The Profession ofKaren J. Marcdante and Benjamin S. SiegelPOPULATION AND CULTURE: THE CARE OF CHILDREN IN SOCIETYHealth care professionals need to appreciate the interactionsbetween medical conditions and social, economic, and environmental influences associated with the provision of pediatriccare. New technologies and treatments help improve morbidity,mortality, and the quality of life for children and their families,but the costs may exacerbate disparities in medical care. Thechallenge for pediatricians is to deliver care that is socially equitable; integrates psychosocial, cultural, and ethical issues intopractice; and ensures that health care is available to all children.
Many challenges affect children’s health outcomes. These include access to health care; health disparities; supporting their social, cognitive, and emotional lives in the context of families and communities; and addressing environmental factors, especially poverty. Early experiences and environmental stresses interact with the genetic predisposition of every child and, ultimately, may lead to the development of diseases seen in adulthood. Thus, pediatricians have the unique opportunity to address not only acute and chronic illnesses but also the aforementioned issues and toxic stressors to promote wellness and health maintenance in children.
Many scientific advances have an impact on the growing role of pediatricians. Incorporating the use of newer genetic technologies allows the diagnosis of diseases at the molecular level, aids in the selection of medications and therapies, and provides information on the prognosis of some diseases. Prenatal diagnosis and newborn screening improve the accuracy of early diagnosis of a variety of conditions, allowing for earlier treatment even when a cure is impossible. Functional magnetic resonance imaging allows a greater understanding of psychiatric and neurologic problems, such as dyslexia and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.
Challenges persist with the incidence and prevalence ofchronic illness having increased in recent decades. Chronic illness is now the most common reason for hospital admissions among children (excluding trauma and newborn admissions). From middle school and beyond, mental illness is the main non–childbirth-related reason for hospitalization amongchildren. Pediatricians must also address the increasing concern about environmental toxins and the prevalence of physical, emotional, and sexual abuse, as well as violence. Since the September 11, 2001, destruction of the World Trade Centerin New York City, fear of terrorism in the United States hasincreased the level of anxiety for many families and children.
To address these ongoing challenges, pediatricians must practice as part of a health care team. Many pediatricians already practice collaboratively with psychiatrists, psychologists, nurses, and social workers. Team composition can change, depending on location and patient needs. Although school health and school-based health clinics have improved access and outcomes for many common childhood and adolescent conditions, the shortage of available general pediatricians and family physicians has led to the development of retail medical facilities in pharmacies and retail stores.
Childhood antecedents of adult health conditions, such as alcoholism, depression, obesity, hypertension, and hyperlipidemias, are increasingly being recognized. Maternal health status can affect the fetus. Infants who are a smaller size and relatively underweight at birth because of maternal malnutrition have increased rates of coronary heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes mellitus, obesity, metabolic syndrome, and osteoporosis in later life. Because of improved neonatal care, a greater percentage of preterm, low birth weight, or very low birth weight newborns survive, increasing the number of children with chronic medical conditions and developmental delays with lifelong implications.
Complex health, economic, and psychosocial challenges greatly influence the well-being and health outcomes of children. National reports from the Centers for Disease Control andPrevention (CDC) (e.g., http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/hus/ hus11.pdf#102 ) provide information about many of these issues.Some of the key issues include the following: • Health insurance coverage. In 2010 over eight million children in the United States had no health insurance coverage. In addition, 10 to 20 million were underinsured. Many children, despite public sector insurance, do not receive recommended immunizations. Although Medicaid and the State Children’s Health Insurance Program covered more than 42 million children in 2010 who otherwise would not have health care access, over a million U.S. children are unable to get needed medical care because their families cannot afford it.
Prenatal and perinatal care. Ten to 25% of women do not receive prenatal care during the first trimester. In addition, a significant percentage of women continue to smoke, use illicit drugs, and consume alcohol during pregnancy.
Preterm births. The incidence of preterm births (<37 weeks) peaked in 2006 and has been slowly declining (11.99% in 2010). However, the 2010 rates of low birth weight infants (≤2500 g [8.15% of all births]) and very low birth weight infants (≤1500 g [1.45% of all births]) are essentially unchanged since 2006.
Birth rate in adolescents. The national birth rate among adolescents has been steadily dropping since 1990, reaching its lowest rate (34.2 per 1000) for 15to 19-yearold adolescents in 2010.
Adolescent abortions. In 2009 nearly 800,000 abortions were reported to the CDC, a continued decline over the last decade. Adolescents from 15 to 19 years of age accounted for 15.5% of abortions. Approximately 60% of sexually active adolescents report using effective contraception.
Infant mortality. Although infant mortality rates have declined since 1960, the disparity among the ethnic groups persists. In 2011 the overall infant mortality rate was 6.05 per 1000 live births with a rate per 1000 live births of 5.05 for non-Hispanic whites, 5.27 for Hispanic infants, and 11.42 for black infants. In 2008 the United States ranked thirty-first in infant mortality. Marked variations in infant mortality exist by state with highest mortality rates in the South and Midwest.
Initiation and maintenance of breastfeeding. Seventy-seven percent of women initiate breastfeeding following the birth of their infants. Breastfeeding rates vary by ethnicity (higher rates in non-Hispanic whites and Hispanic mothers) and education (highest in women with a bachelor’s degree or higher). Only 47% of women continue breastfeeding for 6 months, with about 25% continuing at 12 months.
Cause of death in U.S. children. The overall causes of death in all children (1 to 24 years of age) in the United States in 2010, in order of frequency, were accidents (unintentional injuries), assaults (homicide), suicide, malignant neoplasms, and congenital malformations (Table 1-1). There was a slight improvement in the rate of death from all causes.
Hospital admissions for children and adolescents. In 2010 2.4% of children were admitted to a hospital at least once. Respiratory illnesses (asthma, pneumonia, and bronchitis/bronchiolitis) and injury are the causes of over 28% of hospitalization in children under 18 years of age. Mental illness is the most common cause of admissions for children 13 to 17 years of age.
Significant adolescent health challenges: substance use and abuse. There is considerable substance use and abuse in U.S. high school students. Forty-six percent of high school students reported having tried cigarettes in 2009. In 2011 nearly 71% of high school students reported having had at least one drink; 21.9% admitted to more
Table 1-1 Causes of Death by Age in the United States, 2005 AGE GROUP (YR) CAUSES OF DEATH IN ORDER OF FREQUENCY 1–4 Unintentional injuries (accidents) Congenital malformations, deformations, and chromosomal abnormalities Homicide Malignant neoplasms Diseases of the heart 5–14 Unintentional injuries (accidents) Malignant neoplasms Congenital malformations, deformations, and chromosomal abnormalities Homicide Diseases of the heart 15–24 Unintentional injuries (accidents) Homicide Suicide Malignant neoplasms Diseases of the heart
From Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Health, United States, 2011: With special feature on socioeconomic status and health (website).
http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/hus/hus11.pdf#102 than five drinks on one day in the previous month, and 8.2% admitted to driving after drinking. Nearly 40% of high school students have tried marijuana; 11.4%, inhalants; 6.8%, cocaine; 3.8 %, methamphetamine; 2.9%, heroin; and 2%, injectables.
• Children in foster care. Currently there are about 400,000 children in the foster care system. Approximately 25,000 of these children must leave the child welfare system each year. Of those who leave, 25% to 50% experience homelessness and/or joblessness and will not graduate from high school. These children have a high incidence of mental health problems, substance abuse, and early pregnancy for females with an increased likelihood of having a low birth weight baby.
Obesity. The prevalence of obesity continues to increase. The prevalence of overweight children 6 to 19 years of age has increased more than fourfold from 4% in 1965 to over 18% in 2010. Currently it is estimated that 32% of children 2 to 19 years of age are overweight or obese. An estimated 300,000 deaths a year and at least $147 billion in health care costs are associated with the 68% of Americans who are overweight or obese.
Sedentary lifestyle. Among 6 to 11 year olds, 62% do not engage in recommended amounts of moderate or vigorous physical activity. Nearly 40% spend more than 2 hours of screen time (television/videos) per school day.
Motor vehicle accidents and injuries. In 2009, 1314 children 14 years of age or younger died in motor vehicle crashes, and 179,000 were injured. Other causes of childhood injury included drowning, child abuse, and poisonings. The estimated cost of all unintentional childhood injuries is nearly $300 billion per year in the United States.
Child maltreatment. Although there has been a slow decline in the prevalence of child maltreatment, there were over 760,000 reported cases of abuse in 2009. The majority (71%) of children were neglected; 16% suffered physical abuse, and nearly 9% were victims of sexual abuse.
Current social and economic stress on the U.S. population. There are considerable societal stresses affecting the physical and mental health of children, including rising unemployment associated with the economic slowdown, financial turmoil, and political unrest. Millions of families have lost their homes or are at risk for losing their homes after defaulting on mortgage payments.
Toxic stress in childhood leading to adult health challenges. The growing understanding of the interrelationship between biologic and developmental stresses, environmental exposure, and the genetic potential of patients is helping us recognize the adverse impact of toxic stressors on health and well-being. Pediatricians must screen for and act upon factors that promote or hinder early development to provide the best opportunity for long-term health.
Military deployment and children. Current armed conflicts and political unrest have affected millions of adults and their children. There are an estimated 1.5 million active duty and National Guard/Reserve servicemen and women, parents to over a million children. An estimated 31% of troops returning from armed conflicts have a mental health condition (alcoholism, depression, and posttraumatic stress disorder) or report having experienced a traumatic brain injury. Their children are affected by these morbidities as well as by the psychological impact of deployment on children of all ages. Child maltreatment is more prevalent in families of U.S.-enlisted soldiers during combat deployment than in nondeployed soldiers.
Health disparities are the differences that remain after taking into account patients’ needs, preferences, and the availability of health care. Social conditions, social inequity, discrimination, social stress, language barriers, and poverty are antecedents to and associated causes of health disparities. The disparities in infant mortality relate to poor access to prenatal care during pregnancy and the lack of access and appropriate heath services for women, such as preventive services, family planning, and appropriate nutrition and health care, throughout their life span.
Infant mortality increases as the mother’s level of education decreases.
Children from poor families are less likely to be immunized at 4 years of age and less likely to receive dental care.
Rates of hospital admission are higher for people who live in low-income areas.
Children of ethnic minorities and children from poor families are less likely to have physician office or hospital outpatient visits and more likely to have hospital emergency department visits.
Children with Medicaid/public coverage are less likely to be in excellent health than children with private health insurance.
Access to care for children is easier for whites and for children of higher income families than for minority and low-income families.
CHANGING MORBIDITY: THE SOCIAL/ EMOTIONAL ASPECTS OF PEDIATRIC PRACTICEChanging morbidity reflects the relationship among environmental, social, emotional, and developmental issues; child health status; and outcome. These observations are based on significant interactions of biopsychosocial influences on health and illness, such as school problems, learning disabilities, and attention problems; child and adolescent mood and anxiety disorders; adolescent suicide and homicide; firearms in the home; school violence; effects of media violence, obesity, and sexual activity; and substance use and abuse by adolescents.
Currently 20% to 25% of children are estimated to have some mental health problems; 5% to 6% of these problems are severe. Unfortunately it is estimated that pediatricians identify only 50% of mental health problems. The overall prevalence of psychosocial dysfunction of preschool and school-age children is 10% and 13%, respectively. Children from poor families are twice as likely to have psychosocial problems than children from higher income families. Nationwide, there is a lack of adequate mental health services for children.
Important influences on children’s health, in addition to poverty, include homelessness, single-parent families, parental divorce, domestic violence, both parents working, and inadequate child care. Related pediatric challenges include improving the quality of health care, social justice, equality in health care access, and improving the public health system. For adolescents, there are special concerns about sexuality, sexual orientation, pregnancy, substance use and abuse, violence, depression, and suicide.
Culture is an active, dynamic, and complex process of the way people interact and behave in the world. Culture encompasses the concepts, beliefs, values (including nurturing of children), and standards of behavior, language, and dress attributable to people that give order to their experiences in the world, offer sense and purpose to their interactions with others, and provide meaning for their lives. The growing diversity of the United States requires that health care workers make an attempt to understand the impact of health, illness, and treatment on the patient and family from their perspective. This requires open-ended questions, such as: “What worries (concerns) you the most about your child’s illness?” and “What do you think has caused your child’s illness?” These can facilitate a discussion of parents’ thoughts and feelings about the illness and its causes. Addressing concepts and beliefs about how one interacts with health professionals as well as the family’s spiritual and religious approach to health and health care from a cultural perspective allows the pediatrician, patient, and family to incorporate differences in perspectives, values, or beliefs into the care plan. Significant conflicts may arise because religious or cultural practices may lead to the possibility of child abuse and neglect. In this circumstance, the pediatrician is required by law to report the suspected child abuse and neglect to the appropriate social service authorities (see Chapter 22).
Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) practices constitute a part of the broad cultural perspective. Therapeutic modalities for CAM include biochemical, lifestyle, biomechanical, and bioenergetic treatments, as well as homeopathy. It is estimated that 20% to 30% of all children and 50% to 75% of adolescents use CAM. Of children with chronic illness, 30% to 70% use CAM therapies, especially for asthma and cystic fibrosis. Only 30% to 60% of children and families tell their physicians about their use of CAM. Some modalities may be effective, whereas others may be ineffective or even dangerous.
Society provides a profession with economic, political, and social rewards. Professions have specialized knowledge and the potential to maintain a monopoly on power and control, remaining relatively autonomous. The profession’s autonomy can be limited by societal needs. A profession exists as long as it fulfills its responsibilities for the social good.
Today the activities of medical professionals are subject to explicit public rules of accountability. Governmental and other authorities grant limited autonomy to the professional organizations and their membership. City and municipal government departments of public health establish and implement health standards and regulations. At the state level, boards of registration in medicine establish the criteria for obtaining and revoking medical licenses. The federal government regulates the standards of services, including Medicare, Medicaid, and the Food and Drug Administration. The Department of Health and Human Services regulates physician behavior in conducting research with the goal of protecting human subjects. The Health Care Quality Improvement Act of 1986 authorized the federal government to establish the National Practitioner Data Bank, which contains information about physicians (and other health care practitioners) who have been disciplined by a state licensing board, professional society, hospital, or health plan or named in medical malpractice judgments or settlements. Hospitals are required to review information in this data bank every 2 years as part of clinician recredentialing. There are accrediting agencies for medical schools, such as the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME), and postgraduate training, such as the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME). The ACGME includes committees that review subspecialty training programs.
Historically the most privileged professions have depended on their legitimacy for serving the public interest. The public trust of physicians is based on the physician’s commitment to altruism. Many medical schools include variations on the traditional Hippocratic Oath as part of the commencement ceremonies as a recognition of a physician’s responsibility to put the interest of others ahead of self-interest.
The core of professionalism is embedded in the daily healingwork of the physician and encompassed in the patient-physicianrelationship. Professionalism includes an appreciation for the cultural and religious/spiritual health beliefs of the patient,incorporating the ethical and moral values of the profession andthe moral values of the patient. Unfortunately, the inappropriateactions of a few practicing physicians, physician investigators,and physicians in positions of power in the corporate world have created a societal demand to punish those involved andhave led to the erosion of respect for the medical profession.
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the American Board of Pediatrics (ABP), the American Board of Internal Medicine, the LCME, the Medical School Objectives Project of the Association of American Medical Colleges, and the ACGME Outcome Project have called for increasing attention to professionalism in the practice of medicine and in the education of physicians.
The ABP adopted professional standards in 2000, and the AAP updated the policy statement and technical report on Professionalism in 2007, as follows:
Honesty/integrity is the consistent regard for the highest standards of behavior and the refusal to violate one’s personal and professional codes. Maintaining integrity requires awareness of situations that may result in conflict of interest or that may result in personal gain at the expense of the best interest of the patient.
Reliability/responsibility includes accountability to one’s patients and their families, to society to ensure that the public’s needs are addressed, and to the profession to ensure that the ethical precepts of practice are upheld. Inherent in this responsibility is reliability in completing assigned duties or fulfilling commitments. There also must be a willingness to accept responsibility for errors.
for others is the essence of humanism. The pediatrician must treat all persons with respect and regard for their individual worth and dignity; be aware of emotional, personal, family, and cultural influences on a patient’s well being, rights, and choices of medical care; and respect appropriate patient confidentiality.
Compassion/empathy is a crucial component of medical practice. The pediatrician must listen attentively, respond humanely to the concerns of patients and family members, and provide appropriate empathy for and relief of pain, discomfort, and anxiety as part of daily practice.
Self-improvement is the pursuit of and commitment to providing the highest quality of health care through lifelong learning and education. The pediatrician must seek to learn from errors and aspire to excellence through self-evaluation and acceptance of the critiques of others.
Self-awareness/knowledge of limits includes recognition of the need for guidance and supervision when faced with new or complex responsibilities. The pediatrician also must be insightful regarding the impact of his or her behavior on others and cognizant of appropriate professional boundaries.
Communication/collaboration is crucial to providing the best care for patients. Pediatricians must work cooperatively and communicate effectively with patients and their families and with all health care providers involved in the care of their patients.
Altruism/advocacy refers to unselfish regard for and devotion to the welfare of others. It is a key element of professionalism. Self-interest or the interests of other parties should not interfere with the care of one’s patients and their families.
The ethics of health care and medical decision making relies on values to determine what kinds of decisions are best or appropriate for all. Sometimes ethical decision making in medical care is a matter of choosing the least harmful option among many adverse alternatives. In the day-to-day practice of medicine, although all clinical encounters may have an ethical component, major ethical challenges are infrequent.
The legal system defines the minimal standards of behavior required of physicians and the rest of society through the legislative, regulatory, and judicial systems. Laws exist to provide for social order and adjudicate disputes, not to address ethical concerns. The laws support the principle of confidentiality for teenagers who are competent to decide about such issues. Using the concept of limited confidentiality, parents, teenagers, and the pediatrician may all agree to openly discuss serious health challenges, such as suicidal ideation and pregnancy. This reinforces the long-term goal of supporting the autonomy and identity of the teenager while encouraging appropriate conversations with parents.
Ethical problems derive from value differences amongpatients, families, and clinicians about choices and options in the provision of health care. Resolving these value differences involves several important ethical principles. Autonomy, which is based on the principle of respect for persons, means that competent adult patients can make choices about health care that they perceive to be in their best interests, after being appropriately informed about their particular health condition and the risks and benefits of alternatives of diagnostic tests and treatments. Paternalism challenges the principle of autonomy and involves the clinician deciding what is best for the patient, based on how much information is provided. Paternalism, under certain circumstances (e.g., when a patient has a life-threatening medical condition or a significant psychiatric disorder and is threatening self or others), may be more appropriate than autonomy. Weighing the values of autonomy and paternalism can challenge the clinician.
Other important ethical principles are those of beneficence (doing good), nonmaleficence (doing no harm or as little harm as possible), and justice (the values involved in the equality of the distribution of goods, services, benefits, and burdens to the individual, family, or society). End-of-life decision making must address quality of life and suffering in the provision of palliative and hospice care (see Chapter 4).
ETHICAL PRINCIPLES RELATED TO INFANTS, CHILDREN, AND ADOLESCENTSChildren vary from being totally dependent on parents or guardians to meet their health care needs to being more independent. Infants and young children do not have the capacity for making medical decisions. Paternalism by parents and pediatricians in these circumstances is appropriate. Adolescents (<18 years of age), if competent, have the legal right to make medical decisions for themselves. Children 8 to 9 years old can understand how the body works and the meaning of certain procedures; by age 14 to 15, young adolescents may be considered autonomous through the process of being designated a mature or emancipated minor or by having certain medical conditions. It is ethical for pediatricians to involve children in the decision-making process with information appropriate to their capacity to understand. The process of obtaining the assent of a child is consistent with this goal.
The principle of shared decision making is appropriate, but the process may be limited because of issues of confidentiality in the provision of medical care. A parent’s concern about the side effects of immunization raises a conflict between the need to protect and support the health of the individual and the public with the rights of the individual and involves ethical issues of distributive justice in regard to the costs and distribution of the vaccinations and responsibility for side effects.
All competent patients of an age defined legally by each state (usually ≥18 years of age) are considered autonomous with regard to their health decisions. To have the capacity to decide, patients must meet the following requirements:
Understand the nature of the medical interventions and procedures, understand the risks and benefits of these interventions, and be able to communicate their decision.
Reason, deliberate, and weigh the risks and benefits using their understanding about the implications of the decision on their own welfare.
Apply a set of personal values to the decision-makingprocess and show an awareness of the possible conflicts ordifferences in values as applied to the decisions to be made.
These requirements need to be placed within the context of medical care and applied to each case with its unique characteristics. Most young children are not able to meet the requirementsfor competency and need others, usually the parent, to makedecisions for them. Legally parents are given great discretion inmaking decisions for their children. This discretion is legally limited when there is child abuse and neglect, which triggers a further legal process in determining the best interests of the child.
It is important to become familiar with state law becausestate law, not federal law, determines when an adolescent can consent to medical care and when parents may access confidential adolescent medical information. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) of 1996,which became effective in 2003, requires a minimal standardof confidentiality protection. The law confers less confidentiality protection to minors than to adults. It is the pediatrician’sresponsibility to inform minors of their confidentiality rightsand help them exercise these rights under the HIPAA regulations.
Under special circumstances, nonautonomous adolescents are granted the legal right to consent under state law when they are considered mature or emancipated minors or because of certain public health considerations, as follows:
Mature minors. Some states have legally recognized that many adolescents age 14 and older can meet the cognitive criteria and emotional maturity for competence and may decide independently. The Supreme Court has decided that pregnant, mature minors have the constitutional right to make decisions about abortion without parental consent. Although many state legislatures require parental notification, pregnant adolescents wishing to have an abortion do not have to seek parental consent. The state must provide a judicial procedure to facilitate this decision making for adolescents.
Emancipated minors. Children who are legally emancipated from parental control may seek medical treatment without parental consent. The definition varies from state to state but generally includes children who have graduated from high school, are members of the armed forces, married, pregnant, runaways, are parents, live apart from their parents, and are financially independent or declared emancipated by a court.
Interests of the state (public health). State legislatures have concluded that minors with certain medical conditions, such as sexually transmitted infections and other contagious diseases, pregnancy (including prevention with the use of birth control), certain mental illnesses, and drug and alcohol abuse, may seek treatment for these conditions autonomously. States have an interest in limiting the spread of disease that may endanger the public health and in eliminating barriers to access for the treatment of certain conditions.
From an ethical perspective, clinicians should engage children and adolescents, based on their developmental capacity, in discussions about medical plans so that they have a good understanding of the nature of the treatments and alternatives, the side effects, and expected outcomes. There should be an assessment of the patient’s understanding of the clinical situation, how the patient is responding, and the factors that may influence the patient’s decisions. Pediatricians should always listen to and appreciate patients’ requests for confidentiality and their hopes and wishes. The ultimate goal is to help nourish children’s capacity to become as autonomous as is appropriate to their developmental stage.
Confidentiality is crucial to the provision of medicalcare and is an important part of the basis for a trusting patient-family-physician relationship. Confidentiality meansthat information about a patient should not be shared withoutconsent. If confidentiality is broken, patients may experiencegreat harm and may not seek needed medical care. See Chapter67 for a discussion of confidentiality in the care of adolescents.
The goal of screening is to identify diseases when there is no clinically identifiable risk factor for disease. Screening should take place only when there is a treatment available or when a diagnosis would benefit the child. Testing usually is performed when there is some clinically identifiable risk factor. Genetic testing and screening present special problems because test results have important implications. Some genetic screening (sickle cell anemia or cystic fibrosis) may reveal a carrier state, which may lead to choices about reproduction or create financial, psychosocial, and interpersonal problems (e.g., guilt, shame, social stigma, and discrimination in insurance and jobs). Collaboration with, or referral to, a clinical geneticist is appropriate in helping the family with the complex issues of genetic counseling when a genetic disorder is detected or likely to be detected.
Newborn screening should not be used as a surrogate for parental testing. Examples of diseases that can be diagnosed by genetic screening, even though the manifestations of the disease process do not appear until later in life, are polycystic kidney disease; Huntington disease; certain cancers, such as breast cancer in some ethnic populations; and hemochromatosis. Parents may pressure the pediatrician to order genetic tests when the child is still young, for the parents’ purposes. Testing for these disorders should be delayed until the child has the capacity for informed consent or assent and is competent to make decisions, unless there is a direct benefit to the child at the time of testing.
The pediatrician is required to act in the best interests of the child, even when religious tenets may interfere with the health and well-being of the child. When an infant or child whose parents have a religious prohibition against a blood transfusion needs a transfusion to save his or her life, the courts always have intervened to allow a transfusion. In contrast, parents with strong religious beliefs under some state laws may refuse immunizations for their children. However, state governments can mandate immunizations for all children during disease outbreaks or epidemics. By requiring immunization of all, including individuals who object on religious grounds, the state government is using the principle of distributive justice,which states that all members of society must share in the burdens and the benefits to have a just society.
Children as Human Subjects in ResearchThe goal of research is to develop new and generalized knowledge. Parents may give informed permission for children to participate in research under certain conditions. Children cannot give consent but may assent or dissent to research protocols. Special federal regulations have been developed to protect child and adolescent participants in human investigation.
These regulations provide additional safeguards beyond the safeguards provided for adult participants in research, while still providing the opportunity for children to benefit from the scientific advances of research.
Many parents with seriously ill children hope that the research protocol will have a direct benefit for their particular child. The greatest challenge for researchers is to be clear with parents that research is not treatment. This fact should be addressed as sensitively and compassionately as possible.
The death of a child is one of life’s most difficult experiences. The palliative care approach to a child’s medical care should be instituted when medical diagnosis, intervention, and treatment cannot reasonably be expected to affect the imminence of death. In these circumstances, the goals of care focus on improving the quality of life, maintaining dignity, and ameliorating the suffering of the seriously ill child. Central to this approach is the willingness of clinicians to look beyond the traditional medical goals of curing disease and preserving life. They need to look toward enhancing the life of the child and working with family members and close friends when the child’s needs are no longer met by curative goals. High-quality palliative care is an expected standard at the end of life.
Palliative care in pediatrics is not simply end-of-life care.There are conditions where death is not predictably imminent,and a child’s needs are best met by the palliative care approach.Children needing palliative care have been described as havingconditions that fall into four basic groups, based on the goal oftreatment. These include conditions of the following scenarios:
A cure is possible, but failure is not uncommon (e.g., cancer with a poor prognosis).
Long-term treatment is provided with a goal of maintaining quality of life (e.g., cystic fibrosis).
Treatment that is exclusively palliative after the diagnosis of a progressive condition is made (e.g., trisomy 13 syndrome).
Treatments are available for severe, nonprogressive disability in patients who are vulnerable to health complications (e.g., severe spastic quadriparesis with difficulty in controlling symptoms).
These conditions present different timelines and different models of medical intervention. Yet they all share the need to attend to concrete elements, which affect the quality of a child’s death, mediated by medical, psychosocial, cultural, and spiritual concerns.
The sudden death of a child also requires elements of the palliative care approach, although conditions do not allow for the full spectrum of involvement. Many of these deaths involve emergency medicine caregivers and first responders in the field, and they may involve dramatic situations where no relationship may exist between caregivers and the bereaved family. Families who have not had time to prepare for the tragedy of an unexpected death require considerable support. Palliative care can make important contributions to the endof-life and bereavement issues that families face in these circumstances. This may become complicated in circumstances where the cause of the death must be fully explored. The need to investigate the possibility of child abuse or neglect subjects the family to intense scrutiny and may create guilt and anger directed at the medical team.
Palliative treatment is directed toward the relief of symptomsas well as assistance with anticipated adaptations that maycause distress and diminish the quality of life of the dying child.Elements of palliative care include pain management; expertise with feeding and nutritional issues at the end of life; and management of symptoms, such as minimizing nausea and vomiting, bowel obstruction, labored breathing, and fatigue.Psychological elements of palliative care have a profound importance and include sensitivity to bereavement, a developmentalperspective of a child’s understanding of death, clarification ofthe goals of care, and ethical issues. Curative care and palliativecare can coexist; aggressive pain medication may be providedwhile curative treatment is continued in the hopes of a remission or improved health status. Palliative care is delivered with amultidisciplinary approach, giving a broad range of expertise topatients and families as well as providing a supportive networkfor the caregivers. Caregivers involved may be pediatricians,nurses, mental health professionals, social workers, and pastors.
A model of integrated palliative care rests on the following principles:
Article I. Respect for the dignity of patients and families. The clinician should respect and listen to patient and family goals, preferences, and choices. School-age children can articulate preferences about how they wish to be treated. Adolescents, by the age of 14, can engage in decision making (see Section 12). The pediatrician should assist the patient and the family in understanding the diagnosis, treatment options, and prognosis; help clarify the goals of care; promote informed choices; allow for the free flow of information; and listen to and discuss the social-emotional concerns. Advanced care (advance directives) should be instituted with the child and parents, allowing discussions about what they would like as treatment options as the end of life nears. Differences of opinion between the family and the pediatrician should be addressed by identifying the multiple perspectives, reflecting on possible conflicts, and altruistically coming to agreements that validate the patient and family perspectives, yet reflect sound practice. Hospital ethics committees and consultation services are important resources for the pediatrician and family members.
Article II. Access to comprehensive and compassionatepalliative care. The clinician should address the physicalsymptoms, comfort, and functional capacity, with specialattention to pain and other symptoms associated with thedying process, and respond empathically to the psychologicaldistress and human suffering, providing treatment options.Respite should be available at any time during the illness toallow the family caregivers to rest and renew.
Article III. Use of interdisciplinary resources. Because of the complexity of care, no one clinician can provide all of the needed services. The team members may include primary and subspecialty physicians, nurses in the hospital/facility or for home visits, the pain management team, psychologists, social workers, pastoral ministers, schoolteachers, friends of the family, and peers of the child. The child and family should be in a position to decide who should know what during all phases of the illness process.
Article IV. Acknowledgment and support provisions for caregivers. The death of a child is difficult to accept and understand. The primary caregivers of the child, family, and friends need opportunities to address their own emotional concerns. Siblings of the child who is dying react emotionally and cognitively, based on their developmental level. Team meetings to address thoughts and feelings of team members are crucial. Soon after the death of the child, the care team should review the experience with the parents and family and share their reactions and feelings. Institutional support may include time to attend funerals, counseling for the staff, opportunities for families to return to the hospital, and scheduled ceremonies to commemorate the death of the child.
Article V. Commitment to quality improvement of palliative care through research and education.
Hospitals should develop support systems and staff to monitor the quality of care continually, assess the need for appropriate resources, and evaluate the responses of the patient and family members to the treatment program. Issues often arise over less than completely successful attempts to control the dying child’s symptoms or differences between physicians and family members in the timing of the realization that death is imminent. Consensus results in better palliative care from the medical and psychosocial perspective.
Hospice care is a treatment program for the end of life, providing the range of palliative care services by an interdisciplinary team, including specialists in the bereavement and end-of-life process. Typically, the hospice program uses the adult Medicare model, requiring a prognosis of death within 6 months and the cessation of curative efforts for children to receive hospice services. Recently some states have developed alternative pediatric models where curative efforts may continue while the higher level of coordinated end-of-life services may be applied.
Bereavement refers to the process of psychological and spiritual accommodation to death on the part of the child and the child’s family. Grief has been defined as the emotional response caused by a loss, including pain, distress, and physical and emotional suffering. It is a normal adaptive human response to death. Palliative care attends to the grief reaction. Assessing the coping resources and vulnerabilities of the affected family before death takes place is central to the palliative care approach.
Parental grief is recognized as being more intense and sustained than other types of grief. Most parents work through their grief. Complicated grief, a pathologic manifestation of continued and disabling grief, is rare. Parents who share their problems with others during the child’s illness, who have had access to psychological support during the last month of their child’s life, and who have had closure sessions with the attending staff, are more likely to resolve their grief.
A particularly difficult issue for parents is whether to talk with their child about the child’s imminent death. Although evidence suggests that sharing accurate and truthful information with a dying child is beneficial, each individual case presents its own complexities, based on the child’s age, cognitive development, disease, timeline of disease, and parental psychological state. Parents are more likely to regret not talking with their child about death than having done so. Among those who did not talk with their child about death, parents who sensed their child was aware of imminent death, parents of older children, and mothers more than fathers were more likely to feel regretful.
COGNITIVE ISSUES IN CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS: UNDERSTANDING DEATH AND DYING
The pediatrician should communicate with children aboutwhat is happening to them, while respecting the cultural andpersonal preferences of the family. A developmental understanding of children’s concepts of health and illness helpsframe the discussion with children and can help parentsunderstand how their child is grappling with the situation.Piaget’s theories of cognitive development, which help illustrate children’s concepts of death and disease, are categorizedas sensorimotor, preoperational, concrete operations, and formal operations.
For very young children, up to 2 years of age (sensorimotor), death is seen as a separation, and there is probably no concept of death. The associated behaviors in grieving children of this age usually include protesting and difficulty of attachment to other adults. The degree of difficulty depends on the availability of other nurturing people with whom the child has had a good previous attachment.
Children from 3 to 5 years of age (preoperational) (sometimes called the magic years) have trouble grasping the meaning of the illness and the permanence of the death. Their language skills at this age make understanding their moods and behavior difficult. Because of a developing sense of guilt, death may be viewed as punishment. If a child previously wished a younger sibling to have died, the death may be seen psychologically as being caused by the child’s wishful thinking. They can feel overwhelmed when confronted with the strong emotional reactions of their parents.
In children ages 6 to 11 years of age (late preoperational to concrete operational), the finality of death gradually comes to be understood. Magical thinking gives way to a need for detailed information to gain a sense of control. Older children in this range have a strong need to control their emotions by compartmentalizing and intellectualizing.
In adolescents (≥12 years of age) (formal operations), death is a reality and is seen as universal and irreversible. Adolescents handle death issues at the abstract or philosophical level and can be realistic. They may also avoid emotional expression and information, instead relying on anger or disdain. Adolescents can discuss withholding treatments. Their wishes, hopes, and fears should be attended to and respected.
CULTURAL, RELIGIOUS, AND SPIRITUAL CONCERNS ABOUT PALLIATIVE CARE AND END-OF-LIFE DECISIONS
Understanding the family’s religious/spiritual or cultural beliefs and values about death and dying can help the pediatrician work with the family to integrate these beliefs, values, and practices into the palliative care plan. Cultures vary regarding the roles family members have, the site of treatment for dying people, and the preparation of the body. Some ethnic groups expect the clinical team to speak with the oldest family member or to only the head of the family outside of the patient’s presence. Some families involve the entire extended family in decision making. For some families, dying at home can bring the family bad luck, whereas others believe that the patient’s spirit will become lost if the death occurs in the hospital. In some traditions, the health care team cleans and prepares the body, whereas, in others, family members prefer to complete this ritual. Religious/spiritual or cultural practices may include prayer, anointing, laying on of the hands, an exorcism ceremony to undo a curse, amulets, and other religious objects placed on the child or at the bedside. Families differ in the idea of organ donation and the acceptance of autopsy. Decisions, rituals, and withholding of palliative or lifesaving procedures that could harm the child or are not in the best interests of the child should be addressed. Quality palliative care attends to this complexity and helps parents and families through the death of a child while honoring the familial, cultural, and spiritual values.
Before speaking with a child about death, the caregiver should assess the child’s age, experience, and level of development; the child’s understanding and involvement in end-of-life decision making; the parents’ emotional acceptance of death; their coping strategies; and their philosophical, spiritual, and cultural views of death. These may change over time, and the use of open-ended questions to repeatedly assess these areas contributes to the end-of-life process. The care of a dying child can create ethical dilemmas involving autonomy, beneficence (doing good), nonmaleficence (doing no harm), truth telling, confidentiality, or the physician’s duty. It is extremely difficult for parents to know when the burdens of continued medical care are no longer appropriate for their child. The beliefs and values of what constitutes quality of life, when life ceases to be worth living, and religious/spiritual, cultural, and philosophical beliefs may differ between families and health care workers. The most important ethical principle is what is in the best interest of the child as determined through the process of shared decision making, informed permission/ consent from the parents, and assent from the child. Sensitive and meaningful communication with the family, in their own terms, is essential. The physician, patient, and family must negotiate the goals of continued medical treatment while recognizing the burdens and benefits of the medical intervention plan. There is no ethical or legal difference between withholding treatment and withdrawing treatment, although many parents and physicians see the latter as more challenging. Family members and the patient should agree about what are appropriate do not resuscitate (also called DNR) orders. Foregoing some measures does not preclude other measures being implemented, based on the needs and wishes of the patient and family. When there are serious differences among parents, children, and physicians on these matters, the physician may consult with the hospital ethics committee or, as a last resort, turn to the legal system by filing a report about potential abuse or neglect.
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Health Stat 10(234):1–79, 2007Flores G, Tomany-Korman SC: Racial and ethnic disparities in medical and dental health, access to care, and use of health services in US children,
Pediatrics 121(2):e286–e298, 2008Gluckman PD, Hanson MA, Cooper C, et al.: Effect of in utero and early-life considerations on adult health and disease, N Engl J Med 359(1):61–73,
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Vital Stat Rep 56(7):1–18, 2007 . National Center for Health Statistics: Health, United States, 2007: with chart-book on trends in the health of Americans, Hyattsville, MD, 2007.
David A. Levine 2The frequent office visits for health maintenance in the first 2 years of life are more than physicals. Although a somatic history and physical examination are important parts of each visit, many other issues are discussed, including nutrition, behavior, development, safety, and anticipatory guidance.
Disorders of growth and development are often associatedwith chronic or severe illness or may be the only symptom ofparental neglect or abuse. Although normal growth and development does not eliminate a serious or chronic illness, in general, itsupports a judgment that a child is healthy except for acute, oftenbenign, illnesses that do not affect growth and development.
The processes of growth and development are intertwined. However, it is convenient to refer to growth as the increase in size and development as an increase in function of processesrelated to body and mind. Being familiar with normal patternsof growth and development allows those practitioners whocare for children to recognize and manage abnormal variations.
The genetic makeup and the physical, emotional, and socialenvironment of the individual determine how a child grows anddevelops throughout childhood. One goal of pediatrics is to helpeach child achieve his or her individual potential through periodically monitoring and screening for the normal progressionor abnormalities of growth and development. The AmericanAcademy of Pediatrics recommends routine office visits in thefirst week of life (depending on timing of nursery discharge) at 2weeks; at 1, 2, 4, 6, 9, 12, 15, and 18 months; at 2, 2½, and3 years;then annually through adolescence/young adulthood (Fig. 9-1).
Deviations in growth patterns may be nonspecific or may be important indicators of serious and chronic medical disorders. An accurate measurement of length/height, weight, and head circumference should be obtained at every health supervision visit and compared with statistical norms on growth charts. Table 5-1 summarizes several convenient benchmarks to evaluate normal growth. Serial measurements are much more useful than single measurements to detect deviations from a particular growth pattern, even if the value remains within statistically defined normal limits (percentiles). Following the trend helps define whether growth is within acceptable limits or warrants further evaluation.
Growth is assessed by plotting accurate measurements on growth charts and comparing each set of measurements withprevious measurements obtained at health visits. Please seeexamples in Figures 5-1 to 5-4. Complete charts can be found at www.cdc.gov/growthcharts/who_charts.htm for birth to 2 years and www.cdc.gov/growthcharts for 2 to 20 years. The body massindex is defined as body weight in kilograms divided by height inmeters squared; it is used to classify adiposity and is recommendedas a screening tool for children and adolescents to identify thoseoverweight or at risk for being overweight (see Chapter 29).
Normal growth patterns have spurts and plateaus, so some shifting on percentile graphs can be expected. Large shifts in percentiles warrant attention, as do large discrepancies in height, weight, and head circumference percentiles. When caloric intake is inadequate, the weight percentile falls first, then the height, and the head circumference is last. Caloric intake may be poor as a result of inadequate feeding or because the child is not receiving adequate attention and stimulation (nonorganic failure to thrive [see Chapter 21]).
Caloric intake also may be inadequate because of increased caloric needs. Children with chronic illnesses, such as heart failure or cystic fibrosis, may require a significantly higher caloric intake to sustain growth. An increasing weight percentile in the face of a falling height percentile suggests hypothyroidism. Head circumference may be disproportionately
Weight loss in first few days: 5%–10% of birth weight Return to birth weight: 7–10 days of age Double birth weight: 4–5 months Triple birth weight: 1 year Daily weight gain: 20–30 g for first 3–4 months 15–20 g for rest of the first year
Average length: 20 in. at birth, 30 in. at 1 year At age 4 years, the average child is double birth length or 40 in.
Average HC: 35 cm at birth (13.5 in.)HC increases: 1 cm per month for first year (2 cm per month for first 3 months, then slower)
Birth to 24 months: Boys Length-for-age and Weight-for-age percentilesFigure 5-1 Length-by-age and weight-by-age percentiles for boys, birth to 2 years of age. Developed by the National Center for Health Statistics in collaboration with the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. (From Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: WHO Child Growth Standards, Atlanta, Ga, 2009. Available at http://www.cdc.gov/growthcharts/who_charts.htm
Figure 5-2 Head circumference and weight-by-length percentiles for boys, birth to 2 years of age. Developed by the National Center for Health Statistics in collaboration with the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. (From Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: WHO Child Growth Standards, Atlanta, Ga, 2009. Available at http://www.cdc.gov/growthcharts/who_charts.htm 2to20 years: Girls StatureWeight-for-age percentiles
Figure 5-3 Stature-for-age and weight-for-age percentiles for girls, 2 to 20 years of age. Developed by the National Center for Health Statistics in collaboration with the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. (From Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Ga, 2001. Available at http://www.cdc.gov/ 2to20years:Girls Body mass index-for-agepercentiles
Figure 5-4 Body mass index–for-age percentiles for girls, 2 to  20 years of age. Developed by the National Center for Health Statistics in collaboration with the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. (From Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Atlanta, Ga, 2001. Available at http://www.cdc.gov/ large when there is familial megalocephaly, hydrocephalus, or merely catch-up growth in a neurologically normal premature infant. A child is considered microcephalic if the head circumference is less than the third percentile, even if length and weight measurements also are proportionately low. Serial measurements of head circumference are crucial during infancy, a period of rapid brain development, and should be plotted regularly until the child is 2 years of age. Any suspicion of abnormal growth warrants at least a close follow-up, further evaluation, or both.
Available @ StudentConsult.comThe most common reasons for deviant measurements are technical (i.e., faulty equipment and human errors). Repeating a deviant measurement is the first step. Separate growth charts are available and should be used for very low birth weight infants (weight <1500 g) and for those with Turner syndrome, Down syndrome, achondroplasia, and various other dysmorphology syndromes.
Variability in body proportions occurs from fetal to adultlife. Newborns’ heads are significantly larger in proportion tothe rest of their body. This difference gradually disappears.Certain growth disturbances result in characteristic changesin the proportional sizes of the trunk, extremities, and head.Patterns requiring further assessment are summarized inTable 6-1.
Evaluating a child over time, coupled with a careful history and physical examination, helps determine whether the growth pattern is normal or abnormal. Parental heights may be useful when deciding whether to proceed with a further evaluation. Children, in general, follow their parents’ growth pattern, although there are many exceptions.
For a girl, midparental height is calculated as follows: −2.5 2
For a boy, midparental height is calculated as follows: +2.5 2
Actual growth depends on too many variables to makean accurate prediction from midparental height determination for every child. The growth pattern of a child with lowweight, length, and head circumference is commonly associated with familial short stature (see Chapter 173). Thesechildren are genetically normal but are smaller than most
Discrepant percentiles (e.g., weight 5th, length 5th, head circumference 50th, or other discrepancies)
Caloric insufficiency Midparental heights Thyroid hormone Growth factors, growth hormone testing Evaluation of pubertal children. A child who, by age, is preadolescent or adolescentand who starts puberty later than others may have the normal variant called constitutional short stature (see Chapter173); careful examination for abnormalities of pubertaldevelopment should be done, although most are normal. Anevaluation for primary amenorrhea should be consideredfor any female adolescent who has not reached menarche by15 years or has not done so within 3 years of thelarche. Lackof breast development by age 13 years also should be evaluated (see Chapter 174).
Starting out in high growth percentiles, many children assumea lower percentile between 6 and 18 months until they matchtheir genetic programming, then grow along new, lower percentiles. They usually do not decrease more than two major percentiles and have normal developmental, behavioral, and physicalexaminations. These children with catch-down growth should be followed closely, but no further evaluation is warranted.
Infants born small for gestational age, or prematurely, ingestmore breast milk or formula and, unless there are complicationsthat require extra calories, usually exhibit catch-up growth in the first 6 months. These infants should be fed on demand and provided as much as they want unless they are vomiting (notjust spitting up [see Chapter 128]). Some may benefit from ahigher caloric content formula. Many psychosocial risk factorsthat may have led to being born small or early may contributeto nonorganic failure to thrive (see Chapter 21). Converselyinfants who recover from being low birth weight or prematurehave an increased risk of developing childhood obesity.
Growth of the nervous system is most rapid in the first 2 years, correlating with increasing physical, emotional, behavioral, and cognitive development. There is again rapid change during adolescence. Osseous maturation (bone age) is determined from radiographs on the basis of the number and size of calcified epiphyseal centers; the size, shape, density, and sharpness of outline of the ends of bones; and the distance separating the epiphyseal center from the zone of provisional calcification.
Parallel to the changes in the developing brain (i.e., cognition, language, behavior) are changes in the physical development of the body.
Observation of any asymmetric movement or altered muscle tone and function may indicate a significant central nervous system abnormality or a nerve palsy resulting from the delivery and requires further evaluation. Primitive neonatal reflexes are unique in the newborn period and can further elucidate or eliminate concerns over asymmetric function. The most important reflexes to assess during the newborn period are as follows: The Moro reflex is elicited by allowing the infant’s head to gently move back suddenly (from a few inches off of the mattress onto the examiner’s hand), resulting in a startle, then abduction and upward movement of the arms followed by adduction and flexion. The legs respond with flexion.
The rooting reflex is elicited by touching the corner of the infant’s mouth, resulting in lowering of the lower lip on the same side with tongue movement toward the stimulus. The face also turns toward the stimulus.
The sucking reflex occurs with almost any object placed in the newborn’s mouth. The infant responds with vigorous sucking. The sucking reflex is replaced later by voluntary sucking.
The grasp reflex occurs when placing an object, such as a finger, onto the infant’s palm (palmar grasp) or sole (plantar grasp). The infant responds by flexing fingers or curling the toes.
The asymmetric tonic neck reflex is elicited by placing the infant supine and turning the head to the side. This placement results in ipsilateral extension of the arm and the leg into a “fencing” position. The contralateral side flexes as well.
A delay in the expected disappearance of the reflexes may also warrant an evaluation of the central nervous system.See Sections 11 and 26 for additional information on the newborn period.
With the development of gross motor skills, the infant is first able to control his or her posture, then proximal musculature, and, last, distal musculature. As the infant progresses through these stages, the parents may notice orthopedic deformities (see Chapters 202 and 203). The infant also may have deformities that are related to intrauterine positioning. Physical examination should indicate whether the deformity is fixed or can be moved passively into the proper position. When a joint held in an abnormal fashion can be moved passively into the proper position, there is a high likelihood of resolving with the progression of gross motor development. Fixed deformities warrant immediate pediatric orthopedic consultation (see Section 26).
Evaluation of vision and ocular movements is important to prevent the serious outcome of strabismus. The cover test and light reflex should be performed at early health maintenance visits; interventions after age 2 decrease the chance of preserving binocular vision or normal visual acuity (see Chapter 179).
Older school-age children who begin to participate in competitive sports should have a comprehensive sports history and physical examination, including a careful evaluation of the cardiovascular system. The American Academy of Pediatrics 4th edition sports preparticipation form is excellent for documenting cardiovascular and other risks. The patient and parent should complete the history form and be interviewed to assess cardiovascular risk. Any history of heart disease or a murmur must be referred for evaluation by a pediatric cardiologist. A child with a history of dyspnea or chest pain on exertion, irregular heart rate (i.e., skipped beats, palpitations), or syncope should also be referred to a pediatric cardiologist. A family history of a primary (immediate family) or secondary (immediate family’s immediate family) atherosclerotic disease (myocardial infarction or cerebrovascular disease) before 50 years of age or sudden unexplained death at any age requires additional assessment.
Children interested in contact sports should be assessed for special vulnerabilities. Similarly vision should be assessed as a crucial part of the evaluation before participation in sports.
Adolescents need annual comprehensive health assessments to ensure progression through puberty without major problems (see Chapters 67 and 68). Sexual maturity is an important issue in adolescents. All adolescents should be assessed to monitor progression through sexual maturity rating stages (see Chapter 67). Other issues in physical development include scoliosis, obesity, and trauma (see Chapters 29 and 203). Most scoliosis is mild and requires only observation for progression. Obesity may first manifest during childhood and is an issue for many adolescents.
The use of milestones to assess development focuses on discrete behaviors that the clinician can observe or accept as present by parental report. This approach is based on comparing the patient’s behavior with that of many normal children whose behaviors evolve in a uniform sequence within specific age ranges (see Chapter 8). The development of the neuromuscular system, similar to that of other organ systems, is determined first by genetic endowment and then molded by environmental influences.
Although a sequence of specific, easily measured behaviors can adequately represent some areas of development (gross motor, fine motor, and language), other areas, particularly social and emotional development, are not as easy to assess. Easily measured developmental milestones are well established through age 6 years only. Other types of assessment (e.g., intelligence tests, school performance, and personality profiles) that expand the developmental milestone approach are available for older children but generally require time and expertise in administration and interpretation.
The terms bonding and attachment describe the affective relationships between parents and infants. Bonding occurs shortly after birth and reflects the feelings of the parents toward the newborn (unidirectional). Attachment involves reciprocal feelings between parent and infant and develops gradually over the first year.
Attachment of infants outside of the newborn period is crucial for optimal development. Infants who receive extra attention, such as parents responding immediately to any crying or fussiness, show less crying and fussiness at the end of the first year. Stranger anxiety develops between 9 and 18 months of age, when infants normally become insecure about separation from the primary caregiver. The infant’s new motor skills and attraction to novelty may lead to headlong plunges into new adventures that result in fright or pain followed by frantic efforts to find and cling to the primary caregiver. The result is dramatic swings from stubborn independence to clinging dependence that can be frustrating and confusing to parents. With secure attachment, this period of ambivalence may be shorter and less tumultuous.
Toddlers build on attachment and begin developing autonomy that allows separation from parents. In times of stress, toddlers often cling to their parents, but in their usual activities they may be actively separated. Ages 2 to 3 years are a time of major accomplishments in fine motor skills, social skills, cognitive skills, and language skills. The dependency of infancy yields to developing independence and the “I can do it myself ” age. Limit setting is essential to a balance of the child’s emerging independence.
There is a growing body of evidence that notes that children who are in high quality early learning environments are more prepared to succeed in school. Every dollar invested in early childhood education may save taxpayers up to 13 dollars in future costs. These children commit fewer crimes and are better prepared to enter the workforce after school. Early Head Start (less than 3 years), Head Start (3 to 4 years), and prekindergarten programs (4 to 5 years) all demonstrate better educational attainment, although the earlier the start, the better the results.
Readiness for preschool depends on the development of autonomy and the ability of the parent and the child to separate for hours at a time. Preschool experiences help children develop socialization skills; improve language; increase skill building in areas such as colors, numbers, and letters; and increase problem solving (puzzles).
Readiness for school (kindergarten) requires emotionalmaturity, peer group and individual social skills, cognitive abilities, and fine and gross motor skills (Table 7-1). Other issuesinclude chronologic age and gender. Children tend to do betterin kindergarten if their fifth birthday is at least 4 to 6 monthsbefore the beginning of school. Girls usually are ready earlierthan boys. If the child is in less than the average developmentalrange, he or she should not be forced into early kindergarten.Holding a child back for reasons of developmental delay, inthe false hope that the child will catch up, can also lead to difficulties. The child should enroll on schedule, and educational planning should be initiated to address any deficiencies.
Physicians should be able to identify children at risk for school difficulties, such as those who have developmental delays or physical disabilities. These children may require specialized school services.
Some define adolescence as 10 to 25 years of age but adolescenceis perhaps better characterized by the developmental stages(early, middle, and late adolescence) that all teens must negotiate to develop into healthy, functional adults. Different behavioral and developmental issues characterize each stage. The ageat which each issue manifests and the importance of these issuesvary widely among individuals, as do the rates of cognitive, psychosexual, psychosocial, and physical development.
During early adolescence, attention is focused on the present and on the peer group. Concerns are primarily related
Ease of separation of the child from the parent Speech development and articulation Understanding of and ability to follow complex directions Specific pre-academic skills
Knowledge of colors Counts to 10 Knows age, first and last names, address, and phone number Ability to copy shapes
Motor skills Stand on one foot, skip, and catch a bounced ball Dresses and undresses without assistance
Does the child play well with other children?Does the child separate well, such as a child playing in the backyard alone with occasional monitoring by the parent? Does the child show interest in books, letters, and numbers? Can the child sustain attention to quiet activities? How frequent are toilet-training accidents?
to the body’s physical changes and normality. Strivings for independence are ambivalent. These young adolescents are difficult to interview because they often respond with short, clipped conversation and may have little insight. They are just becoming accustomed to abstract thinking.
Middle adolescence can be a difficult time for adolescents and the adults who have contact with them. Cognitive processes are more sophisticated. Through abstract thinking, middle adolescents can experiment with ideas, consider things as they might be, develop insight, and reflect on their own feelings and the feelings of others. As they mature, these adolescents focus on issues of identity not limited solely to the physical aspects of their body. They explore their parents’ and culture’s values, sometimes by expressing the contrary side of the dominant value. Many middle adolescents explore these values in their minds only; others do so by challenging their parents’ authority. Many engage in high-risk behaviors, including unprotected sexual intercourse, substance abuse, or dangerous driving. The strivings of middle adolescents for independence, limit testing, and need for autonomy often distress their families, teachers, or other authority figures. These adolescents are at higher risk for morbidity and mortality from accidents, homicide, or suicide.
Late adolescence usually is marked by formal operational thinking, including thoughts about the future (e.g., educational, vocational, and sexual). Late adolescents are usually more committed to their sexual partners than are middle adolescents. Unresolved separation anxiety from previous developmental stages may emerge, at this time, as the young person begins to move physically away from the family of origin to college or vocational school, a job, or military service.
Child behavior is determined by heredity and by the environment. Behavioral theory postulates that behavior is primarily a product of external environmental determinants and that manipulation of the environmental antecedents and consequences of behavior can be used to modify maladaptive behavior and to increase desirable behavior (operant conditioning). The four major methods of operant conditioning are positive reinforcement, negative reinforcement, extinction, and punishment. Many common behavioral problems of children can be ameliorated by these methods.
Positive reinforcement increases the frequency of a behavior by following the behavior with a favorable event (e.g., praising a child for excellent school performance). Negative reinforcement usually decreases the frequency of a behavior by removal, cessation, or avoidance of an unpleasant event. Conversely sometimes this reinforcement may occur unintentionally, increasing the frequency of an undesirable behavior. For example, a toddler may purposely try to stick a pencil in a light socket to obtain attention, whether it be positive or negative. Extinction occurs when there is a decrease in the frequency of a previously reinforced behavior because the reinforcement is withheld. Extinction is the principle behind the common advice to ignore behavior such as crying at bedtime or temper tantrums, which parents may unwittingly reinforce through attention and comforting. Punishment decreases the frequency of a behavior through unpleasant consequences.
Positive reinforcement is more effective than punishment. Punishment is more effective when combined with positive reinforcement. A toddler who draws on the wall with a crayon may be punished, but he or she learns much quicker when positive reinforcement is given for the proper use of the crayon—on paper, not the wall. Interrupting and modifying behaviors are discussed in detail in Section 3.
Significant individual differences exist within the normal development of temperament (behavioral style). Temperament must be appreciated because, if an expected pattern of behavior is too narrowly defined, normal behavior may be inappropriately labeled as abnormal or pathologic. Three common constellations of temperamental characteristics are as follows: 1.
The easy child (about 40% of children) is characterized by regularity of biologic functions (consistent, predictable times for eating, sleeping, and elimination), a positive approach to new stimuli, high adaptability to change, mild or moderate intensity in responses, and a positive mood.
The difficult child (about 10%) is characterized by irregularity of biologic functions, negative withdrawal from new stimuli, poor adaptability, intense responses, and a negative mood.
The slow to warm up child (about 15%) is characterized by a low activity level, withdrawal from new stimuli, slow adaptability, mild intensity in responses, and a somewhat negative mood.
The remaining children have more mixed temperaments. The individual temperament of a child has important implications for parenting and for the advice a pediatrician may give in anticipatory guidance or behavioral problem counseling.
Although, to some degree, temperament may be hardwired (nature) in each child, the environment (nurture) inwhich the child grows has a strong effect on the child’s adjustment. Social and cultural factors can have marked effects on the child through differences in parenting style, educational approaches, and behavioral expectations.
Developmental and behavioral problems are more common than any category of problems in pediatrics, except acute infections and trauma. In 2008 15% of children ages 3 to 7 had a developmental disability, and others had behavioral disabilities. As many as 25% of children have serious psychosocial problems. Parents often neglect to mention these problems because they think the physician is uninterested or cannot help. It is necessary to monitor development and screen for the presence of these problems at health supervision visits, particularly in the years before preschool or early childhood learning center enrollment.
Development surveillance, done at every office visit, is an informal process comparing skill levels to lists of milestones. If suspicion of developmental or behavioral issues recurs, further evaluation is warranted (Table 8-1). Surveillance does not have a standard, and screening tests are necessary.
Developmental screening involves the use of standardized screening tests to identify children who require further diagnostic assessment. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends the use of validated standardized screening tools at three of the health maintenance visits: 9 months, 18 months, and 30 months. Clinics and offices that serve a higher risk patient population (children living in poverty) often perform a screening test at every health maintenance visit. A child who fails to pass a developmental screening test requires more comprehensive evaluation but does not necessarily have a delay; definitive testing must confirm. Developmental evaluations for children with suspected delays and intervention services for children with diagnosed disabilities are available free to families. A combination of U.S. state and federal funds provides these services.
Screening tests can be categorized as general screening teststhat cover all behavioral domains or as targeted screens thatfocus on one area of development. Some may be administered in the office by professionals, and others may be completed athome (or in a waiting room) by parents. Good developmental/behavioral screening instruments have a sensitivity of 70% to80% in detecting suspected problems and a specificity of 70% to80% in detecting normal development. Although 30% of children screened may be over-referred for definitive developmentaltesting, this group also includes children whose skills are belowaverage and who may benefit from testing that may help addressrelative developmental deficits. The 20% to 30% of children whohave disabilities that are not detected by the single administration of a screening instrument are likely to be identified onrepeat screening at subsequent health maintenance visits.
2 mo Lifts shoulder while prone Tracks past midline Smiles responsively Cooing Searches for sound with eyes 6 mo Sits alone Transfers object hand to Feeds self Babbles hand Holds bottle 15 mo Walks backward Scribbles Uses spoon and fork Says three to six words Stacks two blocks Helps in housework Follows commands
Mo, Month; sec, second; wk, week; yr, year.Chapter 8 u Disorders of Development 17The Denver Developmental Screening Test II was the norms across subgroups and cultures. The Denver II is a use-classic test used by general pediatricians (Figs. 8-1 and 8-2). ful screening instrument, but it cannot assess adequately the The Denver II assesses the development of children from birth complexities of socioemotional development. Children with to 6 years of age in the following four domains: suspect or untestable scores must be followed carefully.
Personal-social The pediatrician asks questions (items labeled with an “R” 2.
Fine motor–adaptive may be asked of parents to document the task “by report”) 3.
Language or directly observes behaviors. On the scoring sheet, a line is 4.
Gross motor drawn at the child’s chronologic age. Tasks that are entirely to
The advantage of this test is that it teaches developmen-the left of the line that the child has not accomplished are contal milestones when administered. Items on the Denver II sidered delayed. If the test instructions are not followed accuare carefully selected for their reliability and consistency of rately or if items are omitted, the validity of the test becomes
Examiner: Name: DDM, INC. 1-800-419-4729 Date: Birthdate: CATALOG #2115 ID No.:
Percent of children passing 2550 75 90 (Check boxes for 1st, 2nd, or 3rd test) ©1969, 1989, 1990 W. K. Frankenburg and J. B. Dodds ©1978 W. K. Frankenburg ©2009 Wilhelmine R. Frankenburg
Figure 8-1 Scoring form for Denver II. (From Frankenburg WK: Denver I Training Manual. ©1967, 1970 William K. Frankenburg and Josiah B. Dodds; 1975, 1976, 1978 William K. Frankenburg; 1990, 1992 William K. Frankenburg and Josiah B. Dodds; © 2009 Wilhelmine R. Frankenburg -Contact DDM, Inc. 1-800-419-4729 or Info@denverii.com.)
Figure 8-2 Instructions for the Denver II. Numbers are coded to a scoring form (see Fig. 8-1). “Abnormal” is defined as two or more delays (failure of an item passed by 90% at that age) in two or more categories or two or more delays in one category with one other category having one delay and an age line that does not intersect one item that is passed. (From Frankenburg WK: Denver I Training Manual. ©1967, 1970 William K. Frankenburg and Josiah B. Dodds; 1975, 1976, 1978 William K. Frankenburg; 1990, 1992 William K. Frankenburg and Josiah B. Dodds; © 2009 Wilhelmine R. Frankenburg Contact DDM, Inc. 1-800-419-4729 or Info@denverii.com.) worse. To assist physicians in using the Denver II, the scoring of development. Parent-reported screens have good validity sheet also features a table to document confounding behaviors, compared to office-based screening measures. such as interest, fearfulness, or an apparent short attention span. Autism screening is recommended for all children at 18 Repeat screening at subsequent health maintenance visits often to 24 months of age. Although there are several tools, many detects abnormalities that a single screen was unable to detect. pediatricians use the Modified Checklist for Autism in Tod-
Other developmental screening tools include parentdlers (M-CHAT). M-CHAT is an office-based questionnaire completed Ages and Stages Questionnaires (also milestone that asks parents about 23 typical behaviors, some of which driven), and Parents’ Evaluation of Developmental Status. The are more predictive than others for autism or other pervasive latter is a simple, 10-item questionnaire that parents complete developmental disorders. If the child demonstrates more than at office visits based on concerns with function and progression two predictive or three total behaviors, further assessment with an interview algorithm is indicated to distinguish normal variant behaviors from those children needing a referral for definitive testing. The test is freely distributed on the Internet (see Chapter 20).
Language screening correlates best with cognitive development in the early years. Table 8-2 provides some rules of thumb for language development that focus on speech production (expressive language). Although expressive language is the most obvious language element, the most dramatic changes in language development in the first years involve recognition and understanding (receptive language).
Whenever there is a speech and/or language delay, a hearing deficit must be considered. The implementation of universal newborn hearing screening detects many, if not most, of these children in the newborn period, and appropriate early intervention services may be provided. Conditions that present a high risk of an associated hearing deficit are listed in Table 8-3. Dysfluency (stuttering) is common in a 3and 4-year-old child. Unless the dysfluency is severe, is accompanied by tics or unusual posturing, or occurs after 4 years of age, parents should be counseled that it is normal and transient and to accept it calmly and patiently.
After the child’s sixth birthday and until adolescence, developmental assessment is initially done by inquiring about school performance (academic achievement and behavior). Inquiring about concerns raised by teachers or other adults who care for the child (after-school program counselor, coach, religious leader) is prudent. Formal developmental testing of these older children is beyond the scope of the primary care pediatrician. Nonetheless the health care provider should be the coordinator of the testing and evaluation performed by other specialists (e.g., psychologists, psychiatrists, developmental pediatricians, and educational professionals).
Ignorance of the environmental influences on child behavior may result in ineffective or inappropriate management
Congenital hearing loss in first cousin or closer relative Bilirubin level of ≥20 mg/dL Congenital rubella or other nonbacterial intrauterine infection Defects in the ear, nose, or throat Birth weight of ≤1500 g Multiple apneic episodes Exchange transfusion Meningitis Five-minute Apgar score of ≤5 Persistent fetal circulation (primary pulmonary hypertension) Treatment with ototoxic drugs (e.g., aminoglycosides and loop
Health (past and current) Developmental status Temperament (e.g., difficult, slow to warm up) Coping mechanisms
Misinterpretations of stage-related behaviors Mismatch of parental expectations and characteristics of child Mismatch of personality style between parent and child Parental characteristics (e.g., depression, lack of interest, rejection,
Stress (e.g., marital discord, unemployment, personal loss) Support (e.g., emotional, material, informational, child care) Poverty Racism (or both). Table 8-4 lists some contextual factors that should be considered in the etiology of a child’s behavioral or developmental problem.
Building rapport with the parents and the child is a prerequisite for obtaining the often sensitive information thatis essential for understanding a behavioral or developmentalissue. Rapport usually can be established quickly if the parents sense that the clinician respects them and is genuinelyinterested in listening to their concerns. The clinician develops rapport with the child by engaging the child in developmentally appropriate conversation or play, perhaps providingtoys while interviewing the parents, and being sensitive to thefears the child may have. Too often the child is ignored until itis time for the physical examination. Similar to their parents,children feel more comfortable if they are greeted by name and involved in pleasant interactions before they are askedsensitive questions or threatened with examinations. Youngchildren can be engaged in conversation on the parent’s lap,which provides security and places the child at the eye levelof the examiner.
With adolescents emphasis should be placed on building a physician-patient relationship that is distinct fromthe relationship with the parents. The parents should not beexcluded; however the adolescent should have the opportunity to express concerns to and ask questions of the physician in confidence. Two intertwined issues must be taken into consideration—consent and confidentiality. Althoughlaws vary from state to state, in general, adolescents whoare able to give informed consent (i.e., mature minors) mayconsent to visits and care related to high-risk behaviors (i.e.,substance abuse; sexual health, including prevention, detection, and treatment of sexually transmitted infections; and pregnancy). Most states support the physician who wishesthe visit to be confidential. Physicians should become familiar with the governing law in the state where they practice (see www.guttmacher.org/statecenter/updates/index.html ). Providing confidentiality is crucial, allowing for optimal care(especially for obtaining a history of risk behaviors). Whenassessing development and behavior, confidentiality can beachieved by meeting with the adolescent alone for at least part of each visit. However parents must be informed whenthe clinician has significant and immediate concerns aboutthe health and safety of the child. Often the clinician canconvince the adolescent to inform the parents directly abouta problem or can reach an agreement with the adolescentabout how the parents will be informed by the physician (seeChapter 67).
Responses to open-ended questions often provide clues to underlying, unstated problems and identify the appropriate direction for further, more directed questions. Histories about developmental and behavioral problems are often vague and confusing; to reconcile apparent contradictions, the interviewer frequently must request clarification, more detail, or mere repetition. By summarizing an understanding of the information at frequent intervals and by recapitulating at the close of the visit, the interviewer and patient and family can ensure that they understand each other.
If the clinician’s impression of the child differs markedlyfrom the parent’s description, there may be a crucial parental concern or issue that has not yet been expressed, eitherbecause it may be difficult to talk about (e.g., marital problems), because it is unconscious, or because the parent overlooks its relevance to the child’s behavior. Alternatively thephysician’s observations may be atypical, even with multiplevisits. The observations of teachers, relatives, and other regular caregivers may be crucial in sorting out this possibility. The parent also may have a distorted image of the child,rooted in parental psychopathology. A sensitive, supportive,and noncritical approach to the parent is crucial to appropriate intervention. More information about referral and intervention for behavioral and developmental issues is covered inChapter 10.
Health maintenance or supervision visits should consist of a comprehensive assessment of the child’s health and of theparent’s/guardian’s role in providing an environment for optimalgrowth, development, and health. Bright Futures standardizeseach of the health maintenance visits and provides resourcesfor working with the children and families of different ages(see www.brightfutures.aap.org ). Elements of each visit includeevaluation and management of parental concerns; inquiryabout any interval illness since the last physical, growth, development, and nutrition; anticipatory guidance (including safetyinformation and counseling); physical examination; screening tests; and immunizations (Table 9-1). The Bright Futures’“Recommendations for Preventive Pediatric Health Care,” found at http://brightfutures.aap.org/clinical_practice.html , summarizes requirements and indicates the ages that specificprevention measures should be undertaken, including riskscreening and performance items for specific measurements.Bright Futures is now the enforced standard for the Medicaid
Concerns (parent’s or child’s) Past problem follow-up Immunization and screening test update Routine care (e.g., eating, sleeping, elimination, and health habits) Developmental progress Behavioral style and problems
Caregiving schedule for caregiver who lives at home Parent-child and sibling-child interactions Extended family role Family stresses (e.g., work, move, finances, illness, death, marital and other interpersonal relationships) Family supports (relatives, friends, groups)
Caregivers outside of the family Peer interaction School and work Recreational activities and the Children’s Health Insurance Program, along with manyinsurers. Health maintenance and immunizations now are covered without co-pays for insured patients as part of the PatientProtection and Affordable Care Act.
Children usually are quite healthy and only the following screening tests are recommended: newborn metabolic screening with hemoglobin electrophoresis, hearing and vision evaluation, anemia and lead screening, and tuberculosis testing. Children born to families with dyslipidemias or early heart disease should also be screened for lipid disorders. (Items marked by a star in Bright Futures’ recommendations should be performed if a risk factor is found.) Sexually experienced adolescents should be screened for sexually transmissible infections. When an infant or child begins care after the newborn period, the pediatrician should perform any missing screening tests and immunizations.
Every state in the United States mandates newborn metabolic screening. Each state determines its own priorities and procedures, but the following diseases are usually included in metabolic screening: phenylketonuria, galactosemia, congenital hypothyroidism, maple sugar urine disease, and organic aciduria (see Section 10). Many states now screen for cystic fibrosis, testing for immunoreactive trypsinogen. If that test is positive, then a deoxyribonucleic acid (commonly referred to as DNA) analysis for cystic fibrosis mutations is performed.
Children with hemoglobinopathies are at higher risk for infection and complications from anemia, which early detection may prevent or ameliorate. Infants with sickle cell disease are begun on oral penicillin prophylaxis to prevent sepsis, the major cause of mortality in these infants (see Chapter 150).
Because speech and language are central to a child’s cognitive development, the hearing screening is performed before discharge from the newborn nursery. An infant’s hearing is tested by placing headphones over the infant’s ears and electrodes on the head. Standard sounds are played, and the transmission of the impulse to the brain is documented. If abnormal, a further evaluation is indicated, using evoked response technology of sound transmission.
Hearing and Vision Screening of Older ChildrenInferences about hearing are drawn from asking parents aboutresponses to sound and speech and by examining speech andlanguage development closely. Inferences about vision maybe made by examining gross motor milestones (children withvision problems may have a delay) and by physical examination of the eye. Parental concerns about vision should be sought untilthe child is 3 years of age and about hearing until the child is4 years of age. If there are concerns, definitive testing shouldbe arranged. Hearing can be screened by auditory evokedresponses, as mentioned for newborns. For toddlers and olderchildren who cannot cooperate with formal audiologic testingwith headphones, behavioral audiology may be used. Sounds ofa specific frequency or intensity are provided in a standard environment within a soundproof room, and responses are assessedby a trained audiologist. Vision may be assessed by referral to apediatric ophthalmologist and by visual evoked responses.
Children 3 Years of Age and OlderAt various ages, hearing and vision should be screened objectively using standard techniques as specified in the Bright Futures’ recommendations. Asking the family and child about any concerns or consequences of poor hearing or vision accomplishes subjective evaluation. At 3 years of age, children are screened for vision for the first time if they are developmentally able to be tested. Many children at this age do not have the interactive language or interpersonal skills to perform a vision screen; these children should be re-examined at a 3to 6-month interval to ensure that their vision is normal. Because most of these children do not yet identify letters, using a Snellen eye chart with standard shapes is recommended. When a child is able to identify letters, the more accurate letter-based chart should be used. Audiologic testing of sounds with headphones should be begun on the fourth birthday (although Head Start requires that pediatricians attempt the hearing screening at 3 years of age). Any suspected audiologic problem should be evaluated by a careful history and physical examination, with referral for comprehensive testing. Children who have a documented vision problem, failed screening, or parental concern should be referred, preferably to a pediatric ophthalmologist.
Children are screened for anemia at ages when there is a higher incidence of iron deficiency anemia. Infants are screened at birth and again at 4 months if there is a documented risk, such as low birth weight or prematurity. Healthy term infants usually are screened at 12 months of age because this is when a high incidence of iron deficiency is noted. Children are assessed at other visits for risks or concerns related to anemia (denoted by a ★ in the Bright Futures’ recommendations at http://brightfutures.aap.org/clinical_practice.html ).Any abnormalities detected should be evaluated for etiology.Anemic infants do not perform as well on standard developmental testing. When iron deficiency is strongly suspected, a therapeutic trial of iron may be used (see Chapter 150).
Lead intoxication may cause developmental and behavioralabnormalities that are not reversible, even if the hematologicand other metabolic complications are treated. Although theCenters for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends environmental investigation at blood lead levels of20 μg/dL on a single visit or persistent 15 μg/dL over a 3-month period, levels of 5 to 10 μg/dL may cause learning problems. Risk factors for lead intoxication include living in older homes withcracked or peeling lead-based paint, industrial exposure, use offoreign remedies (e.g., a diarrhea remedy from Central or SouthAmerica), and use of pottery with lead paint glaze. Because ofthe significant association of lead intoxication with poverty, theCDC recommends blood lead screening at 12 and 24 months.In addition, standardized screening questions for risk of leadintoxication should be asked for all children between 6 months and 6 years of age (Table 9-2). Any positive or suspect responseis an indication for obtaining a blood lead level. Capillary bloodsampling may produce false-positive results, thus, a venousblood sample should be obtained. County health departments,community organizations, and private companies provide leadinspection and detection services to determine the source of thelead. Standard decontamination techniques should be used toremove the lead while avoiding aerosolizing the toxic metal thata child might breathe or creating dust that a child might ingest(see Chapters 149 and 150).
The prevalence of tuberculosis is increasing, largely as a resultof the adult human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) epidemic.Children often present with serious and multisystem disease(miliary tuberculosis). All children should be assessed for risk oftuberculosis at health maintenance visits, especially after 1 yearof age. The high-risk groups, as defined by the CDC, are listedin Table 9-3. In general the standardized purified protein derivative intradermal test is used with evaluation by a health care provider 48 to 72 hours after injection. The size of induration, notthe color of any mark, denotes a positive test. For most patients,
Does the child spend any time in a building built before 1960 (e.g., home, school, barn) that has cracked or peeling paint?
Is there a brother, sister, housemate, playmate, or community member being followed or treated (or even rumored to be) for lead poisoning?
Does the child live with an adult whose job or hobby involves exposure to lead (e.g., lead smelting and automotive radiator repair)?
Does the child live near an active lead smelter, battery recycling plant, or other industry likely to release lead?
Does the family use home remedies or pottery from another country?
Close contact with persons known to have tuberculosis (TB), positive TB test, or suspected to have TB
Foreign-born persons from areas with high TB rates (Asia, Africa, Latin America, Eastern Europe, Russia)
High-risk racial or ethnic minorities or other populations at higher risk (Asian, Pacific Islander, Hispanic, African American, Native American, groups living in poverty [e.g., Medicaid recipients], migrant farm workers, homeless persons, substance abusers)
Infants, children, and adolescents exposed to adults in high-risk categories 10 mm of induration is a positive test. For HIV-positive patients,those with recent tuberculosis contacts, patients with evidenceof old healed tuberculosis on chest film, or immunosuppressedpatients, 5 mm is a positive test (see Chapter 124). The CDC hasapproved (in adults) the QuantiFERON-TB Gold Test, whichhas the advantage of needing one office visit only.
Children and adolescents who have a family history of cardiovascular disease or have at least one parent with a high blood cholesterol level are at increased risk of having high blood cholesterol levels as adults and increased risk of coronary heart disease. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends dyslipidemia screening in the context of regular health care for at-risk populations (Table 9-4) by obtaining a fasting lipid profile. The recommended screening levels are the same for all children 2 to 18 years. Total cholesterol of less than 170 mg/dL is normal, 170 to 199 mg/dL is borderline, and greater than 200 mg/dL is elevated. In addition, in 2011, the AAP endorsed the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute of the National Institutes of Health recommendation to test all children between ages 9 and 11.
Annual office visits are recommended for adolescents. A full adolescent psychosocial history should be obtained in confidential fashion (see Section 12). Part of this evaluation is acomprehensive sexual history that often requires creative questioning. Not all adolescents identify oral sex as sex, and some adolescents misinterpret the term sexually active to mean that one has many sexual partners or is very vigorous during intercourse. The questions, “Are you having sex?” and “Have youever had sex?” should be asked. In the Bright Futures guidelines, any child or adolescent who has had any form of sexualintercourse should have at least an annual evaluation (moreoften if there is a history of high-risk sex) for sexually transmitted diseases by physical examination (genital warts, genitalherpes, and pediculosis) and laboratory testing (chlamydia,gonorrhea, syphilis, and HIV) (see Chapter 116). Youngwomen should be assessed for human papillomavirus and precancerous lesions by Papanicolaou smear at 21 years of age.
Immunization records should be checked at each office visit, regardless of the reason. Appropriate vaccinations should be administered (see Chapter 94).
Risk screening at ages 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 and annually in adolescence: 1.
Children and adolescents who have a family history of high cholesterol or heart disease 2.
Children whose family history is unknown 3.Children who have other personal risk factors: obesity, high blood pressure, or diabetes
Many families in the United States, particularly poor families and ethnic minorities, underuse dental health care. Pediatricians may identify gross abnormalities, such as large caries, gingival inflammation, or significant malocclusion. All children should have a dental examination by a dentist at least annually and a dental cleaning by a dentist or hygienist every 6 months. Dental health care visits should include instruction about preventive care practiced at home (brushing and flossing). Other prophylactic methods shown to be effective at preventing caries are concentrated fluoride topical treatments (dental varnish) and acrylic sealants on the molars. Pediatric dentists recommend beginning visits at age 1 year to educate families and to screen for milk bottle caries. Some recommend that pediatricians apply dental varnish to the children’s teeth, especially in communities that do not have pediatric dentists. Fluoridation of water or fluoride supplements in communities that do not have fluoridation are important in the prevention of cavities (see Chapter 127).
Plotting a child’s growth on the standard charts is a vital component of the nutritional assessment. A dietary history should be obtained because the content of the diet may suggest a risk of nutritional deficiency (see Chapters 27 and 28).
Anticipatory guidance is information conveyed to parents verbally, in written materials, or even directing parents to certain Internet websites to assist them in facilitating optimal growth and development for their children. Anticipatory guidance that is age relevant is another part of the Bright Futures guidelines. Bright Futures has a “toolkit” that includes the topics and one-page handouts for families (and for older children) about the highest yield issues for the specific age. Table 9-5 summarizes representative issues that might be discussed. It is important to review briefly the safety topics previously discussed at other visits for reinforcement. Age-appropriate discussions should occur at each visit.
The most common cause of death for infants 1 month to 1 year of age is motor vehicle crashes. No newborn should be discharged from a nursery unless the parents have a functioning and properly installed car seat. Many automobile dealerships offer services to parents to ensure that safety seats are installed properly in their specific model. Most states have laws that mandate use of safety seats until the child reaches 4 years of age or at least 40 pounds in weight. The following are age-appropriate recommendations for car safety:
Infants and toddlers should ride in a rear-facing safety seat until they are 2 years of age, or until they reach the highest weight or height allowed by the safety seat manufacturer.
Toddlers and preschoolers over age 2 or who have outgrown the rear-facing car seat should use a forward-facing car seat with harness for as long as possible, up to the highest weight or height recommended by the manufacturer.
School-age children, whose weight or height is above the forward-facing limit for their car seat, should use a belt-positioning booster seat until the vehicle seat belt fits properly, typically when they have reached 4 ft 9 in. in height and are between 8 and 12 years of age.
Older children should always use lap and shoulder seat belts for optimal protection. All children younger than 13 years should be restrained in the rear seats of vehicles for optimal protection. This is specifically to protect them from airbags, which may cause more injury than the crash in young children.
The Back to Sleep initiative has reduced the incidence of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Before the initiative, infantsroutinely were placed prone to sleep. Since 1992 when the AAPrecommended this program, the annual SIDS rate has decreasedby more than 50%. Another initiative is aimed at day care providers, because 20% of SIDS deaths occur in day care settings.
See Table 9-5 as well as the Bright Futures’ recommendations (found at http://brightfutures.aap.org/clinical_practice.html )for presentation of age-appropriate activities that the pediatrician may advocate for families.
Discipline means to teach, not merely to punish. The ultimate goal is the child’s self-control. Overbearing punishment to control a child’s behavior interferes with the learning process and focuses on external control at the expense of the development of self-control. Parents who set too few reasonable limits may be frustrated by children who cannot control their own behavior. Discipline should teach a child exactly what is expected by supporting and reinforcing positive behaviors and responding appropriately to negative behaviors with proper limits. It is more important and effective to reinforce good behavior than to punish bad behavior.
Commonly used techniques to control undesirable behaviors in children include scolding, physical punishment, and threats. These techniques have potential adverse effects on children’s sense of security and self-esteem. The effectiveness of scolding diminishes the more it is used. Scolding should not be allowed to expand from an expression of displeasure about a specific event to derogatory statements about the child. Scolding also may escalate to the level of psychological abuse. It is important to educate parents that they have a good child who does bad things from time to time, so parents do not think and tell the child that he or she is “bad.”
Frequent mild physical punishment (corporal punishment) may become less effective over time and tempt the parent to escalate the physical punishment, increasing the risk of child abuse. Corporal punishment teaches a child that in certain situations it is proper to strike another person. Commonly in households that use spanking, older children who have been raised with this technique are seen responding to younger sibling behavioral problems by hitting their siblings.
Threats by parents to leave or to give up the child are perhaps the most psychologically damaging ways to control a child’s behavior. Children of any age may remain fearful and anxious about loss of the parent long after the threat is made; however many children are able to see through empty threats. Threatening a mild loss of privileges (no video games for 1 week or grounding a teenager) may be appropriate, but the consequence must be enforced if there is a violation.
Birth and/ Crib safety Assess bonding and Back to sleep Exclusive breastfeeding Discuss parenting skills or 3−5 Hot water heaters attachment Crib safety encouraged Refer for parenting education days <120° F Identify family strife, lack of
Formula as a second-best Car safety seats support, pathology 2 months Burns/hot liquids Reassess firearm safety Back to sleep Parent getting enough rest and managing returning to work
Healthy snacks Read to childDiscuss strategies to avoid interpersonal conflicts Avoiding media violence Avoiding fights and walking away Discuss conflict resolution techniques Junk food versus healthy eating
Review school work Begin career discussions and college preparation (PSAT) Review substance abuse, sexuality, and violence regularly Discuss condoms, contraception options, including emergency contraception Discuss sexually transmitted diseases, HIV Providing no questions−asked ride home from at-risk situations
HIV, Human immunodeficiency virus; PSAT, Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test. *Reassess means to review the issues discussed at the prior health maintenance visit.
Parenting involves a dynamic balance between setting limits on the one hand and allowing and encouraging freedomof expression and exploration on the other. A child whosebehavior is out of control improves when clear limits on theirbehavior are set and enforced. However parents must agree on where the limit will be set and how it will be enforced. The limit and the consequence of breaking the limit mustbe clearly presented to the child. Enforcement of the limitshould be consistent and firm. Too many limits are difficultto learn and may thwart the normal development of autonomy. The limit must be reasonable in terms of the child’sage, temperament, and developmental level. To be effective,both parents (and other adults in the home) must enforce limits. Otherwise, children may effectively split the parentsand seek to test the limits with the more indulgent parent.In all situations, to be effective, punishment must be briefand linked directly to a behavior. More effective behavioralchange occurs when punishment also is linked to praise of the intended behavior.
Extinction is an effective and systematic way to eliminate a frequent, annoying, and relatively harmless behavior by ignoring it. First parents should note the frequency of the behaviorto appreciate realistically the magnitude of the problem and toevaluate progress. Parents must determine what reinforces thechild’s behavior and what needs to be consistently eliminated.An appropriate behavior is identified to give the child a positive alternative that the parents can reinforce. Parents shouldbe warned that the annoying behavior usually increases in frequency and intensity (and may last for weeks) before it decreaseswhen the parent ignores it (removes the reinforcement). A childwho has an attention-seeking temper tantrum should be ignoredor placed in a secure environment. This action may anger the child more, and the behavior may get louder and angrier. Eventually with no audience for the tantrum, the tantrums decreasein intensity and frequency. In each specific instance, when the child’s behavior has become appropriate, he or she should be praised, and extra attention should be given. This is an effectivetechnique for early toddlers, before their capacity to understandand adhere to a timeout.
The timeout consists of a short period of isolation immediately after a problem behavior is observed. Timeout interrupts the behavior and immediately links it to an unpleasant consequence. This method requires considerable effort by the parents because the child does not wish to be isolated. A parent may need to hold the child physically in timeout. In this situation, the parent should become part of the furniture and should not respond to the child until the timeout period is over. When established, a simple isolation technique, such as making a child stand in the corner or sending a child to his or her room, may be effective. If such a technique is not helpful, a more systematic procedure may be needed. One effective protocol for the timeout procedure involves interrupting the child’s play when the behavior occurs and having the child sit in a dull, isolated place for a brief period, measured by a portable kitchen timer (the clicking noises document that time is passing and the bell alarm at the end signals the end of the punishment). Timeout is simply punishment and is not a time for a young child to think about the behavior (these children do not possess the capacity for abstract thinking) or a time to de-escalate the behavior. The amount of timeout should be appropriate to the child’s short attention span. One minute per year of a child’s age is recommended. This inescapable and unpleasant consequence of the undesired behavior motivates the child to learn to avoid the behavior.
Children with disabilities, severe chronic illnesses, congenital defects, and health-related educational and behavioral problems are children with special health care needs (SHCN). Many of these children share a broad group ofexperiences and encounter similar problems, such as schooldifficulties and family stress. The term children with special health care needs defines these children noncategorically,without regard to specific diagnoses, in terms of increasedservice needs. Approximately 19% of children in the UnitedStates younger than 18 years of age have a physical, developmental, behavioral, or emotional condition requiring services of a type or amount beyond those required by children,generally.
The goal in managing a child with SHCN is to maximizethe child’s potential for productive adult functioning bytreating the primary diagnosis and by helping the patientand family deal with the stresses and secondary impairmentsincurred because of the disease or disability. Whenever a chronic disease is diagnosed, family members typicallygrieve, show anger, denial, negotiation (in an attempt toforestall the inevitable), and depression. Because the child with SHCN is a constant reminder of the object of this grief,it may take family members a long time to accept the condition. A supportive physician can facilitate the process ofacceptance by education and by allaying guilty feelings andfear. To minimize denial, it is helpful to confirm the family’s observations about the child. The family may not be ableto absorb any additional information initially, so writtenmaterial and the option for further discussion at a later dateshould be offered.
The primary physician should provide a medical home to maintain close oversight of treatments and subspecialtyservices, provide preventive care, and facilitate interactions with school and community agencies. A major goal of family-centered care is for the family and child to feel in control. Although the medical management team usually directstreatment in the acute health care setting, the locus of control should shift to the family as the child moves into a moreroutine, home-based life. Treatment plans should allow thegreatest degree of normalization of the child’s life. As the child matures, self-management programs that provide health education, self-efficacy skills, and techniques such as symptommonitoring help promote good long-term health habits. Theseprograms should be introduced at 6 or 7 years of age or whena child is at a developmental level to take on chores and benefitfrom being given responsibility. Self-management minimizeslearned helplessness and the vulnerable child syndrome, both of which occur commonly in families with chronically ill ordisabled children.
When developmental screening and surveillance suggest thepresence of significant developmental lags, the physician shouldtake responsibility for coordinating the further assessment ofthe child by the team of professionals and provide continuity ofcare. The physician should become aware of local facilities andprograms for assessment and treatment. If the child is at highrisk for delay (e.g., prematurity), a structured follow-up programto monitor the child’s progress may already exist. Under federallaw, all children are entitled to assessments if there is a suspecteddevelopmental delay or a risk factor for delay (e.g., prematurity,failure to thrive, and parental mental retardation [MR]). Special programs for children up to 3 years of age are developedby states to implement this policy. Developmental interventionsare arranged in conjunction with third-party payers with localprograms funding the cost only when there is no insurance coverage. After 3 years of age, development programs usually areadministered by school districts. Federal laws mandate that special education programs be provided for all children with developmental disabilities from birth through 21 years of age.
Children with special needs may be enrolled in pre-K programs with a therapeutic core, including visits to the programby therapists, to work on challenges. Children who are of traditional school age (kindergarten through secondary school)should be evaluated by the school district and provided an individualized educational plan (IEP) to address any deficiencies. An IEP may feature individual tutoring time (resourcetime), placement in a special education program, placement inclasses with children with severe behavioral problems, or otherstrategies to address deficiencies. As part of the comprehensiveevaluation of developmental/behavioral issues, all childrenshould receive a thorough medical assessment. A variety ofother specialists may assist in the assessment and intervention,including subspecialist pediatricians (e.g., neurology, orthopedics, psychiatry, developmental/behavioral), therapists (e.g.,occupational, physical, oral-motor), and others (e.g., psychologists, early childhood development specialists).
The physician’s main goals in team assessment are to identify thecause of the developmental dysfunction, if possible (often a specific cause is not found), and identify and interpret other medicalconditions that have a developmental impact. The comprehensive history (Table 10-1) and physical examination (Table 10-2)include a careful graphing of growth parameters and an accuratedescription of dysmorphic features. Many of the diagnoses arerare or unusual diseases or syndromes. Many of these diseasesand syndromes are discussed further in Sections 9 and 24.
The comprehensive neurologic examination is an excellent basis for evaluating motor function, but it should be supplemented by an adaptive functional evaluation (see Chapter 179). Observing the child at play aids assessment of function. Specialists in early childhood development and therapists (especially occupational and physical therapists who have experience with children) can provide excellent input into the evaluation of age-appropriate adaptive function.
Information to Be Sought during the History Taking of a Child with Suspected Developmental Disabilities
Parental concerns Parents are quite accurate in identifying development problems in their children.
Current levels of Should be used to monitor child’s developmental progress functioning
Temperament May interact with disability or may be confused with developmental delay
Alcohol ingestion Fetal alcohol syndrome; index of caregiving riskExposure to medication, Development toxin (e.g., phenytoin); illegal drug, or toxin may be an index of caregiving risk
Radiation exposure Damage to CNSPrenatal care Index of social situationInjuries, hyperthermia Damage to CNSMaternal illness Toxoplasmosis, Syphilis (Other in the (so-called “TORCH” mnemonic), Rubella, Cytomegalovirus, infections) Herpes simplex virus infections
Gestational age, birth Biologic risk from prematurity and small weight for gestational age
Labor and delivery Hypoxia or index of abnormal prenatal development
APGAR scores Hypoxia, cardiovascular impairmentSpecific perinatal Increased risk of CNS damage adverse eventsIllness—seizures, Increased risk of CNS damage respiratory distress, hyperbilirubinemia, metabolic disorder mutation associated with developmental
Illnesses (e.g., Hereditary illness associated with metabolic diseases) developmental delay
Family member died May suggest inborn error of metabolism young or unexpectedly or storage disease
Family member requires Hereditary causes of developmental special education delay
Resources available Necessary to maximize child’s potential (e.g., financial, social support)
Educational level of Family may need help to provide parents stimulation.
High-risk behaviors Increased risk for HIV infection; index of (e.g., illicit drugs, sex) caregiving risk
Other stressors (e.g., May exacerbate child’s conditions or marital discord) compromise care
Gender of child Important for X-linked conditionsDevelopmental Index of developmental delay; milestones regression may indicate progressive condition.
associated with developmental delay or learning disabilities.Serious infections (e.g., May be associated with developmental meningitis) delay
Toxic exposure (e.g., May be associated with developmental lead) delay
Physical growth May indicate malnutrition; obesity, short stature, genetic syndrome
Recurrent otitis media Associated with hearing loss and abnormal speech development
Visual and auditory Sensitive index of impaired vision and functioning hearing
Nutrition Malnutrition during infancy may lead to delayed development.Chronic conditions such May be associated with delayed as renal disease development or anemia
Adapted and updated from Liptak G: Mental retardation and developmental disability. In Kliegman RM, editor: Practical Strategies in Pediatric Diagnosis and Therapy, Philadelphia, 1996, WB Saunders. CNS, Central nervous system; HIV, human immunodeficiency virus.
Psychological Assessment Although a child should not be labeled as having a problem Psychological assessment includes the testing of cognitive abil-solely on the basis of a standardized test, these tests provide ity (Table 10-3) and the evaluation of personality and emotional important and reasonably objective data for evaluating a child’s well-being. The IQ and mental age scores, taken in isolation, progress within a particular educational program. are only partially descriptive of a person’s functional abilities,which are a combination of cognitive, adaptive, and socialskills. Tests of achievement are subject to variability based on Educational Assessment culture, educational exposures, and experience and must be Educational assessment involves the evaluation of areas of standardized for social factors. Projective and non-projective specific strengths and weaknesses in reading, spelling, written tests are useful in understanding the child’s emotional status. expression, and mathematical skills. Schools routinely screen
Information to Be Sought during the Physical Examination of a Child with Suspected
Short stature Williams syndrome, malnutrition, Turner syndrome; many children with severe retardation have associated short stature.
Macrocephaly Alexander syndrome, Sotos syndrome, gangliosidosis, hydrocephalus, mucopolysaccharidosis, subdural effusion
Microcephaly Virtually any condition that can retard brain growth (e.g., malnutrition, Angelman syndrome, de Lange syndrome, fetal alcohol effects)
Coarse, triangular, round, or flat face; hypotelorism or hypertelorism, slanted or short palpebral fissure; unusual nose, maxilla, and mandible Specific measurements may provide clues to inherited, metabolic, or other diseases such as fetal alcohol syndrome, cri du chat syndrome (5psyndrome), or Williams syndrome.
Prominent Crouzon syndrome, Seckel syndrome, fragile X syndromeCataract Galactosemia, Lowe syndrome, prenatal rubella, hypothyroidismCherry-red spot in Gangliosidosis (GM1), metachromatic macula leukodystrophy, mucolipidosis, Tay-Sachs disease, Niemann-Pick disease, Farber lipogranulomatosis, sialidosis III
Chorioretinitis Congenital infection with cytomegalovirus, toxoplasmosis, or rubellaCorneal cloudiness Mucopolysaccharidosis I and II, Lowe syndrome, congenital syphilis
Pinnae, low set or Trisomies such as 18, Rubinstein-Taybi malformed syndrome, Down syndrome, CHARGE association, cerebro-oculo-facio-skeletal syndrome, fetal phenytoin effects
Hearing Loss of acuity in mucopolysaccharidosis; hyperacusis in many encephalopathies
CHARGE association, CATCH22, velocardiofacial syndrome, glycogenosis II, fetal alcohol effects, mucopolysaccharidosis I; chromosomal anomalies such as Down syndrome; maternal phenylketonuria; chronic cyanosis may impair cognitive development.
Adapted and updated from Liptak G: Mental retardation and developmental disability. In Kliegman RM, Greenbaum LA, Lye PS, editors: Practical Strategies in Pediatric Diagnosis and Therapy, ed 2, Philadelphia, 2004, Saunders, p 540.
CATCH-22, Cardiac defects, abnormal face, thymic hypoplasia, cleft palate, hypocalcemia, defects on chromosome 22; CHARGE, coloboma, heart defects, atresia choanae, retarded growth, genital anomalies, ear anomalies (deafness).
Table 10-3 Tests of Cognition TEST AGE RANGE SPECIAL FEATURES INFANT SCALES Bayley Scales of Infant Development (3rd ed) 1–42 mo Mental, psychomotor scales, behavior record; weak intelligence predictor
Cattell Infant Intelligence Scale 2–30 mo Used to extend Stanford-Binet downward
Ordinal Scales of Infant Psychological Birth–24 mo Six subscales; based on Piaget’s stages; weak in predicting later Development
Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scale (4th ed) 2 yr–adult Four area scores, with subtests and composite IQ score
McCarthy Scales of Children’s Abilities 2½–8½ yr 6–18 subtests; good at defining learning disabilities; strengths/weaknesses approach
Wechsler Primary and Preschool Test of 2 ½–7¼ yr 11 subtests; verbal, performance IQs; long administration time; good at Intelligence–Revised (WPPSI-R)
Merrill-Palmer Scale of Mental Tests 18 mo–4 yr 19 subtests cover language skills, motor skills, manual dexterity, and matching ability
Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scale (4th ed) 2 yr–adult Four area scores, with subtests and composite IQ score
Leiter International Performance Scale, Revised 2–20 yr Nonverbal measure of intelligence ideal for use with those who are cognitively delayed, non-English speaking, hearing impaired, speech impaired, or autistic
Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scale – II (2nd ed) Birth–90 yr Interview/questionnaire; typical persons and blind, deaf, developmentally delayed, and retarded
American Association on Mental Retardation 4–21 yr Useful in mental retardation, other disabilities (AAMR) Adaptive Behavioral Scale children with grouped tests to aid in problem identification and program evaluation. For the child with special needs, this screening ultimately should lead to individualized testing and the development of an IEP that would enable the child to progress comfortably in school. Diagnostic teaching, in which the child’s response to various teaching techniques is assessed, also may be helpful.
Assessments of the environment in which the child is living, working, playing, and growing are important in understanding the child’s development. A home visit by a social worker, community health nurse, and/or home-based intervention specialist can provide valuable information about the child’s social milieu. Often the home visitor can suggest additional adaptive equipment or renovations if there are challenges at home. If there is a suspicion of inadequate parenting, and, especially, if there is a suspicion of neglect or abuse (including emotional abuse), the child and family must be referred to the local child protection agency. Information about reporting hotlines and local child protection agencies usually is found inside the front cover of local telephone directories (see Chapter 22).
Intervention in the Primary Care SettingThe clinician must decide whether a problem requires referral for further diagnostic workup and management or whether management in the primary care setting is appropriate. Counseling roles required in caring for these children are listed in Table 10-4. When a child is young, much of the counseling interaction takes place between the parents and the clinician, and, as the child matures, direct counseling shifts increasingly toward the child.
The assessment process may be therapeutic in itself. By assuming the role of a nonjudgmental, supportive listener, the clinician creates a climate of trust, allowing the family to express difficult or painful thoughts and feelings. Expressing emotions may allow the parent or caregiver to move on to the work of understanding and resolving the problem.
Interview techniques may facilitate clarification of the problem for the family and for the clinician. The family’sideas about the causes of the problem and attempts at coping can provide a basis for developing strategies for problemmanagement that are much more likely to be implementedsuccessfully because they emanate, in part, from the family.The clinician shows respect by endorsing the parent’s ideaswhen appropriate; this can increase self-esteem and sense of competency.
Educating parents about normal and aberrant development and behavior may prevent problems through early detection and anticipatory guidance and communicates the physician’s interest in hearing parental concerns. Early detection allows intervention before the problem becomes entrenched and associated problems develop.
The severity of developmental and behavioral problems ranges from variations of normal to problematic responses to stressful situations to frank disorders. The clinician must try to establish the severity and scope of the patient’s symptoms so that appropriate intervention can be planned.
For the child, behavioral change must be learned, not simply imposed. It is easiest to learn when the lesson is simple, clear, and consistent and presented in an atmosphere free of fear or intimidation. Parents often try to impose behavioral change in an emotionally charged atmosphere, most often at the time of a behavioral violation. Similarly clinicians may try to teach parents with hastily presented advice when the parents are distracted by other concerns or not engaged in the suggested behavioral change.
Apart from management strategies directed specifically at the problem behavior, regular times for positive parent-child interaction should be instituted. Frequent, brief, affectionate physical contact over the day provides opportunities for positive reinforcement of desirable child behaviors and for building a sense of competence in the child and the parent.
Most parents feel guilty when their children have a developmental/behavioral problem. Guilt may be caused by the fear that the problem was caused by inadequate parenting or by previous angry responses to the child’s behavior. If possible and appropriate, the clinician should find ways to alleviate guilt, which may be a serious impediment to problem solving.
In many cases, a team of professionals is required to provide the breadth and quality of services needed to appropriately serve the child who has SHCN. The primary care physician should monitor the progress of the child and continually reassess that the requisite therapy is being accomplished.
Educational intervention for a young child begins as home-based infant stimulation, often with an early childhood specialist (e.g., nurse/therapist), providing direct stimulation for the child and training the family to provide the stimulation. As the child matures, a center-based nursery program may be indicated. For the school-age child, special services may range from extra attention in the classroom to a self-contained special education classroom.
Psychological intervention may be directed to the parent or family or, with an older child, primarily child-directed. Examples of therapeutic approaches are guidance therapies, such as directive advice giving, counseling to create their own solutions to problems, psychotherapy, behavioral management techniques, psychopharmacologic methods (from a psychiatrist), and cognitive therapy.
Motor intervention may be performed by a physical or occupational therapist. Neurodevelopmental therapy (NDT), the most commonly used method, is based on the concept that nervous system development is hierarchical and subject to some plasticity. The focus of NDT is on gait training and motor development, including daily living skills; perceptual abilities, such as eye-hand coordination; and spatial relationships. Sensory integration therapy is also used by occupational therapists to structure sensory experience from the tactile, proprioceptive, and vestibular systems to allow for adaptive motor responses.
Speech-language intervention by a speech and language therapist/pathologist (oral-motor therapist) is usually part of the overall educational program and is based on the tested language strengths and weaknesses of the child. Children needing this type of intervention may show difficulties in reading and other academic areas and develop social and behavioral problems because of their difficulties in being understood and in understanding others. Hearing intervention, performed by an audiologist (or an otolaryngologist), includes monitoring hearing acuity and providing amplification when necessary via hearing aids.
Social and environmental intervention generally includesnursing or social work involvement with the family. Frequently the task of coordinating services falls to these specialists. Case managers may be in the private sector, fromthe child’s insurance or Medicaid plan, or part of a childprotection agency.
Medical intervention for a child with a developmentaldisability involves providing primary care as well as specific treatment of conditions associated with the disability.Although curative treatment often is not possible, functionalimpairment can be minimized through thoughtful medicalmanagement. Certain general medical problems are foundmore frequently in delayed and developmentally disabledpeople (Table 10-5), especially if the delay is part of a knownsyndrome. Some children may have a limited life expectancy.Supporting the family through palliative care, hospice, andbereavement is another important role of the primary carepediatrician.
SELECTED CLINICAL PROBLEMS: THE SPECIAL NEEDS CHILDMR is defined as significantly subnormal intellectual functioning for a child’s developmental stage, existing concurrently with deficits in adaptive behaviors (self-care, home living, communication, and social interactions). MR is defined statistically as cognitive performance that is two standard deviations below the mean (roughly below the 3rd percentile) of the general population as measured on standardized intelligence testing. The last known estimate of the prevalence of MR is that about 2% of the U.S. population is affected. Levels of MR from IQ scores derived from two typical tests are shown in Table 10-6. Caution must be exercised in interpretation because these categories do not reflect actual functional level of the tested individual.
The etiology of the central nervous system insult resultingin MR may involve genetic disorders, teratogenic influences,
Mild 50–69 50–55 to 70 Educable mentally retarded (EMR)Moderate 35–49 35–40 to 50–55 Trainable mentally retarded (TMR)Severe 20–34 20–25 to 35–50ICD-10, International Classification of Diseases (WHO), ed 10; WISC-IV, Wechsler Intelligence Scale for children, ed 4.
perinatal insults, acquired childhood disease, and environmental and social factors (Table 10-7). Mild MR correlates with socioeconomic status, although profound MR does not. Although a single organic cause may be found, each individual’s performance should be considered a function of theinteraction of environmental influences with the individual’s organic substrate. Behavioral difficulties resulting from the MRitself and from the family’s reaction to the child and the condition are common. More severe forms of MR can be traced to biologic factors. The earlier the cognitive slowing is recognized,the more severe the deviation from normal is likely to be.
The first step in the diagnosis and management of a child with MR is to identify functional strengths and weaknesses for purposes of medical and habilitative therapies. A history and physical examination may suggest a diagnostic approach that, then, may be confirmed by laboratory testing and/or imaging. Frequently used laboratory tests include chromosomal analysis and magnetic resonance imaging of the brain. Almost one third of individuals with MR do not have readily identifiable reasons for their disability.
Significant visual impairment is a problem in many children. Partial vision (defined as visual acuity between 20/70 and 20/200) occurs in 1 in 500 school-age children in the United States. Legal blindness is defined as distant visual acuity of 20/200 or worse and affects about 35,000 children in the United States. Such impairment can be a major barrier to optimal development.
The most common cause of severe visual impairment in children is retinopathy of prematurity (see Chapter 61). Congenital cataracts may lead to significant amblyopia. Cataracts also are associated with other ocular abnormalities and developmental disabilities. Amblyopia is a pathologic alteration of the visual system characterized by a reduction in visual acuity in one or both eyes with no clinically apparent organic abnormality that completely accounts for the visual loss. Amblyopia is due to a distortion of the normal clearly formed retinal image (from congenital cataracts or severe refractive errors); abnormal binocular interaction between the eyes as one eye competitively inhibits the other (strabismus); or a combination of both mechanisms. Albinism, hydrocephalus, congenital cytomegalovirus infection, and birth asphyxia are other significant contributors to blindness in children.
Sporadic events affecting embryogenesis, usually a stable developmental challenge Chromosomal changes (e.g., trisomy 21 syndrome)
Prenatal influences (e.g., substance abuse, teratogenic medications, intrauterine TORCH infections) †
No definite issue is identified, or multiple elements present, none of which is diagnostic (may be multifactorial)
Dynamic influences, commonly associated with other challenges Deprivation (neglect) Parental mental illness Environmental intoxications (e.g., significant lead intoxication)*
Impingement on normal intrauterine development or delivery; neurologic abnormalities frequent, challenges are stable or occasionally worsening
Perinatal complications (e.g., prematurity, birth asphyxia, birth trauma)Preconceptual origin, variable expression in the individual infant, multiple somatic effects, frequently a progressive or degenerative course
Inborn errors of metabolism (e.g., Tay-Sachs disease, Hunter disease, phenylketonuria)
Single-gene abnormalities (e.g., neurofibromatosis or tuberous sclerosis)Other chromosomal aberrations (e.g., fragile X syndrome, deletion mutations such as Prader-Willi syndrome)
Acute modification of developmental status, variable potential for functional recovery Infections (all can ultimately lead to brain damage, but most significant are encephalitis and meningitis)
Cranial trauma (accidental and child abuse) Accidents (e.g., near-drowning, electrocution) Environmental intoxications (prototype is lead poisoning)
TORCH, Toxoplasmosis, other (congenital syphilis), rubella, cytomegalovirus, and herpes simplex virus. *Some health problems fit in several categories (e.g., lead intoxication may be involved in several areas).
†This also may be considered as an acquired childhood disease.
Children with mild to moderate visual impairment usually have an uncorrected refractive error. The most common presentation is myopia or nearsightedness. Other causes are hyperopia (farsightedness) and astigmatism (alteration in the shape of the cornea leading to visual distortion). In children younger than 6 years, high refractive errors in one or both eyes also may cause amblyopia, aggravating visual impairment.
The diagnosis of severe visual impairment commonly is madewhen an infant is 4 to 8 months of age. Clinical suspicion is based on parental concerns aroused by unusual behavior, such as lackof smiling in response to appropriate stimuli, the presence of nystagmus, other wandering eye movements, or motor delaysin beginning to reach for objects. Fixation and visual trackingbehavior can be seen in most infants by 6 weeks of age. Thisbehavior can be assessed by moving a brightly colored object(or the examiner’s face) across the visual field of a quiet but alertinfant at a distance of 1 ft. The eyes also should be examined forred reflexes and pupillary reactions to light. Optical alignment(binocular vision with both eyes consistently focusing on thesame spot) should not be expected until the infant is beyondthe newborn period. Persistent nystagmus is abnormal at anyage. If ocular abnormalities are identified, referral to a pediatricophthalmologist is indicated.
During the newborn period, vision may be assessed by physical examination and by visual evoked response. This test evaluates the conduction of electrical impulses from the optic nerve to the occipital cortex of the brain. The eye is stimulated by a bright flash of light or with an alternating checkerboard of black-and-white squares, and the resulting electrical response is recorded from electrodes strategically placed on the scalp, similar to an electroencephalogram.
There are many developmental implications of visual impairment. Perception of body image is abnormal, and imitative behavior, such as smiling, is delayed. Delays in mobility may occur in children who are visually impaired from birth, although their postural milestones (ability to sit) usually are achieved appropriately. Social bonding with the parents also is often affected.
Visually impaired children can be helped in various ways. Classroom settings may be augmented with resource-room assistance to present material in a nonvisual format. Fine motor activity development, listening skills, and Braille reading and writing are intrinsic to successful educational intervention for a child with severe visual impairment.
Available @ StudentConsult.comThe clinical significance of hearing loss varies with its type (conductive versus sensorineural), its frequency, and its severity as measured in the number of decibels heard or the number of decibels of hearing lost. The most common cause of mild to moderate hearing loss in children is a conduction abnormality caused by acquired middle ear disease (acute and chronic otitis media). This abnormality may have a significant effect on the development of speech and language development, particularly if there is chronic fluctuating middle ear fluid. If hearing impairment is more severe, sensorineural hearing loss is more common. Causes of sensorineural deafness include congenital infections (e.g., rubella and cytomegalovirus), meningitis, birth asphyxia, kernicterus, ototoxic drugs (especially aminoglycoside antibiotics), and tumors and their treatments. Genetic deafness may be either dominant or recessive in inheritance; this is the main cause of hearing impairment in schools for the deaf. In Down syndrome, there is a predisposition to conductive loss caused by middle ear infection
Moderate 40–65 Chronic otitis media/ Conversation must be dB (ASA) middle ear effusions loud to be understood.
Adapted and updated from Gottlieb MI: Otitis media. In Levine MD, Carey WB, Crocker AC, et al, editors: Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics, Philadelphia, 1983, WB Saunders. ASA, Acoustical Society of America.
and sensorineural loss caused by cochlear disease. Any hear-identifying hearing-impaired children. Universal screening of ing loss may have a significant effect on the child’s developing newborns is required prior to nursery discharge and includes communication skills. These skills then affect all areas of the the following: child’s cognitive and skills development (Table 10-8). • Auditory brainstem response (ABR) measures how
It is sometimes quite difficult to accurately determine the the brain responds to sound. Clicks or tones are played presence of hearing in infants and young children. Inquir-through soft earphones into the infant’s ears. Three ing about a newborn’s or infant’s response to sounds or even electrodes placed on the infant’s head measure the brain’s observing the response to sounds in the office is unreliable for response.
• Otoacoustic emissions measure sound waves produced in the inner ear. A tiny probe is placed just inside the infant’s ear canal. It measures the response (echo) when clicks or tones are played into the infant’s ears.
Both of these tests are quick (5 to 10 minutes), painless, and may be performed while the infant is sleeping or lying still. The tests are sensitive but not as specific as more definitive tests. Infants who do not pass these tests are referred for more comprehensive testing. Many of these infants have normal hearing on definitive testing. Infants who do not have normal hearing should be immediately evaluated or referred for etiologic diagnosis and early intervention.
For children not screened at birth (such as children of immigrant parents) or children with suspected acquired hearing loss, later testing may allow early appropriate intervention. Hearing can be screened by means of an office audiogram, but other techniques are needed (ABR, behavior audiology) for young, neurologically immature or impaired, and behaviorally difficult children. The typical audiologic assessment includes pure-tone audiometry over a variety of sound frequencies (pitches), especially over the range of frequencies in which most speech occurs. Pneumatic otoscopic examination and tympanometry are used to assess middle ear function and the tympanic membrane compliance for pathology in the middle ear, such as fluid, ossicular dysfunction, and eustachian tube dysfunction (see Chapter 9).
The treatment of conductive hearing loss (largely due tootitis media and middle ear effusions) is discussed in Chapter 105. Treatment of sensorineural hearing impairment may bemedical or surgical. If amplification is indicated, hearing aidscan be tuned preferentially to amplify the frequency ranges inwhich the patient has decreased acuity. Educational intervention typically includes speech-language therapy and teachingAmerican Sign Language. Even with amplification, many hear-ing-impaired children show deficits in processing auditoryinformation, requiring special educational services for helpingto read and for other academic skills. Cochlear implants are surgically implantable devices that provide hearing sensation toindividuals with severe to profound hearing loss. The implantsare designed to substitute for the function of the middle ear,cochlear mechanical motion, and sensory cells, transformingsound energy into electrical energy that initiates impulses inthe auditory nerve. Cochlear implants are indicated for children older than 12 months with profound bilateral sensorineural hearing loss who have limited benefit from hearing aids,have failed to progress in auditory skill development, and haveno radiologic or medical contraindications. Implantation inchildren as young as possible gives them the most advantageous auditory environment for speech-language learning.
Parents often bring the concern of speech delay to the physician’s attention when they compare their young child with others of the same age (Table 10-9). The most common causes of the speech delay are MR, hearing impairment, social deprivation, autism, and oral-motor abnormalities. If a problem is suspected based on screening with tests such as Ages and Stages Questionnaires or the Parents’ Evaluation of Developmental Status test (see Chapter 8) or other standard screening test (Early Language Milestone Scale), a referral to a specialized hearing and speech center is indicated. While awaiting
Before 6 months, the child does not startle, blink, or change immediate activity in response to sudden, loud sounds. Before 6 months, the child does not attend to the human voice and is not soothed by his or her mother’s voice.
By 6 months, the child does not babble strings of consonant and vowel syllables or imitate gurgling or cooing sounds.
By 10 months, the child does not respond to his or her name.
At 10 months, the child’s sound-making is limited to shrieks, grunts, or sustained vowel production.
At 12 months, the child’s babbling or speech is limited to vowel sounds.
By 15 months, the child does not respond to “no,” “bye-bye,” or “bottle.”
By 15 months, the child does not imitate sounds or words.
By 18 months, the child is not consistently using at least six words with appropriate meaning.
By 21 months, the child does not respond correctly to “Give me . . . ,” “Sit down,” or “Come here” when spoken without gestural cues.
