MCN MOD 9.1

• Gastrointestinal System


  • Intussusception
  • Colic
  • Hirschsprung's Disease
  • Esophageal Atresia
• Neurologic System


  • Spina Bifida
  • Hydrocephalus
  • Meningitis
  • Febrile Seizures
• Senses


  • Otitis Media
• Genetics


  • Down Syndrome
• Intussusception


  The invagination (telescoping) of a section of the intestine into the distal bowel that causes bowel obstruction

  
• Intussusception in children


  • Most common cause of bowel obstruction in children between 3 months and 6 years old
  • More common in males and children younger than 2 years
• Causes of intussusception


  • Idiopathic (in infants younger than 1 year)
  • Lead points (in infants older than 1 year) - Meckel's diverticulum, Polyp, Hypertrophy of Peyer's patches
• Colic


  Paroxysmal abdominal pain that generally occurs in infants under 3 months of age
• Causes of colic


  • Overfeeding
  • Swallowing too much air or gas while feeding
  • Psychological factors
  • Functional immaturity of CNS and GIT
  • Gastrointestinal hypermotility
• Risk factors for colic

  • Formula-fed babies
• Hirschsprung's disease


  A congenital disorder characterized by the absence of ganglion cells in the distal portion of the intestine, resulting in functional obstruction
• Esophageal atresia


  A congenital malformation in which the esophagus does not develop properly, resulting in a blockage or disconnection
• Spina bifida


  A congenital defect of the spine in which the vertebral column does not close completely, allowing the spinal cord to protrude through the opening

  
• Hydrocephalus


  A condition in which there is an abnormal accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in the ventricles of the brain, leading to increased intracranial pressure
• Meningitis


  An inflammation of the protective membranes covering the brain and spinal cord, known as the meninges
• Febrile seizures


  Seizures that occur in young children in association with a fever
• Otitis media


  An infection of the middle ear

  
• Down syndrome


  A genetic disorder caused by the presence of all or part of an extra 21st chromosome
• The last pair of chromosome is affected in Down syndrome
• There are 47 pairs of chromosomes in Down syndrome
• There is a third chromosome on the 21st pair in Down syndrome
• The 21st pair is not missing in Down syndrome
• EEG tracing is usually abnormal in infants suffering from febrile seizures
• Coarctation of the aorta is a congenital heart defect characterized by an increased pressure on the upper extremities and decreased pressure in the lower extremities
• The most appropriate position for a child experiencing hypercyanotic spells is knee chest
• Atrial septal defect is not a defect of Tetralogy of Fallot
• Cognitively- or physically-challenged and chronically-ill infants (1–12 months old) experience the same health and growth problems as other infants such as colic or diaper rash
• Parents may be reluctant to mention secondary concerns at healthcare visits because they believe such problems pale in comparison to the child's primary illness or condition
• Healthcare providers should ask parents about secondary concerns and treat them seriously, so parents can feel confident about bringing them to the healthcare visits
• Parents are part of normal infant development so parents can begin to view their child apart from his or her illness
• Intussusception is the most common cause of bowel obstruction in children between 3 months and 6 years old
• Intussusception is more common in males and children younger than 2 years
• In about 75% of intussusception cases in infants younger than 1 year, the cause is idiopathic (no clear cause)
• Meckel's diverticulum, polyps, and hypertrophy of Peyer's patches can act as lead points for intussusception in infants older than 1 year
• The classic triad of symptoms for intussusception is bloody mucus in stool, severe abdominal pain, and a sausage-shaped abdominal mass
• Abdominal radiographs, sonograms, and rectal exams are used to diagnose intussusception
• Hydrostatic reduction through barium or air enema is the first choice of treatment before surgery for intussusception

  
• Surgery (laparoscopy) is done if the non-surgical reduction attempts are unsuccessful
• Colic is paroxysmal abdominal pain that generally occurs in infants under 3 months of age
• Overfeeding, swallowing too much air or gas while feeding, psychological factors, functional immaturity of CNS and GIT, and gastrointestinal hypermotility can cause colic