Wednesday, May 31, 2017

- Causes of stridor In pediatrics.

Causes of stridor according to site of obstruction.
-Nose and pharynx: (by laryngeal compression)

  • Lingual thyroid or thyroglossal cyst 
  • Macroglossia(Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome, hypothyroidism, Pompe disease, trisomy 21, hemangioma).
  • Micrognathia (Pierre Robin syndrome, Treacher Collins syndrome,DiGeorge syndrome)
  • Hypertrophic tonsils/adenoids
  • Retropharyngeal or peritonsillar abscess / hematoma
  • Tongue teratoma or dermoid 
  • Masses: e.g. cystic hygroma or other malformation
-Larynx:
Not acute:
  • Laryngomalacia
  • Congenital subglottic stenosis
  • Vocal cord paralysis
  • Laryngeal atresia/web 
  • Congenital Subglottic hemangioma
  • Vascular ring compression syndrome.
  • Laryngocele/cyst
  • Laryngeal papillomas 
  • GERD

Friday, May 26, 2017

- Infant girl with whooping cough (Video)

Infant girl with whooping cough
Mother holding infant girl in Intensive Care Unit. The baby has pertussis (whooping cough) and is coughing severely.

Tuesday, May 23, 2017

- Baby with viral croup (video).

2 years old female presenting with barking cough, stridor

The child have:
  • stridor at rest 
  • Subcostal and suprasternal retraction 
As classified by Westley score  minimally she has Moderate croup

Saturday, May 20, 2017

- Pathogenesis of Acute Bronchiolitis.

Pathogenesis of Acute Bronchiolitis. 

RSV initially multiplies in the epithelium of the nasopharynx.
It then forms a syncytium and invades nearby cells.
 Hence, progression within few days of illness from an upper respiratory infection to a lower respiratory tract involvement is from cell to cell rather than hematogenous, extra-cellular fluid or any other route.
 The virus mainly multiplies within the bronchial epithelium and the alveolar macrophages.

 It finally results in:
o Destruction of the bronchiolar lining epithelium and loss of ciliated epithelial cells.
o Peribronchial infiltration of white blood cells.
o oedema of the submucosa and adventitia.
o ↑ Secretion
o Plugs of sloughed, necrotic epithelium and fibrin in the airways cause significant small airway obstruction (bronchospasm) resulting in hyperinflation, obstructive emphysema, atelectasis and ventilation/perfusion mismatch leading to hypoxemia.

N.b: Bronchial muscles are spared in bronchiolitis.

Thursday, May 18, 2017

- Hospital and PICU admission criteria in cases of acute bronchiolitis.

Hospital and PICU admission criteria in cases of acute bronchiolitis.
Hospital Admission Criteria:
  • Hypoxemia <90% on room air
  • Dehydration with inability to maintain hydration
  • Major comorbidity
  • Need to rule out alternative diagnosis
  • heart rate >180 bpm
  • Moderate to Severe distress
  • Inability to care for child at home.
  • Strongly consider in infants with high-risk criteria:
- LBW
- age <6 wk,
- Prematurity
- Cardiac (Pulmonary hypertension,heart failure or cyanotic heart disease) .
- Pulmonary disease (BPD, cystic fibrosis or congenital anomalies of airway)
- Immunodeficiency
- neuromuscular disease
Critical care admission criteria:
  • Recurrent apneas
  • Concern regarding impending respiratory failure, increasing oxygen requirements
  • High risk criteria…

Monday, May 15, 2017

- Henoch-Schönlein Purpura (Anaphylctoid purpura)

Henoch-Schönlein Purpura (Anaphylctoid purpura)
Immune complex mediated disease contain IgA within capillaries of skin, GI and renal involvement.
Incidence:
  • HSP is the commonest generalized vasculitis of childhood.
  • HSP is the commonest cause of non-thrombocytopenic purpura in children.
  • Can occur at any age but peaking at 3–10 years of age.
  • Male : female = 2:1
  • Peaks during the winter months.
Etiology: the cause is unknown.
- It is postulated that genetic predisposition and antigen exposure increase circulating IgA levels and disrupt IgG synthesis.
-The IgA and IgG interact to produce complexes that activate complement and are deposited in affected organs, precipitating an inflammatory response with vasculitis.
- Antigen may be:
  • Infections (e.g. Group A ß hemolytic streptococci or ohers)
  •  Insect bites
  • Drugs or food allergy.
Pathology and pathogenesis:
  • IgA-mediated vasculitis of small blood vessels with IgA deposits seen in these vessels, primarily those of the skin and intestine.
  • Deposition of polymeric immunoglobulin A (IgA) in glomeruli. 
  • IgA deposits are present by immunofluorescence,
  •  Broad spectrum of glomerular lesions that can range from mild proliferation to necrotic and crescentic changes can be seen

Friday, May 12, 2017

- Alport Syndrome (Hereditary nephritis).

Alport Syndrome (Hereditary nephritis)

AS, or hereditary nephritis, is a genetically heterogeneous disease caused by mutations in the genes coding for type IV collagen, a major component of basement membranes which is present in kidney, ear, and ocular lens.

GENETICS
  • The most common form of hereditary nephritis.
  • Approximately 85% of patients have X-linked inheritance caused by a mutation in the COL4A5 gene encoding the α5 chain of type IV collagen.
  • Autosomal recessive forms of AS (10%)are caused by mutations in the COL4A3 and COL4A4 genes on chromosome 2 encoding the α3 and α4 chains, respectively, of type IV collagen.
  • An autosomal dominant form of AS linked to the COL4A3-COL4A4 gene locus occurs in 5% of cases.
PATHOLOGY
- Light microscopy:
  • Kidney biopsy specimens during the 1st decade of life show few changes
  • Later, the glomeruli may develop mesangial proliferation and capillary wall thickening, leading to progressive glomerular sclerosis. Tubular atrophy, interstitial inflammation and fibrosis, and lipid-containing tubular or interstitial cells, called foam cells, develop as the disease progresses.