By 23 months, two-word phrases that are spoken as single units (e.g., “whatszit,” “thankyou,” “allgone”) have not emerged.
By 24 months, at least 50% of the child’s speech is not understood by familiar listeners.
By 24 months, the child does not point to body parts without gestural cues.
By 24 months, the child is not combining words into phrases (e.g., “go bye-bye,” “go car,” “want cookie”).
By 30 months, the child does not show understanding of spatial concepts: on, in, under, front, and back.
By 30 months, the child is not using short sentences (e.g., “Daddy went bye-bye”).
By 30 months, the child has not begun to ask questions (using where, what, why).
By 36 months, the child’s speech is not understood by unfamiliar listeners.
At any age, the child is consistently dysfluent with repetitions, hesitations; blocks or struggles to say words. Struggle may be accompanied by grimaces, eye blinks, or hand gestures.
Adapted and updated from Weiss CE, Lillywhite HE: Communication Disorders: a handbook for prevention and early detection, St Louis, 1976, Mosby.
the results of testing or initiation of speech-language therapy, parents should be advised to speak slowly and clearly to the child (and avoid baby talk). Parents and older siblings should read frequently to the speech-delayed child.
Speech disorders include articulation, fluency, and resonance disorders. Articulation disorders include difficulties producing sounds in syllables or saying words incorrectly tothe point that other people cannot understand what is beingsaid. Fluency disorders include problems such as stuttering,the condition in which the flow of speech is interrupted byabnormal stoppages, repetitions (st-st-stuttering), or prolonging sounds and syllables (ssssstuttering). Resonance or voice disorders include problems with the pitch, volume, or quality of achild’s voice that distract listeners from what is being said.
Language disorders can be either receptive or expressive. Receptive disorders refer to difficulties understanding or processing language. Expressive disorders include difficulty putting words together, limited vocabulary, or inability to use language in a socially appropriate way.
Speech-language pathologists (speech or oral-motor therapists) assess the speech, language, cognitive communication, and swallowing skills of children; determine what types of communication problems exist; and identify the best way to treat these challenges. Speech-language pathologists skilled at working with infants and young children are also vital in training parents and infants in other oral-motor skills, such as how to feed an infant born with a cleft lip and palate.
Speech-language therapy involves having a speech-language specialist work with a child on a one-on-one basis, in a small group, or directly in a classroom to overcome a specific disorder using a variety of therapeutic strategies. Language intervention activities involve having a speech-language specialist interact with a child by playing and talking to him or her, using pictures, books, objects, or ongoing events to stimulate language development. Articulation therapy involves having the therapist model correct sounds and syllables for a child, often during play activities.
Children enrolled in therapy early (<3 years of age) tend to have better outcomes than children who begin therapy later. Older children can make progress in therapy, but progress may occur more slowly because these children often have learned patterns that need to be modified or changed. Parental involvement is crucial to the success of a child’s progress in speech-language therapy.
Available @ StudentConsult.comLimp In-Toeing, Out-Toeing, and Toe-Walking Bowlegs and Knock-Knees Hypotonia and Weakness
Cerebral palsy (CP) refers to a group of nonprogressive, but often changing, motor impairment syndromes secondary to anomalies or lesions of the brain arising before or after birth. The prevalence of CP at age 8 in the United States is 3.6 per 1000; prevalence is much higher in premature and twin births. Prematurity and low birth weight infants (leading to perinatal asphyxia), congenital malformations, and kernicterus are causes of CP noted at birth. Ten percent of children with CP have acquired CP, developing at later ages. Meningitis and head injury (accidental and nonaccidental) are the most common causes of acquired CP (Table 10-10). Nearly 50% of children with CP have no identifiable risk factors. As genomic medicine advances, many of these causes of idiopathic CP may be identified.
Most children with CP, except in its mildest forms, are diagnosed in the first 18 months of life when they fail to attain motor milestones or show abnormalities such as asymmetric
Low socioeconomic status Prematurity Low birth weight/fetal growth retardation (<1500 g at birth) Maternal seizures/seizure disorder Treatment with thyroid hormone, estrogen, or progesterone Pregnancy complications
Hemiparesis (hemiplegia)—predominantly unilateral impairment of the arm and leg on the same (e.g., right or left) side
Diplegia—motor impairment primarily of the legs (often with some limited involvement of the arms; some authors challenge this specific type as not being different from quadriplegia)
Quadriplegia—all four limbs (whole body) are functionally compromised.gross motor function, hypertonia, or hypotonia. CP can be characterized further by the affected parts of the body (Table 10-11) and descriptions of the predominant type of motor disorder (Table 10-12). Comorbidities in these children often include epilepsy, learning difficulties, behavioral challenges, and sensory impairments. Many of these children have an isolated motor defect. Some affected children may be intellectually gifted.
Treatment depends on the pattern of dysfunction. Physical and occupational therapy can facilitate optimal positioning and movement patterns, increasing function of the affected parts. Spasticity management also may include oral medications (dantrolene, benzodiazepines, and baclofen), botulinum toxin injections, and implantation of intrathecal baclofen pumps. Management of seizures, spasticity, orthopedic impairments, and sensory impairments may help improve
Spastic cerebral palsy: the most common form of cerebral palsy, it accounts for 70%–80% of cases. It results from injury to the upper motor neurons of the pyramidal tract. It may occasionally be bilateral. It is characterized by at least two of the following: abnormal movement pattern, increased tone, or pathologic reflexes (e.g., Babinski response, hyperreflexia).
Dyskinetic cerebral palsy: occurs in 10%–15% of cases. It is dominated by abnormal patterns of movement and involuntary, uncontrolled, recurring movements.
Ataxic cerebral palsy: accounts for <5% of cases. This form results from cerebellar injury and features abnormal posture or movement and loss of orderly muscle coordination or both.
Dystonic cerebral palsy: also uncommon. It is characterized by reduced activity and stiff movement (hypokinesia) and hypotonia.
Choreoathetotic cerebral palsy: rare now that excessive hyperbilirubinemia is aggressively prevented and treated. This form is dominated by increased and stormy movements (hyperkinesia) and hypotonia.
Mixed cerebral palsy: accounts for 10%–15% of cases. This term is used when more than one type of motor pattern is present and when one pattern does not clearly dominate another. It typically is associated with more complications, including sensory deficits, seizures, and cognitive-perceptual impairments.
educational attainment. CP cannot be cured, but a host of interventions can improve functional abilities, participation in society, and quality of life. Like all children, an assessment and reinforcement of strengths are important, especially for intellectually intact or gifted children who have simple motor deficits.
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Philadelphia, 2007, ElsevierSheila Gahagan, Yi Hui Liu, and Scott J. Brown 3
Infant crying, a sign of pain, distress, hunger, or fatigue, is interpreted by caregivers according to the context of the crying. The cry just after birth heralds the infant’s health and vigor. The screams of the same infant, 6 weeks later, may be interpreted as a sign of illness, difficult temperament, or poor parenting. Crying is a manifestation of infant arousal influenced by the environment and interpreted through the lens of the family, social, and cultural context.
Crying is best understood by the characteristics of timing, duration, frequency, intensity, and modifiability of the cry (Fig. 11-1). Most infants cry little during the first 2 weeks of life, gradually increasing to 3 hours per day by 6 weeks and decreasing to 1 hour per day by 12 weeks.
Cry duration differs by culture and infant care practices. For example, !Kung San hunter−gatherer infants, who are continuously carried and fed four times per hour, cry 50% less than infants in the United States. Crying may also relate to health status. Premature infants cry little before 40 weeks gestational age but tend to cry more than term infants at 6 weeks’ corrected age. Crying behavior in former premature infants also may be influenced by ongoing medical conditions, such as bronchopulmonary dysplasia, visual impairments, and feed-
Colic often is diagnosed using Wessel’s rule of threes—crying for more than 3 hours per day, at least 3 days per week, for more than 3 weeks. The limitations of this definition include the lack of specificity of the word crying (e.g., does this include fussing?) and the necessity to wait 3 weeks to make a diagnosis in an infant who has excessive crying. Colicky crying is often described as paroxysmal and may be characterized by facial grimacing, leg flexion, and passing flatus.
Fewer than 5% of infants evaluated for excessive crying have an organic etiology. Because the etiology of colic is unknown, this syndrome may represent the extreme of the normal phenomenon of infant crying. Nonetheless evaluation of infants with excessive crying is warranted.
Cumulative incidence rates of colic vary from 5% to 19% in different studies. Girls and boys are affected equally. Studies vary byhow colic is defined and by data collection methodology, suchas maintaining a cry diary or actual recording of infant vocalizations. Concern about infant crying also varies by culture, andthis may influence what is recorded as crying or fussing.
ing disorders. The duration of crying is often modifiable by caregiving strategies.
Frequency of crying is less variable than duration of crying. At 6 weeks of age, the mean frequency of combined crying and fussing is 10 episodes in 24 hours. Diurnal variation in crying is the norm, with crying concentrated in the late afternoon and evening.
The intensity of infant crying varies, with descriptionsranging from fussing to screaming. An intense infant cry(pitch and loudness) is more likely to elicit concern or evenalarm from parents and caregivers than an infant who fretsmore quietly. Pain cries of newborns are remarkably loud:80 dB at a distance of 30.5 cm from the infant’s mouth. Although pain cries have a higher frequency than hungercries, when not attended to for a protracted period, hungercries become acoustically similar to pain cries. Fortunatelymost infant crying is of a lesser intensity, consistent withfussing.
Hours of fussing per dayFigure 11-1 Distribution of total crying time among 80 infants studied from 2 to 12 weeks of age. Data derived from daily crying diaries recorded by mothers. (From Brazelton TB: Crying in infancy. Pediatrics 29:582, 1962.)
Available @ StudentConsult.comThe clinician who evaluates a crying infant must differentiate serious disease from colic, which has no identifiable etiology. The history includes a description of the crying, including duration, frequency, intensity, and modifiability. Associated symptoms, such as leg flexion, facial grimacing, vomiting, or back arching, should be identified. Other important historical clues include the onset, diurnal pattern, any changes in quality, and triggers or activities that relieve crying. A review of systems can identify or eliminate other serious illnesses. Medical history also is important because infants with perinatal problems are at increased risk for neurologic causes of crying. Attention to the feeding history can reveal feeding-related problems, including hunger, air swallowing (worsened by crying), gastroesophageal reflux, and food intolerance. Questions concerning the family’s ability to handle the stress of the infant’s crying and their knowledge of infant soothing strategies assist the clinician in assessing risk for parental mental health comorbidities and developing an intervention plan suitable for the family.
The diagnosis of colic is made only when the physical examination reveals no organic cause for the infant’s excessive crying. The examination begins with vital signs, weight, length, and head circumference, looking for effects of systemic illness on growth. A thorough inspection of the infant is important to identify possible sources of pain, including skin lesions, corneal abrasions, hair tourniquets, skeletal infections, or signs of child abuse such as fractures (see Chapters 22 and 199). Infants with common conditions such as otitis media, urinary tract infections, mouth ulcerations, and insect bites may present with crying. A neurologic examination may reveal previously undiagnosed neurologic conditions, such as perinatal brain injuries, as the cause of irritability and crying. Observation of the infant during a crying episode is invaluable to assess the infant’s potential for calming and the parents’ skills in soothing the infant.
Laboratory and imaging studies are reserved for infants in whom there are history or physical examination findings suggesting an organic cause for excessive crying. An algorithm for the medical evaluation of an infant with excessive crying inconsistent with colic is presented in Figure 11-2.
The differential diagnosis for colic is broad and includes any condition that can cause pain or discomfort in the infant and conditions associated with nonpainful distress, such as fatigue or sensory overload. Cow’s milk protein intolerance, maternal drug effects (including fluoxetine hydrochloride via breastfeeding), and anomalous left coronary artery all have been reported as causes of persistent crying. In addition, situations associated with poor infant regulation, including fatigue, hunger, parental anxiety, and chaotic environmental conditions, may increase the risk of excessive crying. In most cases, the cause of crying in infants is unexplained. If the condition began before 3 weeks’ corrected age, the crying has a diurnal pattern consistent with colic (afternoon and evening clustering), the infant is otherwise developing and thriving, and no organic cause is found, a diagnosis of colic is indicated.
Figure 11-2 Algorithm for medi-cal evaluation of infants with acute excessive crying. (From Barr RG, Hopkins B, Green JA, editors: Cry-ing complaints in the emergency department. In Crying as a Sign, a Symptom, and a Signal, London, 2000, MacKeith Press, p. 99.) INFANT WITH ACUTE EXCESSIVE CRYING History and physical examination Urinalysis and urine culture Assess pattern, observe 1–2 hours Crying ceases spontaneously Follow 24 hours in hospital or at home Consider idiopathic crying episode Crying persists Consider: Radiologic studies   Chemistry tests   Pulse oximetry Toxicology tests Lumbar puncture Continue observation, in hospital, until crying stops or diagnosis made History of recurrent episodes consistent with colic Treat for infantile colic Identify cause and treat Ensure appropriate follow-up Urinary tract infection
The management of colic begins with education and demystification. When the family and the physician are reassured that the infant is healthy, without infection, trauma, or underlying disease, education about the normal pattern of infant crying is appropriate. Learning about the temporal pattern of colic can be reassuring; the mean crying duration begins to decrease at 6 weeks of age and decreases by half by 12 weeks of age. Colic does not always resolve by 3 months of age. Approximately 15% of infants with colic continue to have excessive crying after 3 months of age.
Helping families develop caregiving schedules for the infant’sfussy period is useful. Techniques for calming infants includesoothing vocalizations or singing, swaddling, slow rhythmicrocking, walking, white noise, and gentle vibration (e.g., a ridein a car). Giving caregivers permission to allow the infant to restwhen soothing strategies are not working may alleviate over-stimulation in some infants; this also relieves families of guiltand allows them a wider range of responses to infant crying.Avoidance of dangerous soothing techniques, such as shaking the infant or placing the infant on a vibrating clothes dryer(which has resulted in injury from falls), should be stressed.
Medications, including phenobarbital, diphenhydramine, alcohol, simethicone, dicyclomine, and lactase, are of no benefit in reducing colic and should be avoided. Parents, especially from Mexico and Eastern Europe, often use chamomile, fennel, vervain, licorice, and balm-mint teas. These teas have not been studied scientifically as remedies for colic. Families should be counseled to limit the volume of tea given because it displaces milk from the infant’s diet and may limit caloric intake.
In most circumstances, dietary changes are not effective in reducing colic but should be considered in certain specific circumstances. There is rationale for change to a non-cow’s milk formula if the infant has signs of cow’s milk protein colitis. If the infant is breastfeeding, the mother can eliminate dairy products from her diet.
There is no evidence that infants with colic have adverse longterm outcomes in health or temperament after the neonatal period. Similarly infantile colic does not have untoward longterm effects on maternal mental health. When colic subsides, the maternal distress resolves. Rarely cases of child abuse have been associated with inconsolable infant crying.
Much can be done to prevent colic, beginning with education ofprospective parents about the normal pattern of infant crying.Prospective parents often imagine that their infant will cry onlybriefly for hunger. Increased contact and carrying of the infantin the weeks before the onset of colic may decrease the duration of crying episodes. Similarly other soothing strategies may be more effective if the infant has experienced them before theonset of excessive crying. Infants who have been tightly swaddled for sleep and rest during the first weeks of life often calmto swaddling during a crying episode; this is not true for infantswho have not experienced swaddling before a crying episode.Parents also can be coached to learn to read their infant’s cues of hunger, discomfort, boredom, or overstimulation. It is important to understand that there are times when the infant’s cry isnot interpretable, and caregivers can do only their best.
A temper tantrum, defined as out-of-control behavior, including screaming, stomping, hitting, head banging, falling down,and other violent displays of frustration, can include breath-holding, vomiting, and serious aggression, including biting.Tantrums are seen most often when the young child experiences frustration, anger, or simple inability to cope with a situation. Temper tantrums can be considered normal behavior in1to 3-year-old children, when the temper tantrum period is ofshort duration and the tantrums are not manipulative in nature.
Temper tantrums are believed to be a normal human developmental stage. Child temperament may be a determinant of tantrum behavior.
This behavior is common in children 18 months to 4 years of age. In U.S. studies, 50% to 80% of 2to 3-year-old children have had regular tantrums, and 20% are reported to have daily tantrums. The behavior appears to peak late in the third year of life. Approximately 20% of 4-year-olds are still having regular temper tantrums, and explosive temper occurs in approximately 5% of school-age children. Tantrums occur equally in boys and girls during the preschool period.
Temper tantrums are the most commonly reported behavioral problem in 2and 3-year-old children. The typical frequency of tantrums is approximately one per week, with a great deal of variability (Fig. 12-1). The duration of each tantrum is 2 to 5 minutes, and duration increases with age (Fig. 12-2). Helping the family identify the typical antecedents of the child’s tantrums is essential to evaluation and intervention. A child who has tantrums only when he or she misses a routine nap can be treated differently than a child who has frequent tantrums related to minor difficulties or disappointments.
The evaluation of a child who is having temper tantrums requires a complete history, including perinatal and developmental information. Careful attention to the child’s daily routines may reveal problems associated with hunger, fatigue, inadequate physical activity, or overstimulation. A social
No. of Tantrums per WeekFigure 12-1 Mean tantrum frequency per week. Children 1 to tantrum behavior (in terms of actual tantrum duration and continued manifestation after the normal tantrum age). These children include former premature infants and children with autism,traumatic brain injury, cognitive impairment, and Prader-Williand Smith-Magenis syndromes. Children with rare conditions,such as congenital adrenal hyperplasia and precocious puberty,also may present with severe and persistent tantrums. Childrenwith intellectual disability may exhibit tantrums when theirdevelopmental age is comparable to 3 to 4 years.
Intervention begins with parental education about temper tantrums, stressing that tantrums are a normal developmental phase. Parents may have unwarranted concerns about their 4 years of age who have tantrums typically have four to nine tantrums child’s mental health. The clinician can help parents understand per week. their role in helping the child move toward self-regulation of frustration and anger. The environment can be structured to limit toddler frustration; age-inappropriate demands on the 5.0 child; and hunger, fatigue, loneliness, or hyperstimulation. It 4.5 is important to review the child’s daily routine to understand 4.0 whether the child’s tantrums are communicating essential unmet needs. Children who behave well all day at day care 3.5 3.0 2.5 2.0 1.5 1.0 0.5
Figure 12-2 Mean duration of tantrums. The typical duration of a and exhibit temper tantrums at home in the evening may be signaling fatigue or need for parental attention. Identification of underlying stress is the cornerstone of treatment because many stressors can be eliminated. Parents may consider some changes in the home environment so that they do not have to say “No” to the child as frequently.
In some cases, parents inadvertently reinforce tantrum behavior by complying with the child’s demands. The child’s behavior can be seen as manipulative or simply as learned behaviorfrom a prior successful experience. Parental ambivalence aboutacceptable toddler behavior also may lead to inconsistent expectations and restrictions. Helping parents clarify what behavior isallowed and what is off limits can avert the temptation to give inwhen the child screams loudly or publicly.
Distraction is an effective means of short-circuiting impending tantrums. Physically removing the child from an environment that is associated with the child’s difficulty is sometimes helpful. Further behavioral interventions are recommended only after engaging in strategies to help the child gain control by meeting basic needs, altering the environment, and anticipating meltdowns. Recommended behavioral strategies include behavior modification with positive and negative reinforcement or extinction. During the first week of any behavioral intervention, tantrum behavior may increase. Parents must be warned that it will probably get worse before it gets better. At the same time that parents are working to extinguish or decrease the tantrums, it is important that they provide positive reinforcement for good behavior.
Providing parents with knowledge about the temper tantrum stage and strategies for assisting the child with emotional regulation is recommended at a health care maintenance visit between 12 and 18 months of age. Regular routines for sleeping, eating, and physical activity in a childproofed home (or day care center) provided by well-rested and psychologically healthy parents (or caregivers) usually result in a quick transition through this challenging period.
tantrum increases with the age of the child.history is important, because family stress can exacerbate or prolong what begins as a normal developmental phase. The coexistence of other behavioral problems, such as sleep problems, learning problems, and social problems, suggests the possibility of a more serious mental health disorder.
The physical examination focuses on discovering an underlying illness that could decrease the child’s ability to self-regulate. A thorough examination of the skin to identify childabuse is recommended (see Chapter 22). The neurologic examination identifies underlying brain disorders. Dysmorphic features may reveal a genetic syndrome. Behavioral observations reveal a child’s ability to follow instructions, play with age-appropriate toys, and interact with parents and the clinician.
Laboratory studies screening for iron deficiency anemia and lead exposure are important. Other laboratory and imaging studies are performed only when the history and physical examination suggest a possible underlying etiology. Some children with excessive tantrums should have a formal developmental evaluation.
Most children who have temper tantrums have no underlyingmedical problem. Hearing loss and language delay may be associated with temper tantrums. Children with brain injury andother brain disorders are at increased risk for prolonged temper
Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurobehavioral disorder defined by symptoms of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. Clinical guidelines emphasize the use ofthe Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Health Disorders,Fifth Edition, criteria (available at http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/adhd/diagnosis.html) to diagnose ADHD. Diagnosis of childrenup to the age of 16 years requires the presence of at least 6 symptoms of inattention or 6 symptoms of hyperactivity-impulsivityfor at least 6 months in two or more environments. Children 17 years of age and older must exhibit at least 5 symptoms ofinattention or at least 5 symptoms of hyperactivity-impulsivity.Symptoms of inattention include: failing to pay close attentionto details, appearing to not listen when spoken to directly, failing to follow through on instructions or finish assigned work,having difficulty sustaining attention during tasks or play, having difficulty organizing tasks or activities, avoiding or dislikingactivities that require sustained mental effort (e.g., schoolwork),frequently losing things required for tasks and activities, becoming easily distracted, and experiencing frequent forgetfulness indaily activities. Symptoms of hyperactivity include: being fidgetyor restless, leaving a seat when expected to remain seated, running or climbing excessively in inappropriate situations, havingdifficulty in playing quietly, acting as if “driven by a motor,” andtalking excessively. Symptoms of impulsivity include: blurting out answers before a question has been completed, having difficulty awaiting his or her turn, and causing frequent interruptions or intrusions. In addition, several symptoms must havebeen present prior to 12 years of age; evidence of significantimpairment in social, academic, or work settings must occur;and other mental disorders must be excluded.
ADHD is multifactorial in origin, with genetic, neural, and environmental contributions. Twin studies and family studies demonstrate high heritability (0.8) and greater risk of developing ADHD in first-degree relatives. Candidate genes include those involving the dopaminergic and noradrenergic neurotransmitter systems. Neuroimaging studies (functional magnetic resonance imaging and positron emission tomography, commonly recognized as fMRI and PET, respectively) have shown structural and functional differences, particularly of the frontal lobes, inferior parietal cortex, basal ganglia, corpus callus, and cerebellar vermis. Prenatal exposure to substances (e.g., nicotine, alcohol) and damage to the central nervous system from trauma or infection increase the risk of ADHD.
U.S. prevalence rates for ADHD vary, depending on criteria used and population studied, with rates typically in the 5% to 10% range. The male to female ratio is 2 to 6:1, with greater male predominance for the hyperactive/impulsive and combined types. Girls often present with inattentive symptoms and are more likely to be underdiagnosed or to receive later diagnoses. Symptoms of ADHD, particularly impulsivity and inattention, persist into adolescence and adulthood in 60% to 80% of patients.
ADHD is diagnosed clinically by history. Open-ended questions should focus on specific behaviors and their impact on academic performance, family and peer relationships, safety, self-esteem, and daily activities. Information should be gathered from the family and the school via ADHD-specific rating scales such as the Conners’ Rating Scales or the Vanderbilt Rating Scales.
A physical examination is essential to identify medical(e.g., neurologic, genetic) or developmental problems (e.g.,cognitive impairment, language disorder, learning disability, autism spectrum disorder) that may underlie, coexist,or provide an alternative explanation for the child’s behaviors. Observation of the child, the parents, and their interactions is part of the evaluation. Keep in mind that childrenwith ADHD can typically focus without hyperactivity in environments with low stimulation and little distraction (e.g., clinician’s office).
Laboratory and imaging studies are not routinely recommended but may help exclude other conditions. Consider thyroid function studies, blood lead levels, genetic studies, and brain imaging studies if indicated by medical history, environmental history, or physical examination.
The clinician should first consider the child’s developmental level to determine whether the behaviors are within the range of normal. Medical conditions, such as sleep disordered breathing, seizure disorders, substance use, hyperthyroidism, lead intoxication, and sensory deficits, should beconsidered as possible causes for a child’s hyperactivity anddistractibility. Inattention and hyperactivity may be presentas features of genetic disorders such as fragile X, 22q11.2deletion syndrome, and neurofibromatosis 1. Chaotic living situations or psychological stress (e.g., bullying, abuse)can also lead to symptoms of hyperactivity, impulsivity, andinattention. Children who have symptoms of ADHD in onlyone setting may be having problems due to cognitive level,level of emotional maturity, or feelings of well-being in thatsetting.
More important, coexisting conditions are present in up to 60% of children with ADHD. These include psychiatric conditions, particularly oppositional defiant disorder, conduct disorder, anxiety disorder, and depression; learning disabilities; language disorders; and tic disorders. These conditions are also part of the differential diagnosis of ADHD.
Management begins with recognizing ADHD as a chronic condition and educating affected children and their parents about the diagnosis, treatment options, and prognosis.
Table 13-1 FDA-Approved Medications for Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder GENERIC MEDICATION BRAND NAME INITIAL-MAXIMUM DOSE DURATION (h) STIMULANTS Mixed amphetamine salts Adderall* Adderall XR* 2.5 mg–40 mg 5 mg–40 mg 6 10
Dexmethylphenidate Focalin* 2.5 mg–20 mg 3–5 Focalin XR 5 mg–30 mg 8–12
Atomoxetine Strattera 0.5 mg/kg/d then increase to 1.2 mg/kg with max 1.4 mg/kg At least 10–12 40 mg/d for adults and children weighing >154 lb titrate up to 100 mg/d
Clonidine Kapvay 0.1 mg/d–0.4 mg/d At least 10–12Adapted from AAP: Implementing the key action statements: an algorithm and explanation for process of care for the evaluation, diagnosis, treatment, and monitoring of ADHD in children and adolescents. Pediatrics SI1–SI21, 2011.
*Available in generic form.†Dosages for the dermal patch are not equivalent to those of the oral preparations.
Anticipatory guidance includes providing proactive strategies to mediate adverse effects on learning, school functioning, social relationships, family life, and self-esteem. Children with ADHD respond to behavioral management, including structure, routine, consistency in adult responses to their behaviors, and appropriate behavioral goals. Children also benefit when parents and clinicians work with teachers to address the child’s needs. Daily behavior report cards and accommodations may be helpful. Social skills training or additional mental health treatments may assist some children with behavior change or preservation of self-esteem, particularly when they have coexisting developmental or mental health conditions also requiring treatment.
Stimulant medications (methylphenidate or amphetamine compounds) are the first-line agents for treatment of ADHD due to extensive evidence of effectiveness and safety. Stimulant medications are available in short-acting, intermediate-acting, and long-acting forms. Preparations include liquid, tablets, capsules, and a transdermal patch. These options allow the clinician to tailor the choice of medication to the child’s needs. Nonstimulant medications, including atomoxetine (norepinephrine-reuptake inhibitor), guanfacine, or clonidine (alpha agonists), may be helpful in situations such as nonresponse to stimulant medication, family preference, concerns about medication abuse or diversion, and coexisting tic or sleep problems. ADHD medication options are listed in Table 13-1. Common side effects include appetite suppression and sleep disturbance with stimulant medications, gastrointestinal tract symptoms with atomoxetine, and sedation with alpha agonists. These side effects usually can be managed by careful adjustment of medication dosage and timing. Screening (by history and exam) for cardiac disease and monitoring of cardiac status is prudent given concerns raised by a retrospective study suggesting extremely rare but slightly increased odds of sudden cardiac death in those taking stimulant medication.
ADHD may be associated with academic underachievement, difficulties in interpersonal relationships, and poor self-esteem. These can have long-reaching effects (e.g., lower levels of educational, employment attainment). Adolescents with ADHD, particularly those who are untreated, are at increased risk for high-risk behaviors such as drug use, early sexual activity, and automobile accidents. Despite parental concerns of illicit drug use and addiction from stimulant medication, there is actually decreased risk of drug abuse in children and adolescents with ADHD who are appropriately medically managed.
Child-rearing practices including promoting calm environments and opportunities for age-appropriate activities thatrequire increasing levels of focus may be helpful. Limitingtime spent watching television and playing rapid-responsevideo games also may be prudent because these activities reinforce short attention span. Early implementation of behaviormanagement techniques may assist in curtailing problematicbehaviors before they result in significant impairment. Secondary disabilities can be prevented by educating medicalprofessionals and teachers about the signs and symptoms ofADHD and the most appropriate behavioral and pharmaceutical interventions. Collaboration between health care providers, educational professionals, and mental health clinicians will enhance the early identification of and provision ofservices to children at risk for ADHD.
Development of control of urination and defecation involvesphysical and cognitive maturation and is strongly influenced by cultural norms, socioeconomic status, and practices within the United States and throughout the world. Inthe first half of the twentieth century, toilet mastery by 18months of age was the norm in the United States. Concernabout harsh toilet training and possible later psychologicaldistress led to professional endorsement of later toilet training. In 1962 Brazelton introduced the child-centered approach,which respects the child’s autonomy and pride in mastery.The invention of disposable diapers also facilitated later toilettraining. Social changes, including increased maternal workoutside of the home and group child care, also have influencedthis trend. Some families choose to wait until the child is older because the duration of the training period may be shorter.Toilet training usually begins after the second birthday andis achieved at about 3 years of age in middle-class white U.S.populations. Toilet training between 12 and 18 months of agecontinues to be accepted in lower-income families.
Prerequisites for achieving elimination in the toilet include the child’s ability to recognize the urge for urination and defecation, to get to the toilet, to understand the sequence of tasks required, to avoid oppositional behavior, and to take pride in achievement. The entire process of toilet training can take 6 months and need not be hurried. Successful parent-child interaction around the goal of toilet mastery can set the stage for future active parental teaching and training (e.g., manners, kindness, rules and laws, and limit setting).
Enuresis is urinary incontinence in a child who is adequately mature to have achieved continence. Enuresis is classified as diurnal (daytime) or nocturnal (nighttime). In the United States, daytime and nighttime dryness are expected by 4 and 6 years of age, respectively. Another useful classification of enuresis is primary (incontinence in a child who has never achieved dryness) and secondary (incontinence in a child who has been dry for at least 6 months).
Enuresis is a symptom with multiple possible etiologic factors, including developmental difference, organic illness, orpsychological distress. Primary enuresis often is associated with a family history of delayed acquisition of bladder control. A genetic etiology has been hypothesized, and familialgroups with autosomal dominant phenotypic patterns fornocturnal enuresis have been identified. Although most children with enuresis do not have a psychiatric disorder, stressfullife events can trigger loss of bladder control. Sleep physiology may play a role in the etiology of nocturnal enuresis, with ahigh arousal threshold commonly noted. In a subgroup ofenuretic children, nocturnal polyuria relates to a lack of anocturnal vasopressin peak. Another possible etiology is malfunction of the detrusor muscle with a tendency for involuntary contractions even when the bladder contains smallamounts of urine. Reduced bladder capacity can be associatedwith enuresis and is commonly seen in children who havechronic constipation with a large dilated distal colon, whichimpinges on the bladder.
Enuresis is the most common urologic condition in children.Nocturnal enuresis has a reported prevalence of 15% in 5-yearolds, 7% in 8-year-olds, and 1% in 15-year-olds. The spontaneous remission rate is reported to be 15% per year. The oddsratio of nocturnal enuresis in boys compared with girls is 1.4:1.The prevalence of daytime enuresis is lower than nocturnalenuresis but has a female predominance, 1.5:1 at 7 years of age.Of children with enuresis, 22% wet during the day only, 17%wet during the day and at night, and 61% wet at night only.
Available @ StudentConsult.comThe history focuses on elucidating the pattern of voiding: How often does wetting occur? Does it occur during the day, night, or both? Are there any associated conditions with wetting episodes (e.g., bad dreams, consumption of caffeinated beverages, or exhausting days)? Has the child had a period of dryness in the past? Did a stressful event precede the change in wetting pattern? A review of systems should include a developmental history and detailed information about the neurologic, urinary, and gastrointestinal systems (including patterns of defecation). A history of sleep patterns also is important, including snoring, parasomnias, and timing of nighttime urination. A family history often reveals that one or both parents had enuresis as children. Although enuresis is rarely associated with child abuse, physical and sexual abuse history should be included as part of the psychosocial history. Many families have tried numerous interventions before seeking a physician’s help. Identifying these interventions and how they were carried out aids the understanding of the child’s condition and its role within the family.
The physical examination begins with observation of thechild and the parent for clues about child developmental andparent-child interaction patterns. Special attention is paid tothe abdominal, neurologic, and genital examination. A rectalexamination is recommended if the child has constipation.Observation of voiding is recommended if a history of voiding problems, such as hesitancy or dribbling, is elicited. Thelumbosacral spine should be examined for signs of spinaldysraphism or a tethered cord.
For most children with enuresis, the only laboratory test recommended is a clean catch urinalysis to look for chronic urinary tract infection (UTI), renal disease, and diabetes mellitus. Further testing, such as a urine culture, is based on the urinalysis. Children with complicated enuresis, including children with previous or current UTI, severe voiding dysfunction, or a neurologic finding, are evaluated with a renal sonogram and a voiding cystourethrogram. If vesicoureteral reflux, hydronephrosis, or posterior urethral valves are found, the child is referred to a urologist for further evaluation and treatment.
Commonly there is no identified cause of enuresis and, in most cases, enuresis resolves by adolescence without treatment. Children with primary nocturnal enuresis are most likely to have a family history and are least likely to have an identified etiology. Children with secondary diurnal and nocturnal enuresis are more likely to have an organic etiology, such as UTI, diabetes mellitus, or diabetes insipidus, to explain their symptoms. Children with primary diurnal and nocturnal enuresis may have a neurodevelopmental condition or a problem with bladder function. Children with secondary nocturnal enuresis may have a psychosocial stressor or a sleep disturbance as a predisposing condition for enuresis.
Treatment begins with treating any diagnosed underlying organic causes of enuresis. Elimination of underlying chronic constipation is often curative. For a child whose enuresis is not associated with an identifiable disorder, all therapies must be considered in terms of cost in time, money, disruption to the family, the treatment’s known success rate, and the child’s likelihood to recover from the condition without treatment. The most commonly used treatment options are conditioning therapy and pharmacotherapy. The clinician can also assist the family in making a plan to help the child cope with this problem until it is resolved. Many children have to live with enuresis for months to years before a cure is achieved; a few children have symptoms into adulthood. A plan for handling wet garments and linens in a nonhumiliating and hygienic manner preserves the child’s self-esteem. The child should take as much responsibility as he or she is able, depending on age, development, and family culture.
The most widely used conditioning therapy for nocturnal enuresis is the enuresis alarm. Enuresis alarms have an initial success rate of 70% with a relapse rate of 10%. The alarm is worn on the wrist or clipped onto the pajama and has a probe that is placed in the underpants or pajamas in front of the urethra. The alarm sounds when the first drop of urine contacts the probe. The child is instructed to get up and finish voiding in the bathroom when the alarm sounds. After 3 to 5 months, 70% of children are dry through the night.
Pharmacotherapy for nighttime enuresis includes desmopressin acetate and, rarely, tricyclic antidepressants. Desmopressin decreases urine production and has proved to be safe in the treatment of enuresis. The oral medication is started at 0.2 mg per dose (one dose at bedtime) and on subsequent nights is increased to 0.4 mg and then to 0.6 mg if needed. This treatment must be considered symptomatic, not curative, and has a relapse rate of 90% when the medication is discontinued. Imipramine, now rarely used for enuresis, reduces the frequency of nighttime wetting. The initial success rate is 50%. Imipramine is effective during treatment only, with a relapse rate of 90% on discontinuation of the medication. The most important contraindication is risk of overdose (associated with fatal cardiac arrhythmia).
The psychological consequences can be severe. Families can minimize the impact on the child’s self-esteem by avoiding punitive approaches and ensuring that the child is competent to handle issues of their own comfort, hygiene, and aesthetics.
Appropriate anticipatory guidance to educate parents that bed-wetting is common in early childhood helps alleviate considerable anxiety.
Constipation is decreased frequency of bowel movementsusually associated with a hard stool consistency. The occurrence of pain at defecation frequently accompanies constipation. Although underlying gastrointestinal, endocrinologic,or neurologic disorders can cause constipation, functional constipation implies that there is no identifiable causativeorganic condition. Encopresis is the regular, voluntary orinvoluntary passage of feces into a place other than the toilet after 4 years of age. Encopresis without constipation isuncommon and may be a symptom of oppositional defiantdisorder or other psychiatric illness. Soiling is the involuntarypassage of stool and often is associated with fecal impaction.The normal frequency of bowel movements declines betweenbirth and 4 years of age, beginning with greater than fourstools per day to approximately one per day.
The etiology of functional constipation and soiling includes a low-fiber diet, slow gastrointestinal transit time for neurologic or genetic reasons, and chronic withholding of bowel movements, usually because of past painful defecation experiences. Approximately 95% of children referred to a subspecialist for encopresis have no other underlying pathologic condition.
In U.S. studies, 16% to 37% of children experience constipation between 5 and 12 years of age. Constipation with overflow soiling occurs in 1% to 2% of preschool children and 4% of school-age children. The incidence of constipation and soiling is equal in preschool girls and boys, whereas there is a male predominance during school age.
Available @ StudentConsult.comThe presenting complaint for constipation with soiling is typically a complaint of uncontrolled defecation in the underwear. Parents may report that the child has diarrhea because of soiling of liquid stool. Soiling may be frequent or continuous. On further questioning, the clinician learns that the child is passing large-caliber bowel movements that may occasionally block the toilet. Children younger than 3 years of age often present with painful defecation, impaction, and withholding. The history should include a complete review of systems for gastrointestinal, endocrine, and neurologic disorders and a developmental and psychosocial history.
Stool impaction can be felt on abdominal examination in about 50% of patients at presentation. Firm packed stool in the rectum is highly predictive of fecal impaction. A rectal examination allows assessment of sphincter tone and size of the rectal vault. Evaluation of anal placement and existence of anal fissures also is helpful in considering etiology and severity. A neurologic examination, including lower extremity reflexes, anal wink, and cremasteric reflexes, may reveal underlying spinal cord abnormalities.
Abdominal x-ray is not required. It can be helpful to showto the family the degree of colonic distention and fecal impaction. In general further studies, such as barium enema andrectal biopsy, are indicated only if an organic cause for theconstipation is indicated by history or physical examination(see Chapter 129). Similarly although endocrinologic conditions such as hypothyroidism can cause chronic constipation,laboratory studies are not indicated without history or physicalexamination suggesting such a disorder.
The differential diagnosis for functional constipation and soiling includes organic causes of constipation (e.g., neurogenic, anatomic, endocrinologic, gastrointestinal, and pharmacologic). A child with chronic constipation and soiling who had delayed passage of meconium and has an empty rectum and tight sphincter may have Hirschsprung disease (see Chapter 129). Chronic constipation may be a presenting sign of spinal cord abnormalities, such as a spinal cord tumor or a tethered cord. Physical examination findings of altered lower extremity reflexes, absent anal wink, or a sacral hairy tuft or sacral sinus may be a clue to these anomalies. Hypothyroidism can present with chronic constipation and typically is accompanied by poor linear growth and bradycardia. Anal stenosis may lead to chronic constipation. The use of opiates, phenothiazine, antidepressants, and anticholinergics also may lead to chronic constipation. Developmental problems, including mental retardation and autism, may be associated with chronic constipation.
Treatment begins with education and demystification forthe child and family about chronic constipation and soiling,emphasizing the chronic nature of this condition and the goodprognosis with optimal management. Explaining the physiologic basis of constipation and soiling to the child and the family alleviates blame and enlists cooperation. Education may improve adherence to the long-term treatment plan (Table 14-1). One half to two thirds of children with functional constipation recover completely and no longer require medication.
Constipation affects 16% to 37% of children. 1% to 4% of children have functional constipation and soiling. Functional constipation with/without soiling begins early in life due to a combination of factors:
Withholding of stool to avoid discomfortUse of medications that are constipatingWhen chronic impaction, physiologic changes at the rectum reduce a child’s bowel control.
Dilated rectal vault results in reduced sensation to standard fecal volume.
Rehabilitation of rectal musculature and strength requires several months.Until then, dilated rectal musculature may be less able to expel stool effectively.
Paradoxical anal sphincter contraction may occur when the urge to defecate is felt; it can lead to incomplete emptying of stool at defecation attempt.
Many children do not recognize their soiling accidents owing to olfactory accommodation.
Low self-esteem or other behavioral concerns are common on presentation.
Improve for most with education and management for the constipation and soiling.
Effective management of functional constipation requires a substantial commitment of the child/family, usually for 6–24 mo.
Degree of child and family adherence is likely a predictor of the child’s success.
*The common features of the transition to the toddler diet (decreased fluid intake, continued high dairy intake, and finicky eating patterns) make this a high-risk time during development for constipation problems.
The younger the child is when diagnosis and treatment begin,the higher the success rate. Treatment involves a combination of behavioral training and laxative therapy. Successfultreatment requires 6 to 24 months. The next step is adequatecolonic cleanout or disimpaction. Clean-out methods includeenemas alone or combinations of enema, suppository, and orallaxatives. High-dose oral mineral oil is a slower approach toclean-out. Choice of disimpaction method depends on the ageof the child, family choice, and the clinician’s experience witha particular method. Methods and side effects are summarized in Table 14-2. The child and family should be includedin the process of choosing the clean-out method. Because enemas may be invasive and oral medication may be unpleasant,allowing points of choice and control for the child and praisingall signs of cooperation are important.
Behavioral training is essential to the treatment of chronic constipation and soiling. The child and family are asked tomonitor and document stool output. Routine toilet sitting isinstituted for 5 to 10 minutes three to four times per day. Thechild is asked to demonstrate proper toilet sitting position withthe upper body flexed forward slightly and feet on the floor
Enema—6 mL/kg up to 4.5 oz (135 mL) If enemas are considered, administer first in physician’s office.
Enema—6 mL/kg up to 4.5 oz (135 mL) every 12–24 h × 1–3 Invasive; risk of mechanical trauma Large impaction: mineral oil enema followed 1–3 h later by normal saline or phosphate enema Small impaction: normal saline or phosphate enema
Normal saline Abdominal cramping; may not be as effective as hypertonic phosphate
Hypertonic phosphate Abdominal cramping; risk of hyperphosphatemia, hypokalemia, and hypocalcemia, especially with Hirschsprung or renal insufficiency or if retained. Some experts do not recommend phosphate enema for children <4 yr, others for children <2yr.
Milk of molasses: 1:1 milk:molasses For difficult to clear impaction
Combination: enema, suppository, oral laxativeDay 1: Enema q12–24 h See enemas aboveDay 2: Bisacodyl suppository (10 mg) q12–24 h Abdominal cramping, diarrhea, hypokalemia
Day 3: Bisacodyl tablet (5 mg) q12–24 h Abdominal cramping, diarrhea, hypokalemia
Oral/nasogastric tube: Polyethylene glycol electrolyte solution Nausea, cramping, vomiting, bloating, aspiration. Large volume. Usually (GoLYTELY or NuLYTELY)—25 mL/kg/h up to 1000 mL/h × 4 h/day requires nasogastric tube and hospitalization to administer
Oral high-dose mineral oil—15–30 mL per year of age per day up Aspiration—lipoid pneumonia. Give chilled. to 8 oz × 3–4 days
X-Prep (senna): 15 mL q12h × 3 Abdominal cramping. May not see output until dose 2 or 3
Magnesium citrate: 1 oz/yr of age to maximum of 10 oz per day for Hypermagnesemia 2–3 days or foot support. The child should be praised for all components of cooperation with this program, and punishment andembarrassment should be avoided. As symptoms resolve, toiletsitting is decreased to twice daily and finally to once a day.
When disimpaction is achieved, the child begins the maintenance phase of treatment. This phase promotes regular stool production and prevents reimpaction. It involves attention to diet, medications to promote stool regularity, and behavioral training. Increasing dietary fiber and fluid are recommended. For children with chronic constipation, the recommended daily dose of fiber is calculated as 10 grams plus the child’s age in years (e.g., a 10-year-old should take 20 grams of fiber per day). At least 2 oz of nondairy fluid intake per gram of fiber intake is recommended. Sorbitol-based juices, including prune, pear, and apple juice, increase the water content of bowel movements. Lubricants or osmotic laxatives are used to promote regular soft bowel movements. Maintenance medications, including side effects, are listed in Table 14-3. Polyethylene glycol powder is well tolerated because the taste and texture are palatable. Some children may require the use of a lubricant in addition to an osmotic laxative; children with severe constipation may require a stimulant laxative.
Treatment failure occurs in approximately one in five children secondary to problems with adherence or poor recognition of inadequate treatment resulting in reimpaction.
Chronic constipation and soiling interfere with social functioning and self-esteem. Discomfort and fear of accidents may distract children from their schoolwork and other important tasks. Children also may develop unusual eating habits in response to chronic constipation and their beliefs about this condition. Case reports of child abuse related to soiling have been published.
The primary care physician can recommend adequate fiber intake in all children and encourage families to help their children institute regular toileting habits at an early age as preventive measures. Earlier diagnosis of chronic constipation can prevent much secondary disability and shorten the length of treatment required.
Juices containing sorbitol Pear, prune, appleLactulose or sorbitol: 1–3 mL/kg/day ÷ doses bid See below
Corn syrup (light or dark): 1–3 mL/kg/day  doses bid Per Rectum Not considered risk for Clostridium botulinum spores
Mineral oil: 1–3 mL/kg day as one dose or  bid Aspiration—lipoid pneumonia
Chill or give with juiceLeakage: dose too high or impactionOsmotics Retain water in stool, aiding bulk and softnessLactulose: 10 g/15 mL, 1–3 cc/kg/day  doses bid Synthetic disaccharide: abdominal cramping, flatus
Magnesium hydroxide (milk of magnesia): Risk of hypermagnesemia, hypophosphatemia, secondary 400 mg/5 mL, 1–3 mL/kg/day  bid hypocalcemia with overdose or renal insufficiency 800 mg/5 mL, 0.5 mL/kg  bid
MiraLAX (polyethylene glycol powder): Titrate dose at 3-day intervals to achieve mushy stool consistency 17 g/240 cc water or juice stock, 1.0 g/kg/day  doses bid May make stock solutions to administer over 1–2 days (approximately 15 cc/kg/day)
Sorbitol: 1–3 mL/kg/day  doses bid Less costly than lactuloseStimulants† Improve effectiveness of colonic and rectal muscle contractionsSenna: syrup—8.8 g sennoside/5 mL Idiosyncratic hepatitis, melanosis coli, hypertrophic osteoarthropathy, analgesic nephropathy; abdominal cramping 2–6 yr: 2.5–7.5 cc/day  doses bid 6–12 yr: 5–15 cc/day  doses bid Improvement of melanosis coli after medication stopped (Tablets and granules available)
Bisacodyl: 5-mg tablets, 1–3 tablets/dose 1–2 × daily Abdominal cramping, diarrhea, hypokalemia
Bisacodyl: 10-mg suppositories, 0.5–1 suppository, 1–2 × daily Abdominal cramping, diarrhea, hypokalemia *Single agent may suffice to achieve daily, comfortable stools.
†Stimulants should be reserved for short-term use.Sleep is a universal phenomenon that is critical to child health, development, and daily functioning. This complex behavioral and physiologic process is characterized by a reversible state of partial unresponsiveness and disengagement from the environment. Sleep is broadly categorized by polysomnographic patterns into rapid eye movement (REM) sleep and non-REM (NREM) sleep. REM sleep is characterized by an active, awake-like electroencephalography (EEG) pattern and muscle atonia. NREM sleep is further divided into three stages—from stage 1 (N1), which is the lightest sleep stage and consists of low-amplitude, high-frequency EEG activity, to stage 3 (N3), also known as deep or slow-wave sleep, characterized by low-frequency, high-amplitude delta waves. REM and NREM sleep alternate in cycles throughout the night.
Sleep architecture changes from fetal life through infancy and childhood. Sleep cycles last approximately 60 minutes in newborns and gradually lengthen to 90 minutes in children and adults. Neonates typically begin their sleep cycle in REM sleep, whereas older children and adults begin sleep in NREM sleep. REM sleep in neonates is termed active sleep, and frequent muscle twitches and facial grimaces are common. REM sleep comprises up to 50% of total sleep time in newborns and gradually decreases to 25% to 30% by adolescence. Slow-wave sleep is not seen before 3 to 6 months of age. Beginning from 6 to 12 months and continuing through adulthood, the amount of REM sleep shifts toward the last third of the night, while NREM sleep predominates during the first third of the night.
The timing and duration of sleep also change with age. Sleep patterns become more diurnal and total daily sleep time gradually decreases. Full-term infants sleep on average 16 to 18 hours per day in fragmented intervals throughout the day and night. One-year-old children sleep on average 10 to 11 hours per night and nap for 2 to 3 hours during the day. Naps decrease from two naps to one during the second year of life. In the United States, over 80% of 2-year-olds nap, decreasing to 50% by age 3. By 12 years old, the average child sleeps 9 to 10 hours per day. By adolescence, the average sleep duration has dropped to 7½ hours per day, even though adolescents need an average of 9 hours per day. Adolescents also develop a physiologically based shift toward later sleep-onset and wake times relative to those in middle childhood.
Cultural factors strongly influence multiple sleep practices, including whether children sleep independently (the norm in the United States) or with parents, other siblings, or grandparents (the norm in many other cultures). Awareness of the varying cultural practices regarding sleep is essential to respectful and effective intervention.
Sleep problems are one of the most frequent complaints in pediatric practice. Numerous sleep disorders exist, including behavioral insomnias (bedtime refusal, delayed sleep onset, nighttime awakenings), parasomnias, and circadian rhythm disorders (Table 15-1). Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and sleep disorders associated with mental and physical illness should also be considered.
Sleep problems occur in 20% to 30% of children at some pointduring childhood. Behavioral sleep disorders are common andfound across all age groups but are most prevalent from infancythrough preschool age. Bedtime resistance occurs in 10% to15% of toddlers, and 15% to 30% of preschool-aged children have difficulties achieving and/or maintaining sleep. Althoughgenerally benign, parasomnias occur commonly in young children, including sleep walking (15% to 40%) and sleep terrors(1% to 6%). OSA is reported in 1% to 4% of children. Circadianrhythm disorders occur in 7% to 16% of adolescents.
Available @ StudentConsult.comSleep disorders may manifest in a variety of ways and often go unrecognized. Some children present with daytime behavioral problems, including inattentiveness, hyperactivity, or irritability rather than overt sleepiness. Screening for sleep disorders is recommended as part of primary care. Clinicians should inquire about bedtime problems, excessive daytime sleepiness, wakenings during the night, regularity and duration of sleep, and presence of snoring and sleep-disordered breathing.
The assessment of sleep complaints begins with a detailed history of sleep habits, including bedtime, sleep-onset, and wake times. A detailed description of the sleep environment can result in a dynamic understanding of the challenges to and resources for achieving normal sleep. The recommended history includes the type of bed, who shares it, the ambient light, noise, temperature, and the bedtime routine. Household structure, routines, and cultural practices may be important and influence the timing and ease of sleep (e.g., parental work patterns, evening activities, number of household members). Dietary practices influence sleep, including timing of meals and caffeine intake. A detailed history assessing for symptoms of OSA (gasps, snorting noises, breathing pauses, and so on) should be obtained in all children who snore regularly. New-onset sleep disorders may be associated with a psychological trauma. When the history does not reveal the cause of the sleep disorder, a sleep diary can be helpful.
A complete physical examination is important to rule outmedical causes of sleep disturbance, such as conditions thatcause pain, neurologic conditions that could be associated withseizure disorder, and other central nervous system disorders.Children with genetic syndromes associated with developmental delay may have sleep disorders. Similarly children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and fetal alcohol syndromeare at higher risk for sleep disorders than other children. Carefulattention to the upper airway and pulmonary examination mayreveal enlarged tonsils or adenoids or other signs of obstruction.
A polysomnogram is used to detect OSA, excessive limb movements, and seizure disorder. This consists of an all-night observation and recording performed in a sleep laboratory. Polysomnography is not indicated in children with primary insomnia (difficulty initiating or maintaining sleep), circadian rhythm disorders, uncomplicated parasomnias, or behaviorally based sleep problems.
Behavioral insomnia of childhood is divided into two subtypes: Sleep-onset association subtype manifests as frequent orprolonged nighttime wakenings that occur in infants or youngchildren. During periods of normal brief arousal with each sleepcycle, the child awakens under conditions different from thoseexperienced as they fell asleep. Thus they are unable to return tosleep independently. Limit-setting subtype is most common in preschool-aged and older children and is characterized by bedtime resistance or refusal that stems from a caregiver’s unwillingness or inability to enforce bedtime rules and expectations.Nighttime fears are also common causes of bedtime refusal.
Parasomnias include sleepwalking, sleep terrors, and confusional arousals. These occur during NREM sleep and are more likely during the first third of the night. They are most common in preschool children and are likely to resolve with time and developmental maturation. Sleepwalking is common and often benign but is sometimes associated with agitation or dangerous behaviors. Sleep terrors consist of an abrupt awakening with a loud scream, agitation, and unresponsiveness to caregivers’ attempts to console. Sleep terrors are differentiated
Sleep-onset the night intervention Minimize nocturnal parental response association subtype
Social disruptions Family stressors Night waking Regularize routines Refusal to sleep Family counseling
Illness Any chronically irritating Painful crying out Treat disease symptomatically disorder (e.g., otitis, dermatitis, asthma, or esophageal reflux)
DDAVP, 1-desamino-8-D-arginine vasopressin; OSA, obstructive sleep apnea.from nightmares, which occur later in the night and result from arousal in REM or dreaming sleep. Children typically remember their nightmares but have no recollection of sleep terrors. Confusional arousals are similar to sleep terrors, tend to be less dramatic but last longer.
Circadian rhythm disorders are most common during adolescence but can occur at any age. They consist of an exaggerated delayed sleep phase, leading to the inability to arouse in the mornings and failure to meet sleep requirements. Many adolescents attempt to recoup lost sleep on the weekends. The resulting sleep deprivation leads to problems with cognition and emotional regulation.
Obstructive sleep apnea in childhood is not always obvious or easy to diagnose. OSA is commonly caused by tonsillar or adenoidal hypertrophy. A history of snoring is typical; some children may have excessive daytime sleepiness. Obese children are at increased risk for OSA. In toddlers OSA often is associated with poor growth, which improves when the obstruction is relieved by a tonsillectomy or adenoidectomy. Many children with OSA experience cognitive difficulties and school problems. Hyperactivity is also more common in these children than in age-matched controls.
Primary sleep disorders must be differentiated from sleep disorders associated with psychiatric and medical disorders. Psychoses, anxiety disorders, and substance abuse can present with disordered sleep. The clinician should also consider sleep-related epilepsy and developmental disorders.
Establishing a baseline of healthy sleep habits is essential toboth prevention and treatment of sleep disorders at all ages.
Consistent bedtime routine (∼30 min) to cue sleep Consistent ambient noise, light, temperature in bedroom Adequate food, hydration, socialization, and physical activity during the day
No television or other electronics in bedroom Avoidance of naps (unless developmentally appropriate)
Child allowed to develop self-soothing strategiesParents are comfortable setting limits/boundariesThese include having a consistent and appropriate bedtime and bedtime routine, and close attention to sleep hygiene (seeTable 15-2). A bedtime routine should consist of three or foursoothing activities that help calm the child and signal that it istime for sleep. It should last no more than 30 minutes. Activities may include bathing, brushing teeth, reading a story, or singinga song. Even older children and adolescents require a consistent pre-bed routine. A transitional object such as a blanket orstuffed animal can be used to promote positive sleep associations and encourage self-soothing. The bedtime should be setearly enough to allow for sufficient nighttime sleep, and bothbedtime and morning wake time should be consistent, including on weekends. Televisions and other electronic devicesshould be removed from the bedroom because these can lead to delayed sleep onset and maladaptive sleep associations.
Sleep-onset association disorder in infancy usually can beprevented by parental understanding of infant sleep physiology, developmentally appropriate expectations, and planningthe infant sleep environment to coincide with family needs.It is recommended that infants be put in bed drowsy, but stillawake, after they have had a diaper change, food, and comfort. Some toleration of infant crying is required for the infantto achieve self-regulation of sleep. A safe sleep environmentis essential. It is important for parents to understand that it isnormal for their infant to wake frequently for the first 6 weeksbefore settling into a routine of waking every 3 to 4 hoursfor feeding. Infants typically do not sleep through the nightbefore 6 months of age, and some do not sleep through thenight before 12 to 18 months of age. Even though co-sleeping(mother and infant sleeping together) is common, it is notrecommended because of increased risk of SIDS. Proactivelyconsidering the desirability of bed sharing allows parents tobe in control rather than ceding control to the young child.
Behavioral interventions comprise the mainstay of treatmentfor behavioral sleep disorders. In addition to meticulous attention to sleep hygiene and bedtime practices, difficulty fallingasleep and bedtime resistance in young children are treated byspecific behavioral strategies. Systematic ignoring consists of not responding to a child’s demands for parental attention at bedtime. Unmodified extinction (“cry it out”) involves putting thechild to bed and then ignoring the child’s demands until thenext morning. Graduated extinction involves waiting successively longer periods of time before briefly checking on the child.Both methods are effective in decreasing bedtime resistance andenabling young children to fall asleep independently. Positivereinforcement strategies can also be used in preschool-aged and older children. These include rewards (e.g., stickers) for meeting a bedtime goal (e.g., staying in bed). Rewards should beprovided immediately (first thing in the morning) to increaseeffectiveness and better link the reward with the positive behavior. Children with nighttime fears can benefit from behavioraltherapy aimed at reinforcing feelings of safety.
Infrequent or nonintrusive parasomnias do not need treatment beyond education and reassurance. Ensuring a safe environment is important. Sleep terrors are best managed by minimal intervention, because conversation with the child is impossible during the episode. Anticipatory brief awakening of the child shortly before the typical occurrence of a parasomnia may be effective in aborting the event. Children with frequent or prolonged parasomnias may need a sleep study to evaluate for possible coexisting sleep disorders or nocturnal seizures. Medications that suppress slow-wave sleep may be indicated in severe cases.
Circadian rhythm disorders are also treated by ensuring sleephygiene practices and gradual resetting of the biologic clock.Bedtime fading involves allowing the child to go to bed at thetime he or she naturally feels tired, then gradually advancingthe bedtime forward over the course of several weeks.
Rarely children with insomnia are treated pharmacologically. Melatonin (dose, 2.5 to 10 mg) has soporific properties useful in treating delayed sleep phase syndrome. It has been used successfully in both children with normal development and those with developmental delays. Melatonin is available without prescription in stores that sell dietary supplements. The α-agonist clonidine acts preferentially on presynaptic α2 neurons to inhibit noradrenergic activity. Somnolence is a side effect of clonidine, which can be put to use in cases of refractory sleep difficulties; this is an off-label use in children. Clonidine is usually started with a dose of 0.05 mg at bedtime and increased to 0.1 mg if needed. There are data on treating children as young as 4 years old with clonidine. Weaning offclonidine is recommended at the end of treatment.
The most obvious and serious complication associated with childhood sleep disorders is impairment of cognitive ability and emotional regulation. This impairment puts children at risk for school failure, family difficulties, and social problems. It is likely that sleep-deprived children are at increased risk for acute illness and psychiatric disorders.
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SOMATOFORM DISORDERS, FACTITIOUS DISORDERS, AND MALINGERINGThe somatoform disorders are groups of disorders in which physical symptoms (pain or loss of function) are inconsistent and cannot be explained by a medical condition (Table 16-1).While transient symptoms, as “signals of distress,” are responsible for up to 50% of outpatient visits in the pediatric age group, somatoform disorders represent only the severe end of this continuum. Somatization that occurs in the context of a physical illness is identified by symptoms that go beyond the expected pathophysiology, affecting the child’s school, home life, and peer relationships and becoming the focus of the patient and the family’s life. Somatization is often associated with psychosocial stress and often persists beyond the acute stressor, leading to the belief by the child and the family that the correct medical diagnosis has not yet been found.
A somatization disorder occurs in as many as 10% to 20% of first-degree relatives and has a higher concordance rate in monozygotic twin studies. Lifetime prevalence of somatoform disorders is 3%, and that of subclinical somatoform illness is as high as 10%. Adolescent girls tend to report nearly twice as many functional somatic symptoms as adolescent boys,whereas prior to puberty the ratio is equal.
Affected children are more likely to have difficulty expressing emotional distress, come from families with a history of marital conflict, child maltreatment (including emotional, sexual, physical abuse), or history of physical illness. In early childhood, symptoms often include recurrent abdominal pain (RAP). Later headaches, neurologic symptoms, insomnia, and fatigue are more common.
Explainable medical conditions and a somatoform disorder (e.g., seizures and pseudoseizures) can coexist in up to 50% of patients and present difficult diagnostic dilemmas. The list of systemic medical disorders that could present with unexplained physical symptoms includes chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), multiple sclerosis, myasthenia gravis, endocrine disorders, chronic systemic infections, vocal cord dysfunction, periodic paralysis, acute intermittent porphyria, fibromyalgia, polymyositis, and other myopathies.
Depression is a common comorbid condition and frequently precedes the somatic symptoms. Anxiety disorders can present with somatic complaints.
DSM-IV classifies somatoform disorders as somatization disorder, undifferentiated somatoform disorder, somatoform disorder not otherwise specified, conversion disorder, pain disorder, body dysmorphic disorder (BDD), and hypochondriasis.The diagnostic criteria for somatoform disorders are establishedfor adults and need additional study in pediatric populations.
Somatization disorder involves multiple unexplained physical complaints, including pain, gastrointestinal, sexual, and pseudoneurologic symptoms not caused by known mechanisms. The criteria used to diagnose this disorder are listed in Table 16-2. Given the requirement for at least one sexual or reproductive symptom, the diagnosis is unusual in children and the onset is common during adolescence. Prevalence estimates range from 0.2% to 2% in females and less than 0.2% in males. Early onset of somatization disorder is associated with poor prognosis.
Undifferentiated somatoform disorder (Table 16-3)includes one or more unexplained physical complaints accompanied by functional impairment that last for at least 6 months. Children and adolescents are more likely to meet DSM-IV criteria for an undifferentiated somatoform disorder than for a somatization disorder, and no evidence exists to predict which patients will go on to develop the full symptom criteria for somatization disorder.
Conversion disorder involves symptoms affecting voluntary motor or sensory function and is suggestive of a neurologic illness in the absence of a disease process (Table 16-4).Adjustment difficulties, recent family stress, unresolved grief reactions, and family psychopathology occur at a high frequency in conversion symptoms. A physical condition and a conversion disorder (e.g., epileptic and nonepileptic seizures) may coexist in the same patient. There are four subtypes of conversion disorder based on whether the symptoms presented are primarily motor, sensory, nonepileptic (seizures), or mixed.
Presenting symptoms follow the psychological stressor by hours to weeks and may cause more distress for others than for the patient. This seeming lack of concern regarding potentially serious symptoms is referred to as la belle indifference.
Presenting complaint is a physical symptom. Physical symptom is caused by a known physiologic mechanism. Physical symptom is stress induced. Patient may recognize association between symptom and stress. Symptom frequently responds to medication, biofeedback, and stress reduction.
Presenting complaint is physical (loss of function, pain, or both).
Physical symptom is not caused by a known physiologic mechanism. Physical symptom is related to unconscious idea, fantasy, or conflict.
Patient does not recognize association between symptom and the unconscious. Symptom responds slowly to resolution of unconscious factors.
Requires more than 13 physical symptoms in girls, more than 11 in boys (see Table 16-2) Physical symptoms are not caused by a known physiologic or pathologic mechanism.
Physical symptoms are related to need to maintain the sick role.
Patient convinced that symptoms are unrelated to psychological factors. Symptoms tend to persist or change character despite treatment.
Presenting complaint is a physical sign or symptom. Patient interprets physical symptom to indicate disease. Conviction regarding illness may be related to depression or anxiety. Symptom does not respond to reassurance. Medication directed at underlying psychological problems often helps.
Presenting complaint is a physical symptom. Physical symptom is under voluntary control. Physical symptom is used to gain reward (e.g., money, avoidance of military service). Patient consciously recognizes symptom as factitious. Symptom may not lessen when reward is attained (need to retain reward).
Presenting complaint is symptom complex mimicking known syndrome.Symptom complex is under voluntary control.Symptom complex is used to attain medical treatment (including surgery).
Patient consciously recognizes symptom complex as factitious but is often psychologically disturbed so that unconscious factors also are operating.
Symptom complex often results in multiple diagnoses and multiple operations.
Each of the following criteria must be met. Individual symptoms may occur at any time during the course of disturbance.
Four pain symptoms: pain related to at least four different sites or functions (e.g., head, abdomen, back, joints, extremities, chest, rectum; during menstruation, sexual intercourse, or urination) 2.
Two gastrointestinal symptoms: at least two gastrointestinal symptoms other than pain (e.g., nausea, bloating, vomiting, diarrhea, or intolerance of several foods) 3.
One sexual symptom: at least one sexual or reproductive symptom other than pain (e.g., sexual indifference, erectile or ejaculatory dysfunction, irregular menses, excessive menstrual bleeding, vomiting throughout pregnancy) 4.
One pseudoneurologic symptom: at least one symptom or deficit suggesting a neurologic condition not limited to pain (conversion symptoms such as impaired coordination or balance, paralysis or localized weakness, difficulty swallowing or lump in throat, aphonia, urinary retention, hallucinations, loss of touch or pain sensation, double vision, blindness, deafness, seizures; dissociative symptoms such as amnesia; or loss of consciousness other than fainting) 1.
After appropriate investigation, each of the symptoms is not fully explained by a known general medical condition or the direct effects of a substance (e.g., drug, medication).
When there is a related general medical condition, the physical complaints, social or occupational impairment are in excess of what is expected from the history, physical examination, or laboratory findings.
A. One or more physical complaints (e.g., fatigue, loss of appetite, gastrointestinal complaints)
B. Either (1) or (2) 1.After appropriate investigation, the symptoms cannot be fully explained by a known general medical condition or the direct effects of a substance (e.g., drug or medication).
When there is a related general medical condition, the physical complaints, social, or occupational impairment is in excess of what is expected from the history, physical examination, or laboratory findings.
C. The symptoms cause clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.
D. At least 6 months of disturbanceE. The disturbance is not better accounted for by another mental disorder (e.g., another somatoform disorder, sexual dysfunction, mood disorder, anxiety disorder, sleep disorder, or psychotic disorder).
F. The symptom is not intentionally produced or feigned (factitious disorder, malingering).
Symptoms are often self-limited but may be associated with chronic sequelae, such as contractures or iatrogenic injury.
Falling out syndrome (falling down with altered consciousness) is common in several cultures throughout the world, including the United States. Stocking glove (nonanatomic) anesthesia is another common finding. Symptoms are
A. One or more symptoms affect voluntary motor or sensory function, suggesting a neurologic or other general medical condition.
B. Psychological factors are judged to be associated with the symptom or deficit because the initiation or exacerbation is preceded by conflicts or other stressors.
C. The symptom is not intentionally produced or feigned (factitious disorder, malingering).
D. After appropriate investigation, the symptom cannot be fully explained by a general medical condition, by the direct effects of a substance, or as a culturally sanctioned behavior or experience.
E. The symptom causes clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other function or warrants medical evaluation.
F. The symptom is not limited to pain or sexual dysfunction, does not occur exclusively during the course of somatization disorder, and is not better accounted for by another mental disorder.
often inconsistent; patients may move a paralyzed extremity when they think that no one is watching.
Nonepileptic seizures, sometimes described as pseudoseizures, resemble epileptic seizures but are not associated withthe electroencephalographic abnormalities or a clinical coursecharacteristic of true epilepsy. Most cases resolve within 3months of diagnosis. Referring to nonclassic presentations for seizures as spells can help avoid medicalization of these symptoms.
The course of the condition is often benign, although20% to 25% of patients experience a recurrence. Goodprognostic characteristics include symptoms of paralysis, aphonia, blindness; acute onset; above-average intelligence; presence of an identifiable stressor; and earlydiagnosis and psychiatric treatment. Poor prognostic characteristics include tremor and pseudoseizures. The rate ofmisdiagnosis of conversion symptoms averages 4%. Myasthenia gravis, multiple sclerosis, dystonias, and dyskinesias(abnormal movements) are conditions commonly mistakenfor conversion disorder.
Pain disorder is diagnosed instead of a conversion disorder if pain is the predominant physical symptom. The DSM-IV divides pain disorders into those associated with psychological factors, those with both psychological and medical factors, and those in which the medical condition is the major factor in the pain symptom (Table 16-5). The diagnosis is considered acute if the condition lasts less than 6 months and chronic when it lasts 6 months or more.
RAP is the most common recurrent pain complaint of childhood and accounts for 2% to 4% of pediatric office visits. It is defined by intermittent pain with full recovery between episodes lasting more than 3 months. There is a strong relation between RAP and anxiety in children. Approximately 90% of pediatric patients have no clinical findings to account for their abdominal pain.
Common types of headaches are migraine and tension-type headache. Migraine may be associated with dizziness, gastrointestinal symptoms, and cyclic vomiting syndrome, characterized by recurrent and stereotypic episodes of intense,
A. Pain in one or more anatomic sites is the predominant focus and is of sufficient severity to warrant clinical attention.
B. The pain causes clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important functions.
C. Psychological factors have an important role in the onset, severity, exacerbation, or maintenance of the pain.
D. The symptom or deficit is not intentionally produced or feigned (factitious disorder, malingering).
E. The pain is not better accounted for by a mood, anxiety, or psychotic disorder and does not meet criteria for dyspareunia.
Specify the following:Acute: duration <6 monthsChronic: duration ≥6 months unexplained vomiting. Psychological factors frequently play a significant role in the complaint of a headache.
Functional chest pain can be seen in 10% of school-aged children and adolescents. Other common pain disorders are musculoskeletal pains (limb pain and back pain), fibromyalgia, and complex regional pain syndrome type I (previously known as reflex sympathetic dystrophy).
Reassurance is the primary treatment of pain disorder.Symptom diaries, including the events that precede and follow the pain episode, aid in initial assessment and ongoingmanagement of the problem. Minimizing secondary psychological consequences of recurrent pain syndromes isimportant.
Hypochondriasis is the preoccupation with the fear ofhaving a serious disease based on misinterpretation of bodilysymptoms and functions. This fear should be present for6 months. The presenting complaint is a physical sign orsymptom, which is normal but is interpreted by the patientto indicate disease despite reassurance of a physician (e.g., atension headache perceived as a brain tumor). This diagnosisis more commonly seen in late adolescence and adulthood. An underlying depression or anxiety disorder may be relatedto the symptoms. Prevalence of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is four times greater than in the general population. When the belief or preoccupation is limited to animagined defect in appearance, the diagnosis is body dysmorphic disorder (BDD), not hypochondriasis.
Body dysmorphic disorder is a preoccupation with animagined or slight defect in physical appearance that causesclinically significant distress or impairment in functioning. It is usually seen in adolescents (the male-to-femaleratio being almost equal) and is distinguished from common developmental preoccupations with appearance bythe presence of clinically significant distress and/or impairment in functioning. Any bodily area can be a focus, butexcessive concerns about the skin (scars and acne) and body shape are common. Because BDD can be associatedwith shame and the need for secrecy, the diagnosis may bemissed unless clinicians ask directly about symptoms. Parents of children with BDD report excessive mirror checking, grooming, attempts to camouflage a particular bodyarea, and reassurance-seeking. Patients may cause self-injury as a consequence of attempts to fix the perceived flaw.
Many of these patients have had consultations with surgeons and dermatologists and often seek interventions butare unlikely to be satisfied with the results.
BDD is considered to be related to OCD. The prevalence of BDD has been reported to be 0.7% in children, 2% in adolescents, and up to 5% in patients seeking cosmetic surgery. Many individuals with BDD report a history of childhood maltreatment; comorbid psychiatric disorders, including depression, OCD, social phobia, and anorexia nervosa; gender identity disorder; delusional disorder; and narcissistic personality disorder. BDD is also associated with high rates of suicidal ideation and attempts, with 28% of sufferers having attempted suicide.
Fatigue is a common physical complaint, affecting up to50% of adolescents. CFS specifically refers to a conditioncharacterized by at least 6 months of severe, disabling fatigueassociated with self-reported limitations in concentration and short-term memory, sleep disturbance, and musculoskeletal aches and pains, where alternative medical andpsychiatric explanations have been excluded. CFS is oftenassociated with depression and can be incapacitating. CFS israre in childhood and uncommon in adolescence, with prevalence below 1%. Onset typically follows an acute post-viralillness in approximately two thirds of pediatric cases. Treatment is nonspecific, unless a psychological or general medical cause is uncovered.
Screening tools for somatoform disorders include the Children’s Somatization Inventory (child and parent versions) and the Illness Attitude Scales and Soma Assessment Interview (parental interview questionnaires). The Functional Disability Inventory assesses the severity of symptoms.
Treatment for somatoform disorders should use an integrated medical and psychiatric approach. The goals are to identify concurrent psychiatric disorders, rule out concurrent physical disorders, improve overall functioning, and minimize unnecessary invasive tests and doctor shopping. This works when mental health consultation is presented as part of a comprehensive evaluation, thereby minimizing stigma and distrust.
Antidepressant medications (fluoxetine, sertraline, citalopram, and clomipramine) may be of benefit in the treatmentof unexplained headaches, fibromyalgia, BDD, somatoformpain, irritable bowel syndrome, and functional gastrointestinal disorders. Tricyclic antidepressants (clomipramineand others) should be avoided in youth with functional abdominal pain (FAP) because they have no proven efficacyin either pain management or mood disorders and are verydangerous in overdose. In chronic fatigue syndrome with comorbid depression and anxiety, a more activating antidepressant, like bupropion, can be useful. Stimulants may also be helpful in CFS.
Cognitive-behavioral methods, which reward health-promoting behaviors and discourage disability and illness behaviors, help in the treatment of recurrent pain, CFS, fibromyalgia, and FAP. Interpersonal and expressive psychotherapies in the presence of psychological trauma are particularly useful. Self-management strategies, such as self-monitoring, relaxation, hypnosis, and biofeedback, provide some symptomatic relief and encourage more active coping strategies. Family therapy and family-based interventions can be very useful. Home schooling should be avoided, and school attendance and performance should be emphasized as important indicators of appropriate functioning. In dealing with pain symptoms (e.g., headaches, stomachaches) parents should remove or limit attention for pain behavior; strongly encourage sticking to schedule (e.g., going to school); help the child identify stress at home and school; provide attention and special activities on days when child does not have symptoms; and limit activities and interactions on sick days. Discussions about excessive discomfort or illness should be replaced with having the child practice relaxation techniques and educating personnel working with their child about these approaches.
In contrast to somatoform disorders, patients intentionally simulate or create their problems in factitious disorders and malingering.
Factitious disorder is a condition in which physical orpsychological symptoms are produced intentionally but forunconscious reasons to assume a sick role. This diagnosis is made either by direct observation or by eliminatingother possible causes. Most patients are immature, passive,and hypochondriacal. They show improvement when confronted with their behavior or acknowledge the factitiousnature of their symptoms. It has been associated with borderline personality traits and substance abuse disorders.Approximate answers (e.g., 20−3=13) reported during amental status examination are most commonly found infactitious disorders.
Munchausen syndrome by proxy (MBP) is a form of factitious disorder by proxy, where a parent (usually mother) mimics symptoms in his or her child. The motivation is believed to be a psychological need to assume a sick role through the child. Of these mothers, more than 72% have a history of factitious disorder or a somatoform disorder, and up to 80% of involved parents have some health care background. MBP is a type of child abuse. Boys are more commonly abused in this way, and neonates and preschoolers are the most common victims. Both factitious disorder by proxy (diagnosis of the abuser) and pediatric condition falsification (diagnosis of the child) are needed for diagnosis.
Common presenting symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea,respiratory arrest, asthma, seizures, incoordination, fever, bleeding, failure to thrive, rash, hypoglycemia, and loss of consciousness. Simulation of psychiatric disorders is rare. Nearly 75% of the morbidity to the child occurs in hospitals from invasive procedures. Once confronted with negative test results or discharge planning, the perpetrators may become intensely enraged and acutely suicidal or may initiate legal action so the treatment team should take appropriate precautions. Mortality in MBP may be as high as 33%, and siblings of these children are also at risk. Virtually all children suffer serious psychological sequelae from this form of abuse. Treatment involves protecting the child from further abuse and reporting to child protective services.
Malingering is a condition in which a physical symptom that is under voluntary control is used to gain reward (e.g., money or avoidance of school, jail, or obtaining drugs). The patient has conscious intent in production of symptoms. Symptoms may not lessen when the reward is attained. Malingering is difficult to prove unless the patient is directly observed or confesses.
Anxiety disorders are characterized by uneasiness, excessive rumination, and apprehension about the future. The conditions tend to be chronic, recurring, and vary in intensity over time. They affect 5% to 10% of children and adolescents (Table 17-1). Some common anxiety disorders are discussed in the following sections.
Panic disorder is the presence of recurrent, unexpected panic attacks. A panic attack is a sudden unexpected onsetof intense fear associated with a feeling of impending doomin the absence of real danger. At least 1 month of persistentworrying about having another panic attack is required tomake the diagnosis (Table 17-2). Panic disorder most oftenbegins in adolescence or early adulthood. Symptom severitywaxes and wanes. Characteristic symptoms include shortnessof breath, palpitations, chest pain, a choking or smothering sensation, and a fear of losing control or going “crazy” (Table 17-3). Symptoms generally last approximately 15 minutes andare generally time-limited. It is common for patients to thinkthat they are about to die of a heart attack. Panic attacks areclassified as (1) spontaneous, (2) bound to situations (occurimmediately on exposure), and (3) predisposed to situations(attacks occur while at school, but not every time). Agoraphobia is a condition describing fear of situations where escapeis difficult or would draw unwanted attention to the person.Agoraphobia is often persistent and can leave people homebound. Panic disorder is seen in 95% of patients with agoraphobia. The condition is more common in females. Considerthe diagnosis of a specific phobia (as opposed to agoraphobia)if the avoidance is limited to one or a few specific situationsor social phobia if avoidance is limited to social situations ingeneral.
Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is characterized by 6or more months of persistent, out of proportion worry and anxiety that includes a historical diagnosis of overanxious disorderof childhood. The worries should be multiple, not paroxysmal,and not focused on a single theme and should cause significantimpairment (Table 17-4).The anxiety must be accompanied byat least three of the following symptoms: restlessness, easy fatigability, difficulty concentrating, irritability, muscle tension,and disturbed sleep. Physical signs of anxiety are often present,
Epidemiology Prevalence is 0.2%−10%; rates are similar in all racial groups. Half have agoraphobia. Eight times more common and of early onset in family members of affected individuals than general population.
Prevalence is 5%. The Prevalence is around sex ratio is equal. 8%. Twin studies Genetic factors play suggest some genetic only a modest role in role. the etiology.
Prevalence is 2%−4% of children and adolescents. The sex ratio is almost equal. Heritability of SAD is greater for girls than for boys.
Prevalence is 2%. Sex ratio is 2:1 females:males. Increased risk of specific phobias in first-degree relatives of patients with specific phobias.
Onset Average age at onset is The average age at
The average age at 15–19 years; earlier in 25%. onset is 10 years.
onset is 8–9 years.Differential Anxiety disorder due to a diagnosis general medical condition. Substance-induced anxiety disorder due to caffeine or other stimulants.
ADHD, Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder; PTSD, posttraumatic stress disorder.A. Both (1) and (2) 1.At least one attack is followed by ≥1 month of one or more of the following: a.
Worry about the implications of the attack or its consequences (e.g., losing control, having a heart attack, “going crazy”) c.
A significant change in behavior related to the attacksB. The presence of agoraphobiaC. The panic attacks are not due to direct physiologic effects of drugs or abuse or medication or a general medical condition (e.g., hyperthyroidism).
D. The panic attacks are not better accounted for by another mental disorder, such as social phobia, specific phobia, obsessive-compulsive disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder, or separation anxiety disorder.
A discrete period of intense fear or discomfort, in which four or more of the following symptoms developed abruptly and reached a peak within 10 minutes:
Palpitations, pounding heart, or accelerated heart rateSensations of shortness of breath or smotheringFeeling of chokingFeeling dizzy, unsteady, lightheaded, or faintDerealization (feelings of unreality) or depersonalization (being detached from oneself) Fear of losing control or going crazy Paresthesias (numbness or tingling sensations) Chills or hot flashes including shakiness, trembling, and myalgias. Gastrointestinalsymptoms (nausea, vomiting, diarrhea) and autonomic symptoms (tachycardia, shortness of breath) commonly coexist. Inchildren and adolescents, the specific symptoms of autonomicarousal are less prominent, and symptoms are often related toschool performance or sports. Children with GAD are oftenexceedingly self-conscious, exhibit behavioral inhibition, havelow self-esteem, and have more sleep disturbance than patientswith other kinds of anxiety disorder. Care must be taken to elicit internalizing symptoms of negative cognitions aboutthe self (hopelessness, helplessness, worthlessness, suicidalideation), as well as those concerning relationships (embarrassment, self-consciousness) and associated with anxieties.Inquiry about eating, weight, energy, and interests should alsobe carried out to eliminate a mood disorder.
Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is characterized by re-experiencing a traumatic event in which actual or threatened death or serious injury was possible. The reexperiencing
Criteria for Diagnosis of Generalized Anxiety DisorderA. Excessive anxiety and worry (apprehensive expectation), occurring more days than not for at least 6 months, about numerous events or activities
B. The person finds it difficult to control the worry.
C. The anxiety and worry are associated with three or more of the following six symptoms (with at least some symptoms present for more days than not for the past 6 months). Note: Only one symptom is required in children.
Sleep disturbance (difficulty falling or staying asleep or restless, unsatisfying sleep)
D. The focus of the anxiety and worry is not confined to features of a disorder (e.g., panic disorder, social phobia, obsessive-compulsive disorder, separation anxiety disorder, anorexia nervosa, somatization disorder, hypochondriasis), and the anxiety and worry do not occur exclusively during posttraumatic stress disorder.
E. The anxiety, worry, or physical symptoms cause clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.
F. The disturbance is not due to the direct physiologic effects of a drug or a general medical condition (e.g., hyperthyroidism) and does not occur exclusively during a mood disorder, a psychotic disorder, or a pervasive developmental disorder.
is accompanied by avoidance of stimuli that remind the person of the trauma and by autonomic hyperarousal (Table 17-5). Type, severity, duration, and proximity of the traumatic event are the most likely predictors of PTSD. Presentation often depends on the age group of the child. In preverbal children, there are changes in behavior: regressed clingy behavior, increased aggression, unwillingness to explore the environment, alterations in feeding, sleeping behaviors, and difficulty soothing child. Preschool children may display rapidly changing emotional states like anger, sadness, and excitement and play may have compulsive reenactments linked to the traumatic event. Later symptomatology is more typical of adult PTSD, except that flashbacks are more daydream quality than the sudden intrusive events seen in adults, and complaint of restriction of effect and numbing are less frequent.
Dissociative states lasting a few seconds to many hours, in which the person relives the traumatic event, are referred to as flashbacks. Reexperiencing trauma in children may be nonspecific to the trauma (e.g., dreams of monsters). In adolescents anticipation of unwanted visual imagery increases the risk of irritable mood, anger, and voluntary sleep deprivation. When faced with reminders of the original trauma, physical signs of anxiety or increased arousal occur, including difficulty falling or staying asleep, hypervigilance, exaggerated startle response, irritability, angry outbursts, and difficulty concentrating.
Typically an acute stress disorder is present immediately after the trauma. The risk of chronic PTSD increases when symptoms are unresolved by 6 weeks and there are higher premorbid levels of anxiety or depression. PTSD usually begins
A. The person has been exposed to a traumatic event in which both of the following were present: 1.
The person experienced, witnessed, or was confronted with an event or events that involved actual or threatened death or serious injury or a threat to the physical integrity of self or others.
The person’s response involved intense fear, helplessness, or horror. Note: In children, this may be expressed instead by disorganized or agitated behavior.
B. The traumatic event is persistently reexperienced in one or more of the following ways: 1.
Recurrent and intrusive distressing recollections of the event, including images, thoughts, or perceptions. Note: In young children, repetitive play may occur in which themes or aspects of the trauma are expressed.
Recurrent distressing dreams of the event. Note: In children, there may be frightening dreams without recognizable content.
Acting or feeling as if the traumatic event were recurring (includes a sense of reliving the experience, illusions, hallucinations, and dissociative flashback episodes, including flashbacks that occur on awakening or when intoxicated). Note: In young children, trauma-specific re-enactment may occur.
Intense psychological distress at exposure to internal or external cues that symbolize or resemble an aspect of the traumatic event.
Physiologic reactivity on exposure to internal or external cues that symbolize or resemble an aspect of the traumatic event.
C. Persistent avoidance of stimuli associated with the trauma and numbing of general responsiveness (not present before the trauma), as indicated by three or more of the following: 1.
Efforts to avoid thoughts, feelings, or conversations associated with the trauma 2.
Efforts to avoid activities, places, or people that arouse recollections of the trauma 3.
Inability to recall an important aspect of the trauma 4.
Feeling of detachment or estrangement from others 6.Restricted range of affect (e.g., unable to have loving feelings) 7.
Sense of a foreshortened future (e.g., does not expect to have a career, marriage, children, or a normal life span)
D. Persistent symptoms of increased arousal (not present before the trauma), as indicated by two or more of the following: 1.
Irritability or outbursts of anger 3.E. Duration of the disturbance (symptoms in criteria B, C, and D) is >1 month
F. The disturbance causes clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning
Specify the following:Acute: if duration of symptoms is <3 monthsChronic: if duration of symptoms is ≥3 monthsWith delayed onset: if onset of symptoms is at least 6 mo after the stressor within 3 months of the trauma, although delay in symptom expression can occur. Rates of suicide attempts are threefold higher than unaffected controls.
Acute stress disorder is characterized by the same signs and symptoms as PTSD but occurs immediately after a traumatic event. If impaired function persists after 1 month, the diagnosis is PTSD.
Anxiety disorder not otherwise specified is a common condition in clinical practice. This diagnosis is used when there is impairing anxiety or phobic symptoms that do not meet full criteria for another anxiety disorder.
Separation anxiety disorder (SAD) is seen in childrenand adolescents who express vague somatic symptoms (e.g.,headaches, abdominal pain, fatigue) to avoid or refuse togo to school. Patients may have a valid or an irrational concern about a parent or have had an unpleasant experience inschool. They often have been seen by numerous specialistsand have undergone elaborate medical evaluations. Theirabsence from school often is mistakenly seen as a consequence of their symptoms. The prospect of returning toschool provokes extreme anxiety and escalating symptoms.True phobia related to schoolwork is rare. SAD is a strong(78%) risk factor for developing problems in adulthood, suchas panic disorder, agoraphobia, and depression. School phobia that first presents during adolescence may be an expression of a severe underlying psychopathologic condition.Psychiatric consultation is needed.
Specific phobias are marked persistent fears of things or situations, which often lead to avoidance behaviors (Table 17-6). The associated anxiety is almost always felt immediately when the person is confronted with the feared object or situation. The greater the proximity or the more difficult it is to escape, the higher the anxiety. Many patients have had actual fearful experiences with the object or situation (traumatic event). The response to the fear can range from limited symptoms of anxiety to full panic attacks. Children may not recognize that their fears are out of proportion to the circumstances, unlike adolescents and adults, and express their anxiety as crying, tantrums, freezing, or clinging.
School phobia is one of a range of reasons for school nonattendance. In severely worried children, defensive aggression may be used to prevent attendance. Otherwise these patients do not have antisocial tendencies. Boys and girls are equally affected and there is no association with social class, intelligence, or academic ability. The youngest in a family of several children is more likely to be affected as well as children of older parents. Truancy is generally associated with older adolescents with lower levels of fear. Unlike anxious school refusers, truants hide their school nonattendance from their parents.
Social phobia is a common (3% to 13% prevalence; girls predominate over boys) type of phobia characterized by a marked and persistent fear of social or performance situations in which embarrassment might occur (Table 17-7).
There is a wariness of strangers and social apprehension or anxiety when encountering new, strange, or socially threatening situations. Children appear to have a lower rate of negative cognitions (e.g., embarrassment, overconcern, self-consciousness) than adults. Children with simple avoidant disorders are younger than those with more socialized phobic conditions. Left untreated or poorly treated, phobias can become immobilizing and result in significant morbidity and restriction of their lives.
A. Marked and persistent fear that is excessive or unreasonable, cued by the presence or anticipation of a specific object or situation (e.g., flying, heights, animals, receiving an injection, seeing blood)
B. Exposure to the phobic stimulus almost invariably provokes an immediate anxiety response, which may take the form of a situationally bound or situationally predisposed panic attack. Note: In children, the anxiety may be expressed by crying, tantrums, freezing, or clinging.
C. The person recognizes that the fear is excessive or unreasonable. Note: In children, this feature may be absent.
D. The phobic situation is avoided or else is endured with intense anxiety or distress.
E. The avoidance, anxious anticipation, or distress in the feared situation interferes significantly with the person’s normal routine, occupational (or academic) functioning, or social activities or relationships, or there is marked distress about having the phobia.
F. In children <18 years, the duration is at least 6 months.
G. The anxiety, panic attacks, or phobic avoidance associated with the specific object or situation are not better accounted for by another mental disorder, such as obsessive-compulsive disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder, separation anxiety disorder, social phobia, panic disorder with agoraphobia, or agoraphobia without history of panic disorder.
Specify type:Animal type is fear elicited by animals or insects.Natural environment type (e.g., heights, storms, water).Blood/injection/injury type is fear related to seeing blood, injuries, injections, or having an invasive medical procedure.
Situational type is fear caused by specific situations (e.g., airplanes, elevators, enclosed places).
Other type (e.g., fear of choking, vomiting, or contracting an illness; in children, fear of loud sounds or costumed characters)
In the management of anxiety disorders, likely medical conditions, including hyperthyroidism, medication side effects, substance abuse, or other medical conditions, should be ruled out. The patient should be screened for comorbid psychiatric disorders, such as mood disorders, psychosis, eating disorders, tic disorders, and disruptive behavior disorders. A history from multiple sources is important because the child may be unable to effectively communicate symptoms. A detailed history that includes the nature of the anxiety triggers; psychosocial history; and family history of tics, anxiety disorders, depression, and other mood disorders should be taken. The younger child may better communicate his or her anxieties through drawings or play.
Treatment consists of psychotherapy and psychopharmacology. For mild to moderate anxiety, evidence-basedpsychotherapies and psychoeducation should be used first.Combined therapy usually has better efficacy than psychotherapy and psychopharmacology alone. Cognitive andbehavioral therapy (including systematic desensitization,exposure, operant conditioning, modeling, and cognitiverestructuring ) can be beneficial in a variety of anxiety disorders. Patients with anxiety disorders are often less tolerant ofmedication side effects, and supportive therapy helps themmaintain treatment regimens.
A. A marked and persistent fear of one or more social or performance situations in which the person is exposed to unfamiliar people or to possible scrutiny by others. The individual fears that he or she will act in a way (or show anxiety symptoms) that will be humiliating or embarrassing. Note: In children, there must be evidence of the capacity for age-appropriate social relationships with familiar people, and the anxiety must occur in peer settings, not just in interactions with adults.
B. Exposure to the feared social situation almost invariably provokes anxiety, which may take the form of a situationally bound or situationally predisposed panic attack. Note: In children, the anxiety may be expressed by crying, tantrums, freezing, or shrinking from social situations or unfamiliar people.
C. The person recognizes that the fear is excessive or unreasonable. Note: In children, this feature may be absent.
D. The feared social or performance situations are avoided or else are endured with intense anxiety or distress.
E. The avoidance, anxious anticipation, or distress in the feared social or performance situation interferes significantly with the person’s normal routine, occupational (academic) functioning, or social activities or relationships, or there is marked distress about having the phobia.
F. In children <18 years, the duration is at least 6 months.
G. The fear or avoidance is not due to the direct physiologic effects of a drug of abuse, a medication, or a general medical condition and is not better accounted for by another mental disorder (e.g., panic disorder with or without agoraphobia, separation anxiety disorder, body dysmorphic disorder, pervasive developmental disorder, or schizoid personality disorder).
H. If a general medical condition or another mental disorder is present, the fear in criterion A is unrelated to it (e.g., the fear is not of stuttering or exhibiting abnormal eating behavior in anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa).
Specify the following:Generalized: if the fears include most social situations (e.g., initiating or maintaining conversations, participating in small groups, dating, speaking to authority figures, attending parties). Note: Also consider the additional diagnosis of avoidant personality disorder.
Family and individual psychotherapy and care coordination with a patient’s school is helpful. Reassurance that the patient does not have a life-threatening illness is important. Other psychosocial treatments include stress management, supportive therapies, and biofeedback. Emphasis is placed on decreasing morbidity through proper treatment. Panic disorder tends to be chronic but usually is responsive to treatment. In PTSD trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy has shown efficacy. Critical-incident stress debriefing and “psychological first aid,” soon after the event, greatly reduce distress and involve discussing the nature and impact of the trauma event in a group format.
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are the medication of choice. The SSRIs approved for children by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are fluoxetine, sertraline, and fluvoxamine. They can initially exacerbate anxiety or even panic symptoms. Clomipramine requires electrocardiographic and blood level monitoring but may be effective and is approved by the FDA for obsessive-compulsive disorder. Tricyclic antidepressants have also shown efficacy. Benzodiazepines (alprazolam and clonazepam) include a risk of causing disinhibition in children. Alpha-2a-agonists (guanfacine and clonidine) may be useful if autonomic symptoms are present. Anticonvulsant agents (gabapentin, topiramate, and oxcarbazepine) are used when other agents are ineffective. β-Blockers help with performance anxiety.
Co-occurrence of the inattentive type of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and an anxiety disorder is common. When using a stimulant, it is advisable to start at a low dose, increasing slowly to minimize the risk of increasing anxiety.
For PTSD, antidepressants may be augmented by clonidine (also useful in hyperarousal and impulsivity) in the presence of severe affective dyscontrol. Atypical antipsychotics are used if self-injurious behavior, dissociation, psychosis, and aggression are present. Atomoxetine is useful in PTSD with concurrent ADHD.
Major depressive disorder (MDD) requires a minimum of 2 weeks of symptoms, including either depressed mood or loss of interest or pleasure in nearly all activities. Four additional symptoms must also be present (Table 18-1). In children and adolescents, a new onset of irritability, restlessness, or boredom may be seen instead of depressed mood. A sudden drop in grades is often present. A change in appetite (usually decreased but can be increased) with carbohydrate craving with or without accompanying weight changes and sleep disturbance along with somatic complaints (fatigue, vague aches and pains) may also be present. Psychotic symptoms, seen in severe cases of major depression, are generally mood-congruent (e.g., derogatory auditory hallucinations, guilt associated delusional thinking). Suicidal thoughts and attempts are common and should be evaluated.
The prevalence of MDD in prepubertal children is 2% with 1:1 female-to-male ratio; in adolescents the prevalence is 6% to 8%, with a female-to-male ratio of 2:1 (similar to adults). If untreated, major depression can become chronic in 10% of patients.
Depression has a clear genetic predisposition, with familyhistory as the strongest single factor for developing MDD.Twin studies show 40% to 65% heritability for depression.Family studies show a twofold to fourfold increased risk fordepression in offspring of depressed parents. Other potential responsible factors for depression include dysregulation of central serotonergic and/or noradrenergic systems,hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis dysfunction, and theinfluence of pubertal sex hormones. The stress-diathesismodel relates to the interaction of genes and environment;for example, a less functional genetic variant of the serotonin receptor in presence of stressful life events could contribute to depression.
Criteria for Diagnosis of a Major Depressive EpisodeA. Five or more of the following symptoms present during the same 2-week period and represent a change from previous functioning; at least one of the symptoms is either (1) depressed mood or (2) loss of interest or pleasure. Note: Do not include symptoms that are clearly due to a general medical condition or mood-incongruent delusions or hallucinations 1.
Depressed mood most of the day, nearly every day, as indicated by either subjective report (e.g., feels sad or empty) or observation made by others (e.g., appears tearful). Note: In children and adolescents, mood can be irritable.
Markedly diminished interest or pleasure in all, or almost all, activities most of the day, nearly every day (as indicated by subjective account or observation by others) 3.
Significant weight loss when not dieting or weight gain or decrease or increase in appetite nearly every day. Note: In children, consider failure to make expected weight gains 4.
Fatigue or loss of energy nearly every day 7.Feelings of worthlessness or excessive or inappropriate guilt (which may be delusional) nearly every day (not self-reproach or guilt about being sick) 8.
Diminished ability to think, concentrate, or be decisive nearly every day (subjective account or as observed by others) 9.
Recurrent thoughts of death (not just fear of dying), recurrent suicidal ideation without a specific plan, a suicide attempt or a specific plan for committing suicide
B. The symptoms do not meet criteria for a mixed manic episode.
C. The symptoms cause clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.
D. The symptoms are not due to the direct physiologic effects of a drug or abuse, a medication, or a general medical condition (e.g., hypothyroidism).
E. The symptoms are not better accounted for by bereavement, and the symptoms persist >2 mo or are characterized by marked functional impairment, morbid preoccupation with worthlessness, suicidal ideation, psychotic symptoms, or psychomotor retardation.
Dysthymic disorder and anxiety disorders (prevalence 30% and 80%, respectively), substance abuse (20% to 30%), and disruptive behavior disorders (10% to 20%) are frequent comorbid disorders in depressed children and adolescents. Twenty percent of patients diagnosed with depression develop bipolar disorder (BD); this is more common in cases with a family history of mania or concurrent psychotic features.
The differential diagnoses for MDD are diverse and many. It is always prudent to rule out mood disorder due to a general medical condition or substance-induced mood disorders before considering MDD. Schizophrenia in its initial stages and the dysphoria related to untreated attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) may also be mistakenly diagnosed as depression. Hypothyroidism, anemia, diabetes, and folate and B12 vitamin deficiencies need to be ruled out.
Dysthymic disorder (prevalence rate 0.6% to 1.7%) is a chronic, milder form of depression characterized by a depressed or irritable mood (subjectively or described by others) present for at least 1 year. Two of the following symptoms are also required: changes in appetite; sleep difficulty, fatigue; low self-esteem; poor concentration or difficulty with making decisions; and feelings of hopelessness. About 70% of children and adolescents with dysthymic disorder eventually develop major depression. The development of MDD after dysthymia is often referred to as double depression.
Atypical depression is MDD characterized by hypersomnia, increased appetite with carbohydrate craving, weight gain, interpersonal rejection sensitivity, and mood reactivity.
Adjustment disorder with depressed mood is the most common depressive disorder in children and adolescents. Symptoms start within 3 months of an identifiable stressor (e.g., loss of a relationship), with distress in excess of what would be expected and interference with social, occupational, or school functioning. Symptoms should not meet criteria for another psychiatric disorder, should not be caused by bereavement, and should not last longer than 6 months after the stressor has stopped.
Seasonal affective disorder is a condition common in northern or extreme southern latitudes, in which depressive symptoms occur in the late fall and early winter when the hours of daylight are shortening.
Depressive disorder not otherwise specified is a diagnosis used when patients have functionally impairing depressive symptoms that do not meet criteria for another condition.
Treatment of depression involves psychopharmacy and psychotherapy. First line antidepressant selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) have response rates of 50% to 70% despite high-placebo response rate. Fluoxetine is the only agent approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for treatment of youth. Citalopram, escitalopram, paroxetine, and venlafaxine have positive clinical trial results as well. An antidepressant should be given an adequate trial (6 weeks at therapeutic doses) before switching or discontinuing unless there are serious side effects. For a first episode of depression in children and adolescents, treatment for 6 to 9 months after remission of symptoms is recommended. Patients with recurrent or chronic depression may need to take antidepressants for extended periods (years or even a lifetime). If a patient does not respond to adequate trials of two or more antidepressants, a child psychiatrist should be consulted. The psychiatrist’s evaluation should focus on diagnostic clarity and psychosocial issues that might be preventing a full response. The psychiatrist may use augmentation strategies that may include lithium, thyroid hormone, lamotrigine, or bupropion.
For acute depression, more frequent visits are indicated, and the risks of medication (including suicidal and self-destructive behavior) should be discussed with parents, guardians, and patients. Higher frequency of monitoring can include phone calls or collaborative care with a psychotherapist. Parents and patients should also be educated about warning signs and to call immediately if these new symptoms occur. Notable side effects are thoughts of suicide, increased agitation, or restlessness. Other side effects include headache, dizziness, gastrointestinal symptoms, sleep cycle disturbance, sexual dysfunction, akathisia, serotonin syndrome, and risk of increased bruising (due to platelet inhibition.) There is also a risk of SSRI-induced mania.
In 2004 the FDA issued warnings for all antidepressants regarding suicidal thinking or behavior. The data suggest that antidepressants pose a 4% risk, versus a 2% risk in placebo. An increase in suicides in children and adolescents since that year has many experts believing that it might be related to low prescription of antidepressants and resultant untreated depression. Substance use, concomitant conduct problems, and impulsivity increase the risk of suicide.
Psychotherapy appears to have good efficacy in mild to moderate depression. In moderate to severe depression, combinedtreatment with psychotherapy and medication has the greatestrate of response, although in severe cases the efficacy was equivalent to medication alone. Cognitive-behavioral therapy andinterpersonal therapies are the empirically supported psychotherapies. Cognitive behavioral therapy and its derivative, dialectic behavioral therapy (for borderline personality disorder),involve techniques and skills-building to mitigate cognitivedistortions and maladaptive processing; whereas interpersonaltherapy focuses on collaborative decisions between the therapist and patient and is based on the exploration and recognition of precipitants of depression. Family therapy is often usedas an adjunct to other treatments for depression.
Light therapy has been shown to be beneficial for seasonal affective disorder and in MDD with a seasonal component. Electroconvulsive therapy is used in refractory and life-threatening depression.
Depression is a chronic and debilitating illness that often starts in childhood or adolescence. It increases risk for future suicide, substance use, and other psychiatric sequelae. Adolescent depressive disorders are more likely to be recurrent into adulthood than childhood onset depression.
Suicide is a fatal complication of MDD and surpasses motor vehicle accidents as a cause of death in adolescents. It has high prevalence among high school students with 20% having contemplated suicide and 8% having attempted each year. While the risk of suicide during an MDD episode is high, it can be paradoxically higher during start of treatment as energy and motivation improve with cognitive recovery from depression.
Treatment is targeted toward decreasing morbidity and suicide. Along with treatments mentioned previously, modalities such as hospitalization, partial hospital, therapeutic after-school programs, or psychoeducation may be needed.
Bipolar disorder consists of distinct periods of mania (elevated, expansive, or irritable moods and distractibility) that may alternate with periods of severe depression (Table 18-2).
To diagnose mania associated with BD, euphoria (elevated or expansive mood) and three additional symptoms; or irritability and four additional manic symptoms are required. Children and adolescents with euphoric mood are bubbly, giggly, and “over-the-top” happy, to a degree that is socially unacceptable to others. Grandiosity in children is often dramatic. Children act as if they are superior even when it is obvious that it is not true, and they behave as if the laws of nature do not apply to them. Racing thoughts are common in BD. Periods of extreme rage also are common. Children with BD often present with rapid or ultra-rapid cycling with multiple shifts between euthymia, mania, and depression.
A decreased need for sleep is a hallmark of mania. There areno other diagnoses where a child has a greatly decreased amountof total sleep (compared with age-appropriate norms) and is notfatigued. Sleep deprivation, substance abuse, and antidepressants may trigger mania. BD onset often begins with an episodeof depression. It is estimated that 33% of youth will develop BD
A. A distinct period of abnormally and persistently elevated, expansive, or irritable mood, lasting at least 1 week (or any duration if hospitalization is necessary)
B. During the period of mood disturbance, three or more of the following symptoms have persisted (four if the mood is only irritability) and are present to a significant degree: 1.
Decreased need for sleep (e.g., feels rested after only 3 hours of sleep) 3.
More talkative than usual or pressure to keep talking 4.
Flight of ideas or subjective experience that thoughts are racing 5.
Distractibility (i.e., easily drawn to unimportant or irrelevant external stimuli) 6.
Increased goal-directed activity (socially, at work or school, or sexually) or psychomotor agitation
C. Excessive involvement in pleasurable activities that have a high potential for painful consequences (e.g., unrestrained buying sprees, sexual indiscretions, or foolish investments)
D. The symptoms do not meet criteria for a mixed episode.
E. The mood disturbance is sufficiently severe to cause marked impairment in occupational functioning, usual social activities or relationships with others or to necessitate hospitalization to prevent harm to self or others, or with psychotic features.
F. The symptoms are not due to the direct physiologic effects of a substance or a general medical condition. Note: Manic-like episodes that are clearly caused by somatic antidepressant treatment (e.g., medication, electroconvulsive therapy) should not count toward a diagnosis of bipolar I disorder.
within 5 years of a depressive episode. Features associated withswitching include early-onset depression, psychomotor retardation, psychosis, mood lability, seasonal pattern, family history ofBD or mood disorders, and antidepressant-induced hypomania.A mixed episode requires 1 week of symptoms of both a manicand major depressive episode. Dysphoric mania is another term used to describe periods of mania that are accompanied by “badfeelings.” Hypomania is used to describe a period of more than 4but fewer than 7 days of manic symptoms. It also is used less specifically to describe less intense mania. The prevalence of psychosis in adolescence (often auditory hallucinations) is 16% to60%. Although high, it is still less than its prevalence in adult BD.
Bipolar II disorder includes at least one full major depressive episode and at least one period of hypomania. Bipolar disorder not otherwise specified is used to describe prominent symptoms of BD that do not meet full diagnostic criteria or when historical information is unclear.
Cyclothymic disorder is characterized by 2 years or more (1 year in children) of numerous periods of hypomania and depression that do not meet full criteria for either a manic or a major depressive episode.
BD occurs in up to 4% of the general population. It is estimated that 1% of children and adolescents meet diagnostic criteria for BD. According to retrospective studies, 60% of BD onset occurs before 20 years of age. Although BD in adults tends to be gender neutral, it is estimated that prepubertal BD is almost four times more frequently diagnosed in boys. This may be because aggression is the main reason for referral for psychiatric services.
The etiology of BD is multifactorial. Studies in BD point to a highly familial etiology with family history of mental illness, including major depression, BD, schizophrenia, or ADHD. A first-degree relative with BD leads to a 10-fold increase in a child’s chance of developing BD. An earlier onset of BD in a parent increases the risk of early onset BD in offspring with a more chronic and debilitating course that may be less responsive to treatment.
The differential diagnosis for BD includes ADHD, major depression, conduct disorder (CD), mood disorder due to a general medical condition, substance-induced mood disorder, pervasive developmental disorder, and schizophrenia.
Patients with BD often have concurrent conditions that warrant treatment. ADHD occurs in approximately 60% to 90% ofchildren with BD. Anxiety disorders also commonly occur withBD and do not respond to antimanic agents. Substance abusecan precipitate and perpetuate mania and depression. The alteration between highs and lows related to some types of substanceabuse often mimics BD. Patients with BD may also self-medicate in attempts to alleviate symptoms. Many patients with BDmay commit crimes and meet criteria for CD due to aggressionand impulsivity. Prominent symptoms of mania assist in differentiating between CD and BD. Patients with BD generallyexhibit reactive aggression, whereas those with CD are morelikely to preplan and develop a typical pattern of crimes.
No laboratory or imaging studies can diagnose BD. Physical examination, careful history, review of systems, and laboratory testing are done to rule out suspected medical etiologies, including neurologic and substance-induced disorders.
Treatment of BD includes decreasing acute symptoms. The FDA has approved lithium, divalproex sodium, carbamazepine, olanzapine, risperidone, quetiapine, ziprasidone, and aripiprazole for adults with BD. Lithium is the oldest proven treatment for mania in adults and has been used effectively in children and adolescents for years. Common side effects of lithium include hypothyroidism, polyuria, and acne. Divalproex is also a first-line agent (preferable for mixed or rapid cycling cases) for adults. It has been used effectively for decades in youth, but it is not FDA-approved. Periodic monitoring of blood levels for select medications (lithium and divalproex sodium) can help ensure both treatment safety and the receipt of therapeutic amounts of the medication. Anti-psychotics (risperidone, olanzapine, quetiapine, aripiprazole, and ziprasidone) have had positive results in youth with BD. It is likely that newer antipsychotics will also be effective in BD.
Treating comorbid psychiatric disorders must be done carefully. Stimulants may be used to treat ADHD once the patienthas been stabilized on a mood stabilizer. Antidepressants shouldbe avoided; if the youth is depressed or has significant anxietyand is not responsive to other pharmacotherapy, cautious useof antidepressants may be necessary. Careful monitoring formanic reactivation, cycling, and suicidality is needed.
Cognitive and behavioral therapies are aimed at improving adherence to medication treatments and ameliorating anxiety and depressive symptoms. Psychoeducation and family therapy are needed to stabilize the patient’s environment and improve prognosis. There should be continuous ongoing safety assessment. Because developmental delays are also common in young children with BD due to poor learning while symptomatic, collaboration with school regarding behavioral management, special educational needs, and an appropriate individualized educational plan is also needed.
BD is an even higher risk factor for suicide than depression. Forty percent of children and 50% of adolescents with BD attempt suicide. High levels of irritability, impulsivity, and poor ability to consider consequences (substance abuse, and so on) increase the risk of completed suicide. Attempters are usually older, more likely to have mixed episodes and psychotic features, comorbid substance use, panic disorder, nonsuicidal self-injurious behaviors, a family history of suicide attempts, history of hospitalizations, and history of physical or sexual abuse. Ensuring safety is the first consideration. Hospitalization, partial hospitalization, intensive outpatient treatment, and intensive in-home services are used as needed for stabilization and safety.
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is characterized by obsessions, compulsions, or both in the absence of another psychiatric disorder that better explains the symptoms (Table 19-1). Obsessions are persistent intrusive thoughts, images, or impulses. Compulsions are non-gratifying repeated behaviors aimed at reducing or preventing distress or anxiety. Usually the compulsions are performed to offset anxiety created by the obsessions. In children, due to low level of insight, rituals or compulsive symptoms may predominate over worries or obsessions. Symptoms are usually recognized as being excessive or unreasonable. Common examples of obsessions in children are fears of contamination, repeated doubts, need for orderliness, and aggressive or horrific impulses. Common compulsions are hand washing, ordering, checking, requesting or demanding reassurance, praying, counting, repeating words silently, and hoarding.
Prevalence of OCD in children and adolescents ranges from 1% to 4%, increasing with age. It is more common in boys at a younger age and in girls during adolescence.
At least 50% of youth with OCD have at least one other psychiatric illness. Psychiatric comorbidities include tics (20% to 30%), mood and anxiety disorders (up to 75%), disruptive behavior disorders (attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder [ADHD] and oppositional defiant disorder), developmental disorders, body dysmorphic disorder, hypochondriasis, and obsessive-compulsive personality disorder.
Twin studies suggest that obsessive-compulsive symptoms are moderately heritable, with genetic factors accounting for 45% to 65% of variance.
Streptococcal infection causing inflammation in the basal ganglia may account for 10% of childhood-onset OCD and is a part of a condition referred to as pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders associated with streptococcal (also known as PANDAS) infection. Antistreptolysin O, antistreptococcal DNAase B titers, and a throat culture assist in diagnosing a
A. Either obsessions or compulsionsObsessions are defined by (1), (2), (3), and (4).Recurrent and persistent thoughts, impulses, or images experienced at some time during the disturbance as intrusive and inappropriate and causing marked anxiety or distress 2.
Thoughts, impulses, or images are not simply excessive worries about real-life problems.
The person attempts to ignore or suppress such thoughts, impulses, or images or to neutralize them with some other thought or action.
The person recognizes that the obsessional thoughts, impulses, or images are a product of his or her own mind (not imposed from without as in thought insertion).
Compulsions are defined by (1) and (2).Repetitive behaviors (e.g., hand washing, ordering, checking) or mental acts (e.g., praying, counting, repeating words silently) that the person feels driven to perform in response to an obsession or according to rigidly applied rules.
The behaviors or mental acts are aimed at preventing or reducing distress or preventing some dreaded event or situation; however, these behaviors or mental acts are not realistically connected with what they are designed to neutralize/prevent or are clearly excessive.
B. At some point, the person recognizes that the obsessions or compulsions are excessive or unreasonable. Note: This is not required for children.
C. The obsessions or compulsions cause marked distress; are time-consuming (taking >1 hour a day); or significantly interfere with a normal routine, occupational (or academic) functioning, or usual social activities or relationships.
D.If another Axis I disorder is present, the content of the obsessions or compulsions is not restricted to it (e.g., preoccupation with food in the presence of an eating disorder).
E. The disturbance is not due to thedirect physiologic effects of a drug of abuse, a medication, or a general medical condition.
Specify the following:With poor insight: if, for most of the time during the current episode, the person does not recognize that the obsessions and compulsions are excessive or unreasonable group A beta-hemolytic streptococcal infection. Early antibiotic therapy may help treat these cases.
OCD has been linked to a disruption in the brain’s serotonin,glutamate, and dopamine systems. Overactivity in neural pathways involving orbital frontal cortex and the caudate nucleushas been implicated in OCD.
Physical examination may reveal rough, cracked skin as evidence of excessive hand washing. The Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (also known as Y-BOCS) is regarded as the gold standard measure of obsessive-compulsive symptom severity. Although somewhat lengthy, it can be helpful in the clinical setting.
Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) involving exposure and response prevention is considered the treatment of choice in milder cases. CBT provides durability of symptom relief and avoidance of potential pharmacotherapy-associated side effects. As with other anxiety disorders, CBT is at least as good, if not better, than medications. The combination of medications and CBT has shown the best response.
