Overview Sickle cell disease is caused by a point mutation in the beta-globin gene found in chromosome 11. It results in a substitution of glutamine to valine at position 6, leading to the formation of the abnormal hemoglobin S. Sickle…
Overview Meningitis is a life-threatening infection of the meninges. Acute bacterial meningitis: rapid onset of Sx, identified by routine laboratory techniques Chronic meningitis: ongoing Sx of meningitis for ≥ 4 weeks without clinical improvement Aseptic meningitis: Sx of meningitis without…
Overview Malaria is an infectious disease caused by Plasmodium spp. It is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality, particularly in children < 5yo in Kenya. Plasmodium falciparum is the MCC of malaria. A parasitological dx of malaria…
Overview Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) is the sudden unexplained death of a child under the age of 1 year. It occurs while sleeping or while the child is assumed to be aspleep. Keep an eye out especially between 1-6…
Pneumonia is still the leading killer of children worldwide (29% of pediatric deaths worldwide, 158 million cases per year; 3 million deaths per year). The death rates in underdeveloped countries is 2000x that of children in developed countries. Viral causes…
Bronchiolitis is an infectious, inflammatory process of the bronchioles. Primarily a disease of the very young (95% of cases occur in children < 2 years old). Always viral. Most commony caused by the Respiratory syncitial virus (RSV). Other causes include…
Overview Condition Pathogen Laryngitis Viral Laryngotracheobronchitis Parainfluenza virus Spasmodic croup Several viruses and allergic cause Epiglottitis Haemophilus influenza Type B; Gram + bacteria Bacterial tracheitis S. aureus Foreign body obstruction N/A (Foreign body) Laryngitis Inflammation of the larynx. Corynebacterium diphtheria…
Overview Rickets is an impairment of bone mineralization prior to epiphyseal closure. The most common cause of rickets is Vitamin D deficiency (does not occur naturally in foods, needs fortification/supplementation). Rickets manifests as skeletal malformations Vitamin D-related rickets Vitamin D…
Overview Failure to thrive is failure to grow at the expected rate given the child’s age. Historically divided into organic and non-organic (environmental) causes. Perform investigations if non-organic causes are not suspected. Subtypes of FTT Misconceptions about FTT Common non-organic…
Overview Malnutrition is defined as a lack of macronutrients (calories) OR a lack of micronutrients (Vitamins, minerals). For this discussion, we will consider undernutrition in terms of inadequate consumption of macronutrients. Weight, height, and age For children, percentiles using growth…