RTS - Colic, Teething, Nappy Rash Flashcards
What are the main infant and childhood conditions?
crying and colic teething nappy rash cradle cap threadworms
How to identify colic?
happens in babies usually under 3 months old
can start within 2-4 weeks after birth and last up to 3 months
Rule of 3 - by Wessel et al
baby cries 3 hours a day for more than 3 days a week for more than 3 weeks
What are the symptoms of colic?
crying for more than 3 hours at roughly the same time per day (late in the afternoon)
bowel pains
- baby pulls feet up under their body and clenches their fists = rigid abdomen
- some babies stomach rumble severely and produce wind
pain
mild - restless
severe - rhythmical screaming attacks every frequency minutes with equally quiet periods
What are the causes of colic?
possible causes - poorly understood
- smoking during pregnancy
- gut spasms
- bubbles of trapped air in the digestion system
- sensitivity to feed - babies gut is sensitive to different milk products
- immature digestive systems
- problems in under or over feeding
bottle fed - teat is too small
breast fed - air swallowed due to longer duration or empty breast
What are conditions to eliminate when treating colic?
acute infection
- ear and UTIs have identical symptoms to colic
- check if there is a previous history of excessive crying or if a fever is present
intolerance to cow’s milk protein
When should colic be referred?
infants that are failing to put on weight
medication failure
overanxious parents
What are OTC medications for treatment of colic?
does not need prescription Simeticone (activated dimeticone) - antifoaming properties = reduces the surface tension of the bubbles of gas by breaking the tiny bubbles of air to form larger bubbles - larger bubbles are easier to bring up example - infacol, dentinox
lactase
- breaks down the lactose in babies milk making it easier to digest
- can be added to formula
gripe water
- contains alkaline substances and soothing ingredients = some are unsuitable for children under one month old
example - woodward’s gripe water
What are non medicinal treatments for colic?
comforting/ carrying the baby - rocking chair
gently massaging the baby’s stomach
music or monotonous sounds
get the child to drink their milk slowly
burp the baby more often
sit the child straight while they eat
try a different product or brand if the child drinks formula milk
When does teething occur?
first teeth = 6-8 months
but can happen anytime from birth until 13-14 months
all milk/deciduous teeth are present between 2.5 - 5 years
permanent teeth break through at about 6 years
What are the symptoms of teething?
- restlessness, irritability and disturbed sleep patterns
- dribbling
- sore, red gums
- flushed cheeks
- loss of appetite
- sudden desire to chew on things
- an urge to bite
What are medicinal treatment options for teething?
paracetamol, ibuprofen - for pain
teething gels - local anaesthetic or mild antiseptic
example - bonjela (without choline salicylate), dentinox
avoid choline salicylate = can cause Reye’s syndrome (brain disorder)
avoid Ashton & Parsons Powder
What are non-medicinal treatment options for teething?
rubbing their gums lightly
teething rings - chilled
chilled fruit or vegetables
avoid teething biscuits - high sugar content
How to identify nappy rash?
common condition
happens to up to a third of nappy wearing babies
usually develops when the baby is between 9 and 12 months
What are symptoms of mild nappy rash?
small part of their nappy area will be covered in a pink or red rash usually made up small spots or blotches
= can look shiny
stinging sensation when passing urine or faeces
other areas of the body will not be involved
What are symptoms of severe nappy rash?
more advanced and painful symptoms
bright red spots
dry, cracked and broken skin
swellings, ulcers and blisters on the skin
will cover a larger part of the nappy area and may spread down the legs or up the abdomen
weeping and yellow crusting = bacterial infection
satellite papules (small dark red lesions near the perimeter of the area) = secondary fungal infection due to candida