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI) are useful for higher severity of symptoms and complications with comorbidities or when cognitive or emotional ability are insufficient to cooperate in CBT. If quality CBT is not available, treatment with medications alone while psychotherapy referral is pursued is a reasonable choice.
SSRI (paroxetine, fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, sertraline, citalopram and escitalopram) treatment is generally thought to show a favorable risk-to-benefit ratio in OCD. Side effects such as activation, akathisia, disinhibition, impulsivity, and hyperactivity may be seen. Monitoring of height may be advisable due to possible growth suppression associated with the SSRIs.
If an SSRI trial is unsuccessful, clomipramine can be tried next. Combination therapy using an SSRI with an antipsychotic medication (risperidone or another atypical antipsychotic) is also considered especially with specific comorbidities, for example, in tic disorders. Antipsychotics are also useful when the intrusive thoughts associated with OCD become nearly delusional in nature. Psychostimulants are used with comorbid ADHD, even though there is a risk that stimulants may increase obsessional symptoms and tics.
Most responders exhibit partial response only, and as many as one third of young people with OCD are refractory to treatment. Poor prognostic factors include comorbid psychiatric illness and a poor initial treatment response.
Deep brain stimulation of the basal ganglia, through surgically implanted electrodes and surgical interventions (anterior capsulotomy, anterior cingulotomy, subcaudate tractotomy, and limbic leucotomy), are reserved for very severe cases or highly refractory cases.
The differential diagnosis for OCD includes psychotic disorders, complex tics, other anxiety disorders, and obsessive-compulsive personality disorder. Often a patient with OCD recognizesthat the intrusive thoughts are created by their own brain, whereaspsychotic patients feel they are not created by them. This may beless clear in youth. A delusional fixation on appearance in body dysmorphic disorder and impulsive hair pulling to relieve anxiety or tension in trichotillomania can be confused with OCD. Obsessive-compulsive personality disorder is a character styleinvolving preoccupation with orderliness, perfectionism, andcontrol. No true obsessions or compulsions are present.
Pervasive developmental disorders, also known as autism spectrum disorders (ASDs), consist of five disorders: autism, Asperger syndrome, childhood disintegrative disorder, Rett syndrome, and pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified.
Onset of these disorders is in infancy and preschool years. Hallmarks of these disorders include impaired communication and impaired social interaction as well as stereotypic behaviors, interests, and activities. Mental retardation is common, with a few children showing remarkable isolated abilities (savant or splinter skills).
ASDs are seen in less than 1% of the population with equal prevalence among all racial and ethnic groups. The prevalence is greater in boys (except for Rett syndrome), but girls with the disorders tend to be more severely affected.
Differentiating features of the pervasive developmental disorders are listed in Table 20-1.
Treatment of ASD is symptomatic and multimodal. Atpresent there are no treatments for the core symptoms ofASDs. Antipsychotics (risperidone, olanzapine, quetiapine,aripiprazole, ziprasidone, paliperidone, haloperidol, thioridazine) are used for aggression, agitation, irritability, hyperactivity, and self-injurious behavior. Anticonvulsants and lithium can be used for aggression. Naltrexone has been usedto decrease self-injurious behavior, presumably by blockingendogenous opioids. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors are given for anxiety, perseveration, compulsions, depression,and social isolation. Stimulants are useful for hyperactivityand inattention (better response with Asperger syndrome).There are reports of significant worsening of irritability andaggression in some patients treated with stimulants. Alpha-2agonists (guanfacine, clonidine) are used for hyperactivity,aggression, and sleep dysregulation, although melatonin isfirst-line medication for sleep dysregulation. Behavioralmanagement training for parents is useful in teaching protocols to help their child learn appropriate behavior. Special educational services should be individualized for the child. Occupational, speech, and physical therapy are oftenrequired. Referral for disability services and support is oftenwarranted. Potentially useful therapies tailored to the individual include applied behavioral analysis, discrete trialtraining, and structured teaching. There is a need for family support groups and individual supportive counseling for parents. The prognosis for autism is guarded. There are no known methods of primary prevention. Treatment and educational interventions are aimed at decreasing morbidity andmaximizing function.
Autism, the prototypic pervasive developmental disorder, ischaracterized by lifelong marked impairment in reciprocal socialinteraction, communication, and a restricted range of activitiesand interests (Table 20-2). Approximately 20% of parents reportrelatively normal development until 1 or 2 years of age, followedby a steady or sudden decline. If no clinical manifestations ofthe disorder are present by 3 years of age, Rett syndrome orchildhood disintegrative disorder need to be considered. As aninfant, there is delayed or absent social smiling. The young childmay spend hours in solitary play and be socially withdrawnwith indifference to attempts at communication. Patients withautism often are not able to understand nonverbal communication (eye contact, facial expressions) and do not interact withpeople as significantly different from objects. Speech often isdelayed and, when present, it is frequently dominated by echolalia (sometimes mistaken as a sign of obsessive-compulsivedisorder [OCD]), perseveration (confused with psychosis or
Table 20-1 Pervasive Developmental Disorder: Characteristics FEATURE AUTISM ASPERGER RETT CDD PDD-NOS Epidemiology 10 cases per 10,000; 5:1 male-to-female ratio 2.5 per 10,000; 5:1 male-to-female ratio 0.44 to 2.1 per 10,000; diagnosed only in girls; associated with MECP2 gene mutation 0.11 per 10,000 2 to 16 per 10,000
CDD, Childhood disintegrative disorder; PDD-NOS, pervasive developmental disorder-not otherwise specified.
OCD), pronoun reversal, nonsense rhyming, and other abnormalities. Intense absorbing interests, ritualistic behavior, andcompulsive routines are characteristic, and their disruptionoften invokes tantrum or rage reactions. Head banging, teethgrinding, rocking, diminished responsiveness to pain and external stimuli, and self-mutilation may be noted.
Although the etiology of autistic disorder is unknown, there is an increased risk of autistic disorder in siblings compared to the general population. Twin studies have revealed high levels of concordance for monozygotic twins. Family studies reveal prevalence rates of between 2% and 10% in siblings, and, when absent, there may be increased risk for language, learning, and social development problems.
It is proposed that the brain connectivity is adversely affected. Abnormalities in the limbic system, temporal, and frontal lobes have been suggested. Some postmortem studies reveal abnormalities in the brain microarchitecture, size, and neuronal packing. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies show hypoactivity of the fusiform gyrus of the amygdala, a location involved in face processing tasks and facial expression recognition involved in social and affective judgments.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends screening for autism at 18 and 24 months of age. Comprehensive testing should be done if there is an affected sibling or parental, other caregiver, or pediatric concern.
There are no definitive laboratory studies for autistic disorder, but they can help rule out other diagnoses. A hearing test (may account for the language deficits), chromosomal testing (to identify fragile X syndrome, tubular sclerosis, and genetic polymorphisms), congenital viral infections, and metabolic disorders (phenylketonuria) should be performed. Electroencephalography abnormalities may be seen in 20% to 25% of children with autism but are not diagnostic. Psychological tests in children with autism often show strengths in nonverbal tasks (e.g., puzzles) and marked deficiency in verbal cognitive abilities. IQ is usually low, though savant skills and hyperlexia (a precocious interest in letters and numbers) are sometimes observed. Speech pathology consultation can be helpful in evaluating the communication difficulties.
Common comorbidities are mental retardation (in up to 80%), seizure disorder (in 25%), anxiety disorders, OCD, and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Seizures often start around the onset of puberty. Higher IQ and better language skills are related to improved prognosis. Good communication by the age of 6 years and average nonverbal cognitive skills predict the likelihood of living independently or in a less structured group living situation.
The earliest studies of autism suggested a relatively poor prognosis, with only a small number of individuals (1% to 2%) being able to function independently as adults. Recent research reveals major gains, but not a cure, with early diagnosis and treatment.
Schizophrenia generally presents in adolescence or early adulthood. The same diagnostic criteria are applied as in adults but must be interpreted in terms of the developmental stage of the child (Table 20-3).
Childhood-onset schizophrenia is a rare disorder (<1 in 10,000 children) and usually indicates a more severe form of schizophrenia. The frequency increases between 13 and 18 years of age. Boys tend to be affected about twice as often as girls, regardless of ethnic or other cultural factors. The etiology of schizophrenia is unknown. Numerous studies have shown genetic predisposition and linkages for the disorder. In addition, family studies consistently show a higher risk in monozygotic twins compared with dizygotic twins and siblings. First-degree relatives of patients with schizophrenia have a 10-fold higher risk.
The symptoms of schizophrenia typically fall into four broad categories: • Positive symptoms include hallucinations and delusions. Hallucinations are auditory or visual misperceptions that occur without external stimuli. Delusions are fixed false
A. Six or more items from (1), (2), and (3), with at least two from (1) and one each from (2) and (3) 1. Qualitative impairment in social interaction, as manifested by at least two of the following: a.
Marked impairment in the use of multiple nonverbal behaviors, such as eye-to-eye gaze, facial expression, body postures, and gestures to regulate social interaction b.
Failure to develop peer relationships appropriate to developmental level c.
A lack of spontaneously seeking to share enjoyment, interests, or achievements with other people (e.g., by a lack of showing, bringing, or pointing out objects of interest) d.
Lack of social or emotional reciprocity 2. Qualitative impairments in communication as manifested by at least one of the following: a.
Delay in, or total lack of, the development of spoken language (not accompanied by attempts to compensate through alternative modes of communication, such as gesture or mime) b.
In individuals with adequate speech, marked impairment in the ability to initiate or sustain a conversation with others c.
Stereotyped and repetitive use of language or idiosyncratic language d.
Lack of varied, spontaneous make-believe play or social imitative play appropriate to developmental level 3. Restricted repetitive and stereotyped patterns of behavior, interests, and activities, as manifested by at least one of the following: a.
Encompassing preoccupation with stereotyped and restricted patterns of interest that is abnormal either in intensity or focus b.
Apparently inflexible adherence to specific, nonfunctional routines or rituals c.
Stereotyped and repetitive motor mannerisms (e.g., handor finger-flapping or twisting or complex whole body movements) d.
Persistent preoccupation with parts of objectsB. Delays or abnormal functioning in at least one of the following areas, with onset before age 3 yr 1.
Language as used in social communication 3.C. The disturbance is not better accounted for by Rett syndrome or childhood disintegrative disorder.
beliefs and can be bizarre or non-bizarre, depending on cultural norms.
• Negative symptoms include a lack of motivation and social interactions and flat effect. Negative symptoms are most frequent in early childhood and later adolescence. Children with high IQs often show more positive and fewer negative symptoms than children with low IQs.
• Disorganization of thoughts and behavior can cause significant impairment.
• Cognitive impairment is common and is perhaps the most disabling feature of schizophrenia, causing marked social and functional impairment.
A. Characteristic symptoms: two of the following, each present for a significant portion of time during a 1-month period (or less if successfully treated) 1.
Disorganized speech (e.g., frequent derailment or incoherence) 4.Negative symptoms (i.e., affective flattening, alogia, or avolition)Note: Only one criterion A symptom is required if delusions are bizarre or hallucinations consist of a voice keeping up a running commentary on the person’s behavior or thoughts or two or more voices conversing with each other.
B. Social/occupational dysfunction: for a significant portion of the time since the onset of the disturbance, major areas of functioning, such as work, interpersonal relations, or self-care, are markedly below the level achieved before the onset (or when the onset is in childhood or adolescence, failure to achieve expected level of interpersonal, academic, or occupational achievement).
C. Duration: continuous signs of the disturbance persist for at least 6 months with at least 1 month of symptoms (or less if successfully treated) that meet criterion A (i.e., active-phase symptoms) and may include periods of prodromal or residual symptoms. During prodromal or residual periods, signs of disturbance may be manifested by only negative symptoms or symptoms listed in criterion A present in an attenuated form (e.g., odd beliefs, unusual perceptual experiences).
D. Schizoaffective and mood disorder exclusion: schizoaffective disorder and mood disorder with psychotic features have been ruled out because either (1) no major depressive, manic, or mixed episodes have occurred concurrently with the active-phase symptoms or (2) if mood episodes have occurred during active-phase symptoms, their total duration has been brief relative to the duration of the active and residual periods.
E. The disturbance is not due to the direct physiologic effects of a drug abuse, a medication, or a general medical condition.
F. If there is a history of autistic disorder or another pervasive developmental disorder, the additional diagnosis of schizophrenia is made only if prominent delusions or hallucinations also are present for at least 1 month (or less if successfully treated).
Classification of longitudinal course (can be applied only after at least 1 year has elapsed since the initial onset of active-phase symptoms):
Episodic with inter-episode residual symptoms (episodes are defined by the reemergence of prominent psychotic symptoms); also specify if: with prominent negative symptoms.
Episodic with no inter-episode residual symptomsContinuous (prominent psychotic symptoms are present throughout the period of observation); also specify if: with prominent negative symptoms.
There are five subtypes of schizophrenia: paranoid, disorganized, catatonic, undifferentiated, and residual.
Paranoid type: prominent hallucinations and delusions with relatively normal cognition. The delusions are often persecutory, but other types of delusions also may occur.
Disorganized type: disorganized speech, disorganized behavior, and flat or inappropriate affect.
Catatonic type: prominent psychomotor abnormalities that may include extreme inactivity or excessive motor activity. Cataplexy (waxy flexibility) is rare in children and adolescents.
Undifferentiated type: case in which a patient meets the diagnostic criteria for schizophrenia but not paranoid, disorganized, or catatonic type.
Residual type: clinical situation in which full diagnostic criteria have been met previously but no current, prominent, positive symptoms.
To meet criteria for diagnosing schizophrenia, clinical symptoms should be present for at least 6 months. If symptoms are present for less than 1 month, the condition is called a brief psychotic disorder. If symptoms are present for more than 1 month but less than 6 months, a diagnosis of schizophreniform disorder is made. Psychotic symptoms that do not meet full diagnostic criteria for schizophrenia but are clinically significant are diagnosed as psychotic disorder not otherwise specified.
There are several disorders that have to be distinguished from schizophrenia. These include the following:
Schizoaffective disorder is diagnosed when a person has clear symptoms of schizophrenia for at least 2 weeks without active symptoms of depression or mania. These affective syndromes occur at other times, even when psychotic symptoms are present.
Major depression with psychotic features and bipolar disorder with psychotic features are diagnoses made when psychotic symptoms occur during the course of depression or mania only. Psychotic disorder due to a general medical condition describes psychotic symptoms that are judged to be the direct result of a general medical condition.
Substance-induced psychotic disorders have psychotic symptoms related to drug or alcohol ingestion.
Shared psychotic disorder, folie à deux, occurs when delusional symptoms from one person influence delusions, with similar content, in another person.
Other disorders in the differential diagnoses are autism, childhood disintegrative disorder (Heller syndrome), Asperger syndrome, drug-induced psychosis, and organic brain disorders.
No diagnostic tests or imaging studies are specific forschizophrenia. It is a clinical diagnosis of exclusion. Obtaining a family history with attention to mental illness is critical. The workup of schizophrenia includes physical and neurologic examinations, MRI, electroencephalography (torule out epilepsy, especially temporal lobe epilepsy), drugscreening, and metabolic screening for endocrinopathies.Evaluation to rule out Wilson disease and delirium is also indicated. Psychotic symptoms in younger children must bedifferentiated from manifestations of normal vivid fantasylife or abuse-related symptoms. Youth with posttraumatic stress disorder often have vivid recollections and nightmaresrelated to abuse but sometimes are less specific and caninclude nightmares with other negative topics. Psychological testing can be helpful in identifying psychotic thought processes.
Treatment is based on a multimodal approach, including use of antipsychotic medications. First-line drugs are atypical antipsychotics (e.g., risperidone, olanzapine, quetiapine, aripiprazole, ziprasidone, and paliperidone). Second-line medications are typical antipsychotics (e.g., haloperidol, thiothixene, chlorpromazine, trifluoperazine, loxapine, and molindone). It is likely that the newer antipsychotics approved for adults will also work in youth. However, these are not yet approved in youth by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Anti-psychotics can be augmented with lithium or another mood stabilizer. Clozapine or electroconvulsive therapy is generally reserved for resistant cases.
Psychosocial treatments, including skills training, supportive psychotherapy, behavior modification, and cognitive-behavioral therapy, are all appropriate and should be considered as needed for individual patients. Attention should be paid to psychoeducation for parents and the child about the disease and its treatments. School interventions are needed to ensure that any special learning needs are addressed.
The course of illness for schizophrenia varies in exacerbations and remissions of psychotic symptoms. The poorest prognosis is seen if the onset is at an age younger than 13 years, with poor premorbid function, when marked negative symptoms are present, and when a family history of schizophrenia exists.
American Psychiatric Association (APA): Practice guideline for the treatment of patients with panic disorder, ed 2, Washing ton (DC), 2009 Jan, American Psychiatric Association (APA).
Available from the PsychiatryOnline website. Available at http://psychiatryonline.org/content.aspx?bookid=28§ionid=1680635Hagerman RJ, Berry-Kravis E, Kaufmann WE, et al: Advances in the treat ment of fragile X syndrome, Pediatrics 123(1):378–390, 2009
Huyser C, Veltman DJ, de Haan E, et al: Paediatric obsessive-compulsive disorder, a neurodevelopmental disorder? Evidence from neuroimaging,
Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 33(6):818–830, 2009Ibeziako PI, Shaw J, DeMaso DR: Psychosomatic illness. In Kliegman RM,
Stanton BF, St. Geme J, et al: Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics, 20, ed 19,
Philadelphia, 2011, Elsevier, pp 67–69Ponniah K, Hollon SD: Empirically supported psychological treatments for adult acute stress disorder and posttraumatic stress disorder: a review,
Depress Anxiety 26(12):1086–1109, 2009Shattuck PT, Durkin M, Maenner M, et al: Timing of identification among children with an autism spectrum disorder: findings from a popu lation-based surveillance study, J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 48(5):474–483, 2009
Silber TJ: Somatization disorders: diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis, Pedi atr Rev 32(2):56–63, 2011 quiz 63−64
Cindy W. Christian and Nathan J. Blum 5Failure to thrive (FTT) is a descriptive term given to malnourished infants and young children who fail to meet expected standards of growth. FTT is most often used to describe malnutrition related to environmental or psychosocial causes. In many children with inadequate growth, however, organic and environmental contributors coexist, underscoring the importance of assessing potential medical, nutritional, developmental, psychosocial, and environmental contributors in all cases.
FTT is often diagnosed by weight that falls or remains below the 3rd percentile for age; decreases, crossing two major percentile lines on the growth chart over time; or is less than 80% of the median weight for the height of the child. Caveats to these definitions exist. According to growth chart standards, 3% of the population naturally falls below the 3rd percentile. These children, who typically have short stature or constitutional delay of growth, usually are proportional (normal weight for height). Additionally in the first few years of life, large fluctuations in percentile position can occur in normal children. Changes in weight should be assessed in relation to height (length) and head circumference.
Weight that decreases from a disproportionately high percentile to one that is proportional causes no concern, but weight that decreases to a disproportionately low percentile is of concern. Allowances must be made for prematurity; weight corrections are needed until 24 months of age, height corrections until 40 months of age, and head circumference corrections until 18 months of age. Although some growth variants can be difficult to distinguish from FTT, growth velocity and height-for-weight determinations can be useful in distinguishing the cause. In children with FTT, malnutrition initially results in wasting (deficiency in weight gain). Stunting (deficiency in linear growth) generally occurs after months of malnutrition, and head circumference is spared except with chronic, severe malnutrition. FTT that is symmetric (proportional weight, height/length, and head circumference) suggests long-standing malnutrition, chromosomal abnormalities, congenital infection, or teratogenic exposures. FTT is a common problem in pediatrics, affecting 5% to 10% of young children, 3% to 5% of children admitted to hospitals, and 15% of children living in poverty and foster care.
Because possible causes of growth failure are diverse and oftenmultifactorial, the management of FTT begins with a carefulsearch for its etiology (Table 21-1). The common causes ofFTT vary by age, which should be reflected in the evaluation(Table 21-2). In most cases, a comprehensive history and physical examination are sufficient to suggest or eliminate medicaldisease as the primary cause of FTT. Medical diseases are diagnosed in fewer than 50% of children hospitalized for growthfailure and even less frequently in children managed in the outpatient setting. Growth failure is often a manifestation of moreextensive family problems. It is clinically useful to categorize thecauses of malnutrition into inadequate nutritional intake, inadequate nutrient absorption, or increased metabolic demand.
Available @ StudentConsult.comFailure to ThriveA medical history should include prenatal history prematurity, birth size (weight, length, and head circumference), as well as family and travel history. Indicators of medical diseases, such as vomiting, diarrhea, fever, respiratory symptoms, and fatigue, should be noted. A careful diet history is essential. Lactation problems in breastfed infants and improper formula preparation are frequent causes of growth failure early in infancy. It is crucial to evaluate intake of solid foods and liquids for older infants and children. Due to parental dietary beliefs, some children have inappropriately restricted diets; others drink excessive amounts of fruit juice, leading to malabsorption or anorexia. The child’s daily meal schedule (timing, frequency, location) should also be noted. Mealtime practices, especially distractions that interfere with completing meals, can influence growth. A complete psychosocial assessment of the child and family is required. Child factors (temperament, development), parental factors (depression, domestic violence, social isolation, mental retardation, substance abuse), and environmental and societal factors (poverty, unemployment, illiteracy, lead toxicity) all may contribute to growth failure.
A complete physical examination and developmental screening should assess signs of inflicted injury; oral or dental problems; indicators of pulmonary, cardiac, or gastrointestinal
Cystic fibrosis and other causes of pancreatic insufficiency Celiac disease Other malabsorption syndromes Gastrointestinal reflux
Chromosomal abnormalities, genetic syndromes Congenital heart disease Gastrointestinal abnormalities (e.g., pyloric stenosis, malrotation) Vascular rings Upper airway obstruction Dental caries Congenital immunodeficiency syndromes
Human immunodeficiency virus Tuberculosis Hepatitis Urinary tract infection, chronic sinusitis, parasitic infection
Thyroid disease Adrenal or pituitary disease Aminoaciduria, organic aciduria Galactosemia
Celiac disease Food intolerance Child neglect Delayed introduction of age-appropriate foods Juice consumption disease; and dysmorphic features that may suggest a genetic or teratogenic cause for growth failure. A complete neurologic examination may reveal spasticity or hypotonia, which can have untoward effects on feeding and growth. Physical findings related to malnutrition include decreased subcutaneous fat, decreased muscle mass, dermatitis, hepatomegaly, cheilosis, or edema (see Chapter 30). Additionally children with FTT have more otitis media, respiratory, and gastrointestinal infections than age-matched controls; severely malnourished children are at risk for a variety of serious infections.
The history and physical examination findings should guidethe laboratory evaluation. Simple screening tests are recommended to identify common illnesses that cause growth failureand to search for medical problems resulting from malnutrition. Initial tests may include a complete blood count; screening for iron deficiency anemia and lead toxicity; urinalysis,urine culture, and serum electrolytes to assess renal infection ordysfunction; thyroid stimulating hormone; liver function tests;and a protein purified derivative test to screen for tuberculosis.Human immunodeficiency virus testing may also be indicated.For children with diarrhea, abdominal pain, or malodorousstools, a stool sample for culture and ova and parasites may be indicated. A review of the child’s newborn screen may also bewarranted. Observation during feeding and home visitation, ifpossible, is of great diagnostic value in assessing feeding problems, food preferences, mealtime distractions, unusual or disruptive parent-child interactions, and the home environment.
Treatment must address the child’s nutritional requirementsand the social issues of the family. Initial treatment should focuson the nutritional and medical management of the child whileengaging the family in the treatment plan. Parents of malnourished children may feel personally responsible and threatenedby the diagnosis of FTT. Parents may be so depressed or dysfunctional they cannot focus on their child’s needs; they maynot recognize the psychosocial and family contributors to themalnutrition. These issues can have a profound effect on thesuccess of treatment, and they need to be addressed.
Children with mild malnutrition whose cause is easily identified can be managed by the primary care physician and family. In more challenging cases, a multidisciplinary team, including pediatricians, nutritionists, developmental specialists, nurses, and social workers, improves nutritional outcome in children with FTT. Most children with FTT can be treated in the outpatient setting. Children with severe malnutrition, underlying diagnoses that require hospitalization for evaluation or treatment, or whose safety is in jeopardy because of maltreatment require hospitalization. Admitting children to the hospital to induce and document weight gain is not recommended unless intensive outpatient evaluation and intervention has failed or the social circumstances are a contraindication for attempting outpatient management.
Nutritional management is the cornerstone of treatment, regardless of the etiology. Children with FTT may require more than 1.5 times the expected calorie and protein intake for their age for catch-up growth. Children with FTT who are anorexic and picky eaters may not be able to consume this amount in volume and require calorically dense foods. For formula-fed infants, the concentration of formula can be adjusted appropriately (Table 21-3). For toddlers dietary changes should include increasing the caloric density of favorite foods by adding butter, oil, sour cream, peanut butter, or other high-calorie foods. High-calorie oral supplements (30 cal/oz) are often well tolerated by toddlers. In some cases, specific carbohydrate, fat, or protein additives are used to boost calories by increasing calories without increasing volume requirements. Additionally vitamin and mineral supplementation is needed, especially during catch-up growth. In general the simplest and least costly approach to dietary change is warranted.
Depending on the severity of the malnutrition, initiation of catch-up growth may take 2 weeks. Initial weight gain two to three times normal growth can be seen. Weight improvement precedes improvement in stature. For children with chronic, severe malnutrition, many months are needed to reverse all trends in growth. Although many children with FTT eventually reach normal size, they remain at risk for developmental, learning, and behavioral problems.
Malnutrition causes defects in host defenses. Children with FTT may suffer from a malnutrition-infection cycle, in which 5.5 scoops powdered formula 8 27 kcal/oz 13 oz liquid concentrate 6 27 kcal/oz
From Jew R, editor: Department of Pharmacy Services Pharmacy Handbook and Formulary, 2000–2001. Hudson, Ohio, 2000, Department of Pharmacy
Services, p 422. *Final concentrations are reached by adding formula to water. One scoop of powdered formula = one measuring tablespoon. For healthy infants, formulas are prepared to provide 20 kcal/oz.
recurrent infections exacerbate malnutrition, leading to greatersusceptibility to infection. Children with FTT must be evaluated and treated promptly for infection and followed closely.
During starvation, the body slows metabolic processes and growth to minimize the need for nutrients and uses its stores of glycogen, fat, and protein to maintain normal metabolic requirements. The body also generally maintains homeostasis and normal serum concentrations of electrolytes. With the rapid reinstitution of feeding after starvation, fluid and electrolyte homeostasis may be lost. Changes in serum electrolyte concentrations and the associated complications are collectively termed the refeeding syndrome. These changes typically affect phosphorus, potassium, calcium, and magnesium and can result in life-threatening cardiac, pulmonary, or neurologic problems. Infants and children with marasmus, kwashiorkor, and anorexia nervosa and those who have had prolonged fasting are at risk for refeeding syndrome. Refeeding syndrome can be avoided by slow institution of nutrition, close monitoring of serum electrolytes during the initial days of feeding, and prompt replacement of depleted electrolytes.
Occasionally children who live in psychological deprivation develop short stature with or without concomitant FTT or delayed puberty, a syndrome called psychosocial short stature. The signs and symptoms include polyphagia, polydipsia, hoarding and stealing of food, gorging and vomiting, drinking from toilet bowls, and other notable behaviors. Affected children are often shy and passive and are typically depressed and socially withdrawn. Endocrine dysfunction is often identified in affected children, who may have decreased growth hormone secretion and a muted response to exogenous growth hormone. Removal of the child from the adverse environment typically results in rapid improvement in endocrine function and subsequent rapid somatic and pubertal growth of the child. The prognosis for children with psychosocial short stature depends on the age at diagnosis and the degree of psychological trauma. Early identification and removal from the environment portends a healthy prognosis. Those diagnosed in later childhood or adolescence may not reach their genetic potential for growth and have a poorer psychosocial prognosis.
Few social problems have as profound an impact on the well-being of children as child abuse and neglect. Each year in the United States, 3 million reports of suspected maltreatment are made to child welfare agencies. Approximately 1 million of these reports are substantiated after investigation by Child Protective Services (CPS). These reports represent only a small portion of the children who suffer from maltreatment. Parental surveys indicate that several million adults admit to physical violence against their children each year, and many more adults report abusive experiences as children. Federal and state laws define child abuse and neglect. Each state determines the process of investigating abuse, protecting children, and holding perpetrators accountable for their actions or inactions. Adverse childhood events, such as child abuse and neglect, increase the risk of the individual’s developing behaviors in adolescence and adulthood that predict adult morbidity and early mortality. The ability to recognize child maltreatment and effectively advocate for the protection and safety of a child is a great challenge in pediatric practice that can have a profound influence on the health and future well-being of a child.
Child abuse is parental behavior destructive to the normal physical or emotional development of a child. Because personal definitions of abuse vary according to religious and cultural beliefs, individual experiences, and family upbringing, various physicians have different thresholds for reporting suspected abuse to CPS. In every state, physicians are mandated by law to identify and report all cases of suspected child abuse and neglect. It is the responsibility of CPS to investigate reports of suspected abuse to ensure the ongoing safety of the child. State laws also define intentional or reckless acts that cause harm to a child as crimes. Law enforcement investigates crimes such as sexual abuse and serious physical abuse or neglect for possible criminal charges against a perpetrator.
Child abuse and neglect are often considered in broad categories that include physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, and neglect. Neglect is the most common, accounting for approximately half of the reports made to child welfare agencies. Child neglect is defined by omissions that prevent a child’s basic needs from being met. These needs include adequate food, clothing, supervision, housing, health care, education, and nurturance. Child abuse and neglect result from a complex interaction of individual, family, and societal risk factors. Although some risk factors, such as parental substance abuse, maternal depression, and domestic violence, are strong risk factors for maltreatment, they are better considered as broadly defined markers to alert a physician to a potential risk, rather than determinants of specific abuse and neglect.
The ability to identify victims of child abuse varies by the ageof the patient and the type of maltreatment sustained. Childrenwho are victims of sexual abuse are often brought for medical care after the child makes a disclosure, and the diagnosis isstraightforward. Physically abused infants may be brought for medical evaluation of irritability or lethargy, without a disclosure of trauma. If the infant’s injuries are not severe or visible, the diagnosis may be missed. Approximately one third of infantswith abusive head trauma initially are misdiagnosed by unsuspecting physicians, only to be identified after sustaining furtherinjury. Although physicians are inherently trusting of parents, aconstant awareness of the possibility of abuse is needed.
Available @ StudentConsult.comThe physical abuse of children by parents affects children of all ages. It is estimated that 1% to 2% of children are physically abused during childhood and that approximately 1500 children are fatally injured each year. Although mothers are most frequently reported as the perpetrators of physical abuse, serious injuries, such as head or abdominal trauma, are more likely to be inflicted by fathers or maternal boyfriends. The diagnosis of physical abuse can be made easily if the child is battered, has obvious external injuries, or is capable of providing a history of the abuse. In many cases, the diagnosis is not obvious. The history provided by the parent is often inaccurate because the parent is unwilling to provide the correct history or is a nonoffending parent who is unaware of the abuse. The child may be too young or ill to provide a history of the assault. An older child may be too scared to do so or may have a strong sense of loyalty to the perpetrator.
A diagnosis of physical abuse initially is suggested by a history that seems incongruent with the clinical presentation ofthe child (Table 22-1). Although injury to any organ systemcan occur from physical abuse, some injuries are more common. Bruises are universal findings in healthy ambulatorychildren but also are among the most common injury identified in abused children. Bruises suggestive of abuse includethose that are patterned, such as a slap mark on the face orlooped extension cord marks on the body (Fig. 22-1). Bruises
A child presents for medical care with significant injuries, and a history of trauma is denied, especially if the child is an infant or toddler.
The history provided by the caregiver does not explain the injuries identified.
The history of the injury changes significantly over time.A history of self-inflicted trauma does not correlate with the child’s developmental abilities.
There is an unexpected or unexplained delay in seeking medical care.
Multiple organ systems are injured, including injuries of various ages.
The injuries are pathognomonic for child abuse.Figure 22-3 A, Metaphyseal fracture of the distal tibia in a 3-month-old infant admitted to the hospital with severe head injury. There also is periosteal new bone formation of that tibia, perhaps from a previous injury. B, Bone scan of same infant. Initial chest x-ray showed a single fracture of the right posterior fourth rib. A radionuclide bone scan performed 2 days later revealed multiple previously unrecognized fractures of the posterior and lateral ribs. C, Follow-up radiographs 2 weeks later showed multiple healing rib fractures. This pattern of fracture is highly specific for child abuse. The mechanism of these injuries is usually violent squeezing of the chest.
in healthy children generally are distributed over bony prominences; bruises that occur in an unusual distribution, such as isolated to the torso, ears or neck, should raise concern. Bruises in nonambulatory infants are unusual, occurring inless than 2% of healthy infants seen for routine medical care.Occasionally a subtle bruise may be the only external clue toabuse and can be associated with significant internal injury.
Burns are common pediatric injuries and usually represent preventable unintentional trauma (see Chapter 44). Approximately 10% of children hospitalized with burns are victims of abuse. Inflicted burns can be the result of contact with hot objects (irons, radiators, or cigarettes) but more commonly the result of scalding injuries (Fig. 22-2). Hot tap water burns in infants and toddlers are sometimes the result of intentional immersion injuries, which often occur around toilet training
Figure 22-1 Multiple looped cord marks on a 2-year-old abused child who presented to the hospital with multiple untreated burns to the back, arms, and feet.
issues. These burns have clear lines of demarcation, uniformity of burn depth, and characteristic pattern.
Inflicted fractures occur more commonly in infants and young children. Although diaphyseal fractures are most common in abuse, they are nonspecific for inflicted injury. Fractures that should raise suspicion for abuse include fractures that are unexplained; occur in young, nonambulatory children; or involve multiple bones. Certain fractures have a high specificity for abuse, such as rib, metaphyseal, scapular, vertebral, or other unusual fractures (Fig. 22-3). Some metabolic diseases can be confused with abuse and should be considered in the differential diagnosis when appropriate.
Abdominal injury is an uncommon but serious form of physical abuse. Blunt trauma to the abdomen is the primary mechanism of injury, and infants and toddlers are the most common victims. Injuries to solid organs, such as the liver or pancreas, predominate and hollow viscus injury occurs more commonly with inflicted trauma than accidental. Even
Figure 22-2 A 1-year-old child brought to the hospital with a history that she sat on a hot radiator. Suspicious injuries such as this require a full medical and social investigation, including a skeletal survey to look for occult skeletal injuries and a child welfare evaluation.
Figure 22-4 Acute subdural hemorrhage in the posterior interhemi-spheric fissure in an abused infant.
in severe cases of trauma, there may be no bruising to the abdominal wall. The lack of external trauma, along with the usual inaccurate history, can cause delay in diagnosis. A careful evaluation often reveals additional injuries. Abdominal trauma is the second leading cause of mortality from physical abuse, although the prognosis is generally good for children who survive the acute assault.
Abusive head trauma is the leading cause of mortality and morbidity from physical abuse. Most victims are young; infants predominate. Shaking and blunt impact trauma cause injuries. The perpetrators are most commonly fathers and boyfriends, and the trauma typically is precipitated by the perpetrator’s intolerance to a crying, fussy infant. Victims present with neurologic symptoms ranging from lethargy and irritability to seizures, apnea, and coma. Unsuspecting physicians misdiagnose approximately one third of infants, and of these, more than 25% are reinjured before diagnosis. A common finding on presentation is subdural hemorrhage, often associated with progressive cerebral edema (Fig. 22-4). Hypoxic-ischemic injury is a significant contributor to the pathophysiology of the brain injury. Associated findings include retinal hemorrhages (seen in many, but not all, victims) and skeletal trauma, including rib and classic metaphyseal fractures. At the time of diagnosis, many head-injured infants have evidence of previous injury. Survivors are at high risk for permanent neurologic sequelae.
The extensive differential diagnosis of physical abuse depends on the type of injury (Table 22-2). For children who present with pathognomonic injuries to multiple organ systems, an exhaustive search for medical diagnoses is unwarranted. Children with unusual medical diseases have been incorrectly diagnosed as victims of abuse, emphasizing the need for careful, objective assessments of all children. All infants and young toddlers who present with suspicious
Genetic diseases Ehlers-Danlos syndrome Familial dysautonomia (with congenital indifference to pain) Vasculitis Henoch-Schönlein purpura
Dermatologic Phytophotodermatitis Stevens-Johnson syndrome Fixed drug eruption Epidermolysis bullosa Severe diaper dermatitis, including Ex-Lax ingestion
Hematologic disorders Vitamin K deficiency (hemorrhagic disease of the newborn) Hemophilia
Glutaric aciduria type I, Menkes kinky hair syndromeFrom Christian CW: Child abuse physical. In Schwartz MW, editor: The 5-minute Pediatric Consult, ed 3, Philadelphia, 2003, Lippincott Williams &
*The differential diagnosis of physical abuse varies by the type of injury and organ system involved.
injuries should undergo a skeletal survey looking for occult or healing fractures. One third of young infants with multiple fractures, facial injuries, or rib fractures may have occult head trauma. Brain imaging may be indicated for these infants.
Child sexual abuse is the involvement of children in sexual activities that they cannot understand, for which they are developmentally unprepared and cannot give consent to, and that violates societal taboos. Sexual abuse can be a single event, but more commonly it is chronic. Most perpetrators are adults or adolescents who are known to the child and who have real or perceived power over the child. Most sexual abuse involves manipulation and coercion and does not involve physical violence. Although assaults by strangers occur, they are infrequent. Perpetrators are more often male than female and include parents, relatives, teachers, family friends, members of the clergy, and other individuals who have access to children. All perpetrators strive to keep the child from disclosing the abuse and often do so with coercion or threats.
Approximately 80% of victims are girls, although the sexual abuse of boys is underrecognized and underreported. Children generally come to attention after they have made a disclosure of their abuse. They may disclose to a nonoffending parent, sibling, relative, friend, or teacher. Children commonly delay disclosure for many weeks, months, or years after their abuse, especially if the perpetrator has ongoing access to the child. Sexual abuse also should be considered in children who have behavioral problems, although no behavior is pathognomonic. Hypersexual behaviors should raise the possibility of abuse, although some children with these behaviors are exposed to inappropriate sexual behaviors on television or videos or by witnessing adult sexual activity. Sexual abuse occasionally is recognized by the discovery of an unexplained vaginal, penile, or anal injury or by the discovery of a sexually transmitted infection.
In most cases, the diagnosis of sexual abuse is made by the history obtained from the child. In cases in which the sexual abuse has been reported to CPS or the police (or both), and the child has been interviewed before the medical visit, a complete, forensic interview at the physician’s office is not needed. Many communities have systems in place to ensure quality investigative interviews of sexually abused children. However if no other professional has spoken to the child about the abuse, or the child makes a spontaneous disclosure to the physician, the child should be interviewed with questions that are open-ended and non-leading. In all cases, the child should be questioned about medical issues related to the abuse, such as timing of the assault and symptoms (bleeding, discharge, or genital pain).
The physical examination should be complete, with careful inspection of the genitals and anus. Most sexually abused children have a normal genital examination at the time of the medical evaluation. Genital injuries are seen more commonly in children who present for medical care within 72 hours of their most recent assault and in children who report genital bleeding, but they are diagnosed in only 5% to 10% of sexually abused children. Many types of sexual abuse (fondling, vulvar coitus, oral genital contact) do not injure genital tissue, and genital mucosa heals so rapidly and completely that injuries often heal by the time of the medical examination. For children who present within 72 hours of the most recent assault, special attention should be given to identifying acute injury and the presence of blood or semen on the child. Injuries to the oral mucosa, breasts, or thighs should not be overlooked. Forensic evidence collection is needed in a few cases and has the greatest yield when collected in the first 24 hours after an acute assault. Few findings are diagnostic of sexual assault, but findings with the most specificity include acute, unexplained lacerations or ecchymoses of the hymen, posterior fourchette or anus, complete transection of the hymen, unexplained anogenital scarring, or pregnancy in an adolescent with no other history of sexual activity.
The laboratory evaluation of a sexually abused child is dictated by the child’s age, history, and symptoms. Universalscreening for sexually transmitted infections for prepubertalchildren is unnecessary because the risk of infection is lowin asymptomatic young children. The type of assault, identityand known medical history of the perpetrator, and the epidemiology of sexually transmitted infections in the communityalso are considered. Many clinicians use nucleic acid amplification testing to screen for sexually transmitted infectionsin sexually abused children because these tests have excellentsensitivity while maintaining good specificity for STIs in children and adolescents. The diagnosis of most sexually transmitted infections in young children requires an investigationfor sexual abuse (see Chapter 116).
The management of child abuse includes medical treatment for injuries and infections, careful medical documentation of verbal statements and findings, andongoing advocacy for the safety and health of the child(Fig. 22-5). Parents always should be informed of thesuspicion of abuse and the need to report to CPS, focusing on the need to ensure the safety and well-beingof the child. Crimes that are committed against childrenalso are investigated by law enforcement, so the policebecome involved in some, but not all, cases of suspectedabuse. Physicians occasionally are called to testify in courthearings regarding civil issues, such as dependency and custody, or criminal issues. Careful review of the medicalrecords and preparation for court are needed to provide aneducated, unbiased account of the child’s medical condition and diagnoses.
The prevention of child maltreatment is a great challenge.There are a few partially successful primary prevention programs. Visiting home nursing programs that begin during pregnancy and continue through early childhood may reducethe risk of abuse and neglect. Physician training in screening for risk factors in parents has shown to be supportive offamilies and reduce child maltreatment in some populations.Ultimately physicians always need to remain cognizant of thediagnosis, aware of their professional mandates, and willingto advocate on behalf of these vulnerable patients.
Is there a history of trauma?Is the mechanism accidental? Are the injuries diagnostic of abuse? Does the child have injuries? Is history consistent Yes Yes NoNo with injuries?
Can caregiver provide adequate accidental mechanism? Is there an unexplained delay in seeking medical care? Consider reporting (see B) Confirmed by workup? Do other medical conditions explain findings?
Yes No Was the child injured by a parent or caregiver? Report to Child Protective Services Report to police No reporting needed Did the child sustain serious injury or illness as a result of abuse or neglect? Did the child sustain serious injury or illness as a result of abuse or neglect? NoYes Yes No
Report to police No further reporting neededFigure 22-5 A, Approach to initiating the civil and criminal investigation of suspected abuse. B, Reporting to Child Protective Services (CPS) or law enforcement or both in child abuse cases. CPS reports are required when a child is injured by a parent, by an adult acting as a parent, or by a caregiver of the child. The police investigate crimes against children committed by any person, including parents or other caregivers. (From Christian CW: Child abuse. In Schwartz MW, editor: Clinical Handbook of Pediatrics, ed 3, Baltimore, 2003, Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, pp 192−193.)
The development of sexuality occurs throughout a child’s life. Sexuality includes gender roles, gender identity, sexual orientation, and sexual behaviors. It is influenced by biologic and social factors and individual experience. Pediatricians are likely to be consulted if parents have a concern about their child’s sexual development. A pediatrician who provides an open and nonjudgmental environment may be a valuable resource for an adolescent with questions about heterosexual behaviors, homosexuality, or gender identity (Table 23-1).
Sexual behaviors occur throughout childhood. Early in life, male infants can have erections and female infants are capable of vaginal lubrication. During the preschool period, masturbation occurs in both sexes. Between 2 and 3 years of age, children identify themselves as a boy or a girl, but the understanding that one is always a male or always a female may not develop until 4 to 5 years of age. Stating that one wants to be a member of the opposite sex and pretending to be a member of the opposite sex are not unusual behaviors in this age group. Preschool children need to begin to learn that genitals and sexual behaviors are private; it is common for preschool children to touch their genitals in public, show their genitals to others, or undress in public. It would be highly unusual for a preschool child to imitate intercourse or other adult sexual behaviors. If this behavior is occurring, the child should be evaluated for exposure to inappropriate sexual material and possible sexual abuse (see Chapter 22).
Most elementary school–age children show a strong and consistent gender identity, and their behaviors (gender roles) reflect this. If a child this age is engaging in cross sex gender role behaviors, parents may be concerned about teasing and the possibilityof their child having a homosexual sexual orientation. This concern is particularly likely if a boy is engaged in effeminate behaviors that are generally viewed as less socially acceptable than a
Gender identity Perception of oneself as male or female Gender role Behaviors and appearance that signal to others of being male or female Heterosexual Sexual attraction to members of the opposite sex with weak attraction to members of the same sex Homosexual Sexual attraction to members of the same sex with weak attraction to members of the opposite sex girl acting as a “tomboy.” By this age, dressing as a member of theopposite sex and, particularly, stating a desire to be the oppositesex are uncommon, but playing with toys designed for the opposite sex remains common. In assessing parental concerns aboutatypical gender role behaviors, the type of behavior exhibitedand its consistency should be considered. Reassurance that thebehavior is consistent with typical development is appropriatewhen these behaviors are part of a flexible repertoire of male andfemale gender role behaviors. Reassurance is appropriate if thebehaviors occur in response to a stress, such as the birth of an infant of the opposite sex or divorce of the parents. In contrastif these behaviors occur as a consistent and persistent pattern ofnearly exclusive interest in behaviors typical of the gender roleopposite that of the child’s anatomic sex, referral for evaluationfor gender identity disorder (GID) would be appropriate.
The biologic, social, and cognitive changes during adolescence place a focus on sexuality. Becoming comfortable with one’s sexuality is one of the principal developmental tasks of this period and is likely to include questioning and experimentation. Almost half of high school students report that they have had sexual intercourse. Ten to 25% have at least one homosexual experience, with this behavior being reported more commonly by boys than girls. Although many adolescents have sexual experiences with a same-sex partner, only a few have a homosexual sexual orientation by late adolescence. When adolescents develop a consistent sexual orientation is probably affected by many different factors (societal, family, individual). Some adolescents report that they are certain of their sexual orientation in the early teenage years, whereas for others this does not develop until later. By 18 years of age, only a small proportion of individuals report being uncertain of their sexual orientation.
GID is characterized by intense and persistent cross-gender identification and discomfort with one’s own sex. In children these feelings may be manifested by behaviors such as cross-dressing, stating that one wants to be or is the opposite sex, and a strong and almost exclusive preference for cross-sex roles, games, and playmates. The onset of these behaviors often can be traced back to the preschool period. However referral for evaluation typically occurs at school age or later, when it becomes clear that the behaviors do not represent a transient phase, and the behaviors may begin to interfere with social relationships. Forty to 80% of children with GID will have a bisexual or homosexual sexual orientation as adults. However there is no reliable way to predict adult sexual orientation, and there is no evidence that parental behavior would alter the developmental pathway toward homosexual or heterosexual behavior.
In adults GID may be characterized by a belief that one was born the wrong sex and by a persistent desire to live and be treated as the opposite sex. Adults may request hormones or surgical procedures to alter sexual characteristics to simulate the other sex, but, when these procedures are done in individuals who have completed puberty, they often fail to fully achieve the appearance of the desired gender. Long-term follow-up studies of children with GID suggest that only 2% to 20% have GID as adults, but gender dysphoria that intensifies with the onset of puberty is likely to persist. In 2009 the Endocrine Society published guidelines that recommended considering reversible suppression of puberty using gonadotropin releasing hormone analogs at Tanner stages 2 through 3 for individuals with GID because this allows the adolescent more time to decide whether to begin cross-sex hormone treatment.
Identical twins (even twins raised in separate families) show a higher concordance rate for sexual orientation than would be expected by chance alone, but nowhere near 100%, as would be expected if genetics alone determined sexual orientation. Some studies have found differences in the size of certain brain regions in homosexual individuals, but the findings are inconsistent. The levels of androgens and estrogens have not been found to differ in homosexual and heterosexual adults. Although it is well documented that parents tend to treat boys and girls differently, if, or how, these interactions affect sexual orientation is unknown.
It is currently estimated that about 1% to 4% of adults identify themselves as homosexual. Given the prevalent negative societal attitudes toward homosexuality, these children are at high risk for having a negative self-esteem, being isolated, being verbally harassed, and often being physically assaulted. Although sexual behaviors, not sexual orientation, determine risk of sexually transmitted infections, homosexual male adolescents engage in high-risk behaviors despite the threat of infection from the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). For medical and psychosocial reasons, health care providers need to provide an environment in which adolescents feel comfortable discussing their sexual orientation (Table 23-2).
Acknowledging that one is homosexual and disclosing it to one’s parents is often extremely stressful. Although many parents come to accept their child’s homosexuality, some parents, particularly those who view this behavior as immoral, may reject their child. Homosexual youth are at a high risk for homelessness. Adolescents need to be made aware that even parents who eventually come to accept their child’s homosexuality initially may be shocked, fearful about their child’s well-being, or upset about the loss of the adulthood they had expected for their child. Parents may need to be reassured that they did not cause their child to have a homosexual orientation. Likewise they may need to be informed that therapies designed to change sexual orientation not only are language (e.g., partner as opposed to husband/wife)
Ensure that one uses gender-neutral questions when asking about dating or sexual behaviors Display posters, brochures, and information that show concern for issues important to homosexual youth and their families Provide information about support groups and other resources for homosexual youth and their families
Adapted from Perrin EC: Sexual Orientation in Child and Adolescent Health Care, New York, 2002, Kluwer Academic/Plenum Publishers.
unsuccessful, but also often lead to the child having more feelings of guilt and a lower self-esteem. The health care provider should have knowledge of support groups and counselors who can discuss these issues with the adolescent or his or her parents when the information the health care provider offers is not sufficient.
The homosexual youth is affected by how homosexuality is addressed in schools, by peers, and by other community groups. Unbiased information about homosexuality is often not available in these settings, and homophobic jokes, teasing, and violence are common. It is not surprising that homosexual youth and adults have higher rates of anxiety and mood disorders than are found in the general population. Increased rates of substance abuse and suicide are reported. Health care providers have an important role in detecting these problems.
Although education about safe sexual practices should be part of all adolescent well-child visits, health care providers should be aware that certain sexual behaviors of homosexual males increase the risk of certain types of sexually transmitted infections. Anal intercourse is an efficient route for infection by hepatitis B virus, cytomegalovirus, and HIV. Proctitis caused by gonorrhea, chlamydia, herpes simplex virus, syphilis, or human papillomavirus may occur (see Chapter 116).
A family is a dynamic system of interactions among biologically, socially, or legally related individuals; families have a unique power to promote or interfere with health and development. When a family functions well, interactions support the physical and emotional needs of all family members, and the family serves as a resource for an individual member who is having difficulty. Alternatively the problems of an individual member or the interactions among members may prevent the family from meeting the physical or emotional needs of one or more family members or, in the worst-case scenario, may cause physical or emotional harm to a member of the family. These situations are often referred to as family dysfunction.
The functions that families carry out in support of their children can be categorized broadly as providing for physical needs, emotional support, education, and socialization (Table 24-1). Within these categories, all families have strengths and weaknesses. The amount of support that an individual child needs in these categories varies with the child’s development, personality, temperament, health status, experiences, and stressors. Too much and too little support can interfere with optimal child health and development. Most cases of child abuse involve the failure of the family to provide a safe environment for the child and, in cases of neglect, inappropriate support for the child’s physical, emotional, or social development. At the other extreme, overprotective parents may limit friendships and other growth-promoting experiences or seek excessive health care, as may occur in the vulnerable child syndrome. Parental perfectionism may create intense pressure on children related to achievement that may contribute to problems such as anxiety disorders.
The traditional family consists of a married mother and father and their biologic children. The diversity in the structure of the family in the United States has increased dramatically; less than half of children now live in the traditional nuclear family. Today children may live with unmarried parents, single parents of either gender, a parent and a stepparent, grandparents, parents living as a same-sex couple, or foster care families. There is little evidence that family structure alone is a significant predictor of child health or development. Regardless of family structure, the presence of a loving adult or adults serving as a parent or parents committed to fulfilling a child’s physical, emotional, and socialization needs is the best predictor of good health and development. Different family structures create different types of family stresses.
At any one point in time, approximately 30% of children are living in single parent families, and more than 40% of children are born to unmarried mothers. In some cases this is the mother’s choice, but often times this results from a young woman’s unplanned pregnancy. Children may also live in single-parent families because of divorce or the death of a parent (see Chapter 26). Although most single parent families are still headed by mothers, single-father families are increasing and in 2009 nearly 5% of children lived in single-father families.
Single parents often have limited financial resources and social supports. For households headed by single mothers, the median income is only 40% of the income of two-parent families and for single fathers it is only 60% of the income of two parent families. Thus the frequency of children living in poverty is three to five times higher in single-parent families. These parents must also rely to a greater extent on other adults for child care. Although these adults may be sources of support for the single parent, they also may criticize the parent, decreasing confidence in parenting skills. Fatigue associated with working and raising a child may also make consistent parenting difficult. Single parents are likely to have less time for a social life or other activities, which may increase their isolation. When the increased burdens of being a single parent are associated with exhaustion, isolation, and depression, developmental and behavioral problems in the child are more likely.
When the parent is a teenage mother, problems of parenting may be exacerbated further (see Section 12). Being a teenage parent is associated with lower educational attainment, lower paying jobs without much opportunity for autonomy or advancement, and lower self-esteem. They are even less likely than other single mothers to have any support from the child’s father. Children of adolescent mothers are at high risk for cognitive delays, behavioral problems, and difficulties in school. Referral to early intervention services or Head Start programs is important in these situations.
When a single parent has good social supports, is able to collaborate well with other care providers, and has sufficient financial resources, he or she is likely to be successful in raising a child. Pediatricians can improve parental confidence through education about child development and behavior and validation of parenting behaviors. Empathetic understanding of the difficulties of being a single parent can have a healing effect or help a parent discuss difficulties that may suggest the need for a referral to other professionals.
Children Living with Homosexual ParentsMany children with a gay or lesbian parent were conceived in the context of a heterosexual relationship. Some parents were unaware of their homosexuality at the time that they married, whereas others may view themselves as bisexual or marry despite the recognition that they are homosexual. Gay men and lesbian women also become parents on their own or in the context of an already established relationship with a same-sex partner through adoption, insemination, or surrogacy. Children living with homosexual parents may encompass many possible family structures.
Parents in these families are likely to have concerns about how disclosure of the homosexuality and the associated social stigma will affect the child. In general earlier disclosure of a parent’s homosexuality to children, especially before adolescence, is associated with better acceptance. Most children of homosexual parents experience some social stigma associated with having a gay or lesbian parent; this may occur in the form of teasing by peers, disapproval from adults, and stress or isolation related to keeping the parent’s homosexuality a secret.
Evidence suggests that having a homosexual parent does not cause increased problems in the parent-child relationship or the child’s social-emotional development. Gender and gender role behaviors are typical for the child’s age. Nonetheless distress related to teasing or maintaining the parent’s secret may be great for some children, especially in early adolescence when issues of peer acceptance, sexual identity, and separation from one’s parents are especially strong.
Adoption is a legal and social process that provides full family membership to a child not born to the adoptive parents. Approximately 2% of children in the United States are adopted. A significant proportion of legal and informal adoptions are by stepparents or relatives of the child. Most adoptions in the United States involve U.S. parents adopting U.S. children, but shifting cultural trends have increased the diversity in the ways in which adoptions occur (e.g., international adoptions, single-parent adoptions, privately arranged adoptions, and the use of a surrogate parent). These types of adoption each raise unique issues for families and health care providers. Open adoptions in which the biologic parents and birth parents agree to interact are occurring with increased frequency and create new issues for the adoption triad (biologic parent, adoptive parent, and child).
Pediatricians are in an ideal position to help adoptive parents obtain and evaluate medical information, consider the unique medical needs of the adopted child, and provide a source of advice and counseling from the preadoption period through the issues that may arise when the child is an adolescent. A preadoption visit may allow discussion of medical information that the prospective parents have received about the child and identify important missing information such as the medical history of the biologic family and the educational and social history of the biologic parents. The preadoption period is the time that families are most likely to be able to obtain this information. Depending on the preadoption history, there may be risks of infections, in utero substance exposure, poor nutrition, or inadequate infant care that should be discussed with adoptive parents.
When the adopted child is first seen, screening for medical disorders beyond the typical age-appropriate screeningtests should be considered. If the child has not had the standard newborn screening tests, the pediatrician may need toobtain these tests. Documented immunizations should be reviewed and, if needed, a plan developed to complete theneeded immunizations (see Chapter 94). Children may be athigh risk for infection based on the biologic mother’s socialhistory or the country from which the child was adopted, including infection with human immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis B, cytomegalovirus, tuberculosis, syphilis, and parasites. A complete blood count may be needed to screen foriron deficiency.
A knowledgeable pediatrician also can be a valuable sourceof support and advice about psychosocial issues. The pediatrician should help the adoptive parents think about how theywill raise the child while helping the child to understand thefact that he or she is adopted. Neither denial of nor intense focus on the adoption is healthy. Parents should use the term adoption around their children during the toddler years andexplain the simplest facts first. Children’s questions shouldbe answered honestly. Parents should expect the same orsimilar questions repeatedly, and that during the preschoolperiod the child’s cognitive limitations make it likely thechild will not fully understand the meaning of adoption. Aschildren get older, they may have fantasies of being reunitedwith their biologic parents, and there may be new challenges as the child begins to interact more with individuals outsideof the family. Families may want advice about difficulties created by school assignments such as creating a genealogicchart or teasing by peers. During the teenage years, the childmay have questions about his or her identity and a desire tofind his or her biologic parents. Adoptive parents may needreassurance that these desires do not represent rejectionof the adoptive family but the child’s desire to understandmore about his or her life. In general adopted adolescentsshould be supported in efforts to learn about their past, butmost experts recommend encouraging children to wait untillate adolescence before deciding to search actively for thebiologic parents.
Although adopted children have a higher rate of school, learning, and behavioral problems, much of this increase is likely to be related to biologic and social influences before the adoption. The pediatrician can play an important role in helping families distinguish developmental and behavioral variations from problems that may require recommendations for early intervention, counseling, or other services.
Foster care is a means of providing protection for children who require out-of-home placement, most commonly because of homelessness, parental inability to care for the child, parental substance abuse, or child neglect or abuse. From the late 1990s through 2005, over half a million children were in foster care, but between 2005 and 2010, the number of children living in foster care decreased by about 20%. These decreases were associated with changes in federal and state policies that have emphasized shortened stays in foster care, promoted more rapid adoptions, and expanded efforts to support troubled families.
The 400,000 children in foster care are at extremely high risk for medical, nutritional, developmental, behavioral, and mental health problems. At the time of placement in foster care, most of these children have received incomplete medical care and have had multiple detrimental life experiences. Comprehensive assessments at the time of placement reveal many untreated acute medical problems, and nearly half of the children have a chronic illness. Developmental delays and serious behavioral or emotional disorders are common.
Ideally foster care provides a healing service for these children and families, leading to reunification or adoption. Too often children experience multiple changes in placement within the foster care system, further exacerbating the problems foster children may have in forming a secure relationship with adult caregivers. Children may manifest this difficulty by resisting foster parents’ attempts to develop a close relationship. This detachment from the foster parent may be difficult for the foster parent to endure, which may perpetuate a cycle of placement failures. The trauma or neglect experienced that led to the need for foster care in combination with instability of placements causes enduring long-term difficulties. Foster care alumni report rates of anxiety disorders, depression, substance abuse, and posttraumatic stress disorder that are two to six times higher than in the general population. Furthermore although the protections of the foster care system often end at 18 years of age, these adolescents rarely have the skills and maturity needed to allow them to be successful living independently. Thus the Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008 mandates that effective transition to adulthood planning be done with youth in foster care.
The challenges for the foster care system are great. However when children are placed with competent and nurturing foster parents and provided coordinated care from skilled professionals, significant improvements in a child’s health status, development, and academic achievement usually occur.
Failure to meet a child’s physical needs for protection or nutrition results in some of the most severe forms of family dysfunction (see Chapters 21 and 22). There are many other ways in which parental behaviors can interfere with a child having a healthy and safe environment, such as prenatal and postnatal substance abuse. Prenatal use of alcohol can damage the fetus resulting in spectrum disorders known as fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD). At the most severe end of the spectrum, this teratogen causes fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) characterized by in utero and postnatal growth retardation, microcephaly, intellectual disability, and a characteristic dysmorphic facial appearance. Other manifestations of FASD include birth defects and problems with coordination, attention, hyperactivity, impulsivity, learning, or behavior. Children with these difficulties may be diagnosed with alcohol-related neurodevelopmental disorder, alcohol-related birth defects, or partial FAS.
Other substances also may affect the fetus, but investigation of these effects is complicated by the fact that often more than one substance is used, and nutrition and prenatal care are not optimal. Cigarette smoking during pregnancy is associated with lower birth weight and increased child behavioral problems. Use of cocaine in the perinatal period has been associated with prematurity, intracranial hemorrhages, and abruptio placentae. Exposure to opiates in utero can result in prematurity and a neonatal withdrawal syndrome. Investigations of the effects of cocaine and opiates on cognitive development have produced mixed results.
Parental substance abuse after the child’s birth is associated with increased family conflict, decreased organization, increased isolation, and increased family stress related to marital and work problems. Family violence may be more frequent. Despite the fact that these parents often have difficulty providing discipline and structure, they may expect their children to be competent at a variety of tasks at a younger age than non-substance−abusing parents. This sets the children up for failure and contributes to increased rates of depression, anxiety, and low self-esteem. The parents’ more accepting attitude toward alcohol and drugs seems to increase the chance that their children will use substances during adolescence.
Parents also may expose children directly to the harmful effects of other substances, such as exposure to second hand cigarette smoke, which is consistently associated with increased rates of childhood respiratory illnesses, otitis media, and sudden infant death syndrome. Despite these effects, only a few parents restrict smoking in their homes. There are many other ways in which parents may not physically protect their children. Failing to immunize children, to childproof the home adequately, and to provide adequate supervision are other examples.
Parents’ attempts to provide too much protection for their child also can cause problems. One example of this is the vulnerable child syndrome in which a child who is ill early in life continues to be viewed as vulnerable by the parents despite that the child has fully recovered. Behavioral difficulties may result if parents are overindulgent and fail to set limits. Parental reluctance to leave the child may contribute to the child having separation anxiety. Parents may be particularly attentive to minor variations in bodily functions, leading them to seek excess medical care. If the physician does not recognize this situation, the child may be exposed to unnecessary medical procedures.
Emotional Support, Education, and SocializationFailure to meet a child’s emotional or educational needs can have a severe and enduring negative impact on child development and behavior. Infants need a consistent adult who learns to understand their signals and meets the infant’s needs for attention as well as food. As the adult caregiver learns these signals, he or she responds more rapidly and appropriately to the infant’s attempts at communication. Through this process, often referred to as attachment, the special relationship between parent and child develops. When affectionate and responsive adults are not consistently available, infants often are less willing to explore the environment and may become unusually clingy, angry, or difficult to comfort.
Appropriate stimulation also is vital for a child’s cognitive development. Children whose parents do not read to them and do not play developmentally appropriate games with them have lower scores on intelligence tests and more school problems. In these situations, early intervention has been shown to be particularly effective in improving skill development and subsequent school performance. At the other extreme, there are increasing concerns that some parents may provide too much stimulation and scheduling of the child’s day. There may be such emphasis on achievement that children come to feel that parental love is contingent on achievement. There are concerns that this narrow definition of success may contribute to problems with anxiety and self-esteem for some children.
Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a pattern of purposeful coercive behaviors aimed at establishing control of one partner over the other that may include inflicted physical injury, psychological abuse, sexual assault, progressive social isolation, stalking, deprivation, intimidation, and threats. Such violence between adults affects the lives of millions of children each year. Children experience IPV by seeing or hearing the violence and its aftermath. Children who live in households with IPV often develop psychological and behavioral problems that interfere with their ability to function normally in school, at home, and with peers. They may be injured during violent outbursts, sometimes while attempting to intervene on behalf of a parent. Many children are victims of abuse themselves. It is estimated that there is at least a 50% concurrence rate between IPV and child abuse. Children who grow up in violent households learn that violence is appropriate in intimate relationships. A history of having witnessed IPV as a child is a strong predictor for becoming a batterer in adulthood. In addition to sporadic outbursts of violence, children who live in households with IPV experience disruptive events that can overtly or subtly affect the child’s development. Although partner violence often occurs between male perpetrators and female victims, it may also occur bi-directionally and may be better conceptualized as family or interpersonal-violence. Violence may escalate during the peri-natal period.
There is no particular behavioral consequence or disturbance that is specific to children who witness IPV. Some children are traumatized by fear for their caregiver’s safety and feel helpless. Others may blame themselves for the violence. Children may have symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder,depression, anxiety, aggression, or hypervigilance. Older children may have conduct disorders, poor school performance, low self-esteem, or other nonspecific behaviors. Infants and young toddlers are at risk for disrupted attachment and routines around eating and sleeping. Preschoolers may show signs of regression, irritable behavior, or temper tantrums. During school-age years, children may show both externalizing (aggressive or disruptive) and internalizing (withdrawn and passive) behaviors. Because of family isolation, some children have no opportunity to participate in extracurricular activities at school and do not form friendships. Adolescents in homes where IPV is present have higher rates of school failure, substance abuse, and risky sexual behaviors. These adolescents are more likely than their peers to enter into a violent dating relationship.
Because of the high concurrence of IPV and child abuse, asking about IPV is part of the screening for violence against children. Recognizing the importance of IPV screening in pediatric practice, the American Academy of Pediatrics has endorsed universal screening in this setting and suggests that intervening on behalf of battered women may be one of the most effective means of preventing child abuse. Without standardized screening, pediatricians may underestimate the IPV prevalence in their practices. Parents should not be screened together. Questions about family violence should be direct, nonjudgmental, and done in the context of child safety and anticipatory guidance (Table 25-1).
Intervention is needed for caregivers who disclose IPV. It is appropriate to show concern and to provide available community resources. It is important to assess for the safety of the victim and the children. In some states, physicians are mandated to report IPV. Information for families that provides details about community resources and state laws is helpful.
Youth violence is a leading cause of pediatric mortality in the United States. Homicide is the second leading cause of death for all children 1 to 19 years of age. Each year nearly 6000 children, primarily adolescents, are victims of homicide, and 4000
How are things at home and at school? Who lives with you? How do you get along with your family members? What do you like to do with them? What do you do if something is bothering you? Do you feel safe at home? Do people fight at home? What do they fight about? How do they fight?
Do your friends get into fights often? How about you? When was your last physical fight? Have you ever been injured during a fight? Has anyone you know been injured or killed? Have you ever been forced to have sex against your will? Have you ever been threatened with a gun or a knife? How do you avoid getting in fights?
Do you carry a weapon for self-defense? FOR THE PARENT
Do you have any concerns about your child? Who helps with your children? How do you feel about your neighborhood? Do you feel safe at home? Is there any fighting or violence at home? Does anyone at home use drugs? Have you been frightened by your partner? Does your partner ever threaten you or hurt you?
more commit suicide. Youth violence is a problem in urban, suburban, and rural communities and affects children across race and gender. Surveys of adolescents show that 30% to 40% of boys and 15% to 30% of girls report having committed a serious violent offense during childhood, including robbery, rape, aggravated assault, or homicide. Most of these crimes are not reported to the police, and the perpetrator is arrested in a few cases only. Although boys commit more crimes than girls, this gap has narrowed. Boys are much more likely to be arrested for their crimes. Self-reported violent events do not differ much between white and minority adolescents; the latter are more likely to be arrested for their crimes.
Most violent youth begin to exhibit their violent behaviors during early adolescence. Bullying, which peaks in middle school, is a form of aggression in which a child repeatedly and intentionally intimidates, harasses, or physically harms another child. Technology-assisted bullying behavior or cyber-bullying has become a major concern. Psychosocial consequences of being bullied include depression and suicidal ideation. Children who bully others are more likely to be involved with other problem behaviors, such as smoking and alcohol use. Bullying and being bullied are both associated with higher rates of weapon carriage and fighting. Although most bullies
Exposure to TV violence Low IQPoor parent-child relations Antisocial parents Parents’ positive evaluation of peers
Abusive, neglectful Low SES/povertySchool Poor attitude Poor attitude Commitment to schoolFrom National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration: Youth violence: a report of the surgeon general. Rockville, MD, 2001, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. SES, Socioeconomic status. *Bold = factors with strongest effect.
†Males only.do not progress into serious violent offenders, violent behavior that continues into high school years indicates the potential for severe violent behavior in adulthood. Another subset of violent youth begins at a very young age. These children tend to be more serious offenders, perpetrate more crimes, and more often continue their violence into adulthood. Most adolescent violence ends by young adulthood. Most violent youth are only intermittently violent. Frequent acts of violence are committed more commonly by youth who start their violence before the onset of puberty. These violent youth need to be evaluated for cognitive impairments or mental illness.
Serious youth violence is not an isolated problem but usually coexists with other adolescent risk-taking behaviors, such as drug use, truancy and school dropout, early sexual activity, and gun ownership. Risk factors for youth violence are slightly different for children who begin their violence early in life compared with youth who begin during adolescence. Often these risk factors exist in clusters, and they tend to be additive. Although understanding risk factors for violence is crucial for developing prevention strategies, the risk factors do not predict whether a particular individual will become violent. For children who begin their violence early in life, the strongest risk factors are early substance abuse (<12 years of age) and perpetration of nonviolent, serious crimes during childhood. Additional risk factors include poverty, male gender, and antisocial behavior. For children who begin their violence during adolescence, individual risk factors are less important, whereas factors related to peer groups are most important. Gang membership, associating with antisocial or delinquent friends, being unpopular in school, and having weak ties to conventional peer groups are important risk factors for adolescent-onset violence (Table 25-2). The strength of the listed risk factors is not uniform, and some factors show a small effect only. Table 25-2 also lists protective factors that seem to buffer the effects of risk factors. One important protective factor is the child’s level of school connectedness, such as involvement in class and extracurricular activities, and how positively the child regards the school’s personnel. Another protective factor is the support of nonviolent family members and close friends.
Violence prevention efforts that target risk and protective factors need to be developmentally appropriate. Education about the dangers of substance abuse should begin before the onset of puberty, whereas adolescent programs must consider the importance of peer group identification. Many violence prevention programs fail to show long-term effects. Effective violence prevention programs must address simultaneously individual, family, and environmental (school, peer group, social) risk factors; capitalize on the child’s strengths; involve family and other supports; and be implemented over an extended period.
Dating violence and date rape are common. It is estimated that 15% to 40% of adolescents have experienced violence in a dating relationship. Adolescent women experience higher rates of sexual assault than any other age group. An acquaintance or partner of the victim perpetrates most adolescent sexual assaults. Risk factors for date rape include initiating dating at a young age, initiating early sexual activity, and having a history of past sexual abuse or victimization. A history of child abuse by parents or siblings increases the risk of dating violence. Adolescent boys who believe that it is appropriate to strike a girl if she insults or embarrasses him or intentionally tries to make him jealous are at risk for becoming perpetrators. Date-specific factors put some teens at risk for date rape, including who initiated the date, the date activities, which person drove, and who paid.
Alcohol use is common in episodes of adolescent sexual assault, occurring in approximately 50% of cases. Drugs such as benzodiazepines, cocaine, and marijuana may also contribute. Flunitrazepam (Rohypnol) and gamma hydroxybutyrate are two commonly implicated drugs that cause sedation and amnesia, especially when used in conjunction with alcohol.
Relatively few victims of date rape report the assault to law enforcement. Reporting rates are even lower when the victim knows the perpetrator. Women who report assaults to the police are more likely to receive timely medical care; it is likely that many sexually assaulted adolescents do not receive medical attention, putting them at risk for physical and mental health consequences. Routine adolescent health care should screen for adolescent dating violence, provide routine sexually transmitted infection evaluation, and be able to identify counseling resources for teens who are victims or perpetrators of dating violence (see Chapter 116).
DIVORCE, SEPARATION, AND BEREAVEMENTThe family is the child’s principal resource for meeting needs for protection, emotional support, education, and socialization. A variety of different disruptions may cause the child to be separated from his or her parents. At times these separations may be relatively brief but unexpected (e.g., a parent’s acute illness or injury). The separation may occur in the context of significant parental discord, as often occurs with a divorce. The death of a parent results in a permanent separation that may be anticipated or unanticipated. All of these disruptions cause significant stress for the child, with the potential for long-term adverse consequences. The child’s adaptation to these stresses is affected by the reasons for the separation and the child’s age, temperament, and available support systems.
Approximately 40% to 50% of first marriages end in divorce. About half of these divorces occur in the first 10 years of marriage, so there are often young children in the family when the parents divorce. At least 25% of children experience the divorce or separation of their parents. Few events in childhood are as dramatic and challenging for the child as divorce.
Divorce is likely to be accompanied by changes in behavioral and emotional adjustment. In the immediate post-divorce period, many children exhibit anger, noncompliance, anxiety, and depression. Children from divorced families require psychological help two to three times more frequently than children with married parents. Long-term studies suggest that in the absence of ongoing stressors, most children demonstrate good adjustment a few years after the divorce, but some have enduring difficulties.
Divorce is not a single event, but a process that occurs over time. In most cases, marital conflict begins long before the physical or legal separation, and the divorce brings about permanent changes in the family structure. Multiple potential stressors for the child are associated with divorce, including parental discord before and after the divorce, changes in living arrangements and sometimes location, and changes in the child’s relationship with both parents.
The child’s relationship with each parent is changed by the divorce. In the short-term, the parent is likely to experience new burdens and feelings of guilt, anger, or sadness that may disrupt parenting skills and family routines. Contact with the noncustodial parent may decline greatly. Parents may be perceived by their children as being unaware of the child’s distress around the time of the divorce. Pediatricians can help parents understand things they can do that will be reassuring to the child. Maintaining contact with both parents, seeing where the noncustodial parent is living, and, in particular, maintaining familiar routines are comforting to the child in the midst of the turmoil of a separation and divorce. The child should attend school and continue to have opportunities to interact with friends. Given the parents’ distress, assistance from the extended family can be helpful, but these family members may not offer to help for fear of “interfering.” It may be helpful for pediatricians to encourage parents to ask for this assistance. Pediatricians should look for maladaptive coping responses. Some parents may respond to their increased burdens and distress by treating their children as friends with whom they share their distress. Alternatively they may place excessive responsibilities on the child or leave the child unsupervised for longer periods of time. Responses such as these increase the chance that the child will develop behavioral or emotional problems.
Reaction to Divorce at Different AgesThe child’s reaction to the divorce is influenced by the child’s age and developmental level. Although infants do not react directly to the divorce, they require special considerations in relation to custody and visitation because infants need a stable daily routine and regular contact with a primary caregiver to develop secure attachment. Separations from a primary caregiver should be brief. Increased infant irritability or listlessness and withdrawal may be signs of distress for an infant. Preschool children are characterized by having magical beliefs about cause and effects and an egocentric view of the world. They may believe that something they did caused the divorce, leading them to be particularly upset. They may engage in unusual behaviors that they believe will bring the parents back together again. At this age, parents need to deliver a clear message that the divorce was related to disagreements between the parents, that nothing the child did caused the divorce, and that nothing the child could do would bring the parents back together again. Preschool children may reason that if the parents left each other they also might leave the child. To counteract this fear of abandonment, children may need to be reassured that although parents separated, they will not abandon the child and that the child’s relationship with both parents will endure.
School-age children have a concrete understanding of cause and effect; if something bad happened, they understand that something caused it to happen. However they are not likely to understand fully the subtleties of parental conflict or the idea that multiple factors contribute to a conflict. Children at this age may still worry that something they did caused the divorce. They may express more anger than younger children and often feel rejected. Many young school-age children worry about what will happen to one or both parents. School performance often deteriorates. Older elementary school–age children may believe that one parent was wronged by the other. This belief, in conjunction with their concrete understanding of cause and effect, allows children to be easily co-opted by one parent to take sides against the other. Parents need to understand this vulnerability and resist the temptation to support their child in taking sides.
Adolescents may respond to the divorce by acting out, becoming depressed, or experiencing somatic symptoms. Adolescents are developing a sense of autonomy, a sense of morality, and the capacity for intimacy, and divorce may lead them to question previously held beliefs. They may be concerned about what the divorce means for their future and whether they too will experience marital failure. Questioning of previous beliefs in conjunction with decreased supervision may set the stage for risk-taking behaviors, such as truancy, sexual behaviors, and alcohol or drug use.
Outcome of DivorceOne of the best predictors of children’s adaptation to divorceis whether the physical separation is associated with adecrease in the child’s exposure to parental discord. In mostcases, divorced parents still must interact with each otheraround the child’s schedule, child custody and support, andother parenting issues. These types of issues create the potential for the child to have ongoing exposure to significant discord between the parents. For example if one parent tends tokeep the child up much later than the bedtime at the otherparent’s house, sleep problems may develop. When childrenfeel caught in the middle of ongoing conflicts between theirdivorced parents, behavior or emotional problems are muchmore likely. Regardless of how angry parents are with each other, the parents should be counseled that they must shieldtheir child from this animosity. Clear rules about schedules,discipline, and other parenting roles is ideal, but in cases ofconflict it can also be helpful for the pediatrician to help aparent accept that he or she can only control his or her actionsand decisions related to the child. When parents have trouble resolving these issues, mediation may be helpful. Pediatricians need to be wary of parents’ attempts to recruit theminto custody battles to substantiate claims of poor parenting,unless the pediatrician has first-hand knowledge that the concerns are valid.
Although the primary physical residence for most children is still with the mother, the court’s bias toward preferring mothers in custody decisions has decreased, and there is more emphasis on including both parents in the child’s life. In the early 1980s, 50% of children had no contact with their fathers 2 or 3 years after a divorce, whereas today only 20% to 25% of children have no contact with their father. Most states now allow joint physical or legal custody. In joint physical custody, the child spends a significant amount of time with each parent, and in joint legal custody, parents share authority in decision making. Although joint custody arrangements may promote the involvement of both parents in the child’s life, they also can be a vehicle through which parents continue to express their anger at each other. When parents have severe difficulty working together, joint custody is an inappropriate arrangement and has been associated with deterioration in the child’s psychological and social adjustment.
Divorce often creates financial difficulties. Family income usually declines in the first year after the divorce. Only about half of mothers who have child support awards receive the full amount, and one fourth receive no money at all. These financial changes may have multiple adverse affects on the child. A move to a new house may require the child to attend a new school disrupting peer relationships and other potential supports. The child may spend more time in child care if one or both parents have to increase work hours.
Role of the PediatricianPediatricians may be confronted with issues related to marital discord before the divorce, may be consulted around the time of the divorce, or may be involved in helping the family to manage issues in the years after the divorce. The pediatrician can be an important voice in helping the parents understand and meet the child’s needs (Table 26-1). Before the divorce, parents may wonder what they should tell their children. Children should be told of the parents’ decision before the physical separation. The separation should be presented as a rational step in managing marital conflict and should prepare the child for the changes that will occur. Parents should be prepared to answer children’s questions, and they should expect that the questions will be repeated over the next months. Once parents have told children of the separation, it may be confusing to the child if the parents continue to appear to live together and may raise false hopes that the parents will not divorce.
Many parents report not feeling like their life had stabilizeduntil 2 to 3 years or more after the divorce, and for some thedivorce remains a painful issue 10 years later. The child’s emotional adjustment to divorce is closely predicted by the parents’adjustment so parents should be encouraged to get help forthemselves if they are struggling emotionally after a divorce.
Table 26-1 General Recommendations for Pediatricians to Help Children During Separation, Divorce, or Death of a Close Relative
Acknowledge and provide support for grief that the parent/ caregiver is experiencing.
Help parent/caregiver consider child’s needs.Encourage parent/caregiver to maintain routines familiar to the child.Encourage continued contact between child and his or her friends.
If primary residence changes, the child should take transitional objects, familiar toys, and other important objects to the new residence.
Minimize frequent changes in caregivers, and for infants keep brief the times spent away from primary caregiver.
Have parent/caregiver reassure the child that he or she will continue to be cared for.
Have parent/caregiver reassure the child that he or she did not cause the separation, divorce, or death (especially important in preschool children).
Encourage parent/caregiver to create times or rituals that allow the child to discuss questions and feelings if the child wishes.
Although most children ultimately show good adjustment to thedivorce, some have significant acting-out behaviors or depression that requires referral to a mental health professional. Some parents need the assistance of a mediator or family therapist tohelp them stay focused on their child’s needs. In the most contentious situations, a guardian ad litem may need to be appointedby the court. This individual is usually a lawyer or mental healthprofessional with the power to investigate the child and family’sbackground and relationships to make a recommendation to thecourt as to what would be in the best interests of the child.
Children experience separations from their primary caregiver for a variety of reasons. Brief separations, such as those to attend school, camp, or other activities, are nearly a universal experience. Many children experience longer separations for a variety of reasons, including parental business trips, military service, or hospitalization. Child adjustment to separation is affected by child factors, such as the age of the child and the child’s temperament; factors related to the separation, such as the length of and reason for the separation, whether the separation was planned or unplanned; and factors related to the caregiving environment during the separation, such as how familiar the child is with the caregiver and whether the child has access to friends and familiar toys and routines.
Children between 6 months and 3 to 4 years of age often havethe most difficulty adjusting to a separation from their primarycaregiver. Older children have cognitive and emotional skillsthat help them adjust. They may be better able to understandthe reason for the separation, communicate their feelings, andcomprehend the passage of time, allowing them to anticipatethe parent’s return. For older children, the period immediatelybefore a planned separation may be particularly difficult if thereason for the separation causes significant family tension, as itmay in the case of hospitalization or military service.
If parents anticipate a separation, they should explain the reason for the separation and, to the extent possible, give concrete information about when they will be in contact with the child and when they will return home. If the child can remain at home with a familiar and responsive caregiver, this is likely to help adjustment. If children cannot remain at home, they should be encouraged to take with them transitional objects, such as a favorite blanket or stuffed animal, familiar toys, and important objects such as a picture of the parent. Maintenance of familiar family routines and relationships with friends should be encouraged.
Death of a close family member is a sad and difficult experience. When a child loses a parent, it is a devastating experience. This experience is not rare. By 15 years of age, 4%of children in the United States experience the death of a parent. This experience is likely to alter forever the child’s view of the world as a secure and safe place. Similar to theother separations, a child’s cognitive development and temperament along with the available support systems affectthe child’s adjustment after the death of a parent. Many ofthe recommendations in Table 26-1 are helpful. The deathof a parent or close family member also brings up someunique issues.
Explaining Death to a ChildChildren’s understanding of death changes with their cognitive development and experiences (see Chapter 4). Preschool children often do not view death as permanent and may have magical beliefs about what caused death. As children become older, they understand death as permanent and inevitable, but the concept that death represents the cessation of all bodily functions and has a biologic cause may not be fully appreciated until adolescence.
Death should not be hidden from the child. It should be explained in simple and honest terms that are consistent withthe family’s beliefs. The explanation should help the child tounderstand that the dead person’s body stopped functioningand that the dead person will not return. Preschool childrenshould be reassured that nothing they did caused the individual to die. One should be prepared to answer questionsabout where the body is and let the child’s questions helpdetermine what information the child is prepared to hear.False or misleading information should be avoided. Comparisons of death to sleep may contribute to sleep problems inthe child.
There are many possible reactions of children to the death of a parent or close relative. Sadness and a yearning to be with the dead relative are common. Sometimesa child might express a wish to die so that he or she canvisit the dead relative, but a plan or desire to commit suicide is uncommon and would need immediate evaluation. A decrease in academic functioning, lack of enjoymentwith activities, and changes in appetite and sleep can occur.About half of children have their most severe symptomsabout 1 month after the death, but for many the most severesymptoms in reaction to the death do not occur until 6 to12 months after the death.
Should the Child Attend the Funeral?Children often find it helpful to attend the funeral. It may help the child to understand that the death occurred and provide an opportunity to say good-bye. Seeing others express their grief and sadness may help the child to express these feelings. Going to the funeral helps prevent the child from having fears or fantasies about what happened at the funeral. If the child is going to attend the funeral, he or she should be informed of what will happen. If a preschool-age child expresses a desire not to attend the funeral, he or she should not be encouraged to attend. For older children, it may be appropriate to encourage attendance, but a child who feels strongly about not wanting to go to the funeral should not be required to attend.
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April O. Buchanan and Maria L. MarquezProper nutrition in infancy is essential for normal growth, resistance to infections, long-term adult health, and optimal neurologic and cognitive development. Healthy nutrition is especially important during the first 6 months, a period of exceptionally accelerated growth and high nutrient requirements relative to body weight (see Chapter 5). Breastfeeding is associated with a reduced risk of many diseases in infants, children, and mothers (for more details visit http://www.nutrition.gov/
Human milk and breastfeeding are the ideal and normative standards for infant feeding and nutrition. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends human milk as the sole source of nutrition for the first 6 months of life, with continued intake for the first year, and as long as desired thereafter. Breastfeeding has shortand long-term advantages for infant neurodevelopment. Pediatric health care providers should approach breastfeeding at multiple levels (individual, community, social, and political) to reach the goals of “Healthy People in 2020”; its targets include 82% of infants with any breastfeeding, 23.7% of infants with exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months of life, and lactation support at work of 38%. In collaboration with national and global organizations, including the AAP, World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the Joint Commission, hospitals are asked to promote and facilitate breastfeeding.
The first 2 days of breastfeeding, and perhaps the first hour of life, may determine the success of breastfeeding. The current rate of breastfeeding initiation for the total U.S. population is 75% (Figure 27-1). There is greater emphasis to improve and standardize hospital practices with “Baby Friendly” programs for breastfeeding support.
The Department of Health and Human Services and theCDC recognize that breastfeeding offers infants, mothers,and society compelling advantages in industrialized and developing countries. Human milk feeding decreases the incidence and severity of diarrhea, respiratory illnesses, otitis media, bacteremia, bacterial meningitis, and necrotizingenterocolitis.
There are beneficial effects of feeding preterm infants with human milk on long-term neurodevelopment (IQ) in preterm infants. Preterm breastfed infants also have a lower readmission rate in the first year of life.
Mothers who breastfeed experience both shortand longterm health benefits. Decreased risk of postpartum hemorrhages, more rapid uterine involution, longer period of amenorrhea, and decreased postpartum depression have been observed. Similarly, there is an association between a long lactation of 12 to 23 months (cumulative lactation of all pregnancies) and a significant reduction of hypertension, hyperlipidemia, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes in the mother. Cumulative lactation of more than 12 months also correlates with reduced risk of ovarian and breast cancer.
Adequacy of milk intake can be assessed by voidingand stooling patterns of the infant. A well-hydrated infantvoids six to eight times a day. Each voiding should soak, notmerely moisten, a diaper, and urine should be colorless. By5 to 7 days, loose yellow stools should be passed at least fourtimes a day. Rate of weight gain provides the most objectiveindicator of adequate milk intake. Total weight loss after birthshould not exceed 7%, and birth weight should be regained by10 days. The mean feeding frequency during the early weekspostpartum is 8 to 12 times per day. An infant may be adequately hydrated while not receiving enough milk to achieveadequate energy and nutrient intake. Telephone follow-up isvaluable during the interim between discharge and the firstdoctor visit to monitor the progress of lactation. A follow-upvisit should be scheduled by 3 to 5 days of age, and again by 2 weeks of age.
In the newborn period, elevated concentrations of serumbilirubin are present more often in breastfed infants than in formula-fed infants (Chapter 62). Feeding frequency duringthe first 3 days of life of breastfed infants is inversely relatedto the level of bilirubin; frequent feedings stimulate meconium passage and excretion of bilirubin in the stool. Infantswho have insufficient milk intake and poor weight gain in thefirst week of life may have an increase in unconjugated bilirubin secondary to an exaggerated enterohepatic circulationof bilirubin. This is known as breastfeeding jaundice. Attention should be directed toward improved milk productionand intake. The use of water supplements in breastfed infantshas no effect on bilirubin levels and is not recommended.
0 Rate of initiation Rate of 6 months Rate of exclusive of breastfeeding of any breastfeeding breastfeeding for 6 months
Figure 27-1 The 2010 and 2020 Healthy People Targets and the current 2012 rates of breastfeeding initiation, 6 months of any breastfeeding, and 6 months of exclusive breastfeeding in the United States.
After the first week of life in a breastfed infant, prolongedelevated serum bilirubin may be due to presence of anunknown factor in milk that enhances intestinal absorptionof bilirubin. This is termed breast milk jaundice, which is a diagnosis of exclusion and should be made only if an infantis otherwise thriving, with normal growth and no evidenceof hemolysis, infection, biliary atresia, or metabolic disease(Chapter 62). Breast milk jaundice usually lasts no morethan 1 to 2 weeks. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends vitamin D supplementation (400 IU/day startingsoon after birth), and, when needed, fluoride after 6 monthsfor breastfed infants.
Breast tenderness, engorgement, and cracked nipples arethe most common problems encountered by breastfeedingmothers. Engorgement, one of the most common causes oflactation failure, should receive prompt attention because milk supply can decrease quickly if the breasts are not adequately emptied. Applying warm or cold compresses to thebreasts before nursing and hand expression or pumping ofsome milk can provide relief to the mother and make the areola easier to grasp by the infant. Nipple tenderness requiresattention to proper latch-on and positioning of the infant.Supportive measures include nursing for shorter periods,beginning feedings on the less sore side, air drying the nipples well after nursing, and applying lanolin cream after eachnursing session. Severe nipple pain and cracking usually indicate improper latch-on. Temporary pumping, which is well tolerated, may be needed. Meeting with a lactation consultantmay help minimize these problems and allow the successfulcontinuation of breastfeeding.
If a lactating woman reports fever, chills, and malaise, mastitis should be considered. Treatment includes frequent and complete emptying of the breast and antibiotics. Breastfeeding usually should not be stopped because the mother’s mastitis commonly has no adverse effects on the breastfed infant.
Tuberculosis (active) Should not breastfeed; expressed milk may be provided to child.
Varicella Should not breastfeed; expressed milk may be provided to child.
H1N1 influenza Should not breastfeed; expressed milk may be provided to child.
Herpes simplex infection of Should not breastfeed; expressed the breast milk may be provided to child.
virus (HIV) mothers are not recommended to breastfeed. In developing countries women are recommended to combine breastfeeding with antiretroviral therapy (ART) for 6 months.
Use of phencyclidine (PCP), Recommended to stop use cocaine, or amphetamines of drugs as it can affect infant neurobehavioral development. Mothers enrolled in supervised methadone programs are encouraged to breastfeed.
Alcohol Limit ingestion to less than 0.5 mg of alcohol per kg of body weight due to association with motor development.
Radiopharmaceutical agents Express milk before exposure to feed infant. Express milk and discard during therapies. Radioactivity may be present in milk from 2 to 14 days, depending on agent. Consult with nuclear medicine expert.
Antineoplastic and Substitute formula. immunosuppressive agentsModified from Eidelman AI, Schanler RJ: American Academy of Pediatrics
Section on Breastfeeding. Breastfeeding and the use of human milk,
Pediatrics 129(3):827–841, 2012.Untreated mastitis may also progress to a breast abscess. If an abscess is diagnosed, treatment includes incision and drainage, antibiotics, and regular emptying of the breast. Nursing from the contralateral breast can be continued with a healthy infant. If maternal comfort allows, nursing can continue on the affected side.
Maternal infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is considered a contraindication for breastfeeding in developed countries. When the mother has active tuberculosis, syphilis, or varicella, restarting breastfeeding may be considered after therapy is initiated. If a woman has herpetic lesions on her breast, nursing and contact with the infant on that breast should be avoided. Women with genital herpes can breastfeed. Proper hand-washing procedures should be stressed.
There are limited numbers of medical contraindications for breastfeeding, including pediatric metabolic disorders such as galactosemia, and infants with phenylketonuria, although infants with the latter may alternate breastfeeding with special protein-free or modified formulas. Maternal contraindications are shown in Table 27-1.
Any drug prescribed therapeutically to newborns usually canbe consumed via breast milk without ill effect. The factors that determine the effects of maternal drug therapy on the nursinginfant include the route of administration, dosage, molecularweight, pH, and protein binding. Few therapeutic drugs are absolutely contraindicated; these include radioactive compounds, antimetabolites, lithium, and certain antithyroid drugs.The mother should be advised against the use of unprescribeddrugs, including alcohol, nicotine, caffeine, or “street drugs.”
Maternal use of illicit or recreational drugs is a contraindication to breastfeeding. If a woman is unable to discontinue drug use, she should not breastfeed. Expression of milk for a feeding or two after use of a drug is not acceptable. Breastfed infants of mothers taking methadone (but no alcohol or other drugs) as part of a treatment program generally have not experienced ill effects.
Cow’s milk–based formulas are the vast majority of commercial formulas. Most milk-based formulas have added iron, which the AAP recommends, and parents should use only iron-fortified formula unless advised otherwise by theprimary health care provider. Infant formula manufacturershave begun to examine the benefits of adding a variety ofnutrients and biological factors to infant formula to mimicthe composition and quality of breast milk. These includelong-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids, nucleotides, prebiotics, and probiotics. Soy-based formulas, which sometimes have added iron, may be used for newborns who maybe allergic to cow’s milk. However, some newborns allergicto cow’s milk are also allergic to the protein in soy formulas. There are hypoallergenic formulas for infants who can’ttolerate the basic formulas, such as those with allergies tomilk or soy proteins. The proteins in these hypoallergenicformulas are broken down to their basic components andare therefore easier to digest (Table 27-2). Specialized formulas are designed for premature, low birth weight babies.The carbohydrate is generally lactose, although lactose-freecow’s milk–based formulas are available. The caloric density of formulas is 20 kcal/oz (0.67 kcal/mL), similar to thatof human milk. A relatively high-fat and calorically densediet (human milk or formula) is needed to deliver adequate
Table 27-2 Composition of Breast Milk, Breast Milk after Freezing and Pasteurization, and Representative Infant Formulas COMPONENT BREAST MILK BREAST MILK AFTER FREEZING AND PASTEURIZING STANDARD FORMULA SOY FORMULA HYPOALLERGENIC FORMULA
Protein 1.1 per dL Reduced 1.5 per dL 1.7 per dL 1.9 per d/L
Fat 4.0 per dL 4.0 per dL 3.6 per dL 3.6 per dL 3.8–3.3 per d/L
Carbohydrate 7.2 per dL 7.2 per dL 6.9–7.2 per dL 6.8 per dL 6.9–7.3 per d/L
Sodium 8.0 mg/L 8.0 mg/L 6.5–8.3 mg/L 13 mg/L 14 mg/L
Monoglycerides Present Present Added to some Added to some Added to some formulas formulas formulas
Free fatty acids Present Present Added to some Added to some Added to some formulas formulas formulas
Linoleic acid Present Present Added to some Added to some Added to some formulas formulas formulas
Alpha-linoleic acid Present Present Added to some Added to some Added to some formulas formulas formulas calories (around 18 to 30 oz per day). Formula-fed infants are at higher risk for obesity later in childhood; this may berelated to self regulation of volumes ingested by the newbornsand infants.
By approximately 6 months, complementary feeding ofsemisolid foods is suggested. By this age, an exclusivelybreastfed infant requires additional sources of severalnutrients, including protein, iron, and zinc. Cereals commonly are mixed with breast milk, formula, or water andlater with fruits. To help identify possible allergies or foodintolerances that may arise when new foods are added tothe diet, single-grain cereals (rice, oatmeal, barley) are recommended as starting cereals. If juice is given, it shouldbe started only after 6 months of age, be given in a cup (asopposed to a bottle), and limited to 4 oz daily of 100% natural unsweetened juice. An infant should never be put tosleep with a bottle or cup filled with milk, formula, or juicebecause this can result in Early Childhood Caries (ECC)(see Chapter 127).
Green vegetables bring nutrients, vitamin, minerals, and micronutrients. Children should get two to three servings of vegetables. For infants with a strong family history of food allergy, foods with high allergic potential, such as fish, peanuts, tree nuts, dairy products, and eggs, should probably be avoided. All foods with the potential to obstruct the young infant’s main airway should be avoided in general until 4 years of age or older. Because of the risk of infant botulism, honey should not be given before 1 year of age.
Commercially prepared or homemade foods help meet the nutritional needs of the infant. If the introduction of solid foods is delayed, nutritional deficiencies can develop, and oral sensory issues (texture and oral aversion) may occur. General signs of readiness include the ability to hold the head up, maturity (around double the birth weight), opening their mouths wide, showing eager anticipation of eating food and interest in foods, sitting unassisted, bringing objects to the mouth, and the ability to track a spoon. The choice of foods to meet micro-nutrient needs is less critical for formula.
Caries are tooth infections that start as early as when the deciduous teeth (baby teeth) have erupted. A tooth cavity is caused by a combination of sugar and bacteria in the mouth. Eating a healthy diet and brushing regularly will control sugar and bacteria. Rubbing infant gums with a wet washcloth can be the first step in oral hygiene. There are also ergonomically designed tooth brushes, comfortable and safe for infants, used to rub their gums and create the habit of oral hygiene. A variety of feeding habits beyond nursing and bottle feeding are implicated as causes of dental caries in childhood that can lead to problems with adult teeth and health. This infection can be prevented by healthy food choices and habits starting in infancy. Exposure to different textures and the process of self-feeding are important neurodevelopmental experiences for infants. A healthy diet is recommended to take full advantage of the child’s developmental milestones and for the child’s well-being. For the first 2 months it is important to set the stage by making distinctions between sleeping and feeding time. At 4 to 6 months of age, beginning to actively separate mealtime from bedtime is recommended.
Learning healthy eating behaviors at an early age is an important preventive measure because of the association of diet with several chronic and noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), such as obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease, which may account for approximately 60% of all deaths worldwide. These diseases share risk factors that can be modified by lifestyle changes such as eating less processed food and increasing physical activity. Diets high in fruits and vegetables together with increased physical activity improve metabolic risk factors. The first 1000 days of life are an important time to engage in healthy nutrition behaviors that will promote well-being. Accelerated postnatal growth in infants and young children is an important risk factor for obesity; interventions should be aimed at identifying underlying causes for early prevention. For a discussion of nutrient needs for children and adolescents, see http://www.health.gov/dietaryguidelines
The consumption of cow’s milk is ideally not introduced until approximately 1 year of age when it is better tolerated. Low-fat (2%) or whole milk is recommended until 2 years or age, after which fat-free or 1% milk is recommended. Excessive milk intake (more than 24 oz/day) should be avoided in toddlers because larger intakes may reduce the intake of a good variety of nutritionally important solid foods and also result in iron deficiency anemia; large intakes also may contribute to excessive caloric intake.
Juice intake for toddlers and young children should be limited to 4 oz, and juice intake for children 7 to 18 years of age should be limited to 8 oz/day. Water and milk are the recommended drinks during the day.
“ChooseMyPlate” by the U.S. Department of Agriculture canprovide parents with a general guideline for the types of foodsto be offered on a regular basis. A child should eat three mealsa day and two healthy snacks. A general rule for the quantity offood to offer to a child is one tablespoon per age of each foodprovided per meal, with more given if the child requests. As arule of thumb, children should not be eating more than an adultpalm per serving. By 1 year of age, infants should be eating mealswith the family, have a regular schedule of meals and snacks,and be encouraged to self-feed with appropriate finger foods.
The “plate” image is divided into five sections: Fruits, Grains,Vegetables, Protein, and Dairy (Figure 28-1; Table 28-1). Halfof the “plate” should be vegetables and fruits, and the other halfgrains and proteins, with dairy on the side. The “plate” is simple,organized, and serves as a guide for healthy eating. A weekly recommendation for vegetable intake is also provided (Table 28-1).Other suggestions include the following: switch to fat free orlow-fat (1%) milk; make at least half of the grains whole insteadof refined grains; avoid oversize proportions; compare sodium(salt) in foods such as soup, bread, and frozen meals; choosefoods with lower sodium content; and drink water instead of sugary drinks. After 2 years, it is recommended that the fatintake gradually be reduced to approximately 30% and not lessthan 20% of calories. Replace proteins from red meat with a mixof fish, chicken, nuts, and legumes. Power struggles over eatingare common between parents and toddlers. The parent’s role is to decide the what, when, and where of the meals. The child’s role is to decide if, what, and how much to eat.
Iron intake may be inadequate in some children between 1 and 3 years of age in the United States. Significant iron deficiency anemia exists in some high-risk minority or low-income www.ChooseMyPlate.gov *Including cabbage, cauliflower, green beans, lettuce, zucchini.
Figure 28-1 “ChooseMyPlate” guidelines developed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. (From www.ChooseMyPlate.gov populations of young children. Toddlers with excessive milk intakes (>32 oz/day) and/or those who consume little meat, green leaves rich in iron, or grains are at risk for iron deficiency.
Teen nutrition can be a challenge. Ads for junk food and images of incredibly thin adolescents provide conflicting and unhealthy ideas about what they should eat. Girls ages 14 to 18 need anywhere from 1800 to 2400 calories per day, depending on their activity level and stage of development. Boys of the same age group need 2000 to 3200 calories daily. Poor eating habits may develop during adolescence. Skipped meals (especially breakfast), binge eating with friends or alone, dieting, and consumption of nutrient-poor, calorically dense foods are common problems. Excessive consumption of sugar from soda, fruit drinks, and specialty coffee and tea drinks may contribute to excess weight gain as well as tooth decay and may displace other needed nutrients. Poor calcium intake during adolescence may predispose the adult to future osteoporotic hip fracture. Osteoporosis (osteopenia) during adolescence caused by poor dietary calcium or vitamin D intake or poor absorption of ingested calcium in children and adolescents is a potential problem. Only 1 of 10 teenage girls and 1 of 4 teenage boys get enough calcium every day. Adolescents ages 9 to 18 need 1300 milligrams of calcium daily. Good sources include milk, yogurt, fortified orange juice, cheese, soybeans, and tofu.
Inadequate iron intake may results in symptoms of fatigue and iron deficiency anemia. Iron needs increase during growth spurts, which is why teens are more likely to suffer from iron deficiency anemia. Teenage girls are especially prone to anemia. Student athletes are also vulnerable to inadequate iron intakes, severely restrictive eating patterns, and use of inappropriate nutritional and vitamin supplements. Adolescents should be counseled on specific and healthy dietary choices (see Chapter 70).
Childhood obesity is an epidemic in the United States. Data indicate that approximately 17% of children in the United States ages 2 to 20 are obese (body mass index of ≥95th percentile) and more than 30% of U.S. adults are obese. Many obese children become obese adults, and the risk of remaining obese increases with age and degree of obesity. Obesity runs in families and is rarely related to genetic influences. The largest increases in the prevalence of obesity are seen in the most severely overweight classifications and in certain ethnic groups, such as African-American and Mexican-American children. In 2008, obesity cost the nation $147 billion in medical costs. The associations between obesity and television watching and excessive dietary intake as well as the different rates of obesity observed in urban versus rural areas support the important influence of environment. One important risk factor is maternal obesity during pregnancy. Children born to obese mothers are three to five times more likely to be obese in childhood. Women who gain much more weight than recommended during pregnancy have children who have a higher BMI than normal in adolescence. Also, some small for gestational age (SGA) newborns have higher risks for abnormal postnatal weight gain and diabetes.
Available @ StudentConsult.comComplications of obesity in children and adolescents can affect virtually every major organ system. High BMI increases the risk of metabolic and cardiovascular diseases and some cancers; it is also the most important modifiable risk factor for glycemia and diabetes. The history and physical examination should screen for many potential complications noted among obese patients (Table 29-1), in addition to specific syndromes associated with obesity (Table 29-2). Medical complications are often related to the degree of obesity and usually decrease in severity or resolve with weight reduction. Obesity is associated with the presence of precursors of coronary heart disease that are already evident in 12and 13-year-old children. Type 2 diabetes is also increasing in children.
The diagnosis of obesity depends on the measurement of excess body fat. Actual measurement of body composition is not practical in most clinical situations.
Psychosocial Peer discrimination, teasing, reduced college acceptance, isolation, depression, eating disorders (binge-eating), reduced job promotion*
Growth Advance bone age, increased height, early menarcheCardiovascular Hypertension, cardiac hypertrophy, arrhythmias, ischemic heart disease,* sudden death*
Orthopedic Slipped capital femoral epiphysis, Blount diseaseMetabolic Insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes mellitus, hypertriglyceridemia, hypercholesterolemia, gout,* hepatic steatosis, polycystic ovary disease, cholelithiasis *Complications unusual until adulthood.
BMI (body mass index; BMI = wt (kg) ÷ Ht2 (m)) is a convenient screening tool that correlates fairly strongly with body fatness in children and adults. BMI age-specific and gender-specific percentile curves (for 2to 20-year-olds) allow an assessment of BMI percentile (available online at http://www.cdc.gov/growthcharts ). Table 29-3 provides BMI interpretation guidelines. For children younger than 2 years of age, weight-for-length measurements greater than 95th percentile may indicate overweight and warrant further assessment. A BMI for age and gender above the 95th percentile is strongly associated with excessive body fat and is associated with multiple cardiovascular disease risk factors.
Early recognition of excessive rates of weight gain, overweight, or obesity in children is essential because the earlier the interventions, the more likely they are to be successful.
Alström syndrome Hypogonadism, retinal degeneration, deafness, diabetes mellitusCarpenter syndrome Polydactyly, syndactyly, cranial synostosis, mental retardationHyperinsulinism Nesidioblastosis, pancreatic adenoma, hypoglycemia, Mauriac syndromeLaurence-Moon-Bardet-Retinal degeneration, syndactyly, Biedl hypogonadism, mental retardation, autosomal recessive syndrome
Muscular dystrophy Late onset of obesityPrader-Willi syndrome Neonatal hypotonia, normal growth immediately after birth, small hands and feet, mental retardation, hypogonadism; some have partial deletion of chromosome 15
Pseudohypoparathyroidism Variable hypocalcemia, cutaneous calcificationsTurner syndrome Ovarian dysgenesis, lymphedema, web neck; XO chromosome *These diseases represent <5% of cases of childhood obesity.
Routine evaluation at well-child visits should include the following: 1.
Anthropometric data, including weight, height, and calculation of BMI. Data should be plotted on age-appropriate and gender-appropriate growth charts and assessed for BMI trends (see Table 29-3).
Dietary and physical activity history (Table 29-4). Assess patterns and potential targets for behavioral change.
Physical examination. Assess blood pressure, adiposity distribution (central versus generalized), markers of comorbidities (acanthosis nigricans, hirsutism, hepatomegaly, orthopedic abnormalities), and physical stigmata of a genetic syndrome (explains fewer than 5% of cases).
Laboratory studies. These are generally reservedfor children who are obese (BMI > 95th percentile),who have evidence of comorbidities, or both. Other studies should be guided by findings in the historyand physical examination. The American Academy ofPediatrics endorses the government guidelines from2011, which recommend that all 9to 11-year-olds bescreened for cholesterol. Other useful laboratory testsmay include hemoglobin A1c, fasting lipid profile,fasting glucose levels, liver function tests, and thyroidfunction tests (if there is a faster increase in weightthan height).
The approach to therapy and aggressiveness of treatmentshould be based on risk factors, including age, severity ofoverweight and obesity, and comorbidities, as well as familyhistory and support. The primary goal for all children withuncomplicated obesity and fast-rising weight-for-height isto achieve healthy eating and activity patterns. For children with a secondary complication, specific treatment of thecomplication is an important goal. Childhood and adolescentobesity treatment programs can lead to sustained weight lossand decreases in BMI when treatment focuses on behavioral changes and is family centered. Concurrent changes in dietaryand physical activity patterns are most likely to provide success (Table 29-5).
Goal setting needs to be specific and attainable. Instead of recommending that the child walk or bike to school, suggest walking or biking to school two or more days a week. Rather than recommending that a child watch less television, suggest watching no television on school days. It is important to keep it simple and set one or two short-term goals at a time. In addition, behavioral risk factors need to be identified, such as avoiding fast food when family life gets hectic. Helping the family think of healthy alternatives is important.
Families need to be counseled on age-appropriate and healthy eating patterns, beginning with the promotion of breastfeeding. For infants, transition to complementary and table foods and the importance of regularly scheduled meals and snacks, versus grazing behavior, should be emphasized. Age-appropriate portion sizes for meals and snacks should be encouraged. Children should be taught to recognize hunger and satiety cues, guided by reasonable portions and healthy food choices by parents. Smaller bowls should be used, and children should never eat directly from a bag or box. No juices or soda should be the rule. Children should never be forced
Limit screen time (television, computer games/Internet, video games) to <1–2 hours per day (no TV for child <2 yr of age)
Consume five or more servings of fruits and vegetables per day
Minimize consumption of sugar-sweetened beveragesFAMILY □ Eat at table, as a family, at least five to six times per week
Allow child to self-regulate his or her meals and avoid overly restrictive feeding behaviors
Do not reward children with food or drinksLimit what is available in vending machinesSpeak to patients about healthy weight and good nutritionGOVERNMENT □ Increase access to healthy food and eliminate food deserts to eat when they are not willing, and overemphasis on food as a reward should be avoided. “Choose My Plate” by the U.S. Department of Agriculture can provide parents with a general guideline for the types of foods to be offered on a regular basis, including fruits, vegetables, grains, protein, and dairy.
The importance of physical activity should be emphasized. For some children, organized sports and school-based activities provide opportunities for vigorous activity and fun, whereas for others a focus on activities of daily living, such as increased walking, using stairs, and more active play may be better received. Time spent in sedentary behavior, such as television viewing and video/computer games, should be limited. Television in children’s rooms is associated with more television time and with higher rates of overweight, and the risks of this practice should be discussed with parents. Clinicians may need to help families identify alternatives to sedentary activities, especially for families with deterrents to activity, such as unsafe neighborhoods or lack of supervision after school.
More aggressive therapies are considered only for those who have not responded to other interventions. Treatment includes
Be able to count Decrease size of serving Small bowls (parent palm)
Aim to change behaviorsAvoid eating from the boxDon’t focus on consumption of Decrease to 20 g of fat Eat fish once a week carbohydrates, fat, protein
Eating fast food Eat less junk food Limit trips to McDonalds to once a week
Fruits Buy fewer juices Have no juices in the refrigerator Increase eating fruits Keep a bowl of fruits in the kitchen
Vegetables Increase eating veggies Have a bowl of veggies in the refrigerator
Cooperation, competition, and social interaction such as building a house of veggies a systematic approach that promotes multidisciplinary brief, office-based interventions for obese children as well as reducing weight. Before enrolling any patient in a weight-loss program, the clinician must have a clear idea of that individual’s expectations. Patients with unrealistic expectations should not be enrolled until these are changed to realistic and attainable goals. Using the pneumonic described, the clinician should guide the patient who seeks weight reduction to create SMART goals: Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Timely.
Surgical treatment may be advocated as a preferred and cost-effective solution for certain children and adolescents. The role of bariatric surgery in the treatment of obese children or adolescents is controversial. The concerns about surgery to treat obesity in young populations include whether or not surgery is cost effective; how to ensure healthy growth through to adulthood; what support services are needed after surgery; compliance with the postoperative nutrition regimen; and attendance at appointments for long-term follow-up and care. There is very limited evidence available to adequately estimate long-term safety, effectiveness, cost effectiveness or durability of bariatric surgery in growing children. The existing evidence suggests that bariatric surgery in severely obese adolescent results in significant weight loss and improvements in comorbidities and quality of life. Postoperative complications (both physical and psychological), compliance, and follow-up may be more problematic in adolescents than adults, and long-term data on safety, effectiveness, and cost remain largely unavailable.
Pediatric undernutrition is usually the result of inadequatefood supply, access, or utilization; poor access to health andsanitation; and/or inappropriate feeding or child care practices.The greatest risk of undernutrition is in utero through age 2.Various guidelines can be used to classify pediatric malnutrition (Table 30-1). International references are established that allow normalization of anthropometric measures in terms of z scores. Other measurements include height and weight for age,weight for height, BMI, and mid-upper arm circumference. Thegreatest consequence of undernutrition is death, but significantintellectual and physical disability exists in many who survive.
Protein-energy malnutrition (PEM) is a spectrum of conditions caused by varying levels of protein and calorie deficiencies. Primary PEM is caused by social or economic factors that result in a lack of food. Secondary PEM occurs in children with various conditions associated with increased caloric requirements (infection, trauma, cancer) (Fig. 30-1), increased caloric loss (malabsorption), reduced caloric intake (anorexia, cancer, oral intake restriction, social factors), or a combination of these three variables. Protein and calorie malnutrition may
From Grover Z, Ee LC: Protein energy malnutrition, Pediatr Clin North Am 56:1055–1068, 2009 BMI, Body mass index; HFA, height for age; MUAC, mid-upper arm circumference; NCHS, U.S. National Center for Health Statistics; SD, standard deviation;
WFA, weight for age; WFH, weight for height; WHO, World Health Organization.
Severe infection, 35Figure 30-1 Increased energy needs with stress. (Adapted from Wilmore D: The Metabolic Management of the Critically Ill, New York, 1977, Plenum Publishing. Revised in Walker W, Watkins J, editors: Nutrition in Pediatrics: Basic Science and Clinical Application. Boston, 1985, Little, Brown.) be associated with other nutrient deficiencies, which may be evident on physical examination (Table 30-2).
Available @ StudentConsult.comFailure to ThrivePediatric undernutrition in the United States is often termed failure to thrive and describes circumstances in which a child fails to gain weight appropriately or, in more severe cases, experiences failure in linear growth or head circumference. The terms organic and nonorganic failure to thrive have lost favor in recognition of the frequent interplay between underlying medical conditions that may cause maladaptive behaviors. Similarly, social and behavioral factors that initially may have been associated with feeding problems (see Chapter 21), and poor growth also may be associated with medical problems, including frequent minor acute illnesses.
Marasmus results from the body’s physiologic response to inadequate calories and nutrients. Loss of muscle mass and subcutaneous fat stores can be confirmed by inspection or palpation and quantified by anthropometric measurements. The head may appear large but generally is proportional to the body length. Edema usually is absent. The skin is dry and thin, and the hair may be thin, sparse, and easily pulled out. Marasmic children may be apathetic, weak, and may be irritable when touched. Bradycardia and hypothermia signify severe and life-threatening malnutrition. Inappropriate or inadequate weaning practices and chronic diarrhea are common findings in developing countries. Stunting (impaired linear growth) results from a combination of malnutrition, especially micronutrients, and recurrent infections.
