IgG EMA, IgG deamidated gliadin peptide (DGP) or IgG tTG.