MCQ Sample 3

When correcting fluid losses in children, we need to replace:

Initial deficit
Maintenance
Ongoing losses
The ongoing losses can be easily calculated from measuring what is being lost.

The Maintenance fluids are similarly very simple to calculate:

kg 24 hour
<10 100 mL/kg
10–20 1000+ 50mL/kg above 10kg
>20 1500 + 20mL/kg above 20kg
Clinical Derivation of degree of dehydration is inaccurate. The best method is to look at the weight loss of the child, although this may not be available prior to presentation. The method we therefore use is a combination.

Firstly determine the degree of dehydration clinically:

Mild Dehydration is usually not discernible
Moderate Dehydration is described as 4-6%. There is usually delayed capillary refill (>2 sec) and increased reap rate.
Severe Dehydration is > 7%. Cap refill is > 3 sec, skin is mottled and patient is tachycardic
Calculating Water Deficit
If the patient weighs 10kg and is moderately dehydrated ie., 5% dehydrated, then the deficit is:

5/100 x 10 =0.5 in Litres ie 500ml

What Fluids to Use?
Initial resuscitation boluses of 20ml/kg of normal saline can be used.

For maintenance IV fluid 5% dextrose and 0.9% Normal Saline can be used, remembering to correct potassium.

For oral rehydration Gastrolyte and similar products may be used.

How quickly to rehydrate.
In a resuscitation situation, obviously fluids will be given quickly. In other situations they can be replaced at slower rates. Some literature recommends replacing 50% of the deficit within the first 8 hours and then the remaining 50% over the next 16 hours.

In conditions such as gastroenteritis fluid may be replaced rapidly i.e.., over hours. In nasogatric fluid resuscitation 25ml/kg per hour can be replaced foe the firs 4 hours, i.e.., in a 10kg child one litre can be given over 4 hours.

BEWARE Rapid fluid resuscitation in DKA as cerebral oedema may occur. Please read the blog on DKA and Cerebral Oedema.

Watch the Video on FLUID RESUSCITATION IN CHILDREN

Bronchiolitis

Usually occurs in < 2 yo

Caused : Respiratory Syncytial Virus

Presentation

Fever, cough rhinorrhoea and wheeze. Worst at day 3. Plateaus after this. May affect feeding.

Severity

Mild: feeding and sats >93%

Moderate: Increased work of breathing, chest wall retractions, sats 90-93, feeding affected

Severe: lethargy, can’t feed. chest wall retraction. Sats < 90%

Disposition

Admit all except mild

Controversies

Bronchodilators don’t alter the course, but if a child is > 8months can consider a dose in case 1st episode of asthma.
There is no benefit in antivirals
Steroids are of no real practical benefit- study showed some minor benefit when combination of high dose dexamethasone and adrenaline were used.
Antibiotics have no role unless there is a complication of other infection
Not So Controversial

Nebulised hypertonic saline can decrease mucus production
Patients with decreased feeding may need fluids
More ICU but Heliox may delay or avoid need for intubation
Situations that may make the condition more severe

< 6 weeks old
ex-premature
congenital heart disease
neurological conditions
pulmonary hypertension
chronic respiratory conditions

(b)

Age: Usually < 2yo but may occur later also

Cause: Parainfluenza

Presentation: Inspiratory stridor, Barking Cough, may have wheeze and may have had a recent URTI

Severity

Mild: cough and stridor on exertion

Moderate: cough and stridor at rest and increased risk of breathing

Severe: irritable, unable to talk, increased work of breathing

BEWARE: Hypoxaemia is a late sign

Investigations: None

Treatment

Minimal handling
Steroids can be used for all cases. Simple single dose dexamethasone 0.15mg/kg
Nebulised adrenaline can be given in severe cases, with increased dose of dexamethasone i.e.., 0.6mg/kg IV/IM
Disposition

Home if well 4 hours post nebuliser adrenaline or 1 hour post steroids.

(b)

Cause: RNA myxovirus

Presentation: Fever, coryza, conjunctivitis. Cough occurs in most cases. A rash spreads from the head and neck at about day 3. It is maculopapular.

Koplick’s Spots are pathognomonic of the condition. They precede the rash by 24 hours and are usually white on a red background.

Investigations: IgM Antibody may be negative for up to 4 days, but remains positive for up to 3 months. It peaks at 7-10 days after the rash appears.

Complications

Otitis Media: This is a common complication
Pneumonia: Occurs in about 4% of cases and is responsible for 50% of deaths.
Encephalitis: Symptoms of headache, dizziness and vomiting occur 1-2 weeks post the disease
SSPE:Subacute Sclerosing Pan encephalitis: Occurs in 1:25000 and may occur up to 10 years after the original exposure. This condition is associated with a progressive mental deterioration and has a 100% mortality.
Myocarditis
Nephritis
Treatment: no antibiotics unless complicating infections. Immunoglobulin should be given within 7 days of exposure to those non- immunised.

(d)

Age: 6 to 6 ie 6 months to 6 years

These are benign if they last for less than 15 minutes and they do not recur in the same illness.

Occur in 3% of children.

Simple febrile convulsions do not predispose to epilepsy. The risk in those children is 1% i.e.., same as the population.

Febrile Convulsions are considered complex if:

have focal features
last more than 15 minutes
recur in the same illness
if the patient hasn’t totally recovered within an hour.
Investigations

If a focus has been found no need to investigate. Need to retying the < 6month old, as there may be a CNS infection and they need a full septic workup including lumbar puncture.

(b)

In occurs in 6months to 4 years of age.

Patients present with: fever, drooling, dysphagia, inspiratory stridor and may hold their head in a torticollis-like position.

If the abscess ruptures, it may result in rapid and fatal airway obstruction. Other complications include, aspiration pneumonia, mediastinitis, and erosion into the jugular vein and carotid artery.

DO NOT palpate as may cause the abscess to rupture.

Investigation is by CT neck with contrast. Plain Xray shows widening of the retropharyngeal space.Usually on plain Xray there is an increase in the retropharyngeal space i.e.., so it is 2x the diameter of the vertebral body at C2, or greater than one half the width of C4

Treatment: Antibiotics:

ampicillin/sulbactam and consider cetriaxone.

IV dexamethasone 0.15-0.6mg/kg