Kwashiorkor results from inadequate protein intake in thepresence of fair to good caloric intake. The hypoalbuminemicstate results in pitting edema that starts in the lower extremities and ascends with increasing severity. Other factors, such asacute infection, toxins, and possibly specific micronutrient oramino acid imbalances, are likely to contribute to the etiology.The major clinical manifestation of kwashiorkor is that the body weight is near normal for age; weight alone does not accurately reflect the nutritional status because of edema. Physical
Physical Signs of Nutritional Deficiency DisordersDepigmented skin Purpura Scrotal, vulval dermatitis Alopecia Depigmented, dull hair, easily pluckable Anemias (iron, vitamin B12, vitamin E, folate, and copper)
Protein, thiamineCalories, protein, vitamin B6, niacin, riboflavinRiboflavin, essential fatty acids, biotinCalories, protein Vitamins C, K RiboflavinZinc, biotin, proteinProtein, calories, copperEye (vision) Adaptation to dark Color discrimination Bitot spots, xerophthalmia, keratomalacia
Vitamins A, E, zinc Vitamin A Vitamin AMarasmus Riboflavin, iron Vitamins B6, niacin, riboflavin Vitamins C, K examination reveals a relative maintenance of subcutaneous adipose tissue and a marked atrophy of muscle mass. Edemavaries from a minor pitting of the dorsum of the foot to generalized edema with involvement of the eyelids and scrotum.The hair is sparse; is easily plucked; and appears dull brown, red, or yellow-white. Nutritional repletion restores hair color,leaving a band of hair with altered pigmentation followed by aband with normal pigmentation (flag sign). Skin changes arecommon and range from hyperpigmented hyperkeratosis toan erythematous macular rash (pellagroid) on the trunk andextremities. In the most severe form of kwashiorkor, a superficial desquamation occurs over pressure surfaces (“flaky paint”rash). Angular cheilosis, atrophy of the filiform papillae of thetongue, and monilial stomatitis are common. Enlarged parotidglands and facial edema result in moon facies; apathy and disinterest in eating are typical of kwashiorkor. Examination of
Riboflavin, iron, niacin, folate, vitamin B12Iron Vitamins B6, B12, niacin, riboflavin, folateProtein Fluoride Vitamins A, B12, zinc Vitamin A, zinc Iodine
Neurologic Sensory, motor neuropathy Ataxia, areflexia Ophthalmoplegia Tetany Retardation Dementia, delirium
Poor position sense, ataxia Vitamins D, CVitamin C, copperVitamin D, calcium Vitamin C Thiamine, selenium,Thiamine, vitamins E, B6, B12 Vitamin E Vitamin E, thiamine Vitamin D, Ca2+, Mg2+
Iodine, niacin Vitamin E, niacin, thiamineThiamine, vitamin B12 the abdomen may reveal an enlarged, soft liver with an indefinite edge. Lymph node and tonsils are commonly atrophic.Chest examination may reveal basilar rales. The abdomen isdistended, and bowel sounds tend to be hypoactive.
These children often have concurrent wasting and edema in addition to stunting. These children exhibit features of dermatitis, neurologic abnormalities, and fatty liver.
The basal metabolic rate and immediate nutrient needs decrease in cases of malnutrition. When nutrients are provided, themetabolic rate increases, stimulating anabolism and increasing nutrient requirements. The body of the malnourished child mayhave compensated for micronutrient deficiencies with lower metabolic and growth rates, and refeeding may unmask thesedeficiencies. Nutritional rehabilitation should be initiated and advanced slowly to minimize these complications. The initialapproach involves correction of dehydration and anti-infective(bacteria, parasites) therapy if indicated. Oral rehydration isrecommended over intravenous fluid to avoid excessive fluid and solute load and resultant heart or renal failure.
When nutritional rehabilitation is initiated, calories can be safely started at 20% above the child’s recent intake. If no estimate of the caloric intake is available, 50% to 75% of the normal energy requirement is safe. High-calorie oral solutions or ready-to-use therapeutic foods (a mixture of powdered milk, peanuts, sugar, vitamins, and minerals) are frequently used in developing countries. Nutritional rehabilitation can be complicated by refeeding syndrome, which is characterized by fluid retention, hypophosphatemia, hypomagnesemia, and hypokalemia. Careful monitoring of laboratory values and clinical status with severe malnutrition is essential.
When nutritional rehabilitation has begun, caloric intakecan be increased 10% to 20% per day, monitoring for electrolyte imbalances, poor cardiac function, edema, or feedingintolerance. If any of these occurs, further caloric increasesare not made until the child’s status stabilizes. Caloric intake is increased until appropriate regrowth or catch-up growth isinitiated. Catch-up growth refers to gaining weight at greaterthan 50th percentile for age and may require 150% or more ofthe recommended calories for an age-matched, well-nourishedchild. A general rule of thumb for infants and children up to3 years of age is to provide 100 to 120 kcal/kg based on ideal weight for height. Protein needs also are increased as anabolismbegins and are provided in proportion to the caloric intake.Vitamin and mineral intake in excess of the daily recommendedintake is provided to account for the increased requirements;this is frequently accomplished by giving an age-appropriatedaily multiple vitamin, with other individual micronutrientsupplements as warranted by history, physical examination,or laboratory studies. Iron supplements are not recommendedduring the acute rehabilitation phase, especially for childrenwith kwashiorkor, for whom ferritin levels are often high. Additional iron may pose an oxidative stress; iron supplementationis associated with higher morbidity and mortality.
In most cases, cow’s milk–based formulas are tolerated and provide an appropriate mix of nutrients. Other easily digested foods, appropriate for the age, also may be introduced slowly. If feeding intolerance occurs, lactose-free or semielemental formulas should be considered.
Malnourished children are more susceptible to infection, especially sepsis, pneumonia, and gastroenteritis. Hypoglycemia is common after periods of severe fasting but may also be a sign of sepsis. Hypothermia may signify infection or, with bradycardia, may signify a decreased metabolic rate to conserve energy. Bradycardia and poor cardiac output predispose the malnourished child to heart failure, which is exacerbated by acute fluid or solute loads. Micronutrient deficiencies also can complicate malnutrition. Vitamin A and zinc deficiencies are common in the developing world and are an important cause of altered immune response and increased morbidity and mortality. Depending on the age at onset and the duration of the malnutrition, malnourished children may have permanent growth stunting (from malnutrition in utero, infancy, or adolescence) and delayed development (from malnutrition in infancy or adolescence). Environmental (social) deprivation may interact with the effects of the malnutrition to impair further development and cognitive function.
Micronutrients include vitamins and trace elements. In industrialized societies, frank clinical deficiencies are unusual in healthy children, but they can and do occur in certain high-risk circumstances. Risk factors include diets that are consistently limited in variety, especially with the exclusion of entire food groups, malabsorption syndromes, and conditions causing high physiologic requirements. Various common etiologies of vitamin and nutrient deficiency states are highlighted in Table 31-1, and characteristics of vitamin deficiencies are outlined in Table 31-2. Treatment is noted in Table 31-3.
Water-soluble vitamins are not stored in the body except for vitamin B12; intake therefore alters tissue levels. Absorption from the diet is usually high, and the compounds exchange readily between intracellular and extracellular fluids; excretion is via the urine. Water-soluble vitamins typically function as coenzymes in energy, protein, amino acid, and nucleic acid metabolism; as cosubstrates in enzymatic reactions; and as structural components.
Available @ StudentConsult.comThe principal forms of vitamin C are ascorbic acid and the oxidized form, dehydroascorbic acid. Ascorbic acid accelerateshydroxylation reactions in many biosynthetic reactions, including hydroxylation of proline in the formation of collagen. Theneeds of full-term infants for ascorbic acid and dehydroascorbicacid are calculated by estimating the availability in human milk.
A deficiency of ascorbic acid results in the clinical manifestations of scurvy. Infantile scurvy is manifested by irritability, bone tenderness with swelling, and pseudoparalysis of the legs. The disease may occur if infants are fed unsupplemented cow’s milk in the first year of life or if the diet is devoid of fruits
Vegans (strict) Protein, vitamins B12, D, riboflavin, ironBreastfed infant Vitamins K, DBulimia, anorexia nervosa Electrolytes, other deficienciesParenteral alimentation Essential fatty acids, trace elementsAlcoholism Calories, vitamin B1, B6, folateMalabsorption syndromes Vitamins A, D, E, K, zinc, essential fatty acids
Cholestasis Vitamins E, D, K, A, zinc, essential fatty acids
Sulfonamides Folate Phenytoin, phenobarbital Vitamins D, K, folate Mineral oil Vitamins A, D, E, K Antibiotics Vitamin K Isoniazid Vitamin B6 Antacids Iron, phosphate, calcium Digitalis Magnesium, calcium Penicillamine Vitamin B6
Transcobalamin II or intrinsic Vitamin B12 factor deficiency Other digestive enzyme Carbohydrate, fat, protein deficiencies Menkes kinky hair syndrome Copper
Acrodermatitis enteropathica Zinc Reduced exposure to direct Vitamin D sunlight and vegetables. Subperiosteal hemorrhage, bleeding gums and petechiae, hyperkeratosis of hair follicles, and a succession of mental changes characterize the progression of the illness. Anemia secondary to bleeding, decreased iron absorption, or abnormal folate metabolism is also seen in chronic scurvy. Treatment is noted in Table 31-3.
Available @ StudentConsult.comThe B vitamins thiamine, riboflavin, and niacin are routinely added to enriched grain products; deficiencies in normal hosts are rare in the United States. Levels from human milk reflect maternal intake, and deficiency can develop in breastfed infants of deficient mothers.
Vitamin B1 functions as a coenzyme in biochemical reactions related to carbohydrate metabolism, decarboxylation of α-ketoacids and pyruvate, and transketolase reactions of the pentose pathway. Thiamine also is involved in the decarboxylation of branched-chain amino acids. Thiamine is lost during milk pasteurization and sterilization.
Thiamine deficiency occurs in alcoholics and has beenreported in adolescents who have undergone bariatric surgery forsevere obesity. Infantile beriberi occurs between 1 and 4 months of age in breastfed infants whose mothers have a thiamine deficiency (alcoholism), in infants with protein-calorie malnutrition,in infants receiving unsupplemented hyperalimentation fluid, and in infants receiving boiled milk. Acute wet beriberi with cardiac symptoms and signs predominates in infantile beriberi.Anorexia, apathy, vomiting, restlessness, and pallor progress todyspnea, cyanosis, and death from heart failure. Infants withberiberi have a characteristic aphonic cry; they appear to be crying, but no sound is uttered. Other signs include peripheral neuropathy and paresthesias. For treatment see Table 31-3.
Vitamin B2 is a constituent of two coenzymes, riboflavin 5′-phosphate and flavin-adenine dinucleotide, essential components of glutathione reductase and xanthine oxidase, which are involved in electron transport. A deficiency of riboflavin affects glucose, fatty acid, and amino acid metabolism. Riboflavin and its phosphate are decomposed by exposure to light and by strong alkaline solutions.
Ariboflavinosis is characterized by an angular stomatitis; glossitis; cheilosis; seborrheic dermatitis around the nose and mouth; and eye changes that include reduced tearing, photophobia, corneal vascularization, and the formation of cataracts. Subclinical riboflavin deficiencies have been found in diabetic subjects, children in families with low socioeconomic status, children with chronic cardiac disease, and infants undergoing prolonged phototherapy for hyperbilirubinemia.
Niacin consists of the compounds nicotinic acid and nicotinamide (niacinamide). Nicotinamide, the predominant form of the vitamin, functions as a component of the coenzymes nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADP). Niacin is involved in multiple metabolic processes, including fat synthesis, intracellular respiratory metabolism, and glycolysis.
In determining the needs for niacin, the content of tryptophan in the diet must be considered because tryptophan is converted to niacin. Niacin is stable in foods and withstands heating and prolonged storage. Approximately 70% of the total niacin equivalents in human milk are derived from tryptophan. Pellagra, or niacin deficiency disease, is characterized by weakness, lassitude, dermatitis, photosensitivity, inflammation of mucous membranes, diarrhea, vomiting, dysphagia, and, in severe cases, dementia.
Coenzyme in ketoacid Beriberi: polyneuropathy, calf Inborn errors of lactate Liver, meat, milk, cereals, decarboxylation (e.g., tenderness, heart failure, edema, metabolism; boiling milk nuts, legumes pyruvate → acetyl-CoA ophthalmoplegia destroys B1 transketolase reaction)
Meat, vegetablesFolate DNA synthesis Megaloblastic anemia; neural Goat milk deficient; drug Liver, greens, vegetables, tube defects antagonists; heat inactivates cereals, cheese
D Maintain serum calcium, Rickets: reduced bone Prohormone of 25and Fortified milk, cheese, phosphorus levels mineralization 1,25-vitamin D liver; sunlight
E Antioxidant Hemolysis in preterm infants; May benefit patients with Seeds, vegetables, germ areflexia, ataxia, ophthalmoplegia G6PD deficiency oils, grains
CoA, Coenzyme A; FAD, flavin adenine dinucleotide; G6PD, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase; NAD, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide. *Biotinidase deficiency.
Vitamin B6 diarrhea, failure to thrive, listlessness, hyperirritability, and Vitamin B6 refers to three naturally occurring pyridines: seizures. Children receiving isoniazid or penicillamine may pyridoxine (pyridoxol), pyridoxal, and pyridoxamine. The require additional vitamin B6 because the drug binds to the phosphates of the latter two pyridines are metabolically and vitamin. Vitamin B6 is unusual as a water-soluble vitamin in functionally related and are converted in the liver to the coen-that very large doses (≥500 mg/day) have been associated with zyme form, pyridoxal phosphate. The metabolic functions of a sensory neuropathy. vitamin B6 include interconversion reactions of amino acids, conversion of tryptophan to niacin and serotonin, metabolic reactions in the brain, carbohydrate metabolism, immune Folate development, and the biosynthesis of heme and prostaglandins. The pyridoxal and pyridoxamine forms of the vitamin are destroyed by heat; heat treatment was responsible for vita-
Decision-Making Algorithms min B6 deficiency and seizures in infants fed improperly pro-Available @ StudentConsult.com cessed formulas. Goat’s milk is deficient in vitamin B6.
Dietary deprivation or malabsorption of vitamin B6 in chil- dren results in hypochromic microcytic anemia, vomiting,
Vitamin A Severe deficiency with Infants: 7,500–15,000 U/day IM, followed by oral 5000–10,000 U/day for 10 days. xerophthalmia
Children 1–8 yr of age: oral 5,000–10,000 U/kg/day for 5 days or until recovery. Children >8 yr of age and adults: oral 500,000 U/day for 3 days; then 50,000 U/day for 14 days; then 10,000–20,000 U/day for 2 mo.
Deficiency without Infants <1 yr of age: 100,000 U/day orally, q4–6mo. corneal changes
Children 1–8 yr of age: 200,000 U/day orally, q4–6mo. Children >8 yr and adults: 100,000 U/day for 3 days, followed by 50,000 U/day for 10 days.
Deficiency IM given only to those patients with malabsorption in whom oral dosing is not possible. Infants: 7,500–15,000 U/day for 10 days. Children 1–8 yr of age: 17,500–35,000 U/day for 10 days. Children >8 yr of age and adults: 100,000 U/day for 3 days, then 50,000 U/day for 14 days. Give follow-up oral multivitamin that contains vitamin A:
LBW infants: no dose established, children ≤8 years of age: 5,000–10,000 U/day, children >8 yr of age and adults: 10,000–20,000 U daily.
Malabsorption syndrome Children >8 yr of age and adults: oral 10,000–50,000 U/day of water-miscible product. (prophylaxis)
Cystic fibrosis 1,500–10,000 U/day prophylaxis (CF Foundation).Measles WHO recommendations: single dose, repeating the dose next day and at 4 wk for children with eye findings: 6 mo to 1 yr of age: 100,000 U; >1 yr of age: 200,000 U.
Niacin Pellagra Children: 50–100 mg tid. Adults: 50–100 mg/day, max 100 mg/day.
Pyridoxine (B6) Seizures Neonates and infants: initial 50–100 mg/day orally, IM, IV, SC.
Drug-induced Children: 10–50 mg/day as treatment, 1–2 mg/kg/day as prophylaxis. deficiencies
Adults: 100–200 mg/day as treatment, 25–100 mg/day as prophylaxis.Dietary deficiency Children: 5–25 mg/day for 3 wk, then 1.5–2.5 mg/day in a multivitamin product. Adults: 10–20 mg/day for 3 wk.
Riboflavin (B2) Children: 2.5–10 mg/day in divided doses. Adults: 5–30 mg/day in divided doses.
Ascorbic acid Scurvy Children: 100–300 mg/day in divided doses orally, IM, IV, or SC for several days. Adults: 100–250 mg/day one to two times/day.
Data from Lexi-Comp Inc., Hudson, Ohio, 2004; table from Kronel S, Mascarenhas: Vitamin deficiencies and excesses. In Burg FD, Ingelfinger JR, Polin RA, Gershon AA, editors: Current Pediatric Therapy, Philadelphia, 2006, Elsevier, Table 3, pp 104–105. bid, Two times per day; CF, cystic fibrosis; IM, intramuscular; IV, intravenous; LBW, low birth weight; PO, by mouth; q, every; SC, subcutaneous; tid, three times per day; WHO, World Health Organization.
A variety of chemical forms of folate are nutritionally active. Folate high requirement of the vitamin to support erythropoiesis. functions in transport of single-carbon fragments in synthesis of Other conditions with risk of deficiency include pregnancy, nucleic acids and for normal metabolism of certain amino acids alcoholism, and treatment with anticonvulsants (phenytand in conversion of homocysteine to methionine. Food sources oin) or antimetabolites (methotrexate). First occurrence and include green leafy vegetables, oranges, and whole grains; folate recurrence of neural tube defects are reduced significantly fortification of grains is now routine in the United States. by maternal supplementation during embryogenesis. Because
Folate deficiency, characterized by hypersegmented neu-closure of the neural tube occurs before usual recognition of trophils, macrocytic anemia, and glossitis, may result from pregnancy, all women of reproductive age are recommended a low dietary intake, malabsorption, or vitamin-drug inter-to have a folate intake of at least 400 μg/day as prophylaxis. actions. Deficiency can develop within a few weeks of birth because infants require 10 times as much folate as adults rela-Vitamin B12 tive to body weight but have scant stores of folate in the newborn period. Folate is particularly heat labile. Heat-sterilizing
Decision-Making Algorithms home-prepared formula can decrease the folate content by Available @ StudentConsult.com half. Evaporated milk and goat’s milk are low in folate. Patients with chronic hemolysis (sickle cell anemia, thalassemia) may require extra folate to avoid deficiency because of the relatively Vitamin B12 is one of the most complex of the vitaminmolecules, containing an atom of cobalt held in a corrin ring (similar to that of iron in hemoglobin). The cobalt ionis at the active center of the ring and serves as the site forattachment of alkyl groups during their transfer. The vitamin functions in single-carbon transfers and is intimatelyrelated to folate function and interconversions. Vitamin B12 is essential for normal lipid and carbohydrate metabolism inenergy production and in protein biosynthesis and nucleicacid synthesis.
In contrast to other water-soluble vitamins, absorption of vitamin B12 is complex, involving cleavage of the vitamin from dietary protein and binding to a glycoprotein called intrinsic factor, which is secreted by the gastric mucosa (parietal cells). The cobalamin–intrinsic factor complex is efficiently absorbed from the distal ileum.
As vitamin B12 is absorbed into the portal circulation, it is transported bound to a specific protein, transcobalamin II. Its large stores in the liver also are unusual for a water-soluble vitamin. Efficient enterohepatic circulation normally protects from deficiency for months to years. Dietary sources of the vitamin are animal products only. Strict vegetarians should take a vitamin B12 supplement.
Vitamin B12 deficiency in children is rare. Early diagnosisand treatment of this disorder in childhood are importantbecause of the danger of irreversible neurologic damage.Most cases in childhood result from a specific defect inabsorption (see Table 31-2). Such defects include congenital pernicious anemia (absent intrinsic factor), juvenile pernicious anemia (autoimmune), and deficiency of transcobalamin II transport. Gastric or intestinal resection and smallbowel bacterial overgrowth also cause vitamin B12 deficiency. Exclusively breastfed infants ingest adequate vitaminB12 unless the mother is a strict vegetarian without supplementation.
Depression of serum vitamin B12 and the appearance of hypersegmented neutrophils and macrocytosis (indistinguishable from folate deficiency) are early clinical manifestations of deficiency. Vitamin B12 deficiency also causes neurologic manifestations, including depression, peripheral neuropathy, posterior spinal column signs, dementia, and eventual coma. The neurologic signs do not occur in folate deficiency, but administration of folate may mask the hematologic signs of vitamin B12 deficiency, while the neurologic manifestations progress. Patients with vitamin B12 deficiency also have increased urine levels of methylmalonic acid. Most cases of vitamin B12 deficiency in infants and children are not of dietary origin and require treatment throughout life. Maintenance therapy consists of repeated monthly intramuscular injections, although a form of vitamin B12 is administered intranasally.
Fat-soluble vitamins generally have stores in the body, and dietary deficiencies generally develop more slowly than for water-soluble vitamins. Absorption of fat-soluble vitamins depends on normal fat intake, digestion, and absorption. The complexity of normal fat absorption and the potential for perturbation in many disease states explains the more common occurrence of deficiencies of these vitamins.
Available @ StudentConsult.comThe basic constituent of the vitamin A group is retinol.Ingested plant carotene or animal tissue retinol estersrelease retinol after hydrolysis by pancreatic and intestinal enzymes. Chylomicron-transported retinol esters arestored in the liver as retinol palmitate. Retinol is transportedfrom the liver to target tissues by retinol-binding protein,releasing free retinol to the target tissues. The kidney thenexcretes the retinol-binding protein. Diseases of the kidneydiminish excretion of retinol-binding protein, whereas liverparenchymal disease or malnutrition lowers the synthesis ofretinol-binding protein. Specific cellular binding proteinsfacilitate the uptake of retinol by target tissues. In the eye, retinol is metabolized to form rhodopsin; the action of light onrhodopsin is the first step of the visual process. Retinol alsoinfluences the growth and differentiation of epithelia. Theclinical manifestations of vitamin A deficiency in humansappear as a group of ocular signs termed xerophthalmia. The earliest symptom is night blindness, which is followed by xerosis of the conjunctiva and cornea. Untreated, xerophthalmia can result in ulceration, necrosis, keratomalacia, and a permanent corneal scar. Clinical and subclinical vitamin A deficiencies are associated with immunodeficiency; increased risk of infection, especially measles; and increasedrisk of mortality, especially in developing nations. Xerophthalmia and vitamin A deficiency should be urgently treated.Hypervitaminosis A also has serious sequelae, includingheadaches, pseudotumor cerebri, hepatotoxicity, and teratogenicity.
Eight naturally occurring compounds have vitamin E activity. The most active of these, α-tocopherol, accounts for 90% of the vitamin E present in human tissues and is commercially available as an acetate or succinate. Vitamin E acts as a biologic antioxidant by inhibiting the peroxidation of polyunsaturated fatty acids present in cell membranes. It scavenges free radicals generated by the reduction of molecular oxygen and by the action of oxidative enzymes.
Vitamin E deficiency occurs in children with fat malabsorption secondary to liver disease, untreated celiac disease,cystic fibrosis, and abetalipoproteinemia. In these children, without vitamin E supplementation, a syndrome of progressive sensory and motor neuropathy develops; the first signof deficiency is loss of deep tendon reflexes. Deficient preterminfants at 1 to 2 months of age have hemolytic anemia characterized by an elevated reticulocyte count, an increased sensitivity of the erythrocytes to hemolysis in hydrogen peroxide,peripheral edema, and thrombocytosis. All the abnormalities are corrected after oral, lipid, or water-soluble vitaminE therapy.
Available @ StudentConsult.comCholecalciferol (vitamin D3) is the mammalian form of vitamin D and is produced by ultraviolet irradiation of inactive precursors in the skin. Ergocalciferol (vitamin D2) is derived from plants. Vitamin D2 and vitamin D3 require further metabolism to become active. They are of equivalent potency. Clothing, lack of sunlight exposure, and skin pigmentation decrease generation of vitamin D in the epidermis and dermis.
Vitamin D (D2 and D3) is metabolized in the liver to calcidiol, or 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-[OH]-D); this metabolite, which has little intrinsic activity, is transported by a plasma-binding globulin to the kidney, where it is converted to the most active metabolite calcitriol, or 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D (1,25-[OH]2-D). The action of 1,25-(OH)2-D results in a decrease in the concentration of messenger RNA (mRNA) for collagen in bone and an increase in the concentration of mRNA for vitamin D–dependent calcium-binding protein in the intestine (directly mediating increased intestinal calcium transport). The antirachitic action of vitamin D probably is mediated by provision of appropriate concentrations of calcium and phosphate in the extracellular space of bone and by enhanced intestinal absorption of these minerals. Vitamin D also may have a direct anabolic effect on bone. 1,25-(OH)2-D has direct feedback to the parathyroid gland and inhibits secretion of parathyroid hormone.
Vitamin D deficiency appears as rickets in children and as osteomalacia in postpubertal adolescents. Inadequate direct sun exposure and vitamin D intake are sufficient causes, butother factors, such as various drugs (phenobarbital, phenytoin) and malabsorption, may increase the risk of developmentof vitamin-deficiency rickets. Breastfed infants, especiallythose with dark-pigmented skin, are at risk for vitamin Ddeficiency.
The pathophysiology of rickets results from defective bone growth, especially at the epiphyseal cartilage matrix, which fails to mineralize. The uncalcified osteoid results in a wide, irregular zone of poorly supported tissue, the rachitic metaphysis. This soft, rather than hardened, zone produces many of the skeletal deformities through compression and lateral bulging or flaring of the ends of bones.
The clinical manifestations of rickets are most common during the first 2 years of life and may become evident only after several months of a vitamin D–deficient diet. Craniotabes is caused by thinning of the outer table of the skull, which when compressed feels like a Ping-Pong ball to the touch. Enlargement of the costochondral junction (rachitic rosary) and thickening of the wrists and ankles may be palpated. The anterior fontanelle is enlarged, and its closure may be delayed. In advanced rickets, scoliosis and exaggerated lordosis may be present. Bowlegs or knock-knees may be evident in older infants, and greenstick fractures may be observed in long bones.
The diagnosis of rickets is based on a history of poor vitamin D intake and little exposure to direct ultraviolet sunlight.The serum calcium usually is normal but may be low; the serum phosphorus level usually is reduced, and serum alkaline phosphatase activity is elevated. When serum calciumlevels decline to less than 7.5 mg/dL, tetany may occur. Levelsof 24,25-(OH)2-D are undetectable, and serum 1,25-(OH)2-Dlevels are commonly less than 7 ng/mL, although 1,25-(OH)2-D levels also may be normal. The best measure of vitamin D status is the level of 25-(OH)-D. Characteristic radiographicchanges of the distal ulna and radius include widening; concavecupping; and frayed, poorly demarcated ends. The increasedspace seen between the distal ends of the radius and ulna andthe metacarpal bones is the enlarged, nonossified metaphysis.
Breastfed infants born of mothers with adequate vitamin D stores usually maintain adequate serum vitamin D levels for at least 2 months, but rickets may develop subsequently if these infants are not exposed to the sun or do not receive supplementary vitamin D. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends vitamin D supplementation of all breastfed infants in the amount of 400 IU/day, started soon after birth and given until the infant is taking more than 1000 mL/day of formula or vitamin D–fortified milk (for age >1 year). Toxic effects of excessive chronic vitamin D may include hypercalcemia, muscle weakness, polyuria, and nephrocalcinosis.
Available @ StudentConsult.comThe plant form of vitamin K is phylloquinone, or vitamin K1. Another form is menaquinone, or vitamin K2, one of a series of compounds with unsaturated side chains synthesized by intestinal bacteria. Plasma factors II (prothrombin), VII, IX, and X in the cascade of blood coagulation factors depend on vitamin K for synthesis and for post-translational conversion of their precursor proteins. The post-translational conversion of glutamyl residues to carboxyglutamic acid residues of a prothrombin molecule creates effective calcium-binding sites, making the protein active.
Other vitamin K–dependent proteins include proteins C, S, and Z in plasma and γ-carboxyglutamic acid–containing proteins in several tissues. Bone contains a major vitamin K–dependent protein, osteocalcin, and lesser amounts of other glutamic acid–containing proteins.
Phylloquinone is absorbed from the intestine and transported by chylomicrons. The rarity of dietary vitamin K deficiency in humans with normal intestinal function suggests that the absorption of menaquinones is possible. Vitamin K deficiency has been observed in subjects with impaired fat absorption caused by obstructive jaundice, pancreatic insufficiency, and celiac disease; often these problems are combined with the use of antibiotics that change intestinal flora.
Hemorrhagic disease of the newborn, a disease more common among breastfed infants, occurs in the first few weeks of life. It is rare in infants who receive prophylactic intramuscular vitamin K on the first day of life. Hemorrhagic disease of the newborn usually is marked by generalized ecchymoses, gastrointestinal hemorrhage, or bleeding from a circumcision or umbilical stump; intracranial hemorrhage can occur, but
Table 31-4 Characteristics of Trace Mineral Deficiencies MINERAL FUNCTION MANIFESTATIONS OF DEFICIENCY COMMENTS SOURCES Iron Heme-containing macromolecules (e.g., hemoglobin, cytochrome, and myoglobin) Anemia, spoon nails, reduced muscle and mental performance History of pica, cow’s milk, gastrointestinal bleeding Meat, liver, grains, legumes
Selenium Antioxidant; glutathione Keshan cardiomyopathy in China Endemic areas; long-term TPN Meat, vegetables peroxidase
TPN, Total parenteral nutrition.is uncommon. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that parenteral vitamin K (0.5 to 1 mg) be given to all newborns shortly after birth.
The major minerals are those that require intakes of more than 100 mg/day and contribute at least 0.1% of total body weight. There are seven essential major minerals: calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, sodium, potassium, chloride, and sulfur. Ten trace minerals, which constitute less than 0.1% of body weight, have essential physiologic roles. Characteristics of trace mineral deficiencies are listed in Table 31-4.
Available @ StudentConsult.comCalcium is the most abundant major mineral. Ninety-nine percent of calcium is in the skeleton; the remaining 1% is in extracellular fluids, intracellular compartments, and cell membranes. The nonskeletal calcium has a role in nerve conduction, muscle contraction, blood clotting, and membrane permeability. There are two distinct bone calcium phosphate pools—a large, crystalline form and a smaller, amorphous phase. Bone calcium constantly turns over, with concurrent bone reabsorption and formation. Approximately half of bone mineral accretion occurs during adolescence. Bone mineral density peaks in early adulthood and is influenced by prior and concurrent dietary calcium intake, exercise, and hormone status (testosterone, estrogen).
Calcium intake can come from a variety of sources, with dairy products providing the most common and concentrated source. The calcium equivalent of 1 cup of milk (about 300 mg of calcium) is ¾ cup of plain yogurt, 1.5 oz of cheddar cheese, 2 cups of ice cream, 4⁄5 cup of almonds, or 2.5 oz of sardines. Other sources of calcium include some leafy green vegetables (broccoli, kale, collards); lime-processed tortillas; calcium-precipitated tofu; and calcium-fortified juices, cereals, and breads.
There is no classic calcium deficiency syndrome because blood and cell levels are closely regulated. The body can mobilize skeletal calcium and increase the absorptive efficiency of dietary calcium. Osteoporosis that occurs in childhood is related to protein-calorie malnutrition, vitamin C deficiency, steroid therapy, endocrine disorders, immobilization and disuse, osteogenesis imperfecta, or calcium deficiency (in premature infants). It is believed that the primary method of prevention of postmenopausal osteoporosis is to ensure maximum peak bone mass by providing optimal calcium intake during childhood and adolescence. Bone mineral status can be monitored by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry.
No adverse effects are observed in adults with dietary calcium intakes of 2.5 g/day. There is concern that higher intakes may increase the risk of urinary stone formation, constipation, and decreased renal function and may inhibit intestinal absorption of other minerals (iron, zinc).
Available @ StudentConsult.comGastrointestinal Bleeding Anemia Failure to ThriveIron, the most abundant trace mineral, is used in the synthesis of hemoglobin, myoglobin, and enzyme iron. Bodyiron content is regulated primarily through modulation ofiron absorption, which depends on the state of body ironstores, the form and amount of iron in foods, and the mixture of foods in the diet. There are two categories of ironin food. The first is heme iron, present in hemoglobin and myoglobin, which is supplied by meat and rarely accountsfor more than one fourth of the iron ingested by infants.The absorption of heme iron is relatively efficient and is notinfluenced by other constituents of the diet. The second category is nonheme iron, which represents the preponderanceof iron intake consumed by infants and exists in the formof iron salts. The absorption of nonheme iron is influencedby the composition of consumed foods. Enhancers of non-heme iron absorption are ascorbic acid, meat, fish, and poultry. Inhibitors are bran, polyphenols (including the tannatesin tea), and phytic acid, a compound found in legumes andwhole grains. The percent intestinal absorption of the smallamount of iron in human milk is 10%; 4% is absorbed from iron-fortified cow’s milk formula and from iron-fortified infant dry cereals.
In a normal term infant, there is little change in total bodyiron and little need for exogenous iron before 4 months ofage. Iron deficiency is rare in term infants during the first4 months, unless there has been substantial blood loss (seeChapter 62). After about 4 months of age, iron reserves become marginal, and, unless exogenous sources of iron areprovided, the infant becomes progressively at risk for anemiaas the iron requirement to support erythropoiesis and growthincreases (see Chapter 150). Premature or low birth weightinfants have a lower amount of stored iron because significantamounts of iron are transferred from the mother in the third trimester. In addition, their postnatal iron needs are greaterbecause of rapid rates of growth and when frequent phlebotomy occurs. Iron needs can be met by supplementation(ferrous sulfate) or by iron-containing complementary foods.Under normal circumstances, iron-fortified formula should be the only alternative to breast milk in infants younger than1 year of age. Premature infants fed human milk may developiron deficiency anemia earlier unless they receive iron supplements. Formula-fed preterm infants should receive iron-fortified formula.
In older children, iron deficiency may result from inadequate iron intake with excessive cow’s milk intake or from intake of foods with poor iron bioavailability. Iron deficiency also can result from blood loss from such sources as menses or gastric ulceration. Iron deficiency affects many tissues (muscle and central nervous system) in addition to producing anemia. Iron deficiency and anemia have been associated with lethargy and decreased work capacity and impaired neurocognitive development, the deficits of which may be irreversible when onset is in the first 2 years of life.
The diagnosis of iron deficiency anemia is established by the presence of a microcytic hypochromic anemia, low serum ferritin levels, low serum iron levels, reduced transferrin saturation, normal to elevated red blood cell width distribution, and enhanced iron-binding capacity. The mean corpuscular volume and red blood cell indices are reduced, and the reticulocyte count is low. Iron deficiency may be present without anemia. Clinical manifestations are noted in Table 31-4.
Treatment of iron deficiency anemia includes changes in the diet to provide adequate iron and the administration of 2 to 6 mg iron/kg/24 hr (as ferrous sulfate) divided bid or tid. Reticulocytosis is noted within 3 to 7 days of starting treatment. Oral treatment should be continued for 5 months. Rarely, intramuscular or intravenous iron therapy is needed if oral iron cannot be given. Parenteral therapy carries the risk of anaphylaxis and should be administered according to a strict protocol, including a test dose.
Available @ StudentConsult.comZinc is the second most abundant trace mineral and is important in protein metabolism and synthesis, in nucleic acid metabolism, and in stabilization of cell membranes. Zinc functions as a cofactor for more than 200 enzymes and is essential to numerous cellular metabolic functions. Adequate zinc status is especially crucial during periods of growth and for tissue proliferation (immune system, wound healing, skin and gastrointestinal tract integrity); physiologic functions for which zinc is essential include normal growth, sexual maturation, and immune function.
Dietary zinc is absorbed (20% to 40%) in the duodenum and proximal small intestine. The best dietary sources of zinc are animal products, including human milk, from which it is readily absorbed. Whole grains and legumes also contain moderate amounts of zinc, but phytic acid inhibits absorption from these sources. On a global basis, poor bioavailability secondary to phytic acid is thought to be a more important factor than low intake in the widespread occurrence of zinc deficiency. Excretion of zinc occurs from the gastrointestinal tract. In the presence of ongoing losses, such as in chronic diarrhea, requirements can drastically increase.
Zinc deficiency dwarfism syndrome was first described in a group of children in the Middle East with low levels of zinc in their hair, poor appetite, diminished taste acuity, hypogonadism, and short stature. Zinc supplementation reduces morbidity and mortality from diarrhea and pneumonia and enhances growth in developing countries. Mild to moderate zinc deficiency is considered to be highly prevalent in developing countries, particularly in populations with high rates of stunting. Mild zinc deficiency occurs in older breastfed infants without adequate zinc intake from complementary foods or in young children with poor total or bioavailable zinc intake in the general diet. A high infectious burden also may increase the risk of zinc deficiency in developing countries. Acute, acquired severe zinc deficiency occurs in patients receiving total parenteral nutrition without zinc supplementation and in premature infants fed human milk without fortification. Clinical manifestations of mild zinc deficiency include anorexia, growth faltering, and immune impairment. Moderately severe manifestations include delayed sexual maturation, rough skin, and hepatosplenomegaly. The signs of severe deficiency include acral and periorificial erythematous, scaling dermatitis; growth and immune impairment; diarrhea; mood changes; alopecia; night blindness; and photophobia.
Diagnosis of zinc deficiency is challenging. Plasma zinc concentration is most commonly used, but levels are frequently normal in conditions of mild deficiency; levels in moderate to severe deficiency are typically less than 60 μg/dL. Acute infection also can result in depression of circulating zinc levels. The standard for the diagnosis of deficiency is response to a trial of supplementation, with outcomes such as improved linear growth or weight gain, improved appetite, and improved immune function. Because there is no pharmacologic effect of zinc on these functions, a positive response to supplementation is considered evidence of a preexisting deficiency. Clinically an empirical trial of zinc supplementation (1 μg/kg/day) is a safe and reasonable approach in situations in which deficiency is considered possible.
Acrodermatitis enteropathica is an autosomal recessive disorder that begins within 2 to 4 weeks after infants have been weaned from breast milk. It is characterized by an acute perioral and perianal dermatitis, alopecia, and failure to thrive. The disease is caused by severe zinc deficiency from a specific defect of intestinal zinc absorption. Plasma zinc levels are markedly reduced, and serum alkaline phosphatase activity is low. Treatment is with high-dose oral zinc supplements. A relatively uncommon condition associated with presentation of severe zinc deficiency is due to a defect in the secretion of zinc from the mammary gland, resulting in abnormally low milk zinc concentrations. Breastfed infants, especially those born prematurely, present with classic signs of zinc deficiency: growth failure, diarrhea, and dermatitis. Because there is no defect in the infant’s ability to absorb zinc, treatment consists of supplementing the infant with zinc for the duration of breastfeeding, which can be successfully continued. Subsequent infants born to the mother will also need zinc supplementation if breastfed. Zinc is relatively nontoxic. Excess intake produces nausea, emesis, abdominal pain, headache, vertigo, and seizures.
Dental enamel is strengthened when fluoride is substituted for hydroxyl ions in the hydroxyapatite crystalline mineral matrix of the enamel. The resulting fluoroapatite is more resistant to chemical and physical damage. Fluoride is incorporated into the enamel during the mineralization stages of tooth formation and by surface interaction after the tooth has erupted. Fluoride is similarly incorporated into bone mineral and may protect against osteoporosis later in life.
Because of concern about the risk of fluorosis, infants should not receive fluoride supplements before 6 months of age. Commercial formulas are made with defluoridated water and contain small amounts of fluoride. The fluoride content of human milk is low and is not influenced significantly by maternal intake. Practitioners should evaluate all potential fluoride sources and conduct a caries risk assessment before prescribing fluoride supplementation.
Kliegman RM, Stanton B, St. Geme J, et al: Nelson textbook of pediatrics, ed 19, Philadelphia, 2011, Saunders. Chap. 41–51
Eidelman AI, Schanler RJ: American Academy of Pediatrics Section on
Breastfeeding. Breastfeeding and the Use of Human Milk, Pediatrics 129(3):827–841, 2012
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Racial and ethnic differences in breastfeeding initiation and duration, by state National Immuniza tion Survey, United States, 2004–2008, MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 59(11):327–334, 2010 http://www.nal.usda.gov http://www.choosemyplate.gov www.pediatrics.org/cgi/content/full/102/3/e38
Gribble JN, Murray NJ, Menotti EP: Reconsidering childhood undernutri tion: can birth spacing make a difference? An analysis of the 2002–2003 El
Salvador National Family Health Survey, Matern Child Nutr 5:49–63, 2009
Boschert S, Robinson T: Fight obesity with specific, countable goals,
Pediatric News 1, Oct 2012Grover Z, Ee LC: Protein energy malnutrition, Pediatr Clin North Am 56:1055–1068, 2009
Krebs NF, Hambidge KM: Trace elements. In Duggan C, Watkins JB, Walker
WA, editors: Nutrition in pediatrics: basic science and clinical applications, ed 4, Hamilton, Ontario, 2008, BC Decker, pp 67–82
Penny ME: Protein-energy malnutrition: pathophysiology, clinical conse quences, and treatment. In Duggan C, Watkins JB, Walker WA, editors:
Nutrition in pediatrics: basic science and clinical applications, ed 4, Hamil ton, Ontario, 2008, BC Decker, pp 127–142
Wagner CL, Greer FR: Section on Breastfeeding and Committee on Nutrition,
American Academy of Pediatrics: Prevention of rickets and vitamin D defi ciency: new guidelines for vitamin D intake, Pediatrics 122:1142–1152, 2008
Larry A. Greenbaum and Raed Bou-Matar 7Water is the most plentiful constituent of the human body. Total body water (TBW) as a percentage of body weight varies with age. The fetus has a high TBW, which gradually decreases to about 75% of birth weight for a term infant. Premature infants have a higher TBW content than term infants. During the first year of life, TBW decreases to about 60% of body weight and basically remains at this level until puberty. At puberty, the fat content of females increases more than that of males, who acquire more muscle mass than females. Because fat has low water content, and muscle has high water content, by the end of puberty TBW in males remains at 60%, but it decreases to 50% of body weight in females. During dehydration, TBW decreases and is a smaller percentage of body weight.
TBW has two main compartments: intracellular fluid (ICF) and extracellular fluid (ECF). In the fetus and newborn, the ECF volume is larger than the ICF volume. The normal postnatal diuresis causes an immediate decrease in the ECF volume. This decrease in ECF volume is followed by continued expansion of the ICF volume because of cellular growth. By 1 year of age, the ratio of the ICF volume to the ECF volume approaches adult levels. The ECF volume is 20% to 25% of body weight, and the ICF volume is 30% to 40% of body weight (Fig. 32-1). With puberty, the increased muscle mass of males results in a higher ICF volume than in females.
The ECF is divided further into plasma water and interstitial fluid (see Fig. 32-1). Plasma water is about 5% of body weight. The blood volume, given a hematocrit of 40%, is usually 8% of body weight, although it is higher in newborns and young infants. The interstitial fluid, normally 15% of body weight, can increase dramatically in diseases associated with edema, such as heart failure, protein-losing enteropathy, liver failure, and nephrotic syndrome.
The composition of solutes in the ICF and ECF is different.Sodium and chloride are the dominant cation and anion in the ECF. Potassium is the most abundant cation in the ICF, and proteins, organic anions, and phosphate are the most plentiful anions in the ICF. The dissimilarity between theanions in the ICF and the ECF is determined largely by thepresence of intracellular molecules that do not cross the cellmembrane, the barrier separating the ECF and the ICF. Incontrast, the difference in the distribution of cations—sodium and potassium—is due to the activity of the Na+,K+-ATPase pump, which extrudes sodium from cells in exchange forpotassium.
Proper cell functioning requires close regulation of plasma osmolality and intravascular volume; these are controlled by independent systems for water balance, which determines osmolality, and sodium balance, which determines volume status. Maintenance of a normal osmolality depends on control of water balance. Control of volume status depends on regulation of sodium balance.
The plasma osmolality is tightly controlled between 285 and 295 mOsm/kg through regulation of water intake and urinary water losses. A small increase in the plasma osmolality stimulates thirst. Urinary water losses are regulated by the secretion of antidiuretic hormone (ADH), which increases in response to an increasing plasma osmolality. ADH, by stimulating renal tubular reabsorption of water, decreases urinary water losses. Control of osmolality is subordinate to maintenance of an adequate intravascular volume. When significant volume depletion is present, ADH secretion and thirst are stimulated, regardless of the plasma osmolality.
Volume depletion and volume overload may cause significant morbidity and mortality. Because sodium is the principal extracellular cation and is restricted to the ECF, adequate body sodium is necessary for maintenance of intravascular volume. The kidney determines sodium balance because there is little homeostatic control of sodium intake, although salt craving occasionally occurs, typically in children with chronic renal salt loss. The kidney regulates sodium balance by altering the percentage of filtered sodium that is reabsorbed along the nephron. The renin-angiotensin system is an important regulator of renal sodium reabsorption and excretion. The juxtaglomerular apparatus produces renin in response to decreased effective intravascular volume. Renin cleaves angiotensinogen, producing angiotensin I, which angiotensin-converting enzyme converts into angiotensin II. The actions of angiotensin
Figure 32-1 Compartments of total body water, expressed as percentage of body weight, in an older child or adult. (From Greenbaum LA: Pathophysiology of body fluids and fluid therapy. In Kliegman RM, Stanton, BF, St Geme JW, et al, editors: Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics, 19th ed. Philadelphia, 2011, Saunders, p 212.e1.)
II include direct stimulation of the proximal tubule to increase sodium reabsorption and stimulation of the adrenal gland to increase aldosterone secretion, which increases sodium reabsorption in the distal nephron. In contrast, volume expansion stimulates the synthesis of atrial natriuretic peptide, which increases urinary sodium excretion.
Maintenance intravenous (IV) fluids are used in children whocannot be fed enterally. Along with maintenance fluids, childrenmay require concurrent replacement fluids if they have excessive ongoing losses, such as may occur with drainage from a nasogastric tube. In addition, if dehydration is present, the patient alsoneeds to receive deficit replacement (see Chapter 33).
Maintenance fluids are composed of a solution of water, glucose, sodium, potassium, and chloride. This solution replaces electrolyte losses from the urine and stool, as well as water losses from the urine, stool, skin, and lungs. The glucose in maintenance fluids provides approximately 20% of the normal caloric needs of the patient. This percentage is enough to prevent the development of starvation ketoacidosis and diminishes the protein degradation that would occur if the patient received no calories.
Maintenance fluids do not provide adequate calories, protein, fat, minerals, or vitamins. Patients should not remain on *The maximum total fluid per day is normally 2400 mL.
†The maximum fluid rate is normally 100 mL/hr.maintenance therapy indefinitely; parenteral nutrition (see Chapter 34) should be used for children who cannot be fed enterally for more than a few days.
Daily water losses are measurable (urine and stool) and not measurable (insensible losses from the skin and lungs). Failure to replace these losses leads to a thirsty child and, ultimately, a dehydrated child. Table 32-1 provides a system for calculating 24-hour maintenance water needs based on the patient’s weight. Sodium and potassium are given in maintenance fluids to replace losses from urine and stool.
After calculation of water needs and electrolyte needs,children typically receive either 5% dextrose (D5) in ¼ normal saline (NS) plus 20 mEq/L of potassium chloride (KCl)or D5 in ½ NS plus 20 mEq/L of KCl. Children weighing lessthan 10 kg do best with the solution containing ¼ NS (38.5 mEq/L) because of their high water needs per kilogram. In contrast, larger children and adults may receive the solutionwith ½ NS (77 mEq/L). These guidelines assume that thereis no disease process present that would require an adjustment in either the volume or the electrolyte composition ofmaintenance fluids. Children with renal insufficiency maybe hyperkalemic or unable to excrete potassium and maynot tolerate 20 mEq/L of KCl. In children with complicatedpathophysiologic derangements, it may be necessary toadjust the electrolyte composition and rate of maintenancefluids empirically based on electrolyte measurements andassessment of fluid balance.
There are three sources of normal water loss—the components of maintenance water (see Chapter 32): urine (60%), insensible losses from the skin and lungs (35%), and stool (5%) (Table 33-1). Sweating is not insensible and, in contrast to evaporative losses, sweat contains water and electrolytes.
A variety of clinical situations modify normal maintenance water balance (Table 33-2). Evaporative skin water losses can be higher in neonates, especially premature infants who are under radiant warmers or undergoing phototherapy. Burns can result in massive losses of water and electrolytes (see Chapter 44). Fever increases insensible losses. Tachypnea or a tracheostomy increases evaporative losses from the lungs.
The gastrointestinal tract is potentially a source of considerable water and electrolyte losses. A child who has large amounts of gastrointestinal losses should have these losses measured and replaced with an appropriate replacement solution (Table 33-3).
Urine output is normally the largest cause of water loss. Diseases such as renal failure and the syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone (SIADH) can lead to a decrease in urine volume. Maintenance fluids in a patient with oliguria or anuria produce fluid overload. In contrast, other conditions produce an increase in urine volume; these include the polyuric phase of acute tubular necrosis, diabetes mellitus, and diabetes insipidus. When the urine output is excessive, the patient must receive more than standard maintenance fluids to prevent dehydration.
The approach to decreased or increased urine output is similar (Table 33-4). Insensible losses are replaced by a solution that is administered at a rate one third of the normal maintenance rate. Placing the anuric child on “insensibles” theoretically maintains an even fluid balance, with the caveat that one third of maintenance fluid is only an estimate of insensible losses. This rate may need to be adjusted based on monitoring of the patient’s weight and hydration status. An oliguric child needs to receive a urine replacement solution. Most children with polyuria (except for children with diabetes mellitus [see Chapter 171]) should be placed on insensible fluids plus urine replacement.
Sodium: 55 mEq/L Solution: 5% dextrose in ¼ normal saline + 20 mEq/L sodium bicarbonate + 20 mEq/L potassium chloride Replace stool mL/mL every 1–6 hr
Potassium: 25 mEq/LBicarbonate: 15 mEq/LSodium: 60 mEq/L Solution: normal saline + 10 mEq/L potassium chloride Replace output mL/mL every 1–6 hr
Potassium: 10 mEq/LChloride: 90 mEq/LPlace the patient on insensible Place the patient on insensible fluids (⅓ maintenance) fluids (⅓ maintenance)
Replace urine output mL/mL Measure urine electrolytes with half normal saline
Replace urine output mL/mL with a solution that is based on the measured urine electrolytes
Output from surgical drains and chest tubes, when significant, should be measured and replaced. Third space lossesmanifest with edema and ascites and are due to a shift of fluid from the intravascular space into the interstitial space. Thirdspace losses cannot be quantitated. Nonetheless, these lossescan be large and lead to intravascular volume depletion, despiteweight gain from edema or ascites. Replacement of third spacefluid is empirical but should be anticipated in patients who areat risk, such as children who have burns or abdominal surgery.Third space losses and chest tube output are isotonic and usually require replacement with an isotonic fluid, such as normal saline or Ringer’s lactate. Adjustments in the amount ofreplacement fluid for third space losses are based on continuing assessment of the patient’s intravascular volume status.
Dehydration, most often due to gastroenteritis, is common in children. The first step in caring for a dehydrated child is to assess the degree of dehydration. The degree of dehydration dictates the urgency of the situation and the volume of fluid needed for rehydration. Table 33-5 summarizes the clinical features that are present with varying degrees of dehydration.
A patient with mild dehydration has few clinical signs or symptoms. The history may describe decreased intake but
Infants and young children Thirsty, alert; restless Thirsty; restless or lethargic; Drowsy; limp, cold, sweaty, cyanotic extremities; may irritable be comatose
Older children Thirsty, alert Thirsty, alert (usually) Usually conscious (but at reduced level), apprehensive; cold, sweaty, cyanotic extremities; wrinkled skin on fingers and toes; muscle cramps
Respirations Normal Deep, may be rapid Deep and rapidData from World Health Organization.more often increased fluid losses. An infant with moderate dehydration has demonstrable physical signs and symptoms. The patient needs fairly prompt intervention. A patient with severe dehydration is gravely ill. The decrease in blood pressure indicates that vital organs may be receiving inadequate perfusion (shock) (see Chapter 40). Such a patient should receive immediate and aggressive intravenous (IV) therapy. Clinical assessment of dehydration is only an estimate; the patient must be continually re-evaluated during therapy. The degree of dehydration is underestimated in hypernatremic dehydration because the osmotically driven shift of water from the intracellular space to the extracellular space helps to preserve the intravascular volume.
Serum blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine concentrations are useful in assessing a child with dehydration. Volume depletion without renal insufficiency may cause a disproportionate increase in the BUN, with little or no change in the creatinine concentration. This is secondary to increased passive reabsorption of urea in the proximal tubule caused by appropriate renal conservation of sodium and water. This increase in the BUN may be absent or blunted in a child with poor protein intake because urea production depends on protein degradation. Conversely, the BUN may be disproportionately increased in a child with increased urea production, as occurs in a child with a gastrointestinal bleed or a child who is receiving glucocorticoids. A significant elevation of the creatinine concentration suggests renal injury.
The urine specific gravity is usually elevated (≥1.025) incases of significant dehydration but decreases after rehydration.
With dehydration, a urinalysis may show hyaline and granularcasts, a few white blood cells and red blood cells, and 30 to 100 mg/dL of proteinuria. These findings usually are not associatedwith significant renal pathology, and they remit with therapy.Hemoconcentration from dehydration causes an increase inthe hematocrit and hemoglobin.
Calculation of Fluid DeficitA child with dehydration has lost water; there is usually a concurrent loss of sodium and potassium. The fluid deficit is the percentage of dehydration multiplied by the patient’s weight (for a 10-kg child, 10% of 10 kg =1 L deficit).
Approach to DehydrationThe child with dehydration requires acute intervention to ensure that there is adequate tissue perfusion (see Chapter 40). This resuscitation phase requires rapid restoration of the circulating intravascular volume, which should be done with an isotonic solution, such as normal saline (NS) or Ringer’s lactate. Blood is an appropriate fluid choice for a child with acute blood loss. The child is given a fluid bolus, usually 20 mL/kg of the isotonic solution, over about 20 minutes. A child with severe dehydration may require multiple fluid boluses and may need to receive fluid at a faster rate. The initial resuscitation and rehydration is complete when signs of intravascular volume depletion resolve. The child typically becomes more alert and has a lower heart rate, normal blood pressure, and improved perfusion.
With adequate intravascular volume, it is now appropriate to plan the fluid therapy for the next 24 hours (Table 33-6). To
Restore intravascular volume Normal saline: 20 mL/kg over 20 minutes Repeat as needed
Rapid volume repletion: 20 mL/kg normal saline (maximum = 1 L) over 2 hours
Calculate 24-hour fluid needs: maintenance + deficit volume Subtract isotonic fluid already administered from 24-hour fluid needs
Administer remaining volume over 24 hours using D5 ½ normal saline + 20 mEq/L KCl Replace ongoing losses as they occur ensure that the intravascular volume is restored, the patient receives an additional 20 mL/kg bolus of isotonic fluid over 2 hours. The child’s total fluid needs are added together (maintenance + deficit). The volume of isotonic fluids the patient has received as acute resuscitation is subtracted from this total. The remaining fluid volume is then administered over 24 hours. Potassium usually is not included in the IV fluids until the patient voids, unless significant hypokalemia is present. Children with significant ongoing losses need to receive an appropriate replacement solution.
Available @ StudentConsult.comAll calculations in fluid therapy are only approximations. Thus,the patient needs to be monitored during treatment with therapymodifications based on the clinical situation (Table 33-7).
Hyponatremic dehydration occurs in children who have diarrhea and consume a hypotonic fluid (water or diluted formula). Volume depletion stimulates secretion of antidiuretic hormone, preventing the water excretion that should correct the hyponatremia. Some patients develop symptoms, predominantly neurologic, from the hyponatremia (see Chapter 35). Most patients with hyponatremic dehydration do well with the same general approach outlined in Table 33-6. Overly rapid correction of hyponatremia (>12 mEq/L/24 hr) should be avoided because of the remote risk of central pontine myelinolysis.
Hypernatremic dehydration is usually a consequenceof an inability to take in fluid, because of a lack of access, apoor thirst mechanism (neurologic impairment), intractableemesis, or anorexia. The movement of water from the intracellular space to the extracellular space during hypernatremic dehydration partially protects the intravascular volume.Urine output may be preserved longer, and there may be lesstachycardia. Children with hypernatremic dehydration areoften lethargic and irritable. Hypernatremia may cause fever,
Clinical signs of depletion or overload Electrolytes hypertonicity, hyperreflexia, and seizures. More severe neurologic symptoms may develop if cerebral bleeding or thrombosis occurs.
Overly rapid treatment of hypernatremic dehydration maycause significant morbidity and mortality. Idiogenic osmolesare generated within the brain during the development ofhypernatremia. Idiogenic osmoles increase the osmolalitywithin the cells of the brain, providing protection againstbrain cell shrinkage secondary to movement of water out of cells into the hypertonic extracellular fluid. These idiogenicosmoles dissipate slowly during correction of hypernatremia.With rapid lowering of the extracellular osmolality duringcorrection of hypernatremia, a new gradient may be createdthat causes water movement from the extracellular spaceinto the cells of the brain, producing cerebral edema. Possible manifestations of the resultant cerebral edema include altered mental status, seizures, and potentially lethal brainherniation.
To minimize the risk of cerebral edema during correctionof hypernatremic dehydration, the serum sodium concentration should not decrease more than 12 mEq/L every 24 hours(Figure 33-1). The deficits in severe hypernatremic dehydration may need to be corrected over 2 to 4 days. The choice andrate of fluid are not nearly as important as vigilant monitoring of the serum sodium concentration and adjustment of thetherapy based on the result (see Figure 33-1). Nonetheless, theinitial resuscitation-rehydration phase of therapy remains thesame as for other types of dehydration.
Mild to moderate dehydration from diarrhea of any cause canbe treated effectively using a simple, oral rehydration solution (ORS) containing glucose and electrolytes (see Chapter112). The ORS relies on the coupled transport of sodium andglucose in the intestine. Oral rehydration therapy has significantly reduced the morbidity and mortality from acute diarrhea but is underused in developed countries. It should beattempted for most patients with mild to moderate diarrhealdehydration. Oral rehydration therapy is less expensive thanIV therapy and has a lower complication rate. IV therapymay still be required for patients with severe dehydration;patients with uncontrollable vomiting; patients unable todrink because of extreme fatigue, stupor, or coma; or patients with gastric or intestinal distention. Rapidly absorbed ondansetron may be used to treat vomiting, thus facilitating oralrehydration.
Restore intravascular volume: Normal saline: 20 mL/kg over 20 min (repeat until intravascular volume restored) Determine time for correction based on initial sodium concentration [Na] 145–157 mEq/L: 24hr [Na] 158–170 mEq/L: 48hr [Na] 171–183 mEq/L: 72hr [Na] 184–196 mEq/L: 84hr Administer fluid at a constant rate over the time for correction Typical fluid: D5 1/2 normal saline (with 20 mEq/L KCI unless contraindicated) Typical rate: 1.25–1.5 times maintenance Follow serum sodium concentration and adjust fluid based on clinical status and serum sodium concentration Signs of volume depletion Sodium decreases too rapidly Sodium decreases too slowly Replace excessive ongoing losses as they occur Decrease sodium concentration of IV fluid or increase rate of IV fluid Increase sodium concentration of IV fluid or decrease rate of IV fluid Administer normal saline (20 mL/kg)
Figure 33-1 Strategy for correcting hypernatremic dehydration.As a guideline for oral rehydration, 50 mL/kg of the ORSshould be given within 4 hours to patients with mild dehydration, and 100 mL/kg should be given over 4 hours to patientswith moderate dehydration. Supplementary ORS is given toreplace ongoing losses from diarrhea or emesis. An additional 10 mL/kg of ORS is given for each stool. Fluid intakeshould be decreased if the patient appears fully hydrated earlier than expected or develops periorbital edema. After rehydration, patients should resume their usual diet (breast milk,formula).
When rehydration is complete, maintenance therapy should be started, using 100 mL of ORS/kg in 24 hours until the diarrhea stops. Breastfeeding or formula feeding should be maintained and not delayed for more than 24 hours. Patients with more severe diarrhea require continued supervision. The volume of ORS ingested should equal the volume of stool losses. If stool volume cannot be measured, an intake of 10 to 15 mL of ORS/kg/hr is appropriate.
Parenteral nutrition (PN) is necessary when enteral feeding is inadequate to meet the nutritional needs of a patient. Enteral nutrition is always preferred because it is more physiologic, less expensive, and associated with fewer complications. Fewer complications are expected if at least some nutrition can be provided enterally.
A variety of clinical situations necessitate PN (Table 34-1).Acute PN is frequently given in an intensive care unit when there is poor tolerance of enteral feeds, potentially secondary to a transient ileus; concerns regarding bowel ischemia; or the risk of aspiration pneumonia. Short bowel syndrome is the most common indication for long-term PN; it may be caused by a congenital gastrointestinal anomaly or acquired after necrotizing enterocolitis (see Chapter 63). Some patients with a chronic indication for PN eventually may be transitioned to partial or full enteral feedings.
PN can be given via either a peripheral intravenous (IV) line or a central venous line. Long-term PN should be given via a central venous line (CVL). Acute PN may be given peripherally, although a temporary CVL often is used. Most children with cancer or receiving a bone marrow transplant have a
CVL. A peripherally inserted central catheter is an excellent source of central access for acute PN because of the lower risk for complications than with a standard CVL.
A peripheral IV line has two major limitations. First, it frequently fails, necessitating interruption of PN and potentiallypainful placement of a new line. Second, high-osmolality solutions cause phlebitis of peripheral veins; this limits the dextroseand amino acid content of peripheral PN. The dextrose contentof peripheral PN cannot be greater than 12%, with a lower limitif the amino acid concentration is high. Lipid emulsion has a low osmolality; therefore, it can be administered peripherallyvia the same IV line as the dextrose and amino acid solution. Patients can receive adequate nutrition via a peripheral IV line,but the volume of PN needs to be higher than is necessary whencentral access is available because of the limitations on dextrose and amino acid concentration. This situation may be problematic in patients who cannot tolerate larger fluid volumes.
PN can provide calories, amino acids, electrolytes, minerals, essential fatty acids, vitamins, iron, and trace elements. The calories in PN are from dextrose and fat. The amino acids in PN are a potential source of calories, but they should be used predominantly for protein synthesis. PN is given as two separate solutions: a dextrose plus amino acid solution and a 20% lipid emulsion. The dextrose solution has all of the other components of PN except for fat.
The dextrose concentration of peripheral PN is typically 10% to 12%, whereas central PN has a concentration of about 20%, although it may be increased to 25% to 30% in patients who are fluid restricted. To avoid hyperglycemia, the dextrose delivery is increased gradually when starting PN. Protein delivery in PN is via amino acids in the dextrose solution. The goal is 0.8 to 2 g protein/kg/24 hr for older children, 1.5 to 3 g/kg/24 hr for full-term and older infants, and 2.5 to 3.5 g/kg/24 hr for preterm infants.
The electrolyte and mineral composition of PN depends onthe age and the underlying illness. The 20% lipid emulsion provides essential fatty acids and calories. The lipid emulsion isstarted at a rate of 0.5 to 1 g/kg/24 hr, gradually increasing therate so that the patient receives adequate calories; this typicallyrequires 2.5 to 3.5 g/kg/24 hr. The lipid emulsion usually provides 30% to 40% of the required calories; it should not exceed60%. The serum triglyceride concentration is monitored as therate of lipid emulsion is increased, with reduction of the lipidemulsion rate if significant hypertriglyceridemia develops.
There are many potential complications of PN. CVLs are associated with complications during insertion (pneumothorax or bleeding) and long-term issues (thrombosis). Catheter-related sepsis, most commonly due to coagulase-negative staphylococci, is common and, on occasion, necessitates catheter removal. Other potential pathogens are Staphylococcus aureus, gram-negative bacilli, and fungi. Electrolyte abnormalities, nutritional deficiencies, hyperglycemia, and complications from excessive protein intake (azotemia or hyperammonemia) can be detected with careful monitoring.
The most concerning complication of long-term PN is cholestatic liver disease, which can lead to cirrhosis and liver failure. Current PN decreases the risk of liver disease by including reduced amounts of hepatotoxic amino acids. The best preventive strategy is early use of the gastrointestinal tract, even if only trophic feeds are tolerated.
The kidney regulates sodium balance and is the principal site of sodium excretion. Sodium is unique among electrolytes because water balance, not sodium balance, usually determines its concentration. When the sodium concentration increases, the resultant higher plasma osmolality causes increased thirst and increased secretion of antidiuretic hormone (ADH), which leads to renal conservation of water. Both of these mechanisms increase the water content of the body, and the sodium concentration returns to normal. During hyponatremia, the fall in plasma osmolality decreases ADH secretion, and consequent renal water excretion leads to an increase in the sodium concentration. Although water balance usually is regulated by osmolality, volume depletion stimulates thirst, ADH secretion, and renal conservation of water. In fact, volume depletion takes precedence over osmolality; volume depletion stimulates ADH secretion, even if a patient has hyponatremia.
The excretion of sodium by the kidney is not determined by the plasma osmolality. The patient’s effective plasma volume regulates the amount of sodium in the urine through a variety of regulatory systems, including the renin-angiotensinaldosterone system. In hyponatremia or hypernatremia, the underlying pathophysiology determines the urinary sodium concentration, not the serum sodium concentration.
Available @ StudentConsult.comDifferent mechanisms can cause hyponatremia (Fig. 35-1).Pseudohyponatremia is a laboratory artifact that is present when the plasma contains high concentrations of protein or lipid. It does not occur when a direct ion-selective electrode determines the sodium concentration, a technique that is increasingly used in clinical laboratories. In true hyponatremia, the measured osmolality is low, whereas it is normal in pseudohyponatremia. Hyperosmolality, resulting from mannitol infusion or hyperglycemia, causes a low serum sodium concentration because water moves down its osmotic gradient from the intracellular space into the extracellular space, diluting the sodium concentration. For every 100 mg/dL increment of the serum glucose, the serum sodium decreases by 1.6 mEq/L. Because the manifestations of hyponatremia are due to the low plasma osmolality, patients with hyponatremia caused by hyperosmolality do not have symptoms of hyponatremia and do not require correction of hyponatremia.
Classification of true hyponatremia is based on the patient’svolume status (see Fig. 35-1). In hypovolemic hyponatremia, the child has lost sodium from the body. Water balancemay be positive or negative, but there has been a higher netsodium loss than water loss; this is often due to oral or intravenous (IV) water intake, with water retention by the kidneys to compensate for the intravascular volume depletion. Ifthe sodium loss is due to a nonrenal disease (e.g., diarrhea),the urine sodium concentration is very low, as the kidneysattempt to preserve the intravascular volume by conservingsodium. In renal diseases, the urine sodium is inappropriately elevated.
Patients with hyponatremia and no evidence of volumeoverload or volume depletion have euvolemic hyponatremia. These patients typically have an excess of total bodywater and a slight decrease in total body sodium. Some ofthese patients have an increase in weight, implying that theyare volume overloaded. Nevertheless, they usually appearnormal or have only subtle signs of fluid overload. In syndrome of inappropriate ADH (SIADH), there is secretion of ADH that is not inhibited by either low serum osmolality or expanded intravascular volume. Retention of watercauses hyponatremia, and the expansion of the intravascular volume results in an increase in renal sodium excretion. Hyponatremia in hospitalized patients is often due to SIADHsecondary to stress in the presence of hypotonic fluids.
SIADH      (emesis, diarrhea)  Glucocorticoid deficiency Nephrotic syndrome      Skin (sweating or burns)      Capillary leak
Urine Na+ variable Thiazide or loop diuretics      Acute or chronic renal failure Osmotic diuresis      Postobstructive diuresis      Polyuric phase of ATN      Renal tubular damage (e.g., obstructive uropathy)
Figure 35-1 Differential diagnosis of hyponatremia. Assessment of hyponatremia is a three-step process: (1) Determine if the osmolality is low; if yes, the patient has true hyponatremia. (2) Evaluate the patient’s volume status. (3) Determine the urine sodium concentration to help narrow the differential diagnosis. ATN, Acute tubular necrosis; SIADH, syndrome of inappropriate secretion of antidiuretic hormone.
SIADH is also associated with pneumonia, mechanical ventilation, meningitis, and other central nervous system disorders (trauma). Ectopic (tumor) production of ADH is rarein children. Infants can develop euvolemic hyponatremia asa result of excessive water consumption or inappropriatelydiluted formula.
In hypervolemic hyponatremia, there is an excess of total body water and sodium, although the increase in water isgreater than the increase in sodium. In renal failure, there isan inability to excrete sodium or water; the urine sodium maybe low or high, depending on the cause of the renal insufficiency. In other causes of hypervolemic hyponatremia, there is a decrease in the effective blood volume because of either third space fluid loss or poor cardiac output (see Chapter145). In response to the low effective blood volume, ADHcauses renal water retention, and the kidneys also retainsodium, leading to a low urine sodium concentration. Thepatient’s serum sodium concentration decreases when waterintake exceeds sodium intake, and ADH prevents the normalloss of excess water.
Hyponatremia causes a fall in the osmolality of the extracellular space. Because the intracellular space then has a higher osmolality, water moves from the extracellular space to the intracellular space to maintain osmotic equilibrium. The increase in intracellular water may cause cells to swell. Brain cell swelling is responsible for most of the symptoms of hyponatremia. Neurologic symptoms of hyponatremia include anorexia, nausea, emesis, malaise, lethargy, confusion, agitation, headache, seizures, coma, and decreased reflexes. Patients may develop hypothermia and Cheyne-Stokes respirations. Hyponatremia can cause muscle cramps and weakness. Symptoms are more severe when hyponatremia develops rapidly; chronic hyponatremia can be asymptomatic because of a compensatory decrease in brain cell osmolality, which limits cerebral swelling.
Rapid correction of hyponatremia can produce central pontine myelinolysis. Avoiding more than a 12-mEq/L increase in the serum sodium every 24 hours is prudent, especially in chronic hyponatremia. Treatment of hypovolemic hyponatremia requires administration of IV fluids with sodium to provide maintenance requirements and deficit correction, as well as to replace ongoing losses (see Chapter 33). For children with SIADH, water restriction is the cornerstone of therapy. Children with hyponatremia secondary to hypothyroidism or cortisol deficiency need specific hormone replacement. Acute water intoxication rapidly self-corrects with transient restriction of water intake, which is followed by introduction of a normal diet. Treatment of hypervolemic hyponatremia centers on restriction of water and sodium intake, but disease-specific measures, such as dialysis in renal failure, also may be necessary.
Emergency treatment of symptomatic hyponatremia, such as seizures, uses IV hypertonic saline to increase the serum sodium concentration rapidly, which leads to a decrease in brain edema. One milliliter per kilogram of 3% sodium chloride increases the serum sodium by approximately 1 mEq/L.
A child often improves after receiving 4 to 6 mL/kg of 3% sodium chloride.
Available @ StudentConsult.comThere are three basic mechanisms of hypernatremia (Fig. 35-2). Sodium intoxication is frequently iatrogenic in a hospital setting resulting from correction of metabolic acidosis with sodium bicarbonate. In hyperaldosteronism, there is renal retention of sodium and resultant hypertension; the hypernatremia is mild.
Hypernatremia resulting from water losses develops only if the patient does not have access to water or cannot drink adequately because of neurologic impairment, emesis, or anorexia. Infants are at high risk because of their inability to control their own water intake. Ineffective breastfeeding, often in a primiparous mother, can cause severe hypernatremic dehydration. High insensible losses of water are especially common in premature infants; the losses increase further as a result of radiant warmers or phototherapy for hyperbilirubinemia. Children with extrarenal causes of water loss have high levels of ADH and very concentrated urine.
Children with diabetes insipidus have inappropriately diluted urine. Hereditary nephrogenic diabetes insipiduscauses massive urinary water losses. Because it is most commonly an X-linked disorder due to a mutation in the gene for the ADH receptor, it usually occurs in boys, who may have episodes of severe hypernatremic dehydration and failure to thrive. Acquired nephrogenic diabetes insipidus may be secondary to interstitial nephritis, sickle cell disease, hypercalcemia, hypokalemia, or medications (lithium or amphotericin). If the defect is due to central diabetes insipidus, urine output decreases and urine osmolality increases in response to administration of an ADH analog. Central causes of ADH deficiency include tumor, infarction, or trauma. There is no response to an ADH analog in a child with nephrogenic diabetes insipidus.
Diarrhea results in sodium and water depletion. Most children with gastroenteritis do not develop hypernatremia because they drink enough hypotonic fluid to compensate at least partially for stool water losses. Hypernatremia is most likely in a child with diarrhea who has inadequate intake because of emesis, lack of access to water, or anorexia. Some renal diseases, including obstructive uropathy, renal dysplasia, and juvenile nephronophthisis, can cause losses of sodium and water, potentially producing hypernatremia if the patient consumes insufficient water.
In situations with combined sodium and water deficits, analysis of the urine differentiates renal and nonrenal etiologies. When the losses are extrarenal, the kidney responds to volume depletion with low urine volume, a concentrated urine, and sodium retention (urine sodium <10 mEq/L). With renal causes, the urine volume is usually high, the urine is not maximally concentrated, and the urine sodium may be inappropriately elevated.
Ingestion of seawaterInadequate intake     Ineffective breastfeeding     Child neglect or abuse     Adipsia (lack of thirst) (Urine not maximally concentrated) Osmotic diuretics (mannitol) Diabetes mellitus       Chronic kidney disease       Polyuric phase of acute
Figure 35-2 Differential diagnosis of hypernatremia by mechanism. GI, Gastrointestinal; NG, nasogastric.
Most children with hypernatremia are dehydrated and have the typical signs and symptoms of dehydration (see Chapter 33). Children with hypernatremic dehydration tend to have better preservation of intravascular volume owing to the shiftof water from the intracellular space to the extracellular space. Hypernatremic infants potentially become more dehydrated before seeking medical attention. Probably because of intracellular water loss, the pinched abdominal skin of a dehydrated, hypernatremic infant has a doughy feel.
Hypernatremia, even without dehydration, causes central nervous system symptoms that tend to parallel the degree of sodium elevation and the acuity of the increase. Patients are irritable, restless, weak, and lethargic. Some infants have a high-pitched cry and hyperpnea. Alert patients are very thirsty, although nausea may be present. Hypernatremia causes fever, although many patients have an underlying process that contributes to the fever.
Brain hemorrhage is the most devastating consequence of hypernatremia. As the extracellular osmolality increases, water moves out of brain cells, resulting in a decrease in brain volume. This decrease in volume can result in tearing of intra-cerebral veins and bridging blood vessels as the brain moves away from the skull and the meninges. Patients may have sub-arachnoid, subdural, and parenchymal hemorrhage. Seizures and coma are possible sequelae of the hemorrhage.
As hypernatremia develops, the brain generates idiogenic osmoles to increase the intracellular osmolality and prevent the loss of brain water. This mechanism is not instantaneous and is most prominent when hypernatremia has developed gradually. If the serum sodium concentration is lowered rapidly, there is movement of water from the serum into the brain cells to equalize the osmolality in the two compartments. The resultant brain swelling manifests as seizures or coma. Because of these dangers, corrected hypernatremia should be treated gradually. The goal is to decrease the serum sodium by less than 12 mEq/L every 24 hours (see Fig. 33-1). The most important component of correcting moderate or severe hypernatremia is frequent monitoring of the serum sodium to allow adjustment of fluid therapy and provide adequate correction that is neither too slow nor too fast.
In a child with hypernatremic dehydration, as in any childwith dehydration, the first priority is restoration of intra-vascular volume with isotonic fluid. Figure 33-1 outlines a general approach for correcting hypernatremic dehydrationsecondary to gastroenteritis. If the hypernatremia and dehydration are secondary to water loss, as occurs with diabetes insipidus, a more hypotonic IV fluid is appropriate. A child with central diabetes insipidus should receive an ADH analog to prevent further excessive water loss. A child withnephrogenic diabetes insipidus requires a urine replacementsolution to offset ongoing water losses. Chronically, reducedsodium intake, thiazide diuretics, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can decrease water losses in nephrogenic diabetes insipidus.
Acute, severe hypernatremia, usually secondary to sodium administration, can be corrected more rapidly because idiogenic osmoles have not had time to accumulate; this balances the high morbidity and mortality from severe, acute hypernatremia with the dangers of overly rapid correction. When hypernatremia is due to sodium intoxication, and the hypernatremia is severe, it may be impossible to administer enough water to correct the hypernatremia rapidly without worsening volume overload. Some patients require use of a loop diuretic or dialysis.
The kidneys are the principal regulator of potassium balance, adjusting excretion based on intake. Factors affecting renal potassium excretion include aldosterone, acid-base status, serum potassium concentration, and renal function. The intracellular potassium concentration is approximately 30 times the extracellular potassium concentration. A variety of conditions alter the distribution of potassium between the intracellular and extracellular compartments, potentially causing either hypokalemia or hyperkalemia. The plasma concentration does not always reflect the total body potassium content.
Available @ StudentConsult.comHypokalemia is common in children, with most cases related to gastroenteritis. Spurious hypokalemia occurs in patients with leukemia and elevated white blood cell counts if plasma for analysis is left at room temperature, permitting the white blood cells to take up potassium from the plasma. There are four basic mechanisms of hypokalemia (Table 36-1). Low intake, nonrenal losses, and renal losses all are associated with total body potassium depletion. With a transcellular shift, total body potassium is normal unless there is concomitant potassium depletion secondary to other factors.
The transcellular shift of potassium after initiation of insulin therapy in children with diabetic ketoacidosis (see Chapter 171) can be dramatic. These patients have reduced total bodypotassium because of urinary losses, but they often have a normal serum potassium level before insulin therapy from a trans-cellular shift into the extracellular space secondary to insulin deficiency and metabolic acidosis. Children receiving aggressive doses of β-adrenergic agonists (albuterol) for asthma can have hypokalemia resulting from the intracellular movement of potassium. Poor intake is an unusual cause of hypokalemia, unless also associated with significant weight loss (anorexia nervosa).
Diarrhea has a high concentration of potassium, and the resulting hypokalemia usually is associated with a metabolic acidosis secondary to stool losses of bicarbonate. With emesis or nasogastric suction, there is gastric loss of potassium, but this is fairly minimal given the low potassium content of gastric fluid (approximately 10 mEq/L). More important is the gastric loss of hydrochloride, leading to a metabolic alkalosis and a state of volume depletion. Metabolic alkalosis and volume depletion increase urinary losses of potassium.
Urinary potassium wasting may be accompanied by a metabolic acidosis (proximal or distal renal tubular acidosis) (see Chapter 37). Loop and thiazide diuretics lead to hypokalemia and a metabolic alkalosis. Bartter syndrome and Gitelman syndrome are autosomal recessive disorders resulting from defects in tubular transporters. Both disorders are associated with hypokalemia and a metabolic alkalosis. Bartter syndrome is usually associated with hypercalciuria, often with nephrocalcinosis; children with Gitelman syndrome have low urinary calcium losses, but hypomagnesemia secondary to urinary losses.
In the presence of a high aldosterone level, there is urinary loss of potassium, hypokalemia, and a metabolic alkalosis. There also is renal retention of sodium, leading to hypertension. A variety of genetic and acquired disorders can cause high aldosterone levels. Liddle syndrome, an autosomal dominant disorder caused by constitutively active sodium channels, has the same clinical features as hyperaldosteronism, but the serum aldosterone level is low.
The heart and skeletal muscle are especially vulnerable to hypokalemia. Electrocardiographic (ECG) changes include a flattened T wave, a depressed ST segment, and the appearance of a U wave, which is located between the T wave (if still visible) and P wave. Ventricular fibrillation and torsades de pointes may occur, although usually only in the context of underlying heart disease. Hypokalemia makes the heart especially susceptible to digitalis-induced arrhythmias.
The clinical consequences in skeletal muscle include muscle weakness and cramps. Paralysis is a possible complication (generally only at potassium levels <2.5 mEq/L). Paralysis usually starts with the legs, followed by the arms. Respiratory paralysis may require mechanical ventilation.
Some hypokalemic patients develop rhabdomyolysis, especially following exercise. Hypokalemia slows gastrointestinal motility; potassium levels less than 2.5 mEq/L may cause an ileus. Hypokalemia impairs bladder function, potentially leading to urinary retention. Hypokalemia causes polyuria by producing secondary nephrogenic diabetes insipidus. Chronic hypokalemia may cause kidney damage, including interstitial nephritis and renal cysts. In children, chronic hypokalemia, as in Bartter syndrome, leads to poor growth.
It is important to review the child’s diet, history of gastrointestinal losses, and medications. Emesis and diuretic use can be surreptitious. The presence of hypertension suggestsexcess mineralocorticoids. Concomitant electrolyte abnormalities are useful clues. The combination of hypokalemiaand metabolic acidosis is characteristic of diarrhea, distal renal tubular acidosis, and proximal renal tubular acidosis.A concurrent metabolic alkalosis is characteristic of gastriclosses, aldosterone excess, diuretics, Bartter syndrome, orGitelman syndrome.
Factors that influence the therapy of hypokalemia include the potassium level, clinical symptoms, renal function, presence of transcellular shifts of potassium, ongoing losses, and the patient’s ability to tolerate oral potassium. Severe, symptomatic hypokalemia requires aggressive treatment. Supplementation
Causes of HypokalemiaTranscellular shifts Alkalemia Insulin β-Adrenergic agonists Drugs/toxins (theophylline, barium, toluene) Hypokalemic periodic paralysis Refeeding syndrome
Without specific acid-base disturbance Tubular toxins (amphotericin, cisplatin, aminoglycosides) Interstitial nephritis Diuretic phase of acute tubular necrosis Postobstructive diuresis Hypomagnesemia High urine anions (e.g., penicillin or penicillin derivatives) With metabolic alkalosis
RTA, renal tubular acidosis.is more cautious if renal function is decreased because of the kidney’s limited ability to excrete excessive potassium. The plasma potassium level does not always provide an accurate estimation of the total body potassium deficit because there may be shifts of potassium from the intracellular space to the plasma. Clinically, this shift occurs most commonly with metabolic acidosis and as a result of the insulin deficiency of diabetic ketoacidosis; the plasma potassium underestimates the degree of total body potassium depletion. When these problems are corrected, potassium moves into the intracellular space, and these patients require more potassium supplementation to correct the hypokalemia. Patients who have ongoing losses of potassium need correction of the deficit and replacement of the ongoing losses.
Because of the risk of hyperkalemia, intravenous (IV) potassium should be used cautiously. Oral potassium is safer in nonurgent situations. The dose of IV potassium is 0.5 to 1 mEq/kg, usually given over 1 hour. The adult maximum dose is 40 mEq. Conservative dosing is generally preferred. For patients with excessive urinary losses, potassium-sparing diuretics are effective. When hypokalemia, metabolic alkalosis, and volume depletion are present, restoration of intravascular volume decreases urinary potassium losses.
Available @ StudentConsult.comThree basic mechanisms cause hyperkalemia (Table 36-2). Inthe individual patient, the etiology is sometimes multifactorial.Factitious hyperkalemia is usually due to hemolysis during phlebotomy, but it can be the result of prolonged tourniquetapplication or fist clenching, which causes local potassiumrelease from muscle. Falsely elevated serum potassium levels can occur when serum levels are measured in patients withmarkedly elevated white blood cell or platelet counts; a promptlyanalyzed plasma sample usually provides an accurate result.
Because of the kidney’s ability to excrete potassium, it is unusual for excessive intake, by itself, to cause hyperkalemia. This mechanism can occur in a patient who is receiving large quantities of IV or oral potassium for excessive losses that are no longer present. Frequent or rapid blood transfusions can increase the potassium level acutely secondary to the high
Causes of HyperkalemiaACE, Angiotensin-converting enzyme; IV, intravenous; NSAIDs, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs; PO, oral.
potassium content of stored blood. Increased intake may precipitate hyperkalemia if there is an underlying defect in potassium excretion.
The intracellular space has a high potassium concentration, so a shift of potassium from the intracellular space to the extracellular space can have a significant impact on the plasma potassium. This shift occurs with acidosis, cell destruction (rhabdomyolysis or tumor lysis syndrome), insulin deficiency, medications (succinylcholine, β-blockers), malignant hyperthermia, and hyperkalemic periodic paralysis.
Hyperkalemia secondary to decreased excretion occurs with renal insufficiency. Aldosterone deficiency or unresponsiveness to aldosterone causes hyperkalemia, often with associated metabolic acidosis (see Chapter 37) and hyponatremia. A form of congenital adrenal hyperplasia, 21-hydroxylase deficiency, is the most frequent cause of aldosterone deficiency in children. Male infants typically present with hyperkalemia, metabolic acidosis, hyponatremia, and volume depletion. Female infants with this disorder usually are diagnosed as newborns because of ambiguous genitalia.
Renin, via angiotensin II, stimulates aldosterone production. A deficiency in renin, resulting from kidney damage, can lead to decreased aldosterone production. These patients typically have hyperkalemia and a metabolic acidosis, without hyponatremia. Some patients have impaired renal function, partially accounting for the hyperkalemia, but the impairment in potassium excretion is more extreme than expected for the degree of renal insufficiency.
Children with pseudohypoaldosteronism type 1 have hyperkalemia, metabolic acidosis, and salt wasting, leading to hyponatremia and volume depletion; aldosterone levels are elevated. In the autosomal recessive variant, there is a defect in the renal sodium channel that is normally activated by aldosterone. In the autosomal dominant form, patients have a defect in the aldosterone receptor, and the disease is milder, often remitting in adulthood. Pseudohypoaldosteronism type 2, also called Gordon syndrome, is an autosomal dominant disorder characterized by hypertension secondary to salt retention and impaired excretion of potassium and acid leading to hyperkalemia and metabolic acidosis. The risk of hyperkalemia secondary to medications that decrease renal potassium excretion is greatest in patients with underlying renal insufficiency.
The most import effects of hyperkalemia are due to the role of potassium in membrane polarization. The cardiac conduction system is usually the dominant concern. ECG changes begin with peaking of the T waves. As the potassium level increases, an increased P-R interval, flattening of the P wave, and widening of the QRS complex occur; this eventually can progress to ventricular fibrillation. Asystole also may occur. Some patients have paresthesias, weakness, and tingling, but cardiac toxicity usually precedes these clinical symptoms.
The etiology of hyperkalemia is often readily apparent. Spurious hyperkalemia is common in children, so a repeat potassium level is often appropriate. If there is a significant elevation of the white blood cells or platelets, the repeat sample should be from plasma that is evaluated promptly. The history initially should focus on potassium intake, risk factors for transcellular shifts of potassium, medications that cause hyperkalemia, and the presence of signs of renal insufficiency, such as oliguria or an abnormal urinalysis. Initial laboratory evaluation should include serum creatinine and assessment of acid-base status. Many causes of hyperkalemia, such as renal insufficiency and aldosterone insufficiency or resistance, cause a metabolic acidosis. Cell destruction, as seen in rhabdomyolysis or tumor lysis syndrome, can cause concomitant hyperphosphatemia, hyperuricemia, and an elevated serum lactate dehydrogenase.
The plasma potassium level, the ECG, and the risk of the problem worsening determine the aggressiveness of the therapeutic approach. A high serum potassium level with ECG changes requires more vigorous treatment. An additional source of concern is a patient with increasing plasma potassium despite minimal intake. This situation can occur if there is cellular release of potassium (tumor lysis syndrome), especially in the setting of diminished excretion (renal failure).
The first action in a child with a concerning elevation of plasma potassium is to stop all sources of additional potassium (oral and IV). If the potassium level is greater than 6.5 mEq/L, an ECG should be obtained to help assess the urgency of the situation. Therapy of hyperkalemia has two basic goals: 1.
Prevent life-threatening arrhythmias.Remove potassium from the body (Table 36-3).Rapidly decrease the risk of life-threatening arrhythmiasRemove potassium from the body Loop diuretic (IV or PO) Sodium polystyrene (PO or rectal) Dialysis
IV, Intravenous; PO, oral.Treatments that acutely prevent arrhythmias all work quickly (within minutes), but do not remove potassium from the body.
Long-term management of hyperkalemia includes reducing intake via dietary changes and eliminating or reducing medications that cause hyperkalemia. Some patients require medications, such as sodium polystyrene sulfonate and loop or thiazide diuretics, to increase potassium losses. The disorders due to a deficiency in aldosterone respond to replacement therapy with fludrocortisone, a mineralocorticoid.
Close regulation of pH is necessary for cellular enzymes and other metabolic processes, which function optimally at a normal pH (7.35 to 7.45). Chronic, mild derangements in acid-base status may interfere with normal growth and development, whereas acute, severe changes in pH can be fatal. Control of acid-base balance depends on the kidneys, the lungs, and intracellular and extracellular buffers.
The lungs and the kidneys maintain a normal acid-base balance. Carbon dioxide (CO2) generated during normal metabolism is a weak acid. The lungs prevent an increase in the partial pressure of CO2 (Pco2) in the blood by excreting the CO2. Production of CO2 varies depending on the body’s metabolic needs. The rapid pulmonary response to changes in CO2 concentration occurs via central sensing of the Pco2 and a subsequent increase or decrease in ventilation to maintain a normal Pco2 (35 to 45 mm Hg).
The kidneys excrete endogenous acids. An adult normally produces about 1 to 2 mEq/kg/day of hydrogen ions, whereas a child produces 2 to 3 mEq/kg/day. The hydrogen ions from endogenous acid production are neutralized by bicarbonate, potentially causing the bicarbonate concentration to fall. The kidneys regenerate this bicarbonate by secreting hydrogen ions, maintaining the serum bicarbonate concentration in the normal range (20 to 28 mEq/L).
Available @ StudentConsult.comAcidemia is a pH below normal (<7.35), and alkalemia is a pH above normal (>7.45). Acidosis is a pathologic process thatcauses an increase in the hydrogen ion concentration, and alkalosis is a pathologic process that causes a decrease in the hydrogen ion concentration. A simple acid-base disorder is a singleprimary disturbance. During a simple metabolic disorder, there is respiratory compensation; the Pco2 decreases during a metabolic acidosis and increases during a metabolic alkalosis. Withmetabolic acidosis, the decrease in the pH increases the ventilatory drive, causing a decrease in the Pco2. The fall in the CO2 concentration leads to an increase in the pH. This appropriate respiratory compensation for a metabolic process happensquickly and is complete within 12 to 24 hours.
During a primary respiratory process, there is metaboliccompensation mediated by the kidneys. The kidneys respondto a respiratory acidosis by increasing hydrogen ion excretion, increasing bicarbonate generation, and raising the serumbicarbonate concentration. The kidneys increase bicarbonateexcretion to compensate for a respiratory alkalosis; the serum bicarbonate concentration decreases. In contrast to a rapidrespiratory compensation, it takes 3 to 4 days for the kidneysto complete appropriate metabolic compensation. However, there is a small and rapid compensatory change in the bicarbonate concentration during a primary respiratory process. Theexpected appropriate metabolic compensation for a respiratorydisorder depends on whether the process is acute or chronic.
A mixed acid-base disorder is present when there is morethan one primary acid-base disturbance. An infant with bronchopulmonary dysplasia may have a respiratory acidosis fromchronic lung disease and a metabolic alkalosis from a diureticused to treat the chronic lung disease. Formulas are available for calculating the appropriate metabolic or respiratory compensation for the six primary simple acid-base disorders (Table 37-1). Appropriate compensation is expected in a simple disorder; it is not optional. If a patient does not have appropriatecompensation, a mixed acid-base disorder is present.
Available @ StudentConsult.comMetabolic acidosis occurs frequently in hospitalized children; diarrhea is the most common cause. For a patient with
Metabolic acidosis PCO2 = 1.5 × [HCO3–] + 8 ± 2 Metabolic alkalosis PCO2 increases by 7 mm Hg for each 10-mEq/L increase in the serum [HCO3–] Respiratory acidosis Acute [HCO3–] increases by 1 for each 10-mm Hg increase in the PCO2 Chronic [HCO3–] increases by 3.5 for each 10-mm Hg increase in the PCO2 Respiratory alkalosis Acute [HCO3–] falls by 2 for each 10-mm Hg decrease in the PCO2 Chronic [HCO3–] falls by 4 for each 10-mm Hg decrease in the PCO2 an unknown medical problem, the presence of a metabolic acidosis is often helpful diagnostically because it suggests a relatively narrow differential diagnosis (Table 37-2).
Diarrhea causes a loss of bicarbonate from the body. The amount of bicarbonate lost in the stool depends on the volume of diarrhea and the bicarbonate concentration of the stool, which tends to increase with more severe diarrhea. Diarrhea often causes volume depletion because of losses of sodium and water, potentially exacerbating the acidosis by causing hypoperfusion (shock) and a lactic acidosis. There are three forms of renal tubular acidosis (RTA):
In distal RTA, children may have accompanying hypokalemia, hypercalciuria, nephrolithiasis, and nephrocalcinosis; rickets is a less common finding. Failure to thrive, resulting from chronic metabolic acidosis, is the most common presenting complaint. Autosomal dominant and autosomal recessive forms of distal RTA exist. The autosomal dominant form is relatively mild. Autosomal recessive distal RTA is more severe and often associated with deafness secondary to a defect in the gene for a H+-ATPase that is present in the kidney and the inner ear. Distal RTA also may be secondary to medications or congenital or acquired renal disease. Patients with distal RTA cannot acidify their urine and have a urine pH greater than 5.5, despite a metabolic acidosis.
Proximal RTA is rarely present in isolation. In most patients,proximal RTA is part of Fanconi syndrome, a generalized dysfunction of the proximal tubule. Along with renal wasting of bicarbonate, Fanconi syndrome causes glycosuria, aminoaciduria, and excessive urinary losses of phosphate and uric acid.The chronic hypophosphatemia is more clinically significantbecause it ultimately leads to rickets in children. Rickets orfailure to thrive may be the presenting complaint. Fanconisyndrome is rarely an isolated genetic disorder, with pediatriccases usually secondary to an underlying genetic disorder, mostcommonly cystinosis. Medications, such as ifosfamide or valproate, may cause Fanconi syndrome. The ability to acidify theurine is intact in proximal RTA, and untreated patients have aurine pH less than 5.5. However, bicarbonate therapy increasesbicarbonate losses in the urine, and the urine pH increases.
In hyperkalemic RTA, renal excretion of acid and potassium is impaired because of either an absence of aldosterone
Lactic acidosis (shock) Ketoacidosis (diabetic, starvation, or alcoholic) Kidney failure Poisoning (e.g., ethylene glycol, methanol, or salicylates) Inborn errors of metabolism *[HCO3–] is expressed in mEq/L.
or an inability of the kidney to respond to aldosterone. Insevere aldosterone deficiency, as occurs with congenital adrenal hyperplasia secondary to 21α-hydroxylase deficiency, the hyperkalemia and metabolic acidosis are accompanied byhyponatremia and volume depletion from renal salt wasting.Incomplete aldosterone deficiency causes less severe electrolytedisturbances; children may have isolated hyperkalemic RTA,hyperkalemia without acidosis, or isolated hyponatremia.
Lactic acidosis most commonly occurs when inadequate oxygen delivery to the tissues leads to anaerobic metabolism and excess production of lactic acid. Lactic acidosis may be secondary to shock, severe anemia, or hypoxemia. Inborn errors of carbohydrate metabolism produce a severe lactic acidosis (see Chapter 52). In diabetes mellitus, inadequate insulin leads to hyperglycemia and diabetic ketoacidosis (see Chapter 171). Renal failure (see Chapter 165) causes a metabolic acidosis because the kidneys are unable to excrete the acid produced by normal metabolism.
A variety of toxic ingestions cause a metabolic acidosis. Acute salicylate intoxication occurs after a large overdose.Chronic salicylate intoxication is possible because of the gradualbuildup of the drug. In addition to a metabolic acidosis, somepatients may have a respiratory alkalosis. Other symptoms ofsalicylate intoxication include fever, seizures, lethargy, andcoma. Hyperventilation may be particularly marked. Tinnitus,vertigo, and hearing impairment are more likely with chronicsalicylate intoxication. Ethylene glycol, a component of antifreeze, is converted in the liver to glyoxylic and oxalic acids,causing a severe metabolic acidosis. Excessive oxalate excretion causes calcium oxalate crystals to appear in the urine, andcalcium oxalate precipitation in the kidney tubules can cause renal failure. The toxicity of methanol ingestion also depends on liver metabolism; formic acid is the toxic end product thatcauses the metabolic acidosis and other sequelae, which includedamage to the optic nerve and central nervous system.
There are many inborn errors of metabolism that maycause a metabolic acidosis (see Section 10). The metabolic acidosis may be due to excessive production of ketoacids, lactic acid, or other organic anions. Some patients have accompanying hyperammonemia. In most patients, acidosis occurs only episodically during acute decompensations, which may be precipitated by ingestion of specific dietary substrates (proteins), the stress of a mild illness (fasting, catabolism), or poor compliance with dietary or medical therapy.
The underlying disorder usually produces most of the signs andsymptoms in children with a mild or moderate metabolic acidosis. The clinical manifestations of the acidosis are related to the degree of acidemia; patients with appropriate respiratory compensation and less severe acidemia have fewer manifestations than patients with a concomitant respiratory acidosis. At a serumpH less than 7.20, there is impaired cardiac contractility andan increased risk of arrhythmias, especially if underlying heartdisease or other predisposing electrolyte disorders are present.With acidemia, there is a decrease in the cardiovascular responseto catecholamines, potentially exacerbating hypotension in children with volume depletion or shock. Acidemia causes vasoconstriction of the pulmonary vasculature, which is especiallyproblematic in neonates with primary pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (see Chapter 61). The normal respiratory response to metabolic acidosis—compensatory hyperventilation—may be subtle with mild metabolic acidosis, but it causesdiscernible increased respiratory effort with worsening acidemia. Chronic metabolic acidosis causes failure to thrive.
The plasma anion gap is useful for evaluating patients with a metabolic acidosis. It divides patients into two diagnostic groups: normal anion gap and increased anion gap. The following formula determines the anion gap:
A normal anion gap is 3 to 11. A decrease in the albuminconcentration of 1 g/dL decreases the anion gap by roughly 4mEq/L. Similarly, albeit less commonly, an increase in unmeasured cations, such as calcium, potassium, or magnesium, decreases the anion gap. Conversely, a decrease in unmeasuredcations is a rare cause of an increased anion gap. Because ofthese variables, the broad range of a normal anion gap, and other factors, the presence of a normal or increased anion gapis not always reliable in differentiating the causes of a metabolicacidosis, especially when the metabolic acidosis is mild. Somepatients have more than one explanation for their metabolic acidosis, such as a child with diarrhea and lactic acidosis secondaryto hypoperfusion. The anion gap should not be interpreted indogmatic isolation; consideration of other laboratory abnormalities and the clinical history improves its diagnostic utility.
The most effective therapeutic approach for patients with a metabolic acidosis is correction of the underlying disorder, if possible. The administration of insulin in diabetic ketoacidosis or restoration of adequate perfusion in lactic acidosis from shock eventually results in normalization of acid-base balance. The use of bicarbonate therapy is indicated when the underlying disorder is irreparable; examples include RTA and chronic renal failure. In salicylate poisoning, alkali administration increases renal clearance of salicylate and decreases the amount of salicylate in brain cells. Short-term base therapy is often necessary in other poisonings and inborn errors of metabolism.
The causes of a metabolic alkalosis are divided into two categories based on the urinary chloride (Table 37-3). The alkalosis in patients with a low urinary chloride is maintained by volume depletion. They are called chloride responsive because volume repletion with fluid containing sodium chloride and potassium chloride is necessary to correct the metabolic alkalosis. Emesis, which causes loss of hydrochloride and volume depletion, is the most common cause of a metabolic alkalosis. Diuretic use increases chloride excretion in the urine. Consequently, while a patient is receiving diuretics, the urinary chloride is typically high (>20 mEq/L). After the diuretic effect resolves, the urinary chloride is low (<15 mEq/L), because of appropriate renal chloride retention in response to volume depletion. Categorization of diuretics based on urinary chloride depends on the timing of the measurement. The metabolic alkalosis from diuretics is clearly chloride responsive; it corrects only after adequate volume repletion. This is the rationale for including it among the chloride-responsive causes of a metabolic alkalosis.
The chloride-resistant causes of metabolic alkalosis can be subdivided based on blood pressure. Patients with the rare disorders that cause a metabolic alkalosis and hypertension either have increased aldosterone or act as if they have increased aldosterone. Patients with Bartter syndrome or Gitelman syndrome (Chapter 36) have metabolic alkalosis, hypokalemia, and normal blood pressure secondary to renal tubular defects that cause continuous urinary losses of chloride.
The symptoms in patients with a metabolic alkalosis often are related to the underlying disease and associated electrolyte disturbances. Hypokalemia is often present, and occasionally severe, in the diseases that cause a metabolic alkalosis (see Chapter 36). Children with chloride-responsive causes of metabolic alkalosis often have symptoms related to volume depletion (see Chapter 33). In contrast, children with chloride-unresponsive causes may have symptoms related to hypertension. Severe alkalemia may cause arrhythmias, hypoxia secondary to hypoventilation, or decreased cardiac output.
Gastric losses (emesis or nasogastric suction) Pyloric stenosis Diuretics (loop or thiazide) Chloride-losing diarrhea Chloride-deficient formula Cystic fibrosis (sweat losses of chloride) Posthypercapnia (chloride loss during respiratory acidosis)
Measurement of the urinary chloride concentration is the most helpful test in differentiating among the causes of a metabolic alkalosis. The history usually suggests a diagnosis, although no obvious explanation may be present in the patient with bulimia, surreptitious diuretic use, or an undiagnosed genetic disorder, such as Bartter syndrome or Gitelman syndrome.
The approach to therapy of metabolic alkalosis depends on theseverity of the alkalosis and the underlying etiology. In childrenwith a mild metabolic alkalosis ([HCO3–] < 32 mEq/L), intervention is often unnecessary. Patients with chloride-responsivemetabolic alkalosis respond to correction of hypokalemia andvolume repletion with sodium and potassium chloride, butaggressive volume repletion may be contraindicated if mildvolume depletion is medically necessary in the child receiving diuretic therapy. In children with chloride-resistant causesof a metabolic alkalosis that are associated with hypertension,volume repletion is contraindicated because it exacerbatesthe hypertension and does not repair the metabolic alkalosis.Treatment focuses on eliminating or blocking the action of theexcess mineralocorticoid. In children with Bartter syndromeor Gitelman syndrome, therapy includes oral potassium supplementation and potassium-sparing diuretics.
During a respiratory acidosis, there is a decrease in the effectiveness of CO2 removal by the lungs. The causes of a respiratory acidosis are either pulmonary or nonpulmonary (Table 37-4). A respiratory alkalosis is an inappropriate reduction in the blood CO2 concentration. A variety of stimuli can increase the ventilatory drive and cause a respiratory alkalosis (Table 37-5). Treatment of respiratory acid-base disorders focuses on correction of the underlying disorder. Mechanical ventilation may be necessary in a child with a refractory respiratory acidosis.
overdose) Disorders of the spinal cord, peripheral nerves, or neuromuscular junction (botulism or Guillain-Barré syndrome)
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The Acutely Ill orK. Jane LeeInitial assessment (the ABCs—airway, breathing, and circulation) of an acutely ill or injured child includes rapid identification of physiologic derangements in tissue perfusion and oxygenation. Once identified, immediate resuscitation must be implemented before pursuing the usual information needed to develop a differential diagnosis. Initial resuscitation measures are directed at achieving and maintaining adequate tissue perfusion and oxygenation. Oxygen delivery depends on cardiac output, hemoglobin concentration, and hemoglobin-oxygen saturation. The last mentioned depends on air movement, alveolar gas exchange, pulmonary blood flow, and oxygen-hemoglobin binding characteristics.
In the resuscitation phase, access to historical information may be limited. Characterization of the onset of symptoms, details of events, and a brief identification of underlying medical problems should be sought by members of the team not actively involved in the resuscitation. Attempts at identifying historical issues that affect the ABCs are useful but should not delay intervention if tissue oxygenation and perfusion are markedly impaired.
Initial examination must focus rapidly on the ABCs (Table 38-1) to address the issues of oxygen delivery to tissues systematically. Airway patency is the first to be addressed, including assessment of the neurologically injured child’s ability to protect the airway. Protection of the cervical spine also should be initiated at this step in any child with traumatic injury or who presents with altered mental status of uncertain etiology. Assessment of breathing includes auscultation of air movement and application of a pulse oximeter (when available) to identify current oxygenation status. Circulatory status is assessed by palpation for distal and central pulses, focusing on the presence and quality of the pulses. Bounding pulses and a wide pulse pressure are often the first sign of the vasodilatory phase of shock and require immediate resuscitation measures. Weak, thready, or absent pulses are indicators for fluid resuscitation, initiation of chest compressions, or both. When assessment of the ABCs is complete and measures have been taken to achieve an acceptable level of tissue oxygenation, a more complete physical examination is performed. The sequence of this examination depends on whether the situation involves an acute medical illness or trauma. In trauma patients, the examination follows the ABCDE pathway. D stands for disability and prompts assessment of the neurologic system and evaluation for major traumatic injuries. E stands for exposure; the child is disrobed and examined for evidence of any life-threatening or limb-threatening problems. For the acutely ill and the injured child, the subsequent physical examination should identify evidence of organ dysfunction, starting with areas suggested in the chief complaint and progressing to a thorough and systematic investigation of the entire patient.
The physiologic responses to acute illness and injury are mechanisms that attempt to correct inadequacies of tissue oxygenation and perfusion. When initial changes, such as increasing heart and respiratory rates, fail to meet the body’s needs, other manifestations of impending cardiopulmonary failure occur (Table 38-2). Respiratory failure, the most common cause of acute deterioration in children, may result in inadequate tissue oxygenation and in respiratory acidosis. Signs and symptoms of respiratory failure (tachypnea, tachycardia, increased work of breathing, abnormal mentation) progress as tissue oxygenation becomes more inadequate. Inadequate perfusion (shock) leads to inadequate oxygen delivery and a resulting metabolic acidosis. Shock is characterized by signs of inadequate tissue perfusion (pallor, cool skin, poor pulses, delayed capillary refill, oliguria, and abnormal mentation). The presence of any of these symptoms demands careful assessment and intervention to correct the abnormality and to prevent further deterioration.
During the initial phase of resuscitation, monitoring vital signs and physiologic status is the key screening activity. Continuous monitoring with attention to changes may indicate response to
Able to be maintained independently Maintainable with positioning, suctioning Unmaintainable, requires assistance
Use of accessory musclesResponsiveness (AVPU) Recognition of parents or caregivers Pupil size Posturing
AVPU, Alert, responds to voice, responds to pain, unresponsive.therapy or further deterioration requiring additional intervention. During the initial rapid assessment, diagnostic evaluation often is limited to pulse oximetry and bedside measurement of glucose levels. The latter is important in any child with altered mental status or at risk for inadequate glycogen stores (infants, malnourished patients). After resuscitation measures, further diagnostic tests and imaging are often necessary.
The choice of appropriate diagnostic tests and imaging is determined by the mechanism of disease and results of evaluation after initial resuscitation. The initial evaluation of major
Central nervous Lethargy, agitation, delirium, obtundation, systemRespiratory Apnea, grunting, nasal flaring, dyspnea, retracting, tachypnea, poor air movement, stridor, wheezing
Cardiovascular Arrhythmia, bradycardia, tachycardia, weak pulses, poor capillary refill, hypotension
Skin and mucous Mottling, pallor, cyanosis, diaphoresis, poor membranes membrane turgor, dry mucous membranes *Action would seldom be taken if only one or two of these signs and symptoms were present, but the occurrence of several in concert foreshadows grave consequences. Intervention should be directed at the primary disorder.
trauma patients is focused on identifying evidence of hemorrhage and organ and tissue injury. For an acutely ill child with respiratory distress, a chest x-ray is important. Appropriate cultures should be obtained when sepsis is suspected. Children with historical or physical evidence of inadequate intra-vascular volume should have serum electrolyte levels obtained, including bicarbonate, blood urea nitrogen, and creatinine.
Resuscitation is focused on correcting identified abnormalities of oxygenation and perfusion and preventing further deterioration. Oxygen supplementation may improve oxygen saturation but may not completely correct tissue oxygenation. When oxygen supplementation is insufficient or air exchange is inadequate, assisted ventilation must be initiated. Inadequate perfusion is usually best managed initially by providing a fluid bolus. Isotonic crystalloids (normal saline, lactated Ringer solution) are the initial fluid of choice. A bolus of 10 to 20 mL/kg should be delivered in monitored conditions. Improvement, but not correction, after an initial bolus should prompt repeated boluses until circulation has been re-established. Because most children with shock have noncardiac causes, fluid administration of this magnitude is well tolerated. If hemorrhage is known or highly suspected, administration of packed red blood cells is appropriate. Monitoring for deteriorating physiologic status during fluid resuscitation (increase in heart rate, decrease in blood pressure) identifies children who may have decreased cardiac function. Fluid resuscitation increases preload, which may worsen pulmonary edema and cardiac function. If deterioration occurs, fluid administration should be interrupted, and resuscitation should be aimed at improving cardiac function.
When respiratory support and fluid resuscitation are insufficient, introduction of vasoactive substances is the next step. The choice of which agent to use depends on the type of shock present. Hypovolemic shock (when further volume is contraindicated) and distributive shock benefit from drugs that increase systemic vascular resistance (drugs with αagonist activity, such as epinephrine or norepinephrine). The treatment of cardiogenic shock is more complex. To improve cardiac output by increasing the heart rate, drugs with positive chronotropy are used (epinephrine, norepinephrine, and dopamine). Afterload reduction, using drugs such as dobutamine, nitroprusside, or milrinone, also may be needed. Measuring mixed venous oxygen saturation, central venous pressure, and regional oxygen saturations helps guide therapy.
The outcome of cardiopulmonary arrest in children is poor; survival to hospital discharge is about 6% for out-of-hospital arrest and about 27% for in-hospital arrest, with most survivors having permanent neurologic disability. The ability to anticipate or recognize pre–cardiopulmonary arrest conditions and initiate prompt and appropriate therapy not only is lifesaving, but also preserves the quality of life (see Table 38-2).
Children who need cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) usually have a primary respiratory arrest. Hypoxia usually initiates the cascade leading to arrest and also produces organ dysfunction or damage (Table 38-3). The approach to cardiopulmonary arrest extends beyond CPR and includes efforts to preserve vital organ function. The goal in resuscitating a pediatric patient following a cardiopulmonary arrest should be to optimize cardiac output and tissue oxygen delivery, which may be accomplished by using artificial ventilation and chest compression and by the judicious administration of pharmacologic agents.
In 2010 the American Heart Association revised the recommendations for resuscitation for adults, children, and infants. The biggest change is the recommendation to start chest compressions immediately, rather than beginning with airway and breathing.
Chest compressions should be initiated if a pulse cannot be palpated or if the heart rate is less than 60 beats/min with signs of poor systemic perfusion. Chest compressions should be performed immediately by one person while a second person prepares to begin ventilation. Ventilation is extremely important in pediatric arrests because of the high likelihood of a primary respiratory cause; however, ventilation requires
Brain Seizures, cerebral edema, infarction, herniation, anoxic damage, SIADH, diabetes insipidus
Cardiovascular Heart failure, myocardial infarctLung and pulmonary Acute respiratory distress syndrome, vasculature pulmonary hypertension Liver Infarction, necrosis, cholestasis Kidney Acute tubular necrosis, acute cortical
Gastrointestinal Gastric ulceration, mucosal damage tract Hematologic Disseminated intravascular coagulation
SIADH, Syndrome of inappropriate secretion of antidiuretic hormone.equipment and is, therefore, sometimes delayed. For this reason the recommendation is to start chest compressions first while preparing for ventilation.
For optimal chest compressions, the child should be supine on a flat, hard surface. Effective CPR requires a compression depth of one third to one half of the anterior-posterior diameter of the chest with complete recoil after each compression. The compression rate should be at least 100/min with breaths delivered 8 to 10 times per minute. If an advanced airway is in place, compressions should not pause for ventilation; both should continue simultaneously.
Ventilation requires a patent airway. In children, airway patency often is compromised by a loss of muscle tone, allowing the mandibular block of tissue, including the tongue, bony mandible, and the soft surrounding tissues, to rest against the posterior pharyngeal wall. The head tilt–chin lift maneuver should be used to open the airway in children with no sign of head or neck trauma. In children with signs of head or neck trauma, the jaw thrust maneuver should be used.
Bag-mask ventilation can be as effective as, and possibly safer than, endotracheal intubation for short periods of time in an out-of-hospital setting. If skilled personnel and proper equipment are available, pediatric patients requiring resuscitation should be endotracheally intubated. Before intubation, the patient should be ventilated with 100% oxygen using a bag and mask. Cricoid pressure should be used to minimize inflation of the stomach. Many conscious patients may benefit from the use of induction medications (sedatives, analgesics, and paralytics) to assist intubation, but caution is necessary to prevent further cardiovascular compromise from vasodilating effects of many sedatives. The correct size of the tube may be estimated according to the size of the child’s mid-fifth phalanx or the following formula: 4 + (patient age in years/4).
When the endotracheal tube is in place, the adequacy of ventilation and the position of the tube must be assessed. Use of both clinical assessment and confirmatory devices is recommended. Clinical assessment may include looking for adequate chest wall movement and auscultation of the chest to detect bilateral and symmetric breath sounds. Confirmatory devices such as end-tidal carbon dioxide (CO2) monitoring devices are useful for validation of endotracheal placement, but low levels of detected CO2 may be seen secondary to lack of pulmonary circulation. If the patient’s condition fails to improve or deteriorates, consider the possibilities of tube Displacement or Obstruction, Pneumothorax, or Equipment failure (mnemonic DOPE).
