Flashcards
Common paediatric emergencies Q&A
Cards in this deck (10)
- 1TRUE/FALSE? 1. Young children presenting with fever, vomiting and / or diarrhoea may be found to have an illness other than gastroenteritis.True: Children presenting with fever, vomiting and/or diarrhoea often have an infection other than gastroenteritis (e.g. urinary tract infection, sepsis, appendicitis). Always exclude other causes especially in young infants.
- 2TRUE/FALSE? 2. Rice water is a suitable oral rehydration fluid in infants.False: Rice water is not suitable as an oral rehydration fluid in children as it does not contain enough salts.
- 3TRUE/FALSE? 3. Dystonic reaction is a recognized complication of some anti-emetics especially young children.True: Dystonic reaction to anti-emetics such as prochlorperazine and metoclopramide may occur especially in children. It is most common in the under 2 year age group. Treatment is with an anticholinergic antihistamine or diazepam, in children less than 1 year of age. Older children can be treated by benztropine.
- 4SIMPLE FEBRILE CONVULSIONS - T/F? 4a. They generally occur between the ages of 6 months and 6 years.True: Simple febrile convulsions usually occur between 6 months and 6 years of age.
- 5SIMPLE FEBRILE CONVULSIONS - T/F? 4b. As a treating doctor you should initiate treatment as soon as febrile convulsion commences.False: Simple febrile convulsions are brief, generally lasting less than 5 minutes. It is important to keep calm, ensure the safety of the child, check the clock and commence treatment if the convulsion does not cease within 5 minutes.
- 6SIMPLE FEBRILE CONVULSIONS - T/F? 4c. There is no residual neurological impairment resulting from a simple febrile convulsion.True: There is no residual neurological impairment resulting from a simple febrile
convulsion. This is an important message to give to parents. - 7SIMPLE FEBRILE CONVULSIONS - T/F? 4d. A post-ictal phase is usually observed.True: There is usually a brief post-ictal phase.
- 85a. Give 4 signs of toxicity/sepsis in a child.i. Decreased alertness/arousal
ii. Breathing difficulty: increased RR, recession/effort; cyanosis, irregular or shallow respiratory effort
iii. Impaired circulation (central CRT >2secs), pallor, tachycardia; hypotension
iv. Decreased fluids in and out - 95b. If one of these signs is missing, sepsis is reliably excluded – T/F?False: Absence of any of the above signs does not rule out toxicity/sepsis.
Clinical signs may appear/change over time and children in particular may
undergo rapid clinical deterioration. Frequent assessment and re assessment
is of key importance when monitoring clinical status in a child/infant. - 106. What are some ways of decreasing the number of deaths in children due to immersion injuries?Promote pool safety to parents:
i. Appropriate supervision of children around pools
ii. Ensure a responsible adult is always present
iii. Proper fencing around pools
iv. Encourage parents to learn cardio pulmonary resuscitation (CPR).
Administering CPR as soon as possible following an immersion injury -
remember that any CPR is better than no CPR.