The major role of endotracheal intubation is to protect or maintain the airway and ensure the delivery of adequate oxygen to the patient. Because hypoxemia is the final common pathway in pediatric cardiopulmonary arrests, providing oxygen is more important than correcting the respiratory acidosis. The clinician should deliver 100% oxygen at a rate of 8 to 10 breaths/min during CPR, or 12 to 20 breaths/min for a patient who has a perfusing rhythm. Use only the tidal volume necessary to produce visible chest rise. Care should be taken not to hyperventilate the patient.
When mechanical means fail to re-establish adequate circulation, pharmacologic intervention is essential (Table 38-4).If intravascular access is not present or rapidly established, administration through an intraosseous route is recommended. Some drugs can also be administered effectively through the endotracheal tube.
Epinephrine, a catecholamine with mixed α-agonist and β-agonist properties, constitutes the mainstay of drug therapy for CPR. The α-adrenergic effects are most important during acute phases of resuscitation, causing an increase in systemic vascular resistance that improves coronary blood flow. Standard dose therapy is recommended for the first and subsequent boluses. There is no benefit offered by high-dose epinephrine. Vasopressin, an endogenous hormone, causes constriction of capillaries and small arterioles and may be useful. Insufficient data support its routine use, but vasopressin may be considered in children failing standard medication administration.
The routine use of sodium bicarbonate is currently not recommended. Sodium bicarbonate may be judiciously used to treat toxidromes or hyperkalemic arrest; however, oxygen delivery and elimination of CO2 must be established first. Side effects include hypernatremia, hyperosmolality, hypokalemia, metabolic alkalosis (shifting the oxyhemoglobin curve to the left and impairing tissue oxygen delivery), reduced ionized calcium level, and impaired cardiac function.
Routine administration of calcium is not recommended. It may be useful in cases of documented hypocalcemia, calcium channel blocker overdose, hypermagnesemia, or hypokalemia, but is otherwise not beneficial and potentially harmful.
Hypoglycemia is not uncommon in infants and children who sustain cardiac arrest. Blood glucose should be checked and hypoglycemia should be promptly treated with glucose.
Prompt electrical defibrillation is indicated when ventricular fibrillation or pulseless ventricular tachycardia is noted (Table 38-5). CPR should continue until immediately before defibrillation and resume immediately afterward, minimizing interruptions in compressions. If a second attempt at defibrillation is necessary, it should be followed by a dose of epinephrine. Children failing two episodes of defibrillation may benefit from administration of amiodarone. Defibrillation should be distinguished from cardioversion of supraventricular tachycardias, which also may compromise cardiac output. Cardioversion requires a lower starting dose and synchronization of the discharge to the electrocardiogram to prevent discharging during a susceptible period, which may convert supraventricular tachycardia to ventricular tachycardia or fibrillation.
Place self-adhesive defibrillation pads or paddles with electrode gel at the apex of the heart and the upper right side of the chest
Notify all participating personnel before discharging paddles so that no one is in contact with patient or bed Begin with 2 J/kg; resume chest compressions immediately If unsuccessful, increase to 4 J/kg and repeat Higher energy levels may be considered, not to exceed 10 J/kg or the adult maximum dose
For symptomatic supraventricular tachycardia* or ventricular tachycardia with a pulse, synchronize signal with ECG Choose paddles, position pads, and notify personnel as above Begin with 0.5–1 J/kg If unsuccessful, use 2 J/kg
ECG, Electrocardiogram. *Consider adenosine first (see Table 38-4)Table 38-4 Drug Doses for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation DRUG INDICATION DOSE Adenosine Supraventricular tachycardia 0.1 mg/kg (maximum 6 mg); second dose: 0.2 mg/kg (maximum 12 mg)
Atropine Supraventricular or junctional 0.02 mg/kg (minimum dose 0.1 mg); up to 0.5 mg; higher doses needed in bradycardia organophosphate poisoning
Bicarbonate Hyperkalemia, some toxidromes 1 mEq/kg bolus; ensure adequate ventilation; monitor ABGs; can repeat every 10 min
Calcium chloride Hypocalcemia, calcium 20 mg/kg; maximum single dose 2 g; administer slowly channel blocker overdose, hypermagnesemia, hyperkalemia
Epinephrine Hypotension, chronotropy, 0.01 mg/kg IV/IO; 0.1 mg/kg ET; may repeat every 3–5 minutes; may promote inotropy arrhythmias
Fluid Hypovolemia, sepsis Administer crystalloid in 20 mL/kg boluses titrated to patient’s physiologic needs
Glucose Hypoglycemia Newborns: 5–10 mL/kg 10% dextrose; infants and children: 2–4 mL/kg 25% dextrose; adolescents: 1–2 mL/kg 50% dextrose
Data from 2010 American Heart Association Guidelines for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Emergency Cardiovascular Care. Part 14: Pediatric Advanced Life Support, Circulation 122 [suppl 3]:S876-S908, 2010. ABG, Arterial blood gas; ET, endotracheal; IO, intraosseous; IV, intravenous; VF, ventricular fibrillation; VT, ventricular tachycardia.
Acute respiratory failure occurs when the pulmonary system is unable to maintain adequate gas exchange to meet metabolic demands. The resulting failure can be classified as hypercarbic (Paco2 >50 mm Hg in previously healthy children), hypoxemic (Pao2 <60 mm Hg in previously healthy children without an intracardiac shunt), or both. Hypoxemic respiratory failure is frequently caused by ventilation-perfusion mismatch (perfusion of lung that is not adequately ventilated) and shunting (deoxygenated blood bypasses ventilated alveoli). Hypercarbic respiratory failure results from inadequate alveolar ventilation secondary to decreased minute ventilation (tidal volume × respiratory rate) or an increase in dead space ventilation (ventilation of areas receiving no perfusion).
Respiratory failure may occur with acute lung injury (ALI) or acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). The definitions of these are in the process of revision; however, currently ALI isdefined as having the following four clinical features: acute onset,bilateral pulmonary edema, no clinical evidence of elevated leftatrial pressure, and a ratio of Pao2 to Fio2 ≤ 300 mm Hg regardlessof the level of positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP). ARDSis a subset of ALI with more severe hypoxemia (Pao2/Fio2 of ≤ 200 mm Hg). These syndromes can be triggered by a variety ofinsults, including sepsis, pneumonia, shock, burns, or traumaticinjury, all resulting in inflammation and increased vascular permeability leading to pulmonary edema. Numerous mediators ofinflammation (tumor necrosis factor, interferon-γ, nuclear factor κB, and adhesion molecules) may be involved in the development of ARDS. Surfactant action also may be affected.
Respiratory failure is frequently caused by bronchiolitis (often caused by respiratory syncytial virus), asthma, pneumonia, upper airway obstruction, and sepsis/ARDS. Respiratory failure requiring mechanical ventilation develops in 7% to 21% of patients hospitalized for respiratory syncytial virus.
Asthma is increasing in prevalence and is the most common reason for unplanned hospital admissions in children 3 to12 years of age in the United States. Environmental factors (exposure to cigarette smoke) and prior disease characteristics (severity of asthma, exercise intolerance, delayed start of therapy, andprevious intensive care unit admissions) affect hospitalizationand near-fatal episodes. The mortality rate of asthma for childrenyounger than 19 years of age has increased by nearly 80% since1980. Deaths are more common in African-American children.
Chronic respiratory failure (with acute exacerbations) is often due to chronic lung disease (bronchopulmonary dysplasia, cystic fibrosis), neurologic or neuromuscular abnormalities, and congenital anomalies.
Early signs of hypoxic respiratory failure include tachypnea and tachycardia in attempt to improve minute ventilation and cardiac output and to maintain delivery of oxygenated blood to the tissues. Further progression of disease may result in dyspnea, nasal flaring, grunting, use of accessory muscles of respiration, and diaphoresis. Late signs of inadequate oxygen delivery include cyanosis and altered mental status (initially confusion and agitation). Signs and symptoms of hypercarbic respiratory failure include attempts to increase minute ventilation (tachypnea and increased depth of breathing) and altered mental status (somnolence).
A chest radiograph may show evidence of the etiology ofrespiratory failure. The detection of atelectasis, hyperinflation, infiltrates, or pneumothoraces assists with ongoingmanagement. Diffuse infiltrates or pulmonary edema maysuggest ARDS. The chest radiograph may be normal whenupper airway obstruction or impaired respiratory controlsare the etiology. In patients presenting with stridor or otherevidence of upper airway obstruction, a lateral neck filmor computed tomography (CT) may delineate anatomicdefects. Direct visualization through flexible bronchoscopy allows identification of dynamic abnormalities of theanatomic airway. Helical CT helps diagnose a pulmonaryembolus.
Pulse oximetry allows noninvasive, continuous assessment of oxygenation but is unable to provide information about ventilation abnormalities. Determination of CO2 levels requires a blood gas measurement (arterial, venous, or capillary). An arterial blood gas allows measurement of CO2 levels and analysis of the severity of oxygenation defect through calculation of an alveolar-arterial oxygen difference. A normal Pco2 in a patient who is hyperventilating should heighten concern about the risk of further deterioration.
Hypoxic respiratory failure resulting from impairment of alveolar-capillary function is seen in ARDS; cardiogenic pulmonary edema; interstitial lung disease; aspiration pneumonia; bronchiolitis; bacterial, fungal, or viral pneumonia; and sepsis. It also can be due to intracardiac or intrapulmonary shunting seen with atelectasis and embolism.
Hypercarbic respiratory failure can occur when the respiratory center fails as a result of drug use (opioids, barbiturates, anesthetic agents), neurologic or neuromuscular junction abnormalities (cervical spine trauma, demyelinating diseases, anterior horn cell disease, botulism), chest wallinjuries, or diseases that cause increased resistance to airflow(croup, vocal cord paralysis, post-extubation edema). Maintenance of ventilation requires adequate function of the chestwall and diaphragm. Disorders of the neuromuscular pathways, such as muscular dystrophy, myasthenia gravis, andbotulism, result in inadequate chest wall movement, development of atelectasis, and respiratory failure. Scoliosis rarelyresults in significant chest deformity that leads to restrictivepulmonary function. Similar impairments of air exchangemay result from distention of the abdomen (postoperativelyor due to ascites, obstruction, or a mass) and thoracic trauma(flail chest).
Mixed forms of respiratory failure are common andoccur when disease processes result in more than one pathophysiologic change. Increased secretions seen in asthma often lead to atelectasis and hypoxia, whereasrestrictions of expiratory airflow may lead to hypercarbia.Progression to respiratory failure results from peripheralairway obstruction, extensive atelectasis, and resultant hypoxemia and retention of CO2.
Initial treatment of patients in respiratory distress includes addressing the ABCs (see Chapter 38). Bag/mask ventilationmust be initiated for patients with apnea. In other patients, oxygen therapy is administered using appropriate methods (e.g., simple mask). Administration of oxygen by nasal cannula allows the patient to entrain room air and oxygen, making it an insufficient delivery method for most children in respiratory failure. Delivery methods, including intubation and mechanical ventilation, should be escalated if there is inability to increase oxygen saturation appropriately.
Patients presenting with hypercarbic respiratory failure are often hypoxic as well. When oxygenation is established, measures should be taken to address the underlying cause of hypercarbia (reversal of drug action, control of fever, or seizures). Patients who are hypercarbic without signs of respiratory fatigue or somnolence may not require intubation based on the Pco2 alone; however, patients with marked increase in the work of breathing or inadequate respiratory effort may require assistance with ventilation.
After identification of the etiology of respiratory failure,specific interventions and treatments are tailored to the needsof the patient. External support of oxygenation and ventilation may be provided by noninvasive ventilation methods (heated humidified high-flow nasal cannula, continuouspositive airway pressure, biphasic positive airway pressure, or negative pressure ventilation) or through invasive methods (traditional mechanical ventilation, high-frequencyoscillatory ventilation, or extracorporeal membrane oxygenation). Elimination of CO2 is achieved through manipulationof minute ventilation (tidal volume and respiratory rate).Oxygenation is improved by altering variables that affectoxygen delivery (fraction of inspired oxygen) or mean airway pressure (PEEP, peak inspiratory pressure, inspiratorytime, gas flow).
The major complication of hypoxic respiratory failure is the development of organ dysfunction. Multiple organ dysfunction includes the development of two or more of the following: respiratory failure, cardiac failure, renal insufficiency/failure, gastrointestinal or hepatic insufficiency, disseminated intravascular coagulation, and hypoxic-ischemic brain injury. Mortality rates increase with increasing numbers of involved organs (see Table 38-3).
Complications associated with mechanical ventilation include pressure-related and volume-related lung injury. Both overdistention and insufficient lung distention (loss of functional residual capacity) are associated with lung injury. Pneumomediastinum and pneumothorax are potential complications of the disease process and overdistention. Inflammatory mediators may play a role in the development of chronic fibrotic lung diseases in ventilated patients.
Prognosis varies with the etiology of respiratory failure. Fewerthan 1% of previously healthy children with bronchiolitis die.Asthma mortality rates, although still low, have increased. Despiteadvances in support and understanding of the pathophysiologyof ARDS, the mortality rate remains approximately 30%.
Prevention strategies are explicit to the etiology of respiratoryfailure. Some infectious causes can be prevented through activeimmunization against organisms causing primary respiratorydisease (pertussis, pneumococcus, Haemophilus influenzae type b) and sepsis (pneumococcus, H. influenzae type b). Passiveimmunization with respiratory syncytial virus immunoglobulins prevents severe illness in highly susceptible patients (prematurity, bronchopulmonary dysplasia). Primary prevention oftraumatic injuries may decrease the incidence of ARDS. Compliance with appropriate therapies for asthma may decrease thenumber of episodes of respiratory failure (see Chapter 78).
Shock is the inability to provide sufficient perfusion of oxygenated blood and substrate to tissues to meet metabolic demands. Oxygen delivery is directly related to the arterial oxygen content (oxygen saturation and hemoglobin concentration) and to cardiac output (stroke volume and heart rate). Changes in metabolic needs are met primarily by adjustments in cardiac output. Stroke volume is related to myocardial end-diastolic fiber length (preload), myocardial contractility (inotropy), and resistance of blood ejection from the ventricle (afterload) (see Chapter 145). In a young infant whose myocardium possesses relatively less contractile tissue, increased demand for cardiac output is met primarily by a neurally mediated increase in heart rate. In older children and adolescents, cardiac output is most efficiently augmented by increasing stroke volume through neurohormonally mediated changes in vascular tone, resulting in increased venous return to the heart (increased preload), decreased arterial resistance (decreased afterload), and increased myocardial contractility.
Acute hypovolemia is the most common cause of shock in children. It results from loss of fluid from the intravascular space secondary to inadequate intake or excessive losses (vomiting and diarrhea, blood loss, capillary leak syndromes, or pathologic renal fluid losses) (Table 40-1). Reduced blood volume decreases preload, stroke volume, and cardiac output. Hypovolemic shock results in increased sympathoadrenal activity, producing an increased heart rate and enhanced myocardial
CNS, Central nervous system.contractility. Neurohormonally mediated constriction of the arterioles and capacitance vessels maintains blood pressure, augments venous return to the heart to improve preload, and redistributes blood flow from nonvital to vital organs. If hypovolemic shock remains untreated, the increased heart rate may impair coronary blood flow and ventricular filling, while elevated systemic vascular resistance increases myocardial oxygen consumption, resulting in worsening myocardial function. Ultimately, intense systemic vasoconstriction and hypovolemia produce tissue ischemia, impairing cell metabolism and releasing potent vasoactive mediators from injured cells. Cytokines and other vasoactive peptides can change myocardial contractility and vascular tone and promote release of other inflammatory mediators that increase capillary permeability and impair organ function further.
Abnormalities in the distribution of blood flow may result in profound inadequacies in tissue perfusion, even in the presence of a normal or high cardiac output. This maldistribution of flow usually results from abnormalities in vascular tone. Septic shock is the most common type of distributive shock in children. Other causes include anaphylaxis, neurologic injury, and drug-related causes (see Table 40-1).
Distributive shock may present with the systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS), defined as two or more of the following: temperature greater than 38° C or less than 36° C; heart rate greater than 90 beats/min or more than two standard deviations above normal for age; tachypnea; or white blood count greater than 12,000 cells/mm3, less than 4000 cells/mm3, or greater than 10% immature forms.
Cardiogenic shock is caused by an abnormality in myocardialfunction and is expressed as depressed myocardial contractility and cardiac output with poor tissue perfusion. Compensatory mechanisms may contribute to the progression of shock bydepressing cardiac function further. Neurohormonal vasoconstrictor responses increase afterload and add to the work of thefailing ventricle. Tachycardia may impair coronary blood flow,which decreases myocardial oxygen delivery. Increased central blood volume caused by sodium and water retention andby incomplete emptying of the ventricles during systole resultsin elevated left ventricular volume and pressure, which impairsubendocardial blood flow. As compensatory mechanisms areovercome, the failing left ventricle produces increased ventricularend-diastolic volume and pressure, which leads to increased leftatrial pressure, resulting in pulmonary edema. This sequence alsocontributes to right ventricular failure because of increased pulmonary artery pressure and increased right ventricular afterload.
Primary cardiogenic shock may occur in children who have congenital heart disease. Cardiogenic shock also may occur in previously healthy children secondary to viral myocarditis, dysrhythmias, or toxic or metabolic abnormalities or after hypoxic-ischemic injury (see Chapters 142, 145, and 147, as well as Table 40-1).
Obstructive shock results from mechanical obstruction of ventricular outflow. Causes include congenital lesions such as coarctation of the aorta, interrupted aortic arch, and severe aortic valvular stenosis, along with acquired diseases (e.g., hypertrophic cardiomyopathy) (see Table 40-1). For neonates presenting in shock, obstructive lesions must be considered.
Dissociative shock refers to conditions in which tissue perfusion is normal, but cells are unable to use oxygen because the hemoglobin has an abnormal affinity for oxygen, preventing its release to the tissues (see Table 40-1).
All forms of shock produce evidence that tissue perfusion and oxygenation are insufficient (increased heart rate, abnormal blood pressure, alterations of peripheral pulses). The etiology of shock may alter the initial presentation of these signs and symptoms.
Hypovolemic shock is distinguished from other causes of shock by history and the absence of signs of heart failure or sepsis. In addition to the signs of sympathoadrenal activity (tachycardia, vasoconstriction), clinical manifestations include signs of dehydration (dry mucous membranes, decreased urine output) or blood loss (pallor). Recovery depends on the degree of hypovolemia, the patient’s preexisting status, and rapid diagnosis and treatment. The prognosis is good, with a low mortality in uncomplicated cases.
Patients with distributive shock usually have tachycardia and alterations of peripheral perfusion. In early stages, when cytokine release results in vasodilation, pulses may be bounding, and vital organ function may be maintained (an alert patient, with rapid capillary refill and some urine output in warm shock). As the disease progresses untreated, extremities become cool and mottled with a delayed capillary refill time. At this stage, the patient has hypotension and vasoconstriction. If the etiology of distributive shock is sepsis, the patient often has fever, lethargy, petechiae, or purpura, and he or she may have an identifiable source of infection.
Cardiogenic shock results when the myocardium is unable to supply the cardiac output required to support tissue perfusion and organ function. Because of this self-perpetuating cycle, heart failure progressing to death may be rapid. Patients with cardiogenic shock have tachycardia and tachypnea. The liver is usually enlarged, a gallop is often present, and jugular venous distention may be noted. Because renal blood flow is poor, sodium and water are retained, resulting in oliguria and peripheral edema.
Restriction of cardiac output results in an increase in heart rate and an alteration of stroke volume. The pulse pressure is narrow (making pulses harder to feel), and capillary refill is delayed. The liver is often enlarged, and jugular venous distention may be evident.
The principal abnormality in dissociative shock is the inability to deliver oxygen to tissues. Symptoms include tachycardia, tachypnea, alterations in mental status, and ultimately cardiovascular collapse.
Shock requires immediate resuscitation before obtaining laboratory or diagnostic studies. Following initial stabilization (including glucose administration if hypoglycemia is present), the type of shock dictates the necessary laboratory studies. All patients with shock may benefit from determination of a baseline arterial blood gas and blood lactate level to assess the impairment of tissue oxygenation. Measurement of mixed venous oxygen saturation aids in the assessment of the adequacy of oxygen delivery. In contrast to other forms of shock, patients with sepsis often have high mixed venous saturation values because of impairment of mitochondrial function and inability of tissues to extract oxygen. A complete blood count can potentially assess intravascular blood volume after equilibration following a hemorrhage. Electrolyte measurements in patients with hypovolemic shock may identify abnormalities from losses. Patients presenting in distributive shock require appropriate bacterial and viral cultures to identify a cause of infection. If cardiogenic or obstructive shock is suspected, an echocardiogram assists with the diagnosis and, in the case of tamponade, assists with placement of a pericardial drain to relieve the fluid. Patients with dissociative shock require detection of the causative agent (carbon monoxide, methemoglobin). The management of shock also requires monitoring of arterial blood gases for oxygenation, ventilation (CO2), and acidosis, and frequently assessing the levels of serum electrolytes, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, and blood urea nitrogen (BUN).
SEE TABLE 40-1.The key to therapy is the recognition of shock in its early,partially compensated state, when many of the hemodynamicand metabolic alterations may be reversible. Initial therapyfor shock follows the ABCs of resuscitation. Later therapycan then be directed at the underlying cause. Therapy shouldminimize cardiopulmonary work, while ensuring cardiacoutput, blood pressure, and gas exchange. Intubation, combined with mechanical ventilation with oxygen supplementation, improves oxygenation and decreases or eliminatesthe work of breathing but may impede venous return if distending airway pressures (positive end-expiratory pressure[PEEP] or peak inspiratory pressure) are excessive. Blood pressure support is crucial because the vasodilation in sepsismay reduce perfusion despite supranormal cardiac output.
Monitoring a child in shock requires maintaining access to the arterial and central venous circulation to record pressure measurements, perform blood sampling, and measure systemic blood pressure continuously. These measurements facilitate the estimation of preload and afterload. Regional monitoring with near infrared spectroscopy may allow early, noninvasive detection of alterations in perfusion.
Alterations in preload have a dramatic effect on cardiac output. In hypovolemic and distributive shock, decreased preload significantly impairs cardiac output. In these cases, early and aggressive fluid resuscitation is important and greatly affects outcome. In cardiogenic shock, an elevated preload contributes to pulmonary edema.
Selection of fluids for resuscitation and ongoing use is dictated by clinical circumstances. Crystalloid volume expanders generally are recommended as initial choices because they are effective and inexpensive. Most acutely ill children with signs of shock may safely receive, and usually benefit greatly from, a 20-mL/kg bolus of an isotonic crystalloid over 5 to 15 minutes. This dose may be repeated until a response is noted. Colloids contain larger molecules that may stay in the intravascular space longer than crystalloid solutions and exert oncotic pressure, drawing fluid out of the tissues into the vascular compartment. However, long-term risks of colloids may exceed benefits. Care must be exercised in treating cardiogenic shock with volume expansion because the ventricular filling pressures may rise without improvement of the cardiac performance. Carefully monitoring cardiac output or central venous pressure guides safe volume replacement.
In an effort to improve cardiac output after volume resuscitation or when further volume replacement may be dangerous, a variety of inotropic and vasodilator drugs may be useful (Table 40-2). Therapy is directed first at increasing myocardial contractility, then at decreasing left ventricular afterload. The hemodynamic status of the patient dictates the choice of the agent.
Therapy may be initiated with dopamine at 3 to 15 mcg/kg/min; however, epinephrine or norepinephrine may be preferable in patients with decompensated shock. In addition to improving contractility, certain catecholamines cause an increase in systemic vascular resistance. The addition of a vasodilator drug may improve cardiac performance by decreasing the resistance against which the heart must pump (afterload). Afterload reduction may be achieved with dobutamine, milrinone, amrinone, nitroprusside, nitroglycerin, and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors. The use of these drugs may be particularly important in late shock, when vasoconstriction is prominent.
The lung is a target organ for inflammatory mediators inshock and SIRS. Respiratory failure may develop rapidly andbecome progressive. Intervention requires endotracheal intubation and mechanical ventilation accompanied by the useof supplemental oxygen and PEEP. Care must be taken withthe process of intubation, because a child with compensatedshock may suddenly decompensate on administration of sedative medications that reduce systemic vascular resistance.Severe cardiopulmonary failure may be managed with inhalednitric oxide and, if necessary, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.
Poor cardiac output accompanied by decreased renal blood flow may cause prerenal azotemia and oliguria/anuria. Severe hypotension may produce acute tubular necrosis and acute renal failure. Prerenal azotemia is corrected when blood volume deficits are replaced or myocardial contractility is improved, but acute tubular necrosis does not improve immediately when shock is corrected. Prerenal azotemia is associated with a serum BUN-to-creatinine ratio of greater than 10:1 and a urine sodium level less than 20 mEq/L; acute tubular necrosis has a BUN-to-creatinine ratio of 10:1 or less and a urine sodium level between 40 and 60 mEq/L (see Chapter 165). Aggressive fluid replacement is often necessary to improve oliguria associated with prerenal azotemia. Because the management of shock requires administering large volumes of fluid, maintaining urine output greatly facilitates patient management.
Prevention of acute tubular necrosis and the subsequent complications associated with acute renal failure (hyperkalemia, acidosis, hypocalcemia, fluid overload) is important. The use of pharmacologic agents to augment urine output is indicated when the intravascular volume has been replaced. The use of loop diuretics, such as furosemide, or combinations of a loop diuretic and a thiazide agent may enhance urine output. Infusion of low-dose dopamine, which produces renal artery vasodilation, also may improve urine output. Nevertheless, if hyperkalemia, refractory acidosis, hypervolemia, or altered mental status associated with uremia occurs, dialysis or hemofiltration should be initiated.
Shock results in impairment of tissue perfusion and oxygenation and activation of inflammation and cytokine pathways. The major complication of shock is multiple organ system failure, defined as the dysfunction of more than one organ, including respiratory failure, renal failure, liver dysfunction, coagulation abnormalities, or cerebral dysfunction. Patients with shock and multiple organ failure have a higher mortality rate and, for survivors, a longer hospital stay.
Early recognition and goal-directed intervention in patients with shock improve survival. However, delays in treatment of hypotension increase the incidence of multiple organ failure and mortality. Goal-directed therapy focused on maintaining mixed venous oxygen saturation may improve survival.
*Primarily splanchnic and renal in low doses (3–5 mcg/kg/min).†Low dose (<0.3 mcg/kg/min).Prevention strategies for shock are focused, for the most part, on shock associated with sepsis and hypovolemia. Some forms of septic shock can be prevented through use of immunizations (Haemophilus influenzae type b, meningococcal, pneumococcal vaccines). Decreasing the risk of sepsis in a critically ill patient requires adherence to strict hand washing, isolation practices, and minimizing the duration of indwelling catheters. Measures to decrease pediatric trauma do much to minimize hemorrhage-induced shock.
Unintentional injury is the leading cause of death in children 1 to 18 years of age. In 2010, approximately 52% of these deaths were caused by motor vehicle crashes. Most remaining unintentional injury-related deaths were the result of drowning (15%), poisoning (9%), burns (5%), and suffocation (4%). Geography, climate, population density (access to care), and population traits vary by region and affect the frequency, etiology, and severity of injuries.
Injury occurs through interaction of the host (child) with the agent (e.g., car and driver) through a vector and an environment (e.g., roadways, weather) that is conducive to exposure. The age of the child may determine the exposure to various agents and environments. For example, most injuries in infants and toddlers occur in the home as the result of exposure to agents found there (water heaters, bathtubs, softbedding). Gender affects exposure to injury, with boys having a fatal injury rate greater than that of girls.
The recognition that much of the morbidity and mortality are determined at the scene of an injury has stimulated the development of prevention measures. The Haddon matrix combines the epidemiologic components (host, agent, physical and social environments) with time factors (before, during, and after the event) to identify effective interventions focused on different aspects of the injury event. Primary strategies (preventing the event), secondary strategies (minimizing the severity of injury), and tertiary strategies (minimizing longterm impact) can be targeted for each epidemiologic component. Such strategies typically fall into one of three areas: education, enforcement, and environment (including engineering).
Education is often the first strategy considered but requires behavioral change and actions on the part of people. Most educational strategies are not well evaluated.
Despite the reliance on an action by the individualsinvolved, some active strategies benefit from enforcement.Children wearing bicycle helmets experience a significantly lower incidence of traumatic brain injury and death. Enforcement of seatbelt laws increases seatbelt use and may decreaseinjuries.
Automatic strategies require no action on the part ofthe population and often change the environment (speedbumps) or involve engineering (child-resistant pill bottles, air bags). Automatic strategies have more consistentlyresulted in a significant reduction in injuries. The most successful approaches to preventing injury have combined strategies (education, environmental changes, and engineering changes focused on the host, agent, and environment in all three time phases).
The general goal of prehospital trauma care is rapid assessment, support of the ABCs, immobilization, and transportation. Outcomes of patients with major or life-threatening trauma are significantly improved in a pediatric trauma center or in an adult center with pediatric trauma certification compared with level I or II adult trauma centers.
Once the injured child arrives at the emergency department, the trauma team must initiate an organized and synchronized response. The initial assessment of a seriously injured child should involve a systematic approach, including a primary survey, resuscitation, secondary survey, postresuscitation monitoring, and definitive care. The primary survey focuses on the ABCDEs of emergency care, as modified for trauma from the ABCs of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (see Chapter 38). The assessment of the airway and breathing components should include meticulous control of the cervical spine (especially if the patient has an altered mental status), evaluation for anatomic injuries that could impair air entry or gas exchange, and consideration of the likelihood of a full stomach (risk of aspiration pneumonia). Circulation can be assessed via observation (heart rate, skin color, mental status) and palpation (pulse quality, capillary refill, skin temperature) and restored (via two large peripheral intravenous lines, when possible) while control of bleeding is accomplished through the use of direct pressure. Assessment for disabilities (D),including neurologic status, includes examination of pupil size and reactivity, a brief mental status assessment (AVPU—alert; responds to voice; responds to pain; unresponsive), and examination of extremity movement to assess for spinal cord injury. The Glasgow Coma Scale can direct decisions regarding the initiation of cerebral resuscitation in patients with suspected closed head injuries (Table 42-1). E, which stands for exposure,requires a full assessment of the patient by completely disrobing the child for a detailed examination of the entire body. The examiner should ensure a neutral thermal environment to prevent hypothermia.
On completion of the primary survey, a more detailed headto-toe examination (the secondary survey) should ensue along with efforts to obtain a more complete history. The purpose of this careful re-examination is to identify life-threatening and limb-threatening injuries as well as less serious injuries. Coincident with the secondary survey and depending, in part, on the assessed physiologic status of the patient, certain procedures and resuscitative measures are initiated. The prioritization of definitive care needs is determined by the injury findings collected from the primary and secondary surveys, the child’s physiologic response to resuscitation, and data from continuous monitoring. A tertiary survey, including repeat primary and secondary surveys along with review of laboratory tests and radiologic studies, should be performed within 24 hours.
SEE CHAPTER 41.Screening laboratory studies during initial resuscitation often include the tests listed in Table 42-2. Radiographic studies are determined by the pattern of injuries. A head computed tomography (CT) scan should be obtained in patients with evidence of head trauma or a history of loss of consciousness. Patients with obvious injury to the thorax or abdomen or who have pulmonary or abdominal symptoms may benefit from a CT scan. The focused abdominal sonography for trauma is gaining popularity because of concerns about radiation exposure. Diagnostic peritoneal lavage has limited utility. A spiral
Cervical spine films Anteroposterior chest radiograph Radiographs of all apparent fractures Computed tomography scans where indicated for head, chest,
AST/ALT, Aspartate aminotransferase/alanine aminotransferase.enhanced CT scan should be performed if there is concern about aortic injuries.
Head injuries and injuries to the limbs are the most common. Multiple organ involvement is also common, and penetrating trauma is becoming more frequent. After the initial evaluation and stabilization, the team focuses on the involved organ systems.
SEE CHAPTER 184.Although spinal cord injury is not common in pediatric trauma patients, it is potentially devastating when it occurs. Cervical spine immobilization should be maintained until a spinal cord injury is ruled out. Cervical spine radiographs are not sufficient to rule out a spinal cord injury because the immature vertebral column in children may allow stretching of the cord or nerve roots with no radiologic abnormality (spinal cord injury without radiologic abnormality [SCIWORA]). SCIWORA may occur in a significant percentage of children with a spinal cord injury; when it is suspected, magnetic resonance imaging should be performed.
Thoracic injury is the second leading cause of trauma death. Pulmonary contusion, pneumothorax, and rib fractures occur most commonly, and patients may present without external signs of trauma. Patients with pulmonary parenchymal injury should receive supportive treatment to ensure adequate oxygenation and ventilation. Most pediatric blunt thoracic injuries can be managed without surgery. Injury to the heart and great vessels is rare but requires urgent diagnosis and treatment. Great vessel injury should be suspected if a widened mediastinum is seen on chest radiograph.
Injury to the abdomen occurs in approximately 8% of pediatric trauma patients and is the third leading cause of trauma death. The relative size and closer proximity of intra-abdominal organs in children increase the risk of significant injury after blunt trauma. Penetrating trauma may result in a child who is asymptomatic or who presents in hypovolemic shock.
Imaging studies such as abdominal CT and serial physical examinations are the primary methods of obtaining information on which to base decisions regarding operative intervention. Abdominal wall bruising is an important physical examination finding and is associated with significant intra-abdominal injury in more than 10% of patients. Operative intervention may be required in patients whose vital signs are persistently unstable in the face of aggressive fluid resuscitation, even in the absence of extravascular volume loss or an enlarging abdomen. The presence of peritoneal irritation or abdominal wall discoloration, together with signs of intravascular volume loss, indicates the need for laparotomy.
Most blunt solid organ injury is handled nonoperatively. Clinical observation is important, because most failures with nonoperative management occur in the first 12 hours.
Injury to the SpleenThe most frequently injured abdominal organ in children is the spleen. Suspicion of a splenic injury should be heightened if there are left upper quadrant abrasions or tenderness. A positive Kehr sign (pressure on the left upper quadrant eliciting left shoulder pain) is due to diaphragmatic irritation by the ruptured spleen and strongly suggests splenic injury. CT scans are used to identify and grade splenic injury.
Nonoperative management is the treatment of choice formost serious splenic injuries, unless there is continued largeblood loss or hemodynamic instability. If a splenectomy isperformed, patients should receive penicillin prophylaxis andshould receive pneumococcal and Haemophilus influenzaevaccines to decrease the increased risk of overwhelming sepsis.
Major trauma to the liver is a serious cause of morbidity. Severe hemorrhage is more common in patients with liver injury than with other abdominal injuries because of its dual blood supply. Without significant vascular injury, hepatic injury presents and behaves clinically like a splenic injury. Nonoperative management is recommended but requires close clinical observation for signs of ongoing blood loss or hemodynamic instability. As with splenic injury, there is a grading system based on the pattern of injury.
The kidney is less frequently injured than the liver or spleen, and when injured is often associated with other injuries. A young child’s kidney is more vulnerable to trauma than an adult’s because of a more compliant rib cage and relatively immature abdominal muscle development. The diagnosis of renal injury is based on history and physical examination coupled with urinalysis showing blood and increased protein levels. An ultrasound or CT may also be useful. Low-grade renal injury is usually managed conservatively, with bed rest, catheter drainage, and monitoring for resolution of injury by ultrasound or CT. Surgery may be required for falling hemoglobin levels, refractory shock, or urinary obstruction caused by clots.
Injuries of the pancreas are less common in children than inadults but are seen in bicycle handlebar injuries, motor vehicle crashes, and nonaccidental trauma. The diagnosis is difficult unless there is obvious injury to overlying structures,such as the stomach or duodenum. Diffuse abdominal tenderness, pain, and vomiting may be accompanied by elevations of amylase and lipase but may not occur until severaldays after the injury. Hemodynamic instability secondaryto retroperitoneal hemorrhage may be the presenting sign.Nasogastric suction and parenteral nutrition are indicatedin the management of these patients. Nonoperative management is appropriate for contusions, but surgical interventionmay be required in patients with distal transection. Drainage of pseudocysts, in patients who develop them, may berequired if they are unresponsive to bowel rest and parenteralnutrition.
Injury to the intestine occurs less frequently than injury to solid intra-abdominal organs and varies with the amount of intestinal contents. A full bowel is likely to shear more easily than an empty bowel. Shearing occurs at points of fixation (the ligament of Treitz, the ileocecal valve, and the ascending and descending peritoneal reflections). Pneumoperitoneum should prompt surgical exploration. Serial physical examinations are useful when the clinical picture is uncertain.
Duodenal hematoma can occur in the absence of perforation. Duodenal hematomas result from blunt injury to the abdomen, and affected patients often present with persistent pain and bilious emesis. Most hematomas respond to nonoperative management with gastric decompression and parenteral nutrition.
Patients requiring hospitalization for multiple trauma are at risk for a variety of complications based on the type and severity of injury. Sepsis and multiple organ failure may occur in children with multiple trauma. Delays in enteral nutrition because of an ileus may further increase the risk of sepsis secondary to translocation of bacteria across the intestinal mucosa.
Renal failure secondary to myoglobinuria may be seen in children who sustain crushing or electrical injuries and burns. Deep venous thrombosis is less common in the pediatric population, but prophylaxis for children who will be immobilized because of injury is often provided.
Unintentional injury is the leading cause of death for children ages 1 to 18; however, many of these deaths occur in the field, immediately after the injury. Once admitted to the hospital, mortality rates are much lower. Morbidities are numerous and include hypoxic-ischemic brain injury, loss of limbs, and psychological dysfunction.
SEE CHAPTER 41.Drowning, as defined by the World Congress on Drowning in 2002, is the process of experiencing respiratory impairment from submersion/immersion in liquid. Drowning can further be categorized as fatal or nonfatal, but other terms such as near-drowning, secondary drowning, or dry drowning should be abandoned.
Initially, submersion or immersion results in aspiration of small amounts of fluid into the larynx, triggering breath holding or laryngospasm. In many cases, the laryngospasm resolves, and larger volumes of water or gastric contents are aspirated into the lungs, destroying surfactant and causing alveolitis and dysfunction of the alveolar-capillary gas exchange. The resulting hypoxemia leads to hypoxic brain injury that is exacerbated by ischemic injury after circulatory collapse.
Drowning deaths overall have decreased over the past decade; however, drowning is still a significant cause of morbidity and mortality. In 2010, drowning was the leading cause of injury death for children 1 to 4 years of age and the second leading cause of injury death for children 1 to 18 years of age. Boys are four times more likely than girls to drown. The most common location of drowning varies by age, with drowning in natural bodies of water becoming more frequent in older age groups.
Hypoxemia is the result of laryngospasm and aspiration during drowning. Victims may also develop respiratory distress secondary to pulmonary endothelial injury, increased capillary permeability, and destruction of surfactant. Clinical manifestations include tachypnea, tachycardia, increased work of breathing, and decreased breath sounds with or without crackles. The hypoxic-ischemic injury that may occur can lead to depressed myocardial function resulting in tachycardia, impaired perfusion, and potentially cardiovascular collapse. After resuscitation, acute respiratory distress syndrome is common. Altered mental status may be present and requires frequent monitoring of neurologic status. Following submersion in cold water, hypothermia may result in relative bradycardia and hypotension and place the child at risk for cardiac dysrhythmias.
After resuscitation, arterial blood gas measurement assists in assessing pulmonary gas exchange. A chemistry profile may reveal elevated liver enzymes if hypoxemia and ischemia were of long duration and provide baseline renal functions. Electrolytes are often obtained, although alterations of serum electrolytes are minimal, even in freshwater drowning.
Resuscitation of a drowning victim includes the basic ABCs (see Chapter 38). Victims of unwitnessed drowning require stabilization of the cervical spine because of the possibility of a fall or diving injury. Optimizing oxygenation and maintaining cerebral perfusion are two of the major foci of treatment. Rewarming the hypothermic patient requires careful attention to detail, including acid-base and cardiac status. Further treatment is based on the patient response to initial resuscitation. Some children begin breathing spontaneously and awaken before arrival at an emergency department. If the episode was significant, these children still require careful observation for pulmonary complications over the subsequent 6 to 12 hours. Children who have evidence of lung injury, cardiovascular compromise, or neurologic compromise should be monitored in an intensive care unit. Pulmonary dysfunction often results in hypoxemia. Oxygen supplementation should be implemented to maintain normal oxygen saturations. Mechanical ventilation may be needed in patients with significant pulmonary or neurologic dysfunction. Cardiovascular compromise is often the result of impaired contractility because of hypoxic-ischemic injury. The use of intracranial pressure monitoring devices and medical management with hypothermia and sedation is controversial and has not been shown to improve outcomes. Prophylactic antibiotics have not been shown to be beneficial and may increase the selection of resistant organisms.
The outcome of drowning is determined by the successof immediate resuscitation efforts and the severity of thehypoxic-ischemic injury to the brain. Patients who have regained consciousness on arrival to the hospital will likelysurvive with intact neurologic function. Unfavorable prognostic markers include the need for CPR for more than 25 minutes, continued CPR at the hospital, Glasgow Coma Scaleof 5 or less, fixed and dilated pupils, seizures, and coma formore than 72 hours.
Despite the decreased incidence of drowning since the 1990s, few prevention strategies have been shown to be effective. Exceptions include implementation of mandatory four-sided fencing around pools (decreasing the number of children <5 years of age who drown) and immediate provision of CPR to children who drown. The use of safety flotation devices in older children during water sport activities may be beneficial. Enhanced supervision is required to reduce the incidence of infants drowning in bathtubs.
The pathophysiology of burn injury is caused by disruption of the three key functions of the skin: regulation of heat loss, preservation of body fluids, and barrier to infection. Burn injury releases inflammatory and vasoactive mediators resulting in increased capillary permeability, decreased plasma volume, and decreased cardiac output. The body then becomes hypermetabolic with increased resting energy expenditure and protein catabolism. This hypermetabolic state may continue for up to a year after injury.
Burns usually are classified on the basis of four criteria: 1.
Depth of injury 2.Percent of body surface area involved 3.Location of the burn 4.Association with other injuriesMore than 100,000 children sustain a burn injury each year. Burns are the third leading cause of injury-related death for children ages 1 to 9 and are a major cause of morbidity. Boys are more likely to sustain a burn injury, as are children age 6 and under. Scald burns are more common in younger children as compared to older children. Overall, thermal burns secondary to scald or flame are much more common than electrical or chemical burns. Most fire-related childhood deaths and injuries occur in homes.
The depth of injury should be assessed by the clinicalappearance. Categories of first-degree, second-degree, andthird-degree are commonly used; however, classification bydepth (superficial, superficial partial-thickness, deep partial-thickness, and full-thickness) conveys more information aboutthe structures injured and the likely need for surgical treatmentand may be more clinically useful.
Superficial (first-degree) burns are red, painful, anddry. Commonly seen with sun exposure or mild scald injuries, these burns involve injury to the epidermis only. Theyheal in 2 to 5 days without scarring and are not included inburn surface area calculations. Superficial partial-thickness (second-degree) burns involve the entire epidermis andsuperficial dermis. These burns have fluid-containing blisters.
2 of head 91 2 of one thigh 23 2 of one lower leg 21
Figure 44-1 This chart of body areas, together with the table inserted in the figure showing the percentage of surface area of head and legs at various ages, can be used to estimate the surface area burned in a child. From Solomon JR: Pediatric burns, Crit Care Clin 1:159–174, 1985.
After debridement the underlying dermis will appear erythematous and wet, will be painful, and will blanch underpressure. Healing is dependent on the uninjured dermis andusually occurs within about 2 weeks without the need forskin grafting and without scarring. Deep partial-thickness(also second-degree) burns involve the entire epidermis anddeeper portions of the dermis. These burns may also haveblistering, but the dermal base is less blanching, mottled pinkor white, and less painful than superficial partial-thicknessburns. They behave more like full-thickness burns and willoften require excision and grafting. Full-thickness (third-degree and fourth-degree) burns involve all skin layers. Theyappear dry, white, dark red, brown, or black in color. Theydo not blanch and are usually insensate. Full-thickness burnsrequire surgical management. Fourth-degree burns involveunderlying fascia, muscle, or bone and may require reconstruction in addition to grafting. Inhalation injuries should be suspected if there are facial burns, singed nasal hairs, orcarbonaceous sputum. Hoarseness on vocalization also isconsistent with a supraglottic injury. Inhalation injuries mayresult in bronchospasm, airway inflammation, and impairedpulmonary function.
There are multiple methods and charts available for calculating the percentage of skin surface involved in a burn.One method that may be used for children of various agesis presented in Figure 44-1. The extent of skin involvement of older adolescent and adult patients may be estimated as follows: each upper extremity, 9%; each lower extremity, 18%;anterior trunk, 18%; posterior trunk, 18%; head, 9%; andperineum, 1%.
The location of the burn is important in assessing the risk of disability. The risk is greatest when the face, eyes, ears, feet, perineum, or hands are involved. Inhalation injuries not only cause respiratory compromise but also may result in difficulty in eating and drinking.
Initial laboratory testing, including complete blood count, type and crossmatch for blood, coagulation studies, basic chemistry profile, arterial blood gas, and chest radiograph, can be helpful for patients with major burns. A carboxyhemoglobin assessment should be performed for any suspected inhalation exposure (a house or closed-space fire or a burn victim who requires cardiopulmonary resuscitation). Cyanide levels should be considered in children who sustain smoke inhalation and have altered mental status. Unusual patterns of burns may increase suspicion of child abuse and result in appropriate evaluation to assess for nonaccidental trauma to the skeleton or central nervous system.
For severe burns, care is best managed by a multidisciplinary team in a qualified burn center. The American Burn Association criteria for patients who should be transferred to a burn center are: partial and full-thickness burns greater than 10% total body surface area (TBSA) in patients less than 10 years old or more than 50 years old, or greater than 20% TBSA in other age groups; partial and full-thickness burns involving the face, hands, feet, genitalia, perineum, or major joints; electrical burns; chemical burns; inhalation injury; burn injury in patients with preexisting medical conditions that could complicate management, prolong recovery, or increase mortality rate; any burn with concomitant trauma in which the burn injury poses the greatest risk; burn injury in children admitted to hospitals without qualified personnel or equipment for pediatric care; burn injury in patients requiring special social, emotional, or rehabilitative support, including child abuse cases.
Initial treatment should follow the ABCs of resuscitation. Airway management should include assessment for the presence of airway or inhalation injury, with early intubation if such an injury is suspected. Smoke inhalation may be associated with carbon monoxide toxicity; 100% humidified oxygen should be given if hypoxia or inhalation is suspected.
The systemic capillary leak that occurs after a serious burn makes initial fluid and electrolyte support of a burned child crucial. The first priority is to support the circulating blood volume, which requires the administration of intravenous fluids to provide maintenance fluid and electrolyte requirements and to replace ongoing burn-related losses. Formulas exist to help guide fluid management; however, no formula accurately predicts the fluid needs of every burn patient. Children with a significant burn should receive a rapid bolus of 20 mL/kg of lactated Ringer solution. Thereafter, the resuscitation formula for fluid therapy is determined by the percent of body surface burned. Total fluids are 2 to 4 mL/kg/percent burn/24 hours, with half the estimated burn requirement administered during the first 8 hours. (If resuscitation is delayed, half of the fluid replacement should be completed by the end of the eighth hour post-injury.) Fluids should be titrated to achieve adequate perfusion, one marker of which is urine output greater than 1 mL/kg/hour. Controversy exists over whether and when to administer colloid during fluid resuscitation. Colloid therapy may be needed for patients with extensive burns.
Because burn injury produces a hypermetabolic response, children with significant burns require immediate nutritional support. Enteral feeds should be started early unless there is a specific contraindication. Children with critical burn injury may require parenteral nutrition if unable to tolerate full enteral feeds. Consider supplementation of vitamins and trace elements. Factors that may modify the hypermetabolic state such as beta blockers, androgenic steroids, and others are being investigated.
Wound care starts with cleaning and debriding the wound. Effective pain control is important to allow for complete debridement. Topical agents and dressings are then applied to control bacterial colonization, decrease evaporative losses, and aid in pain control. Commonly used topical agents include silver sulfadiazine (Silvadene) or, if the burn is shallow, polymyxin B/bacitracin/neomycin (Neosporin) ointment. Silver nitrate and mafenide acetate (Sulfamylon) are alternative antimicrobial agents. Sulfamylon has the benefit of penetrating eschar, but it is painful and can cause metabolic acidosis. Silver nitrate is used less commonly because of poor tissue penetration and potential for electrolyte abnormalities. These agents
Monitor for infection, avoid prophylactic antibiotics Hypovolemia Fluid replacement Hypothermia Adjust ambient temperature: dry blankets in field
Laryngeal edema Endotracheal intubation, tracheostomy Carbon monoxide 100% oxygen, hyperbaric oxygen poisoning
Cyanide poisoning 100% O2 plus amyl nitrate, sodium nitrate, and sodium thiosulfate Cardiac dysfunction Inotropic agents, diuretics Gastric ulcers H2-receptor antagonist, antacids Compartment syndrome Escharotomy incision Contractures Physical therapy Hypermetabolic state Enteral and parenteral nutritional support Renal failure Supportive care, dialysis Transient antidiuresis Expectant management Anemia Transfusions as indicated Psychological trauma Psychological rehabilitation Pulmonary infiltrates PEEP, ventilation, oxygen Pulmonary edema Avoid overhydration, give diuretics Pneumonia Antibiotics Bronchospasm β-Agonist aerosols
PEEP, Positive end-expiratory pressure.inhibit but do not prevent bacterial growth. Various grafts, such as cadaver allografts, porcine xenografts, or skin substitutes, have been used initially to cover wounds. For full-thickness burns, skin autografting and skin substitutes are required for eventual closure.
SEE TABLE 44-1.Most children who sustain burns recover without significant disability; however, burns remain the third leading cause of injury-related deaths in children ages 1 to 9. Estimation of morbidity is difficult to ascertain from databases. Physical scarring and emotional impact of disfiguring burns are longterm consequences of burn injuries.
About 92% of burns occur in the home. Prevention is possible by using smoke and fire alarms, having identifiable escape routes and a fire extinguisher, and reducing hot water temperature to 49°C (120°F). Immersion full-thickness burns develop after 1 second at 70°C (158°F), after 5 seconds at 60°C (140°F), after 30 seconds at 54.5°C (130°F), and after 10 minutes at 49°C (120°F).
The most common agents ingested by young children include cosmetics, personal care products, analgesics, and cleaning solutions. Fatal childhood poisonings are commonly caused by analgesics, antihistamines, sedative/hypnotics, and fumes/ gases/vapors.
More than 2 million human exposures are called in to poison control centers in the United States each year. More than half of all exposures are in children (63% in 2010) with a male predominance in children under 13, but a female predominance in adolescence. Most ingestions in young children are unintentional, with intentional ingestions becoming more common in children 13 and older. Most ingestions occur at home (91%) and are single substance (90%).
Any child who presents with unexplained symptoms including altered mental status, seizure, cardiovascular compromise, or metabolic abnormality should be considered to have ingested a poison until proven otherwise. A history and physical examination by someone who understands the signs and symptoms of various ingestions often provide sufficient clues to distinguish between toxic ingestion and organic disease (Table 45-1). Determination of all substances that the child was exposed to, type of medication, amount of medication, and time of exposure is crucial in directing interventions. Available data often are incomplete or inaccurate, requiring a careful physical examination and laboratory approach. A complete physical examination, including vital signs, is necessary. Certain complexes of symptoms and signs are relatively specific to a given class of drugs (toxidrome) (Table 45-2).
A poisoned child can exhibit any one of six basic clinical patterns: coma, toxicity, metabolic acidosis, heart rhythm aberrations, gastrointestinal symptoms, and seizures.
Coma is perhaps the most striking symptom of a poison ingestion, but it also may be seen as a result of several other causes including trauma, a cerebrovascular accident, asphyxia, or meningitis. A careful history and clinical examination are needed to distinguish among these alternatives.
Hydrocarbon ingestion occasionally may result in systemic toxicity, but more often it leads to pulmonary toxicity. Hydrocarbons with low viscosity, low surface tension, and high volatility pose the greatest risk of producing aspiration pneumonia; however, when swallowed, they pose no risk unless emesis is induced. Emesis or lavage should not be initiated in a child who has ingested volatile hydrocarbons.
Caustic ingestions may cause dysphagia, epigastric pain, oral mucosal burns, and low-grade fever. Patients with esophageal lesions may have no oral burns or may have significant signs and symptoms. Treatment depends on the agent ingested and the presence or absence of esophageal injury. Alkali agents may be solid, granular, or liquid. Liquid agents are tasteless and produce full-thickness liquefaction necrosis of the esophagus or oropharynx. When the esophageal lesions heal, strictures form. Ingestion of these agents also creates a long-term risk of esophageal carcinoma. Treatment includes antibiotics if there are signs of infection and dilation of late-forming (2 to 3 weeks later) strictures.
Ingested button batteries also may produce a caustic mucosal injury. Batteries that remain in the esophagus may cause esophageal burns and erosion and should be removed with an endoscope. Acid agents can injure the lungs (with hydrochloric acid fumes), oral mucosa, esophagus, and stomach. Because acids taste sour, children usually stop drinking the solution, limiting the injury. Acids produce a coagulation necrosis, which limits the chemical from penetrating into deeper layers of the mucosa and damages tissue less severely than alkali. The signs, symptoms, and therapeutic measures are similar to those for alkali ingestion.
A poisoned child may also have a high anion gap metabolic acidosis (mnemonic MUDPILES) (Table 45-3), which
Table 45-1 Historical and Physical Findings in Poisoning ODOR Bitter almonds Cyanide Acetone Isopropyl alcohol, methanol, paraldehyde, salicylate
Garlic Arsenic, thallium, organophosphates, seleniumMiosis Narcotics (except propoxyphene, meperidine, and pentazocine), organophosphates, muscarinic mushrooms, clonidine, phenothiazines, chloral hydrate, barbiturates (late)
Mydriasis Atropine, cocaine, amphetamines, antihistamines, cyclic antidepressants, PCP, LSDNystagmus Phenytoin, barbiturates, ethanol, carbamazepine, PCP, ketamine, dextromethorphanLacrimation Organophosphates, irritant gas or vaporsPoor vision Methanol, botulism, carbon monoxideNeedle tracks Heroin, PCP, amphetamineDry, hot skin Anticholinergic agents, botulismDiaphoresis Organophosphates, muscarinic mushrooms, aspirin, cocaineAlopecia Thallium, arsenic, lead, mercuryErythema Boric acid, mercury, cyanide, anticholinergics ORAL SIGNSSalivation Organophosphates, salicylate, corrosives, strychnine, ketamineDry mouth Amphetamine, anticholinergics, antihistamineBurns Corrosives, oxalate-containing plantsGum lines Lead, mercury, arsenicDysphagia Corrosives, botulism INTESTINAL SIGNSDiarrhea Antimicrobials, arsenic, iron, boric acid, cholinergicsConstipation Lead, narcotics, botulismHematemesis Corrosives, iron, salicylates, NSAIDs CARDIAC SIGNSTachycardia Atropine, aspirin, amphetamine, cocaine, cyclic antidepressants, theophyllineBradycardia Digitalis, narcotics, clonidine, organophosphates, β-blockers, calcium channel blockersHypertension Amphetamine, LSD, cocaine, PCPHypotension Phenothiazines, barbiturates, cyclic antidepressants, iron, β-blockers, calcium channel blockers, clonidine, narcotics
Depressed respiration Alcohol, narcotics, barbituratesIncreased respiration Amphetamines, aspirin, ethylene glycol, carbon monoxide, cyanidePulmonary edema Hydrocarbons, organophosphates CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM SIGNSAtaxia Alcohol, barbiturates, anticholinergics, narcoticsComa Sedatives, narcotics, barbiturates, salicylate, cyanide, carbon monoxide, cyclic antidepressants, alcohol
Hyperpyrexia Anticholinergics, salicylates, amphetamine, cocaineMuscle fasciculation Organophosphates, theophyllineMuscle rigidity Cyclic antidepressants, PCP, phenothiazines, haloperidolPeripheral neuropathy Lead, arsenic, mercury, organophosphatesAltered behavior LSD, PCP, amphetamines, cocaine, alcohol, anticholinergicsLSD, Lysergic acid diethylamide; MSG, monosodium glutamate; NSAID, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug; PCP, phencyclidine.
Acetaminophen Nausea, vomiting, pallor, delayed jaundice– hepatic failure (72–96 hr) Amphetamine, Tachycardia, hypertension, hyperthermia, cocaine, and psychosis and paranoia, seizures, mydriasis, sympathomimetics diaphoresis, piloerection, aggressive
Anticholinergics Mania, delirium, fever, red dry skin, dry mouth, tachycardia, mydriasis, urinary retention
Carbon monoxide Headache, dizziness, coma, other systems affectedCyanide Coma, convulsions, hyperpnea, bitter almond odorEthylene glycol Metabolic acidosis, hyperosmolarity, (antifreeze) hypocalcemia, oxalate crystalluriaIron Vomiting (bloody), diarrhea, hypotension, hepatic failure, leukocytosis, hyperglycemia, radiopaque pills on KUB, late intestinal stricture, Yersinia sepsis
Narcotics Coma, respiratory depression, hypotension, pinpoint pupils, bradycardiaCholinergics Miosis, salivation, urination, diaphoresis, (organophosphates, lacrimation, bronchospasm (bronchorrhea), nicotine) muscle weakness and fasciculations, emesis, defecation, coma, confusion, pulmonary edema, bradycardia
Salicylates Tachypnea, fever, lethargy, coma, vomiting, diaphoresis, alkalosis (early), acidosis (late)
Cyclic Coma, convulsions, mydriasis, hyperreflexia, antidepressants arrhythmia (prolonged Q-T interval), cardiac arrest, shock
KUB, Kidney-ureter-bladder radiograph.is assessed easily by measuring arterial blood gases, serum electrolyte levels, and urine pH. An osmolar gap, if present, strongly suggests the presence of an unmeasured component, such as methanol or ethylene glycol. These ingestions require thorough assessment and prompt intervention.
Dysrhythmias may be prominent signs of a variety of toxic ingestions, although ventricular arrhythmias are rare. Prolonged Q-T intervals may suggest phenothiazine or antihistamine ingestion, and widened QRS complexes are seen with ingestions of cyclic antidepressants and quinidine. Because many drug and chemical overdoses may lead to sinus tachycardia, this is not a useful or discriminating sign; however, sinus bradycardia suggests digoxin, cyanide, a cholinergic agent, or β-blocker ingestion (Table 45-4).
Gastrointestinal symptoms of poisoning include emesis, nausea, abdominal cramps, and diarrhea. These symptoms may be the result of direct toxic effects on the intestinal mucosa or of systemic toxicity after absorption.
Methanol,* metformin Uremia* Diabetic ketoacidosis* Paraldehyde,* phenformin Isoniazid, iron Lactic acidosis (cyanide, carbon monoxide) Ethanol,* ethylene glycol* Salicylates, starvation, seizures
Chloral hydrate, calcium carbonateHeavy metals (lead, zinc, barium, arsenic, lithium, bismuth as in
Play-Doh, potassium chlorideKUB, Kidney-ureter-bladder radiograph. *Indicates hyperosmolar condition.Seizures are the sixth major mode of presentation for children with toxic ingestions, but poisoning is an uncommon cause of afebrile seizures. When seizures do occur with intoxication, they may be life-threatening and require aggressive therapeutic intervention.
Laboratory studies helpful in initial management include specific toxin-drug assays; measurement of arterial blood gases and electrolytes, osmoles, and glucose; and calculation of the
Drugs Associated with Major Modes of PresentationAmphetamine Antiarrhythmics Anticholinergics Antihistamines Arsenic Carbon monoxide Chloral hydrate Cocaine Cyanide Cyclic antidepressants Digitalis Freon Phenothiazines Physostigmine Propranolol Quinine, quinidine Theophylline *Causes of methemoglobinemia: amyl nitrite, aniline dyes, benzocaine, bismuth subnitrate, dapsone, primaquine, quinones, spinach, sulfonamides.
anion or osmolar gap. A full 12-lead electrocardiogram should be part of the initial evaluation in all patients suspected of ingesting toxic substances. Urine screens for drugs of abuse or to confirm suspected ingestion of medications in the home may be revealing.
Quantitative toxicology assays are important for some agents (Table 45-5), not only for identifying the specific drug, but also for providing guidance for therapy, anticipating complications, and estimating the prognosis.
The four foci of treatment for poisonings are supportive care, decontamination, enhanced elimination, and specific antidotes.
Supportive care is the mainstay of treatment in most cases. Prompt attention must be given to protecting and maintaining the airway, establishing effective breathing, and supporting the circulation. This management sequence takes precedence over other diagnostic or therapeutic procedures. If the level of consciousness is depressed, and a toxic substance is suspected, glucose (1 g/kg intravenously), 100% oxygen, and naloxone should be administered.
The intent of gastrointestinal decontamination is to prevent the absorption of a potentially toxic ingested substance and, in theory, to prevent the poisoning. There has been great controversy about which methods are the safest and most efficacious. Recommendations from the American Academy of Clinical Toxicology (AACT) and the European Association of Poison Centres and Clinical Toxicologists (EAPCCT) follow. Syrup of ipecac should not be administered routinely to poisoned patients because of potential complications and lack of evidence that it improves outcome. Likewise, gastric lavageshould not be used routinely, if ever, in the management of poisoned patients because of lack of efficacy and potential complications. Single-dose activated charcoal decreases drug absorption when used within 1 hour of ingestion; however, it has not been shown to improve outcome. Thus, it should
Acetaminophen N-Acetylcysteine 140 mg/kg PO initial dose, then 70 mg/kg Most effective within 16 h of ingestion PO q4hr × 17 doses 150 mg/kg IV over 1 hr, followed by 50 mg/ kg IV over 4 hr, followed by 100 mg/kg IV over 16 hr
Benzodiazepine Flumazenil 0.2 mg IV, may repeat to 1 mg max Possible seizures, arrhythmias, DO NOT USE FOR UNKNOWN INGESTIONS β-Blocking agents Glucagon 0.15 mg/kg IV, followed by infusion of 0.05–0.15 mg/kg/hr
Carbon monoxide Oxygen 100%; hyperbaric O2 Half-life of carboxyhemoglobin is 5 hr in room air but 1.5 hr in 100% O2
Cyclic antidepressants Sodium bicarbonate 1–2 mEq/kg IV, followed by continuous Follow potassium levels and replace as infusion; titrated to produce pH of 7.5–7.55 needed be used selectively in the management of a poisoned patient. Charcoal is ineffective against caustic or corrosive agents, hydrocarbons, heavy metals (arsenic, lead, mercury, iron, lithium), glycols, and water-insoluble compounds.
The administration of a cathartic (sorbitol or magnesium citrate) alone has no role in the management of the poisoned patient. The AACT has stated that based on available data, the use of a cathartic in combination with activated charcoal is not recommended.
Whole-bowel irrigation using polyethylene glycol (GoLYTELY) as a nonabsorbable cathartic may be effective for toxic ingestion of sustained-release or enteric-coated drugs.
Aminoglycosides—gentamicin, tobramycin, and amikacin Chloramphenicol VancomycinThe AACT does not recommend the routine use of whole-bowel irrigation. However, there is theoretical benefit in its use for potentially toxic ingestions of iron, lead, zinc, or packets of illicit drugs.
Multiple-dose activated charcoal should be considered onlyif a patient has ingested a life-threatening amount of carbamazepine, dapsone, phenobarbital, quinine, or theophylline. Alkalinization of urine may be helpful for salicylate or methotrexate ingestion. Dialysis may be used for substances that havea low volume of distribution, low molecular weight, low proteinbinding, and high degree of water solubility, such as methanol,ethylene glycol, salicylates, theophylline, bromide, and lithium.
SEE TABLE 45-6.When in doubt about therapy, contacting one of the U.S. Poison Control Centers (1-800-222-1222) can help to determine what additional treatment is necessary.
Most poisonings result in minimal or no toxicity. Major toxicity is seen in fewer than 1% of ingestions, with fatality in fewer than 0.1%. Only 12% of children 12 and under with poisoning require treatment in a health care facility, compared with 48% of adolescents.
Properly educating parents regarding safe storage of medications and household toxins is necessary for preventing ingestions. If a child has ingested poison, a poison control center should be called.
Iron Deferoxamine Infusion of 5–15 mg/kg/hr IV (max 6 g/24 hr) Hypotension (worse with rapid infusion rates)
Succimer (2,3-dimercaptosuccinic acid ([DMSA]) 35–50 mg/kg/day IV × 5 days; continuous infusion or divided q 12 hours 10 mg/kg/dose PO tid × 5 days, then 10 mg/kg/dose PO bid × 14 days
May cause sterile abscesses. Prepared in peanut oil, do not use in patients with peanut allergy.
Few toxic effects, requires lead-free home plus compliant familyOpiates Naloxone 0.1 mg/kg IV, ET, SC, IM for children, up to 2 Naloxone causes no respiratory mg, repeat as needed depression
From Kliegman RM, Stanton BF, St. Geme JW, et al., editors: Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics, ed 19, Philadelphia, 2011, Saunders, pp 256–257.
ET, Endotracheal; IM, intramuscular; IV, intravenous; PO, oral; SC, subcutaneous. *See Table 45-4 for causes of methemoglobinemia.
An acutely ill pediatric patient may have pain, discomfort, andanxiety resulting from injury, surgery, and invasive procedures(intubation, bone marrow aspiration, venous access placement)or during life-sustaining mechanical ventilation. Clear goalsshould be identified to allow provision of optimal analgesia orsedation without compromising the physiologic status of thepatient. Anxiolysis, cooperation, amnesia, immobility, and lackof awareness all are goals of sedation and can be accomplishedwith various drugs (Table 46-1). Many of these goals can beachieved with behavioral techniques (preprocedural teaching),but sedation is often a necessary adjunct for painful procedures.Pain may be expressed by verbal or visible discomfort, crying,agitation, tachycardia, hypertension, and tachypnea. A varietyof scales have been developed in an attempt to quantify painand allow more directed therapy. Few of these scales are wellvalidated, especially in populations of acutely ill children withphysiologic derangements secondary to the underlying pathology. Pain caused by procedural interventions should always betreated with analgesics in addition to sedation (Table 46-2).
A medical evaluation must be performed for any patient receiving procedural sedation to identify underlying medical conditions that may affect the choice of sedative agents. Specific attention must be paid to assessment of the airway (for ability to maintain a patent airway) and respiratory system (asthma, recent respiratory illness, loose teeth), cardiovascular status (especially adequacy of volume status), factors affecting drug metabolism (renal or liver disease), and risk of aspiration (adequate nothing-by-mouth status, gastroesophageal reflux). During the administration of procedural sedation, assessment of status must include monitoring of oxygen saturation, heart rate, and respiratory rate, as well as some assessment of effectiveness of ventilation. This assessment must be performed by someone who is not involved in the procedure; this person is also responsible for recording vital signs and drugs administered on a time-based graph. Monitoring must be continued until the child has returned to baseline. Patients who are receiving long-term sedation (e.g., to maintain endotracheal tube placement) may need only local anesthesia for painful procedures but may benefit from additional sedation or analgesia as well.
Many ventilated pediatric patients require sedation and some analgesia while intubated. The most common choice is a combination of a longer acting benzodiazepine and an opioid. Avoidance of oversedation is important. Use of appropriate pain and sedation scores allows for titration of medications to achieve goals of the sedation plan. Long-term use of benzodiazepines and opioids leads to tolerance, a problematic occurrence that must be considered as medications are added and weaned. True addiction is a rare occurrence, especially when medications are provided at the minimum level needed to achieve adequate sedation and pain control.
Table 46-1 Agents that Produce Sedation SEDATIVES EFFECT CONCERNS Midazolam Anxiolysis, sedation, muscle relaxation, amnesia Tolerance is possible; apnea, hypotension, depressed myocardial function; short action
Lorazepam Anxiolysis, sedation, muscle relaxation, amnesia Same as midazolam; long action
Ketamine Anesthesia, analgesia, amnesia Dissociative reactions, tachycardia, hypertension, increased bronchial secretions, emergent delirium, hallucinations; increases intracranial pressure
Chloral hydrate Sedative Emesis, hypotension, arrhythmias, hepatic dysfunctionPropofol Rapid-onset sedative for induction and Metabolic acidosis in children; may depress cardiac function maintenance of anesthesia
Table 46-2 Agents that Produce Analgesia ANALGESIC EFFECT COMPLICATIONS Acetaminophen and NSAIDs Moderate analgesia, antipyresis Ceiling effect, requires PO administration NSAIDs—gastrointestinal bleed, ulceration
Opioids No ceiling effect; respiratory depression, sedation, pruritus, nausea/vomiting, decreased gastric motility, urinary retention, tolerance with abuse potential
Fentanyl, alfentanil, Analgesia, sedation No adverse effects on cardiovascular system; stiff chest syndrome sufentanil
NSAIDs, Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs; PO, oral.The subjective aspect of pain requires that self-reporting be used for assessment. Visual analog scales, developed for adult patients (allowing patients to rate pain on a scale of 1 to 10), have been used for older children. Pain scales for younger children often incorporate behavioral and physiologic parameters, despite the imprecision of physiologic responses.
Local anesthetics, such as lidocaine, can be used for minor procedures. However, lidocaine requires subcutaneous or intradermal injection. The use of EMLA, a cream containing lidocaine and prilocaine, is less effective than intradermal lidocaine but is preferred by many patients.
Patient-controlled analgesia is an effective method for providing balanced analgesia care in older children andadolescents. Children using patient-controlled analgesiahave better pain relief and experience less sedation thanpatients receiving intermittent, nurse-controlled, bolusanalgesics. Analgesics can be administered through thepatient-controlled analgesia pump with continuous basal infusions, bolus administration, or both. Morphine is the most frequent opioid used for patient-controlled analgesia.
Monitoring of oxygen saturations and respiratory rate arecrucial with continuous opioid infusions because of the shiftin CO2 response curve and potential to decrease ventilatoryresponse to hypoxia.
Epidural analgesia decreases the need for inhalation anesthetics during surgery and can provide significant analgesia without sedation in the postoperative period. Decreased costs and length of stay also may be benefits of epidural analgesic approaches. Medications used in epidurals include bupivacaine and morphine. Adverse effects include nausea and vomiting, motor blockade, and technical problems requiring catheter removal. Infection and permanent neurologic deficits are rare.
Kleinman ME, Chameides L, Schexnayder SM, et al: Part 14: pediatric advanced life support: 2010 American Heart Association guidelines for car diopulmonary resuscitation and emergency cardiovascular care, Circulation 122(Suppl 3):S876–S908, 2010
Kliegman RM, Stanton BF, St. Geme JW, et al, editors: Nelson Textbook of
Pediatrics, ed 19, Philadelphia, 2011, ElsevierPaul A. Levy and Robert W. MarionAmong infants born in the United States, 2% to 4% have congenital malformations, abnormalities of form or function identifiable at birth. At 1 year of age, the number approaches 7%, because some anomalies may not be identifiable until after the neonatal period. The prevalence of congenital malformations is much greater in inpatient pediatric populations; 30% to 50% of hospitalized children have congenital anomalies or genetic disorders.
The clinical geneticist attempts to identify the etiology, mode of inheritance, and risk that a disorder might occur in the affected child’s siblings. In evaluating children with congenital malformations, the patient’s condition may be classified into one of five different categories: 1.
Single-gene mutations, accounting for 6% of children with congenital anomalies 2.
Chromosomal disorders, accounting for approximately 7.5% 3.Multifactorially inherited conditions, accounting for 20% 4.Disorders that show an unusual pattern of inheritance, accounting for 2% to 3% 5.
Conditions caused by exposure to teratogens, accounting for 6%DNA is composed of four nucleotide building blocks: adenine, guanine, cytosine, and thymine. Each nucleotide islinked to other nucleotides, forming a chain. The DNA molecule consists of two chains of nucleotides held togetherby hydrogen bonds. The purine nucleotides, adenine andguanine, cross-link by hydrogen bonds to the pyrimidines,thymine and cytosine. Because of this cross-linking, thenucleotide sequence of one strand sets the other strand’s sequence. Separating the two strands permits complementary nucleotides to bind to each DNA strand; this copies theDNA and replicates the sequence.
DNA exists as multiple fragments that, together with a protein skeleton (chromatin), form chromosomes. Human cells have 23 pairs of chromosomes, with one copy of each chromosome inherited from each parent. Twenty-two pairs of chromosomes are autosomes; the remaining pair is called the sex chromosomes. Females have two X chromosomes; males have one X and one Y.
Spread along the chromosomes, like beads on a string,DNA sequences form genes, the basic units of heredity. Atypical gene contains a promoter sequence, an untranslatedregion, and an open reading frame, all arrayed from the 5′ to the 3′ end of the DNA. In the open reading frame, everythree nucleotides represent a single codon, coding for a particular amino acid. In this way, the sequence of bases dictatesthe sequence of amino acids in the corresponding protein.Some codons, rather than coding for a specific amino acid,act as a “start” signal, whereas others serve as “stop” signals. Between the start and stop codons, genes consist oftwo major portions: exons, regions containing the code thatultimately corresponds to a sequence of amino acids, andintrons (intervening sequence), which do not become partof the amino acid sequence.
Genes are transcribed into messenger RNA (mRNA), then translated into proteins. During transcription, RNA is processed to remove introns. The mRNA serves as a template to construct the protein.
Human genetic material contains 3.1 billion bases. Lessthan 2% of the DNA codes for proteins, comprising thegenome’s approximately 21,000 genes. Through a mechanism called alternative splicing, these 21,000 genes maycreate more than 100,000 proteins. The remainder of theDNA, the portion not involved in protein formation, hadbeen termed junk DNA, but a project called ENCODE(Encyclopedia of DNA Elements) found that much of thispresumed junk DNA is functional and likely serves some regulatory function.
Disease may be caused by changes or mutations in the DNA sequence, with the point mutation, a change in a single DNA base, being the most common type. A point mutation that changes a codon and the resulting amino acid thatgoes into the protein is referred to as a missense mutation. A nonsense mutation is a point mutation that changes thecodon to a “stop” codon so that transcription stops prematurely. A frameshift mutation often stems from the loss or addition of one or more DNA bases; this causes a shift in how the DNA is transcribed and generally leads to premature stop codons.
To identify specific patterns of inheritance, geneticists construct and analyze pedigrees, which are pictorial representations of a family history. Males are represented by squares and females by circles. Matings are connected with a solid line between each partner’s symbols. Unmarried couples are often connected by a dashed line. Children from a couple are represented below their parents and are the next generation.
Grandparents, uncles, and aunts are added in similar fashion. Children of aunts and uncles also may be included. Ages or birthdays may be written next to or underneath each symbol. The proband (the patient who is the initial contact) is indicated with an arrow. Affected individuals are indicated by shading, or some other technique, which should be explained in a key. Carriers for a disorder (e.g., sickle cell disease) usually are indicated by a dot in the center of their symbol (Fig. 47-1).
Figure 47-1 Pedigree showing affected individuals and carriers.To be useful, pedigrees should include representatives of at least three generations of family members.
If a single copy of a gene bearing a mutation is sufficient to cause disease and that gene is not on one of the sex chromosomes, that condition is inherited in an AD fashion (Table 47-1). In AD disorders, an affected parent has a 50% chance of passing the mutated gene to each child (Fig. 47-2; Table 47-2). Possessing one working gene and one nonworking gene is termed heterozygous. If both copies are the same, they are referred to as homozygous.
Some people who are obligate carriers of a mutation known to cause an AD disorder may not show clinical signsof the disorder, whereas other such individuals manifest symptoms. This phenomenon is referred to as penetrance.If all individuals who carry a mutation for an AD disordershow signs of that disorder, the gene is said to have complete penetrance. Many AD disorders show decreased penetrance.
Often, AD disorders show variability in symptoms expressed in different individuals carrying the same mutated gene. Some individuals have only mild clinical symptoms, whereas others have more severe disease. This phenomenon is referred to as variable expressivity.
AD disorders sometimes appear in a child of unaffectedparents because of a spontaneous mutation. Known in some cases to be associated with advanced paternal age(>35 years of age), spontaneous mutations may account formost individuals with some disorders. Approximately 80%of patients with achondroplasia have a spontaneous mutation in the fibroblast growth factor receptor type 3 (FGFR3)gene. The following are examples of autosomal dominantdisorders.
Table 47-1 Autosomal Dominant Diseases DISEASE FREQUENCY COMMENTS Achondroplasia Thanatophoric dysplasia Crouzon syndrome with acanthosis nigricans Nonsyndromic craniosynostosis ∼1:12,000 Mutations are in the gene for fibroblast growth factor receptor-3 on chromosome 4p16.3. 40% of cases are new mutations (different mutations in the same gene cause achondroplasia, thanatophoric dysplasia, Crouzon syndrome with acanthosis, and nonsyndromic craniosynostosis)
Neurofibromatosis 1 1:3500 About 50% of cases result from new mutations in the gene for neurofibromin, a tumor suppressor gene located at 17q11.2. Expression is quite variable
Huntington disease (HD) Variable in populations, The disease is caused by a (CAG) repeat expansion in the “Huntington” 1:5000–1:20,000 protein gene on chromosome 4p16.3
Marfan syndrome (FBN-1) 1:10,000 The syndrome is caused by mutations in the fibrillin 1 (FBN 1) gene on chromosome 15q21.1; there is variable expression
Caused by a defect in cartilage-derived bone, achondroplasia (ACH) is the most common skeletal dysplasia in humans. The bony abnormalities lead to short stature, macrocephaly, a flat midface with a prominent forehead, and rhizomelic shortening of the limbs. The disorder occurs in approximately 1 in 12,000 births.
ACH is caused by mutations in the FGFR3 gene. Early in development, FGFR3 is expressed during endochondral bone formation. More than 95% of cases of ACH are caused by one of two mutations in the same base pair (site 1138). This site, extremely active for mutations, is known as a mutational hot spot.
As they grow, children with ACH often develop associated medical and psychological problems. Hydrocephalus and central apnea may occur because of narrowing of the foramen magnum and compression of the brainstem and may present a life-threatening complication in infancy. Bowing of the legs may occur later in childhood because of unequal growth of the tibia and fibula. Dental malocclusion, obstructive apnea, and hearing loss due to middle ear dysfunction are common in later childhood. During later childhood and adolescence, the psychological effects of the short stature may manifest. In adulthood, further complications include compression of
Affected individual Individual with decreased penetranceFigure 47-2 Pedigree showing decreased penetrance for an auto-somal dominant disorder. Proband (arrow) is affected. Maternal grandfather also is affected. The individual’s mother is presumed to be the carrier of the gene, even though she may show only slight symptoms of disease.
Each child of an affected parent has a one in two chance of being affected Males and females are equally affected Male-to-male transmission occurs Traits generally involve mutations in genes that code for regulatory nerve roots and sciatica. People with ACH have normal life spans and normal intelligence.
The diagnosis of ACH is made on the basis of clinical findings; characteristic x-ray abnormalities confirm the diagnosis. Molecular testing is available but is usually reserved for cases that are difficult to diagnose or those in which prenatal diagnosis is requested. Prenatal diagnosis is possible by molecular testing, using fetal cells obtained through amniocentesis or chorionic villus sampling.
One of the most common AD disorders, NF1 is estimated to be present in 1 in 3500 individuals. NF1 is caused by a mutation in the gene NF1, which codes for the protein neurofibromin.
Although the penetrance of NF1 is 100%, the expression is extremely variable. Many affected individuals have features so mild that they are never diagnosed.
SEE CHAPTER 186.A condition that occurs in approximately 1 in 10,000 individuals, MFS shows pleiotropy, the condition in which abnormalities in multiple organ systems are caused by a mutation in asingle gene. Caused by a mutation in the FBN1 gene, clinical symptoms in MFS mostly involve three systems: cardiac, ophthalmologic, and skeletal. Skeletal findings include a tall, thinbody habitus (dolichostenomelia), spider-like fingers and toes(arachnodactyly), abnormalities of the sternum (pectus excavatum or carinatum), scoliosis, pes planus, and joint laxity.Eye findings include high myopia, which can lead to vitreoretinal degeneration; an abnormal suspensory ligament of thelens, which can lead to ectopia lentis (dislocation of the lens);and cataracts. Cardiac findings include progressive dilatationof the aortic root. Aortic insufficiency followed by aortic dissection is a common complication. Other clinical features of MFS include dural ectasia, abnormal pulmonary septation,and striae. Diagnostic criteria for MFS are summarized inTable 47-3.
New mutations in FBN1 account for 25% of cases of MFS. The gene is large and complex; more than 600 mutations have been identified in affected individuals. Many of the symptoms of MFS are caused not by the defect in the fibrillin protein itself but rather by an excess in transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β), a protein usually bound by fibrillin. Losartan, an angiotensin II receptor antagonist that also lowers levels of TGF-β, may prevent aneurysms in patients with MFS.
Disorders that are inherited in an AR manner manifest only when both copies of a gene pair located on a non-sex chromosome have a mutation (Tables 47-4, 47-5). Affected children usually are born to unaffected parents, each of whom carries one copy of the mutation. If both members of a couple are carriers (or heterozygotes) for this mutation, each of their offspring has a 25% chance of being affected (Fig. 47-3).
SEE CHAPTER 150.MFS† (Z ≥2, if >20 years) (Z ≥3, if <20 years)
Facial features (3 of 5)§ 1Data from Loeys BL, et al. The revised Ghent nosology for the Marfan syndrome. J Med Genet 47:476-485, 2010. FBN1, Fibrillin-1; MASS, myopia, mitral valve prolapse, borderline aortic root dilatation (Z <2), striae, skeletal findings; MVPS, mitral valve prolapse syndrome. *Aortic root dilatation (measured at the Sinuses of Valsalva); †Loeys-Dietz syndrome (LDS), Shprintzen-Goldberg syndrome (SGS), and the vascular form of Ehlers Danlos (vEDS) should be excluded. If clinical features are suggestive, then DNA testing for TGFBR1, TGFBR2 (LDS), COL3A1 (vEDS) or collagen biochemistry should be done to help rule out these disorders.
‡Maximum Total: 20 points; more than 7 points indicates systemic involvement. §Facial Features: Dolicocephaly, enophthalmos, downslanting palpebral fissures, malar hypoplasia, retrognathia.
SEE CHAPTERS 55 AND 185.More than 1000 genes have been identified on the X chromosome, whereas only about 200 are believed to be present on theY chromosome. Females, whose cells have two copies of an X chromosome, possess two copies of each gene on the X chromosome, whereas males, who have one X chromosome and a Y chromosome, have only one copy of these genes. Early in femaleembryonic development, one X chromosome is randomly inactivated in each cell. There are many X-linked disorders (colorblindness, Duchenne muscular dystrophy, hemophilia A) in which heterozygous (carrier) females show some manifestationsof the disorder due to skewed X chromosome inactivation.
Adrenal hyperplasia, congenital 1:5000 Phenotype variation corresponds roughly to allelic variation. A deficiency causes (CAH, 21-hydroxylase deficiency, virilization in females. CA21H, CYP21, cytochrome
The gene is located at 6p21.3 within the HLA complex and within 0.005 centimorgans P450, subfamily XXI) (cM) of HLA B
Cystic fibrosis (CF) 1:2500 whites The gene CF transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) is on chromosome 7q31.2
Friedreich ataxia (FA, frataxin) 1:25,000 Frataxin is a mitochondrial protein involved with iron metabolism and respiration. The gene is on chromosome 9q13-q21, and the common mutation is a GAA expanded triplet repeat located in the first intron of the gene. FA does not show anticipation
Trait appears in siblings, not in their parents or their offspring
On average, 25% of siblings of the proband are affected (at the time of conception, each sibling has a 25% chance of being affected)
A normal sibling of an affected individual has a two thirds chance of being a carrier (heterozygote)
Males and females are likely to be affected equallyRare traits are likely to be associated with parental consanguinity
Traits generally involve mutations in genes that code for enzymes (e.g., phenylalanine hydroxylase–deficient in PKU) and are associated with serious illness and shortened life span
PKU, Phenylketonuria.Most disorders involving the X chromosome are recessive. With only one copy of the X chromosome, males are more likely to manifest these diseases than females. Each son born to a female carrier of an X-linked recessive trait has a 50% chance of inheriting the trait, but none of this woman’s daughters would be affected (each daughter has a 50% chance of being a carrier). An affected father transmits the mutation to all of his daughters, who are carriers, but not to his sons; having received their father’s Y chromosome, they would not be affected (thus there is no male-to-male transmission) (Tables 47-6, 47-7 and Fig. 47-4).
SEE CHAPTER 182.SEE CHAPTER 151.Figure 47-3 Pedigree of family showing autosomal recessive inheritance.Only a few X-linked dominant disorders have been described. Both males and females are affected by this group of disorders, but females have less severe symptoms due to X-chromosome inactivation. This is the case for X-linked vitamin D–resistant rickets (hypophosphatemic rickets), a disorder in which the kidney’s ability to reabsorb phosphate is impaired. Phosphate levels and resulting rickets are not as severe in females as in males.
However, many X-linked dominant disorders are lethal inmales. Affected mothers can have affected or normal daughters but only normal sons. Affected sons die in utero. This isthe case in incontinentia pigmenti, which has a characteristic swirling skin pattern of hyperpigmentation that develops aftera perinatal skin rash with blistering. Affected females also have variable involvement of the central nervous system, hair, nails,
Fragile X syndrome (FRAXA; 1:4000 males The gene is located at Xq27.3 numerous other names) The condition is attributable to a CGG triplet expansion that is associated with localized methylation (inactivation) of distal genes. Females may have some expression. Instability of the site may lead to tissue mosaicism; lymphocyte genotype and phenotype may not correlate
Incidence of the trait is higher in males than in females
Trait is passed from carrier females, who may show mild expression of the gene, to half of their sons, who are more severely affected
Each son of a carrier female has a one in two chance of being affected
Trait is transmitted from affected males to all of their daughters; it is never transmitted father to son
Because the trait can be passed through multiple carrier females, it may skip generations teeth, and eyes. In Rett syndrome, caused by mutations in the MECP2 gene, females are normal at birth, but later in the firstyear of life develop microcephaly and developmental regressionand plateau. About 50% of patients develop seizures. Girls oftenare diagnosed with autism and, by 2 years of age, adopt a hand-washing posture that causes them to lose all purposeful hand movements.
Often termed polygenic inheritance, multifactorially inheriteddisorders result from the interplay of genetic and environmental
Figure 47-4 Pedigree showing X-linked recessive inheritance.factors. In addition to 20% of congenital malformations, including cleft lip and palate and spina bifida, most common disordersof childhood and adult life, such as asthma, atherosclerosis, diabetes, and cancer, result from an interaction between genes andthe environment. These disorders do not follow simple mendelian modes of inheritance; rather, affected individuals tend to cluster in families. The disorders occur more often in firstand second-degree relatives than would be expected by chance, and they are more likely to be concordant (although not 100%) inmonozygotic twins than in dizygotic twins.
Available @ StudentConsult.comOccurring in about 1 in 300 children, hypertrophic pyloric stenosis (HPS) is five times more likely to occur in males than in females. When a child with HPS is born, the recurrence risk in future progeny is 5% to 10% for males and 1.5% to 2% for females. In adulthood, the risk of an affected male having an affected child is markedly increased over the general population: 4% of sons and 1% of daughters of such men would be likely to be affected. Even more striking is the risk to children born to affected females: 17% to 20% of sons and 7% of daughters are affected.
The thickness of the pyloric muscle may be distributed across a bell-shaped curve; the position on the bell-shaped curve is determined by many factors, including the expression of multiple, unknown genes. HPS may result when an individual’s genetic and environmental influences cause him or her to fall to an extreme position on this curve, past a certain point, which is called a threshold. In HPS, this threshold is farther to the left for males than it is for females.
Before 1998, myelomeningocele affected 1 in 1000 liveborninfants in the United States. Anencephaly occurred with a similar frequency, although most infants were either stillborn or diedin the neonatal period. Since 1998, because of the supplementation of food staples with folic acid, both of these conditions havebecome far less frequent. Multiple genetic and nongenetic factorsdictate the speed with which the neural tube closes, as follows: 1.
The frequency of neural tube defects (NTDs) varies greatly in different ethnic groups. NTDs are more common in the British Isles, where, in 1990, they occurred in 1 in 250 live births, and far less common in Asia, where the frequency was 1 in 4000. These ethnic differences suggest a genetic component.
Couples from the British Isles who move to the United States have a risk intermediate between the risks in the United Kingdom and the United States, suggesting an environmental component.
The occurrence of NTDs exhibits seasonality. In the United States, affected infants are more likely to be born during late fall and early winter, again suggesting an environmental component.
Periconceptual supplementation with folic acid has significantly lowered the risk of having an infant with an NTD. This nutritional influence suggests an environmental component.
Parents who have one child with an NTD are 20 to 40 times more likely to have a second affected child; this provides further evidence of a genetic component.
Disorders with Unusual Patterns of InheritanceHuman cells contain non-nuclear DNA; a single chromosome is present in each mitochondrion, and mutations within this DNA are associated with a group of diseases.
Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), which is circular and 16.5 kb in length, replicates independently of nuclear DNA. Involved in energy production used to run the cell, mtDNA codes for a few respiratory chain proteins (most mitochondrial proteins are coded on nuclear DNA) and for a set of transfer RNAs unique to mitochondrial protein synthesis. Virtually all mitochondria are supplied by the oocyte, which means that mtDNA is maternally derived. A woman with a mutation in mtDNA passes this mutation to all of her children. More than one population of mitochondria may be present in the oocyte, a phenomenon called heteroplasmy. The mtDNA mutation may be present in a few or many mitochondria. When the fertilized egg divides, mitochondria are distributed randomly. The presence of symptoms in the offspring, and their severity, depends on the ratio of mutant to wild-type mtDNA present in a particular tissue. If an abundance of mutant mitochondria exists in tissue that has high energy requirements (brain, muscle, and liver), clinical symptoms occur. If fewer mutant mitochondria are present, few clinical symptoms may be seen.
MELAS (mitochondrial encephalomyopathy with lactic acidosis and strokelike episodes) is an example of a mitochondrial disorder. Normal in early childhood, individuals affected with MELAS develop episodic vomiting, seizures, and recurrent cerebral insults that resemble strokes between 5 and 10 years of age. In 80% of cases, analysis of the mtDNA reveals a specific mutation (A3242G) in MTTL1, a gene that codes for a mitochondrial transfer RNA.
In families in which MELAS occurs, a range of symptoms is seen in first-degree relatives, including progressive external ophthalmoplegia, hearing loss, cardiomyopathy, and diabetes mellitus. Although all offspring of a woman who carries a mutation would be affected, because of heteroplasmy, the severity of disease varies, depending on the percentage of mitochondria bearing the mutation that are present.
Evaluation of a child with uniparental disomy (UPD) reveals a normal karyotype. However, chromosomal markers for one particular chromosome are identical to the markers found on the chromosomes of the patient’s mother or father (but not both). In UPD, the individual inherits two copies of one parent’s chromosome and no copy from the other parent.
UPD probably occurs through a few mechanisms, but the most common results from a spontaneous rescue mechanism. At the time of conception, through nondisjunction, the fertilized egg is trisomic for a particular chromosome, with two copies of one parent’s chromosome and one copy of the other parent’s chromosome; conceptuses with trisomy often miscarry early in development. Fetuses with UPD survive because they spontaneously lose one of three copies of the affected chromosome. If the single chromosome from one parent is lost, the patient has UPD.
An alternate explanation involves monosomy for a chromosome rather than trisomy. Had the conceptus, at the time of conception, inherited only a single copy of a chromosome, spontaneous duplication of the single chromosome would lead to UPD.
Available @ StudentConsult.comPrader-Willi syndrome (PWS), which occurs in approximately 1 in 10,000 infants, is characterized by hypotonia of prenatal onset; postnatal growth delay; a characteristic appearance, including almond-shaped eyes and small hands and feet; developmental disability; hypogonadotropic hypogonadism; and obesity after infancy. Early in life, affected infants are so hypotonic that they cannot consume enough calories to maintain their weight. Nasogastric feeding is invariably necessary, and failure to thrive is common. During the first year of life, muscle tone improves and children develop a voracious appetite. Some 60% to 70% of individuals with PWS have a small deletion of chromosome 15 (15q11). In individuals without a deletion, 20% have UPD of chromosome 15.
Angelman syndrome (AS) is a condition with moderate to severe mental retardation, absence of speech, ataxic movementsof the arms and legs, a characteristic craniofacial appearance,and a seizure disorder that is characterized by inappropriatelaughter. AS is also characterized by a deletion in the 15q11region in 70% of affected individuals; UPD for chromosome15 can be demonstrated in approximately 10% of AS patients.
If the deletion occurs in paternal chromosome 15, the affected individual has PWS, whereas AS results from a deletion occurring only in the maternal chromosome 15. When UPD is responsible, maternal UPD results in PWS, whereas paternal UPD results in AS. To summarize, if a copy of paternal chromosome 15q11.2 is lacking, PWS occurs; if maternal chromosome 15q11.2 is lacking, AS results.
This phenomenon is explained by genomic imprinting. Imprinting is an epigenetic phenomenon, a nonheritablechange in the DNA that causes an alteration in gene expressionbased on parental origin of the gene. PWS is caused by deficiency of the protein product of the gene SNRPN (small nuclearribonucleoprotein). Although present on both maternally andpaternally derived chromosome 15, SNRPN is expressed onlyin the paternally derived chromosome. Expression is blocked inthe maternal chromosome because the bases of the open readingframe are methylated; this physical change in the DNA preventsgene expression. PWS results whenever a paternal chromosome15 is missing, either through deletion or through UPD.
AS results from a lack of expression of ubiquitin-protein ligase E3A (UBE3A), a second gene in the chromosome 15q11.2 region. UBE3A is normally expressed only in the maternally derived chromosome 15. Although present in paternal chromosome 15, UBE3A is methylated, and gene expression is blocked. Therefore, if either the critical region of maternal chromosome 15 is deleted, or paternal UPD occurs, the individual will manifest symptoms of AS.
Expansion of a Trinucleotide RepeatAvailable @ StudentConsult.comMore than 50% of human DNA appears as repeat sequences, two or three bases repeated over and over again. Disorders caused by expansion of trinucleotide repeats include Fragile X syndrome, Huntington disease, myotonic dystrophy, Friedreich ataxia, and the spinocerebellar ataxias. Although an increase in the number of the three repeated bases is at the heart of each disorder, the molecular mechanism differs.
Fragile X syndrome (FRAX), which occurs with a frequency of approximately 1 in 2000 children, is the most common cause of inherited intellectual disability. Features include characteristic craniofacial findings (large head; prominent forehead, jaw, and ears); macro-orchidism with testicularvolume twice normal in adulthood; a mild connective tissue disorder, including joint laxity, patulous eustachian tubes, and mitral valve prolapse; and a characteristic neurobehavioral profile, including intellectual disability (ranging from mild to profound) and autism spectrum disorders.
Positional cloning in the Xq27 region identified a tripletrepeat region composed of one cytosine and two guanineresidues (CGG). These repeats occur in the CpG island, apart of the promoter region of a gene that has been calledFMR1. Unaffected individuals who have no family historyof FRAX have 0 to 45 CGG repeats (most have 25 to 35). Inindividuals with FRAX, the number of repeats is greater than200; such people are said to have a full mutation. Between these two categories, a third group has 56 to 200 repeats;always phenotypically normal, these individuals are premutation carriers.
FRAX results from a failure to express FMRP, the protein product of the FMR1 gene. “Fragile X Mental Retardation Protein” (FMRP) shuttles mRNA between the nucleus and cytoplasm in the central nervous system and other areas (e.g., the developing testis) during early embryonic development. Although FMRP is produced in unaffected individuals and premutation carriers, in those with the full mutation, FMRP transcription of the protein is blocked because the large number of CGG repeats in the CPG island become methylated (an epigenetic phenomenon). Thus, FRAX occurs as a consequence of a loss-of-function mutation—the failure of expression of FMRP because of methylation of the promoter sequence.
In female premutation carriers, an expansion in the number of repeats from the premutation to the full mutation range may occur during gametogenesis. The cause of this expansion is not understood. Although these females do not have symptoms and signs of FRAX, premutation carriers may manifest premature ovarian failure and/or a neurologic condition known as fragile X tremor/ataxia syndrome later in life.
Approximately 6.5% of all birth defects are attributed toteratogens—chemical, physical, or biologic agents that have the potential to damage embryonic tissue and result in congenital malformations. Agents known to be teratogenic include drugs (prescription and nonprescription); intrauterine infections (rubella); maternal diseases, such as diabetes mellitus; and environmental substances, such as alcohol and heavy metals. Knowledge of teratogenic agents and their effect on the developing fetus is important, because limiting exposure to these agents is an effective way to prevent birth defects (see Chapters 58, 59, and 60).
Rubella was the first maternal infection known to cause a pattern of malformations in fetuses affected in utero. Cytomegalovirus, Toxoplasma gondii, herpes simplex, and varicella are additional potentially teratogenic in utero infections (see Chapter 66).
Maternal diabetes mellitus and maternal phenylketonuria can result in congenital anomalies in the fetus. Strict control of these disorders before and during pregnancy protects the developing child (see Chapter 59).
Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, which occurs in 10 to 20 per 1000 children, may be the most common teratogenic syndrome. Features include prenatal and postnatal growth deficiency, developmental disabilities, microcephaly, skeletal and cardiac anomalies, and a characteristic facial appearance. To cause the full-blown fetal alcohol syndrome, pregnant women must drink alcohol throughout the pregnancy. Lesser consumption during all or part of the gestation will lead to milder symptoms.
Warfarin, retinoic acid, and phenytoin are additional teratogenic agents (see Chapter 59).
High-dose radiation exposure during pregnancy in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan, was shown to increase the rate of spontaneous abortion and result in children born with microcephaly, mental retardation, and skeletal malformations. Estimates of exposure to cause these effects were approximately 25 rad. The dose from routine radiologic diagnostic examinations is in the millirad range.
Individuals referred to a geneticist because of suspicion of a genetic disorder are called probands; individuals who come for genetic counseling are consultands. Referral for genetic evaluation may be made for a wide variety of reasons and at different stages of life (fetus, neonate, childhood, pregnancy).
Families with relatives affected with genetic disorders may have questions about how a disorder is inherited. The inheritance pattern and the risk of having an affected child can be discussed with a geneticist.
In some cultures, it is common for relatives to mate. This relatedness or consanguinity does not increase the likelihood of offspring having any particular single genetic disorder, but it may increase the chance that a child will be born with a rare autosomal recessive (AR) condition, as the mutated gene segregates through that family. Generally, the closer the relation between the partners, the greater the chance that the couple shares one or more mutated genes in common, increasing the risk that offspring will have an AR disorder. The risk of first cousins producing a child with an AR disorder is 1 in 64. In evaluating these couples, it is important to determine which ethnic group they belong to and to test for conditions commonly found in that group.
It is common for couples to be screened for disorders that may occur more commonly in their particular ethnic group. People of Ashkenazi Jewish background may choose to be screened for heterozygosity for a panel of AR disorders, including Tay-Sachs disease, Niemann-Pick disease, Bloom syndrome, Canavan disease, Gaucher syndrome, cystic fibrosis, Fanconi anemia, and familial dysautonomia. People of African-American ancestry may choose to be screened for sickle cell anemia. People whose ancestors originated in the Mediterranean basin may be screened for thalassemia.
Historically, prenatal screening involved maternal serum screening for α-fetoprotein (AFP), a protein secreted during fetal life by the liver, gastrointestinal tract, and yolk sac. Some of the AFP crosses the placenta and enters the maternal circulation. Although maternal serum screening was initially used to detect high levels of AFP associated with neural tube defects (NTDs) and the disruption of fetal integument such as omphalocele or gastroschisis, low levels of AFP were found to be associated with fetal aneuploidy. Approximately 50% of fetuses with autosomal trisomies (Down syndrome, trisomy 18, trisomy 13) will be detected by low maternal serum AFP levels. Three other proteins—unconjugated estriol (uE3),inhibin A, and human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG)—were added to the maternal serum screening to create the quad screen. The addition of these compounds increased the detection rate to about 80%.
The quad screen is done in the second trimester. Duringthe first trimester, measurement of a fluid collection of the posterior neck of the developing fetus is termed nuchaltranslucency. An increase in the nuchal translucency is amarker for chromosomal anomalies as well as genetic and structural abnormalities in the fetus. This association provided a noninvasive first trimester marker. Once standardization of nuchal translucency measurements was done,the detection rate for aneuploidy approached 70%. Testing for abnormalities with two first trimester analytes, freeβ-HCG and PAPP-A (pregnancy associated plasma protein)has enhanced first trimester screening to a detection rate ofalmost 90%.
Although the risk of nondisjunction resulting in aneuploidy rises as a woman gets older (and more so for womenolder than 35 years of age), all pregnant women should beindividually counseled as to their risk for aneuploidy andother fetal abnormalities. A combination of first and second trimester screening together with the women’s age producesan individualized risk factor. It is important to emphasizethat both of these first and second trimester screening testsare just screens to identify increased risk. If this risk is high,or if there is concern about fetal anomalies from family history, ultrasound, or serum screening, then a more definitivetest, either chorionic villus sampling (CVS) or amniocentesis, is offered as further testing. Fetal cells are usually testedfor chromosomal abnormalities by cytogenetic techniques,but the use of chromosomal microarray is becoming more common. Biochemical testing for a known family history ofan inherited metabolic disorder can also be done on the fetal cells, as well as molecular screening for familial mutations forknown disorders
Historically, serum screening has required the use of invasive testing follow-up to confirm findings. Because invasive testing carries a small but real risk of pregnancy loss, many women were not willing to submit to an amniocentesis or CVS. What has been needed is a noninvasive definitive test, one in which fetal risk is negligible. Recently, the search for such a noninvasive test has been successful.
Prenatal diagnosis using cell-free fetal DNA in maternal blood offers the ability to detect trisomies in fetuses using nothing more than a sample of the mother’s blood. Although still in the research stage, this technique is being piloted in high-risk pregnancies.
It is common for pregnant women to have a screening sonogram at 18 weeks’ gestation. An anatomy scan is done to look for congenital anomalies. Brain, heart, kidneys, lungs, and spine are examined.
The presence of either acute or chronic maternal illness during pregnancy may lead to complications in the developing fetus. Chronic conditions may expose the fetus to maternal medications that are potentially teratogenic. Acute illnesses such as varicella, Lyme disease, and cytomegalovirus expose the fetus to infectious agents that may cause birth defects. Other factors, such as maternal smoking, alcohol use, and maternal exposure to radiation or chemicals, also may necessitate genetic counseling.
Two percent to four percent of newborns have a genetic abnormality or birth defect. This broad definition of a birth defect includes not only a visible malformation but also functional defects that might not be apparent at birth.
Birth defects have a significant impact on childhood morbidity and mortality. Almost 11% of childhood deaths can be traced to a genetic cause. If contributing genetic factors related to childhood deaths are considered, this increases to almost 25%. Consultation with a geneticist for a newborn or infant may be prompted by many different findings, including the presence of a malformation, abnormal results on a routine newborn screening test, abnormalities in growth (e.g., failure to gain weight, increase in length, or abnormal head growth), developmental delay, blindness or deafness, and the knowledge of a family history of a genetic disorder or chromosomal abnormality or (as a result of prenatal testing) the presence of a genetic disorder or chromosomal abnormality in the infant.
Adolescents and adults may be seen by a geneticist for evaluation of a genetic disorder that has late onset. Some neurodegenerative disorders, such as Huntington disease and adult-onset spinal muscular atrophy, present later in life. Some forms of hereditary blindness (retinal degenerative diseases) and deafness (Usher syndrome, neurofibromatosis type 2) may not show significant symptoms until adolescence or early adulthood. Genetic consultation also may be prompted for a known family history of a hereditary cancer syndrome(breast, thyroid, colon, and ovarian cancers). Individuals may wish to have testing done to determine if they carry a mutation for these syndromes and would be at risk for developing certain types of cancers. A known family history or personal history of a genetic disorder or chromosomal abnormality might prompt testing in anticipation of pregnancy planning.
A pedigree usually is drawn to help visualize various inheritance patterns. Answers to questions about the family help determine if there is an autosomal dominant, AR, X-linked, or sporadic disorder. When a child is affected with the new onset of an AD disorder, it is necessary to closely examine the parents to check for the presence of manifestations. If the parents are unaffected, the child’s condition is most likely the result of a new mutation; the risk of recurrence is extremely low (although not 0, because of the possibility of gonadal mosaicism in one of the parents). When one parent is affected (even mildly so due to varying penetrance), the recurrence risk rises to 50%. With X-linked disorders, the focus is on the maternal family history to determine if there is a significant enough risk to warrant testing.
Questions about the couple’s age are important to ascertain the risk related to maternal age for chromosome abnormalities and paternal age for new mutations leading to AD and X-linked disorders. A history of more than two spontaneous abortions increases the risk that one of the parents has a balanced translocation and the spontaneous abortions are due to chromosomal abnormalities in the fetus.
During a genetic consultation, it is important to gather information about the pregnancy (see Chapters 58, 59, and 60). A maternal history of a chronic medical condition, such as a seizure disorder or diabetes, has known consequences in the fetus. Medication used in pregnancy can be teratogenic; the pregnant woman’s exposure to toxic chemicals (work related) or use of alcohol, cigarettes, or drugs of abuse can have serious effects on the developing fetus. Maternal infection during pregnancy with varicella, Toxoplasma, cytomegalovirus, and parvovirus B19, among others, has been found to cause malformations in the fetus.
Follow-up is needed if an amniocentesis or CVS reveals abnormal results. A fetal ultrasound may detect a malformation that needs follow-up when the infant is born. Often hydronephrosis is detected prenatally. These infants need a repeat ultrasound soon after birth.
An infant born prematurely is likely to have more complications than a term infant. An infant can be small, appropriate, or large for his or her gestational age; each of these has implications for the child (see Chapters 58, 59, and 60). In general, the finding that an infant is small for gestational age is suggestive of exposure to a teratogen or the presence of a chromosomal abnormality.
Children with inborn errors of metabolism who have intermittent symptoms often have a history of multiple hospitalizations for dehydration or vomiting. Children with neuromuscular disorders may have a normal period followed by increasing weakness or ataxia. Children with lysosomal storage diseases, such as the mucopolysaccharidoses, often have recurrent ear infections and can develop sleep apnea.
Many genetic disorders are associated with developmental disabilities. However, the onset of the disability may not always be present from the newborn period; many inborn errors of metabolism, including storage disorders, cause developmental manifestations after a period of normal development (see Chapters 7 and 8). Some adult-onset disorders have no symptoms until the teens or later. Assessing school problems is important. The type of learning problem, age at onset, and whether there is improvement with intervention or continued decline all are important for proper assessment.
A careful and thorough physical examination is necessary for all patients with signs, symptoms, or suspicion of genetic disease. Sometimes subtle clues may lead to an unsuspected diagnosis. Features suggestive of a syndrome are discussed in more detail in Chapter 50.
An individual’s chromosomal material, known as the karyotype,can be analyzed using cells capable of dividing. In pediatrics, lymphocytes obtained from peripheral blood are the usual source forsuch cells, but cells obtained from bone marrow aspiration, skinbiopsy (fibroblasts), or, prenatally, from amniotic fluid or chorionic villi also can be used. Cells are placed in culture medium andstimulated to grow, their division is arrested in either metaphaseor prophase, slides are made, the chromosomes are stained withGiemsa or other dyes, and the chromosomes are analyzed.
In metaphase, chromosomes are short, squat, and easy to count. Metaphase analysis should be ordered in children whose features suggest a known aneuploidy syndrome, such as a trisomy or monosomy. Chromosomes analyzed in prophase are long, thin, and drawn out; analysis gives far more details than are seen in metaphase preparations. Prophase analysis is ordered in individuals with multiple congenital anomalies without an obvious disorder.
Fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) allows the identification of the presence or absence of a specific region of DNA. A complementary DNA probe specific for the region in question is generated, and a fluorescent marker is attached. The probe is incubated with cells from the subject and viewed under a microscope. The bound probe fluoresces, allowing the number of copies of the DNA segment in question to be counted. This technique is useful in Prader-Willi syndrome and Angelman syndrome, in which a deletion in a segment of 15q11.2 occurs, and in velocardiofacial (DiGeorge) syndrome, which is associated with a deletion of 22q11.2.
Microarray comparative genomic hybridization (array CGH)has supplanted prophase analysis in cases in which a subtlechromosomal deletion or duplication (copy number variant) issuspected. In array CGH, DNA from the individual being studied and a normal control is labeled with fluorescent markers and hybridized to thousands of FISH-like probes for sequencesspread around the genome. The probes are derived from knowngenes and noncoding regions. By analyzing the ratio of intensityof the fluorescent marker at each site, it is possible to determinewhether the individual in question has any difference in copynumber compared with the control DNA.
Direct DNA analysis allows identification of mutations in a growing number of genetic disorders. Using polymerase chain reaction, the specific gene in question can be amplified and analyzed. The website www.genetests.org lists disorders in which direct DNA analysis is available and identifies laboratories performing such testing.
Errors that occur in meiosis during the production of gametes can lead to abnormalities of chromosome structure or number. Syndromes caused by chromosomal abnormalitiesinclude trisomy 21 (Down syndrome or DS), trisomy 13, trisomy 18, Turner syndrome (TS), and Klinefelter syndrome (KS), as well as rarer chromosomal duplications, deletions, or inversions.
Chromosomal abnormalities occur in approximately 8% of fertilized ova but in only 0.6% of liveborn infants. Fifty percent of spontaneous abortuses have chromosomal abnormalities, the most common being 45,X (TS); an estimated 99% of 45,X fetuses are spontaneously aborted. The fetal loss rate for DS, the most viable of the autosomal aneuploidies, approaches 80%. Most other chromosomal abnormalities also adversely affect fetal viability. In newborns and older children, features that suggest the presence of a chromosome anomaly include low birth weight (small for gestational age), failure to thrive, developmental delay, and the presence of three or more congenital malformations.
During meiosis or mitosis, failure of a chromosomal pair to separate properly results in nondisjunction. Aneuploidy is a change in the number of chromosomes that results from non-disjunction. A cell may have one (monosomy) or three (trisomy) copies of a particular chromosome.
Available @ StudentConsult.comDS is the most common abnormality of chromosomal number. It occurs in 1 of every 1000 births. Most cases (92.5%)are due to nondisjunction; in 68%, the nondysjunctionalevent occurs in maternal meiosis phase I. As a result ofnondisjunction, there are three copies of chromosome 21(trisomy 21); using standard cytogenetic nomenclature, trisomy 21 is designated 47,XX,+21 or 47,XY,+21. In 4.5%of cases, the extra chromosome is part of a robertsonian translocation, which occurs when the long arms (q) of twoacrocentric chromosomes (numbers 13, 14, 15, 21, or 22)fuse at the centromeres, and the short arms (p), containing copies of ribosomal RNA, are lost. The most commonrobertsonian translocation leading to DS involves chromosomes 14 and 21; standard nomenclature is 46,XX,t(14q21q)or 46,XY,t(14q21q). The parents of DS infants with trans-locations should have a karyotype to exclude a balancedtranslocation.
In approximately 1% to 2% of children with DS, mosaicism occurs. These individuals have two populations of cells: one with trisomy 21 and one with a normal chromosome complement. Mosaicism results from a either a nondisjunctional event that occurs after fertilization and after a few cell divisions, or from trisomic rescue. The loss of this aneuploidy returns the cell to 46,XX or 46,XY. In either case, the individual is referred to as a mosaic for these two populations of cells and is designated 47,XX, +21/46XX or 47,XY,+21/46,XY. Although it is widely believed that individuals with mosaic DS are more mildly affected, there are wide variations in the clinical findings.
Children with DS are most likely diagnosed in the newbornperiod. These infants tend to have normal birth weight andlength, but are hypotonic. The characteristic facial appearance,with brachycephaly, flattened occiput, hypoplastic midface, flattened nasal bridge, upslanting palpebral fissures, epicanthal folds,and large protruding tongue, is apparent at birth. Infants also haveshort broad hands, often with a single transverse palmar crease,and a wide gap between the first and second toes. The severe hypotonia may cause feeding problems and decreased activity.
Approximately 50% of children with DS have congenital heart disease, including atrioventricular canal, ventriculoseptal or atrioseptal defects, and valvular disease. Approximately 10% of newborns with DS have gastrointestinal tract anomalies. The three most common defects are duodenal atresia, annular pancreas, and imperforate anus.
Four percent to 18% of infants with DS are found to have congenital hypothyroidism, which is identified as part of the newborn screening program. Acquired hypothyroidism is a more common problem. Thyroid function testing must be monitored periodically during the child’s life.
Polycythemia at birth (hematocrit levels >70%) is common and may require treatment. Some infants with DS showa leukemoid reaction, with markedly elevated white blood cellcounts. Although this resembles congenital leukemia, it is a self-limited condition, resolving on its own over the first monthof life. Nonetheless, children with DS also have an increased risk of leukemia, with a 10to 20-fold increase in risk compared with individuals without DS. In children with DS youngerthan 2 year of age, the type is generally acute megakaryoblasticleukemia; in individuals older than 3 years of age, the types ofleukemia are similar to those of other children, with acute lymphoblastic leukemia being the predominant type.
Children with DS are more susceptible to infection, more likely to develop cataracts, and approximately 10% have atlantoaxial instability, an increased distance between the first and second cervical vertebrae that may predispose to spinal cord injury. Many individuals older than 35 years of age develop Alzheimer-like features.
The recurrence risk for parents who have had a child with DS depends on the child’s cytogenetic findings. If the child has trisomy 21, the empiric recurrence risk is 1% (added to the age-specific risk for women up to 40 years of age; after 40, the age-specific risk alone is used for subsequent pregnancies). If the child has a robertsonian translocation, chromosomal analysis of both parents must be performed. In approximately 65% of cases, the translocation is found to have arisen de novo (i.e., spontaneously, with both parents having normal karyotypes), and in 35% of cases, one parent has a balanced translocation. The recurrence risk depends on which parent is the carrier: if the mother is the carrier, the risk is 10% to 15%; if the father is the carrier, the recurrence risk is 2% to 5%.
Trisomy 18 (47,XX,+18 or 47,XY,+18) is the second most common autosomal trisomy, occurring in approximately 1 in 7500 live births. More than 95% of conceptuses with trisomy 18 are spontaneously aborted in the first trimester. Trisomy 18 is usually lethal; fewer than 10% of affected infants survive until their first birthday. Most infants with trisomy 18 are small for gestational age. Clinical features include hypertonia, prominent occiput, micrognathia, low-set and malformed ears, short
Head and face Scalp defects (e.g., cutis aplasia) Microphthalmia, corneal abnormalities Cleft lip and palate in 60%–80% of cases Microcephaly Sloping forehead Holoprosencephaly (arrhinencephaly) Capillary hemangiomas Deafness Small and premature appearance Tight palpebral fissures Narrow nose and hypoplastic nasal alae Narrow bifrontal diameter Prominent occiput Micrognathia Cleft lip or palate
Available @ StudentConsult.comOccurring in 1 in 500 male births, KS is the most commongenetic cause of hypogonadism and infertility in men. It is causedby the presence of an extra X chromosome (47,XXY) (see Chapter 174). The extra X chromosome arises from a nondisjunctionin either the sperm or the egg. About 15% of boys with featuresof KS are found to be mosaic, with 46,XY/47,XXY mosaicismbeing the most common. Before puberty, boys with KS are phenotypically indistinguishable from the rest of the population.
The diagnosis is often made when the boy is 15 or 16 years ofage. At that point, the finding of the progressive developmentof pubic and axillary hair in the presence of testes that remaininfantile in volume should alert the clinician to the disorder. Adolescents and young adults with KS tend to be tall, with longlimbs. During adolescence or adulthood, gynecomastia occurs.
Because of failure of growth and maturation of the testes, males with KS have testosterone deficiency and failure to produce viable sperm. Low production of testicular testosterone results in failure to develop later secondary sexual characteristics, such as facial hair, deepening of the voice, and libido. In adulthood, osteopenia and osteoporosis develop. Because of these findings, testosterone supplementation is indicated.
Most men with KS are infertile because they produce few viable sperm. Through the use of isolation of viable sperm through testicular biopsy, coupled with in vitro fertilization and intracytoplasmic sperm injection, it is possible for men with KS to father children; all children born to these men using this technology have had a normal chromosome complement.
Available @ StudentConsult.comTS is the only condition in which a monosomic conceptus survives to term; however, 99% of embryos with 45,X are spontaneously aborted. The most common aneuploidy found in conceptuses (accounting for 1.4%,), 45,X is seen in 13% of first-trimester pregnancy losses. Occurring in 1 in 3200 live-born females, TS is notable for its spectrum of relatively mild physical and developmental findings. Affected women tend to have normal intelligence and life expectancy.
Females with TS typically have a characteristic facial appearance with low-set, mildly malformed ears, triangular face, flattened nasal bridge, and epicanthal folds. There is webbing of the neck, with or without cystic hygroma, a shield-like chestwith widened internipple distance, and puffiness of the hands
Extremities Overlapping of fingers and toes (clinodactyly) Polydactyly Hypoplastic nails, hyperconvex nails
General Severe developmental delays and prenatal and postnatal growth retardation Renal abnormalities Nuclear projections in neutrophils Only 5% live >6 mo Limited hip abduction Clinodactyly and overlapping fingers; index over third, fifth over fourth Rocker-bottom feet Hypoplastic nails
Severe developmental delays and prenatal and postnatal growth retardation Premature birth, polyhydramnios Inguinal or abdominal hernias Only 5% live >1yr
ASD, Atrial septal defect; PDA, patent ductus arteriosus; VSD, ventricular septal defect.
sternum, rocker-bottom feet, hypoplastic nails, and characteristic clenching of fists—the second and fifth digits overlap the third and fourth digits (Table 49-1).
The third of the common trisomies, trisomy 13 (47,XX,+13 or 47,XY,+13) occurs in 1 in 12,000 live births. It is usually fatal in the first year of life; only 8.6% of infants survive beyond their first birthday.
Infants with trisomy 13 have numerous malformations (seeTable 49-1). These infants are small for gestational age and microcephalic. Midline facial defects such as cyclopia (singleorbit), cebocephaly (single nostril), and cleft lip and palate arecommon, as are midline central nervous system anomalies, suchas alobar holoprosencephaly. The forehead is generally sloping,ears are often small and malformed, and microphthalmia oranophthalmia may occur. Postaxial polydactyly of the hands iscommon, as is clubfeet or rocker-bottom feet. Hypospadias andcryptorchidism are common in boys, whereas girls generallyhave hypoplasia of the labia minora. Most infants with trisomy13 also have congenital heart disease. Many infants with thiscondition have a punched-out scalp lesion over the occiputcalled aplasia cutis congenita; when seen in conjunction with polydactyly and some or all of the facial findings, this findingis essentially pathognomonic for the diagnosis of trisomy 13.
and feet. Internal malformations may include congenital heartdefect (in 45%, coarctation of the aorta is the most commonanomaly, followed by bicuspid aortic valve; later in life, poststenotic aortic dilation with aneurysm may develop). Renalanomalies, including horseshoe kidney, are seen in more than50% of patients. Short stature is a cardinal feature of this condition, and acquired hypothyroidism is estimated to occur fivetimes more frequently in women with TS than in the generalpopulation.
The presence of streak gonads (gonadal dysgenesis) instead of well-developed ovaries leads to estrogen deficiency, which prevents these women from developing secondary sexual characteristics and results in amenorrhea. Although 10% of women with TS may have normal pubertal development and are even fertile, most affected women require estrogen replacement to complete secondary sexual development.
Infertility in these women is not corrected by estrogen replacement. Assisted reproductive technology using donor ova hasallowed women with TS to bear children. During pregnancy,these women must be followed carefully, because poststenoticdilatation of the aorta, leading to dissecting aneurysm, may occur.
Many girls with TS escape detection during the newborn period because phenotypic features are subtle. About 33% of children with TS are diagnosed in the newborn period because of the presence of heart disease and physical features; another 33% are diagnosed in childhood, often during a workup for short stature (and receive growth hormone therapy); the final 33% are diagnosed during adolescence when they fail to develop secondary sexual characteristics.
The karyotypic spectrum in girls with TS is wide. Only 50% have a 45,X karyotype; 15% have an isochromosome Xq [46,X,i(Xq)], in which one X chromosome is represented by two copies of the long arm (leading to a trisomy of Xq and a monosomy of Xp); and approximately 25% are mosaic (45,X/46,XX or 45,X/46,XY). Deletions involving the short (p) arm of the X chromosome (Xp22) produce short stature and congenital malformations, whereas deletions of the long arm (Xq) cause gonadal dysgenesis.
Although monosomy X is caused by nondisjunction, TS is not associated with advanced maternal age. Rather, it is believed that the 45,X karyotype results from a loss of either an X or a Y chromosome after conception; that is, it is a postconceptual mitotic (rather than meiotic) nondisjunctional event.
A deletion in the short arm of chromosome 5 is responsible forcri du chat syndrome, with its characteristic catlike cry duringearly infancy, the result of tracheal hypoplasia. Other clinical features include low birth weight and postnatal failure to thrive, hypotonia, developmental disability, microcephaly, andcraniofacial dysmorphism, including ocular hypertelorism,epicanthal folds, downward obliquity of the palpebral fissures,and low-set malformed ears. Clefts of the lip and palate, congenital heart disease, and other malformations may be seen.
The clinical severity of cri du chat syndrome depends on thesize of the chromosomal deletion. Larger deletions are associated with more severe expression. Most cases arise de novo;the deletion is usually in the chromosome 5 inherited from thefather.
Available @ StudentConsult.comWilliams syndrome is due to a small deletion of chromosome 7q11.2. Congenital heart disease is seen in 80% of affected children, with supravalvar aortic-valve and pulmonic-valve stenosis and peripheral pulmonic stenosis being the most common anomalies. Although these children often have normal birth weight, they have growth delay, manifesting short stature. They have a distinctive facial appearance (“elfin facies”), with median flare of the eyebrows, fullness of the perioral and periorbital region, blue irides with a stellate pattern of pigment, and depressed nasal bridge with anteversion of the nares. Moderate intellectual disability (average IQ in the 50 to 60 range) is common, but developmental testing reveals strength in personal social skills and deficiencies in cognitive areas. Hypercalcemia is present in neonates.
Individuals with Williams syndrome often have a striking personality. Loquacious and gregarious, they are frequently described as having a cocktail party personality. However, approximately 10% of children with Williams syndrome have features of autism spectrum disorder. Patients occasionally have unusual musical ability (about 20% have absolute or perfect pitch). Most children with Williams syndrome have a de novo deletion. In rare cases, the deletion is inherited from a parent in an autosomal dominant pattern.
WAGR syndrome (Wilms tumor, aniridia, genitourinary anomalies, and mental retardation) is caused by a deletion of 11p13 and is generally a de novo deletion. Genitourinary abnormalities include cryptorchidism and hypospadias. Patients often have short stature, and half may have microcephaly. Wilms tumor develops in 50% of patients with aniridia, genitourinary abnormalities, and mental retardation (see Chapter 159).
SEE CHAPTER 47.SEE CHAPTER 47.Chromosome 22q11.2 Deletion SyndromesAvailable @ StudentConsult.comDeletions of chromosome 22q11.2 are responsible for a group of findings that have been called by several names, including velocardiofacial syndrome, conotruncal anomaly face syndrome, Shprintzen syndrome, and DiGeorge syndrome.
These conditions represent a continuum of findings, virtually all of which are due to the chromosomal deletion.
Although chromosome 22q11.2 deletions can be inherited inan autosomal dominant fashion, most cases arise de novo. Common features include clefting of the palate with velopharyngealinsufficiency; conotruncal cardiac defects (including truncusarteriosus, ventriculoseptal defect, tetralogy of Fallot, and right-sided aortic arch); and a characteristic facial appearance, including a prominent nose and a broad nasal root. Speech and languagedifficulties are common, as is mild intellectual impairment. Morethan 200 additional abnormalities have been identified in individuals with these conditions. About 70% have immunodeficiencies, largely related to T-cell dysfunction. A wide spectrumof psychiatric disturbances, including schizophrenia and bipolardisorder, has been seen in more than 33% of affected adults.
Damage to the third and fourth pharyngeal pouches, embryonic structures that form parts of the cranial portion of thedeveloping embryo, leads to abnormalities in the developingface (clefting of the palate, micrognathia), the thymus gland,the parathyroid glands, and the conotruncal region of the heart.This spectrum of findings, called the DiGeorge malformationsequence, is an important chromosome 22 deletion syndrome.
The deletion that occurs in chromosome 22q11 is usually too small to be seen by standard chromosome analysis; either fluorescent in situ hybridization or chromosomal microarray is needed to identify the deletion. A gene called TBX1 is within the deleted sequence. It is believed that deletion of one copy of TBX1 is responsible for many of the features of the various 22q11 deletion syndromes.
Duplications and deletions occur secondary to misalignment and unequal crossing over during meiosis. Small extra chromosomes are found in a small percentage of the population (0.06%). These “marker” chromosomes sometimes are associated with mental retardation and other abnormalities, and other times they have no apparent phenotypic effects.
Chromosome 15 is the most common of all marker chromosomes, and its inverted duplication accounts for almost 40% of this group of chromosomal abnormalities. Features seen in children with 47,XX,+inv dup (15q) or 47,XY,inv dup(15q) depend on the size of the extra chromosomal material present: the larger the region, the worse the prognosis. Children with this disorder tend to have a variable degree of developmental disability and autism spectrum disorders; seizures are common, as are behavior problems. The phenotype shows minimal dysmorphic features, with a sloping forehead, short and downward-slanting palpebral fissures, a prominent nose with a broad nasal bridge, a long and well-defined philtrum, a mid-line crease in the lower lip, and micrognathia.
Named for the iris coloboma that gives patients’ eyes a catlikeappearance, cat eye syndrome is due to a small, supernumerarychromosome with an inversion duplication of 22q11. The twocopies of 22q11 on this extra chromosome plus the two normal copies of chromosome 22 result in four copies of this region.Although the colobomas name the syndrome, they occur infewer than 50% of individuals with the marker chromosome. Other clinical features include mild mental retardation, behavioral disturbances, mild ocular hypertelorism, downward-slanting palpebral fissures, micrognathia, auricular pits and/or tags,anal atresia with rectovestibular fistula, and renal agenesis.
Dysmorphology is the recognition of the pattern of congenital malformations (often multiple congenital malformations) and dysmorphic features that characterize a particular syndrome. Syndromes are collections of abnormalities, including malformations, deformations, dysmorphic features, and abnormal behaviors that have a unifying, identifiable etiology. This etiology may be the presence of a mutation in a single gene, as is the case in Rett syndrome, a disorder that is caused by a mutation in the MECP2 gene on Xq28; by the deletion or duplication of chromosomal material, as is the case in Prader-Willi syndrome, which is caused by the deletion of the paternal copy of the imprinted SNRPN gene on chromosome 15q11.2; or by exposure to a teratogenic substance during embryonic development, as in fetal alcohol spectrum disorder.
Congenital malformations are defined as clinically significant abnormalities in either form or function. They result from localized intrinsic defects in morphogenesis, which were caused by an event that occurred in embryonic or early fetal life. This event may have been a disturbance of development from some unknown cause, but often mutations in developmental genes led to the abnormality. Extrinsic factors may cause disruptions of development by disturbing the development of apparently normal tissues. These disruptions may include amniotic bands, disruption of blood supply to developing tissues, or exposure to teratogens. A malformation sequence is the end result of a malformation that has secondary effects on later developmental events. An example is the Pierre Robin sequence. The primary malformation, failure of the growth of the mandible during the first weeks of gestation, results in micrognathia, which forces the normal-sized tongue into an unusual position. The abnormally placed tongue blocks the fusion of the palatal shelves, which normally come together in the midline to produce the hard and soft palate; this leads to the presence of a U-shaped cleft palate. After delivery, the normal-sized tongue in the smaller than normal oral cavity leads to airway obstruction, a potentially life-threatening complication. Pierre Robin sequence comprises a triad of anomalies (micrognathia, U-shaped cleft palate, and obstructive apnea) which results from a single malformation, the failure of the jaw to grow at a critical time during gestation. Many children with Pierre Robin syndrome have Stickler syndrome, an autosomal dominant disorder caused by mutations in collagen genes. Stickler syndrome also manifests with ocular and musculoskeletal abnormalities.
Deformations arise as a result of environmental forces acting on normal structures. They occur later in pregnancy or after delivery. For instance, plagiocephaly (rhomboid shaped head) may result from intrauterine positioning or from torticollis experienced in the newborn period. Deformations often resolve with minimal intervention, but malformations often require surgical and medical management.
Minor malformations, variants of normal that occur in less than 3% of the population, include findings such as single transverse palmar creases, low-set ears, or hypertelorism; when isolated, they have no clinical significance. A multiple malformation syndrome is the recognizable pattern of anomalies that results from a single identifiable underlying cause. It may involve a series of malformations, malformation sequences, and deformations. These syndromes often prompt a consultation with a clinical geneticist. Dysmorphology is the specialty focusing on recognition of patterns of malformations that occur in syndromes (Table 50-1).
An association differs from a syndrome in that in the former, no single underlying etiology explains the recognizable pattern of anomalies that occur together more often than would be expected by chance alone. The VACTERL association (vertebral anomalies, anal atresia, cardiac defects, tracheoesophageal fistula, renal anomalies, and limb anomalies) is an example of a group of malformations that occur more commonly together than might be expected by chance. No single unifying etiology explains this condition, so it is considered an association.
In approximately 50% of children noted to have one or more congenital malformations, only a single malformation is identifiable; in the other 50%, multiple malformations are present. About 6% of infants with congenital malformations have chromosomal defects, 7.5% have a single gene disorder, 20% have conditions that are due to multifactorial effects (an interplay between genetic and environmental factors), and approximately 7% are due to exposure to a teratogen. In more than 50% of cases, no cause can be identified.
The history of the pregnancy and birth can reveal multiple riskfactors that are associated with dysmorphology. Small for gestational age infants may have a chromosome anomaly or may havebeen exposed to a teratogen. Large for gestational age infantsmay be infants of diabetic mothers or have an overgrowth syndrome, such as Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome. When evaluating an older child with intellectual disabilities, complicationsof extreme prematurity may account for the child’s problems.Postmaturity also is associated with some chromosome anomalies (e.g., trisomy 18) and anencephaly. Infants born from breechpresentation are more likely to have congenital malformations.
As a woman gets older there is increased risk of nondisjunction leading to trisomies. Advanced paternal age may be
Brachycephaly: Condition in which head shape is shortened from front to back along the sagittal plane; the skull is rounder than normal
Canthus: The lateral or medial angle of the eye formed by the junction of the upper and lower lids Columella: The fleshy tissue of the nose that separates the nostrils Glabella: Bony midline prominence of the brows
Nasal alae: The lateral flaring of the nostrils Nasolabial fold: Groove that extends from the margin of the nasal alae to the lateral aspects of the lips
Ocular hypertelorism: Increased distance between the pupils of the two eyes Palpebral fissure: The shape of the eyes based on the outline of the eyelids
Philtrum: The vertical groove in the midline of the face between the nose and the upper lip Plagiocephaly: Condition in which head shape is asymmetric in the sagittal or coronal planes; can result from asymmetry in suture closure or from asymmetry of brain growth
Scaphocephaly: Condition in which the head is elongated from front to back in the sagittal plane; most normal skulls are scaphocephalic
Synophrys: Eyebrows that meet in the midline Telecanthus: A wide space between the medial canthi
Brachydactyly: Condition of having short digitsCamptodactyly: Condition in which a digit is bent or fixed in the direction of flexion (a “trigger finger”–type appearance)
Clinodactyly: Condition in which a digit is crooked and curves toward or away from adjacent digits
Hypoplastic nail: An unusually small nail on a digitMelia: Suffix meaning “limb” (e.g., amelia—missing limb; brachymelia—short limb)Polydactyly: The condition of having six or more digits on an extremity
Syndactyly: The condition of having two or more digits at least partially fused (can involve any degree of fusion, from webbing of skin to full bony fusion of adjacent digits) associated with the risk of a new mutation leading to an autosomal dominant trait. Maternal medical problems and exposures (medications, drugs, cigarette smoking, and alcohol use) are associated with malformations (see Chapters 47 and 48).
An increased amount of amniotic fluid may be associatedwith intestinal obstruction or a central nervous system anomalythat leads to poor swallowing. A decreased amount of fluid maybe the result of a chronic amniotic fluid leak or point to a urinary tract abnormality that results in a failure to produce urine.
A pedigree comprising at least three generations should be constructed, searching for similar or dissimilar abnormalities in firstand second-degree relatives. A history of pregnancy or neonatal losses should be documented. For a more detailed discussion of pedigrees, see Chapter 47.
When examining children with dysmorphic features, the following approach should be used.
The height (length), weight, and head circumference should bemeasured carefully and plotted on appropriate growth curves.Small size or growth restriction may be secondary to a chromosomal abnormality, skeletal dysplasia, or exposure to toxic orteratogenic agents. Larger than expected size suggests an overgrowth syndrome (Sotos or Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome)or, in the newborn period, might suggest a diabetic mother.
The clinician should note if the child is proportionate. Limbsthat are too short for the head and trunk imply the presence ofa short-limbed bone dysplasia, such as achondroplasia. A trunkand head that are too short for the extremities suggest a disorderaffecting the vertebrae, such as spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia.
Available @ StudentConsult.comAbnormal Head Size, Shape, and FontanelsCareful examination of the head and face is crucial for the diagnosis of many congenital malformation syndromes. Head shape should be carefully assessed; if the head is not normal in size and shape (normocephalic), it may be long and thin (dolichocephalic), short and wide (brachycephalic), or asymmetric or lopsided (plagiocephalic).
Any asymmetry of facial features should be noted. Asymmetry may be due to a deformation related to intrauterine positionor a malformation of one side of the face. The face should be divided into four regions, which are evaluated separately. Theforehead may show overt prominence (achondroplasia) or deficiency (often described as a sloping appearance, which occurs inchildren with primary microcephaly). The midface, extendingfrom the eyebrows to the upper lip and from the outer canthi ofthe eyes to the commissures of the mouth, is especially important. Careful assessment of the distance between the eyes (innercanthal distance) and the pupils (interpupillary distance) mayconfirm the impression of hypotelorism (eyes that are too closetogether), which suggests a defect in midline brain formation, or hypertelorism (eyes that are too far apart). The length of thepalpebral fissure should be noted and may help define whetherthe opening for the eye is short, as is found with fetal alcoholsyndrome, or excessively long, as in Kabuki makeup syndrome(short stature, mental retardation, long palpebral fissures witheversion of lateral portion of lower lid).
Other features of the eyes should be noted. The obliquity(slant) of the palpebral fissures may be upward (as seen withDown syndrome) or downward (as in Treacher Collins syndrome). The presence of epicanthal folds (Down syndromeand fetal alcohol syndrome) is also important. Features of the nose—especially the nasal bridge, which can be flattened in Down syndrome, fetal alcohol syndrome, and many other syndromes, or prominent as in velocardiofacial syndrome—shouldbe noted.
The malar region of the face is examined next. It extends from the ear to the midface. The ears should be checked for size (measured and checked against appropriate growth charts), shape, position (low-set ears are below a line drawn from the outer canthus to the occiput), and orientation (posterior rotation is where the ear appears turned toward the rear of the head). Ears may be low set because they are small (or microtic) or because of a malformation of the mandibular region.
The mandibular region is the area from the lower portion of the ears bounded out to the chin by the mandible. In most newborns, the chin is often slightly retruded (that is, slightly behind the vertical line extending from the forehead to the philtrum). If this retrusion is pronounced, the child may have the Pierre Robin malformation sequence. In addition, the mouth should be examined. The number and appearance of the teeth should be noted, the tongue should be observed for abnormalities, and the palate and uvula checked for defects.
Examination of the neck may reveal webbing, a common featurein Turner syndrome and Noonan syndrome, or shortening, as isseen occasionally in some skeletal dysplasias and in conditions inwhich anomalies of the cervical spine occur, such as Klippel-Feilsyndrome. The position of the posterior hairline also should beevaluated. The size of the thyroid gland should be assessed.
The chest may be examined for shape (shield-like chest in Noonan syndrome and Turner syndrome) and for symmetry. The presence of a pectus deformity should be noted and is common in Marfan syndrome. The presence of scoliosis should be assessed; it is common in Marfan syndrome and many other syndromes.
Many congenital malformation syndromes are associated withanomalies of the extremities. All joints should be examined forrange of motion. The presence of single or multiple joint contractures suggests either intrinsic neuromuscular dysfunction, as insome forms of muscular dystrophy, or external deforming forcesthat limited motion of the joint in utero. Multiple contracturesalso are found with arthrogryposis multiplex congenita and are due to a variety of causes. Radioulnar synostosis, an inability topronate or supinate the elbow, occurs in fetal alcohol spectrumdisorder and in some X chromosome aneuploidy syndromes.
Examination of the hands is important. Polydactyly (the presence of extra digits) usually occurs as an isolated autosomal dominant trait but also can be seen in trisomy 13.Oligodactyly (a deficiency in the number of digits) is seenin Fanconi syndrome (anemia, leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, and associated heart, renal, and limb anomalies—usuallyradial aplasia and thumb malformation or aplasia), in whichit is generally part of a more severe limb reduction defect, orsecondary to intrauterine amputation, which may occur withamniotic band disruption sequence. Syndactyly (a joining of two or more digits) is common to many syndromes, including Smith-Lemli-Opitz syndrome (see Chapters 199 and201).
Dermatoglyphics include palmar crease patterns. A transverse palmar crease, indicative of hypotonia during early fetal life, is seen in approximately 50% of children with Down syndrome (and 10% of individuals in the general population). A characteristic palmar crease pattern is also seen in fetal alcohol spectrum disorder.
Available @ StudentConsult.comGenitalia should be examined closely for abnormalities in structure. In boys, if the penis appears short, it should be measured and compared with known age-related data. Ambiguous genitalia often are associated with endocrinologic disorders, such as congenital adrenal hyperplasia (girls have masculinized external genitalia, but male genitalia may be unaffected), or chromosomal disorders such as 45,X/46,XY mosaicism or possibly secondary to a multiple congenital anomaly syndrome (see Chapters 174 and 177). Although hypospadias, which occurs in 1 in 300 newborn boys, is a common congenital malformation that often occurs as an isolated defect, if it is associated with other anomalies, especially cryptorchidism, there is a strong possibility of a syndrome.
Chromosome analysis should be ordered for children with multiple congenital anomalies, the involvement of one major organ system and the presence of multiple dysmorphic features, or the presence of mental retardation. In recent years, microarray comparative genomic hybridization has supplanted routine or high-resolution chromosome analysis in most situations. For a complete discussion of chromosome analysis, see Chapter 48.
Direct DNA analysis can be performed to identify specific mutations. It is necessary to use Web-based resources to keep up-to-date. An extremely helpful website is www.genetests.org , which provides information about the availability of testing for specific conditions and identifies laboratories performing the testing.
Radiologic imaging plays an important role in the evaluation of children with dysmorphic features. Individuals found to have multiple external malformations should have a careful evaluation to search for the presence of internal malformations. Testing might include ultrasound evaluations of the head and abdomen to look for anomalies in the brain, kidney, bladder, liver, and spleen. Skeletal radiographs should be performed if there is concern about a possible skeletal dysplasia. The presence of a heart murmur should trigger a cardiology consultation; an electrocardiogram and echocardiogram may be indicated. Magnetic resonance imaging may be indicated in children with neurologic abnormalities or a spinal defect. The presence of craniosynostosis may indicate a computed tomography scan of the head.
For those patients for whom testing does not yield a diagnosis, whole-exome sequencing or whole-genome sequencing is becoming a powerful tool.
Although the presence of characteristic findings may make the diagnosis of a malformation syndrome straightforward, in most cases no specific diagnosis is immediately evident. Some constellations of findings are rare, and finding a “match” may prove difficult. In many cases, all laboratory tests are normal, and confirmation relies on subjective findings. Clinical geneticists have attempted to resolve this difficulty by developing scoring systems, cross-referenced tables of anomalies that help in the development of a differential diagnosis, and computerized diagnostic programs. An accurate diagnosis is important for the following reasons: 1.
It offers an explanation to the family why their child was born with congenital anomalies. This may help allay guilt for parents, who often believe they are responsible for their child’s problem.
With well-described natural histories of many disorders, a diagnosis allows anticipation of medical problems associated with a particular syndrome and appropriate screening. It also provides reassurance that other medical problems are no more likely to occur than they might with other children who do not have the diagnosis.
It permits genetic counseling to be done to identify the risk to future children and permits prenatal testing to be done for the disorders for which it is available.
Diagnosis enables the clinician to provide the family with educational materials about the diagnosis and facilitate contactwith support groups for particular disorders. The Internet hasbecome an important source for such information. Care shouldbe exercised, as information on the Internet is not subject to editorial control and may be inaccurate. A good site is the NationalOrganization for Rare Disorders ( www.rarediseases.org ), a clearinghouse for information about rare diseases and theirsupport groups. Genetic testing information is available at the Genetests website (www.genetests.org ). This site providesinformation on available clinical and research testing for manydiseases.
Brent RL: Environmental causes of human congenital malformations, Pediat rics 113:957–968, 2004
Crissman BG, Worley G, Roizen N, et al: Current perspectives on Down syndrome: selected medical and social issues, Am J Med Genet C Semin
Med Genet 142C:127–130, 2006Encode Project Consortium: An integrated encyclopedia of DNA elements in the human genome, Nature 489:57–74, 2012
Hobbs CA, Cleves MA, Simmons CJ: Genetic epidemiology and congenital malformations: from the chromosome to the crib, Arch Pediatr Adolesc
Med 156:315–320, 2002Holmes LB, Westgate MN: Inclusion and exclusion criteria for malforma tions in newborns exposed to potential teratogens, Birth Defects Research (Part A) 91:807–812, 2011
Kliegman RM, Stanton B, St. Geme J, et al: Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics, 19th ed, Philadelphia, 2011, Saunders . Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man (website): http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?db=omim
Optimal outcomes for children with inborn errors of metabolism (IEMs) depend upon recognition of the signs and symptoms of metabolic disease, and prompt evaluation and referral to a center familiar with their management. Delay in diagnosis may result in end organ damage including progressive neurologic injury or death.
With the exception of phenylketonuria (PKU), and medium chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase (MCAD) deficiency, most metabolic disorders are individually rare, having an incidence of less than 1 per 100,000 births in the United States. When considered collectively, the incidence may approach 1 in 800 to 2500 births (Table 51-1) with the prevalence of a confirmed metabolic disorder detected by newborn screening in 1 in 4000 live births (about 12,500 diagnoses each year) in the United States. This is comparable with the 1 in 1000 infants who have early-onset bacterial sepsis and the 1 in 3000 infants who have invasive group B streptococcal infections.
IEMs are frequent causes of sepsis-like presentations, mental retardation, seizures, sudden infant death, and neurologic impairment; 20% of admissions to a regional children’s hospital are for genetic disorders.
Metabolic disorders can be classified using a variety of schemes based on the clinical presentation, including the age of onset, the tissues or organ systems involved, the defective metabolic pathways, or the subcellular localization of the underlying defect. These classification schemes have differing utility when considering approach to diagnosis, management, and screening strategies. The clinical presentation and longterm prognosis have the most bearing on management of children with genetic metabolic disorders.
Genetic metabolic disorders result from the deficiency of an enzyme, its cofactors, or biochemical transporters that lead to the deficiency of a required metabolite, the buildup of a toxic compound, or a combination of both processes (Fig. 51-1, Table 51-2). Understanding which of these mechanisms is involved and if the effects are systemic or restricted to the local tissue enables a rational approach to diagnosis, therapy, and management.
Available @ StudentConsult.comThe signs and symptoms of an inborn error are diverse andcan involve any organ system. The presentation varies amongage groups. Inborn errors of metabolism often present a fewhours to weeks after birth, often mimicking late-onset sepsis.Infants who survive the neonatal period without developingrecognized symptoms often experience intermittent illness separated by periods of being well. While pursuing the evaluationof the specific clinical presentations (e.g., the approach to thesick newborn, irritable child, or child with liver dysfunction),the hypoglycemic and intoxicating (encephalopathy) metabolicdisorders should be considered in all neonates presenting withlethargy, poor tone, poor feeding, hypothermia, irritability, orseizures. In most cases these should be evaluated for by assessment of plasma ammonia, blood glucose, and anion gap (Fig. 51-2). Significant ketosis in the neonate is unusual and suggests
Table 51-1 Estimates of Incidence of Various Classes of Disorders Diagnosed or Followed at Specialized Clinics per 100,000 Population* BRITISH COLUMBIA 1969–1996 WEST MIDLANDS 1999–2003
Amino acid disorders 7.5 (excluding phenylketonuria) Lysosomal storage diseases 7.5 19 Phenylketonuria 7.5 12.5 Peroxisomal disorders 3.5 7.5 Mitochondrial diseases 3 4.5 *Populations in British Columbia, Canada (a predominantly white population), between 1969 and 1996, and in the West Midlands of the United Kingdom (which has a diverse ethnic breakdown) between 1999 and 2003.
an organic acid disorder. Similarly specific metabolic disorderspredispose to cardiomyopathy, myopathy, hepatopathy, developmental delay, sepsis and developmental regression; appropriate evaluation should be tailored to the clinical presentation.
Introduction of new foods or metabolic stress associated with fasting or fever may unmask an inborn error of metabolismduring infancy or in older children. The introduction of fructoseor sucrose in the diet may lead to decompensation in hereditaryfructose intolerance. In older children, increased protein intakemay unmask disorders of ammonia detoxification.
Loss of regulationAvailable @ StudentConsult.comFigure 51-1 Depiction of the basic paradigm in inherited disorders of metabolism. Deficiency of an enzyme complex results in accumula-Altered Mental Status tion of metabolites proximal to the blocked metabolism and deficiency Acidemia of the product of the reaction. Sites of genetic control are indicated.
Use of glucose with consequent hypoglycemia oxidation defectsLong-chain fatty acid Fat for energy Long-chain fats Use of glucose with consequent hypoglycemia; oxidation defects mitochondrial dysfunction in liver, heart, etc., leading to organ dysfunction
Glycogen storage disease Glucose to prevent fasting Glycogen resulting in Risk of hypoglycemic brain injury and storage tissue hypoglycemia storage in liver, muscle, heart dysfunction
Ketone utilization Fat for energy Ketones Risk of hypoglycemic brain injury; profound metabolic disorders
Galactose Elevated galactose leads to severe hepatic dysfunction, neurologic injury, and impaired immune response
Hyperammonemia in infants Possible inborn error of metabolism Prematurity, respiratory distress early onset Transient hyperammonemia Fatty acid oxidation defects Lactic acidosis Organic aciduria Short, medium and long chain acyl-CoA   dehydrogenase deficiencies Carnitine disorders PDH PC Mitochondrial disorders Propionic acidemia Methylmalonic acidemia Isovaleric acidemia Multiple carboxylase deficiency Glutaric acidemia 3-Methyl-3-OH-glutaryl-CoA   lyase deficiency Normal or reduced Marked elevation Elevated with ASA in plasma, urine Citrullinemia Argininosuccinic   aciduria OTC deficiency Absent, trace No acidosis or ketosis Respiratory alkalosis Low BUN Metabolic acidosis Ketosis Organic aciduria Urea cycle detects Plasma citrulline Plasma arginine Elevated CPS or NAGS deficiency Normal Argininemia Elevated Lysinuric protein intolerance Hyperornithinemia,   hyperammonemia,   homocitrullinuria syndrome Normal, low Elevated urine lysine, ornithine, arginine Elevated plasma ornithine, urine homocitrulline Urine orotic acid PDH – pyruvate dehydrogenase deficiency PC – pyruvate carboxylase deficiency ASA – argininosuccinic acid CPS – carbamylphosphate synthase OTC – ornithine transcarbamylase NAGS – N-acetylglutamate synthase
Figure 51-2 Algorithm for the approach to hyperammonemia infants. ASA, Argininosuccinic acid; BUN, blood urea nitrogen; CPS, carbamylphosphate synthase; NAGS, N-acetylglutamate synthase; OTC, ornithine transcarbamylase; PC, pyruvate carboxylase deficiency; PDH, pyruvate dehydrogenase deficiency.
The toxic presentation often presents as an encephalopathy.Fever, infection, fasting, or other catabolic stresses may precipitate the symptom complex. A metabolic acidosis, vomiting, lethargy, and other neurologic findings may be present. Diagnostic testing is most effective when metabolites are present in highest concentration in blood and urine at presentation. Abnormal metabolism of amino acids, organic acids, ammonia, or carbohydrates may be at fault. Hyperammonemia is an important diagnostic possibility if an infant or child presents with features of toxic encephalopathy (see Fig. 51-2). Symptoms and signs depend on the underlying cause of the hyperammonemia, the age at which it develops, and its degree. The severity of hyperammonemia may provide a clue to the etiology (Tables 51-3 and 51-4).
Available @ StudentConsult.comInfants with genetic defects in urea synthesis, transient neonatal hyperammonemia, and impaired synthesis of urea and glutamine secondary to genetic disorders of organic acid metabolism can have levels of blood ammonia (>1000 μmol/L) more than 10 times normal in the neonatal period. Poor feeding, hypotonia, apnea, hypothermia, and vomiting rapidly give way to coma and occasionally to intractable seizures.
Respiratory alkalosis is common. Death occurs in hours to days if the condition remains untreated.
Available @ StudentConsult.comModerate neonatal hyperammonemia (range, 200 to 400 μmol/L) is associated with depression of the central nervous system, poor feeding, and vomiting. Seizures are not characteristic. Respiratory alkalosis may occur. This type of hyperammonemia may be caused by partial or more distal blocks in urea synthesis and commonly is caused by disorders of organic acid metabolism (producing a metabolic acidosis) that secondarily interfere with the elimination of nitrogen.
Infants who are affected by defects in the urea cycle may continue to do well while receiving the low-protein intake of breast milk, developing clinical hyperammonemia when dietary protein is increased or when catabolic stress occurs. Vomiting and lethargy may progress to coma. Seizures are not typical. During a crisis, the plasma ammonia level is usually 200 to 500 μmol/L. However, as the ammonia level decreases with decreased protein intake, the condition may go unrecognized for years, especially in the absence of central nervous system symptoms. If a crisis occurs during an epidemic of influenza, the child mistakenly may be thought to have Reye syndrome.
Disorders of the urea cycle Lethal hyperammonemia is commonDisorders of the propionate Severe hyperammonemia may pathway precede acidosis
Disorders of fatty acid catabolism Reye-like syndrome possible and of ketogenesis
Transient neonatal Idiopathic, self-limited hyperammonemiaPortal-systemic shunting Thrombosis of portal vein, cirrhosis, hepatitisMitochondrial DNA depletion Typically associated with elevated lactate levelDrug intoxication: salicylate, Obtain drug levels valproic acid, acetaminophenHyperinsulinism/ Clinical hypoglycemia, hyperammonemia syndrome subclinical hyperammonemiaNon-metabolic liver disease Ensure evaluation of hepatic including infections such as function and appropriate herpes, cytomegalovirus infectious disease workup All disorders that cause hypoglycemia: Most hepatic glycogen storage diseases Galactosemia, hereditary fructose intolerance Fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase deficiency Disorders of fatty acid beta oxidation Glucose transporter deficiency
Disorders of the propionate pathway HMG-CoA lyase deficiency Menkes disease Pyruvate carboxylase deficiency (PCD) Maple syrup urine disease
Mitochondrial disease: POLG deficiency Iron-sulfur cluster diseaseMaple syrup urine disease Nonketotichyperglycinemia Diseases producing extreme hyperammonemia:Disorders of the urea cycle Disorders of the propionate pathway
Disorders of beta oxidation Congenital lactic acidosis (PCD)HMG-CoA, 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA.Older children may have neuropsychiatric or behavioral abnormalities (see Fig. 51-2).
Available @ StudentConsult.comAny organ or system can be injured by toxic accumulation of any of the metabolites involved in inborn errors. Symptoms relate to organ-specific or system-specific toxicity and injury. Examples include nervous system (seizures, coma, ataxia), liver (hepatocellular damage), eye (cataracts, dislocated lenses), renal (tubular dysfunction, cysts), and heart (cardiomyopathy, pericardial effusion) (Table 51-5).
Disorders whose pathophysiology results in energy deficiency (e.g., disorders of fatty acid oxidation, mitochondrial function/oxidative phosphorylation, or carbohydrate metabolism) may manifest myopathy; central nervous system dysfunction, including mental retardation and seizures; cardiomyopathy; vomiting; hypoglycemia; or renal tubular acidosis.
Available @ StudentConsult.comAcidosis is often found in children without metabolic diseases and may be due to fasting associated with anorexia, vomiting,diarrhea, and dehydration in the course of a viral illness. In thisnormal result of fasting, the blood glucose is relatively low; amild acidosis and ketonuria may be present. Administrationof carbohydrate restores balance. Severe ketosis may also bethe result of disorders of ketone utilization such as ketothiolase deficiency or SCOT (succinyl-CoA:3 ketoacid CoA transferase) deficiency. In these conditions, which frequently present in thecontext of fasting, infection with fever, or decreased intake secondary to vomiting and diarrhea, hypoglycemia may be profound; the ketosis resolves slowly. As ketone bodies accumulate,cyclic vomiting may ensue. Ketotic hypoglycemia is a common condition in which tolerance for fasting is impaired. Symptomatic hypoglycemia with seizures or coma occurs when the childencounters a catabolic stress. The stress may be significant (viralinfection with vomiting) or minor (a prolongation by severalhours of the normal overnight fast). Ketotic hypoglycemia firstappears in the second year of life and occurs in otherwise healthychildren. It is treated by frequent snacks and the provision ofglucose during periods of stress. The pathophysiology is poorlyunderstood (see Chapter 172). Although ketonuria is a normalresponse to prolonged (not overnight) fasting in older infantsand children, it indicates metabolic disease in neonates. A high anion gap metabolic acidosis with or without ketosis suggests a metabolic disorder (Table 51-6). Although ketone productionmay be reduced in some fatty acid oxidation disorders, the presence of ketonuria does not exclude this group of disorders.
Disorders Associated with Dysmorphic FindingsCongenital malformations or dysmorphic features are not intuitively thought of as symptoms and signs of inborn errors. Conditions that cause congenital malformations include carbohydrate-deficient glycoprotein syndrome, disorders of cholesterol biosynthesis (Smith-Lemli-Opitz syndrome), disorders of copper transport (Menkes syndrome, occipital horn syndrome), maternal phenylketonuria syndrome, glutaric aciduria II (also called multiple acyl-coenzyme A [CoA] dehydrogenase deficiency), and several storage diseases.
Available @ StudentConsult.comStorage disorders are caused by accumulation of incompletely metabolized macromolecules. This storage often occurs in subcellular organelles, such as lysosomes. The glycogen storage diseases and mucopolysaccharide disorders are examples of storage disorders.
Gaucher and Niemann-Pick diseases GSD IV (slowly evolving) Crigler-Najjar disease Rotor, Dubin-Johnson syndromes
GSD, Glycogen storage disease.The assessment begins with a careful history (family and individual) and clinical evaluation. Clinical laboratory testing can define the metabolic derangement (Table 51-7). The results generate a differential diagnosis and a list of more specific laboratory testing to confirm the diagnosis.
The combination of symptoms and abnormal clinical laboratory findings demands urgent metabolic evaluation. Ametabolic emergency often presents with vomiting, acidosis,hypoglycemia, ketosis (or lack of appropriate ketosis), inter-current infection, anorexia/failure to feed, lethargy proceeding to coma, and hyperventilation or hypoventilation. Clinicalevaluation should focus on the cardiac, renal, neurologic, anddevelopmental assessment as well as looking for changes inmental status, seizures, abnormal tone, visual symptoms,poor developmental progress, global developmental delay,loss of developmental milestones (regression), cardiomyopathy, cardiac failure, cystic renal malformation, and renal tubular dysfunction.
Clinical laboratory testing should begin with tests that are available in most hospital clinical laboratories. Care in the collection and handling of laboratory specimens is crucial to obtaining accurate results. Plasma measurements oflactate and ammonia are particularly subject to spuriousresults if not handled correctly. Significant ketosis in theneonate is unusual and suggests an organic acid disorder.Ketosis out of proportion to fasting status in an older child occurs in disorders of ketone usage. Lack of severe ketosis in an older child under conditions of metabolic stress is a
Arterial blood gas Glucose Electrolytes—anion gap pH Glucose Ketones Ammonia Reducing substances Liver enzymes Organic acids Complete blood count, differential,† Acylglycines and platelet count Orotic acid Lactate, pyruvate Organic acids Amino acids Acylcarnitines Carnitine *Organ-specific evaluation is indicated for specific symptoms (e.g., cranial if nonketotic hyperglycemia is suspected).
†Thrombocytopenia and neutropenia are seen in organic acidurias; vacuolated lymphocytes and metachromatic granules are seen in lysosomal disorders.
feature of fatty acid oxidation disorders. In some disorders,such as urea cycle disorders, ketone utilization disorders,milder forms of fatty acid oxidation defects, and intermittent maple syrup urine disease, the laboratory abnormalitiesmay be present only during an acute presentation. Therefore,normal testing in the well state does not rule out a metabolicdisorder.
Mechanisms of InheritanceAlthough all of the classic mechanisms of inheritance are represented, most inborn errors of metabolism are autosomal recessive. Isolation or founder effect may make a specific recessive condition common in some populations (e.g., maple syrup urine disease in the Old Order Mennonite population in Pennsylvania). X-linked conditions exhibit increased presentation in males. In general, carriers of recessive or X-linked (females) diseases are asymptomatic. However, in ornithine transcarbamylase deficiency, females can be symptomatic if they have a low proportion of normal cells in the liver. Most mitochondrial disorders in children are a result of mutations in autosomal genes, although there are X-linked forms. Mutations in the mitochondrial DNA also lead to mitochondrial disease. In this situation the type and severity of the presentation depend on the specific defects and the tissue specific ratio of normal to abnormal copies of the mitochondrial DNA (the degree of heteroplasmy).
Identification of Molecular PathologyIf the molecular basis of an inborn error of metabolism is known (i.e., the gene or genes have been mapped and mutations defined), specific genetic testing may be clinically available. In some disorders, there is a good correlation between specific mutations and clinical outcome. Genetic testing in other at-risk family members can provide important genetic information for them, enabling decision making throughout the rest of the family.
Table 51-8 Disorders Identified by Newborn Screening Programs in the United States DISORDER METHODS CONFIRMATORY TESTING AMINO ACID Phenylketonuria (PKU) Guthrie*, MS/MS Plasma phenylalanine, mutation testing
Tyrosinemia Guthrie, MS/MS Plasma amino acid profile, urine succinylacetoneMaple syrup urine disease (MSUD) Guthrie, MS/MS Plasma amino acid profile, look for alloisoleucine ORGANIC ACID
Methylmalonic acidemias MS/MS Urine organic acid profile, plasma amino acid profile, plasma homocysteine
Biotinidase deficiency Enzyme measurement Quantitative biotinidase measurement, DNA mutationsMedium-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase MS/MS Urine organic acid profile, urine acylglycine profile, plasma deficiency (MCAD)
Long-chain 3-hydroxyacyl-CoA MS/MS Urine organic acid profile, urine acylglycine profile, plasma dehydrogenase deficiency (LCHAD)
Very long-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase MS/MS Urine organic acid profile, urine acylglycine profile, plasma deficiency (VLCAD)
Galactosemia GALT enzyme measurement GALT enzyme measurement, DNA mutations, galactose-1-P measurement
MS/MS Plasma amino acid profile, DNA mutationsIn the United States the majority of infants diagnosed witha treatable metabolic disorder will be identified as a result of an abnormal newborn screen. Most states use tandem mass spectrometry to screen for a core panel of 29 disorders (Table 51-8). In most states, biotinidase deficiency and galactosemiaare typically screened for by evaluating enzyme function.
Strategy of Neonatal ScreeningThe purpose of neonatal screening is the early detection and rapid treatment of disorders before the onset of symptoms, thus preventing morbidity and mortality. In most states, infants are tested at 24 to 48 hours (see Chapter 58). A positive test demands prompt evaluation. Specific follow-up testing and treatment of an affected child depends on the disorder. Consistent with most screening tests, a significant proportion of infants who have a positive neonatal screening test do not have a metabolic disorder.
Neonatal screening is designed to maximize detection ofaffected infants but is not diagnostic. “Cutoff values” for eachtest are established carefully to identify infants with an elevated concentration of the substance or decreased activityof an enzyme with an acceptable number of false-positive results. A positive screening test must be followed by promptclinical assessment as recommended by the screening program and metabolic specialist. In many cases children willalso be provided therapy until the completion of definitive testing.
A positive screening test result causes anxiety for new parents; management of such anxiety is essential to minimize the harm of the program. In addition, definitive testing must be carried out promptly and accurately. If an inborn error of metabolism is excluded, parents need a thorough explanation of the results and reassurance that the infant is well. Such explanations will frequently require the expertise of a metabolic specialist or genetic counselor in the newborn period but may require reassessment by the primary care physician in the long term.
Specialized testing for inherited disorders of metabolism is effective in confirming a diagnosis suspected on the basis of an abnormal newborn screening result or on the basis of clinical suspicion. The tests that are helpful and examples of diagnoses made using these measurements depend on the deficient pathway in the disorder under consideration (Table 51-9).
Amino acid analysis is performed in plasma, urine, and cerebrospinal fluid. The plasma amino acid profile is most useful inidentifying disorders of amino acid catabolism. Amino acidsin the deficient pathway of the organic acid disorders may beabnormal, but often they are normal or may not be diagnostic.
Table 51-9 Specialized Metabolic Testing TEST ANALYTES MEASURED TEST HELPFUL IN IDENTIFYING DISORDERS Plasma amino acid profile Amino acids, including alloisoleucine PKU, urea cycle defects, tyrosinemias, MSUD, homocystinuria
Plasma total homocysteine Protein-bound and free homocysteine Homocystinuria, some forms of methylmalonic acidemia
Urine amino acid profile Amino acids Disorders of amino acid renal transport
Plasma acylcarnitine profile Acylcarnitine derivatives of organic and Organic acid disorders, fatty acid oxidation disorders fatty acid catabolism
Urine acylglycine profile Acylglycine derivatives of organic and Organic acid disorders, fatty acid oxidation disorders fatty acid catabolism
Plasma carnitines Free, total, and acylated carnitine Primary and secondary carnitine deficiency; abnormal in many organic acid and fatty acid disorders
Urine organic acid profile Organic acids Organic acid, mitochondrial and fatty acid disorders
Urine oligosaccharide chromatography Glycosaminoglycans, Lysosomal storage disorders mucopolysaccharidesMSUD, Maple syrup urine disease; PKU, phenylketonuria.The urine amino acid profile is helpful in diagnosing primary disorders of renal tubular function, such as Lowe syndrome and cystinuria, as well as secondary disorders of renal tubular function, such as cystinosis and Fanconi syndrome of any cause. The urine amino acid profile is not the test of choice for diagnosing disorders of amino acid or organic acid metabolism.
Markers of disordered fatty acid oxidation are measuredin urine and plasma. Excessive intermediates of fatty acidoxidation and organic acid catabolism are conjugated withglycine and carnitine. The urine acylglycine profile and the plasma acylcarnitine profile reflect this accumulation. In organic acid disorders and fatty acid oxidation disorders,measurement of plasma carnitine may reveal a secondarydeficiency of carnitine and abnormal distribution of free and acylated carnitine. The plasma free fatty acid profileis helpful in diagnosis of disorders of fatty acid oxidation.Excess 3-OH-butyrate suggests a disorder of ketone metabolism; absence of ketones or decreased amounts of 3-OHbutyrate suggests a fatty acid oxidation disorder. Profiling offatty acid intermediates in cultured skin fibroblasts may beinformative.
Disorders of organic acid metabolism, such as propionic acidemia and methylmalonic acidemia, have typical urine organic acid profiles. Although analysis of blood and urine usually suggest the specific diagnosis, more targeted testing is typically needed by measuring enzymatic activity in the pathway or establishing DNA changes in the gene.
Disorders of creatine biosynthesis are reflected by a reduction in creatine in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and, in one form, an increase in guanidinoacetic acid in blood and urine. Disorders of purine and pyrimidine metabolism are suggested bythe presence of an abnormal urinary profile of purines, suchas xanthine, hypoxanthine, inosine, guanosine, adenosine, adenine, or succinyladenosine. Similarly, disorders of pyrimidinemetabolism are identified by an abnormal profile of pyrimidines, including uracil, uridine, thymine, thymidine, orotic acid, orotidine, dihydrouracil, dihydrothymine, pseudouridine,N-carbamoyl-β-alanine, or N-carbamoyl-β-aminoisobutyrate, in the urine.
Storage disorders show abnormalities in urine mucopolysaccharides (glycosaminoglycans, glycoproteins), sialic acid, heparan sulfate, dermatan sulfate, or chondroitin sulfate. Specific enzymology depends on the disorder; tissue can be either white blood cells or cultured skin fibroblasts, depending on assay. In several disorders, CSF is the most helpful specimen, including glycine encephalopathy (CSF amino acid profile when compared to concurrent plasma amino acids), disorders of neurotransmitter synthesis (biogenic amine profile), glucose transporter (GLUT1) deficiency (plasma-to–cerebrospinal fluid glucose ratio), and serine synthesis defect (amino acid profile).
In many disorders, an abnormal metabolic profile is consistently present during illness and when the child is well. In some cases, it is only diagnostic during an episode of illness.
There are several basic principles for treatment of inborn errors of metabolism. Syndromes with toxicity often present with encephalopathy; removal of toxic compounds isthe first goal of therapy. Strategies include hemodialysis,hemovenovenous filtration, and administration of alternate pathway agents (see Chapter 53). A second strategy is toenhance deficient enzyme activity through administration ofenzyme cofactors (e.g., pyridoxine in homocystinuria, tetrahydrobiopterin in PKU). If deficiency of a pathway product plays an important role, providing missing products ishelpful (e.g., tyrosine in the treatment of phenylketonuria).A major principle is to decrease flux through the deficientpathway by restricting precursors in the diet. Examplesinclude the restriction of protein in disorders of ammoniadetoxification and of amino acid precursors in the organicacid disorders.
Many glycogen storage diseases are characterized by hypoglycemia and hepatomegaly (Table 52-1). Glycogen, the storage form of glucose, is found most abundantly in the liver (where it modulates blood glucose levels) and in muscles (where it facilitates anaerobic work). Glycogen is synthesized from uridine diphosphoglucose through the concerted action of glycogen synthetase and brancher enzyme (Fig. 52-1). The accumulation of glycogen is stimulated by insulin. Glycogenolysis occurs through a cascade initiated by epinephrine or glucagon. It results in rapid phosphorolysis of glycogen to yield glucose 1-phosphate, accompanied by, to a lesser degree, hydrolysis of glucose residues from the branch points in glycogen molecules. In the liver and kidneys, glucose 1-phosphate is converted to glucose 6-phosphate through the actions of phosphoglucomutase; glucose-6-phosphatase hydrolyses glucose 6-phosphate to produce glucose. The latter enzyme is not present in muscles. Glycogen storage diseases fall into the following four categories: 1.
Diseases that predominantly affect the liver and have a direct influence on blood glucose (types I, VI, and VIII) 2.
Diseases that predominantly involve muscles and affect the ability to do anaerobic work (types V and VII) 3.
Diseases that can affect the liver and muscles and directly influence blood glucose and muscle metabolism (type III) 4.
Diseases that affect various tissues but have no direct effect on blood glucose or on the ability to do anaerobic work (types II and IV)
The diagnosis of type I or type III glycogen storage disease is suggested by an elevated uric acid, lactate, and triglycerides in blood. For all forms, a diagnosis can normallybe confirmed by DNA mutation testing in white blood cells.When this is feasible, invasive procedures, such as muscleand liver biopsy, can be avoided. When mutation testing isnot available or is inconclusive, enzyme measurements intissue from the affected organ confirm the diagnosis. If thediagnosis cannot be established, metabolic challenge andexercise testing may be needed. Treatment of hepatic glycogen storage disease is aimed at maintaining satisfactory
Type 1a: Glucose-6-Liver, kidney, GI Hypoglycemia, lactic acidosis, Hypoglycemia, Early death from von Gierke phosphatase tract, platelets ketosis, hepatomegaly, lactic acidemia, hypoglycemia, lactic acidosis; hypotonia, slow growth, liver may not be do well with early diagnosis diarrhea, bleeding disorder, enlarged and strict adherence to gout, hypertriglyceridemia,
Type V: Muscle Muscle Muscle fatigue beginning in None Good, with sedentary lifestyle McArdle phosphorylase
Type VI: Liver phosphorylase Liver Mild hypoglycemia with Usually none Probably good Hers hepatomegaly, ketonuria
Type VII: Muscle Muscle Clinical findings similar to None Similar to that of type V Tarui phosphofructokinase
Type VIII Phosphorylase kinase Liver Clinical findings similar to type None Good III, without myopathy
GI, Gastrointestinal. *Except for one form of hepatic phosphorylase kinase, which is X-linked, these disorders are autosomal recessive.
Figure 52-1 Glycogen synthesis and degradation. (1) Glycogen synthetase, (2) brancher enzyme, (3) debrancher enzyme, (4) phosphoglucomutase, (5) glucose-6-phosphatase.
blood glucose levels or supplying alternative energy sourcesto muscle. In glucose-6-phosphatase deficiency (type I), thetreatment usually requires nocturnal intragastric feedings ofglucose during the first 1 or 2 years of life. Thereafter, snacksor nocturnal intragastric feedings of uncooked cornstarchmay be satisfactory; hepatic tumors (sometimes malignant)are a threat in adolescence and adult life. No specific treatment exists for the diseases of muscle that impair skeletalmuscle ischemic exercise. Enzyme replacement early in lifeis effective in Pompe disease (type II), which involves cardiacand skeletal muscle.
Available @ StudentConsult.comGalactosemia is an autosomal recessive disease caused by deficiency of galactose-1-phosphate uridyltransferase (Fig. 52-2).Clinical manifestations are most striking in a neonate who, when fed milk, generally exhibits evidence of liver failure (hyperbilirubinemia, disorders of coagulation, hypoglycemia), disordered renal tubular function (acidosis, glycosuria, aminoaciduria), and cataracts. The neonatal screening test must have a rapid turnaround time because affected infants may die in the first week of life. Affected infants are at increased risk for severe neonatal Escherichia coli sepsis. Major effects on liver and kidney function and the development of cataracts are limited to the first few years of life; older children may have learning disorders despite dietary compliance. Girls usually develop premature ovarian failure despite treatment.
Laboratory manifestations of galactosemia depend on dietary galactose intake. When galactose is ingested (as lactose), levels of plasma galactose and erythrocyte galactose
Figure 52-2 Pathway of galactose metabolism. (1) Lactase (intestinal), (2) galactokinase, (3) galactose-1-phosphate uridyltransferase, (4) uridine diphosphoglucose 4-epimerase.
1-phosphate are elevated. Hypoglycemia is frequent, and albuminuria is present. Galactose frequently is present in the urine and can be detected by a positive reaction for reducing substances without a reaction with glucose oxidase on urine strip tests. The absence of urinary reducing substances cannot be relied on to exclude the diagnosis. The diagnosis is made by showing extreme reduction in erythrocyte galactose-1-phosphate uridyltransferase activity. DNA testing for the mutations in galactose-1-phosphate uridyltransferase confirms the diagnosis and may be useful in predicting prognosis. Renal tubular dysfunction may be evidenced by a normal–anion-gap hyperchloremic metabolic acidosis. Treatment by the elimination of dietary galactose results in rapid correction of abnormalities, but infants who are extremely ill before treatment may die before therapy is effective.
Galactokinase deficiency, an autosomal recessive disorder, also leads to the accumulation of galactose in body fluids (see Fig. 52-2), which results in the formation of galactitol (dulcitol) through the action of aldose reductase. Galactitol, acting as an osmotic agent, can be responsible for cataract formation and, rarely, for increased intracranial pressure. These are the only clinical manifestations. Individuals homozygous for galactokinase deficiency usually develop cataracts after the neonatal period, whereas heterozygous individuals may be at risk for cataracts as adults.
Hereditary fructose intolerance, in many ways, is analogous to galactosemia. When fructose is ingested, deficiency of fructose-1-phosphate aldolase leads to the intracellular accumulation of fructose 1-phosphate with resultant emesis, hypoglycemia, and severe liver and kidney disease. Elimination of fructose and sucrose from the diet prevents clinical disease. Fructosuria is caused by fructokinase deficiency, but its deficiency is not associated with clinical consequences.
Disorders of amino acid metabolism are the result of the inability to catabolize specific amino acids derived from protein. Usually a single amino acid pathway is involved. This amino acid accumulates in excess and is toxic to various organs, such as the brain, eyes, skin, or liver. Treatment is directed at the specific pathway and usually involves dietary restriction of the offending amino acid and supplementation with special medical foods (formulas) that provide the other amino acids and other nutrients. Confirmatory testing includes quantitative specific plasma amino acid profiles along with specific mutation testing and sometimes enzymology.
Phenylketonuria (PKU), an autosomal recessive disease, primarily affects the brain and occurs in 1 in 10,000 persons.Classic PKU is the result from a defect in the hydroxylationof phenylalanine to form tyrosine (Fig. 53-1); the activity ofphenylalanine hydroxylase in the liver is absent or greatlyreduced. Affected infants are normal at birth, but if untreated, severe mental retardation (IQ 30) develops in the first year oflife. A positive newborn screening test must be followed up byperforming quantitative plasma amino acid analysis. A plasmaphenylalanine value of greater than 360 μM (6 mg/dL) is consistent with the diagnosis of one of the hyperphenylalaninemiasand demands prompt evaluation and treatment. Untreated,classic PKU is characterized by blood phenylalanine concentrations higher than 600 μM. Milder forms of hyperphenylalaninemia are indicated by values of plasma phenylalanine lowerthan this but higher than 360 μM. A significant percentage ofpremature infants and a few full-term infants have transientelevations in phenylalanine. Short-term follow-up usuallyidentifies these infants promptly. A small percentage of infantsdiagnosed with PKU (≤2% in the United States) have a defectin the synthesis or metabolism of tetrahydrobiopterin, thecofactor for phenylalanine hydroxylase and for other enzymesinvolved in the intermediary metabolism of aromatic aminoacids. Such disorders in biopterin metabolism are diagnosedby measuring dihydrobiopterin reductase in erythrocytes andby analyzing biopterin metabolites in urine. This testing shouldbe carried out in all hyperphenylalaninemic infants.
Treatment is designed to maintain plasma phenylalanine values in the therapeutic range of 120 to 360 mM using a diet specifically restricted in phenylalanine but otherwise nutritionally complete. Since the early 1980s, treatment for life is recommended to reduce the risks of long-term neuropsychiatric problems and reduce the risk of maternal PKU syndrome.
Outcome of treatment in classic PKU is excellent. Most infants with classic PKU who are treated within the first
Figure 53-1 Metabolism of aromatic amino acids. (1) Phenylalanine hydroxylase, (2) transaminase, (3) p-hydroxyphenylpyruvate oxidase, (4) homogentisate oxidase, (5) maleylacetoacetate isomerase, (6) fumarylacetoacetate hydrolase, (7) dihydrobiopterin reductase, (8) tyrosine hydroxylase, (9) tryptophan hydroxylase. SA, Succinylacetone.
10 days of life achieve normal intelligence. However, learning problems and problems with executive function aremore frequent than in unaffected peers. The safe concentration of phenylalanine in older children and adults withPKU has not been clearly established. Reversible cognitivedysfunction is associated with acute elevations of plasmaphenylalanine in adults and children with PKU. If the elevated level has been sustained, the dysfunction may not bereversible. Treatment with modified preparation of tetrahydrobiopterin has shown good responses in some individualswith PKU.
Females with PKU and their families must be educated on the risks and prevention of “maternal PKU syndrome.” Maternal hyperphenylalaninemia requires rigorous management before conception and throughout pregnancy to prevent fetal brain damage, congenital heart disease, and microcephaly.
Tyrosinemia is identified in neonatal screening programs using tandem mass spectrometry methods to detect elevated tyrosine and/or succinylacetone. Elevated tyrosine levels also occur as a nonspecific consequence of severe liver disease or transient tyrosinemia of the newborn, which responds to ascorbic acid treatment. The inherited disorders of tyrosine metabolism are the target of neonatal screening. Tyrosinemia Type I, which is due to fumarylacetoacetate hydrolase deficiency (see Fig. 53-1), is a rare disease in which accumulated metabolites produce severe liver disease associated with bleeding disorder, hypoglycemia, hypoalbuminemia, elevated transaminases, and defects in renal tubular function. Hepatocellular carcinoma may eventually occur. Quantitative measurement of plasma tyrosine and blood or urine succinylacetone is performed after a positive neonatal screen. The diagnosis of tyrosinemia I is confirmed by an increased concentration of succinylacetone; DNA testing is available for some mutations. Treatment with nitisinone (NTBC) (an inhibitor of the oxidation of parahydroxyphenylpyruvic acid) effectively eliminates the production of the toxic succinylacetone. A low-phenylalanine, low-tyrosine diet may also play a role. These treatments have obviated the immediate need for liver transplantation in children identified by neonatal screening. Whether they completely eliminate the occurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma is unknown.
Tyrosinemias II and III are more benign forms of hereditary tyrosinemia. Blocked metabolism of tyrosine at earlier steps in the pathway is responsible, and succinylacetone is not produced. The clinical features include hyperkeratosis of palms and soles and keratitis, which can cause severe visual disturbance. Poor dietary compliance with type II tyrosinemia is associated with mild cognitive impairment. Treatment with a phenylalanineand tyrosine-restricted diet is effective.
Homocystinuria, an autosomal recessive disease (1:200,000 livebirths) involving connective tissue, the brain, and the vascularsystem, is caused by a deficiency of cystathionine β-synthase. In the normal metabolism of the sulfur amino acids, methionine gives rise to cystine; homocysteine is a pivotal intermediate (Fig. 53-2). When cystathionine β-synthase is deficient, homocysteine accumulates in the blood and appears in the urine. Another result is enhanced reconversion of homocysteine to methionine, resulting in an increase in the concentration of methionine in the blood. The neonatal screening test most commonly used measures methionine. An excess of homocysteine produces a slowly evolving clinical syndromethat includes dislocated ocular lenses; long, slender extremities; malar flushing; and livedo reticularis. Arachnodactyly, scoliosis, pectus excavatum or carinatum, and genu valgum are skeletal features. Mental retardation, psychiatric illness, or both may be present. Major arterial or venous thromboses are a constant threat.
Confirmation of the diagnosis requires demonstration of elevated total homocysteine in the blood. A plasma amino acid profile reveals hypermethioninemia. Measurement of cystathionine β-synthase is not clinically available, but numerous mutations in the gene are known and can be tested.
There are two clinical forms of homocystinuria. In one form, activity of the deficient enzyme can be enhanced by the administration of large doses of pyridoxine (100 to 1000 mg/day). Folate supplementation is added to overcome folate deficiency if folate is trapped in the process of remethylation of homocysteine to methionine. This pyridoxine-responsive form comprises about 50% of cases and is the more likely form to be missed by neonatal screening because the methionine concentrations are not always above the screening cutoff. The second form is not responsive to pyridoxine therapy. The accumulation of homocysteine is controlled with a methionine-restricted diet and cystine and folate supplementation. The use of supplemental betaine (trimethylglycine), a donor of methyl groups for remethylation of homocysteine to methionine, also has a role in the management of pyridoxine-unresponsive patients. Diet and betaine are sometimes required to control plasma homocysteine, even in pyridoxine-responsive patients. The prognosis is good for infants whose plasma homocysteine concentration is controlled.
Figure 53-2 Metabolism of methionine and homocysteine. (1) Methionine adenosyltransferase, (2) S-methyltransferase, (3) S-adenosylhomocysteine hydrolase, (4) cystathionine β-synthase, (5) cystathionase, (6) homocysteine methyltransferase, (7) betaine-homocysteine methyltransferase.
Maple syrup urine disease (MSUD) is an autosomal recessivedisease, also called branched chain ketoaciduria. A deficiencyof the decarboxylase initiates the degradation of the ketoacid analogs of the three branched chain amino acids—leucine, isoleucine, and valine (Fig. 53-3). Classic MSUD is rare(1:250,000) in the general population but much more commonin some population isolates (Pennsylvania Mennonites 1:150).The American College of Medical Genetics neonatal screeningpanel includes MSUD.
Although MSUD does have intermittent-onset and late-onset forms, clinical manifestations of the classic form typically begin within 1 to 4 weeks of birth. Poor feeding, vomiting, and tachypnea commonly are noted, but the hallmark of the disease is profound depression of the central nervous system, associated with alternating hypotonia and hypertonia (extensor spasms), opisthotonos, and seizures. The urine has the odor of maple syrup.
Laboratory manifestations of MSUD include hypoglycemia and a variable presence of metabolic acidosis, with elevation of the undetermined anions; the acidosis is caused, in part, by plasma branched chain organic acids and, inpart, by the usual ketone bodies, β-hydroxybutyrate and acetoacetate. Branched-chain ketoacids in urine (but notβ-hydroxybutyrate or acetoacetate) react immediately with2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine to form a copious, white precipitate.
The definitive diagnosis of MSUD generally is made by showing large increases in plasma leucine, isoleucine, and valine concentrations and identification of alloisoleucine in the plasma in excess. The urinary organic acid profile is usually abnormal and shows the ketoacid derivatives of the branched chain amino acids.
Provision of adequate calories and protein, with restriction of leucine, is crucial for acute and chronic management. Hemodialysis, hemofiltration, or peritoneal dialysis can be lifesaving during acidotic crises in addition to close monitoring and therapy for cerebral edema. Ordinary catabolic stresses, such as moderate infections or labor and delivery in a pregnant mother with MSUD, can precipitate clinical crises. Liver transplantation effectively treats MSUD.
Inherited enzymatic deficiencies have been described for each of the steps of urea synthesis (Fig. 53-4). Neonatal screening does not currently detect all of the disorders in the urea cycle.
Figure 53-3 Metabolism of the branched chain amino acids. (1) Aminotransferases, (2) α-ketoacid dehydrogenase complex.
Figure 53-4 The urea cycle. Site of enzymatic defects: (1) N-acetylglutamate synthase (NAG), (2) carbamoyl phosphate synthetase, (3) ornithine carbamoyltransferase, (4) argininosuccinate acid synthetase, (5) argininosuccinate acid lyase, (6) arginase. Transporters (star). (7) citrin, (8) ornithine translocator (star). AKG, Alpha ketoglutarate.
Clinically the two most frequent disorders in the United States are ornithine carbamoyltransferase (OTC) deficiency and argininosuccinate lyase (ASL) deficiency.
Ornithine carbamoyltransferase (OTC) deficiency is X-linked. Gene mutations include both deletions and point mutations. If the enzyme is nonfunctional, there is no OTC activity in affected males, who are likely to die in the neonatal period. Affected females are heterozygous and, because of lyonization, may have a significant degree of enzyme deficiency and may be clinically affected at any time in life. Clinical manifestations range from lethal disease in the male (coma, encephalopathy) to clinical normalcy in a high percentage of females. Late-onset forms in males also occur. Manifestations in clinically affected females include recurrent emesis, lethargy, seizures, developmental delay, mental retardation, or episodic confusion. Affected females may spontaneously limit their protein intake.
Confirmatory testing for OTC includes a plasma amino acid profile, which may show reduced citrulline and arginine concentrations with increased glutamate and alanine. A urine organic acid profile shows increased excretion of orotic acid after protein loading or with concurrent administration of allopurinol. Mutation testing, deletion testing, and sequencing of the entire coding region of the related genes are available as clinical tests.
Argininosuccinate lyase (ASL) deficiency is autosomal recessive, and most children in the United States are detected as a result of an elevated citrulline on newborn screening. The diagnosis is confirmed by the detection of elevated argininosuccinic acid in the urine.
Treatment of HyperammonemiaDuring episodes of symptomatic hyperammonemia, proteinintake is reduced, and intravenous glucose is given in sufficient quantity to suppress catabolism of endogenous protein. Ammonia can be eliminated by use of the alternate pathway agents, sodium benzoate and sodium phenylacetate, which are excreted in the urine as conjugates of glycine andglutamine. Arginine, which is usually deficient, is supplied.When ammonia levels are very high (>1000 µM) or refractory to therapy, direct removal of ammonia using hemodialysis or hemofiltration, but not peritoneal dialysis, is required.The neurologic status must be followed closely and cerebraledema treated promptly. Despite successful management ofhyperammonemic crises, the long-term outcome for males with severe neonatal OTC deficiency and all children with severe ASL deficiency is guarded. Early liver transplantationhas increased survival, especially in males with severe OTC deficiency.
Restriction of dietary protein intake to daily needs is the mainstay of ongoing treatment for urea cycle defects. Crystalline essential amino acids can be supplied in amounts just sufficient to support protein synthesis. Arginine is an essential amino acid when arginine synthesis via the urea cycle is grossly impaired; thus arginine must be supplied except in the case of arginase deficiency. Citrulline needs to be supplied for some urea cycle disorders. For OTC deficiency and carbamoyl phosphate synthase deficiency, treatment with phenylbutyrate (which is metabolized to phenylacetate) prevents accumulation of ammonia.
Cystinuria is a disorder of renal tubular transport of cystine, lysine, arginine, and ornithine. Although intestinal transport is affected in some genetic forms, the symptoms are largely due to the renal transport abnormality. The concentration of cystine exceeds its solubility product and results in significant renal stones. Evaluation and diagnosis are based on the pattern of amino acid excretion in the urine. Mutation testing can be done. Treatment is based on increasing the solubility of cystine by complexing it with compounds such as penicillamine.
Intestinal transport of tryptophan is impaired in Hartnup syndrome; pellagra-like symptoms result from this deficiency. Diagnosis is based on the amino acid pattern in urine. Treatment with tryptophan is successful.
Organic acid disorders result from a block in the pathways of amino acid catabolism. Occurring after the amino moiety has been removed, they result in the accumulation of specific organic acids in the blood and urine. Treatment is directed at the specific abnormality, with restriction in precursor substrates and administration of enzyme cofactors, when available. Outcome is generally poor for children with neonatal-onset propionic or methylmalonic acidemia but is influenced by frequency and severity of crises and is optimal when diagnosis is made before the onset of the first episode. Liver transplantation has been used in some patients with early indicators of success. Confirmatory testing begins with a urine organic acid profile and plasma amino acid profile. More specific testing often requires enzyme measurements in appropriate tissues. When abnormal results suggest a specific disorder, DNA testing may identify the mutations involved.
Propionic acidemia and methylmalonic acidemia result from defects in a series of reactions called the propionate pathway (Fig. 54-1). Defects in these steps produce ketosis and hyperglycinemia. Propionic acidemia and methylmalonic acidemia are identified by neonatal screening with tandem mass spectrometry methods. The clinical manifestations of both of these disorders in the neonatal period consist of tachypnea, vomiting, lethargy, coma, intermittent ketoacidosis, hyperglycinemia, neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, hyperammonemia,
Methionine Valine Threonine (?) Odd-chain fatty acids Cholesterol Pyrimidines and hypoglycemia. If these disorders are not identified by neonatal screening, intermittent episodes of metabolic acidosis occur. Crises occur during periods of catabolic stress, such as fever, vomiting, and diarrhea; they also may occur without an apparent precipitating event. During periods of neutropenia, the risk of serious bacterial infection is increased. Failure to thrive and impaired development are common.
Propionic acidemia results from deficiency in propionylCoA-carboxylase, an enzyme that has two pairs of identicalsubunits. All forms of propionic acidemia are inherited in anautosomal recessive manner and are due to mutations in one of the subunits. Methylmalonic acidemia results from deficiencyin methylmalonyl mutase; this may be caused by mutations inthe gene for the mutase protein itself or in one of the stepsof the synthesis of the cobalamin cofactors for the enzyme.A complex set of defects in cobalamin metabolism results inother forms of methylmalonic acidemia, some of which are associated with hyperhomocystinemia. Treatment with massive doses of hydroxocobalamin (the active form of vitaminB12) is helpful in some cases of methylmalonic acidemia.
For propionic acidemia and the vitamin B12–unresponsive forms of methylmalonic acidemia, management includes the restriction of dietary protein and addition of a medical food deficient in the specific amino acid precursors of propionyl-CoA (isoleucine, valine, methionine, and threonine). Carnitine supplementation is often needed because it is lost in the urine as acylcarnitines. Intestinal bacteria produce a significant quantity of propionate; thus, antibacterial treatment to reduce the population of bacteria in the gut has some beneficial effect in propionic acidemia and vitamin B12–unresponsive methylmalonic acidemia.
Isovaleric acidemia results from a block in the catabolism of leucine. Its clinical manifestations are similar to those of defects in the propionate pathway. The strong odor of isovaleric acid results in sweaty feet odor in untreated infants. Therapy involves restricting the intake of leucine, and providing glycine
Coenzyme A.Figure 54-2 Metabolism in isovaleric acidemia. (1) Leucine catabolic pathway (transamination and decarboxylation), (2) isovaleryl-CoA dehydrogenase, (3) glycine acyltransferase. CoA, Coenzyme A.
as an alternate pathway therapy that conjugates isovaleric acid (Fig. 54-2) and is then excreted in the urine.
Glutaric acidemia I results from a deficiency at the end of thelysine catabolic pathway. It is an autosomal recessive diseaseproduced by deficiency of glutaryl-CoA dehydrogenase activity (Fig. 54-3). Clinical manifestations include macrocephaly, which may be present at birth, with fever and metabolic distress. Before the advent of newborn screening, more than70% of children had metabolic stroke-like episodes associated with infarction of the basal ganglia and dystonia, which characteristically develops after an episode of intercurrent illness, although it may reflect birth stress or prenatal insults. Treatment includes a protein-restricted diet accompanied by amedical food deficient in lysine and aggressive management of intercurrent illness. Despite this treatment as many as onethird of children still develop neurologic symptoms.
Biotin is a ubiquitous vitamin that is covalently linked to many carboxylases and cannot be recycled from its attachment to
Figure 54-3 Scheme of flavoprotein metabolism with reference to glutaric aciduria types I and II. (1) Glutaryl-CoA dehydrogenase (deficient in glutaric aciduria type1), (2) fatty acyl-CoA dehydrogenases, (3) other flavoprotein dehydrogenases, (4) ETF (deficiency results in glutaric aciduria type II), (5) ETF-ubiquinone oxidoreductase (deficiency results in glutaric aciduria type II). CoA, Coenzyme A; ETF, electron transfer flavoprotein.
the carboxylases. Thus, inherited biotinidase deficiency greatly increases the dietary requirement for biotin. Affected individuals become biotin deficient while consuming normal diets. Clinical disease can appear in the neonatal period or be delayed until later infancy, depending on the degree of deficiency.
Clinical manifestations of biotin deficiency vary greatly (seizures, hypotonia, sensory neural deafness, alopecia, skin rash, metabolic acidosis, immune deficits) and depend on which enzymes in which tissues have the most biotin depletion. Carboxylation is a crucial reaction in the metabolism of organic acids; most patients with biotinidase deficiency excrete abnormal amounts of several organic acids, among which β-methyl-crotonylglycine is prominent. In addition to biotinidase deficiency, an inherited deficiency of holocarboxylase synthetase gives rise to severe disease and to similar patterns of organic aciduria. Both conditions respond well to treatment with large doses of biotin (10 to 40 mg/day). Confirmatory testing is accomplished with quantitative measurement of biotinidase activity.
Fatty acids are derived from hydrolysis of triglycerides and catabolism of fat. The catabolism of fatty acids (Fig. 55-1) proceeds through the serial, oxidative removal of two carbons at a time as acetyl groups (each as acetyl-CoA). The reactions are catalyzed by a group of enzymes that exhibit specificities related to the chain length and other properties of the fatty acids: very long chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase (VLCAD), long-chain hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase (LCHAD) or trifunctional protein, medium-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase (MCAD), and short-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase (SCAD).
MCAD deficiency is the most common inborn error of β-oxidation. Hypoketotic hypoglycemia is a common manifestation, as is Reye syndrome–like illness with hypoglycemia and elevated liver enzymes. Fatty infiltration of the liver also occurs. True hepatic failure is rare. Episodes may be recurrent in the patient or the family. Sudden infant death syndrome is reported in infants with MCAD deficiency, perhaps related to hypoglycemia. Treatment requires avoidance of fasting and provision of calories with fever or other metabolic stress. Medium-chain triglycerides must be avoided.
VLCAD deficiency and LCHAD (trifunctional protein) deficiency result in significant myopathy and cardiomyopathy. LCHAD deficiency is accompanied by a retinopathy in later childhood. In all of the disorders of β-oxidation, carnitine depletion can occur through excessive urinary excretion of carnitine esters of the incompletely oxidized fatty acids. Measurement of plasma carnitine is helpful in monitoring for this deficiency, which results in weakness and muscle pain, along with myoglobinuria in some people.
Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA lyase deficiency, although not a disorder of β-oxidation, interferes profoundly with hepatic adaptation to fasting by impairing ketogenesis (see Fig. 55-1). The clinical manifestations are those of MCAD deficiency, except that carnitine depletion is less prominent.
The diagnosis of disorders involving a deficiency of β-oxidation is suggested by the clinical picture and by hypoketotic hypoglycemia. The diagnosis is confirmed by analysis of urinary organic acid and acylglycine profiles, along with plasma acylcarnitine and free fatty acid profiles. Enzyme measurements and DNA testing complete the confirmatory testing. The profile of acylcarnitines in cultured skin fibroblasts may be helpful if other testing is not conclusive. In MCAD deficiency, a single mutation 985 A→G accounts for a significant percentage of cases. Treatment includes avoidance of fasting, as well as fluid and calorie supplementation during periods of metabolic stress, such as fever. In MCAD deficiency, medium-chain triglycerides must be avoided. In the long-chain fatty acid metabolic disorders, provision of medium-chain fatty acids improves muscle energy metabolism.
Glutaric aciduria type II (multiple acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency) is a clinical disease produced by a defect in the transfer of electrons from flavine adenine nucleotides to the electron transport chain (electron transfer flavoprotein [ETF], or ETF dehydrogenase); this defect results in a deficiency of multiple fatty acyl CoA dehydrogenases (see Fig. 55-1).
medium-chain fatty acyl-CoA dehydrogenase, short-chain fatty acyl-CoA dehydrogenase, β-ketothiolase, (6) β-hydroxy-β-methylglutaryl-CoA synthase, (7) β-hydroxy-β-methylglutaryl-CoA lyase, (8) β-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase. CoA, Coenzyme A.
It should not be confused with glutaric acidemia type I (see Chapter 54). When the enzyme essentially is nonfunctional, congenital anomalies are common, including renal cysts, facial abnormalities, rocker-bottom feet, and hypospadias. Severely affected infants have nonketotic hypoglycemia, metabolic acidosis, and the odor of sweaty feet soon after birth; these infants may die within the neonatal period. Less severely affected infants may have a more episodic, Reye syndrome–like illness. Skeletal and cardiac myopathy can be prominent in this complex, multisystemic disease. Onset in later childhood may be marked by recurrent hypoglycemia and myopathy. Treatment has not been effective in infants with complete deficiency. Milder forms respond to avoidance of fasting and caloric support during metabolic stress. Some patients respond to administration of riboflavin. Glutaric aciduria type II exhibits autosomal recessive inheritance. Confirmatory testing is similar to that for the other fatty acid oxidation disorders.
Carnitine is a crucial cofactor in the transport of long-chain fatty acids across the mitochondrial inner membrane (see Fig. 55-1). It is synthesized from lysine by humans and is present in dietary red meat and dairy products. Carnitine deficiency is either primary (caused by failure of intake, synthesis, or transport of carnitine) or secondary (caused by the excretion of excessive amounts of carnitine as carnityl esters in patients with other inborn errors of metabolism; treatment with drugs that complex carnitine, such as valproic acid; or as a result of renal replacement therapy). Primary systemic carnitine deficiency is rare and results from inadequate renal reabsorption of carnitine secondary to a mutation in the sodium-dependent carnitine transporter. It responds well to carnitine supplementation. There are numerous examples of secondary carnitine deficiency among the organic acidurias, most prominently in disorders of the propionate pathway and in disorders of the β-oxidation of long-chain and medium-chain fatty acids. Clinical manifestations of carnitine deficiency include hypoketotic hypoglycemia, lethargy, lassitude, muscle weakness, sudden death, and cardiomyopathy.
Peroxisomes are subcellular organelles involved in metabolism and biosynthesis of bile acids, membrane phospholipids, and some β-oxidation of long-chain fatty acids. Disorders include conditions caused by abnormal peroxisomal enzyme function and abnormal peroxisomal biogenesis. Clinical symptoms are diverse and frequently include developmental delay and dysmorphic features that can involve the skeleton and the head. Zellweger syndrome, neonatal adrenoleukodystrophy, and infantile Refsum disease are examples of disorders of peroxisome biogenesis. Zellweger syndrome, an autosomal recessive disease (1:100,000 births), is also called cerebrohepatorenal syndrome. Peroxisomes are virtually absent, as are normal peroxisomal functions, which include the oxidation of very long chain fatty acids. Affected infants have high
Table 56-1 Lysosomal Storage Diseases DISEASE (EPONYM) ENZYME DEFICIENCY CLINICAL ONSET DYSOSTOSIS MULTIPLEX CORNEA RETINA LIVER, SPLEEN CNS FINDINGS STORED MATERIAL IN URINE WBC/BONE MARROW COMMENT MULTIPLE FORMS MUCOPOLYSACCHARIDOSES (MPS)
MPS I (Hurler) α-L-Iduronidase ∼1 yr Yes Cloudy — Both enlarged Profound loss of Acid mucopoly-Alder-Reilly Kyphosis Yes— function saccharide bodies (WBC) Scheie and compounds
Metachromatic Arylsulfatase A 1–2 yr No Clear Normal Normal Profound loss of No Normal — Yes leukodystrophy
Fabry disease α-Galactosidase A Childhood, No Cloudy by — Liver may be Normal No Normal X-linked No (cerebrosidase) adolescence
Wolman disease Acid lipase Neonatal No Clear Normal Both enlarged Profound loss of No Inclusion in — Yes function
WBC ML II (I-cell Mannosyl Neonatal Yes Clouding — Liver often Profound loss of Oligosaccharides No Gingival No disease) phosphotransferase
Table 56-1 Lysosomal Storage Diseases—cont'd DISEASE (EPONYM) ENZYME DEFICIENCY CLINICAL ONSET DYSOSTOSIS MULTIPLEX CORNEA RETINA LIVER, SPLEEN CNS FINDINGS STORED MATERIAL IN URINE WBC/BONE MARROW COMMENT MULTIPLE FORMS Farber lipogranulo-matosis Acid ceramidase 1st 4 mo No Usually clear Cherry-red spots (12%) May be enlarged Normal or impaired Usually not — Arthritis, nodules Yes MUCOLIPIDOSES (ML) AND CLINICALLY RELATED DISEASE
Multiple sulfatase Many sulfatases 1–2 yr Yes Usually Usually Both enlarged Profound loss of Acid mucopoly-Alder-Reilly Ichthyosis Yes deficiency
Aspartylglyco-Aspartylglucos-6 mo Mild Clear Normal Early, not late Profound loss of Aspartylgluco-Inclusions in Develop No saminuria aminidase
Mannosidosis α-Mannosidase 1st mo Yes Cloudy — Liver enlarged Profound loss of Generally no Inclusions in Cataracts Yes function
Fucosidosis α-L-Fucosidase 1st mo Yes Clear May be Both enlarged Profound loss of Oligosaccharides Inclusions in — Yes pigmented commonly function
CNS, Central nervous system; WBC, white blood cell.foreheads, flat orbital ridges, widely open fontanelles, hepatomegaly, and hypotonia. Other anomalies are common. Failure to thrive, seizures, and nystagmus develop early, and death occurs within the first year. Refsum disease, neonatal adrenoleukodystrophy, and malonic aciduria are examples of peroxisomal single-enzyme disorders. Diagnostic testing includes measurement of very long chain fatty acids in plasma and pipecolic acid in urine. Specific molecular testing, particularly for the disorders involving one in the series of PEX genes, is available for some disorders. Most of these conditions are untreatable; however, bone marrow transplant can be helpful in X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy before the onset of severe symptoms.
Lysosomes are subcellular organelles that contain degradative enzymes for complex glycosaminoglycans, also called mucopolysaccharides. Glycosaminoglycans are macromolecules that play a number of roles within cells. Genetic disorders result from abnormal formation of the lysosome itself or from deficiency in specific hydrolytic enzymes, in the mechanisms that protect intralysosomal enzymes from hydrolytic destruction, or in the transport of materials into the lysosome and of metabolites out of the lysosome. These materials are stored in cells and ultimately result in their destruction, especially in the nervous system. The clinical disorders are diverse, reflecting tissue specificity of lysosomal function and the intrinsic turnover rates of the compounds whose cycling is affected (Table 56-1). Some disorders affect many tissues but spare the brain. Some are apparent only during adult life. Storage in solid organs results in organomegaly. In many of these disorders, developmental delay, corneal clouding, and limitation of joint mobility are common features. Storage in tissues of the upper and lower airways may result in respiratory compromise. Non-immune hydrops fetalis occurs in several lysosomal disorders.
Diagnostic testing includes measurement of glycosaminoglycans in urine and specific assays for lysosomal enzyme activity in white blood cells. If the urine test is positive, it helps direct specific enzyme measurement. If it is negative, it does not exclude a lysosomal storage disorder, and other testing modalities are needed if clinical signs are convincing. In disorders in which specific mutations are known, molecular testing refines the diagnosis. Specific diagnosis, carrier testing, and evaluation of at-risk family members require one of these approaches. Making a specific diagnosis is assuming increasing importance because specific treatment for some lysosomal disorders is very effective.
Specific treatment directed at the metabolic abnormality isavailable for some lysosomal disorders. In specific disorders (Gaucher disease) oral medication may be successfulin reducing the accumulation of the metabolite that cannotbe catabolized. For some disorders, bone marrow (stem cell)transplantation can restore lysosomal function. For others, replacement of the missing hydrolytic enzyme by systemic administration of the enzyme allows degradation of stored material. The disorders caused by deficient α-l-iduronidase (Hurler syndrome, Scheie syndrome, and theirvariants) respond to treatment with intravenous humanrecombinant α-l-iduronidase (laronidase). Other disorders for which enzyme therapy is available include MPS VI(Maroteaux-Lamy syndrome), Gaucher disease, Fabry disease, and MPS II (Hunter syndrome). Stem cell transplantation has been helpful or is under investigation in the followingdisorders: MPS type IH (Hurler syndrome), MPS type VI(Maroteaux-Lamy syndrome), MPS type VII (Sly syndrome),Krabbe disease, metachromatic leukodystrophy, alpha-fucosidosis, alpha-mannosidosis, Gaucher disease, and Nie-mann-Pick disease type B. However, treatment for many ofthese conditions is supportive, with careful attention to respiratory status and physical therapy. As a result of the rapidlychanging therapeutic options, geneticists with a special interest in these disorders should be consulted when a diagnosis issuspected. Treatment decisions should be made by the familyin the light of the potential therapeutic benefits and burdensof therapy and typically should be resolved before the onset ofcentral nervous system manifestations, which are typically notimproved by these approaches.
Mitochondria are very complex organelles located in virtually all cells of the body. They perform a variety of functions such as intracellular signaling of oxygen tension and key roles in programmed cell death. From a biochemical perspective, mitochondria are the key site of energy production in the cell. Indeed they are the site of beta oxidation (see Chapter 55), the Krebs cycle, and parts of the urea cycle (see Figure 53-4). This complexity requires more than 1000 proteins localized specifically to the mitochondrion. Only 13 of these are encoded by the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA); the remainder are nuclear encoded (on the chromosomes) and require import into the mitochondrion. In addition, the mitochondrial DNA needs its own set of proteins to allow for its maintenance, transcription, and translation.
Mitochondrial disorders are typically defined as defects in the ability to generate energy from oxidative phosphorylation to produce ATP by transferring electrons formed by glycolysis and the Krebs cycle to a cascade that generates NADH and FADH2 (Fig. 57-1) and are also known as phosphorylation disorders or respiratory chain disorders. The more dependent on energy production an organ is, the more profound the symptoms of deficiency of mitochondrial function in that organ. Certain proteins are only expressed in specific tissues, and defects in these will lead to differing patterns of disease. Taken together, mitochondrial disorders may affect as many as 1 in 2500 people.
Figure 57-1 The mammalian mitochondrial genome and its protein-coding gene repertoire involved in the oxidative phosphorylation pathway.
(A) Schematic representation of genes within mammalian mitochondrial genome (∼7000 bp). Genes on the outer circle are transcribed from the light strand. Location of the tRNAs (red boxes) conforms to the canonical placental mammalian arrangement. (B) Simplified view of the mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation machinery. Complexes I (NADH dehydrogenase) and II (succinate dehydrogenase) receive electrons from either NADH or FADH2. Electrons are then carried between complexes by the carrier molecules coenzyme Q/ubiquinone (UQ) and cytochrome c (CYC). The potential energy of these electron transfer events is used to pump protons against the gradient, from the mitochondrial matrix into the intermembrane space [complexes I and III (cytochrome bc1) and IV (cytochrome c oxidase)]. ATP synthesis by complex V (ATP synthase) is driven by the proton gradient and occurs in the mitochondrial matrix. HSP, Putative heavy-strand promoter; IM, intermembrane space; MM, mitochondrial matrix; OHR, origin of heavy-strand replication; OLR, origin of light-strand replication. (From da Fonseca RR, Johnson WE, O’Brien SJ, et al: The adaptive evolution of the mammalian mitochondrial genome, BMC Genomics 9:119, 2008.)
The signs and symptoms of mitochondrial disorders are varied. Symptoms depend on how an organ is affected by energy deficiency. Muscle function that is compromised will result in muscle fatigue and weakness. Myopathy is common and may show ragged red fibers on a muscle biopsy. Rhabdomyolysis can occur. Brain dysfunction may be expressed as seizures, loss of intellectual function, headache, or signs consistent with stroke. Spastic paraplegia may occur. Ataxia and basal ganglia symptoms are features of some disorders. Vision and eye muscle movement may be compromised, with progressive external ophthalmoplegia being almost diagnostic of an oxidative phosphorylation defect. Cardiomyopathy is frequent, and cardiac rhythm disturbances occur. Liver dysfunction may be expressed as both synthetic deficiencies and liver failure. Diabetes may signal pancreatic involvement. Renal tubular abnormalities and renal failure both occur. Gastrointestinal symptoms include both diarrhea and constipation that are difficult to treat. Alper disease (cerebral degeneration and liver disease) and Leigh disease (subacute necrotizing encephalomyelopathy) show similar brain lesions but in distinctly different areas of the brain. Because the signs and symptoms may involve multiple organs and may seem nonspecific, physicians may not suspect a mitochondrial disorder until significant progression has occurred.
Defects in the mitochondrial respiratory chain may produce lactic acidosis. Given the complexity of the respiratory chain, it is not surprising that the described defects are varied as to cause, intensity, and tissues affected. The metabolism of glucose to carbon dioxide and water, with pyruvate as an intermediate (Fig. 57-2), occurs as part of the energy cycle in many tissues. Interference with mitochondrial oxidative metabolism may result in the accumulation of pyruvate. Because lactate dehydrogenase is ubiquitous, and because the equilibrium catalyzed by this enzyme greatly favors lactate over pyruvate, the accumulation of pyruvate results in lactic acidosis. The most common cause of such lactic acidosis is oxygen deficiency caused by hypoxia or poor perfusion. Lactic acidosis also occurs when specific reactions of pyruvate are impaired. In the liver, pyruvate undergoes carboxylation to form oxaloacetate using the enzyme pyruvate carboxylase; deficiency in this enzyme causes severe lactic acidosis. In many tissues, lactate is catabolized to form acetyl coenzyme A (CoA) by the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex; deficiency in pyruvate dehydrogenase also can cause lactic acidosis. Because these reactions also play a role in gluconeogenesis, hypoglycemia can be a feature of these disorders. These disorders comprise forms of primary lactic acidosis. They frequently present as intractable, lethal acidosis in the first days or weeks of life and are difficult to treat. Some of the enzymes in this pathway can be measured
Figure 57-2 Metabolism of pyruvate and lactate. (1) Alanine aminotransferase, (2) lactate dehydrogenase, (3) pyruvate dehydrogenase, (4) pyruvate carboxylase, (5) Krebs cycle, (6) phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase, (7) reverse glycolysis. CoA, Coenzyme A.
and specific diagnosis can be made. This may require white blood cells or tissue biopsy.
Mitochondrial function is carried out by proteins that are coded for by both nuclear and mitochondrial genes. These enzymes are extremely complicated, and several are quite large. The mitochondrial genome encodes 13 subunits of the enzymes involved in mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation. More than 85 autosomal genes code for the rest of the subunits of these enzymes. In children, only about 15% of cases of mitochondrial disease are caused by mutations in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA); the rest are due to mutations in nuclear genes. The most frequent cases in several large series have been mutations that lead to a reduction in the ability of the mtDNA to maintain itself. Large population studies show carrier rates of about 2% of the population for mutations in polymerase (DNA directed), gamma (POLG), and deoxyguanosine kinase (DGUOK). Most disorders show autosomal recessive inheritance. A few are X linked or passed on by maternal mtDNA mutations, such as mitochondrial encephalopathy with lactic acidosis (MELAS) and mitochondrial encephalopathy with ragged red fibers (MERRF), or deletions such as maternally inherited diabetes and deafness (MIDD).
Repairing the basic energy deficit and getting the appropriate drugs and cofactors to the appropriate location within the mitochondrion are difficult. Nevertheless, a number of strategies are used, including judicious physical therapy and exercise with adequate rest, adequate nutrition, and cofactors for the deficient pathway. Specific treatment is limited for most mitochondrial defects. Vitamin cofactors for the respiratory chain, such as riboflavin and pharmaceutical forms of coenzyme Q, are often used. When a single organ bears most of the damage, organ transplant may be effective. Identification of family members at risk may allow earlier diagnosis and treatment.
The author would like to acknowledge Dr. Margretta R. Seashore for her superb work in the last edition. Hers was an excellent analysis of the topic and has informed much of the present discussion.
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Metab 94(4):397–402, 2008Clarence W. Gowen, Jr.ASSESSMENT OF THE MOTHER, FETUS, AND NEWBORNPregnancies associated with perinatal morbidity or mortality are considered high risk. Identification of high-risk pregnancies is essential to the care of the infant because they may result in intrauterine fetal death, intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), congenital anomalies, excessive fetal growth, birth asphyxia and trauma, prematurity (birth at <38 weeks) or postmaturity (birth at ≥42 weeks), neonatal disease, or longterm risks of cerebral palsy, mental retardation, and chronic sequelae of neonatal intensive care. Ten percent to 20% of women may be high risk at some time during their pregnancy. Although some obstetric complications are first seen during labor and delivery and cannot be predicted, more than 50% of perinatal mortality and morbidity results from problems identified before delivery as high risk. After a high-risk pregnancy is identified, measures can be instituted to prevent complications, provide intensive fetal surveillance, and initiate appropriate treatments of the mother and fetus.
A history of previous premature birth, intrauterine fetal death, multiple gestation, IUGR, congenital malformation, explained or unexplained neonatal death (e.g., group B streptococcal sepsis), birth trauma, preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, grand multipara status (five or more pregnancies), or cesarean section is associated with additional risk in subsequent pregnancies.
Pregnancy complications that increase the risk of a poor outcome can be secondary to maternal or fetal causes or both. Complications include placenta previa; abruptio placentae; preeclampsia; diabetes; oligohydramnios or polyhydramnios; multiple gestation; blood group sensitization; abnormal levels of unconjugated estriols, chorionic gonadotropin, or alpha-fetoprotein; abnormal fetal ultrasound; hydrops fetalis; maternal trauma or surgery; abnormal fetal presentation (breech); exposure to prescribed or illicit drugs; prolonged labor; cephalopelvic disproportion; prolapsed cord; fetal distress; prolonged or premature rupture of membranes; short cervical length (<25 mm) and the presence of fetal fibronectin in cervical secretions at less than 35 weeks’ gestation (a predictor of preterm labor); cervical infections and vaginosis; and congenital infections, including rubella, cytomegalovirus, herpes simplex, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), toxoplasmosis, syphilis, and gonorrhea.
Maternal medical complications associated with increased risk of maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality include diabetes, chronic hypertension, congenital heart disease (especially with right-to-left shunting and Eisenmenger complex), glomerulonephritis, collagen vascular disease (especially systemic lupus erythematosus with or without antiphospholipid antibodies), lung disease (cystic fibrosis), severe anemia (sickle cell anemia), hyperthyroidism, myasthenia gravis, idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, inborn errors of metabolism (maternal phenylketonuria), and malignancy.
Obstetric complications often are associated with increased fetal or neonatal risk. Vaginal bleeding in the first trimester or early second trimester may be caused by a threatened or actual spontaneous abortion and is associated with increased risk of congenital malformations or chromosomal disorders. Painless vaginal bleeding that is not associated with labor and occurs in the late second or (more likely) third trimester often is the result of placenta previa. Bleeding develops when the placental mass overlies the internal cervical os; this may produce maternal hemorrhagic shock, necessitating transfusions. Bleeding also may result in premature delivery. Painful vaginal bleeding is often the result of retroplacental hemorrhage or placental abruption. Associated findings may be advanced maternal age and parity, maternal chronic hypertension, maternal cocaine use, preterm rupture of membranes, polyhydramnios, twin gestation, and preeclampsia. Fetal asphyxia ensues as the retroplacental hematoma causes placental separation that interferes with fetal oxygenation. Both types of bleeding are associated with fetal blood loss. Neonatal anemia may be more common with placenta previa.
Abnormalities in the volume of amniotic fluid, resulting in oligohydramnios or polyhydramnios, are associated with increased fetal and neonatal risk. Oligohydramnios (amniotic ultrasound fluid index ≤2 cm) is associated with IUGR and major congenital anomalies, particularly of the fetal kidneys, and with chromosomal syndromes. Bilateral renal agenesis results in diminished production of amniotic fluid and a specific deformation syndrome (Potter syndrome), which includes clubfeet, characteristic compressed facies, low-set ears, scaphoid abdomen, and diminished chest wall size accompanied by pulmonary hypoplasia and, often, pneumothorax. Uterine compression in the absence of amniotic fluid retards lung growth, and patients with this condition die of respiratory failure rather than renal insufficiency. Twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome (donor) and complications from amniotic fluid leakage also are associated with oligohydramnios. Oligohydramnios increases the risk of fetal distress during labor (meconium-stained fluid and variable decelerations); the risk may be reduced by saline amnioinfusion during labor.
Polyhydramnios may be acute and associated with premature labor, maternal discomfort, and respiratory compromise. More often, polyhydramnios is chronic and is associated with diabetes, immune or nonimmune hydrops fetalis, multiple gestation, trisomy 18 or 21, and major congenital anomalies. Anencephaly, hydrocephaly, and meningomyelocele are associated with reduced fetal swallowing of amniotic fluid. Esophageal and duodenal atresia as well as cleft palate interfere with swallowing and gastrointestinal fluid dynamics. Additional causes of polyhydramnios include Werdnig-Hoffmann and Beckwith-Wiedemann syndromes, conjoined twins, chylothorax, cystic adenomatoid lung malformation, diaphragmatic hernia, gastroschisis, sacral teratoma, placental chorioangioma, and myotonic dystrophy. Hydrops fetalis may be a result of Rh or other blood group incompatibilities and anemia caused by intrauterine hemolysis of fetal erythrocytes by maternal IgG-sensitized antibodies crossing the placenta. Hydrops is characterized by fetal edema, ascites, hypoalbuminemia, and congestive heart failure. Causes of nonimmune hydrops include fetal arrhythmias (supraventricular tachycardia, congenital heart block), fetal anemia (bone marrow suppression, nonimmune hemolysis, or twin-to-twin transfusion), severe congenital malformation, intrauterine infections, congenital neuroblastoma, inborn errors of metabolism (storage diseases), fetal hepatitis, nephrotic syndrome, and pulmonary lymphangiectasia. Twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome (recipient) also may be associated with polyhydramnios. Polyhydramnios is often the result of unknown causes. If severe, polyhydramnios may be managed with bed rest, indomethacin, or serial amniocenteses.
Premature rupture of the membranes, which occurs in the absence of labor, and prolonged rupture of the membranes(>24 hours) are associated with an increased risk of maternal or fetal infection (chorioamnionitis) and preterm birth. In the immediate newborn period, group B streptococcus and Escherichia coli are the two most common pathogens associated with sepsis. Listeria monocytogenes is a less common cause. Mycoplasma hominis, Ureaplasma urealyticum, Chlamydia trachomatis, and anaerobic bacteria of the vaginal flora also have been implicated in infection of the amniotic fluid. Infection with community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus must be considered for infants with skin infections or with known exposures. The risk of serious fetal infection increases as the duration between rupture and labor (latent period) increases, especially if the period is greater than 24 hours. Intrapartum antibiotic therapy decreases the risk of neonatal sepsis.
Multiple gestations are associated with increased risk resulting from polyhydramnios, premature birth, IUGR, abnormal presentation (breech), congenital anomalies (intestinal atresia, porencephaly, and single umbilical artery), intrauterine fetal demise, birth asphyxia, and twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome. Twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome is associated with a high mortality and is seen only in monozygotic twins who share a common placenta and have an arteriovenous connection between their circulations. The fetus on the arterial side of the shunt serves as the blood donor, resulting in fetal anemia, growth retardation, and oligohydramnios for this fetus. The recipient, or venous-side twin, is larger or discordant in size, is plethoric and polycythemic, and may show polyhydramnios. Weight differences of 20% and hemoglobin differences of 5 g/dL suggest the diagnosis. Ultrasonography in the second trimester reveals discordant amniotic fluid volume with oliguria/oligohydramnios and hypervolemia/polyuria/polyhydramnios with a distended bladder, with or without hydrops and heart failure. Treatment includes amniocentesis and attempts to ablate the arteriovenous connection (using a laser). The birth order of twins also affects morbidity by increasing the risk of the second-born twin for breech position, birth asphyxia, birth trauma, and respiratory distress syndrome.
Overall, twinning is observed in 1 of 80 pregnancies; 80% of all twin gestations are dizygotic twins. The diagnosis of the type of twins can be determined by placentation, sex, fetal membrane structure, and, if necessary, tissue and blood group typing or DNA analysis.
Toxemia of pregnancy, or preeclampsia/eclampsia, is a disorder of unknown but probably vascular etiology that may lead to maternal hypertension, uteroplacental insufficiency, IUGR, intrauterine asphyxia, maternal seizures, and maternal death. Toxemia is more common in nulliparous women and in women with twin gestation, chronic hypertension, obesity, renal disease, positive family history of toxemia, or diabetes mellitus. A subcategory of preeclampsia, the HELLP syndrome (hemolysis, elevated liver enzyme levels, low platelets), is more severe and is often associated with a fetal inborn error of fatty acid oxidation (long-chain hydroxyacyl–coenzyme A dehydrogenase of the trifunctional protein complex).
The late fetal–early neonatal period has the highest mortality rate of any age interval. Perinatal mortality refers to fetal deaths occurring from the 20th week of gestation until the 28th day after birth and is expressed as number of deaths per 1000 live births. Intrauterine fetal death accounts for 40% to 50% of the perinatal mortality rate. Such infants, defined as stillborn, are born without a heart rate and are apneic, limp, pale, and cyanotic. Many stillborn infants exhibit evidence of maceration; pale, peeling skin; corneal opacification; and softcranial contents.
Mortality rates around the time of birth are expressed as number of deaths per 1000 live births. The neonatal mortality rate includes all infants dying during the period from after birth to the first 28 days of life. Modern neonatal intensive care allows many newborns with life-threatening diseases to survive the neonatal period, only to die of their original diseases or of complications of therapy after 28 days of life. This delayed mortality and mortality caused by acquired illnesses occur during the postneonatal period, which begins after 28 days of life and extends to the end of the first year of life.
The infant mortality rate encompasses the neonatal and the postneonatal periods. In the United States, it declined to 6.15:1000 in 2010. The rate for African American infants was approximately 11.6:1000. The most common causes of
Abruptio placentae Chromosomal anomalies Congenital malformations (heart, CNS, renal) Hydrops fetalis Intrauterine asphyxia* Intrauterine infection* Maternal underlying disease (chronic hypertension, autoimmune disease, diabetes mellitus) Multiple gestation* Placental insufficiency* Umbilical cord accident
CNS, Central nervous system. *Common.perinatal and neonatal death are listed in Table 58-1. Overall, congenital anomalies and diseases of the premature infant are the most significant causes of neonatal mortality.
Low birth weight (LBW) infants, defined as infants having birth weights of less than 2500 g, represent a disproportionately large component of the neonatal and infant mortality rates. Although LBW infants make up only about 6% to 7% of all births, they account for more than 70% of neonatal deaths. IUGR is the most common cause of LBW in developing countries, whereas prematurity is the cause in developed countries.
Very low birth weight (VLBW) infants, weighing less than 1500 g at birth, represent about 1% of all births but account for 50% of neonatal deaths. Compared with infants weighing 2500 g or more, LBW infants are 40 times more likely to die in the neonatal period; VLBW infants have a 200-fold higher risk of neonatal death. The LBW rate has not improved in recent years and is one of the major reasons that the U.S. infant mortality rate is high compared with other large, modern, industrialized countries.
Maternal factors associated with a LBW caused by premature birth or IUGR include a previous LBW birth, low socioeconomic status, low level of maternal education, no antenatal care, maternal age younger than 16 years or older than 35 years, short interval between pregnancies, cigarette smoking, alcohol and illicit drug use, physical (excessive standing or walking) or psychological (poor social support) stresses, unmarried status, low pre-pregnancy weight (<45 kg), poor weight gain during pregnancy (<10 lb), and African American race. LBW and VLBW rates for African American women are twice the rates for white women. The neonatal and infant mortality rates are nearly twofold higher among African American infants. These racial differences are only partly explained by poverty.
Fetal size can be determined accurately by ultrasound techniques. Fetal growth can be assessed by determining the fundal height of the uterus through bimanual examination of the gravid abdomen. Ultrasound measurements of the fetal biparietal diameter, femur length, and abdominal circumference are used to estimate fetal growth. A combination of these measurements predicts fetal weight. Deviations from the normal fetal growth curve are associated with high-risk conditions.
IUGR is present when fetal growth stops and, over time, declines to less than the 5th percentile of growth for gestational age or when growth proceeds slowly, but absolute size remains less than the 5th percentile. Growth restriction may result from fetal conditions that reduce the innate growth potential, such as fetal rubella infection, primordial dwarfing syndromes, chromosomal abnormalities, and congenital malformation syndromes. Reduced fetal production of insulin and insulin-like growth factor I is associated with fetal growth restriction. Placental causes of IUGR include villitis (congenital infections), placental tumors, chronic abruptio placentae, twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome, and placental insufficiency. Maternal causes include severe peripheral vascular diseases that reduce uterine blood flow (chronic hypertension, diabetic vasculopathy, and preeclampsia/eclampsia), reduced nutritional intake, alcohol or drug abuse, cigarette smoking, and uterine constraint (noted predominantly in mothers of small stature with a low prepregnancy weight) and reduced weight gain during pregnancy. The outcome of IUGR depends on the cause of the reduced fetal growth and the associated complications after birth (Table 58-2). Fetuses subjected to chronic intrauterine hypoxia as a result of uteroplacental insufficiency are at an increased risk for the comorbidities of birth asphyxia, polycythemia, and hypoglycemia. Fetuses with reduced tissue mass due to chromosomal, metabolic, or multiple congenital anomaly syndromes have poor outcomes based on the prognosis for the particular syndrome. Fetuses born to small mothers and fetuses with poor nutritional intake usually show catch-up growth after birth.
Fetal size does not always correlate with functional or structural maturity. Determining fetal maturity is crucial when making a decision to deliver a fetus because of fetal or maternal disease. Fetal gestational age may be determined accurately on the basis of a correct estimate of the last menstrual period. Clinically relevant landmark dates can be used to determine gestational age; the first audible heart tones by fetoscope are detected at 18 to 20 weeks (12 to 14 weeks by Doppler methods), and quickening of fetal movements usually is perceived at 18 to 20 weeks. However, it is not always
Intrauterine fetal Placental insufficiency, hypoxia, acidosis, demise infection, lethal anomaly
Temperature Cold stress, ↓ fat stores, hypoxia, instability hypoglycemiaPerinatal asphyxia ↓ Uteroplacental perfusion during labor with or without chronic fetal hypoxia-acidosis, meconium aspiration syndrome
Hypoglycemia ↓ Tissue glycogen stores; ↓ gluconeogenesis, hyperinsulinism, ↑ glucose needs of hypoxia, hypothermia, relatively large brain
Polycythemia-Fetal hypoxia with ↑ erythropoietin production hyperviscosityReduced oxygen Hypoxia, hypoglycemia, starvation effect, poor consumption/ subcutaneous fat stores hypothermia
Dysmorphology Syndrome anomalads, chromosomal-genetic disorders, oligohydramnios-induced deformationsPulmonary Hypothermia, polycythemia, hypoxia hemorrhageModified from Carlo WA: The high-risk infant. In Kliegman RM, Stanton BF, St.
Geme JW, et al, editors: Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics, ed 19, Philadelphia, 2011, Elsevier Science.
*Other problems are common to the gestational age–related risks of prematurity if born before 37 weeks.
possible to determine fetal maturity by such dating, especially in a high-risk situation, such as preterm labor or a diabetic pregnancy.
Surfactant, a combination of surface-active phospholipids and proteins, is produced by the maturing fetal lung and eventually is secreted into the amniotic fluid. The amount of surfactant in amniotic fluid is a direct reflection of surface-active material in the fetal lung and can be used to predict the presence or absence of pulmonary maturity. Because phosphatidylcholine, or lecithin, is a principal component of surfactant, the determination of lecithin in amniotic fluid is used to predict a mature fetus. Lecithin concentration increases with increasing gestational age, beginning at 32 to 34 weeks.
Methods used to assess fetal well-being before the onset of labor are focused on identifying a fetus at risk for asphyxia or a fetus already compromised by uteroplacental insufficiency. The oxytocin challenge test simulates uterine contractions through an infusion of oxytocin sufficient to produce three contractions in a 10-minute period. The development of periodic fetal bradycardia out of phase with uterine contractions (late deceleration) is a positive test result and predicts an at-risk fetus.
The nonstress test examines the heart rate response to fetal body movements. Heart rate increases of more than 15 beats/min lasting 15 seconds, are reassuring. If two such episodes occur in 30 minutes, the test result is considered reactive (versus nonreactive), and the fetus is not at risk. Additional signs of fetal well-being are fetal breathing movements, gross body movements, fetal tone, and the presence of amniotic fluid pockets more than 2 cm in size, detected by ultrasound. The biophysical profile combines the nonstress test with these four parameters and offers the most accurate fetal assessment.
Doppler examination of the fetal aorta or umbilical arteries permits identification of decreased or reversed diastolic blood flow associated with increased peripheral vascular resistance, fetal hypoxia with acidosis, and placental insufficiency. Cordocentesis (percutaneous umbilical blood sampling) can provide fetal blood for Po2, pH, lactate, and hemoglobin measurements to identify a hypoxic, acidotic, or anemic fetus who is at risk for intrauterine fetal demise or birth asphyxia. Cordocentesis also can be used to determine fetal blood type, platelet count, microbial testing, antibody titer, and rapid karyotype.
In a high-risk pregnancy, the fetal heart rate should be monitored continuously during labor, as should uterine contractions.Fetal heart rate abnormalities may indicate baseline tachycardia (>160 beats/min as a result of anemia, β-sympathomimeticdrugs, maternal fever, hyperthyroidism, arrhythmia, or fetal distress), baseline bradycardia (<120 beats/min as a result of fetaldistress, complete heart block, or local anesthetics), or reducedbeat-to-beat variability (flattened tracing resulting from fetalsleep, tachycardia, atropine, sedatives, prematurity, or fetaldistress). Periodic changes of the heart rate relative to uterinepressure help determine the presence of hypoxia and acidosiscaused by uteroplacental insufficiency or maternal hypotension(late or type II decelerations) or by umbilical cord compression(variable decelerations). In the presence of severe decelerations (late or repeated prolonged variable), a fetal scalp bloodgas level should be obtained to assess fetal acidosis. A scalppH of less than 7.20 indicates fetal hypoxic compromise. A pHbetween 7.20 and 7.25 is in a borderline zone and warrants repeat testing.
Fetal anomalies may be detected by ultrasonography. Emphasis should be placed on visualization of the genitourinary tract; the head (for anencephaly or hydrocephaly), neck (for thickened nuchal translucency), and back (for spina bifida); skeleton; gastrointestinal tract; and heart. Four-chamber and great artery views are required for detection of heart anomalies. Chromosomal anomaly syndromes are often associated with an abnormal “triple test” (low estriols, low maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein levels, and elevated placental chorionic gonadotropin levels). If a fetal abnormality is detected, fetal therapy or delivery with therapy in the neonatal intensive care unit may be lifesaving.
The approach to the birth of an infant requires a detailed history (Table 58-3). Knowing the mother’s risk factors enables the delivery room team to anticipate problems that may occur after birth. The history of a woman’s labor and delivery can reveal events that might lead to complications affecting either the mother or the neonate, even when the pregnancy was previously considered low risk. Anticipating the need to resuscitate a newborn as a result of fetal distress increases the likelihood of successful resuscitation.
The transition from fetal to neonatal physiology occurs at birth. Oxygen transport across the placenta results in a gradient between the maternal and fetal Pao2. Although fetal oxygenated blood has a low Pao2 level compared with that of adults and infants, the fetus is not anaerobic. Fetal oxygen uptake and consumption are similar to neonatal rates, even though the thermal environments and activity levels of fetuses and neonates differ. The oxygen content of fetal blood
Age Race Sexually transmitted infections, hepatitis, AIDS Illicit drugs, cigarettes, ethanol, cocaine Immune status (syphilis, rubella, hepatitis B, HIV, blood group) Occupational exposure
Chronic hypertension Heart disease Diabetes mellitus Thyroid disorders Hematologic/malignancy Collagen-vascular disease (SLE) Genetic history—inborn errors of metabolism, bleeding, jaundice Drug therapy
Current gestational age Method of assessing gestational ageFetal surveillance (OCT, NST, biophysical profile) Ultrasonography (anomalies, hydrops) Amniotic fluid analysis (L/S ratio) Oligohydramnios-polyhydramnios Vaginal bleeding Preterm labor Premature (prolonged) rupture of membranes (duration) Preeclampsia Urinary tract infection Colonization status (herpes simplex, group B streptococcus) Medications/drugs Acute medical illness/exposure to infectious agents Fetal therapy
Duration of labor Presentation—vertex, breech Vaginal versus cesarean section Spontaneous labor versus augmented or induced with oxytocin (Pitocin) Forceps delivery Presence of meconium-stained fluid Maternal fever/amnionitis Fetal heart rate patterns (distress) Scalp pH Maternal analgesia, anesthesia Nuchal cord Apgar score/methods of resuscitation Gestational age assessment Growth status (AGA, LGA, SGA)
AGA, Average for gestational age; AIDS, acquired immunodeficiency syndrome; LGA, large for gestational age; L/S, lecithin-to-sphingomyelin ratio; NST, nonstress test; OCT, oxytocin challenge test; SGA, small for gestational age; SLE, systemic lupus erythematosus.
is almost equal to the oxygen content in older infants and children because fetal blood has a much higher concentration of hemoglobin.
Fetal hemoglobin (two alpha and two gamma chains) has a higher affinity for oxygen than adult hemoglobin, facilitating oxygen transfer across the placenta. The fetal hemoglobin-oxygen dissociation curve is shifted to the left of the adult curve (Fig. 58-1); at the same Pao2 level, fetal hemoglobin is more saturated than adult hemoglobin. Because fetal hemoglobin functions on the steep, lower end of the oxygen saturation curve (Pao2, 20 to 30 mm Hg), however, oxygen unloading to the tissue is not deficient. In contrast, at the higher oxygen concentrations present in the placenta, oxygen loading is enhanced. In the last trimester, fetal hemoglobin production begins to decrease as adult hemoglobin production begins to increase, becoming the only hemoglobin available to the infant by 3 to 6 months of life. At this time, the fetal hemoglobin dissociation curve has shifted to the adult position.
A portion of well-oxygenated umbilical venous blood returning to the heart from the placenta perfuses the liver. The remainder bypasses the liver through a shunt (the ductus venosus) andenters the inferior vena cava. This oxygenated blood in the venacava constitutes 65% to 70% of venous return to the right atrium.The crista dividens in the right atrium directs one third of thisblood across the patent foramen ovale to the left atrium, whereit subsequently is pumped to the coronary, cerebral, and upperextremity circulations by the left ventricle. Venous return from the upper body combines with the remaining two thirds of thevena caval blood in the right atrium and is directed to the rightventricle. This mixture of venous low-oxygenated blood fromthe upper and lower body enters the pulmonary artery. Only 8%to 10% of it is pumped to the pulmonary circuit; the remaining80% to 92% of the right ventricular output bypasses the lungsthrough a patent ductus arteriosus and enters the descendingaorta. The amount of blood flowing to the pulmonary systemis low because vasoconstriction produced by medial muscle
Figure 58-1 Hemoglobin-oxygen dissociation curves. The position of the adult curve depends on the binding of adult hemoglobin to 2,3-diphosphoglycerate (DPG), temperature, PCO2, and hydrogen ion concentration (pH).
hypertrophy of the pulmonary arterioles and fluid in the fetallung increases resistance to blood flow. Pulmonary artery tonealso responds to hypoxia, hypercapnia, and acidosis with vasoconstriction, a response that may increase pulmonary vascularresistance further. The ductus arteriosus remains patent in thefetus because of low Pao2 levels and dilating prostaglandins. Inutero, the right ventricle is the dominant ventricle, pumping65% of the combined ventricular output, which is a high volume (450 mL/kg/min) compared with that pumped by an olderinfant’s right ventricle (200 mL/kg/min).
The transition of the circulation, occurring between the fetal and neonatal periods, involves the removal of the low-resistance circulation of the placenta, the onset of breathing, reduction of pulmonary arterial resistance, and closure of in utero shunts. Clamping the umbilical cord eliminates the low-pressure system of the placenta and increases systemic blood pressure. Decreased venous return from the placenta decreases right atrial pressure. As breathing begins, air replaces lung fluid, maintaining the functional residual capacity. Fluid leaves the lung, in part, through the trachea; it is either swallowed or squeezed out during vaginal delivery. The pulmonary lymphatic and venous systems reabsorb the remaining fluid.
Most normal infants require little pressure to spontaneously open the lungs after birth (5 to 10 cm H2O). With the onset of breathing, pulmonary vascular resistance decreases, partly a result of the mechanics of breathing and partly a result of the elevated arterial oxygen tensions. The increased blood flow to the lungs increases the volume of pulmonary venous blood returning to the left atrium; left atrial pressure now exceeds right atrial pressure, and the foramen ovale closes. As the flow through the pulmonary circulation increases and arterial oxygen tensions rise, the ductus arteriosus begins to constrict. In a term infant, this constriction functionally closes the ductus arteriosus within 1 day after birth. A permanent closure requires thrombosis and fibrosis, a process that may take several weeks. In a premature infant, the ductus arteriosus is less sensitive to the effects of oxygen; if circulating levels of vasodilating prostaglandins are elevated, the ductus arteriosus may remain patent. This patency is a common problem in a premature infant with respiratory distress syndrome.
Ventilation, oxygenation, and normal pH and Pco2 levels immediately reduce pulmonary artery vasoconstriction bycausing smooth muscle relaxation. Remodeling of the medialmuscle hypertrophy begins at birth and continues for thenext 3 months, resulting in a further reduction of pulmonary vascular resistance and a further increase of pulmonaryblood flow. Persistence or aggravation of pulmonary vasoconstriction caused by acidosis, hypoxia, hypercapnia, hypothermia, polycythemia, asphyxia, shunting of blood from thelungs, or pulmonary parenchymal hypoplasia results in persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN). Failure to replace pulmonary alveolar fluid completely withair can lead to respiratory distress (transient tachypnea of the newborn).
Silver nitrate (1%) instilled into both eyes without being washed out is an indicated effective therapy for the prevention of neonatal gonococcal ophthalmia, which can result in severe panophthalmitis and subsequent blindness. Silver nitrate may produce a chemical conjunctivitis with a mucopurulent discharge and is not effective against C. trachomatis. Many hospitals use erythromycin drops to prevent neonatal gonococcal and chlamydial eye disease.
Bacterial colonization of a newborn may begin in utero if the fetal membranes have been ruptured. Most infants undergo colonization after birth and acquire the bacteria present in the mother’s genitourinary system, such as group B streptococci, staphylococci, E. coli, and clostridia. Antiseptic skin or cord care is routine in most nurseries to prevent the spread of pathologic bacteria from one infant to another and to prevent disease in the individual infant. Staphylococcal bullous impetigo, omphalitis, diarrhea, and systemic disease may result from colonization with virulent S. aureus. Triple antibiotic ointment (polymyxin B, neomycin, and bacitracin) or bacitracin may be applied to the umbilical cord to reduce its colonization with gram-positive bacteria. Epidemics of
S. aureus nursery infections are managed with strict infectious disease control measures (cohorting, hand washing, and monitoring for colonization).
Vitamin K prophylaxis (intramuscular) should be given to all infants to prevent hemorrhagic disease of the newborn. Before discharge, infants should receive the hepatitis B vaccine and be screened for various diseases (Tables 58-4 and 58-5).
Fetal or neonatal hypoxia, hypercapnia, poor cardiac output, and a metabolic acidosis can result from numerous conditions affecting the fetus, the placenta, or the mother. Whetherin utero or after birth, asphyxia-caused hypoxic-ischemic brain injury is the result of reduced gaseous exchange through the placenta or through the lungs. Asphyxia associated with severe bradycardia or cardiac insufficiency reduces or eliminates tissue blood flow, resulting in ischemia. The fetaland neonatal circulatory systems respond to reduced oxygenavailability by shunting the blood preferentially to the brain,heart, and adrenal glands and away from the intestine, kidneys, lungs, and skin.
Beta-ketothiolase deficiency (mitochondrial acetoacetyl CoA thiolase deficiency) BKT C5:1/C5OHCobalamin defects A, B CBL (A,B) C3Long-chain hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency* LCHAD/D C16OH/C18:1OHTrifunctional protein deficiency* TFP C16OH/C18:1OHVery long chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency VLCAD/D C14:1/C14Galactosemia* GALT Total galactose, GALT activityCongenital hypothyroidism CH T4, TSH HEMOGLOBIN DISORDERSFrom Sahai I, Levy H: Newborn screening. In Gleason C, Devasker D editors: Avery’s diseases of the newborn, ed 9, Philadelphia, 2012, Saunders. *Can manifest acutely in the first week of life.
Metabolic acidosis during asphyxia is caused by the combined that interfere with uteroplacental perfusion (chronic hyper-effects of poor cardiac output secondary to hypoxic depression tension, preeclampsia, and diabetes mellitus) place the fetus of myocardial function, systemic hypoxia, and tissue anaerobic at risk for intrauterine asphyxia. Maternal epidural anesthesia metabolism. With severe or prolonged intrauterine or neonatal and the development of the vena caval compression syndrome asphyxia, multiple vital organs are affected (Table 58-6). may produce maternal hypotension, which decreases uterine
Many conditions that contribute to fetal or neonatal perfusion. Maternal medications given to relieve pain during asphyxia are the same medical or obstetric problems associ-labor may cross the placenta and depress the infant’s respiraated with high-risk pregnancy (Table 58-7). Maternal diseases tory center, resulting in apnea at the time of birth.
Table 58-5 Abnormal Newborn Screening Results: Possible Implications and Initial Action to Be Taken NEWBORN SCREENING FINDING DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS INITIAL ACTION ↑ Phenylalanine PKU, non-PKU hyperphenylalaninemia, pterin defect, galactosemia, transient hyperphenylalaninemia Repeat blood specimen
T4, ↑ TSH Congenital hypothyroidism, iodine exposure Repeat blood specimen or thyroid function testing, begin thyroxine treatment
T4, normal TSH Maternal hyperthyroidism, thyroxine-binding globulin Repeat blood specimen deficiency, secondary hypothyroidism, congenital hypothyroidism with delayed TSH elevation
Methionine Homocystinuria, isolated liver dysfunction, tyrosinemia Repeat blood and urine specimen type I, transient hypermethioninemia
Leucine Maple syrup urine disease, transient elevation Clinical evaluation including urine for ketones, acid-base status, amino acid studies, immediate neonatal ICU care if urine ketones positive
Tyrosine Tyrosinemia type I or type II, transient tyrosinemia, liver Repeat blood specimen disease
S-hemoglobin Sickle cell disease, sickle cell trait Hemoglobin electrophoresisTrypsinogen Cystic fibrosis, transient, intestinal anomalies, perinatal Repeat blood specimen, possible sweat test stress, trisomies 13 and 18, renal failure and DNA testing
Creatinine phosphokinase Duchenne muscular dystrophy, other type of muscular Repeat blood test dystrophy, birth trauma, invasive procedure
Biotinidase Biotinidase deficiency Serum biotinidase assay, biotin therapyG6PD G6PD deficiency Complete blood count, bilirubin determinationHIV antibody (IgG) Maternally transmitted HIV, possible AIDS Infectious disease consultation
From Kim SZ, Levy HL: Newborn screening. In Taeusch HW, Ballard RA, editors: Avery’s Diseases of the Newborn, ed 7, Philadelphia, 1998, Saunders.
AIDS, Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome; G6PD, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase; HIV, human immunodeficiency virus; ICU, intensive care unit; PKU, phenylketonuria; T4, thyroxine; TSH, thyroid-stimulating hormone.
Table 58-6 Effects of Asphyxia SYSTEM EFFECT Central nervous system Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy, IVH, PVL, cerebral edema, seizures, hypotonia, hypertonia Cardiovascular Myocardial ischemia, poor contractility, tricuspid insufficiency, hypotension
Pulmonary Persistent pulmonary hypertension, respiratory distress syndromeGastrointestinal Perforation, ulceration, necrosisMetabolic Inappropriate ADH, hyponatremia, hypoglycemia, hypocalcemia, myoglobinuriaADH, Antidiuretic hormone; IVH, intraventricular hemorrhage; PVL, periventricular leukomalacia.Table 58-7 Etiology of Birth Asphyxia TYPE EXAMPLE INTRAUTERINE Hypoxia-ischemia Uteroplacental insufficiency, abruptio placentae, prolapsed cord, maternal hypotension, unknown
Anemia-shock Vasa previa, placenta previa, fetomaternal hemorrhage, erythroblastosisBirth trauma Cephalopelvic disproportion, shoulder dystocia, breech presentation, spinal cord transection
Hypoxia-ischemia Umbilical cord compression, tetanic contraction, abruptio placentae POSTPARTUMCentral nervous system Maternal medication, trauma, previous episodes of fetal hypoxia-acidosis
Congenital neuromuscular disease Congenital myasthenia gravis, myopathy, myotonic dystrophyInfection Consolidated pneumonia, shockAirway disorder Choanal atresia, severe obstructing goiter or tumor, laryngeal webs
Pulmonary disorder Severe immaturity, pneumothorax, pleural effusion, diaphragmatic hernia, pulmonary hypoplasia
Renal disorder Pulmonary hypoplasia, pneumothoraxFetal conditions associated with asphyxia usually do not become manifested until delivery, when the infant must initiate and sustain ventilation. In addition, the upper and lower airways must be patent and unobstructed. Alveoli must be free from foreign material, such as meconium, amniotic fluid debris, and infectious exudates, which increases airway resistance, reduces lung compliance, and leads to respiratory distress and hypoxia. Some extremely immature infants weighing less than 1000 g at birth may be unable to expand their lungs, even in the absence of other pathology. Their compliant chest walls and surfactant deficiency may result in poor air exchange, retractions, hypoxia, and apnea.
The newborn (particularly a preterm infant) responds paradoxically to hypoxia with apnea rather than tachypnea as occurs in adults. Episodes of intrauterine asphyxia also may depress the neonatal central nervous system. If recovery of the fetal heart rate occurs as a result of improved uteroplacental perfusion, fetal hypoxia and acidosis may resolve. Nonetheless, if the effect on the respiratory center is more severe, a newborn may not initiate an adequate ventilatory response at birth and may undergo another episode of asphyxia.
The Apgar examination, a rapid scoring system based on physiologic responses to the birth process, is a good method for assessing the need to resuscitate a newborn (Table 58-8).At intervals of 1 minute and 5 minutes after birth, each of the five physiologic parameters is observed or elicited by a qualified examiner. Full-term infants with a normal cardiopulmonary adaptation should score 8 to 9 at 1 and 5 minutes. Apgar scores of 4 to 7 warrant close attention to determine whether the infant’s status will improve and to ascertain whether any pathologic condition is contributing to the low Apgar score.
By definition, an Apgar score of 0 to 3 represents either a cardiopulmonary arrest or a condition caused by severe bradycardia, hypoventilation, or central nervous system depression. Most low Apgar scores are caused by difficulty in establishing adequate ventilation and not by primary cardiac pathology. In addition to an Apgar score of 0 to 3, most infants with asphyxia severe enough to cause neurologic injury also manifest fetal acidosis (pH <7); seizures, coma, or hypotonia; and multiorgan dysfunction. Low Apgar scores may be caused by fetal hypoxia or other factors listed in Table 58-7. Most infants with low Apgar scores respond to assisted ventilation by face mask or by endotracheal intubation and usually do not need emergency medication.
Resuscitation of a newborn with a low Apgar score follows the same systematic sequence as that for resuscitation of older patients, but in the newborn period this simplified ABCD approach requires some qualification (Fig. 58-2). In the ABCD approach, A stands for securing a patent airway by clearing amniotic fluid or meconium by suctioning; A is also a reminder of anticipation and the need for knowing the events of pregnancy, labor, and delivery. Evidence of a diaphragmatic hernia and a low Apgar score indicate that immediate endotracheal intubation is required. If a mask and bag are used, gas enters the lung and the stomach, and the latter may act as an expanding mass in the chest that compromises respiration. If fetal hydrops has occurred with pleural effusions, bilateral thoracentesis to evacuate the pleural effusions may be needed to establish adequate ventilation.
B represents breathing. If the neonate is apneic or hypoventilating and remains cyanotic, artificial ventilation should be initiated. Ventilation should be performed with a well-fitted mask attached to an anesthesia bag and a manometer to prevent extremely high pressures from being given to the newborn; 100% oxygen should be administered through the mask.
Yes, stayTerm gestation? Routine careBreathing or crying?Good tone?  Clear airway if necessary  Dry  Ongoing evaluation
Warm, clear airway if necessary, dry, stimulateNoHR below 100,30 sec gasping, or apnea?Yes Labored breathing or persistent cyanosis?Yes No Clear airway SpO2 monitoringPPV, Consider CPAP Postresuscitation care HR below 100? Take ventilation corrective steps SpO2 monitoring
No HR below 60?Consider intubation Chest compressions Coordinate with PPV Take ventilation corrective steps Intubate if no chest rise! HR below 60? IV epinephrine
Figure 58-2 New Guidelines and Algorithm for Neonatal Resuscitation. CPAP, Continuous positive airway pressure; PPV, positive-pressure ventilation. (From Kattwinkel J, Perlman JM, Aziz K, et al: Special Report—Neonatal Resuscitation: 2010 American Heart Association Guidelines for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Emergency Cardiovascular Care, Pediatrics 126(5):e1400–e1413, 2010. Erratum in Neoreviews 128(1):176,
Consider: 2011. doi: 10.1542/peds.2011-1260.)If the infant does not revive, an endotracheal tube should be placed, attached to the anesthesia bag and manometer, and 100% oxygen should be administered. The pressure generated should begin at 20 to 25 cm H2O, with a rate of 40 to 60 breaths/minute. An adequate response to ventilation includes good chest rise, return of breath sounds, well-oxygenated color, heart rate returning to the normal range (120 to 160 beats/minute), normal end-tidal carbon dioxide, and, later, increased muscle activity and wakefulness. The usual recovery after a cardiac arrest first involves a return to a normal heart rate, followed by disappearance of cyanosis and noticeably improved perfusion. An infant may remain limp and be apneic for a prolonged time after return of cardiac output and correction of acidosis.
Breathing initially should be briefly delayed if meconium-stained amniotic fluid is present to avoid dissemination of meconium into the lungs, producing severe aspiration pneumonia. If meconium is noted in the amniotic fluid, the oropharynx should be suctioned when the head is delivered. After the birth of a depressed infant, the oral cavity should be
Table 58-9 Life-Threatening Congenital Anomalies NAME MANIFESTATIONS Choanal atresia (stenosis) Respiratory distress in delivery room, apnea, unable to pass nasogastric tube through nares Pierre Robin syndrome Micrognathia, cleft palate, airway obstruction
Diaphragmatic hernia Scaphoid abdomen, bowel sounds present in left chest, heart shifted to right, respiratory distress, polyhydramnios
Tracheoesophageal fistula Polyhydramnios, aspiration pneumonia, excessive salivation, unable to place nasogastric tube in stomach
Intestinal obstruction: volvulus, Polyhydramnios, bile-stained emesis, abdominal distention duodenal atresia, ileal atresia
Renal agenesis/Potter syndrome Oligohydramnios, anuria, pulmonary hypoplasia, pneumothoraxNeural tube defects: anencephaly, Polyhydramnios, elevated α-fetoprotein; decreased fetal activity meningomyelocele
Down syndrome (trisomy 21) Hypotonia, congenital heart disease, duodenal atresia
Ductal-dependent congenital heart Cyanosis, murmur, shock disease suctioned again; the vocal cords should be visualized and the infant intubated.
C represents circulation and external cardiac massage. Ifartificial ventilation does not improve bradycardia, if asystole is present, or if peripheral pulses cannot be palpated,external cardiac massage should be performed at a rate of 120 compressions/minute with compressions and breathsgiven at a ratio of 3:1. External cardiac massage usually is notneeded because most infants in the delivery room respondto ventilation.
D represents the administration of drugs. If bradycardia is unresponsive to ventilation or if asystole is present, epinephrine should be administered. Intravenous (IV) epinephrine (1:10,000), 0.1 to 0.3 mL/kg, should be given through an umbilical venous line or injected into the endotracheal tube. However, when epinephrine is administered through the endotracheal tube, the result is often unpredictable. Before medications are administered in the presence of electrical cardiac activity with poor pulses, it is important to determine whether there is a pneumothorax. Transillumination of the thorax, involving the use of a bright light through each side of the thorax and over the sternum, may suggest pneumothorax if one side transmits more light than the other. Breath sounds may be decreased over a pneumothorax and there may be a shift of the heart tones away from the side of a tension pneumothorax.
If central nervous system depression in the infant may be due to a narcotic medication given to the mother, 0.1 mg/kg of naloxone (Narcan) can be given to the infant intravenously or endotracheally. Before this drug is administered, the ABCs should be followed carefully. Naloxone should not be given to a newborn of a mother who is suspected of being addicted to narcotics or is on methadone maintenance because the newborn may experience severe withdrawal seizures.
In babies of more than 35 weeks’ gestation suffering hypoxic ischemic injury at birth, induced therapeutic hypothermia(33.0°C to 34.0°C) for 72 hours has been shown in clinical studies to be efficacious in reducing the severity of brain injury. Brain hypothermia, whether induced by whole-body or selective head cooling, provides neuroprotection against encephalopathy presumably due to hypoxic ischemia.
The first physical examination of a newborn may be a general physical examination of a well infant or an examination to confirm fetal diagnoses or to determine the cause of various manifestations of neonatal diseases. Problems in the transition from fetal to neonatal life may be detectable immediately in the delivery room or during the first day of life. Physical examination also may reveal effects of the labor and delivery resulting from asphyxia, drugs, or birth trauma. The first newborn examination is an important way to detect congenital malformations or deformations (Table 58-9). Significant congenital malformations may be present in 1% to 3% of all births.
Signs such as cyanosis, nasal flaring, intercostal retractions, and grunting suggest pulmonary disease. Meconium staining of the umbilical cord, nails, and skin suggest fetal distress and the possibility of aspiration pneumonia. The level of spontaneous activity, passive muscle tone, quality of the cry, and apnea are useful screening signs to evaluate the state of the nervous system.
The examination should proceed with an assessment of vital signs, particularly heart rate (normal rate, 120 to 160 beats/min); respiratory rate (normal rate, 30 to 60 breaths/min); temperature (usually done per rectum and later as an axillary measurement); and blood pressure (often reserved for sick infants). Length, weight, and head circumference should be measured and plotted on growth curves to determine whether growth is normal, accelerated, or retarded for the specific gestational age.
Figure 58-3 Physical criteria for assessment of maturity and gestational age. Expanded New Ballard Score (NBS) includes extremely premature infants and has been refined to improve accuracy in more mature infants. (From Ballard JL, Khoury JC, Wedig K, et al: New Ballard Score, expanded to include extremely premature infants, J Pediatr 119:417-423, 1991.)
Gestational age is determined by an assessment of various physical signs (Fig. 58-3) and neuromuscular characteristics (Fig. 58-4) that vary according to fetal age and maturity. Physical criteria mature with advancing fetal age, including increasing firmness of the pinna of the ear; increasing size of the breast tissue; decreasing fine, immature lanugo hair over the back; and decreasing opacity of the skin. Neurologic criteria mature with gestational age, including increasing flexion of the legs, hips, and arms; increasing tone of the flexor muscles of the neck; and decreasing laxity of the joints. These signs are determined during the first day of life and are assigned scores. The cumulative score is correlated with a gestational age, which is usually accurate to within 2 weeks (Fig. 58-5).
Gestational age assessment permits the detection of abnormal fetal growth patterns, aiding in predicting the neonatal complications of largeness or smallness for gestational age (Fig. 58-6). Infants born at a weight greater than the 90th percentile for age are considered large for gestational age. Among therisks associated with being large for gestational age are all the risks of the infant of a diabetic mother and risks associated with postmaturity. Infants born at a weight less than 10th percentile for age (some growth curves use <2 standard deviations or the 5th percentile) are small for gestational age and have IUGR. Problems associated with small for gestational age infants include congenital malformations, in addition to the problems listed in Table 58-2.
The skin should be evaluated for pallor, plethora, jaundice, cyanosis, meconium staining, petechiae, ecchymoses, congenital nevi, and neonatal rashes. Vasomotor instability with cutis marmorata, telangiectasia, phlebectasia (intermittent mottling with venous prominence), and acrocyanosis (feet and hands) is normal in a premature infant. Acrocyanosis also may be noted in a healthy term infant in the first days after birth.
The skin is covered with lanugo hair, which disappears by term gestation. Hair tufts over the lumbosacral spine suggest a spinal cord defect. Vernix caseosa, a soft, white, creamy layer covering the skin in preterm infants, disappears by term. Post-term infants often have peeling, parchment-like skin. Mongolian spots are transient, dark blue to black pigmented macules seen over the lower back and buttocks in 90% of African American, Indian, and Asian infants. Nevus simplex (salmon patch), or pink macular hemangioma, is common, usually transient, and noted on the back of the neck, eyelids, and forehead. Nevus flammeus, or port-wine stain, is seen on the face and should cause the examiner to consider Sturge-Weber syndrome (trigeminal angiomatosis, convulsions, and ipsilateral intracranial tram-line calcifications).
Figure 58-4 Neuromuscular criteria for assessment of maturity and gestational age. Expanded New Ballard Score (NBS) includes extremely premature infants and has been refined to improve accuracy in more mature infants. (From Ballard JL, Khoury JC, Wedig K, et al: New Ballard Score, expanded to include extremely premature infants, J Pediatr 119:417-423, 1991.)
Congenital melanocytic nevi are pigmented lesions of varying size noted in 1% of neonates. Giant pigmented nevi are uncommon but have malignant potential. Capillary hemangiomas are raised, red lesions, whereas cavernous hemangiomas are deeper, blue masses. Both lesions increase in size after birth, then resolve when the child is 1 to 4 years of age. When enlarged, these hemangiomas may produce high-output heart failure or platelet trapping and hemorrhage. Erythema toxicum is an erythematous, papular-vesicular rash common in neonates that develops after birth and involves eosinophils in the vesicular fluid. Pustular melanosis, more common in African American infants, may be seen at birth and consists of a small, dry vesicle on a pigmented brown macular base. Erythema toxicum and pustular melanosis are benign lesions but may mimic more serious conditions, such as the vesicular rash of disseminated herpes simplex or the bullous eruption of S. aureus impetigo. Tzanck smear, Gram stain, Wright stain, direct fluorescent antibody stain, polymerase chain reaction for herpes DNA, and appropriate cultures may be needed to distinguish these rashes. Other common characteristic rashes are milia (yellow-white epidermal cysts of the pilosebaceous follicles that are noted on the nose) and miliaria (prickly heat), which is caused by obstructed sweat glands. Edema maybe present in preterm infants, but also suggests hydrops fetalis, sepsis, hypoalbuminemia, or lymphatic disorders.
Figure 58-5 Maturity rating as calculated by adding the physical and neurologic scores, calculating the gestational age. (From Ballard JL, Khoury JC, Wedig K, et al: New Ballard Score, expanded to include extremely premature infants, J Pediatr 119:417-423, 1991.).
The skull may be elongated and molded after a prolonged labor; this resolves 2 to 3 days after birth. The sutures should be palpated to determine the width and the presence of premature fusion or cranial synostosis. The anterior and posterior 4.5 3.5 2.5 1.5 0.5 0 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41
Figure 58-6 Birth weight–specific and estimated gestational age–specific mortality rates. The dashed lines of the figure represent the 10th and 90th percentile weights. The grid lines are plotted by each gestational age and in 250-g weight increments. Each number in the box is the percent mortality rate for the grid defined by gestational age and birth weight range. (From Thomas P, Peabody J, Turnier V, et al: A new look at intrauterine growth and impact of race, attitude, and gender, Pediatrics 106:E21, 2000.) fontanelles should be soft and nonbulging, with the anterior larger than the posterior. A large fontanelle is associated with hydrocephalus, hypothyroidism, rickets, and other disorders. Soft areas away from the fontanelle are craniotabes; these lesions feel like a Ping-Pong ball when they are palpated. They may be a result of in utero compression. The skull should be examined carefully for signs of trauma or lacerations from internal fetal electrode sites or fetal scalp pH sampling; abscesses may develop in these areas.
Face, Eyes, and MouthThe face should be inspected for dysmorphic features, such as epicanthal folds, hypertelorism, preauricular tags or sinuses, low-set ears, long philtrum, and cleft lip or palate. Facial asymmetry may be a result of seventh nerve palsy; head tilt may be caused by torticollis.
The eyes should open spontaneously, especially in an uprightposition. Before 28 weeks’ gestational age, the eyelids may befused. Coloboma, megalocornea, and microphthalmia suggestother malformations or intrauterine infections. A cloudy corneagreater than 1 cm in diameter also may be seen in congenitalglaucoma, uveal tract dysgenesis, and storage diseases. Conjunctival and retinal hemorrhages are common and usually of no significance. The pupillary response to light is present at 28weeks of gestation. The red reflex of the retina is shown easily. A white reflex, or leukokoria, is abnormal and may be the result ofcataracts, ocular tumor, severe chorioretinitis, persistent hyper-plastic primary vitreous, or retinopathy of prematurity.
The mouth should be inspected for the presence of natal teeth, clefts of the soft and hard palate and uvula, and micrognathia. A bifid uvula suggests a submucosal cleft. White, shiny, multiple transient epidermal inclusion cysts (Epstein pearls) on the hard palate are normal. Hard, marble-sized masses in the buccal mucosa are usually transient idiopathic fat necrosis. The tympanic membranes are dull, gray, opaque, and immobile in the first 1 to 4 weeks. These findings should not be confused with otitis media.
The neck appears short and symmetrical. Abnormalities include midline clefts or masses caused by thyroglossal duct cysts or by goiter and lateral neck masses (or sinuses), which are the result of branchial clefts. Cystic hygromas and hemangiomas may be present. Shortening of the sternocleidomastoid muscle with a fibrous tumor over the muscle produces head tilt and asymmetrical facies (neonatal torticollis). Arnold-Chiari malformation and cervical spine lesions also produce torticollis. Edema and webbing of the neck suggest Turner syndrome. Both clavicles should be palpated for fractures.
Examination of the chest includes inspection of the chest wall to identify asymmetry resulting from absence of the pectoralis muscle and inspection of the breast tissue to determine gestational age and detect a breast abscess. Boys and girls may have breast engorgement and produce milk; milk expression should not be attempted. Supernumerary nipples may be bilateral and may be associated with renal anomalies.
Examination of the lungs includes observations of the rate, depth, and nature of intercostal or sternal retractions. Breath sounds should be equal on both sides of the chest, and rales should not be heard after the first 1 to 2 hours of life. Diminished or absent breath sounds on one side suggest pneumothorax, collapsed lung, pleural effusion, or diaphragmatic hernia. Shift of the cardiac impulse away from a tension pneumothorax and diaphragmatic hernia and toward the collapsed lung is a helpful physical finding for differentiating these disorders. Subcutaneous emphysema of the neck or chest also suggests a pneumothorax or pneumomediastinum, whereas bowel sounds auscultated in the chest in the presence of a scaphoid abdomen suggest a diaphragmatic hernia.
The position of the heart in infants is more midline than in older children. The first heart sound is normal, whereas the second heart sound may not be split in the first day of life. Decreased splitting of the second heart sound is noted in PPHN, transposition of the great vessels, and pulmonary atresia. Heart murmurs in newborns are common in the delivery room and during the first day of life. Most of these murmurs are transient and are due to closure of the ductus arteriosus, peripheral pulmonary artery stenosis, or a small ventral septal defect. Pulses should be palpated in the upper and lower extremities (over the brachial and femoral arteries). Blood pressure in the upper and lower extremities should be measured in all patients with a murmur or heart failure. An upperto-lower extremity gradient of more than 10 to 20 mm Hg suggests coarctation of the aorta.
The liver may be palpable 2 cm below the right costal margin. The spleen tip is less likely to be palpable. A left-sided liver suggests situs inversus and asplenia syndrome. Both kidneys should be palpable in the first day of life with gentle, deep palpation. The first urination occurs during the first day of life in more than 95% of normal term infants.
Abdominal masses usually represent hydronephrosis or dysplastic-multicystic kidney disease. Less often, masses indicate ovarian cysts, intestinal duplication, neuroblastoma, or mesoblastic nephroma. Masses should be evaluated immediately with ultrasound. Abdominal distention may be caused by intestinal obstructions, such as ileal atresia, meconium ileus, midgut volvulus, imperforate anus, or Hirschsprung disease. Meconium stool is passed normally within 48 hours of birth in 99% of term infants. The anus should be patent. An imperforate anus is not always visible; the first temperature taken with a rectal thermometer should be taken carefully. The abdominal wall musculature may be absent, as in prune-belly syndrome, or weak, resulting in diastasis recti. Umbilical hernias are common in African American infants. The umbilical cord should be inspected to determine the presence of two arteries and one vein and the absence of an urachus or a herniation of abdominal contents, as occurs with an omphalocele. The latter is associated with extraintestinal problems, such as genetic trisomies and hypoglycemia (Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome). Bleeding from the cord suggests a coagulation disorder, and a chronic discharge may be a granuloma of the umbilical stump or, less frequently, a draining omphalomesenteric cyst or urachus. Erythema around the umbilicus is omphalitis and may cause portal vein thrombophlebitis and subsequent extrahepatic portal hypertension. The herniation of bowel through the abdominal wall 2 to 3 cm lateral to the umbilicus is a gastroschisis.
Available @ StudentConsult.comAt term, the testes should be descended into a well-formed pigmented and rugated scrotum. The testes occasionally are in the inguinal canal; this is more common among preterm infants, as is cryptorchidism. Scrotal swelling may represent a hernia, transient hydrocele, in utero torsion of the testes, or, rarely, dissected meconium from meconium ileus and peritonitis. Hydroceles are clear and readily seen by transillumination, whereas testicular torsion in the newborn may present as a painless, dark swelling. The urethral opening should be at the end of the penis. Epispadias or hypospadias alone should not raise concern about pseudohermaphroditism. However, if no testes are present in the scrotum and hypospadias is present, problems of sexual development should be suspected. Circumcision should be deferred with hypospadias because the foreskin is often needed for the repair. The normal prepuce is often too tight to retract in the neonatal period.
The female genitalia normally may reveal a milky whiteor blood-streaked vaginal discharge as a result of maternalhormone withdrawal. Mucosal tags of the labia majora arecommon. Distention of an imperforate hymen may produce hydrometrocolpos and a lower midline abdominalmass as a result of an enlarged uterus. Clitoral enlargementwith fusion of the labial-scrotal folds (labia majora) suggests adrenogenital syndrome or exposure to masculinizingmaternal hormones.
Examination of the extremities should involve assessment of length, symmetry, and presence of hemihypertrophy, atrophy, polydactyly, syndactyly, simian creases, absent fingers, overlapping fingers, rocker-bottom feet, clubfoot, congenital bands, fractures, and amputations.
The spine should be examined for evidence of sacral hair tufts, a dermal sinus tract above the gluteal folds, congenital scoliosis (a result of hemivertebra), and soft tissue masses such as lipomas or meningomyeloceles.
The hips should be examined for congenital dysplasia (dislocation). Gluteal fold asymmetry or leg length discrepancy is suggestive of dysplasia, but the examiner should perform the Barlow test and the Ortolani maneuver to evaluate the stability of the hip joint. These tests determine whether the femoral head can be displaced from the acetabulum (Barlow test) and then replaced (Ortolani maneuver).
The neurologic examination should include assessment ofactive and passive tone, level of alertness, primary neonatal
Sepsis, pneumonia Inflammation, pulmonary hypertension, ARDSMeconium aspiration pneumonia Mechanical obstruction, inflammation, pulmonary hypertensionPersistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn Pulmonary hypertensionDiaphragmatic hernia Pulmonary hypoplasia, pulmonary hypertensionCyanotic heart disease with decreased pulmonary Right-to-left shunt as in pulmonary atresia, tetralogy of Fallot blood flow
Cyanotic heart disease with increased pulmonary Mixing lesion as in single ventricle or truncus arteriosus blood flow
Cyanotic heart disease with congestive heart failure Pulmonary edema and poor cardiac output as in hypoplastic left heart and coarctation of aorta
Heart failure alone Pulmonary edema and poor cardiac contractility as in sepsis, myocarditis, supraventricular tachycardia, or complete heart block; high-output failure as in PDA or vein of Galen or other arteriovenous malformations
Maternal sedative drugs Hypoventilation, apneaIntracranial hemorrhage CNS depression, seizureNeuromuscular disease Hypotonia, hypoventilation, pulmonary hypoplasia HEMATOLOGICHypoglycemia CNS depression, congestive heart failureARDS, Acute respiratory distress syndrome; CNS, central nervous system; PDA, patent ductus arteriosus.
(primitive) reflexes, deep tendon reflexes, spontaneousmotor activity, and cranial nerves (involving retinal examination, extraocular muscle movement, masseter power asin sucking, facial motility, hearing, and tongue function).The Moro reflex, present at birth and gone in 3 to 6 months,is one of the primary newborn reflexes. It is elicited by sudden, slight dropping of the supported head from a slightlyraised supine position, which should elicit opening of thehands and extension and abduction of the arms, followed by upper extremity flexion and a cry. The palmar grasp ispresent by 28 weeks’ gestation and gone by 4 months of age.Deep tendon reflexes may be brisk in a normal newborn; 5to 10 beats of ankle clonus are normal. The Babinski signis extensor (upgoing). The sensory examination can be evaluated by withdrawal of an extremity, grimace, and cryin response to painful stimuli. The rooting reflex (turningof the head toward light tactile stimulation of the perioralarea) is present by 32 weeks’ gestation.
Special Conditions Requiring Resuscitation in the Delivery RoomAvailable @ StudentConsult.comAcrocyanosis (blue color of the hands and feet with pinkcolor of the rest of the body) is common in the delivery roomand is usually normal. Central cyanosis of the trunk, mucosal membranes, and tongue can occur at any time after birth andis always a manifestation of a serious underlying condition.Cyanosis is noted with 4 to 5 g/dL of deoxygenated hemoglobin. Central cyanosis can be caused by problems in manydifferent organ systems, although cardiopulmonary diseasesare the most common (Table 58-10). Respiratory distress syndrome, sepsis, and cyanotic heart disease are the threemost common causes of cyanosis in infants admitted to aneonatal intensive care unit. A systematic evaluation of theseand other causes of cyanosis is required for every cyanoticinfant after prompt administration of oxygen, with or withoutassisted ventilation.
Various congenital anomalies can interfere with vital organ function after birth (see Table 58-9). Some malformations, such as choanal atresia and other lesions obstructing the airway, may complicate ventilation. Intrathoracic lesions, such as cysts or diaphragmatic hernia, interfere with respiration. Other malformations that obstruct the gastrointestinal system at the level of the esophagus, duodenum, ileum, or colon may lead to aspiration pneumonia, intestinal perforation, or gangrene. Gastroschisis and omphalocele are associated with exposed bowel on the abdominal wall. Omphalocele is often associated with other malformations, whereas intestinal necrosis is more common in gastroschisis.
Shock in the delivery room is manifested by pallor, poor capillary refill time, lack of palpable pulses, hypotonia, cyanosis, and eventually cardiopulmonary arrest. Blood loss before or during labor and delivery is a common cause of shock in the delivery room. Blood loss may be caused by fetal-maternal hemorrhage, placenta previa, vasa previa, twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome, or displacement of blood from the fetus to the placenta as during asphyxia (asphyxia pallida). Hemorrhage into a viscus, such as the liver or spleen, may be noted in macrosomic infants, and hemorrhage into the cerebral ventricles may produce shock and apnea in preterm infants. Anemia, hypoalbuminemia, hypovolemia, and shock at birth are common manifestations of Rh immune hydrops.
Severe intrauterine bacterial sepsis may present with shock in the delivery room or immediately after the infant is transferred to the nursery. Typically these infants are mottled, hypotonic, and cyanotic and have diminished peripheral pulses. They have a normal hemoglobin concentration but may manifest neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, and disseminated intravascular coagulation. Peripheral symmetrical gangrene (purpuric rash) often is a sign of hypotensive shock in infants with severe congenital bacterial infections. Congenital left ventricular cardiac obstruction (critical aortic steno-sis or hypoplastic left heart syndrome) also produces shock, although not usually in the delivery room.
Treatment of newborn infants with shock should involve the management approaches used for the sick infant. Problems may be anticipated through knowledge of the infant’s immune status, evidence of hydrops, or suspicion of intrauterine infection or anomalies. Stabilization of the airway and institution of respiratory support are essential. Hypovolemic shock should be managed with repeated boluses of 10 to 15 mL/kg of normal saline or lactated Ringer solution. If severe immune hemolysis is predicted, blood typed against the mother’s blood should be available in the delivery room and should be given to the newborn if signs of anemia and shock are present. Thereafter, all blood should be crossmatched with the infant’s and mother’s blood before transfusion. Drugs such as dopamine, epinephrine, or cortisol may improve cardiac output and tissue perfusion.
Birth injury refers to avoidable and unavoidable injury to the fetus during the birth process. Caput succedaneum is a diffuse, edematous, often dark swelling of the soft tissue of the scalp that extends across the midline and suture lines. In infants delivered from a face presentation, soft tissue edema of the eyelids and face is an equivalent phenomenon. Caput succedaneum may be seen after prolonged labor in full-term and preterm infants. Molding of the head often is associated with caput succedaneum and is the result of pressure that is induced from overriding the parietal and frontal bones against their respective sutures.
A cephalhematoma is a subperiosteal hemorrhage that does not cross the suture lines surrounding the respective bones. A linear skull fracture rarely may be seen underlying a cephalhematoma. With time, the cephalhematoma may organize, calcify, and form a central depression.
Infants with cephalhematoma and caput succedaneum require no specific treatment. Occasionally a premature infant may develop a massive scalp hemorrhage. This subgaleal bleeding and the bleeding noted from a cephalhematoma may cause indirect hyperbilirubinemia requiring phototherapy. Retinal and subconjunctival hemorrhages are common but usually are small and insignificant. No treatment is necessary.
Spinal cord or spine injuries may occur in the fetus as a result of the hyperextended star gazing posture. Injuries also may occur in infants after excessive rotational (at C3–4) or longitudinal (at C7–T1) force is transmitted to the neck during vertex or breech delivery. Fractures of vertebrae are rare; trauma may cause direct damage to the spinal cord, leading to transection and permanent sequelae, hemorrhage, edema, and neurologic signs. Rarely, a snapping sound indicating cord transection rather than vertebral displacement is heard at the time of delivery. Neurologic dysfunction usually involves complete flaccid paralysis, absence of deep tendon reflexes, and absence of responses to painful stimuli below the lesion. Painful stimuli may elicit reflex flexion of the legs. Infants with spinal cord injury often are flaccid, apneic, and asphyxiated, all of which may mask the underlying spinal cord transection.
Injury to the nerves of the brachial plexus may result from excessive traction on the neck, producing paresis or complete paralysis. The mildest injury (neurapraxia) is edema; axonotmesis is more severe and consists of disrupted nerve fibers with an intact myelin sheath; neurotmesis, or complete nerve disruption or root avulsion, is most severe. Erb-Duchenne paralysis involves the fifth and sixth cervical nerves and is the most common and usually mildest injury. The infant cannot abduct the arm at the shoulder, externally rotate the arm, or supinate the forearm. The usual picture is one of painless adduction, internal rotation of the arm, and pronation of the forearm. The Moro reflex is absent on the involved side, and the hand grasp is intact. Phrenic nerve palsy (C3, C4, and C5) may lead to diaphragmatic paralysis and respiratory distress. Elevation of the diaphragm caused by nerve injury must be differentiated from elevation caused by eventration resulting from congenital weakness or absence of diaphragm muscle. Klumpke paralysis is caused by injury to the seventh and eighth cervical nerves and the first thoracic nerve, resulting in a paralyzed hand and, if the sympathetic nerves are injured, an ipsilateral Horner syndrome (ptosis, miosis). Complete arm and hand paralysis is noted with the most severe form of damage to C5, C6, C7, C8, and T1. Treatment of brachial plexus injury is supportive and includes positioning to avoid contractures. Active and passive range of motion exercises also may be beneficial. If the deficit persists, nerve grafting may be beneficial.
Facial nerve injury may be the result of compression of the seventh nerve between the facial bone and the mother’s pelvic bones or the physician’s forceps. This peripheral nerve injury is characterized by an asymmetric crying face whose normal side, including the forehead, moves in a regular manner. The affected side is flaccid, the eye does not close, the nasolabial fold is absent, and the side of the mouth droops at rest. If there is a central injury to the facial nerve, only the lower two thirds of the face (not the forehead) are involved. Complete agenesis of the facial nucleus results in a central facial paralysis; when this is bilateral, as in Möbius syndrome, the face appears expressionless.
Skull fractures are rare, are usually linear, and require no treatment other than observation for very rare, delayed (1 to 3 months) complications (e.g., leptomeningeal cyst). Depressed skull fractures are unusual, but may be seen with complicated forceps delivery and may need surgical elevation. Fractures of the clavicle usually are unilateral and are noted in macrosomic infants after shoulder dystocia. Often a snap is heard after a difficult delivery, and the infant exhibits an asymmetrical Moro response and decreased movement of the affected side. The prognosis is excellent; many infants require no treatment or a simple figure of eight bandage to immobilize the bone.
Extremity fractures are less common than fractures of the clavicle and involve the humerus more often than the femur. Treatment involves immobilization and a triangular splint bandage for the humerus and traction suspension of the legs for femoral fractures. The prognosis is excellent.
Fractures of the facial bones are rare, but dislocation of the cartilaginous part of the nasal septum out of the vomeral groove and columella is common. Clinical manifestations include feeding difficulty, respiratory distress, asymmetrical nares, and a flattened, laterally displaced nose. Treatment reduces the dislocation by elevating the cartilage back into the vomeral groove.
Visceral trauma to the liver, spleen, or adrenal gland occurs in macrosomic infants and in extremely premature infants, with or without breech or vaginal delivery. Rupture of the liver with subcapsular hematoma formation may lead to anemia, hypovolemia, shock, hemoperitoneum, and disseminated intravascular coagulation. Infants with anemia and shock who are suspected to have an intraventricular hemorrhage but with a normal head ultrasound examination should be evaluated for hepatic or splenic rupture. Adrenal hemorrhage may be asymptomatic, detected only by finding calcified adrenal glands in normal infants. Infants with severe adrenal hemorrhage may exhibit a flank mass, jaundice, and hematuria, with or without shock.
After birth, a newborn remains covered by amniotic fluid and situated in a cold environment (20° C to 25° C). An infant’s skin temperature may decrease 0.3° C/min, and the core temperature may decrease 0.1º C/min in the delivery room. In the absence of an external heat source, the infant must increase metabolism substantially to maintain body temperature.
Heat loss occurs through four basic mechanisms. In the cold delivery room, the wet infant loses heat predominantly by evaporation (cutaneous and respiratory loss when wet or in low humidity), radiation (loss to nearby cold, solid surfaces), and convection (loss to air current). When the infant is dry, radiation, convection, and conduction (loss to object in direct contact with infant) are important causes of heat loss. After birth, all high-risk infants should be dried immediately to eliminate evaporative heat losses. A radiant or convective heat source should be provided for these high-risk infants. Normal term infants should be dried and wrapped in a blanket.
The ideal environmental temperature is the neutral thermal environment, the ambient temperature that results in the lowest rate of heat being produced by the infant and maintains normal body temperature. The neutral thermal environmental temperature decreases with increasing gestational and postnatal age. Ambient temperatures less than the neutral thermal environment result in increasing rates of oxygen consumption for heat production, which is designed to maintain normal body temperature. If the ambient temperature decreases further or if oxygen consumption cannot increase sufficiently (due to hypoxia, hypoglycemia, or drugs), the core body temperature decreases.
Heat production by a newborn is created predominantly by nonshivering thermogenesis in specialized areas of tissue containing brown adipose tissue. Brown fat is highly vascular, contains many mitochondria per cell, and is situated around large blood vessels, resulting in rapid heat transfer to the circulation. The vessels of the neck, thorax, and interscapular region are common locations of brown fat. These tissues also are innervated by the sympathetic nervous system, which serves as a primary stimulus for heat production by brown adipose cells. Shivering does not occur in newborns.
Severe cold injury in an infant is manifested by acidosis, hypoxia, hypoglycemia, apnea, bradycardia, pulmonary hemorrhage, and a pink skin color. The color is caused by trapping of oxygenated hemoglobin in the cutaneous capillaries. Many of these infants appear dead, but most respond to treatment and recover. Milder degrees of cold injury in the delivery room may contribute to metabolic acidosis and hypoxia after birth. Conversely, hypoxia delays heat generation in cold-stressed infants.
Treatment of severe hypothermia should involve resuscitation and rapid warming of core (e.g., lung and stomach) and external surfaces. Fluid resuscitation also is needed to treat hypovolemia seen in many of these infants. Reduced core temperature (32° C to 35° C) in the immediate newborn period often requires only external warming with a radiant warmer, incubator, or both.
Exposure to ambient temperatures above the neutral thermal environment results in heat stress and an elevated core temperature. Sweating is uncommon in newborns and may be noted only on the forehead. In response to moderate heat stress, infants may increase their respiratory rate to dissipate heat. Excessive environmental temperatures may result in heatstroke or in hemorrhagic shock encephalopathy syndrome.
Available @ StudentConsult.comHypocalcemia is common in sick and premature newborns. Calcium levels are higher in cord blood than in maternal blood because of active placental transfer of calcium to the fetus. Fetal calcium accretion in the third trimester approaches 150 mg/kg/24 hr; fetal bone mineral content doubles between 30 and 40 weeks of gestation. All infants show a slight decline of serum calcium levels after birth, reaching a trough level at 24 to 48 hours, the point at which hypocalcemia usually occurs. Total serum calcium levels of less than 7 mg/dL and ionized calcium levels of less than 3 to 3.5 mg/dL are considered hypocalcemia.
The etiology of hypocalcemia varies with the time of onset and the associated illnesses of the child. Early neonatal hypocalcemia occurs in the first 3 days of life and is often asymptomatic. Transient hypoparathyroidism and a reduced parathyroid response to the usual postnatal decline of serum calcium levels may be responsible for hypocalcemia in premature infants and infants of diabetic mothers. Congenital absences of the parathyroid gland with DiGeorge syndrome is a cause of hypocalcemia. Hypomagnesemia (<1.5 mg/dL) may be seen simultaneously with hypocalcemia, especially in infants of diabetic mothers. Treatment with calcium alone does not relieve symptoms or increase serum calcium levels until hypomagnesemia is also treated. Sodium bicarbonate therapy, phosphate release from cell necrosis, transient hypoparathyroidism, and hypercalcitoninemia may be responsible for early neonatal hypocalcemia associated with asphyxia. Early-onset hypocalcemia associated with asphyxia often occurs with seizures as a result of hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy
Late neonatal hypocalcemia, or neonatal tetany, often is the result of ingestion of high phosphate–containing milk or the inability to excrete the usual phosphorus in commercial infant formula. Hyperphosphatemia (>8 mg/dL) usually occurs in infants with hypocalcemia after the first week of life. Vitamin D deficiency states and malabsorption also have been associated with late-onset hypocalcemia.
The clinical manifestations of hypocalcemia and hypomagnesemia include apnea, muscle twitching, seizures, laryngospasm, Chvostek sign (facial muscle spasm when the side of the face over the seventh nerve is tapped), and Trousseau sign (carpopedal spasm induced by partial inflation of a blood pressure cuff). The latter two signs are rare in the immediate newborn period.
Neonatal hypocalcemia may be prevented in high-risk neonates by administration of IV or oral calcium supplementation at a rate of 25 to 75 mg/kg/24 hr. Early asymptomatic hypocalcemia of preterm infants and infants of diabetic mothers often resolves spontaneously. Symptomatic hypocalcemia should be treated with 2 to 4 mL/kg of 10% calcium gluconate given intravenously and slowly over 10 to 15 minutes, followed by a continuous infusion of 75 mg/kg/24 hr of elemental calcium. If hypomagnesemia is associated with hypocalcemia, 50% magnesium sulfate, 0.1 mL/kg, should be given by intramuscular injection and repeated every 8 to 12 hours.
The treatment of late hypocalcemia includes immediatemanagement, as in early hypocalcemia, plus the initiation offeedings with low-phosphate formula. Subcutaneous infiltration of IV calcium salts can cause tissue necrosis; oral supplements are hypertonic and may irritate the intestinal mucosa.
Infants may become passively and physiologically addicted to medications or to drugs of abuse (heroin, methadone, barbiturates, tranquilizers, amphetamines) taken chronically by the mother during pregnancy; these infants subsequently may have signs and symptoms of drug withdrawal. Many of these pregnancies are at high risk for other complications related to IV drug abuse, such as hepatitis, acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), and syphilis. In addition, the LBW rate and the long-term risk for sudden infant death syndrome are higher in the infants of these high-risk women.
Neonatal withdrawal signs and symptoms usually begin at 1to 5 days of life with maternal heroin use and at 1 to 4 weekswith maternal methadone addiction. Clinical manifestations of withdrawal include sneezing, yawning, ravenous appetite,emesis, diarrhea, fever, diaphoresis, tachypnea, high-pitchedcry, tremors, jitteriness, poor sleep, poor feeding, and seizures. The illness tends to be more severe during methadonewithdrawal. The initial treatment includes swaddling in blankets in a quiet, dark room. When hyperactivity is constant,and irritability interferes with sleeping and feeding, or whendiarrhea or seizures are present, pharmacologic treatmentis indicated. Seizures usually are treated with phenobarbital. The other symptoms may be managed with replacementdoses of a narcotic (usually tincture of opium) to calm theinfant; weaning from narcotics may be prolonged over 1 to2 months.
Cocaine use during pregnancy is associated with pretermlabor, abruptio placentae, neonatal irritability, and decreasedattentiveness. Infants may be small for gestational age and havesmall head circumferences. Usually no treatment is needed.
Maternal diseases during pregnancy can affect the fetus directly or indirectly (Table 59-1). Autoantibody-mediated diseases can have direct consequences on the fetus and neonate because the antibodies are usually of the IgG type and can cross the placenta to the fetal circulation.
Mild Large for gestational age, hypoglycemia Fetal hyperglycemia—produces hyperinsulinemia promoting growth
Severe Growth retardation Vascular disease, placental insufficiencyDrug addiction Intrauterine growth restriction, neonatal Direct drug effect, plus poor diet withdrawal
Graves disease Transient thyrotoxicosis Placental immunoglobulin passage of thyrotropin receptor antibody
Hyperparathyroidism Hypocalcemia Maternal calcium crosses to fetus and suppresses fetal parathyroid gland
Hypertension Intrauterine growth restriction, intrauterine Placental insufficiency, fetal hypoxia fetal demise placenta after sensitization of mother
Myasthenia gravis Transient neonatal myasthenia Immunoglobulin to acetylcholine receptor crosses the placenta
Myotonic dystrophy Neonatal myotonic dystrophy Autosomal dominant with genetic anticipation
Phenylketonuria Microcephaly, retardation, ventricular septal Elevated fetal phenylalanine levels defect
Rh or other blood group Fetal anemia, hypoalbuminemia, hydrops, Antibody crosses placenta directed at fetal cells with sensitization neonatal jaundice antigen
From Stoll BJ, Kliegman RM: The fetus and neonatal infant. In Behrman RE, Kliegman RM, Jenson HB, editors: Nelson textbook of pediatrics, ed 16, Philadelphia,
WB Saunders, 2000.Antiphospholipid syndrome is associated with thrombophilia and recurrent pregnancy loss. Antiphospholipid antibodies are found in 2% to 5% of the general healthy population, but they also may be associated with systemic lupus erythematosus and other rheumatic diseases. Obstetric complications arise from the prothrombotic effects of the antiphospholipid antibodies on placental function. Vasculopathy, infarction, and thrombosis have been identified in mothers with antiphospholipid syndrome. Antiphospholipid syndrome can include fetal growth impairment, placental insufficiency, maternal preeclampsia, and premature birth.
Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) is seen in approximately 1 to 2 per 1000 live births and is an immune process in which antibodies are directed against platelets. Platelet-associated IgG antibodies can cross the placenta and cause thrombocytopenia in the fetus and newborn. The severely thrombocytopenic fetus is at increased risk for intracranial hemorrhage. ITP during pregnancy requires close maternal and fetal management to reduce the risks of life-threatening maternal hemorrhage and trauma to the fetus at delivery. Postnatal management involves observation of the infant’s platelet count. For infants who have evidence of hemorrhage, sin-gle-donor irradiated platelets may be administered to control the bleeding. The infant may benefit from an infusion of intravenous immunoglobulin. Neonatal thrombocytopenia usually resolves within 4 to 6 weeks.
Immune abnormalities in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)can lead to the production of anti-Ro (SS-A) and anti-La (SS-B)antibodies that can cross the placenta and injure fetal tissue.The most serious complication is damage to the cardiac conducting system, which results in congenital heart block. The heart block observed in association with maternal SLE tends to be complete (third degree), although less advanced blocks havebeen observed. The mortality rate is approximately 20%; mostsurviving infants require pacing. Neonatal lupus may occur and is characterized by skin lesions (sharply demarcated erythematous plaques or central atrophic macules with peripheralscaling with predilection for the eyes, face, and scalp), thrombocytopenia, autoimmune hemolysis, and hepatic involvement.
Birth asphyxia Birth injury (macrosomia, shoulder dystocia) Congenital anomalies (lumbosacral dysgenesis—caudal regression) Congenital heart disease (ventricular and atrial septal defects, transposition of the great arteries, truncus arteriosus, double-outlet right ventricle, coarctation of the aorta) Hyperbilirubinemia (unconjugated) Hypocalcemia Hypoglycemia Hypomagnesemia Neurologic disorders (neural tube defects, holoprosencephaly) Organomegaly
Polycythemia (hyperviscosity) Renal disorders (double ureter, renal vein thrombosis, hydronephrosis, renal agenesis)
Respiratory distress syndrome Small left colon syndrome Transient tachypnea of the newborn
Graves disease is associated with thyroid-stimulating antibodies. The prevalence of clinical hyperthyroidism in pregnancy has been reported to be about 0.1% to 0.4%; it is thesecond most common endocrine disorder during pregnancy(after diabetes). Neonatal hyperthyroidism is due to thetransplacental passage of thyroid-stimulating antibodies;hyperthyroidism can appear rapidly within the first 12 to 48hours. Symptoms may include intrauterine growth restriction, prematurity, goiter (may cause tracheal obstruction),exophthalmos, stare, craniosynostosis (usually coronal),flushing, heart failure, tachycardia, arrhythmias, hypertension, hypoglycemia, thrombocytopenia, and hepatosplenomegaly. Treatment includes propylthiouracil, iodine drops, and propranolol. Autoimmune induced neonatal hyperthyroidism usually resolves in 2 to 4 months.
Diabetes mellitus that develops during pregnancy (gestational diabetes is noted in about 5% of women) or diabetes that is present before pregnancy adversely influences fetal and neonatal well-being. The effect of diabetes on the fetus depends, in part, on the severity of the diabetic state: age of onset of diabetes, duration of treatment with insulin, and presence of vascular disease. Poorly controlled maternal diabetes leads to maternal and fetal hyperglycemia that stimulates the fetal pancreas, resulting in hyperplasia of the islets of Langerhans. Fetal *Trimethoprim, triamterene, phenytoin, primidone, phenobarbital, carbamazepine.
hyperinsulinemia results in increased fat and protein synthesis, producing a fetus that is large for gestational age. After birth, hyperinsulinemia persists, resulting in fasting neonatal hypoglycemia. Strictly controlling maternal diabetes during pregnancy and preventing hyperglycemia during labor and delivery prevent macrosomic fetal growth and neonatal hypoglycemia. Additional problems of the diabetic mother and her fetus and newborn are summarized in Table 59-2.
Other maternal illnesses, such as severe pulmonary disease(cystic fibrosis), cyanotic heart disease, and sickle cell anemia,may reduce oxygen availability to the fetus. Severe hypertensive or diabetic vasculopathy can result in uteroplacentalinsufficiency. The fetus and the newborn may also be adverselyaffected by the medications used to treat maternal illnesses.These effects may appear as teratogenesis (Table 59-3) or as anadverse metabolic, neurologic, or cardiopulmonary adaptationto extrauterine life (Table 59-4). Acquired infectious diseasesof the mother also may affect the fetus or newborn adversely.
Table 59-4 Agents Acting on Pregnant Women That May Adversely Affect the Newborn Infant AGENT POTENTIAL CONDITION(S) Acebutolol IUGR, hypotension, bradycardia Acetazolamide Metabolic acidosis
Amiodarone Bradycardia, hypothyroidismAspirin Neonatal bleeding, prolonged gestationAtenolol IUGR, hypoglycemiaBromides Rash, CNS depression, IUGRCaptopril, enalapril Transient anuric renal failure, oligohydramniosCaudal-paracervical anesthesia with mepivacaine (accidental Bradypnea, apnea, bradycardia, convulsions introduction of anesthetic into scalp of infant)
Cholinergic agents (edrophonium, pyridostigmine) Transient muscle weaknessCNS depressants (narcotics, barbiturates, benzodiazepines) during CNS depression, hypotonia labor
Fluoxetine Possible transient neonatal withdrawal, hypertonicity, minor anomaliesIbuprofen Oligohydramnios, PPHNIndomethacin Oliguria, oligohydramnios, intestinal perforation, PPHNIntravenous fluids during labor (e.g., salt-free solutions) Electrolyte disturbances, hyponatremia, hypoglycemia
Magnesium sulfate Respiratory depression, meconium plug, hypotoniaMethimazole Goiter, hypothyroidismMorphine and its derivatives (addiction) Withdrawal symptoms (poor feeding, vomiting, diarrhea, restlessness, yawning and stretching, dyspnea and cyanosis, fever and sweating, pallor, tremors, convulsions)
Oxytocin Hyperbilirubinemia, hyponatremiaPhenobarbital Bleeding diathesis (vitamin K deficiency), possible long-term reduction in IQ, sedation
Propranolol Hypoglycemia, bradycardia, apneaPropylthiouracil Goiter, hypothyroidismReserpine Drowsiness, nasal congestion, poor temperature stabilitySulfonamides Interfere with protein binding of bilirubin; kernicterus at low levels of serum bilirubin, hemolysis with G6PD deficiency
Stoll BJ, Kliegman RM: The fetus and neonatal infant. In Behrman RE, Kliegman RM, Jenson HB, editors: Nelson textbook of pediatrics, ed 16, Philadelphia, WB Saunders, 2000.
CNS, Central nervous system; G6PD, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase; IUGR, intrauterine growth restriction; PPHN, persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn.
The principal determinants of fetal disease include the fetal genotype and the in utero environment. Variation in environmental factors rather than the fetal genetics plays a more significant role in determining overall fetal well-being, although a genetically abnormal fetus may not thrive as well or survive. The ability to assess a fetus genetically, biochemically, and physically is greatly enhanced through the development of amniocentesis, fetoscopy, chorionic villus sampling, fetal blood sampling, genetic testing of circulating fetal DNA in the mother’s blood, and real-time ultrasonography.
Fetuses subjected to abnormal maternal, placental, or fetal conditions that restrain growth are a high-risk group and traditionally classified as having intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR).The terms IUGR and SGA (small for gestational age) are notsynonymous. IUGR represents a deviation from expectedgrowth patterns. The decreased fetal growth associated with IUGR is an adaptation to unfavorable intrauterine conditions that result in permanent alterations in metabolism, growth, anddevelopment. IUGR most frequently occurs with a variety ofmaternal conditions that are associated with preterm delivery.SGA describes an infant whose birth weight is statistically lessthan the 10th percentile or two standard deviations below themean birth weight for gestational age. The cause of SGA may bepathologic, as in an infant with IUGR, or nonpathologic, as in an infant who is small but otherwise healthy (Table 60-1).
Only about 50% of IUGR infants are identified before delivery.Measurement and recording of maternal fundal height in conjunction with serial ultrasound assessment of the fetus (growthrate, amniotic fluid volume, malformations, anomalies, and Doppler velocimetry of uterine, placental, and fetal blood flow) can aid detection. When suspected and identified, IUGR and SGA fetuses must be monitored for fetal well-being, and appropriate maternal care needs to be instituted (see Chapter 58).
At birth, infants who are mildly to moderately SGA appear smaller than normal with decreased subcutaneous fat. More severely affected infants may present with a wasted appearancewith asymmetrical findings, including larger heads for the size of the body (central nervous system sparing), widened anterior fontanelles, small abdomen, thin arms and legs, decreased subcutaneous fat, dry and redundant skin, decreased muscle mass, and thin (often meconium-stained) umbilical cord. Gestational age is often difficult to assess when based on physical appearance and perceived advanced neurologic maturity. Physical examination should detail the presence of dysmorphic features, abnormal extremities, or gross anomalies that might suggest underlying congenital malformations, chromosomal defects, or exposure to teratogens. Hepatosplenomegaly, jaundice, and skin rashes in addition to ocular disorders,
Age (young and advanced) Cigarette smoking Genetics (short stature, weight) Illnesses during pregnancy (preeclampsia, severe diabetes, chronic hypertension, connective tissue disease) Infections (intrauterine) Lack of good prenatal care Oligohydramnios Poor nutrition Race (African American)
Chromosomal abnormality and nonchromosomal syndromes Congenital infections Inborn errors of metabolism Multiple gestations Insulin resistance or reduced insulin or insulin-like growth factor-1
Antimetabolites (methotrexate) Heavy metals (mercury, lead) Hydantoin Narcotics (morphine, methadone) Steroids (prednisone) Substance and illicit drug use (alcohol, cocaine) Warfarin such as chorioretinitis, cataracts, glaucoma, and cloudy cornea, suggest the presence of a congenital infection or inborn error of metabolism. Infants with severe IUGR or SGA, particularly in conjunction with fetal distress, may have problems at birth that include respiratory acidosis, metabolic acidosis, asphyxia, hypoxemia, hypotension, hypoglycemia, polycythemia, meconium aspiration syndrome, and persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn.
Management of IUGR and SGA infants is usually symptomatic and supportive. The diagnostic evaluation at birth should be directed at identifying the cause of the IUGR and SGA, if possible. The consequences of IUGR and SGA depend on the etiology, severity, and duration of growth retardation. The mortality rates of infants who are severely affected are 5 to 20 times those of infants who are appropriate for gestational age. Postnatal growth and development depend in part on the etiology, the postnatal nutritional intake, and the social environment. Infants who have IUGR and SGA secondary to congenital infection, chromosomal abnormalities, or constitutional syndromes remain small throughout life. Infants who have growth inhibited late in gestation because of uterine constraints, placental insufficiency, or poor nutrition have catch-up growth and, under optimal environmental conditions, approach their inherited growth and development potential.
Available @ StudentConsult.comHydrops fetalis is caused by immune and nonimmune conditions. Hydrops fetalis is a fetal clinical condition of excessivefluid accumulation in the skin and one or more other bodycompartments, including the pleural space, peritoneal cavity,pericardial sac, or placenta with resultant high morbidity andmortality. Hydrops initially was described in association withRhesus blood group isoimmunization. The use of Rho (D)immune globulin has reduced the incidence of isoimmune fetalhydrops. Concurrently the incidence of nonimmune hydropshas increased as a cause of this severe clinical condition.
Fetal hydrops results from an imbalance of interstitial fluidaccumulation and decreased removal of fluid by the capillariesand lymphatic system. Fluid accumulation can be secondary tocongestive heart failure, obstructed lymphatic flow, or decreasedplasma oncotic pressure (hypoproteinemic states). Edema formation is the final common pathway for many disease processesthat affect the fetus, including fetal cardiac, genetic, hematologic, metabolic, infection, or malformation syndromes.
The diagnostic workup of the hydropic fetus should focus on discovering the underlying cause. Maternal findings may include hypertension, anemia, multiple gestation, thickened placenta, and polyhydramnios, whereas fetal findings may include tachycardia, ascites, scalp and body wall edema, and pleural and pericardial effusion. Invasive fetal testing may be indicated. Amniocentesis provides amniotic fluid samples for karyotype, culture, alpha-fetoprotein, and metabolic and enzyme analysis. Percutaneous umbilical cord blood sampling can provide fetal blood for chromosomal analysis and hematologic and metabolic studies and provide a source for intervention (fetal transfusion for profound anemia).
Management depends on the underlying cause and the gestational age of the fetus. Resuscitative efforts at delivery are often required. It is often necessary to remove ascitic fluid from the abdomen or pleural fluid to improve ventilation. Profound anemia necessitates immediate transfusion with packed red blood cells.
The overall mortality for infants with nonimmune hydrops is approximately 50%. If the diagnosis is made before 24 weeks of gestation with subsequent premature delivery, the survival rate is approximately 4% to 6%.
Available @ StudentConsult.comRespiratory distress that becomes manifested by tachypnea, intercostal retractions, reduced air exchange, cyanosis, expiratory grunting, and nasal flaring is a nonspecific response to serious illness. The differential diagnosis of respiratory distress includes pulmonary, cardiac, hematologic, infectious, anatomic, and metabolic disorders that may involve the lungs directly or indirectly. Surfactant deficiency causes respiratory distress syndrome (RDS), resulting in cyanosis and tachypnea; infection produces pneumonia, shown by interstitial or lobar infiltrates; meconium aspiration results in a chemical pneumonitis with hypoxia and pulmonary hypertension; hydrops fetalis causes anemia and hypoalbuminemia with high-output heart failure and pulmonary edema; and congenital or acquired pulmonary hypoplasia causes pulmonary hypertension and pulmonary insufficiency. It also is clinically useful to differentiate the common causes of respiratory distress according to gestational age (Table 61-1).
In addition to the specific therapy for the individual disorder, supportive care and evaluation of the infant with respiratory distress can be applied to all the problems mentioned earlier (Table 61-2). Blood gas monitoring and interpretation are key components of general respiratory care.
Treatment of hypoxemia requires knowledge of normal values. In term infants, the arterial Pao2 level is 55 to 60 mm Hg at 30 minutes of life, 75 mm Hg at 4 hours, and 90 mm Hg at 24 hours. Preterm infants have lower values. Paco2 levels should be 35 to 40 mm Hg, and the pH should be 7.35 to 7.40. It is imperative that arterial blood gas analysis be performed in all infants with significant respiratory distress, whether or not cyanosis is perceived. Cyanosis becomes evident when there is 5 g of unsaturated hemoglobin; anemia may interfere with the perception of cyanosis. Jaundice also may interfere with the appearance of cyanosis. Capillary blood gas determinations are useful in determining blood pH and the Paco2 level but may result in falsely low blood Pao2 readings. Serial blood gas levels may be monitored by an indwelling arterial catheter placed in a peripheral artery or through the umbilical artery. Another method for monitoring blood gas levels is to combine capillary blood gas techniques with noninvasive methods used
Primary pulmonary hypertension of the neonate* Meconium aspiration pneumonia* Polycythemia Amniotic fluid aspiration
Bacterial sepsis (GBS)* Transient tachypnea* Spontaneous pneumothorax Congenital anomalies (e.g., congenital lobar emphysema, cystic adenomatoid malformation, diaphragmatic hernia) Congenital heart disease Pulmonary hypoplasia Viral infection (e.g., herpes simplex, CMV) Inborn metabolic errors
CMV, Cytomegalovirus; GBS, group B streptococcus. *Common.Chest radiograph To determine reticular granular pattern of RDS; to determine presence of pneumothorax, cardiomegaly, life-threatening congenital anomalies
Arterial blood gas To determine severity of respiratory compromise, hypoxemia, and hypercapnia and type of acidosis; severity determines treatment strategy
Complete blood count Hemoglobin/hematocrit to determine anemia and polycythemia; white blood cell count to determine neutropenia/ sepsis; platelet count and smear to determine DIC
Blood glucose To determine presence of hypoglycemia, which may produce or occur simultaneously with respiratory distress; to determine stress hyperglycemia
Echocardiogram, ECG In the presence of a murmur, cardiomegaly, or refractory hypoxia; to determine structural heart disease or PPHN
DIC, Disseminated intravascular coagulation; ECG, electrocardiogram; PPHN, primary pulmonary hypertension of the newborn; RDS, respiratory distress syndrome.
to monitor oxygen (pulse oximetry or transcutaneous oxygen diffusion).Metabolic acidosis, defined as a reduced pH (<7.25) and bicarbonate concentration (<18 mEq/L) accompanied by a normal or low Pco2 level, may be caused by hypoxia or by insufficient tissue perfusion. The origin of the disorder may be pulmonary, cardiac, infectious, renal, hematologic, nutritional, metabolic, or iatrogenic. The initial approach to metabolic acidosis is to determine the cause and treat the pathophysiologic problem. This approach may include, as in the sequence of therapy for hypoxia, increasing the inspired oxygen concentration; applying continuous positive airway pressure nasally; or initiating mechanical ventilation using positive end-expiratory pressure. Patients with hypotension produced by hypovolemia require fluids and may need inotropic or vasoactive drug support. If metabolic acidosis persists despite specific therapy, sodium bicarbonate (1 mEq/kg/dose) may be given by slow intravenous infusion. Near-normal or low Pco2 levels should be documented before sodium bicarbonate infusion. The buffering effect of sodium bicarbonate results in increased Pco2 levels, unless adequate ventilation is maintained.
Respiratory acidosis, defined as an elevated Pco2 level and reduced pH without a reduction in the bicarbonate concentration, may be caused by pulmonary insufficiency or central hypoventilation. Most disorders producing respiratory distress can lead to hypercapnia. Treatment involves assisted ventilation but not sodium bicarbonate. If central nervous system depression of respirations is caused by placental passage of narcotic analgesics, assisted ventilation is instituted first, then the central nervous system depression is reversed by naloxone.
RDS occurs after the onset of breathing and is associated with an insufficiency of pulmonary surfactant.
The lining of the alveolus consists of 90% type I cells and 10% type II cells. After 20 weeks of gestation, the type II cells contain vacuolated, osmophilic, lamellar inclusion bodies, which are packages of surface-active material (Fig. 61-1). This lipoprotein surfactant is 90% lipid and is composed predominantly of saturated phosphatidylcholine (lecithin), but also contains phosphatidylglycerol, other phospholipids, and neutral lipids. The surfactant proteins, SP-A, SP-B, SP-C, and SP-D, are packaged into the lamellar body and contribute to surface-active properties and recycling of surfactant. Surfactant prevents atelectasis by reducing surface tension at low lung volumes when it is concentrated at end expiration as the alveolar radius decreases; surfactant contributes to lung recoil by increasing surface tension at larger lung volumes when it is diluted during inspiration as the alveolar radius increases. Without surfactant, surface tension forces are not reduced, and atelectasis develops during end expiration as the alveolus collapses.
The timing of surfactant production in quantities sufficient to prevent atelectasis depends on an increase in fetal cortisol levels that begins between 32 and 34 weeks of gestation. By 34 to 36 weeks, sufficient surface-active material is produced by the type II cells in the lung, is secreted into the alveolar lumen, and is excreted into the amniotic fluid. The concentration of
Figure 61-1 Proposed pathway of synthesis, transport, secretion, and reuptake of surfactant in the type II alveolar cell. Phospholipids are synthesized in the smooth endoplasmic reticulum (ER). The glucose/ glycerol precursor may be derived from lung glycogen or circulating glucose. Phospholipids and surfactant proteins are packaged in the Golgi apparatus (GZ), emerge as small lamellar bodies (SLB), coalesce to mature lamellar bodies (MLB), migrate to the apical membrane, and are released by exocytosis into the liquid hypophase below the air-liquid interface. The tightly coiled lamellar body unravels to form the lattice (tubular) myelin figure (LMF), the immediate precursor to the phospholipid monolayer at the alveolar surface. Reuptake by endocytosis forms multivesicular bodies (MVB) that recycle surfactant. The enzymes, receptors, transporters, and surfactant proteins are controlled by regulatory processes at the transcriptional level in the nucleus (N). Corticosteroid and thyroid hormones are regulatory ligands that may accelerate surfactant synthesis. (From Hansen T, Corbet A: Lung development and function. In Taeusch HW, Ballard R, Avery ME, editors: Diseases of the Newborn, ed 6, Philadelphia, 1991, Saunders, p 465.) lecithin in amniotic fluid indicates fetal pulmonary maturity. Because the amount of lecithin is difficult to quantify, the ratio of lecithin (which increases with maturity) to sphingomyelin (which remains constant during gestation) (L/S ratio) is determined. An L/S ratio of 2:1 usually indicates pulmonary maturity. The presence of minor phospholipids, such as phosphatidylglycerol, also is indicative of fetal lung maturity and may be useful in situations in which the L/S ratio is borderline or possibly affected by maternal diabetes, which reduces lung maturity. The absence of phosphatidylglycerol suggests that surfactant might not be mature.
A deficiency of pulmonary surfactant (most often due to prematurity) results in atelectasis, decreased functional residual capacity, arterial hypoxemia, and respiratory distress. Surfactant synthesis may also be reduced as a result of hypovolemia, hypothermia, acidosis, hypoxemia, and rare genetic disorders of surfactant synthesis. These factors also produce pulmonary artery vasospasm, which may contribute to RDS in larger premature infants who have developed sufficient pulmonary arteriole smooth muscle to produce vasoconstriction. Surfactant deficiency–induced atelectasis causes alveoli to be perfused but not ventilated, which results in a pulmonary shunt and hypoxemia. As atelectasis increases, the lungs become increasingly difficult to expand, and lung compliance decreases. Because the chest wall of the premature infant is very compliant, the infant attempts to overcome decreased lung compliance with increasing inspiratory pressures, resulting in retractions of the chest wall. The sequence of decreased lung compliance and chest wall retractions leads to poor air exchange, an increased physiologic dead space, alveolar hypoventilation, and hypercapnia. A cycle of hypoxia, hypercapnia, and acidosis acts on type II cells to reduce surfactant synthesis and, in some infants, on the pulmonary arterioles to produce pulmonary hypertension.
Infants at greatest risk for RDS are premature and have an immature L/S ratio. The incidence of RDS increases with decreasing gestational age. RDS develops in 30% to 60% of infants between 28 and 32 weeks of gestation. Other risk factors include delivery of a previous preterm infant with RDS, maternal diabetes, hypothermia, fetal distress, asphyxia, male sex, white race, being the second-born of twins, and delivery by cesarean section without labor.
RDS may develop immediately in the delivery room in extremely immature infants at 26 to 30 weeks of gestation. Some more mature infants (34 weeks’ gestation) may not show signs of RDS until 3 to 4 hours after birth, correlating with the initial release of stored surfactant at the onset of breathing accompanied by the ongoing inability to replace the surfactant owing to inadequate stores. Manifestations of RDS include cyanosis, tachypnea, nasal flaring, intercostal and sternal retractions, and grunting. Grunting is caused by closure of the glottis during expiration, the effect of which is to maintain lung volume (decreasing atelectasis) and gas exchange during exhalation. Atelectasis is well documented by radiographic examination of the chest, which shows a ground-glass haze in the lung surrounding air-filled bronchi (the air bronchogram) (Fig. 61-2). Severe RDS may show an airless lung field (whiteout) on a radiograph, even obliterating the distinction between the atelectatic lungs and the heart.
During the first 72 hours, infants with untreated RDS haveincreasing distress and hypoxemia. In infants with severeRDS, the development of edema, apnea, and respiratoryfailure necessitates assisted ventilation. Thereafter, uncomplicated cases show a spontaneous improvement that oftenis heralded by diuresis and a marked resolution of edema. Complications include the development of a pneumothorax,a patent ductus arteriosus (PDA), and bronchopulmonarydysplasia (BPD). The differential diagnosis of RDS includesdiseases associated with cyanosis and respiratory distress (seeTable 58-10).
Strategies to prevent preterm birth include maternal cervical cerclage, bed rest, treatment of infections, and administration of tocolytic medications. In addition, prevention of neonatal cold stress, birth asphyxia, and hypovolemia reduces the risk of RDS. If premature delivery is unavoidable, the antenatal administration of corticosteroids (e.g., betamethasone) to the
Figure 61-2 Respiratory distress syndrome. The infant is intubated, and the lungs show a dense reticulonodular pattern with air bronchograms (A). To evaluate rotation on the frontal chest, the lengths of the posterior ribs are compared from left to right (arrows). Because the infant is supine, the side of the longer ribs indicates to which side the thorax is rotated. In this case, the left ribs are longer, and this radiograph is a left posterior oblique view. Surfactant was administered, resulting in significant improvement in the density of the lung (B). The right lung is slightly better aerated than the left. Uneven distribution of clearing is common. (From Hilton S, Edwards D: Practical Pediatric Radiology, ed 2, Philadelphia, 1994, Saunders.) mother (and thus to the fetus) stimulates fetal lung production of surfactant; this approach requires multiple doses for at least 48 hours.
After birth, RDS may be prevented or its severity reduced by intratracheal administration of exogenous surfactant immediately after birth in the delivery room or within a few hours of birth. A mammalian-derived surfactant is currently preferred. Exogenous surfactant can be administered repeatedly during the course of RDS in patients receiving endotracheal intubation, mechanical ventilation, and oxygen therapy. Additional management includes the general supportive and ventilation care presented in Table 61-3.
The Pao2 level should be maintained between 60 and 70 mm Hg (oxygen saturation 90%), and the pH should be maintained above 7.25. An increased concentration of warm and humidified inspired oxygen administered by a nasal cannula or an oxygen hood may be all that is needed for larger premature infants. If hypoxemia (Pao2 <50 mm Hg) is present, and the needed inspired oxygen concentration is 70% to 100%, nasal continuous positive airway pressure should be added at
Central nervous IVH, drugs, seizures, hypoxic injury systemRespiratory Pneumonia, obstructive airway lesions, atelectasis, extreme prematurity (<1000 g), laryngeal reflex, phrenic nerve paralysis, severe RDS, pneumothorax
Infectious Sepsis, necrotizing enterocolitis, meningitis (bacterial, fungal, viral)Gastrointestinal Oral feeding, bowel movement, gastroesophageal reflux, esophagitis, intestinal perforation
Metabolic ↓ Glucose, ↓ calcium, ↓ PO2, ↓↑ sodium, ↑ ammonia, ↑ organic acids, ↑ ambient temperature, hypothermia
Cardiovascular Hypotension, hypertension, heart failure, anemia, hypovolemia, change in vagal tone
Idiopathic Immaturity of respiratory center, sleep state, upper airway collapse
IVH, Intraventricular hemorrhage; RDS, respiratory distress syndrome.a distending pressure of 8 to 10 cm H2O. If respiratory failure ensues (Pco2 >60 mm Hg, pH <7.20, and Pao2 <50 mm Hg with 100% oxygen), assisted ventilation using a ventilator is indicated. Conventional rate (25 to 60 breaths/min), high-frequency jet (150 to 600 breaths/min), and oscillatory (900 to 3000 breaths/min) ventilators all have been successful in managing respiratory failure caused by severe RDS. Suggested starting settings on a conventional ventilator are fraction of inspired oxygen, 0.60 to 1.0; peak inspiratory pressure, 20 to 25 cm H2O; positive end-expiratory pressure, 5 cm H2O; and respiratory rate, 30 to 50 breaths/min.
In response to persistent hypercapnia, alveolar ventilation (tidal volume − dead space × rate) must be increased. Ventilation can be increased by an increase in the ventilator’s rate or an increase in the tidal volume (the gradient between peak inspiratory pressure and positive end-expiratory pressure using a pressure-controlled ventilator). In response to hypoxia, the inspired oxygen content may be increased. Alternatively, the degree of oxygenation depends on the mean airway pressure. Mean airway pressure is directly related to positive end-expiratory pressure, flow, and inspiratory time. Increased mean airway pressure may improve oxygenation by improving lung volume, enhancing ventilation-perfusion matching. Because of the difficulty in distinguishing sepsis and pneumonia from RDS, broad-spectrum parenteral antibiotics (ampicillin and gentamicin) are administered for 48 to 72 hours, pending the recovery of an organism from a previously obtained blood culture.
Available @ StudentConsult.comPDA is a common complication that occurs in many low birth weight infants who have RDS. The incidence of PDA is inversely related to the maturity of the infant. In term newborns, the ductus closes within 24 to 48 hours after birth. However, in preterm newborns, the ductus frequently fails to close, requiring medical or surgical closure. The ductus arteriosus in a preterm infant is less responsive to vasoconstrictive stimuli, which, when complicated with hypoxemia during RDS, may lead to a persistent PDA that creates a shunt between the pulmonary and systemic circulations.
During the acute phase of RDS, hypoxia, hypercapnia, and acidosis lead to pulmonary arterial vasoconstriction. The pulmonary and systemic pressures may be equal, and flow through the ductus may be small or bidirectional. When RDS improves and pulmonary vascular resistance declines, flow through the ductus arteriosus increases in a left-to-right direction. Significant systemic-to-pulmonary shunting may lead to heart failure and pulmonary edema. Excessive intravenous fluid administration may increase the incidence of symptomatic PDA. The infant’s respiratory status deteriorates because of increased lung fluid, hypercapnia, and hypoxemia.
Clinical manifestations of a PDA usually become apparent on day 2 to 4 of life. Because the left-to-right shunt directs flow to a low-pressure circulation from one of high pressure, the pulse pressure widens; a previously inactive precordium shows an extremely active precordial impulse, and peripheral pulses become easily palpable and bounding. The murmur of a PDA may be continuous in systole and diastole, but usually only the systolic component is auscultated. Heart failure and pulmonary edema result in rales and hepatomegaly. A chest radiograph shows cardiomegaly and pulmonary edema; a two-dimensional echocardiogram shows ductal patency; and Doppler studies show markedly increased left-to-right flow through the ductus.
Treatment of a PDA during RDS involves initial fluid restriction and diuretic administration. If there is no improvement after 24 to 48 hours, a prostaglandin synthetase inhibitor, indomethacin or ibuprofen, is administered. Contraindications to using indomethacin include thrombocytopenia (platelets <50,000/mm3), bleeding, serum creatinine measuring more than 1.8 mg/dL, and oliguria. Because 20% to 30% of infants do not respond initially to indomethacin and because the PDA reopens in 10% to 20% of infants, a repeat course of indomethacin or surgical ligation is required in some patients.
Assisted ventilation with high peak inspiratory pressures and positive end-expiratory pressures may cause overdistention of alveoli in localized areas of the lung. Rupture of the alveolar epithelial lining may produce pulmonary interstitial emphysema as gas dissects along the interstitial space and the peribronchial lymphatics. Extravasation of gas into the parenchyma reduces lung compliance and worsens respiratory failure. Gas dissection into the mediastinal space produces a pneumomediastinum, occasionally dissecting into the subcutaneous tissues around the neck, causing subcutaneous emphysema.
Alveolar rupture adjacent to the pleural space produces a pneumothorax (Fig. 61-3). If the gas is under tension, the pneumothorax shifts the mediastinum to the opposite side of the chest, producing hypotension, hypoxia, and hypercapnia.
Figure 61-3 Pneumothorax. Right-sided hyperlucent pleural air is obvious. The findings of linear interstitial air and the resultant non-compliant but collapsed lung are noted. (From Heller RM, Kirchner SG: Advanced exercises in diagnostic radiology: the newborn, Philadel-phia, WB Saunders, 1979.)
The diagnosis of a pneumothorax may be based on unequal transillumination of the chest and may be confirmed by chest radiograph. Treatment of a symptomatic pneumothorax requires insertion of a pleural chest tube connected to negative pressure or to an underwater drain. Prophylactic or therapeutic use of exogenous surfactant has reduced the incidence of pulmonary air leaks.
Pneumothorax also is observed after vigorous resuscitation, meconium aspiration pneumonia, pulmonary hypoplasia, and diaphragmatic hernia. Spontaneous pneumothorax is seen in fewer than 1% of deliveries and may be associated with renal malformations.
BPD is a clinical diagnosis defined by oxygen dependence at36 weeks’ postconceptual age and accompanied by characteristic clinical and radiographic findings that correspond to anatomic abnormalities. Oxygen concentrations greater than 40%are toxic to the neonatal lung. Oxygen-mediated lung injuryresults from the generation of superoxides, hydrogen peroxide, and oxygen free radicals, which disrupt membrane lipids.Assisted ventilation with high peak pressures produces barotrauma, compounding the damaging effects of highly inspiredoxygen levels. In most patients, BPD develops after ventilationfor RDS that may have been complicated by PDA or pulmonary interstitial emphysema. Inflammation from prolongedassisted ventilation and repeated systemic and pulmonaryinfections may play a major role. Failure of RDS to improveafter 2 weeks, the need for prolonged mechanical ventilation,and oxygen therapy required at 36 weeks’ postconceptual ageare characteristic of patients with RDS in whom BPD develops.BPD also may develop in infants weighing less than 1000 g whorequire mechanical ventilation for poor respiratory drive in theabsence of RDS. Fifty percent of infants of 24 to 26 weeks’ gestational age require oxygen at 36 weeks’ corrected age.
The radiographic appearance of BPD is characterized initially by lung opacification and subsequently by development of cysts accompanied by areas of overdistention and atelectasis, giving the lung a spongelike appearance. The histopathology of BPD reveals interstitial edema, atelectasis, mucosal metaplasia, interstitial fibrosis, necrotizing obliterative bronchiolitis, and overdistended alveoli.
The clinical manifestations of BPD are oxygen dependence, hypercapnia with a compensatory metabolic alkalosis, pulmonary hypertension, poor growth, and development of right-sided heart failure. Increased airway resistance with reactive airway bronchoconstriction also is noted and is treated with bronchodilating agents. Severe chest retractions produce negative interstitial pressure that draws fluid into the interstitial space. Together with cor pulmonale, these chest retractions cause fluid retention, necessitating fluid restriction and the administration of diuretics.
Patients with severe BPD may need treatment withmechanical ventilation for many months. To reduce the riskof subglottic stenosis, a tracheotomy may be indicated. To reduce oxygen toxicity and barotrauma, ventilator settingsare reduced to maintain blood gases with slightly lower Pao2 (50 mm Hg) and higher Paco2 (50 to 75 mm Hg) levels thanfor infants during the acute phase of RDS. Dexamethasonetherapy may reduce inflammation, improve pulmonaryfunction, and enhance weaning of patients from assistedventilation. However, dexamethasone may increase the riskof cerebral palsy or abnormal neuromotor developmentaloutcome. Older survivors of BPD have hyperinflation, reactive airways, and developmental delay. They are at risk for severe respiratory syncytial virus pneumonia and as infantsshould receive prophylaxis against respiratory syncytialvirus.
Retinopathy of Prematurity (Retrolental Fibroplasia)Available @ StudentConsult.comRetinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is caused by the acute and chronic effects of oxygen toxicity on the developing blood vessels of the premature infant’s retina. The completely vascularized retina of the term infant is not susceptible to ROP. ROP is a leading cause of blindness in very low birth weight infants (<1500 g). Excessive arterial oxygen tensions produce vasoconstriction of immature retinal vasculature in the first stage of this disease. Vaso-obliteration follows if the duration and extent of hyperoxia are prolonged beyond the time when vasoconstriction is reversible. Hypercarbia and hypoxia may contribute to ROP. The subsequent proliferative stages are characterized by extraretinal fibrovascular proliferation, forming a ridge between the vascular and avascular portions of the retina, and by the development of neovascular tufts. In mild cases, vasoproliferation is noted at the periphery of the retina. Severe cases may have neovascularization involving the entire retina, retinal detachment resulting from traction on vessels as they leave the optic disc, fibrous proliferation behind the lens producing leukokoria, and synechiae displacing the lens forward, leading to glaucoma. Both eyes usually are involved, but severity may be asymmetrical.
The incidence of ROP may be reduced by careful monitoring of arterial blood gas levels in all patients receiving oxygen. Although there is no absolutely safe Pao2 level, it is wise to keep the arterial oxygen level between 50 and 70 mm Hg in premature infants. Infants who weigh less than 1500 g or who are born before 28 weeks’ gestational age (some authors say 32 weeks) should be screened when they are 4 weeks of age or more than 34 weeks’ corrected gestational age, whichever comes first. Laser therapy or (less often) cryotherapy may be used for vitreous hemorrhage or for severe, progressive vasoproliferation. Surgery is indicated for retinal detachment. Less severe stages of ROP resolve spontaneously and without visual impairment in most patients.
Transient tachypnea of the newborn is a self-limited condition characterized by tachypnea, mild retractions, hypoxia, and occasional grunting, usually without signs of severe respiratory distress. Cyanosis, when present, usually requires treatment with supplemental oxygen in the range of 30% to 40%. Transient tachypnea of the newborn usually is noted in larger premature infants and in term infants born by precipitous delivery or cesarean section without prior labor. Infants of diabetic mothers and infants with poor respiratory drive as a result of placental passage of analgesic drugs are at risk. Transient tachypnea of the newborn may be caused by retained lung fluid or slow resorption of lung fluid. Chest radiographs show prominent central vascular markings, fluid in the lung fissures, overaeration, and occasionally a small pleural effusion. Air bronchograms and a reticulogranular pattern are not seen; their presence suggests another pulmonary process, such as RDS or pneumonia.
Meconium-stained amniotic fluid is seen in 15% of predominantly term and post-term deliveries. Although the passage of meconium into amniotic fluid is common in infants born in the breech presentation, meconium-stained fluid should be considered clinically as a sign of fetal distress in all infants. The presence of meconium in the amniotic fluid suggests in utero distress with asphyxia, hypoxia, and acidosis.
Aspiration of amniotic fluid contaminated with particulate meconium may occur in utero in a distressed, gasping fetus; more often, meconium is aspirated into the lung immediately after delivery. Affected infants have abnormal chest radio-graphs, showing a high incidence of pneumonia and pneumothoraces.
Meconium aspiration pneumonia is characterized bytachypnea, hypoxia, hypercapnia, and small airway obstruction causing a ball-valve effect, leading to air trapping, over-distention, and extra-alveolar air leaks. Complete small airway obstruction produces atelectasis. Within 24 to 48 hours, a chemical pneumonitis develops in addition to the mechanical effects of airway obstruction. Abnormal pulmonary function may be caused by the meconium, in part, through inactivation of surfactant. Primary pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN) frequently accompanies meconium aspiration, with right-to-left shunting caused by increased pulmonary vascular resistance. The chest radiograph reveals patchy infiltrates, overdistention, flattening of the diaphragm, increased anteroposterior diameter, and a high incidence of pneumomediastinum and pneumothoraces. Comorbid diseases include those associated with in utero asphyxia that initiated the passage of meconium.
Treatment of meconium aspiration includes general supportive care and assisted ventilation. Infants with a PPHN-like presentation should be treated for PPHN. If severe hypoxia does not subside with conventional or high-frequency ventilation, surfactant therapy, and inhaled nitric oxide, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) may be beneficial.
Prevention of meconium aspiration syndrome involvescareful in utero monitoring to prevent asphyxia. When meconium-stained fluid is observed, the obstetrician should suction the infant’s oropharynx before delivering the rest ofthe infant’s body. If the infant is depressed with poor tone,minimal respiratory effort, and cyanosis, the infant’s oropharynx should be suctioned, the vocal cords visualized,and the area below the vocal cords suctioned to remove anymeconium from the trachea. Saline intrauterine amnioinfusion during labor may reduce the incidence of aspiration andpneumonia.
PPHN occurs in post-term, term, or near-term infants. PPHN is characterized by severe hypoxemia, without evidence of parenchymal lung or structural heart disease. PPHN is often seen with asphyxia or meconium-stained fluid. The chest radiograph usually reveals normal lung fields rather than the expected infiltrates and hyperinflation that may accompany meconium aspiration. Additional problems that may lead to PPHN are congenital pneumonia, hyperviscosity-polycythemia, congenital diaphragmatic hernia, pulmonary hypoplasia, congenital cyanotic heart disease, hypoglycemia, and hypothermia. Total anomalous venous return associated with obstruction of blood flow may produce a clinical picture that involves severe hypoxia and that is initially indistinguishable from PPHN; however, a chest radiograph reveals severe pulmonary venous engorgement and a small heart. Echocardiography or cardiac catheterization confirms the diagnosis.
Significant right-to-left shunting through a patent foramen ovale, through a PDA, and through intrapulmonary channels is characteristic of PPHN. The pulmonary vasculature often shows hypertrophied arterial wall smooth muscle, suggesting that the process of or predisposition to PPHN began in utero as a result of previous periods of fetal hypoxia. After birth, hypoxia, hypercapnia, and acidosis exacerbate pulmonary artery vasoconstriction, leading to further hypoxia and acidosis. Some infants with PPHN have extrapulmonary manifestations as a result of asphyxia. Myocardial injuries include heart failure, transient mitral insufficiency, and papillary muscle or myocardial infarction. Thrombocytopenia, right atrial thrombi, and pulmonary embolism also may be noted.
The diagnosis is confirmed by echocardiographic examination, which shows elevated pulmonary artery pressures and sites of right-to-left shunting. Echocardiography also rules out structural congenital heart disease and transient myocardial dysfunction.
Treatment involves general supportive care; correction of hypotension, anemia, and acidosis; and management of complications associated with asphyxia. If myocardial dysfunction is present, dopamine or dobutamine is needed. The most important therapy for PPHN is assisted ventilation. Reversible mild pulmonary hypertension may respond to conventional assisted ventilation. Patients with severe PPHN do not always respond to conventional therapy. Paralysis with a muscle relaxant may be needed to assist vigorous ventilation. Surfactant replacement seems to have no effect when PPHN is the primary diagnosis. If mechanical ventilation and supportive care are unsuccessful in improving oxygenation, inhaled nitric oxide, a selective pulmonary artery vasodilating agent, should be administered. If hypoxia persists, the patient may be a candidate for ECMO. Infants who require extremely high ventilator settings, marked by an alveolar-to-arterial oxygen gradient greater than 620 mm Hg, have a high mortality rate and benefit from ECMO if they do not respond to nitric oxide. In addition, the oxygenation index (OI) is used to assess the severity of hypoxemia and to guide the timing of interventions such as inhaled nitric oxide and ECMO. The OI is calculated using the equation OI = [(mean airway pressure × fraction of inspired oxygen)/Pao2] × 100. A high OI indicates severe hypoxemic respiratory failure.
Available @ StudentConsult.comAlthough apnea typically is associated with immaturity of the respiratory control system, it also may be the presenting sign of other diseases or pathophysiologic states that affect preterm infants (see Table 61-3). A thorough consideration of possible causes is always warranted, especially with the onset or unexpected increase in the frequency of episodes of apnea (or bradycardia).
Apnea is defined as the cessation of pulmonary airflow for a specific time interval, usually longer than 10 to 20 seconds. Bradycardia often accompanies prolonged apnea. Central apnea refers to a complete cessation of airflow and respiratory efforts with no chest wall movement. Obstructive apnearefers to the absence of noticeable airflow but with the continuation of chest wall movements. Mixed apnea, a combination of these two events, is the most frequent type. It may begin as a brief episode of obstruction followed by a central apnea. Alternatively, central apnea may produce upper airway closure (passive pharyngeal hypotonia), resulting in mixed apnea.
A careful evaluation to determine the cause of apnea should be performed immediately in any infant with apnea. The incidence of apnea increases as gestational age decreases. Idiopathic apnea, a disease of premature infants, appears in the absence of any other identifiable disease states during the first week of life and usually resolves by 36 to 40 weeks of postconceptual age (gestational age at birth + postnatal age). The premature infant’s process of regulating respiration is especially vulnerable to apnea. Preterm infants respond paradoxically to hypoxia by developing apnea rather than by increasing respirations as in mature infants. Poor tone of the laryngeal muscles also may lead to collapse of the upper airway, causing obstruction. Isolated obstructive apnea also may occur as a result of flexion or extreme lateral positioning of the premature infant’s head, which obstructs the soft trachea.
Treatment of apnea of prematurity involves administration of oxygen to hypoxic infants, transfusion of anemic infants, and physical cutaneous stimulation for infants with mild apnea. Methylxanthines (caffeine or theophylline) are the mainstay of pharmacologic treatment of apnea. Xanthine therapy increases minute ventilation, improves the carbon dioxide sensitivity, decreases hypoxic depression of breathing, enhances diaphragmatic activity, and decreases periodic breathing. Treatment usually is initiated with a loading dose followed by maintenance therapy. High-flow nasal cannula therapy and nasal continuous positive airway pressure of 4 to 6 cm H2O also are effective and relatively safe methods of treating obstructive or mixed apneas; they may work by stimulating the infant and splinting the upper airway. Continuous positive airway pressure also probably increases functional residual capacity, improving oxygenation.
Embryonic hematopoiesis begins by the 20th day of gestationand is evidenced as blood islands in the yolk sac. In midgestation, erythropoiesis occurs in the liver and spleen; the bonemarrow becomes the predominant site in the last trimester.Hemoglobin concentration increases from 8 to 10 g/dL at12 weeks to 16.5 to 18 g/dL at 40 weeks. Fetal red blood cell(RBC) production is responsive to erythropoietin; the concentration of this hormone increases with fetal hypoxia and anemia.
After birth, hemoglobin levels increase transiently at 6 to 12 hours, then decline to 11 to 12 g/dL at 3 to 6 months. A premature infant (<32 weeks’ gestational age) has a lower hemoglobin concentration and a more rapid postnatal decline of hemoglobin level, which achieves a nadir 1 to 2 months after birth. Fetal and neonatal RBCs have a shorter life span (70 to 90 days) and a higher mean corpuscular volume (110 to 120 fL) than adult cells. In the fetus, hemoglobin synthesis in the last two trimesters of pregnancy produces fetal hemoglobin (hemoglobin F), composed of two alpha chains and two gamma chains. Immediately before term, the infant begins to synthesize beta-hemoglobin chains; the term infant should have some adult hemoglobin (two alpha chains and two beta chains). Fetal hemoglobin represents 60% to 90% of hemoglobin at term birth. The levels decline to adult levels of less than 5% by 4 months of age.
For a term infant, blood volume is 72 to 93 mL/kg, and for a preterm infant, blood volume is 90 to 100 mL/kg. The placenta and umbilical vessels contain approximately 20 to 30 mL/kg of additional blood that can increase neonatal blood volume and hemoglobin levels transiently for the first 3 days of life if clamping or milking (stripping) of the umbilical cord is delayed at birth. Delayed clamping may increase the risk of polycythemia and jaundice, but it improves glomerular filtration. Early clamping may lead to anemia, a cardiac murmur, poor peripheral perfusion, and less tachypnea. Hydrostatic pressure affects blood transfer between the placenta and the infant at birth. An undesired fetal-to-placental transfusion occurs if the infant is situated above the level of the placenta.
The physiologic anemia noted at 2 to 3 months of age in term infants and at 1 to 2 months of age in preterm infants is a normal process that does not result in signs of illness and does not require any treatment. It is a physiologic condition believed to be related to several factors, including increased tissue oxygenation experienced at birth, shortened RBC life span, and low erythropoietin levels.
Available @ StudentConsult.comSymptomatic anemia in the newborn period (Fig. 62-1) may be caused by decreased RBC production, increased RBC destruction, or blood loss.
Anemia caused by decreased production of RBCs appears at birth with pallor, a low reticulocyte count, and absence of erythroid precursors in the bone marrow. Potential causes of neonatal decreased RBC production include bone marrow failure syndromes (congenital RBC aplasia [Diamond-Blackfan anemia]), infection (congenital viral infections [parvovirus, rubella], acquired bacterial or viral sepsis), nutritional deficiencies (protein, iron, folate, vitamin B12), and congenital leukemia.
Immunologically mediated hemolysis in utero may lead to erythroblastosis fetalis, or the fetus may be spared and hemolytic disease may appear in the newborn. Hemolysis of fetal erythrocytes is a result of blood group differences between the sensitized mother and fetus, which causes production of maternal IgG antibodies directed against an antigen on fetal cells.
ABO blood group incompatibility with neonatal hemolysis develops only if the mother has IgG antibodies from a previous exposure to A or B antigens. These IgG antibodies cross the placenta by active transport and affect the fetus or newborn. Sensitization of the mother to fetal antigens may have occurred by previous transfusions or by conditions of pregnancy that result in transfer of fetal erythrocytes into the
Normal or elevated reticulocyte count (> 5−10%) Coombs positive Isoimmunization: Rh (D antigen) ABO, C, c, E, G Duffy, Kell Other minor group Drug-induced (PCN) Coombs negative Blood smear Specific RBC dysmorphology Obtain incubated osmotic fragility test Elliptocytes Poikilocytes Stomatocytes Fragmentation Basophilic stippling Spherocytes Blood cultures, obtain maternal serum for IgG, IgM, HIV, RPR/FTA RBC morphology Hypochromic microcytic RBCs Normal RBC morphology Chronic fetomaternal bleed Chronic twin-to-twin transfusion Alpha-thalassemia trait Gamma-thalassemia Consider acute blood loss due to obstetric complications, external or internal hemorrhage, DIC/sepsis, bleeding dyscrasias Low reticulocyte count (0−2%) Obtain bone marrow Obtain hemoglobin electrophoresis, KB stain Obtain specific enzyme assay Diamond-Blackfan Aase syndrome Congenital dyserythropoietic anemias Refractory sideroblastic anemia Transcobalamin II deficiency Orotic aciduria No jaundiceJaundice Other Galactosemia Alpha or gamma chain hemoglobinopathies Osteopetrosis Congenital leukemia Hemophagocytic histiocytosis syndromes Drugs (valproic acid, oxidizing agents) Congenital Enzymatic Defects G6PD Pyruvate kinase Hexokinase Glucose phosphate isomerase Others Infections Bacterial infections Parvovirus B19 TORCH infections Syphilis Malaria HIV
Figure 62-1 Differential diagnosis of neonatal anemia. The physician obtains information from the family, maternal and labor and delivery histories, and laboratory tests, including hemoglobin, reticulocyte count, blood type, direct Coombs test, peripheral smear, red blood cell (RBC) indices, and bilirubin concentration. DIC, Disseminated intravascular coagulation; FTA, fluorescent treponemal antibody test; G6PD, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase; HIV, human immunodeficiency virus; KB, Kleihauer-Betke; PCN, penicillin; RPR, rapid plasma reagin tests; TORCH, toxoplasmosis, other, rubella, cytomegalovirus, herpes simplex. (From Ohls RK: Anemia in the neonate. In Christensen RD, editor: Hematologic problems of the neonate, Philadelphia, 2000, Saunders, p 162.) maternal circulation, such as first-trimester abortion, ectopic pregnancy, amniocentesis, manual extraction of the placenta, version (external or internal) procedures, or normal pregnancy.
ABO incompatibility with sensitization usually does not cause fetal disease other than extremely mild anemia. It may produce hemolytic disease of the newborn, which is manifested as significant anemia and hyperbilirubinemia. Because many mothers who have blood group O have IgG antibodies to A and B before pregnancy, the firstborn infant of A or B blood type may be affected. In contrast to Rh disease, ABO hemolytic disease does not become more severe with subsequent pregnancies. Hemolysis with ABO incompatibility is less severe than hemolysis in Rh-sensitized pregnancy, either because the anti-A or anti-B antibody may bind to nonerythrocytic cells that contain A or B antigen or because fetal erythrocytes have fewer A or B antigenic determinants than they have Rh sites. With the declining incidence of Rh hemolytic disease, ABO incompatibility has become the most common cause of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia requiring therapy—currently accounting for approximately 20% of clinically significant jaundice in the newborn.
Erythroblastosis fetalis classically is caused by Rh bloodgroup incompatibility. Most Rh-negative women have noanti-Rh antibodies at the time of their first pregnancy. TheRh antigen system consists of five antigens: C, D, E, c, and e; the d type is not antigenic. In most Rh-sensitized cases, theD antigen of the fetus sensitizes the Rh-negative (d) mother,resulting in IgG antibody production during the first pregnancy. Because most mothers are not sensitized to Rh antigens at the start of pregnancy, Rh erythroblastosis fetalis isusually a disease of the second and subsequent pregnancies.The first affected pregnancy results in an antibody response inthe mother, which may be detected during antenatal screening with the Coombs test and determined to be anti-D antibody. The first affected newborn may show no serious fetaldisease and may manifest hemolytic disease of the newbornonly by the development of anemia and hyperbilirubinemia.Subsequent pregnancies result in an increasing severity of response because of an earlier onset of hemolysis in utero. Fetal anemia, heart failure, elevated venous pressure, portal vein obstruction, and hypoalbuminemia result in fetal hydrops, which is characterized by ascites, pleural and pericardial effusions, and anasarca (see Chapter 60). The risk offetal death is high.
The management of a pregnancy complicated by Rh sensitization depends on the severity of hemolysis, its effects on the fetus, and the maturity of the fetus at the time it becomes affected. The severity of the hemolysis can be assessed by the quantity of bilirubin transferred from the fetus to the amniotic fluid, quantified by spectrophotometric analysis of the optical density (at 450 nm) of amniotic fluid.
Three zones of optical densities with decreasing slopes toward term gestation have been developed to predict the severity of the illness. The high optical density zone 3 is associated with severe hemolysis. Fetuses in the lower zones probably are not affected. If a fetus’s optical density measurement for bilirubin falls into zone 3, and the fetus has pulmonary maturity as determined by the lecithin-to-sphingomyelin ratio, the infant should be delivered and treated in the neonatal intensive care unit. If the lungs are immature and the fetus is between 22 and 33 weeks of gestational age, an ultrasound-guided intrauterine transfusion with O-negative blood into the umbilical vein is indicated and may have to be repeated until pulmonary maturity is reached or fetal distress is detected. Indications for fetal intravascular transfusion in sensitized fetuses between 22 and 32 weeks of gestational age include a fetal hematocrit of less than 25% to 30%, fetal hydrops, and fetal distress too early in gestation for delivery. Intravascular intrauterine transfusion corrects fetal anemia, improves the outcome of severe hydrops, and reduces the need for postnatal exchange transfusion, but is associated with neonatal anemia as a result of continued hemolysis plus suppressed erythropoiesis.
Prevention of sensitization of the mother carrying an Rh-positive fetus is possible by treating the mother during gestation (>28 weeks’ gestational age) and within 72 hours after birth with anti-Rh-positive immune globulin (RhoGAM). The dose of RhoGAM (300 μg) is based on the ability of this amount of anti-Rh-positive antibody to bind all the possible fetal Rh-positive erythrocytes entering the maternal circulation during the fetal-to-maternal transfusion at birth (approximately 30 mL). RhoGAM may bind Rh-positive fetal erythrocytes or interfere with maternal anti-Rh-positive antibody production by another, unknown mechanism. RhoGAM is effective only in preventing sensitization to the D antigen. Other blood group antigens that can cause immune hydrops and erythroblastosis include Rh C, E, Kell, and Duffy. Anti-Kell alloimmunity produces lower amniotic bilirubin levels and a lower reticulocyte count because, in addition to hemolysis, it inhibits erythropoiesis.
Nonimmune causes of hemolysis in the newborn include RBC enzyme deficiencies of the Embden-Meyerhof pathway, such as pyruvate kinase or glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency. RBC membrane disorders are another cause of nonimmune hemolysis. Hereditary spherocytosis is inherited as a severe autosomal recessive form or less severe autosomal dominant form and is the result of a deficiency of spectrin, a protein of the RBC membrane. Hemoglobinopathies, such as thalassemia, are another cause of nonimmunologically mediated hemolysis.
Available @ StudentConsult.comAnemia from blood loss at birth is manifested by two patterns of presentation, depending on the rapidity of blood loss.Acute blood loss after fetal-maternal hemorrhage, rupture ofthe umbilical cord, placenta previa, or internal hemorrhage (hepatic or splenic hematoma; retroperitoneal) is characterized by pallor, diminished peripheral pulses, and shock. Thereare no signs of extramedullary hematopoiesis and no hepatosplenomegaly. The hemoglobin content and serum iron levelsinitially are normal, but the hemoglobin levels decline duringthe subsequent 24 hours. Newborns with chronic blood loss caused by chronic fetal-maternal hemorrhage or a twin-totwin transfusion present with marked pallor, heart failure,hepatosplenomegaly with or without hydrops, a low hemoglobin level at birth, a hypochromic microcytic blood smear, anddecreased serum iron stores. Fetal-maternal bleeding occurs in50% to 75% of all pregnancies, with fetal blood losses rangingfrom 1 to 50 mL; most blood losses are 1 mL or less, 1 in 400 are approximately 30 mL, and 1 in 2000 are approximately 100 mL.
The diagnosis of fetal-maternal hemorrhage is confirmed by the Kleihauer-Betke acid elution test. Pink fetal RBCs are observed and counted in the mother’s peripheral blood smear because fetal hemoglobin is resistant to acid elution; adult hemoglobin is eluted, leaving discolored maternal cells (patients with sickle cell anemia or hereditary persistence of fetal hemoglobin may have a false-positive result, and ABO incompatibility may produce a false-negative result).
Hemolysis in utero resulting from any cause may produce a spectrum of clinical manifestations at birth. Severe hydropswith anasarca, heart failure, and pulmonary edema may prevent adequate ventilation at birth, resulting in asphyxia. Infantsaffected with hemolysis in utero have hepatosplenomegaly andpallor and become jaundiced within the first 24 hours afterbirth. Less severely affected infants manifest pallor and hepatosplenomegaly at birth and become jaundiced subsequently.Patients with ABO incompatibility often are asymptomaticand show no physical signs at birth; mild anemia with jaundicedevelops during the first 24 to 72 hours of life.
Because hydrops, anemia, or jaundice are secondary to many diverse causes of hemolysis, a laboratory evaluation is needed in all patients with suspected hemolysis. A complete blood count, blood smear, reticulocyte count, blood type, and direct Coombs test (to determine the presence of antibody-coated RBCs) should be performed in the initial evaluation of all infants with hemolysis. Reduced hemoglobin levels, reticulocytosis, and a blood smear characterized by polychromasia and anisocytosis are expected with isoimmune hemolysis. Spherocytes commonly are observed in ABO incompatibility. The determination of the blood type and the Coombs test identify the responsible antigen and antibody in immunologically mediated hemolysis.
In the absence of a positive Coombs test and blood group differences between the mother and fetus, other causes of non-immune hemolysis must be considered. RBC enzyme assays, hemoglobin electrophoresis, or RBC membrane tests (osmotic fragility, spectrin assay) should be performed. Internal hemorrhage also may be associated with anemia, reticulocytosis, and jaundice when the hemorrhage reabsorbs; ultrasound evaluation of the brain, liver, spleen, or adrenal gland may be indicated when nonimmune hemolysis is suspected. Shock is more typical in patients with internal hemorrhage, whereas in hemolytic diseases, heart failure may be seen with severe anemia. Evaluation of a possible fetal-maternal hemorrhage should include the Kleihauer-Betke test.
The treatment of symptomatic neonatal anemia is transfusion of cross-matched packed RBCs. If immune hemolysis is present,the cells to be transfused must be cross-matched against maternal and neonatal plasma. Acute volume loss may necessitateresuscitation with nonblood products, such as saline if bloodis not available; packed RBCs can be given subsequently. Tocorrect anemia and any remaining blood volume deficit, 10 to15 mL/kg of packed RBCs should be sufficient. Cytomegalovirus-seronegative blood should be given to cytomegalovirusseronegative infants, and all blood products should be irradiatedto reduce the risk of graft-versus-host disease; blood should bescreened for HIV, hepatitis B and C, and syphilis. Recombinanterythropoietin may improve the hematocrit in infants with ahyporegenerative anemia after in utero transfusion.
Hemolytic disease of the newborn is a common cause of neonatal jaundice. Nonetheless, because of the immaturity of the pathways of bilirubin metabolism, many newborn infants without evidence of hemolysis become jaundiced.
Bilirubin is produced by the catabolism of hemoglobin in the reticuloendothelial system. The tetrapyrrole ring of heme is cleaved by heme oxygenase to form equivalent quantities of biliverdin and carbon monoxide. Because no other biologic source of carbon monoxide exists, the excretion of this gas is stoichiometrically identical to the production of bilirubin. Biliverdin is converted to bilirubin by biliverdin reductase. One gram of hemoglobin produces 35 mg of bilirubin. Sources of bilirubin other than circulating hemoglobin represent 20% of bilirubin production; these sources include inefficient (shunt) hemoglobin production and lysis of precursor cells in bone marrow. Compared with adults, newborns have a twofold to threefold greater rate of bilirubin production (6 to 10 mg/kg/24 hr versus 3 mg/kg/24 hr). This increased production is caused, in part, by an increased RBC mass (higher hematocrit) and a shortened erythrocyte life span of 70 to 90 dayscompared with the 120-day erythrocyte life span in adults.
Bilirubin produced after hemoglobin catabolism is lipid soluble and unconjugated and reacts as an indirect reagent in the van den Bergh test. Indirect-reacting, unconjugated bilirubin is toxic to the central nervous system and is insoluble in water, limiting its excretion. Unconjugated bilirubin binds to albumin on specific bilirubin binding sites; 1 g of albumin binds 8.5 mg of bilirubin in a newborn. If the binding sites become saturated or if a competitive compound binds at the site, displacing bound bilirubin, free bilirubin becomes available to enter the central nervous system. Organic acids such as free fatty acids and drugs such as sulfisoxazole can displace bilirubin from its binding site on albumin.
Bilirubin dissociates from albumin at the hepatocyte and becomes bound to a cytoplasmic liver protein Y (ligandin). Hepatic conjugation results in the production of bilirubin diglucuronide, which is water soluble and capable of biliary and renal excretion. The enzyme glucuronosyltransferase represents the rate-limiting step of bilirubin conjugation. The concentrations of ligandin and glucuronosyltransferase are lower in newborns, particularly in premature infants, than in older children.
Conjugated bilirubin gives a direct reaction in the van den Bergh test. Most conjugated bilirubin is excreted through the bile into the small intestine and eliminated in the stool. Some bilirubin may undergo hydrolysis back to the unconjugated fraction by intestinal glucuronidase, however, and may be reabsorbed (enterohepatic recirculation). In addition, bacteria in the neonatal intestine convert bilirubin to urobilinogen and stercobilinogen, which are excreted in urine and stool and usually limit bilirubin reabsorption. Delayed passage of meconium, which contains bilirubin, also may contribute to the enterohepatic recirculation of bilirubin.
Bilirubin is produced in utero by the normal fetus and by the fetus affected by erythroblastosis fetalis. Indirect, unconjugated, lipid-soluble fetal bilirubin is transferred across the placenta and becomes conjugated by maternal hepatic enzymes. The placenta is impermeable to conjugated water-soluble bilirubin. Fetal bilirubin levels become only mildly elevated in the presence of severe hemolysis, but may increase when hemolysis produces fetal hepatic inspissated bile stasis and conjugated hyperbilirubinemia. Maternal indirect (but not direct) hyperbilirubinemia also may increase fetal bilirubin levels.
Etiology of Indirect Unconjugated Hyperbilirubinemia Decision-Making AlgorithmAvailable @ StudentConsult.comPhysiologic jaundice is a common cause of hyperbilirubinemia among newborns. It is a diagnosis of exclusion, made after careful evaluation has ruled out more serious causes of jaundice, such as hemolysis, infection, and metabolic diseases. Physiologic jaundice is the result of many factors that are normal physiologic characteristics of newborns: increased bilirubin production resulting from an increased RBC mass, shortened RBC life span, and hepatic immaturity of ligandin and glucuronosyltransferase. Physiologic jaundice may be exaggerated among infants of Greek and Asian ancestry.
The clinical pattern of physiologic jaundice in term infantsincludes a peak indirect-reacting bilirubin level of no morethan 12 mg/dL on day 3 of life. In premature infants, the peakis higher (15 mg/dL) and occurs later (fifth day). The peak levelof indirect bilirubin during physiologic jaundice may be higherin breast milk–fed infants than in formula-fed infants (15 to17 mg/dL versus 12 mg/dL). This higher level may be partly aresult of the decreased fluid intake of infants fed breast milk. Jaundice is unphysiologic or pathologic if it is clinically evidenton the first day of life, if the bilirubin level increases more than 0.5 mg/dL/hr, if the peak bilirubin is greater than 13 mg/dLin term infants, if the direct bilirubin fraction is greater than 1.5 mg/dL, or if hepatosplenomegaly and anemia are present.
Crigler-Najjar syndrome is a serious, rare, autosomal recessive, permanent deficiency of glucuronosyltransferase that results in severe indirect hyperbilirubinemia. Type II responds to enzyme induction by phenobarbital, producing an increase in enzyme activity and a reduction of bilirubin levels. Type I does not respond to phenobarbital and manifests as persistent indirect hyperbilirubinemia, often leading to kernicterus. Gilbert disease is caused by a mutation of the promoter region of glucuronosyltransferase and results in a mild indirect hyperbilirubinemia. In the presence of another icterogenic factor (hemolysis), more severe jaundice may develop.
Hepatic infarction Inborn errors of metabolism (galactosemia, tyrosinemia) Cystic fibrosis Biliary atresia Choledochal cyst α1-Antitrypsin deficiency Neonatal iron storage disease Alagille syndrome (arteriohepatic dysplasia) Byler disease
CMV, Cytomegalovirus; TORCH, toxoplasmosis, other, rubella, cytomegalovirus, herpes simplex.Direct-reacting hyperbilirubinemia (defined as a direct bilirubin level >2 mg/dL or >20% of the total bilirubin) is never physiologic and should always be evaluated thoroughly according to the diagnostic categories (Table 62-2). Direct-reacting bilirubin (composed mostly of conjugated bilirubin) is not neurotoxic to the infant but signifies a serious underlying disorder involving cholestasis or hepatocellular injury. The diagnostic evaluation of patients with direct-reacting hyperbilirubinemia involves the determination of the levels of liver enzymes (aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, alanine aminotransferase, and γ-glutamyl transpeptidase), bacterial and viral cultures, metabolic screening tests, hepatic ultrasound, sweat chloride test, and occasionally liver biopsy. In addition, the presence of dark urine and gray-white (acholic) stools with jaundice after the second week of life strongly suggests biliary atresia. The treatment of disorders manifested by direct bilirubinemia is specific for the diseases that are listed in Table 62-2. These diseases do not respond to phototherapy or exchange transfusion.
Lipid-soluble, unconjugated, indirect bilirubin fraction is toxic to the developing central nervous system, especially when indirect bilirubin concentrations are high and exceed the binding capacity of albumin. Kernicterus results when indirect bilirubin is deposited in brain cells and disrupts neuronal metabolism and function, especially in the basal ganglia. Indirect bilirubin may cross the blood-brain barrier because of its lipid solubility. Other theories propose that a disruption of the blood-brain barrier permits entry of a bilirubin-albumin or free bilirubin–fatty acid complex.
Kernicterus usually is noted when the bilirubin level is excessively high for gestational age. It usually does not develop in term infants when bilirubin levels are less than 20 to
Common Blood group Physiologic jaundice, incompatibility: ABO, Rh, breast milk jaundice, Kell, Duffy infection internal hemorrhage, polycythemia, infant of diabetic mother
Rare Red blood cell enzyme defects: glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, pyruvate kinase Red blood cell membrane disorders: spherocytosis, ovalocytosis Hemoglobinopathy: thalassemia Mutations of glucuronyl transferase enzyme (Crigler-Najjar syndrome, Gilbert disease), pyloric stenosis, hypothyroidism, immune thrombocytopenia
Breast milk jaundice may be associated with unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia without evidence of hemolysis during the first to second week of life. Bilirubin levels rarely increase to more than 20 mg/dL. Interruption of breastfeeding for 1 to 2 days results in a rapid decline of bilirubin levels, which do not increase significantly after breastfeeding resumes. Breast milk may contain an inhibitor of bilirubin conjugation or may increase enterohepatic recirculation of bilirubin because of breast milk glucuronidase.
Jaundice on the first day of life is always pathologic, and immediate attention is needed to establish the cause. Early onset often is a result of hemolysis, internal hemorrhage (cephalhematoma, hepatic or splenic hematoma), or infection (Table 62-1). Infection also is often associated with direct-reacting bilirubin resulting from perinatal congenital infections or from bacterial sepsis.
Physical evidence of jaundice is observed in infants when bilirubin levels reach 5 to 10 mg/dL (versus 2 to 3 mg/dL in adults). When jaundice is observed, the laboratory evaluation for hyperbilirubinemia should include a total bilirubin measurement to determine the magnitude of hyperbilirubinemia. Bilirubin levels greater than 5 mg/dL on the first day of life or greater than 13 mg/dL thereafter in term infants should be evaluated further with measurement of indirect and direct bilirubin levels, blood typing, Coombs test, complete blood count, blood smear, and reticulocyte count. These tests must be performed before treatment of hyperbilirubinemia with phototherapy or exchange transfusion. In the absence of hemolysis or evidence for either the common or the rare causes of nonhemolytic indirect hyperbilirubinemia, the diagnosis is either physiologic or breast milk jaundice. Jaundice present after 2 weeks of age is pathologic and suggests a direct-reacting hyperbilirubinemia.
Etiology of Direct Conjugated HyperbilirubinemiaAvailable @ StudentConsult.com 25 mg/dL, but the incidence increases as serum bilirubin levels exceed 25 mg/dL. Kernicterus may be noted at bilirubin levels less than 20 mg/dL in the presence of sepsis, meningitis, hemolysis, asphyxia, hypoxia, hypothermia, hypoglycemia, bilirubin-displacing drugs (sulfa drugs), and prematurity. Other risks for kernicterus in term infants are hemolysis, jaundice noted within 24 hours of birth, and delayed diagnosis of hyperbilirubinemia. Kernicterus has developed in extremely immature infants weighing less than 1000 g when bilirubin levels are less than 10 mg/dL because of a more permeable blood-brain barrier associated with prematurity.
The earliest clinical manifestations of kernicterus are lethargy, hypotonia, irritability, poor Moro response, and poor feeding. A high-pitched cry and emesis also may be present.Early signs are noted after day 4 of life. Later signs includebulging fontanelle, opisthotonic posturing, pulmonary hemorrhage, fever, hypertonicity, paralysis of upward gaze, andseizures. Infants with severe cases of kernicterus die in the neonatal period. Spasticity resolves in surviving infants, who maymanifest later nerve deafness, choreoathetoid cerebral palsy,mental retardation, enamel dysplasia, and discoloration ofteeth as permanent sequelae. Kernicterus may be prevented byavoiding excessively high indirect bilirubin levels and by avoiding conditions or drugs that may displace bilirubin from albumin. Early signs of kernicterus occasionally may be reversedby immediately instituting an exchange transfusion (see later).
Therapy of Indirect HyperbilirubinemiaPhototherapy is an effective and safe method for reducing indirect bilirubin levels, particularly when initiated before serum bilirubin increases to levels associated with kernicterus. In term infants, phototherapy is begun when indirect bilirubin levels are between 16 and 18 mg/dL. Phototherapy is initiated in premature infants when bilirubin is at lower levels, to prevent bilirubin from reaching the high concentrations necessitating exchange transfusion. Blue lights and white lights are effective in reducing bilirubin levels.
Under the effects of phototherapy light with maximal irradiance in the 425to 475-nm wavelength band, bilirubin is transformed into isomers that are water soluble and easily excreted. Unconjugated bilirubin (IX) is in the 4Z, 15Z configuration. Phototherapy causes a photochemical reaction producing the reversible, more water-soluble isomer 4Z, 15E bilirubin IX. This isomer can be excreted easily, bypassing the liver’s conjugation system. Another photochemical reaction results in the rapid production of lumirubin, a more water-soluble isomer than the aforementioned isomer, which does not spontaneously revert to unconjugated native bilirubin and can be excreted in urine.
Complications of phototherapy include an increased insensible water loss, diarrhea, and dehydration. Additional problems are macular-papular red skin rash, lethargy, masking of cyanosis, nasal obstruction by eye pads, and potential for retinal damage. Skin bronzing may be noted in infants with direct-reacting hyperbilirubinemia. Infants with mild hemolytic disease of the newborn occasionally may be managed successfully with phototherapy for hyperbilirubinemia, but care must be taken to follow these infants for the late occurrence of anemia from continued hemolysis.
Exchange transfusion usually is reserved for infants with dangerously high indirect bilirubin levels who are at risk for kernicterus. As a rule of thumb, a level of 20 mg/dL for indirect-reacting bilirubin is the exchange number for infants with hemolysis who weigh more than 2000 g. Asymptomatic infants with physiologic or breast milk jaundice may not require exchange transfusion, unless the indirect bilirubin level exceeds 25 mg/dL. The exchangeable level of indirect bilirubin for other infants may be estimated by calculating 10% of the birth weight in grams: the level in an infant weighing 1500 g would be 15 mg/dL. Infants weighing less than 1000 g usually do not require an exchange transfusion until the bilirubin level exceeds 10 mg/dL.
The exchange transfusion usually is performed through an umbilical venous catheter placed in the inferior vena cava or, if free flow is obtained, at the confluence of the umbilical vein and the portal system. The level of serum bilirubin immediately after the exchange transfusion declines to levels that are about half of those before the exchange; levels rebound 6 to 8 hours later as a result of continued hemolysis and redistribution of bilirubin from tissue stores.
Complications of exchange transfusion include problems related to the blood (transfusion reaction, metabolic instability, or infection), the catheter (vessel perforation or hemorrhage), or the procedure (hypotension or necrotizing enterocolitis [NEC]). Unusual complications include thrombocytopenia and graft-versus-host disease. Continuation of phototherapy may reduce the necessity for subsequent exchange transfusions.
Polycythemia is an excessively high hematocrit (≥65%), which may lead to hyperviscosity that produces symptoms related to vascular stasis, hypoperfusion, and ischemia. As the hematocrit increases from 40% to 60%, there is a small increase in blood viscosity. When the central hematocrit increases to greater than 65%, the blood viscosity begins to increase markedly, and symptoms may appear. Neonatal erythrocytes are less filterable or deformable than adult erythrocytes, which further contributes to hyperviscosity. A central venous hematocrit of 65% or greater is noted in 3% to 5% of infants. Infants at special risk for polycythemia are term and post-term small for gestational age infants, infants of diabetic mothers, infants with delayed cord clamping, and infants with neonatal hyperthyroidism, adrenogenital syndrome, trisomy 13, trisomy 18, trisomy 21, twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome (recipient), or Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome. In some infants, polycythemia may reflect a compensation for prolonged periods of fetal hypoxia caused by placental insufficiency; these infants have increased erythropoietin levels at birth.
Polycythemic patients appear plethoric or ruddy and may develop acrocyanosis. Symptoms are a result of the increased RBC mass and of vascular compromise. Seizures, lethargy, and irritability reflect abnormalities of microcirculation of the brain, whereas hyperbilirubinemia may reflect the poor hepatic circulation or the increased amount of hemoglobin that is being broken down into bilirubin. Additional problems include respiratory distress and primary pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN) that result in part from elevated pulmonary vascular resistance. The chest radiograph often reveals cardiomegaly, increased vascular markings, pleural effusions, and interstitial edema. Other problems are NEC, hypoglycemia, thrombocytopenia, priapism, testicular infarction, hemiplegic stroke, and feeding intolerance. Many of these complications also are related to the primary condition associated with polycythemia (small for gestational age infants are at risk for hypoglycemia and PPHN after periods of hypoxia in utero).
Long-term sequelae of neonatal polycythemia relate to neurodevelopmental abnormalities that may be prevented by treatment of symptomatic infants with partial exchange transfusion after birth. A partial exchange transfusion removes whole blood and replaces it with normal saline. The equation used to calculate the volume exchanged is based on the central venous hematocrit because peripheral hematocrits may be falsely elevated:
Volume to exchange(mL) = [blood volume× (observed hematocrit −desired hematocrit)]/observed hematocrit
The desired hematocrit is 50%, and the blood volume 85 mL/kg.
Disorders of coagulation are common in the neonatal period. Hemorrhage during this time may be a result of trauma, inherited permanent deficiency of coagulation factors, transient deficiencies of vitamin K–dependent factors, disorders of platelets, and disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) seen in sick newborns with shock or hypoxia. Thrombosis also is a potential problem in the newborn because of developmentally lower circulating levels of antithrombin III, protein C (a vitamin K–dependent protein that inhibits factors VIII and V), and the fibrinolytic system.
Coagulation factors do not pass through the placenta to the fetus, and newborn infants have relatively low levels of the vitamin K–dependent factors II, VII, IX, and X. Contact factors XI and XII, prekallikrein, and kininogen also are lower in newborns than in adults. Fibrinogen (factor I); plasma levels of factors V, VIII, and XIII; and platelet counts are within the adult normal range.
Because of the transient, relative deficiencies of the contact and vitamin K–dependent factors, the partial thromboplastin time (PTT), which is dependent on factors XII, IX, VIII, X, V, II, and I, is prolonged in the newborn period. Preterm infants have the most marked prolongation of the PTT (50 to 80 seconds) compared with term infants (35 to 50 seconds) and older, more mature infants (25 to 35 seconds). The administration of heparin and the presence of DIC, hemophilia, and severe vitamin K deficiency prolong the PTT.
The prothrombin time (PT), which is dependent on factors X, VII, V, II, and I, is a more sensitive test for vitamin K deficiency. The PT is only slightly prolonged in term infants (13 to 20 seconds) compared with preterm infants (13 to 21 seconds) and more mature patients (12 to 14 seconds). Abnormal prolongations of the PT occur with vitamin K deficiency, hepatic injury, and DIC. Levels of fibrinogen and fibrin degradation products are similar in infants and adults. The bleeding time, which reflects platelet function and number, is normal during the newborn period in the absence of maternal salicylate therapy.
Vitamin K is a necessary cofactor for the carboxylation of glutamate on precursor proteins, converting them into the more active coagulation factors II, VII, IX, and X; γcarboxyglutamic acid binds calcium, which is required for the immediate activation of factors during hemorrhage. There is no congenital deficiency of hepatic synthesis of these precursor proteins, but in the absence of vitamin K their conversion to the active factor is not possible. Levels of protein induced by vitamin K absence increase in vitamin K deficiency and are helpful diagnostic markers; vitamin K administration rapidly corrects the coagulation defects, reducing protein induced by vitamin K absence to undetectable levels.
Although most newborns are born with reduced levels of vitamin K–dependent factors, hemorrhagic complications develop only rarely. Infants at risk for hemorrhagic disease of the newborn have the most profound deficiency of vitamin K–dependent factors, and these factors decline further after birth. Because breast milk is a poor source of vitamin K, breastfed infants are at increased risk for hemorrhage that usually occurs between days 3 and 7 of life. Bleeding usually ensues from the umbilical cord, circumcision site, intestines, scalp, mucosa, and skin, but internal hemorrhage places the infant at risk for fatal complications, such as intracranial bleeding.
Hemorrhage on the first day of life resulting from a deficiency of the vitamin K–dependent factors often is associated with administration to the mother of drugs that affect vitamin K metabolism in the infant. This early pattern of hemorrhage has been seen with maternal warfarin or antibiotic (e.g., isoniazid or rifampin) therapy and in infants of mothers receiving phenobarbital and phenytoin. Bleeding also may occur 1 to 3 months after birth, particularly among breastfed infants. Vitamin K deficiency in breastfed infants also should raise suspicion about the possibility of vitamin K malabsorption resulting from cystic fibrosis, biliary atresia, hepatitis, or antibiotic suppression of the colonic bacteria that produce vitamin K.
Bleeding associated with vitamin K deficiency may be prevented by administration of vitamin K to all infants at birth. Before routine administration of vitamin K, 1% to 2% of all newborns had hemorrhagic disease of the newborn. One intramuscular dose (1 mg) of vitamin K prevents vitamin K–deficiency bleeding. Treatment of bleeding resulting from vitamin K deficiency involves intravenous administration of 1 mg of vitamin K. If severe, life-threatening hemorrhage is present, fresh frozen plasma also should be given. Unusually high doses of vitamin K may be needed for hepatic disease and for maternal warfarin or anticonvulsant therapy.
Clinical Manifestations and Differential Diagnoses of Bleeding DisordersAvailable @ StudentConsult.comBleeding disorders in a newborn may be associated with cutaneous bleeding, such as cephalhematoma, subgaleal hemorrhage, ecchymosis, and petechiae. Facial petechiae are common in infants born by vertex presentation, with or without a nuchal cord, and usually are insignificant. Mucosal bleeding may appear as hematemesis, melena, or epistaxis.
Internal hemorrhage results in organ-specific dysfunction, such as seizures associated with intracranial hemorrhage. Bleeding from venipuncture or heel-stick sites, circumcision sites, or the umbilical cord also is common.
The differential diagnosis depends partly on the clinical circumstances associated with the hemorrhage. In a sick newborn, the differential diagnosis should include DIC, hepatic failure, and thrombocytopenia. Thrombocytopenia in an ill neonate may be secondary to consumption by trapping of platelets in a hemangioma (Kasabach-Merritt syndrome)or may be associated with perinatal, congenital, or bacterial infections; NEC; thrombotic endocarditis; PPHN; organic acidemia; maternal preeclampsia; or asphyxia. Thrombocytopenia also may be due to peripheral washout of platelets after an exchange transfusion. Treatment of a sick infant with thrombocytopenia should be directed at the underlying disorder, supplemented by infusions of platelets, blood, or both.
The etiology of DIC in a newborn includes hypoxia, hypo-tension, asphyxia, bacterial or viral sepsis, NEC, death of a twin while in utero, cavernous hemangioma, nonimmune hydrops, neonatal cold injury, neonatal neoplasm, and hepatic disease. The treatment of DIC should be focused primarily on therapy for the initiating or underlying disorder. Supportive management of consumptive coagulopathy involves platelet transfusions and factor replacement with fresh frozen plasma. Heparin and factor C concentrate should be reserved for infants with DIC who also have thrombosis.
Disorders of hemostasis in a well child are not associated with systemic disease in a newborn but reflect coagulation factor or platelet deficiency. Hemophilia initially is associated with cutaneous or mucosal bleeding and no systemic illness. If bleeding continues, hypovolemic shock may develop. Bleeding into the brain, liver, or spleen may result in organ-specific signs and shock.
In a well child, thrombocytopenia may be part of a syndrome such as Fanconi anemia syndrome (involving hypoplasia and aplasia of the thumb), radial aplasia-thrombocytopenia syndrome (thumbs present), or Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome. Various maternal drugs also may reduce the neonatal platelet count without producing other adverse effects. These drugs include sulfonamides, quinidine, quinine, and thiazide diuretics.
The most common causes of thrombocytopenia in wellnewborns are transient isoimmune thrombocytopenia andtransient neonatal thrombocytopenia. Isoimmune thrombocytopenia is caused by antiplatelet antibodies producedby the HPLA1-negative mother after her sensitization to specific paternal platelet antigen (HPA-1a and HPA-5b represent85% and 10% of cases, respectively) expressed on the fetalplatelet. The incidence is 1 in 1000 to 1 in 2000 births. Thisresponse to maternal-sensitized antibodies that produce isoimmune thrombocytopenia is analogous to the response thatproduces erythroblastosis fetalis. The maternal antiplateletantibody does not produce maternal thrombocytopenia, butafter crossing the placenta this IgG antibody binds to fetalplatelets that are trapped by the reticuloendothelial tissue,resulting in thrombocytopenia. Infants with thrombocytopenia produced in this manner are at risk for developmentof petechiae, purpura, and intracranial hemorrhage (an incidence of 10% to 15%) before or after birth. Vaginal deliverymay increase the risk of neonatal bleeding; cesarean sectionmay be indicated.
Specific treatment for severe thrombocytopenia (<20,000 platelets/mm3) or significant bleeding is transfusion of ABO-compatible and RhD-compatible, HPA-1a-negative and HPA-5b-negative maternal platelets. Because the antibody in isoimmune thrombocytopenia is directed against the fetal rather than the maternal platelet, thrombocytapheresis of the mother yields sufficient platelets to treat the affected infant. After one platelet transfusion, the infant’s platelet count dramatically increases and usually remains in a safe range. Without treatment, thrombocytopenia resolves during the first month of life as the maternal antibody level declines. Treatment of the mother with intravenous immunoglobulin or the thrombocytopenic fetus with intravascular platelet transfusion (cordocentesis) is also effective. Cesarean section reduces the risk of intracranial hemorrhage.
Neonatal thrombocytopenia in infants born to women withidiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) also is a result of placental transfer of maternal IgG antibodies. In ITP, these auto-antibodies are directed against all platelet antigens; mother andnewborn may have low platelet counts. The risks of hemorrhagein an infant born to a mother with ITP may be lessened by cesarean section and by treatment of the mother with corticosteroids.
Treatment of an affected infant born to a mother with ITP may involve prednisone and intravenous immunoglobulin. In an emergency, random donor platelets may be used and may produce a transient increase in the infant’s platelet count. Thrombocytopenia resolves spontaneously during the first month of life as maternal-derived antibody levels decline. Elevated levels of platelet-associated antibodies also have been noted in thrombocytopenic infants with sepsis and thrombocytopenia of unknown cause who were born to mothers without demonstrable platelet antibodies.
The laboratory evaluation of an infant (well or sick) with bleeding must include a platelet count, blood smear, and evaluation of PTT and PT. Isolated thrombocytopenia in a well infant suggests immune thrombocytopenia. Laboratory evidence of DIC includes a markedly prolonged PTT and PT (minutes rather than seconds), thrombocytopenia, and a blood smear suggesting a microangiopathic hemolytic anemia (burr or fragmented blood cells). Further evaluation reveals low levels of fibrinogen (<100 mg/dL) and elevated levels of fibrin degradation products. Vitamin K deficiency prolongs the PT more than the PTT, whereas hemophilia resulting from factors VIII and IX deficiency prolongs only the PTT. Specific factor levels confirm the diagnosis of hemophilia.
Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is a syndrome of intestinal injury and is the most common intestinal emergency occurring in preterm infants admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit. NEC occurs in 1 to 3 per 1000 live births and 1% to 8% of admissions to the neonatal intensive care unit. Prematurity is the most consistent and significant factor associated with neonatal NEC. The disease occurs in 4% to 13% of infants who weigh less than 1500 g at birth. NEC is infrequent in term infants (<10% of affected infants).
Most cases of NEC occur in premature infants born before 34 weeks’ gestation who have been fed enterally. Prematurity is associated with immaturity of the gastrointestinal tract, including decreased integrity of the intestinal mucosal barrier, depressed mucosal enzymes, suppressed gastrointestinal hormones, suppressed intestinal host defense system, decreased coordination of intestinal motility, and differences in blood flow autoregulation, which is thought to play a significant role in the pathogenesis of NEC. More than 90% of infants diagnosed with NEC have been fed enterally, but NEC has been reported in infants who have never been fed. Feeding with human milk has shown a beneficial role in reducing the incidence of NEC. In addition, probiotics may offer potential benefits for the preterm infant by increasing mucosal barrier function, improving nutrition, upregulating the immune system, and reducing mucosal colonization by potential pathogens. It also is theorized that compromised intestinal blood flow contributes to NEC.
Early clinical signs of NEC include abdominal distention,feeding intolerance/increased gastric residuals, emesis, rectalbleeding, and occasional diarrhea. As the disease progresses,patients may develop marked abdominal distention, biliousemesis, ascites, abdominal wall erythema, lethargy, temperatureinstability, increased episodes of apnea/bradycardia, disseminated intravascular coagulation, and shock. With abdominalperforation, the abdomen may develop a bluish discoloration.
The white blood cell count can be elevated, but often it is depressed. Thrombocytopenia is common. In addition, infants may develop coagulation abnormalities along with metabolic derangements, including metabolic acidosis, electrolyte imbalance, and hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia. No unique infectious agent has been associated with NEC; bacteriologic and fungal cultures may prove helpful but not conclusive.
Radiographic imaging is essential to the diagnosis of NEC.The earliest radiographic finding is intestinal ileus, often associated with thickening of the bowel loops and air-fluid levels. Thepathognomonic radiographic finding is pneumatosis intestinalis caused by hydrogen gas production from pathogenic bacteria present between the subserosal and muscularis layers ofthe bowel wall. Radiographic findings also may include a fixedor persistent dilated loop of bowel, intrahepatic venous gas, andpneumoperitoneum seen with bowel perforation.
The differential diagnosis of NEC includes sepsis with intestinal ileus or a volvulus. Both conditions can present with systemic signs of sepsis and abdominal distention. The absence of pneumatosis on abdominal radiographs does not rule out the diagnosis of NEC; other causes of abdominal distention and perforation (gastric or ileal perforation) should be considered and investigated. Patients diagnosed with Hirschsprung enterocolitis or severe gastroenteritis may present with pneumatosis intestinalis.
The management of NEC includes the discontinuation of enteral feedings, gastrointestinal decompression with nasogastric suction, fluid and electrolyte replacement, total parenteralnutrition, and systemic broad-spectrum antibiotics. When thediagnosis of NEC is made, consultation with a pediatric surgeon should be obtained. Even with aggressive and appropriate medical management, 25% to 50% of infants with NEC requiresurgical intervention. The decision to perform surgery is obvious when the presence of a pneumoperitoneum is observed onabdominal radiograph. Other, not so obvious indications forsurgical intervention include rapid clinical deterioration despitemedical therapy, rapid onset and progression of pneumatosis,abdominal mass, and intestinal obstruction. The surgical procedure of choice is laparotomy with removal of the franklynecrotic and nonviable bowel. Many extremely small infants aremanaged initially with primary peritoneal drainage followed bysurgical intervention as needed later, when the infant is stableand a laparotomy can be performed safely. The long-term outcome includes intestinal strictures requiring further surgicalintervention, short bowel syndrome with poor absorption ofenteral fluids and nutrients, associated cholestasis with resultant cirrhosis and liver failure from prolonged parenteral nutrition,and neurodevelopmental delay from prolonged hospitalization.
HYPOXIC-ISCHEMIC ENCEPHALOPATHY, INTRACRANIAL HEMORRHAGE, AND SEIZURESThe human newborn spends more time asleep (predominantly in rapid eye movement or active sleep) than in a wakeful state and is totally dependent on adults. Primitive reflexes, such as the Moro, grasp, stepping, rooting, sucking, and crossed extensor reflexes, are readily elicited and are normal for this age. In addition, the newborn has a wealth of cortical functions that are less easily shown (e.g., the ability to extinguish repetitive or painful stimuli). The newborn also has the capacity for attentive eye fixation and differential responses to the mother’s voice. During the perinatal period, many pathophysiologic mechanisms can adversely and permanently affect the developing brain, including prenatal events, such as hypoxia, ischemia, infections, inflammation, malformations, maternal drugs, and coagulation disorders, as well as postnatal events, such as birth trauma, hypoxia-ischemia, inborn errors of metabolism, hypoglycemia, hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, polycythemia, hemorrhage, and meningitis.
Available @ StudentConsult.comFocal clonic Repetitive, rhythmic contractions of muscle groups of the limbs, face, or trunk May be unilateral or multifocal May appear synchronously or asynchronously in various body regions Cannot be suppressed by restraint
Focal tonic Sustained posturing of single limbsSustained asymmetric posturing of the trunkMyoclonic Arrhythmic contractions of muscle groups of the limbs, face, or trunk Typically not repetitive or may recur at a slow rate May be generalized, focal, or fragmentary May be provoked by stimulation
Generalized tonic Sustained symmetric posturing of limbs, trunk, and neck May be flexor, extensor, or mixed extensor/flexor May be provoked by stimulation May be suppressed by restraint or repositioning
Orobuccolingual movements Sucking, chewing, tongue protrusions May be provoked by stimulation
Progression movements Rowing or swimming movements of the armsPedaling or bicycling movements of the legsFrom Mizrahi EM: Neonatal seizures. In Shinnar S, Branski D, editors: Pediatric and adolescent medicine, vol 6, Childhood seizures, Basel, 1995, S. Karger.
Seizures during the neonatal period may be the result of of a subarachnoid hemorrhage. Focal seizures often are the multiple causes, with characteristic historical and clini-result of local cerebral infarction. cal manifestations. Seizures caused by hypoxic-ischemic Seizures may be difficult to differentiate from benign encephalopathy (postasphyxial seizures), a common cause jitteriness or from tremulousness in infants of diabetic of seizures in the full-term infant, usually occur 12 to 24 mothers, in infants with narcotic withdrawal syndrome, hours after a history of birth asphyxia and often are refrac-and in any infants after an episode of asphyxia. In contrast tory to conventional doses of anticonvulsant medications. to seizures, jitteriness and tremors are sensory dependent, Postasphyxial seizures also may be caused by metabolic elicited by stimuli, and interrupted by holding the extremdisorders associated with neonatal asphyxia, such as hypo-ity. Seizure activity becomes manifested as coarse, fast and glycemia and hypocalcemia. Intraventricular hemorrhage slow clonic activity, whereas jitteriness is characterized (IVH) is a common cause of seizures in premature infants by fine, rapid movement. Seizures may be associated with and often occurs between 1 and 3 days of age. Seizures with abnormal eye movements, such as tonic deviation to one IVH are associated with a bulging fontanelle, hemorrhagic side. The electroencephalogram often shows seizure activspinal fluid, anemia, lethargy, and coma. Seizures caused by ity when the clinical diagnosis is uncertain. Identifying hypoglycemia often occur when blood glucose levels decline seizures in the newborn period is often difficult because to the lowest postnatal value (at 1 to 2 hours of age or after the infant, especially the low birth weight infant, usually 24 to 48 hours of poor nutritional intake). Seizures caused by does not show the tonic-clonic major motor activity typical hypocalcemia and hypomagnesemia develop in high-risk of the older child (Table 64-1). Subtle seizures are a com-infants and respond well to therapy with calcium, magne-mon manifestation in newborns. The subtle signs of seizure sium, or both. activity include apnea, eye deviation, tongue thrusting, eye
Seizures noted in the delivery room often are caused by blinking, fluctuation of vital signs, and staring. Continudirect injection of local anesthetic agents into the fetal scalp ous bedside electroencephalographic monitoring can help (associated with transient bradycardia and fixed dilated identify subtle seizures. pupils), severe anoxia, or congenital brain malformation. The diagnostic evaluation of infants with seizures should Seizures after the first 5 days of life may be the result of involve an immediate determination of capillary blood gluinfection or drug withdrawal. Seizures associated with leth-cose levels with a Chemstrip. In addition, blood concenargy, acidosis, and a family history of infant deaths may trations of sodium, calcium, glucose, and bilirubin should be the result of an inborn error of metabolism. An infant be determined. When infection is suspected, cerebrospinal whose parent has a history of a neonatal seizure also is at fluid and blood specimens should be obtained for culture. risk for benign familial seizures. In an infant who appears After the seizure has stopped, a careful examination should well, a sudden onset on day 1 to 3 of life of seizures that are be done to identify signs of increased intracranial pressure, of short duration and that do not recur may be the result congenital malformations, and systemic illness. If signs of elevated intracranial pressure are absent, a lumbar puncture should be performed. If the diagnosis is not apparentat this point, further evaluation should involve magneticresonance imaging, computed tomography, or cerebralultrasound and tests to determine the presence of an inbornerror of metabolism. Determinations of inborn errors of metabolism are especially important in infants with unexplained lethargy, coma, acidosis, ketonuria, or respiratoryalkalosis.
The treatment of neonatal seizures may be specific, such as treatment of meningitis or the correction of hypoglycemia, hypocalcemia, hypomagnesemia, hyponatremia, or vitamin B6 deficiency or dependency. In the absence of an identifiable cause, therapy should involve an anticonvulsant agent, such as 20 to 40 mg/kg of phenobarbital, 10 to 20 mg/kg of phenytoin, or 0.1 to 0.3 mg/kg of diazepam. Treatment of status epilepticus requires repeated doses of phenobarbital and may require diazepam or midazolam, titrated to clinical signs. The long-term outcome for neonatal seizures usually is related to the underlying cause and to the primary pathology, such as hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy, meningitis, drug withdrawal, stroke, or hemorrhage.
Intracranial hemorrhage may be confined to one anatomicarea of the brain, such as the subdural, subarachnoid, periventricular, intraventricular, intraparenchymal, or cerebellar region. Subdural hemorrhages are seen in association with birth trauma, cephalopelvic disproportion,forceps delivery, large for gestational age infants, skull fractures, and postnatal head trauma. The subdural hematomadoes not always cause symptoms immediately after birth;with time, however, the RBCs undergo hemolysis and wateris drawn into the hemorrhage because of the high oncoticpressure of protein, resulting in an expanding symptomaticlesion. Anemia, vomiting, seizures, and macrocephaly mayoccur in an infant who is 1 to 2 months of age and has asubdural hematoma. Child abuse in this situation should be suspected and appropriate diagnostic evaluation undertaken to identify other possible signs of skeletal, ocular, or soft tissue injury. Occasionally, a massive subdural hemorrhage in the neonatal period is caused by rupture of thevein of Galen or by an inherited coagulation disorder, suchas hemophilia. Infants with these conditions exhibit shock,seizures, and coma. The treatment of all symptomatic subdural hematomas is surgical evacuation.
Subarachnoid hemorrhages may be spontaneous, associated with hypoxia, or caused by bleeding from a cerebral arteriovenous malformation. Seizures are a common presenting manifestation, and the prognosis depends on the underlying injury. Treatment is directed at the seizure and the rare occurrence of posthemorrhagic hydrocephalus.
Periventricular hemorrhage and IVH are common in very low birth weight infants; the risk decreases with increasing gestational age. Fifty percent of infants weighing less than 1500 g have evidence of intracranial bleeding.The pathogenesis for these hemorrhages is unknown (theyusually are not caused by coagulation disorders), but theinitial site of bleeding may be the weak blood vessels in theperiventricular germinal matrix. The vessels in this areahave poor structural support. These vessels may rupture and hemorrhage because of passive changes in cerebralblood flow occurring with the variations of blood pressurethat sick premature infants often exhibit (failure of autoregulation). In some sick infants, these blood pressure variations are the only identifiable etiologic factors. In others,the disorders that may cause the elevation or depression ofblood pressure or that interfere with venous return fromthe head (venous stasis) increase the risk of IVH; these disorders include asphyxia, pneumothorax, mechanical ventilation, hypercapnia, hypoxemia, prolonged labor, breechdelivery, patent ductus arteriosus, heart failure, and therapywith hypertonic solutions such as sodium bicarbonate.
Most periventricular hemorrhages and IVHs occur in the first 3 days of life. It is unusual for IVH to occur after day 5 of life. The clinical manifestations of IVH include seizures, apnea, bradycardia, lethargy, coma, hypotension, metabolic acidosis, anemia not corrected by blood transfusion, bulging fontanelle, and cutaneous mottling. Many infants with small hemorrhages (grade 1 or 2) are asymptomatic; infants with larger hemorrhages (grade 4) often have a catastrophic event that rapidly progresses to shock and coma.
The diagnosis of IVH is confirmed and the severity gradedby ultrasound through the anterior fontanelle or computedtomography examination. Grade 1 IVH is confined to thegerminal matrix; grade 2 is an extension of grade 1, withblood noted in the ventricle without ventricular enlargement; grade 3 is an extension of grade 2 with ventricular dilation; and grade 4 has blood in dilated ventricles and in thecerebral cortex, either contiguous with or distant from theventricle. Grade 4 hemorrhage has a poor prognosis, as doesthe development of periventricular, small, echolucent cysticlesions, with or without porencephalic cysts and posthemorrhagic hydrocephalus. Periventricular cysts often are notedafter the resolution of echodense areas in the periventricularwhite matter. The cysts may correspond to the developmentof periventricular leukomalacia, which may be a precursorto cerebral palsy. Extensive intraparenchymal echodensitiesrepresent hemorrhagic necrosis. They are associated witha high mortality rate and have a poor neurodevelopmentalprognosis for survivors.
Treatment of an acute hemorrhage involves standard supportive care, including ventilation for apnea and blood transfusion for hemorrhagic shock. Posthemorrhagic hydrocephalus may be managed with serial daily lumbar punctures, an external ventriculostomy tube, or a permanent ventricular-peritoneal shunt. Implementation of the shunt often is delayed because of the high protein content of the hemorrhagic ventricular fluid.
Conditions known to reduce uteroplacental blood flow or to interfere with spontaneous respiration lead to perinatal hypoxia, lactic acidosis, and, if severe enough to reduce cardiac output or cause cardiac arrest, ischemia. The combination of the reduced availability of oxygen for the brain resulting from hypoxia and the diminished or absent blood flow to the brain resulting from ischemia leads to reduced glucose for metabolism and to an accumulation of lactate that produces local tissue acidosis. After reperfusion, hypoxic-ischemic injury also may be complicated by cell necrosis and vascular endothelial edema, reducing blood flow distal to the
Pupils Mydriasis Miosis Unequal, poor light reflexElectroencephalography Normal Low voltage changing to seizure Burst suppression to isoelectric activity
Duration >24 h if progresses, otherwise may 24 h to 14 days Days to weeks remain normal
Modified from Sarnat HB, Sarnat MS: Neonatal encephalopathy following fetal distress, Arch Neurol 33:696, 1976.
involved vessel. Typically, hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy in the term infant is characterized by cerebral edema, cortical necrosis, and involvement of the basal ganglia, whereas in the preterm infant it is characterized by periventricular leukomalacia. Both lesions may result in cortical atrophy, mental retardation, and spastic quadriplegia or diplegia.
The clinical manifestations and characteristic course of hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy vary according to the severity of the injury (Table 64-2). Infants with severe stage 3 hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy are usually hypotonic, although occasionally they initially appear hypertonic and hyperalert at birth. As cerebral edema develops, brain functions are affected in a descending order; cortical depression produces coma, and brainstem depression results in apnea. As cerebral edema progresses, refractory seizures begin 12 to 24 hours after birth. Concurrently the infant has no signs of spontaneous respirations, is hypotonic, and has diminished or absent deep tendon reflexes.
Survivors of stage 3 hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy have ahigh incidence of seizures and serious neurodevelopmental handicaps. The prognosis of severe asphyxia also depends on otherorgan system injury (see Table 58-6). Another indicator of poorprognosis is time of onset of spontaneous respiration as estimatedby Apgar score. Infants with Apgar scores of 0 to 3 at 10 minuteshave a 20% mortality and a 5% incidence of cerebral palsy; if thescore remains this low by 20 minutes, the mortality increases to60%, and the incidence of cerebral palsy increases to 57%.
Systemic and local infections (lung, cutaneous, ocular, umbilical, kidney, bone-joint, and meningeal) are common in the newborn period. Infection may be acquired in utero through the transplacental or transcervical routes and during or after birth. Ascending infection through the cervix, with or without rupture of the amniotic fluid membranes, may result in amnionitis, funisitis (infection of the umbilical cord), congenital pneumonia, and sepsis. The bacteria responsible for ascending infection of the fetus are common bacterial organisms of the maternal genitourinary tract, such as group B streptococci, Escherichia coli, Haemophilus influenzae, and Klebsiella. Herpes simplex virus (HSV)-1 or, more often, HSV-2 also causes ascending infection that at times may be indistinguishable from bacterial sepsis. Syphilis and Listeria monocytogenes are acquired by transplacental infection.
Maternal humoral immunity may protect the fetus against some neonatal pathogens, such as group B streptococci and HSV. Nonetheless, various deficiencies of the neonatal antimicrobial defense mechanism probably are more important than maternal immune status as a contributing factor for neonatal infection, especially in the low birth weight infant. The incidence of sepsis is approximately 1:1500 in full-term infants and 1:250 in preterm infants. The sixfold-higher rate of sepsis in preterm infants relates to the more immature immunologic systems of preterm infants and to their prolonged periods of hospitalization, which increase risk of nosocomially acquired infectious diseases.
Preterm infants before 32 weeks of gestational age have notreceived the full complement of maternal antibodies (IgG),which cross the placenta by active transport predominantly inthe latter half of the third trimester. In addition, although lowbirth weight infants may generate IgM antibodies, their ownIgG response to infection is reduced. These infants also havedeficiencies of the alternate and, to a smaller degree, the classiccomplement activation pathways, which results in diminishedcomplement-mediated opsonization. Newborn infants alsoshow a deficit in phagocytic migration to the site of infection (tothe lung) and in the bone marrow reserve pool of leukocytes.In addition, in the presence of suboptimal activation of complement, neonatal neutrophils ingest and kill bacteria less effectively than adult neutrophils do. Neutrophils from sick infants seem to have an even greater deficit in bacterial killing capacitycompared with phagocytic cells from normal neonates.
Defense mechanisms against viral pathogens also may be deficient in a newborn. Neonatal antibody-dependent, cell-mediated immunity by the natural killer lymphocytes is deficient in the absence of maternal antibodies and in the presence of reduced interferon production; reduced antibody levels occur in premature infants and in infants born during a primary viral infection of the mother, such as with enteroviruses, HSV-2, or cytomegalovirus. In addition, antibody-independent cytotoxicity may be reduced in lymphocytes of newborns.
Bacterial sepsis and meningitis often are linked closely in neonates. Despite this association, the incidence of meningitis relative to neonatal sepsis has been on a steady decline. The incidence of meningitis is approximately 1 in 20 cases of sepsis. The causative organisms isolated most frequently are the same as for neonatal sepsis: group B streptococci, E. coli, and
L. monocytogenes. Gram-negative organisms, such as Klebsiella, Salmonella, and Serratia marcescens, are more common in less developed countries, and coagulase-negative staphylococcus needs to be considered in very low birth weight infants. Male infants seem to be more susceptible to neonatal infection than female infants. Severely premature infants are at even greater risk secondary to less effective defense mechanisms and deficient transfer of antibodies from the mother to the fetus (which occurs mostly after 32 weeks’ gestation). Neonates in the neonatal intensive care unit live in a hostile environment, with exposure to endotracheal tubes, central arterial and venous catheters, and blood draws, all predisposing to bacteremia and meningitis. Genetic factors have been implicated in the ability of bacteria to cross the blood-brain barrier. This penetration has been noted for group B streptococci, E. coli, Listeria, Citrobacter, and Streptococcus pneumoniae.
Neonatal sepsis presents during three periods. Early-onset sepsis often begins in utero and usually is a result of infection caused by the bacteria in the mother’s genitourinary tract. Organisms related to this sepsis include group B streptococci, E. coli, Klebsiella, L. monocytogenes, and nontypeable
H. influenzae. Most infected infants are premature and show nonspecific cardiorespiratory signs, such as grunting, tachypnea, and cyanosis at birth. Risk factors for early-onset sepsis include vaginal colonization with group B streptococci, prolonged rupture of the membranes (>24 hours), amnionitis, maternal fever or leukocytosis, fetal tachycardia, and preterm birth. African American race and male sex are unexplained additional risk factors for neonatal sepsis.
Early-onset sepsis (birth to 7 days) is an overwhelming multiorgan system disease frequently manifested as respiratory failure, shock, meningitis (in 30% of cases), disseminated intravascular coagulation, acute tubular necrosis, and symmetrical peripheral gangrene. Early manifestations—grunting, poor feeding, pallor, apnea, lethargy, hypothermia, or an abnormal cry—may be nonspecific. Profound neutropenia, hypoxia, and hypotension may be refractory to treatment with broad-spectrum antibiotics, mechanical ventilation, and vasopressors such as dopamine and dobutamine. In the initial stages of early-onset septicemia in a preterm infant, it is often difficult to differentiate sepsis from respiratory distress syndrome. Because of this difficulty, premature infants with respiratory distress syndrome receive broad-spectrum antibiotics.
The clinical manifestations of sepsis are difficult to separate from the manifestations of meningitis in the neonate. Infants with early-onset sepsis should be evaluated by blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) cultures, CSF Gram stain, cell count, and protein and glucose levels. Normal newborns generally have an elevated CSF protein content (100 to 150 mg/dL) and may have 25 to 30/mm3 white blood cells (mean, 9/mm3), which are 75% lymphocytes in the absence of infection. Some infants with neonatal meningitis caused by group B streptococci do not have an elevated CSF leukocyte count but are seen to have microorganisms in the CSF on Gram stain. In addition to culture, other methods of identifying the pathogenic bacteria are the determination of bacterial antigen in samples of blood, urine, or CSF. In cases of neonatal meningitis, the ratio of CSF glucose to blood glucose usually is less than 50%. The polymerase chain reaction test primarily is used to identify viral infections. Serial complete blood counts should be performed to identify neutropenia, an increased number of immature neutrophils (bands), and thrombocytopenia. C-reactive protein levels are often elevated in neonatal patients with bacterial sepsis.
A chest radiograph also should be obtained to determine the presence of pneumonia. In addition to the traditional neonatal pathogens, pneumonia in very low birth weight infants may be the result of acquisition of maternal genital mycoplasmal agent (e.g., Ureaplasma urealyticum or Mycoplasma hominis).Arterial blood gases should be monitored to detect hypoxemia and metabolic acidosis that may be caused by hypoxia, shock, or both. Blood pressure, urine output, and peripheral perfusion should be monitored to determine the need to treat septic shock with fluids and vasopressor agents.
The mainstay of treatment for sepsis and meningitis is antibiotic therapy. Antibiotics are used to suppress bacterial growth, allowing the infant’s defense mechanisms time to respond. In addition, support measures, such as assisted ventilation and cardiovascular support, are equally important to the management of the infant. A combination of ampicillin and an aminoglycoside (usually gentamicin) for 10 to 14 days is effective treatment against most organisms responsible for early-onset sepsis. The combination of ampicillin and cefotaxime also is proposed as an alternative method of treatment. If meningitis is present, the treatment should be extended to 21 days or 14 days after a negative result from a CSF culture. Persistently positive results from CSF cultures are common with neonatal meningitis caused by gram-negative organisms, even with appropriate antibiotic treatment, and may be present for 2 to 3 days after antibiotic therapy. If gram-negative meningitis is present, some authorities continue to treat with an effective penicillin derivative combined with an aminoglycoside, whereas most change to a third-generation cephalosporin. High-dose penicillin (250,000 to 450,000 U/kg/24 hr) is appropriate for group B streptococcal meningitis. Inhaled nitric oxide, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (in term infants), or both may improve the outcome of sepsis-related pulmonary hypertension. Intratracheal surfactant may reverse respiratory failure. Intrapartum penicillin empirical prophylaxis for group B streptococcal colonized mothers or mothers with risk factors (fever, preterm labor, previous infant with group B streptococci, and amnionitis) has reduced the rate of early-onset infection.
Late-onset sepsis (8 to 28 days) usually occurs in a healthy full-term infant who was discharged in good health from the normal newborn nursery. Clinical manifestations may include lethargy, poor feeding, hypotonia, apathy, seizures, bulging fontanelle, fever, and direct-reacting hyperbilirubinemia. In addition to bacteremia, hematogenous seeding may result in focal infections, such as meningitis (in 75% of cases), osteomyelitis (group B streptococci, Staphylococcus aureus), arthritis (gonococcus, S. aureus, Candida albicans, gram-negative bacteria), and urinary tract infection (gram-negative bacteria).
The evaluation of infants with late-onset sepsis is similar to that for infants with early-onset sepsis, with special attention given to a careful physical examination of the bones (infants with osteomyelitis may exhibit pseudoparalysis) and to the laboratory examination and culture of urine obtained by sterile suprapubic aspiration or urethral catheterization. Late-onset sepsis may be caused by the same pathogens as early-onset sepsis, but infants exhibiting sepsis late in the neonatal period also may have infections caused by the pathogens usually found in older infants (H. influenzae, S. pneumoniae, and Neisseria meningitidis). In addition, viral agents (HSV, cytomegalovirus, or enteroviruses) may manifest with a late-onset, sepsis-like picture.
Because of the increased rate of resistance of H. influenzae and pneumococcus to ampicillin, some centers begin treatment withampicillin and a third-generation cephalosporin (and vancomycin if meningitis is present) when sepsis occurs in the last week ofthe first month of life. The treatment of late-onset neonatal sepsisand meningitis is the same as that for early-onset sepsis.
An infection acquired transplacentally during gestation is a congenital infection. Numerous pathogens that produce mild or subclinical disease in older infants and children can cause severe disease in neonates who acquire such infections prenatally or perinatally. Sepsis, meningitis, pneumonia, and other infections caused by numerous perinatally acquired pathogens are the cause of significant neonatal morbidity and mortality. Congenital infections include a well-known group of fungal, bacterial, and viral pathogens: toxoplasmosis, rubella, cytomegalovirus (CMV), herpes simplex virus (HSV), varicella-zoster virus, congenital syphilis, parvovirus, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Chlamydia, and Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
Many of the clinical manifestations of congenital infections aresimilar, including intrauterine growth restriction, nonimmunehydrops, anemia, thrombocytopenia, jaundice, hepatosplenomegaly, chorioretinitis, and congenital malformations. Some unique manifestations and epidemiologic characteristics of theseinfections are listed in Table 66-1. Evaluation of patients thoughtto have a congenital infection should include attempts to isolatethe organism by culture (for rubella, CMV, HSV, gonorrhea, and
M. tuberculosis), to identify the antigen of the pathogen (for hepatitis B and Chlamydia trachomatis), to identify the pathogen’sgenome with polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and to identifyspecific fetal production of antibodies (IgM or increasing titer ofIgG for Toxoplasma, syphilis, parvovirus, HIV, or Borrelia).
Treatment is not always available, specific, or effective. Nonetheless, some encouraging results have been reported for preventing the disease and for specifically treating the infant when the correct diagnosis is made (see Table 66-1).
Available @ StudentConsult.comAbnormal Head Size, Shape, and Fontanels Visual Impairment and Leukocoria Petechiae/Purpura
Vertical transmission of Toxoplasma gondii occurs by trans-placental transfer of the organism from the mother to the fetus after an acute maternal infection. Fetal infection rarely can occur after reactivation of disease in an immunocompromised pregnant mother. Transmission from an acutely infected mother to her fetus occurs in about 30% to 40% of cases, but the rate varies directly with gestational age. Transmission rates and the timing of fetal infection correlate directly with placental blood flow; the risk of infection increases throughout gestation to 90% or greater near term, and the time interval between maternal and fetal infection decreases.
The severity of fetal disease varies inversely with the gestational age at which maternal infection occurs. Most infants have subclinical infection with no overt disease at birth; however, specific ophthalmologic and central nervous system (CNS) evaluations may reveal abnormalities. The classic findings of hydrocephalus, chorioretinitis, and intracerebral calcifications suggest the diagnosis of congenital toxoplasmosis. Affected infants tend to be small for gestational age, develop early-onset jaundice, have hepatosplenomegaly, and present with a generalized maculopapular rash. Seizures are common, and skull films may reveal diffuse cortical calcifications in contrast to the periventricular pattern observed with CMV. These infants are at increased risk for long-term neurologic and neurodevelopmental complications.
Serologic tests are the primary means of diagnosis. IgG-specific antibodies achieve a peak concentration 1 to 2 months after infection and remain positive indefinitely. For infants with seroconversion or a fourfold increase in IgG titers, specific IgM antibody determinations should be performed to confirm disease. Especially for congenital infections, measurement of IgA and IgE antibodies can be useful to confirm the disease. Thorough ophthalmologic, auditory, and neurologic evaluations (head computed tomography and cerebrospinal fluid [CSF] examination) are indicated.
For symptomatic and asymptomatic congenital infections, initial therapy should include pyrimethamine (supplemented with folic acid) combined with sulfadiazine. Duration of therapy is often prolonged, even up to 1 year. Optimal dosages of medications and duration of therapy should be determined in consultation with appropriate specialists.
Available @ StudentConsult.comAbnormal Head Size, Shape, andToxoplasma gondii Heterophil-negative mononucleosis Hydrocephalus, abnormal spinal fluid, intracranial Exposure to cats or raw meat or calcifications, chorioretinitis, jaundice, hepatosplenomegaly, immunosuppression fever High-risk exposure at 10–24 wk gestation Many infants asymptomatic at birth
Treatment: pyrimethamine plus sulfadiazineRubella virus Unimmunized seronegative mother; fever ± rash Detectable defects with infection: by 8 wk, 85% 9–12 wk, 50% 13–20 wk, 16% Virus may be present in infant’s throat for 1 yr Prevention: vaccine Intrauterine growth restriction, microcephaly, microphthalmia, cataracts, glaucoma, “salt and pepper” chorioretinitis, hepatosplenomegaly, jaundice, PDA, deafness, blueberry muffin rash, anemia, thrombocytopenia, leukopenia, metaphyseal lucencies, B-cell and T-cell deficiency Infant may be asymptomatic at birth
CMV Sexually transmitted disease: primary genital infection may be asymptomatic Heterophil-negative mononucleosis; infant may have viruria for 1–6 yr Sepsis, intrauterine growth restriction, chorioretinitis, microcephaly, periventricular calcifications, blueberry muffin rash, anemia, thrombocytopenia, neutropenia, hepatosplenomegaly, jaundice, deafness, pneumonia Many asymptomatic at birth Prevention: CMV-negative blood products Possible treatment: ganciclovir (syphilis) asymptomatic: painless “hidden” chancre Penicillin, not erythromycin, prevents fetal infection
Presentation at birth as nonimmune hydrops, prematurity, anemia, neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, pneumonia, hepatosplenomegaly Late neonatal as snuffles (rhinitis), rash, hepatosplenomegaly, condylomata lata, metaphysitis, cerebrospinal fluid pleocytosis, keratitis, periosteal new bone, lymphocytosis, hepatitis Late onset: teeth, eye, bone, skin, central nervous system, ear Treatment: penicillin
Parvovirus Etiology of fifth disease; fever, rash, arthralgia in Nonimmune hydrops, fetal anemia adults Treatment: in utero transfusion
Trypanosoma cruzi Central South American native, immigrant, travel Failure to thrive, heart failure, achalasia (Chagas disease) Chronic disease in mother Treatment: nifurtimox
AZT, Zidovudine (azidothymidine); BCG, bacille Calmette-Guerin; CMV, cytomegalovirus; HBIG, hepatitis B immune globulin; INH, isoniazid; PDA, patent ductus arteriosus; PPD, purified protein derivative; TB, tuberculosis; VZIG, varicella-zoster immune globulin.
With the widespread use of vaccination, congenital rubella is rare in developed countries. Acquired in utero during early gestation, rubella can cause severe neonatal consequences. The occurrence of congenital defects approaches 85% if infection is acquired during the first 4 weeks of gestation; close to 40% spontaneously abort or are stillborn. If infection occurs during weeks 13 to 16, 35% of infants can have abnormalities. Infection after 4 months’ gestation does not seem to cause disease.
The most common characteristic abnormalities associated with congenital rubella include ophthalmologic (cataracts, retinopathy, and glaucoma), cardiac (patent ductus arteriosus and peripheral pulmonary artery stenosis), auditory (sensorineural hearing loss), and neurologic (behavioral disorders, meningoencephalitis, and mental retardation) conditions. In addition, infants can present with growth retardation, hepatosplenomegaly, early-onset jaundice, thrombocytopenia, radio-lucent bone disease, and purpuric skin lesions (“blueberry muffin” appearance from dermal erythropoiesis).
Detection of rubella-specific IgM antibody usually indicates recent infection. Measurement of rubella-specific IgG over several months can be confirmatory. Rubella virus can be isolated from blood, urine, CSF, and throat swab specimens. Infants with congenital rubella are chronically and persistently infected and tend to shed live virus in urine, stools, and respiratory secretions for 1 year. Infants should be isolated while in the hospital and kept away from susceptible pregnant women when sent home.
Available @ StudentConsult.comCMV is the most common congenital infection and the leading cause of sensorineural hearing loss, mental retardation, retinal disease, and cerebral palsy. Congenital CMV occurs in about 0.5% to 1.5% of births. When primary infection occurs in mothers during a pregnancy, the virus is transmitted to the fetus in approximately 35% of cases. Rates of CMV infection are three to seven times greater in infants born to adolescent mothers compared to others. The risk of transmission of CMV to the fetus is independent of gestational age at the time of maternal infection. The earlier in gestation that the primary maternal infection occurs, the more symptomatic the infant will be at birth. The most common sources of CMV for primary infections occurring in mothers during pregnancy are sexual contacts and contact with young children. It is well known that CMV can be transmitted to the fetus even when maternal infection occurred long before conception. This transmission can occur as the result of virus reactivation, chronic infection, or reinfection with a new strain.
More than 90% of infants who have congenital CMV infection exhibit no clinical evidence of disease at birth. Approximately 10% of infected infants are small for gestational age and have symptoms at birth. Findings include microcephaly, thrombocytopenia, hepatosplenomegaly, hepatitis, intracranial calcifications, chorioretinitis, and hearing abnormalities. Some infants can present with a blueberry muffin appearance as the result of dermal erythropoiesis. Skull films may reveal periventricular calcifications. An additional 10% of infected infants may not present until later in infancy or early childhood, when they are found to have sensorineural hearing loss and developmental delays. Mortality is 10% to 15% in symptomatic newborns. Perinatal CMV infection acquired during birth or from mother’s milk is not associated with newborn illness or CNS sequelae.
Congenital CMV infection is diagnosed by detection of virus in the urine or saliva. Detection is often accomplished by traditional virus culture methods but can take several weeks to obtain a result. Rapid culture methods using centrifugation to enhance infectivity and monoclonal antibody to detect early antigens in infected tissue culture can give results in 24 hours. PCR also can be used to detect small amounts of CMV DNA in the urine. Detection of CMV within the first 3 weeks after birth is considered proof of congenital CMV infection.
Trial studies in severely symptomatic newborns of the antiviral agent ganciclovir have shown a lack of progression of hearing loss.
HSV-2 accounts for 90% of primary genital herpes. About 70% to 85% of neonatal herpes simplex infections are caused by HSV-2. Most commonly, neonatal infections are acquired from the mother shortly before (ascending infection) or during passage through the birth canal at delivery. The incidence of neonatal HSV is estimated to range from 1 in 3000 to 1 in 20,000 live births. Infants with HSV infections are more likely to be born prematurely (40% of affected infants are <36 weeks’ gestation). The risk of infection at delivery in an infant born vaginally to a mother with primary genital herpes is about 33% to 50%. The risk to an infant born to a mother with a reactivated infection is less than 5%. More than 75% of infants who acquire HSV infection are born to mothers who have no previous history or clinical findings consistent with HSV infection.
Most infants are normal at birth, and symptoms of infection develop at 5 to 10 days of life. Symptoms of neonatal HSV infection include disseminated disease involving multiple organ systems, most notably the liver and lungs; localized infection to the CNS; or localized infection to the skin, eyes, and mouth. Symptoms may overlap, and in many cases of disseminated disease, skin lesions are a late finding. Disseminated infection should be considered in any infant with symptoms of sepsis, liver dysfunction, and negative bacteriologic cultures. HSV infection also should be suspected in any neonate who presents with fever, irritability, abnormal CSF findings, and seizures. Initial symptoms can occur anytime between birth and 4 weeks of age, although disseminated disease usually occurs during the first week of life. HSV infections are often severe, and a delay in treatment can result in significant morbidity and mortality.
For the diagnosis of neonatal HSV infection, specimens for culture should be obtained from any skin vesicle, nasopharynx, eyes, urine, blood, CSF, stool, or rectum. Positive cultures obtained from these sites more than 48 hours after birth indicate intrapartum exposure. PCR is a sensitive method for detecting HSV DNA in blood, urine, and CSF.
Parenteral acyclovir is the treatment of choice for neonatal HSV infections. Acyclovir should be administered to all infants suspected to have infection or diagnosed with HSV. The most benign outcome with regard to morbidity and mortality is observed in infants with disease limited to the skin, eyes, and mouth.
Available @ StudentConsult.comRhinorrhea Abnormal Head Size, Shape, and Fontanels Red Eye Hoarseness Hepatomegaly Hearing Loss Lymphadenopathy
Congenital syphilis most commonly results from transplacental infection of the fetus, although the fetus can acquire infection by contact with a chancre at birth. In addition, hematogenous infection can occur throughout pregnancy. The longer the time elapsed between the mother’s infection and pregnancy, the less likely she is to transmit the disease to the fetus.
Intrauterine infection can result in stillbirth, hydrops fetalis, or prematurity. Clinical symptoms vary but include hepatosplenomegaly, snuffles, lymphadenopathy, mucocutaneous lesions, osteochondritis, rash, hemolytic anemia, and thrombocytopenia. Untreated infants, regardless of whether they manifest symptoms at birth, may develop late symptoms, which usually appear after 2 years of age and involve the CNS, bones, joints, teeth, eyes, and skin. Some manifestations of disease may not become apparent until many years after birth, such as interstitial keratitis, eighth cranial nerve deafness, Hutchinson teeth, bowing of the shins, frontal bossing, mulberry molars, saddle nose, rhagades, and Clutton joints. The combination of interstitial keratitis, eighth cranial nerve deafness, and Hutchinson teeth is commonly referred to as the Hutchinson triad (see Table 66-1).
Many infants are asymptomatic at the time of diagnosis. If untreated, most infants develop symptoms within the first 5 weeks of life. The most striking lesions affect the mucocutaneous tissues and bones. Early signs of infection may be poor feeding and snuffles (syphilitic rhinitis). Snuffles are more severe and persistent than the common cold and are often bloody. A maculopapular desquamative rash develops over the palms and soles and around the mouth and anus. The rash may progress to become vesicular with bullae. Severely ill infants may be born with hydrops and have profound anemia. Severe consolidated pneumonia may be present at birth, and there may be laboratory findings consistent with a glomerulonephritis. CSF evaluation may reveal a pleocytosis and elevated protein. More than 90% of symptomatic infants exhibit radiographic abnormalities of the long bones consistent with osteochondritis and perichondritis.
No newborn should be discharged from the hospital without knowledge or determination of the mother’s serologic status for syphilis. All infants born to seropositive mothers require a careful examination and a quantitative nontreponemal syphilis test. Dark-field examination of direct fluorescent antibody staining of organisms obtained by scraping a skin or mucous membrane lesion is the quickest and most direct method of diagnosis. More commonly, serologic testing is used. The nontreponemal reaginic antibody assays—the Venereal Disease Research Laboratory (VDRL) and the rapid plasma reagin—are helpful as indicators of disease. The test performed on the infant should be the same as that performed on the mother to enable comparison of results. An infant should be evaluated further if the maternal titer has increased fourfold, if the infant’s titer is fourfold greater than the mother’s titer, if the infant is symptomatic, or if the mother has inadequately treated syphilis. A mother infected later in pregnancy may deliver an infant who is incubating active disease. The mother and infant may have negative serologic testing at birth. When clinical or serologic tests suggest congenital syphilis, CSF should be examined microscopically, and a CSF VDRL test should be performed. An increased CSF white blood cell count and protein concentration suggests neurosyphilis; a positive CSF VDRL is diagnostic.
Parenteral penicillin is the preferred drug of choice for treatment of syphilis. Penicillin G for 10 to 14 days is the only documented effective therapy for infants who have congenital syphilis and neurosyphilis. Infants should have repeat nontreponemal antibody titers repeated at 3, 6, and 12 months to document falling titers. Infants with neurosyphilis must be followed carefully with serologic testing and CSF determinations every 6 months for at least 3 years or until CSF findings are normal.
Available @ StudentConsult.comN. gonorrhoeae infection in a newborn usually involves the eyes (ophthalmia neonatorum). Other sites of infection include scalp abscesses (often associated with fetal monitoring with scalp electrodes), vaginitis, and disseminated disease with bacteremia, arthritis, or meningitis. Transmission to the infant usually occurs during passage through the birth canal when mucous membranes come in contact with infected secretions.
Infection usually is present within the first 5 days of life and is characterized initially by a clear, watery discharge, which rapidly becomes purulent. There is marked conjunctival hyperemia and chemosis. Infection tends to be bilateral; however, one eye may be clinically worse than the other. Untreated infections can spread to the cornea (keratitis) and anterior chamber of the eye. This extension can result in corneal perforation and blindness.
Recommended treatment for isolated infection, such as ophthalmia neonatorum, is one intramuscular dose of ceftriaxone. Infants with gonococcal ophthalmia should receive eye irrigations with saline solution at frequent intervals before discharge. Topical antibiotic therapy alone is inadequate and is unnecessary when recommended systemic antimicrobial therapy is given. Infants with gonococcal ophthalmia should be hospitalized and evaluated for disseminated disease (sepsis, arthritis, meningitis). Disseminated disease should be treated with antimicrobial therapy (ceftriaxone or cefotaxime) for 7 days. Cefotaxime can be used in infants with hyperbilirubinemia. If documented, infants with meningitis should be treated for 10 to 14 days.
Tests for concomitant infection with C. trachomatis, congenital syphilis, and HIV should be performed. Results of the maternal test for hepatitis B surface antigen should be confirmed. Topical prophylaxis with silver nitrate, erythromycin, or tetracycline is recommended for all newborns for the prevention of gonococcal ophthalmia.
Available @ StudentConsult.comC. trachomatis is the most common reportable sexually transmitted infection, with a high rate of infection among sexually active adolescents and young adults. Prevalence of the organism in pregnant women ranges from 6% to 12% and can be 40% in adolescents. Chlamydia can be transmitted from the genital tract of an infected mother to her newborn. Acquisition occurs in about 50% of infants born vaginally to infected mothers. Transmission also has been reported in some infants delivered by cesarean section with intact membranes. In infected infants, the risk of conjunctivitis is 25% to 50%, and the risk of pneumonia is 5% to 20%. The nasopharynx is the most commonly infected anatomic site.
Neonatal chlamydial conjunctivitis is characterized by ocular congestion, edema, and discharge developing 5 to 14 days to several weeks after birth and lasting for 1 to 2 weeks. Clinical manifestations vary from mild conjunctivitis to intense inflammation and swelling. Both eyes are almost always involved; however, one eye may appear to be more swollen and infected than the other. The cornea is rarely involved, and preauricular adenopathy is rare.
Pneumonia in a young infant can occur between 2 and 19 weeks of age and is characterized by an afebrile illness with a repetitive staccato cough, tachypnea, and rales. Wheezing is uncommon. Hyperinflation with diffuse infiltrates can be seen on chest radiograph. Nasal stuffiness and otitis media can occur.
Diagnosis can be made by scraping the conjunctiva and culturing the material. Giemsa staining of the conjunctival scrapings revealing the presence of blue-stained intracytoplasmic inclusions within the epithelial cells is diagnostic. PCR is also available. Infants with conjunctivitis and pneumonia are treated with oral erythromycin for 14 days. Topical treatment of conjunctivitis is ineffective and unnecessary. The recommended topical prophylaxis with silver nitrate, erythromycin, or tetracycline for all newborns for the prevention of gonococcal ophthalmia does not prevent neonatal chlamydial conjunctivitis.
Engle WE: Infants born late preterm: definition, physiologic and metabolic immaturity, and outcomes, NeoReviews 10:e280, 2009
Frankovich J, Sandborg C, Barnes P, et al: Neonatal lupus and related auto immune disorders of infants, NeoReviews 9:e207–217, 2008
HAPO Study Cooperative Research Group: Hyperglycemia and adverse pregnancy outcomes, N Engl J Med 358(19):1991–2002, 2008
Jesse N, Neu J: Necrotizing enterocolitis: relationship to innate immunity, clinical features and strategies for prevention, NeoReviews 7:e143, 2006
Kates EH, Kates JS: Anemia and polycythemia in the newborn, Pediatr Rev 28:33–34, 2007
Kattwinkel J, Perlman J: The neonatal resuscitation program: the evidence evaluation process and anticipating edition 6, NeoReviews 11:e673,
Shankaran S: Neonatal encephalopathy: treatment with hypothermia,NeoReviews 11:e85, 2010Silva RA, Moshfeghi DM: Interventions in retinopathy of prematurity,NeoReviews 13:e476, 2012Steinhorn RH, Farrow KN: Pulmonary hypertension in the neonate,NeoReviews 8:e14–e21, 2007Wong RJ, Stevenson DK, Ahlfors CE, et al: Neonatal jaundice: bilirubin physiology and clinical chemistry, NeoReviews 8:e58–e67,
Kim Blake and Lisa M. Allen 12The leading causes of mortality (Table 67-1) and morbidity (Table 67-2) in adolescents in the United States are behaviorallymediated. Motor vehicle injuries and other injuries account formore than 75% of all deaths. Unhealthy dietary behaviors andinadequate physical activity result in adolescent obesity withassociated health complications (e.g., diabetes, hypertension).
It is the physician’s responsibility to use every opportunity to inquire about risk-taking behaviors (Fig. 67-1), regardless of the presenting issue. Physical symptoms in adolescents are often related to psychosocial problems.
The adolescent interview shifts from information gathering from the parent to the adolescent. Interviewing an adolescent alone and discussing confidentiality are the cornerstones of obtaining information regarding risk-taking behaviors, anticipatory guidance, and protective factors (see Chapters 7 and 9).
The interview should take into account the developmental age of the adolescent (Table 67-3). Conversations about sports, friends, movies, and activities outside of school can be useful for all ages and help build rapport (Fig. 67-2).
Confidentiality is a key element when interviewing an adolescent (Table 67-4). The vital, open discussion about risk-taking behavior is more likely to happen when the adolescent is
RANK CAUSE RATE (PER 100,000) 1 Unintentional injuries 30.3 2 Assault (homicide) 10.4 3 Suicide 6.9 4 Malignant neoplasms (cancer) 3.2 5 Diseases of the heart 1.6
From Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics: National Vital Statistics 2007.
alone (Table 67-5). Some issues cannot be kept confidential, such as suicidal intent and disclosure of sexual or physical abuse. If there is an ambiguous situation, it is wise to obtain legal, ethical, or social work consultation. When caring for a young adolescent, the health care provider should encourage open discussions with a parent, guardian, or other adult.
The law confers certain rights on adolescents, depending on their health condition and personal characteristics, allowing them to receive health services without parental permission (Table 67-6). Usually adolescents can seek health care without parental consent for reproductive, mental, and emergency health services. Emancipated adolescents and mature minors may be treated without parental consent; such status should be documented in the record. The key characteristics of mature minors are their competence and capacity to understand, not their chronologic age. There must be a reasonable judgment that the health intervention is in the best interests of the minor.
Auditory-visual defects 2%–3% Traumatic paralysis 2:1000 Scoliosis 3% males, 5% females Migraine 6%–27% (↑ with increasing age)
Diabetes mellitus 1.8:1000 Obesity 25%–30% Anorexia nervosa 0.5%–1% Bulimia 1% (young adolescence),
Figure 67-1 The Structured Communication Adolescent Guide (SCAG). The SCAG is an interviewing tool developed for learners to use with real or standardized adolescent patients. It incorporates the four major interview components: confidentiality, separation of the adolescent from the adult, psychosocial data gathering (using the HEADDSS mnemonic), and a nonjudgmental approach. The SCAG is at a grade 5 reading level and has demonstrated reliability and validity. A printable version is available through MedEdPORTAL.
Figure 67-1, cont’d “Get the story”Setting Topics Confidentiality Separation HEADDSS See Table 67-5 Relationships Functioning Attitudes Behaviors Be nonjudgmental Avoid lecturing Never give up even if you feel uncomfortable Plan and contract Focus on your adolescent patient’s issues (acne, sore throats, belly pain, mom) and one of your concerns (safe sex, driving safety, depression) Choices – congratulate your adolescent on good choices Behaviors – emphasize the positive; focus on patient accomplishments
Contract – with adolescent around 1 or 2 risk-taking issues
Interview with empathy, interest, and understandingFigure 67-2 STEP guide for adolescent interviewing.Prepare the preadolescent and parent for confidentiality and being interviewed alone.
Discuss confidentiality at the start of the interview. Conversations with parents/guardians/adolescent are confidential (with exceptions*).
Reaffirm confidentiality when alone with your adolescent patient.*Exceptions to confidentiality include major or impending harm to any person (i.e., abuse, suicide, homicide).
*The acronym HEADDSS can represent other terms, that is, A = Activities, D = Depression. Also see Figure 67-1.
Age of majority (≥18 years of age in most states)
Exceptions in which health care services can be provided to a minor*: Emergency care (e.g., life-threatening condition or condition in which a delay in treatment would increase significantly the likelihood of morbidity) Diagnosis and treatment of sexuality-related health care
Diagnosis and treatment of drug-related health care Emancipated minors (physically and financially independent of family; Armed Forces; married; childbirth)
Mature minors (able to comprehend the risks and benefits of evaluation and treatment) All exceptions should be documented clearly in the patient’s health record.
*Determined by individual state laws.During the physical examination, a choice between the parent and a chaperone being present needs to be offered.
Breast budding under the areola (thelarche) and fine straight pubic hair over the mons pubis (adrenarche or pubarche)are early pubertal changes occurring around 11 years of age (range, 8 to 13 years) (see Chapter 174). These changes mark the sexual maturity rating, or Tanner stage, II of pubertal development (Figs. 67-3 and 67-4). Completion of the Tanner stages should take 4 to 5 years. The peak growth spurt usually
Stage 1 The breasts are preadolescent. There is elevation of the papilla only.
Figure 67-3 Typical progression of female pubertal development, stages 1 to 5. A, Pubertal development in the size of female breasts. B, Pubertal development of female pubic hair. Note that in stage 1 (not shown) there is no pubic hair. (Courtesy of J.M. Tanner, MD, Institute of Child Health, Department of Growth and Development, University of London, London, England.) occurs approximately 1 year after thelarche at sexual maturity rating stage III to IV breast development and before the onset of menstruation (menarche). Menarche is a relatively late pubertal event. Females grow only 2 to 5 cm in height before menarche (see Chapter 174).
The mean ages of thelarche and adrenarche are approximately 9 and 10 years for African American and white girls, respectively. The mean ages of menarche are 12.2 and 12.9 years for African American and white girls, respectively. The interval from the initiation of thelarche to the onset of menses (menarche) is 2.3 ± 1 years. Pubertal changes before 6 years of
Stage 2 Breast bud stage. A small mound is formed by the elevation of the breast and papilla. The areolar diameter enlarges.
Stage 3 There is further enlargement of breast and areola with no separation of their contours.
Stage 4 There is a projection of the areola and papilla to form a secondary mound above the level of the breast.
Stage 5 The breasts resemble those of a mature female as the areola has recessed to the general contour of the breast.
Stage 2 There is sparse growth of long, slightly pigmented, downy hair, straight or only slightly curled, primarily along the labia.
Stage 3 The hair is considerably darker, coarser, and more curled. The hair spreads sparsely over the junction of the pubes.
Stage 4 The hair, now adult in type, covers a smaller area than in the adult and does not extend onto the thighs.
Stage 5 The hair is adult in quantity and type, with extension onto the thighs.
age in African American and 7 years of age in white girls are considered precocious.
Testicular enlargement (≥2.5 cm) corresponds to sexual maturity rating, or Tanner, stages I to II (Figs. 67-5 and 67-6). Testicular enlargement is followed by pubic hair development at the base of the penis (adrenarche) and then axillary hair within the year. The growth spurt is a relatively late event; it can occur from 10½ years of age to 16 years of age. Deepening of the
Figure 67-4 Sequence of pubertal events in the average American female. More recent studies suggest that onset of breast development may be 9 years of age for African American girls and 10 years of age for white girls. (From Brookman RR, Rauh JL, Morrison JA, et al: The Princeton maturation study, 1976, unpublished data for adolescents in Cincinnati, Ohio. Reprinted from Assessment of Pubertal Development, Columbus, Ohio, 1986, Ross Laboratories.)
Figure 67-6 Sequence of pubertal events in the average American male. Testicular volume less than 4 mL using an orchidometer (Prader Beads) represents prepubertal stage. (From Brookman RR, Rauh JL, Morrison JA, et al: The Princeton maturation study, 1976, unpublished data for adolescents in Cincinnati, Ohio. Reprinted from Assessment of Pubertal Development, Columbus, Ohio, 1986, Ross Laboratories.)
Stage 2 There is sparse growth of long, slightly pigmented, downy hair, straight or only slightly curled, primarily at the base of the penis.
Stage 3 The hair is considerably darker, coarser, and more curled. The hair spreads sparsely over the junction of the pubes.
Stage 4 The hair, now adult in type, covers a smaller area than in the adult and does not extend onto the thighs.
Stage 5 The hair is adult in quantity and type, with extension onto the thighs.
Figure 67-5 Typical progression of male pubertal development. A, Pubertal development in the size of male genitalia. B, Pubertal development of male pubic hair. Note that in stage 1 there is no pubic hair. (Courtesy of J.M. Tanner, MD, Institute of Child Health, Department of Growth and Development, University of London, London, England.) voice, facial hair, and acne indicate the early stages of puberty. See Chapter 174 for discussion of disorders of puberty.
Changes Associated with Physical MaturationTanner stages mark biologic maturation that can be related to specific laboratory value changes and certain physical conditions. The higher hematocrit values in adolescent boys than in adolescent girls are the result of greater androgenic stimulation of the bone marrow and not loss through menstruation. Alkaline phosphatase levels in boys and girls increase during puberty because of rapid bone turnover, especially during the growth spurt. Worsening of mild scoliosis is common in adolescents during their growth spurt.
SEE TABLE 67-3 AND CHAPTERS 7 AND 9.When interviewing an adolescent, use a nonjudgmental approach and find some common ground to get the adolescent talking about himself or herself. The HEADDSS (home, education, alcohol, drugs, diet, sex, suicide/depression) mnemonic addresses important risk-taking elements of the history (see Table 67-5). Adolescents who experiment in one area of risk-taking often have contemplated or tried multiple other risk-taking behaviors. When all of the risk-taking information has been gathered, the physician should choose one or two health care issues to discuss, making it clear that the information is confidential and that he or she is there to help the adolescent in a partnership way. Although the focus in adolescent care is on psychosocial issues, a general examination also needs to be performed (Table 68-1). Pediatric issues, such as immunization (see Chapter 94) and health screening, should be included (see Table 9-5).
Rapid changes in physical appearance and behavior are the major characteristics of early adolescence, leading to a great dealof self-consciousness and need for privacy. The history focuseson the early adolescent’s physical and psychosocial health.
Autonomy and a global sense of identity are the major characteristics of middle adolescence. The history focuses on
Explain to your patient what you are going to do. Explain how you are going to do it. Ask whether your adolescent wants his or her parent in the room.* Be sensitive to the adolescent’s needs. Always use a sheet or blanket to provide privacy. Let the adolescent remain dressed and work around the clothing. Ask some questions as you go through the physical to keep the adolescent at ease. Give reassurance that elements of the physical are normal for this age.
Examination can be used to offer reassurance about normalcy.†Assess the following:Skeletal: scoliosis, Osgood-Schlatter disease, slipped capitalSigns of substance abuse, risk-taking behaviors, and trauma *If not, you will need a chaperone.
†For example, 70% of boys can have breast enlargement (gynecomastia), and girls often have one breast larger than the other.
the middle adolescent’s interactions with family, school, and peers. High-risk behaviors as a result of experimentation are common.
Individuality and planning for the future are the major characteristics of late adolescence. Greater emphasis is placed on the late adolescent’s responsibility for his or her health.
A full pelvic examination is rarely required in a virginal adolescent girl. A bimanual rectal-abdominal examination (all midline internal genitalia are immediately anterior to the rectal wall) is as efficient as a vaginal-abdominal examination. In some girls, anesthesia may be required for a full pelvic examination.
Before a pelvic examination, the patient should be informedabout the importance of the assessment and what maneuverswill take place; she should be encouraged to ask questionsbefore, during, or after the examination. A chaperone shouldbe offered when a family caregiver is not present. Assuringthe patient that she has complete control over the examination and allowing participating by using a mirror or guidingthe examiner is important. The examiner should maintain
Classic or juvenile fibroadenoma (70%) Fibrocystic disease Breast cyst Abscess/mastitis Intraductal papilloma Fat necrosis/lipoma Cystosarcoma phyllodes (low-grade malignancy) Adenomatous hyperplasia Hemangioma, lymphangioma, lymphoma (rare) Carcinoma (<1%) eye contact during the examination. Before all maneuvers,the patient must be informed of what to expect and the sensations.
A padded examination table with the patient in a frog-leg position maximizes comfort of a pelvic examination. Stirrups can be used but are less comfortable. The examination room, lubricants, and instruments should be warm. The examination should be unhurried but efficient.
Inspection of the genitalia includes evaluation of thepubic hair, labia majora and minora, clitoris, urethra, andhymenal ring. When a speculum examination is required,it must be performed before bimanual palpation of internalgenitalia because lubricants interfere with the evaluationof microscopic and microbiologic samples. The speculumallows visualization of the vaginal walls and cervical os forcollection of appropriate specimens, such as cultures orPapanicolaou (Pap) smears. A Pap smear is not needed untilthe adolescent is sexually active, unless there is a history ofsexual abuse or vulvar infection with human papillomavirus. In the rare circumstance that a vaginal examination isnecessary in a virginal girl, a Huffman (0.5 in. × 4.5 in.) orPederson (0.9 in. × 4.5 in.) speculum should be used. A non-virginal introitus frequently admits a small to medium-sizedadult speculum.
It is not unusual for one breast to begin growth before (or to grow more rapidly than) the other, with resulting asymmetry. Reassurance that after full maturation the asymmetry will be less obvious and that all women have some degree of asymmetry is needed by some. The breast bud is a pea-sized mass below the nipple that is often tender. Occasionally young women present with a breast mass; usually these are benign fibroadenomas or cysts (Table 68-2). Breast cancer is extremely rare in this age group. An ultrasound evaluation is better for the evaluation of young, dense breasts and avoids the radiation exposure of mammography.
Peripubertal girls (sexual maturity rating stage III) often complain of vaginal discharge. If the discharge is clear without
Drugs Antiandrogens Antibiotics (isoniazid, ketoconazole, metronidazole) Antacids (H2 blockers) Cancer chemotherapy (especially alkylating agents) Cardiovascular drugs
Drugs of abuse Alcohol Amphetamines Heroin MarijuanaPsychoactive agents (e.g., diazepam, phenothiazines, tricyclics) symptoms of pruritus or odor, it is most likely physiologic leukorrhea, due to ovarian estrogen stimulation of the uterus and vagina. A physical examination should reveal evidence of an estrogenized vulva and hymen without erythema or excoriation. The physician should always be alert for signs of abuse. If there are symptoms, cultures should be obtained. In these circumstances, vaginal cultures can be obtained without a speculum because sexually transmitted infections are vaginal until menarche, when cervical infections are the rule. Inspection of physiologic leukorrhea shows few white blood cells, estrogen maturation of vaginal epithelial cells, and no pathogens on a culture.
Menarche typically occurs approximately 2 years afterthelarche, at the average age of 12.6 years. The initial menses are anovulatory and tend to be irregular in duration. Thisirregularity may persist for 2 to 5 years, so reassurance may berequired. During this phase, estrogen feedback on the hypothalamus decreases gonadotropin secretion, which reducesestrogen production and induces an estrogen withdrawalbleed that can be prolonged and heavy. Anovulatory bleedingis usually painless. As the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadalaxis matures, the cycle becomes ovulatory, and menses aresecondary to progesterone withdrawal. When ovulation isestablished, the average cycle length is 21 to 45 days. Someadolescents ovulate with their first cycle, as indicated by pregnancy before menarche.
Available @ StudentConsult.comBreast enlargement in boys is usually a benign, self-limited condition. Gynecomastia is noted in 50% to 60% of boys during early adolescence. It is often idiopathic, but it may be noted in various conditions (Table 68-3). Typical findings include the appearance of a 1to 3-cm, round, freely mobile, often tender, and firm mass immediately beneath the areola during sexual maturity rating stage III. Large, hard, or fixed enlargements and masses associated with any nipple discharge warrant further investigation. Reassurance is usually the only treatment required. If the condition worsens and is associated with psychological morbidity, it may be treated with bromocriptine. Surgical treatment with reduction mammoplasty can be helpful with massive hypertrophy.
Irregular menses is the most common complaint of early adolescent girls. As regular, ovulatory cycles become established, pain with menstruation (dysmenorrhea) is a frequent complaint.
Available @ StudentConsult.comPrimary amenorrhea is the complete absence of menstruation by 16 years of age in the presence of breast development or by 14 years of age in the absence of breast development. However 98% of adolescents have onset of menarche by age 15; therefore, investigations should begin at that age in young women without menses. Secondary amenorrhea refers to the cessation of menses for more than 3 consecutive months, any time after menarche.
Primary amenorrhea may be a result of functional or anatomic abnormalities of the hypothalamus, pituitary gland, ovaries, uterus, or vagina. Physiologic immaturity, stress, excessive exercise, and abnormal dietary patterns (anorexia/bulimia) are the most common causes of amenorrhea. Pregnancy should be considered in all cases of secondary amenorrhea, even if the patient denies sexual activity.
The history and physical examination should guide theinvestigation. An outflow tract obstruction should be ruled outin adolescents with primary amenorrhea, abdominal pain, andsecondary sexual characteristics. An abdominal mass resulting from accumulated blood may be present. Low outflowtract obstructions, such as an imperforate hymen, are visibleon examination. An endocrine evaluation is indicated for girlswith primary amenorrhea without secondary sexual characteristics and an unremarkable history and physical examination.Elevated follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizinghormone (LH) indicate primary ovarian insufficiency, whichmay reflect ovarian dysgenesis or ovarian agenesis and warrantsa karyotype. Turner syndrome is a common cause, but other chromosomal anomalies, fragile X premutation carriers, andautoimmune etiologies should be ruled out. Low levels of FSHand LH suggest hypothalamic dysfunction, which may be dueto physiologic immaturity (often familial), isolated gonadotropin deficiency, or hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (chronicillness, low body weight, stressful life events). Additional hormone evaluation includes thyroid-stimulating hormone andprolactin. Hypothyroidism is a common cause of menstrualdysfunction. A prolactinoma, although rare, must be ruled out.
Girls with secondary amenorrhea have secondary sexual characteristics. The most common causes are pregnancy, anorexia/stress (low LH, FSH, and estradiol), and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). In PCOS there may be symptoms of androgen excess, such as acne and hirsutism, and weight gain and, with insulin resistance, acanthosis. If hirsutism or virilization is present, free and total testosterone, androstenedione, and dihydroepiandrosterone sulfate should be measured to rule out ovarian or adrenal tumors. A normal 17-hydroxyprogesterone level rules out late-onset congenital adrenal hyperplasia. PCOS is diagnosed with two of the following: infrequent menstrual bleeding or secondary amenorrhea, clinical or biochemical hyperandrogenism, and polycystic morphology of ovaries on ultrasound. Estradiol may be normal or low; and androgens, including dihydroepiandrosterone sulfate, may be elevated, although not to the extent that a tumor produces. Patients may have impaired glucose tolerance or hypercholesterolemia.
In a patient with amenorrhea (primary or secondary), normalsecondary sex characteristics, negative pregnancy test, normalprolactin and thyroid-stimulating hormone, and no evidence of outflow tract obstruction, the total effect of estrogen on theuterus (rather than a single point estradiol level) can be determined by a progesterone withdrawal test. To achieve this, 5 to 10 mg of medroxyprogesterone (depending on body weight)is given daily for 5 days. If the uterus is normal and primed byestrogen (an intact hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis) withno outflow tract obstruction, there should be bleeding within 1week after the last progesterone tablet. If there is bleeding, theamenorrhea is secondary to anovulation. If there is no progesterone withdrawal bleeding, the uterus has been insufficientlyexposed to estrogen, and there is systemic estrogen deficiency.
Therapy for the amenorrhea should be directed at the cause. Anovulation can be managed with either cyclic progesterone withdrawal or combined hormonal contraceptives (CHCs). In hypothalamic amenorrhea and ovarian failure, there is an associated hypoestrogenism; therapy is directed at replacing estrogen and progesterone, usually with a CHC. PCOS usually can be treated effectively with weight loss, exercise, progesterone withdrawal, or CHC. If there is evidence of androgen excess, CHCs reduce androgen production from the ovaries and increases sex hormone–binding globulin to reduce the amount of available androgen. Spironolactone helps treat hirsutism, and when there is evidence of insulin insensitivity, metformin can restore ovulatory cycles. Contraception should be prescribed, if applicable.
Available @ StudentConsult.comNormal, ovulatory menses can occur 21 to 45 days apart, measuring from the first day of menstruation to the first day ofthe next menstruation. The average duration of flow is 3 to 7days, with more than 7 days considered prolonged. More than8 well-soaked pads or 12 tampons per day may be consideredexcessive, although classically blood loss is difficult to estimate. Table 69-1 defines menstrual disorders according to thenew International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetricsnomenclature and classification of abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB). If the menstrual problem is unclear and nonacute,observation and charting on a menstrual calendar are warranted. Excessively heavy, prolonged, or infrequent bleedingin the first year after menarche is often physiologic but shouldbe investigated, especially if there is associated iron deficiencyanemia.
Approximately 20% of adolescents with heavy or prolonged menses, especially those presenting in early menarche, have a coagulation disorder and 10% have other pathology. If an underlying pathology is discovered, treatment should be directed at the primary disorder and the secondary menstrual dysfunction.
Duration Prolonged menstrual >8 days of flow bleeding Shortened menstrual <2 days of flow bleeding
The differential diagnosis of AUB is found in Table 69-2. Anovulation is the most common etiology of AUB in adolescents. Without progesterone from the corpus luteum, unopposed estrogen causes endometrial hyperplasia and irregularendometrial shedding, which can be prolonged and heavy,sometimes life threatening. Progesterone induces a secretoryendometrium. When progesterone is withdrawn, the endometrium sheds in a synchronous fashion with myometrial and vascular contractions (causing dysmenorrhea but limiting bloodloss). For the first 1 to 2 years post-menarche, the majority ofadolescent cycles are anovulatory. After 1 year of regular cycles,irregular bleeding usually indicates an organic abnormality.
A thorough history with a menstrual calendar indicating the amount of flow and associated symptoms is followed by physical examination, including a pelvic examination in a nonvirginal adolescent or an ultrasound in a virginal adolescent. Physical examination should also assess for signs of anemia, bruising or petechia, signs of hyperandrogenism or thyroid disease. A complete blood count, pregnancy test, thyroid function tests, and coagulation screen should be performed. In sexually active adolescents, sexually transmitted infections (STIs) should be ruled out.
Unpredictable, heavy, and prolonged menses may impair school attendance and social functioning; iron deficiency anemia is associated with lower academic scores. Treatment is indicated for heavy menses. Chronic and acute bleeding can be managed with CHCs; multiple daily doses may be required until blood loss is controlled. Occasionally uncontrollable bleeding requires hospitalization for intravenous fluids and high-dose estrogen. Uterine curettage is rarely indicated in adolescents. Iron therapy is also important. Use of CHCs to regulate menstruation and allow the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis to mature is appropriate; only 6 to 12 months of therapy may be required. CHCs are paramount in the management of heavy menstrual bleeding in individuals with bleeding disorders (von Willebrand disease), although adjuvant therapy with tranexamic acid may be needed for management of any scheduled withdrawal bleeds. Parents are often concerned that CHC use will cause their daughter to become sexually active, but literature and experience do not support this.
Pregnancy, including ectopic pregnancy Infection—usually sexually transmitted Endocrine disorder—thyroid disorder, PCOS, pituitary disorder Blood dyscrasia Systemic disease Trauma Medications Contraception Vaginal, cervical, or uterine disorders Ovarian tumor/cyst Foreign body
PCOS, Polycystic ovary syndrome.*When all excluded, the diagnosis of dysfunctional uterine bleeding can be made.
Available @ StudentConsult.comThe most common gynecologic complaint of young women is painful menstruation, or dysmenorrhea, during the first 1 to 3 days of bleeding. Primary dysmenorrhea is defined as pelvic pain during menstruation in the absence of pelvic pathology and is a feature of ovulation, typically developing 1 to 3 years after menarche, with an increasing incidence to the age of 24, as ovulatory cycles are established. The release of prostaglandins and leukotrienes from the degenerating endometrium after progesterone levels decline causes increased uterine tone and increased frequency and dysrhythmia of uterine contractions. This creates excessive uterine pressures and ischemia that heightens the sensitivity of pain fibers to bradykinin and other physical stimuli.
Secondary dysmenorrhea is menstrual pain associated with pelvic pathology and is caused most frequently by endometriosis or pelvic inflammatory disease. Adolescents with endometriosis usually have mild to moderate disease, but girls with obstructed outflow tracts tend to have severe endometriosis soon after menarche. The types of dysmenorrhea usually can be distinguished by history and physical examination. Ultrasound is preferred as the initial screen for obstructing genital tract lesions. Magnetic resonance imaging may be useful in complex reproductive tract anomalies. Laparoscopy is required to diagnose endometriosis and pelvic inflammatory disease with certainty, although it usually is reserved for patients who fail medical therapy.
Treatment of primary dysmenorrhea should be considered with symptoms causing significant distress. First-line therapy is nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) (Table 69-3). To maximize pain relief, NSAIDs should be taken before or as soon as menstruation begins, and the dosing schedule should be followed closely. Typically NSAIDs are needed for 2 to 3 days. If NSAIDs fail to provide adequate relief, CHCs or long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARCs) may be added.
Prescription Ibuprofen 400 mg PO qid Naproxen 500 mg PO stat then 250 PO to 500 mg PO bid Mefenamic acid 500 mg PO stat then 250 mg qid or 500 mg
LNG, Levonorgestrel; NSAIDs, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.These contraceptives may be first-line therapy, depending on need for pregnancy prevention.
If dysmenorrhea persists despite an adequate trial of CHCs (>4 months), an alternative diagnosis, such as endometriosis, should be considered. When CHCs fail, a laparoscopy may be performed before advancing therapy to confirm the diagnosis and excise endometriotic lesions. Extended CHC therapy (84 days of active CHC followed by a 5to 7-day hormone-free interval) may control symptoms. Alternatives are depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (150 mg) every 2 months until symptoms are controlled, then every 3 months of levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system. Endometriosis may be treated with gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists (nafarelin or leuprolide) and hormonal therapy, in older adolescents (>16 years of age) when symptom relief is required.
The median age of first intercourse in the United States is 17years for girls and 16 years for boys; this is similar to otherdeveloped countries. Although the age of coital initiation is similar among different socioeconomic groups, the prevalence ofadolescent childbearing is greatest in the lower socioeconomic strata. Risk factors for adolescent pregnancy include lower socioeconomic status, lower education, low self-esteem, lack of access to contraception, alcohol and drug use, and adverse earlylife experiences in the adolescent home. Approximately 900,000
U.S. females 12 to 19 years of age become pregnant each year. Inwomen younger than 20 years of age, there are 97 pregnancies,54 births, and 29 abortions per 1000. Increased use of contraceptives has reduced adolescent pregnancy by up to 35% since thepeak year of 1990. Adolescents who continue their pregnancyhave an increased incidence of preterm and very preterm births,low birth weight infants, infant neonatal admission, postneonatal mortality, child abuse, subsequent maternal unemployment, and poor maternal educational achievement. These risksare influenced by behavior and socioeconomic status, as well asinherent biologic risks within adolescents. Good prenatal care,nutrition, and social support improve pregnancy outcomes.
Pregnancy should be considered and ruled out in any adolescent presenting with secondary amenorrhea. Frequently pregnant adolescents delay seeking a diagnosis until several periods have been missed and initially may deny having intercourse. Early adolescents often present with other symptoms, such as vomiting, vague pains, or deteriorating behavior and may report normal periods. Because of the varied presentations of adolescent pregnancy, a thorough menstrual history should be obtained in all menstruating adolescents. Urine pregnancy tests are sensitive approximately 7 to 10 days after conception. Rape or incest should be ruled out in all cases of adolescent pregnancy.
When pregnancy is confirmed, immediate gestational dating is important to assist in planning. Options are to continue or terminate the pregnancy (if not beyond 20 to 24 weeks’ gestation). With the former, the adolescent may choose to parent the child or have the child adopted. Pregnant adolescents should be encouraged to involve their families to assist with decision making; parents may be more understanding than the adolescent expects.
Continuation of the PregnancyAdolescents who continue the pregnancy need early, consistent, and comprehensive prenatal care by a team of health care providers. Their socioeconomic situation should be evaluated in an effort to optimize the infant’s health and development. Although fewer than 5% of adolescents have their infants adopted, this option should be discussed. Pregnancy is the most common cause for females to drop out of school, so special attention should be given to keeping the adolescent in school during and after pregnancy.
If a pregnant adolescent chooses to terminate her pregnancy, she should be referred immediately to a nonjudgmental abortion service. The options for pregnancy termination depend on the gestational age. Surgical procedures include manual vacuum aspiration (<8 weeks’ gestational age), suction curettage (<12 to 14 weeks’ gestational age, depending on the provider), and dilation and evacuation (14 to 20 weeks’ gestational age). Early pregnancy (<8 weeks’ gestational age) can be terminated medically with oral mifepristone (RU-486) in combination with misoprostol, methotrexate with misoprostol, or misoprostol alone. Adolescents rarely present early enough to explore this option. In the second trimester (>12 weeks’ gestational age), labor induction and delivery can be effected by vaginal misoprostol or the intra-amniotic instillation of prostaglandins or hypertonic saline. Psychosocial support and subsequent contraceptive counseling and implementation should be available for adolescents who choose abortion.
Adolescents often begin intercourse without adequate birth control. Because unintended pregnancy can be associated with significant psychosocial morbidity for the mother, father, and child, prevention should be a primary goal. All methods of contraception significantly reduce the risk of pregnancy when used in a consistent and correct fashion. The best form of contraception is the one an individual will use. Contraceptives can be divided into user-based methods and LARCs. It is important to remind young women that steroidal contraception or LARCs do not provide any protection from STIs, and condoms should be used to reduce the risk of infection.
Abstaining from sexual intercourse is the most commonly used and most effective form of adolescent birth control. A degree of self-control, self-assuredness, and self-esteem is necessary. Adolescents who choose to be sexually active should be offered birth control, because there is a 70% chance of pregnancy in 1 year of regular, unprotected intercourse.
Combined oral contraceptives (COCs) contain a synthetic estrogen and progesterone that suppress gonadotropin secretion and ovarian follicle development and ovulation. COCs also produce an atrophic endometrium (inhospitable for blastocyst implantation) and thicken cervical mucus to inhibit sperm penetration. COCs are 99% effective if taken regularly and have numerous noncontraceptive benefits (decreased acne, less dysmenorrhea, and lighter menstrual flow). After a history and physical examination, COCs can be started on the first day of the next menstrual period or as a Quick Start. The Quick Start method refers to starting on any day of the cycle, usually on the day of the visit to the health care provider, as long as pregnancy has been ruled out. Contraindications and relative contraindications to COCs are listed in Tables 69-4 and 69-5. Blood pressure measurement to rule out preexisting hypertension should be obtained before prescribing a COC. Initially the adolescent should be seen monthly to reinforce good contraceptive use and safer sex. Unless adolescents show the ability to take a pill daily, contraception with COCs should be avoided. When COCs are prescribed, 28-day packets are recommended because they encourage a daily routine. One novel contraceptive regimen has packaged 84 active tablets to be taken sequentially followed by a 7-day hormone-free interval and the next package. Any COC can be used in such a fashion to induce long intervals between withdrawal bleeding.
Initial side effects, such as nausea (pills should be takenat night to reduce this), breast tenderness, and breakthroughbleeding (especially if pills are missed), are common andusually transient. COCs do not generally cause weight gain.Usually 3 to 4 months on one COC are needed to determineacceptability. If there is breakthrough bleeding, the physician
Smoking and age >35 yr Hypertension (systolic ≥160 mm Hg or diastolic ≥100 mm Hg) Current or history of venous thromboembolism Ischemic heart disease History of cerebrovascular accident Complicated valvular heart disease (pulmonary hypertension, atrial fibrillation, history of subacute bacterial endocarditis) Migraine with focal neurologic symptoms Breast cancer (current) Diabetes with retinopathy/nephropathy/neuropathy Severe cirrhosis Liver tumor (adenoma or hepatoma) <1 month postpartum and breastfeeding or <21 days postpartum not breastfeeding Adequately controlled hypertension Hypertension (systolic 140–159 mm Hg, diastolic 90–99 mm Hg) Migraine and age >35 yr Currently symptomatic gallbladder disease Mild cirrhosis History of combined oral contraceptive-related cholestasis History of malabsorptive bariatric surgery procedure 1 Active pill delayed Take 1 active pill as soon as possible. for <24 hours in any Continue taking 1 pill OD until end of week pack.
1 or more active pills Take 1 active pill as soon as possible.
missed (Week 1) Continue taking 1 pill OD until end of pack. Back up contraception for 7 days. Consider emergency contraception.
<3 pills missed (Week Take 1 active pill as soon as possible.
2 or 3) Continue taking 1 pill OD until end of pack. Discard any placebo pills. Start new cycle of COC without an HFI.
3 or more missed pills Take 1 active pill as soon as possible.
(Week 2 or 3) Continue taking 1 pill OD until end of pack. Discard any placebo pills and start new cycle without an HFI. Back up contraception for 7 days. Consider emergency contraception.
COC, Combined oral contraceptive; HFI, hormone-free interval; OD, once daily.
should determine how often pills are forgotten before changingpills. Adolescents should be taught the appropriate responseto missed doses (Table 69-6). Health care providers usuallysuggest the use of additional contraception in the first month.
Although not as widely used as COCs, the progestogen-only (or progestin-only) pill, norethindrone (Micronor), is a safe and effective form of contraception when used consistently. It is supplied in packages of 28 tablets, each containing norethindrone with no hormone-free interval. It prevents pregnancy through reduced volume, increased viscosity, and altered molecular structure of cervical mucus, resulting in little or no sperm penetration. In addition, endometrial changes reduce the potential for implantation, and ovulation is partially or completely suppressed. Approximately 40% of women using progestogen-only contraceptives continue to ovulate. Pro-gestogen-only contraception is indicated for women who have a contraindication to estrogen-based contraceptives (see Table 69-4) or have estrogen-related side effects.
The contraceptive vaginal ring (NuvaRing) is a flexible, Silas-tic ring. The ring releases a constant rate of 15 mg of ethinyl estradiol and 0.120 mg of etonogestrel per day. Each ring is used continuously for 3 weeks and then removed. A new ring is inserted 7 days later. The contraindications and side effects are the same as with COCs.
The contraceptive patch (norelgestromin [Evra]) is a 25-cm2 pink patch that is applied, usually on the buttocks, for 1 week followed by removal and application of a new patch for a total of 3 weeks of patch use, then a patch-free week for a withdrawal bleed. The 4-week cycle is repeated. The daily dose is equivalent to a 35-mg ethinyl estradiol COC. In women weighing 90 kg or more, the contraceptive patch is less efficacious.
Contraindications and side effects are the same as those in COCs.
Intramuscular injection of 150 mg of medroxyprogesteroneacetate (Depo-Provera) every 12 to 14 weeks is an effectiveform of birth control. Progestogen-only contraception is associated with menstrual irregularities (70% amenorrhea and 30%frequent menstrual bleeding). Medroxyprogesterone acetate(Depo-SubQ Provera 104) is designed for subcutaneous useevery 12 to 14 weeks and may be self-administered with minimal training. An implant containing the progestin etonogestrel(Implanon) is now available on the U.S. market. This single rodimplant is inserted subcutaneously and is effective for 3 years.These forms of contraception are userand coital-independentand reduce failure secondary to missed doses.
Intrauterine devices (IUDs) are inserted into the uterus wherethey release either copper (ParaGard) that is spermicidal or levonorgestrel (Mirena) that prevents implantation by inducingan atrophic endometrium. The copper IUD, which lasts up to10 years, may increase the amount and duration of bleeding aswell as dysmenorrhea. The levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system is highly effective for up to 5 years while decreasing bleeding and dysmenorrhea, even causing amenorrhea.Although a small increased risk of pelvic inflammatory diseaseexists for 21 days after insertion of an IUD, the risk followingthat transient period lowers and continues at a low rate for theremainder of time that the young woman uses an IUD. Adolescents should be screened for STIs at the time of IUD insertion, with treatment provided as soon as possible for positive resultsor if there is a concern of compliance at the time of IUD insertion. Insertion in nulliparous women can be aided by the use of a paracervical block. IUDs require no active involvement bythe user, thus eliminating error and can be considered as oneof the first line options for adolescent contraception. Condomsshould be encouraged to reduce the risk of STI.
Emergency postcoital contraception should be discussed at every visit. A prescription should be given in advance of need when no over-the-counter access is available. Emergency contraception reduces the risk of pregnancy after unprotected intercourse if used within 5 days, although efficacy is greatest when used as early as possible. Other indications and contraindications to emergency postcoital contraception are listed in Table 69-7. There are two forms of emergency contraception: (a) Plan B (0.75 mg of levonorgestrel), one pill taken twice, 12 hours apart, or two tablets given once and (b) using a CHC pill the equivalent of 50 mg of ethinyl estradiol and 250 μg of norgestrel, each repeated in 12 hours. Plan B is also associated with significantly less nausea and vomiting than the CHC regimen. Mifepristone is also an effective postcoital contraceptive; however it is not approved for this use in the United States. A copper IUD can be inserted 7 days from the act of unprotected intercourse and has an efficacy of greater than 99%. This method is not generally recommended for adolescents.
No method of contraception being used Condom breaks Diaphragm dislodged/removed <6 h Missed birth control pills >1 wk late for Depo-Provera Ejaculation on external genitalia Sexual assault
Known pregnancy If strong contraindications to estrogens, use progestin.When condoms and spermicide (foam, gel, film, sponge) are used together in a correct fashion (film must be placed 10 minutes before intercourse), they are almost as effective as COCs in the prevention of pregnancy, especially in individuals who have infrequent intercourse. This method is available over-the-counter (latex and polyurethane condoms) without the need for a physician visit or prescription and reduces the risk of STIs, including human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The female condom (Reality) is an additional barrier method made of polyurethane that affords females more control, but adolescents usually do not consider it aesthetically pleasing.
Sponge, Caps, and DiaphragmThe vaginal sponge (Protectaid) is a spermicide-impregnated synthetic sponge that is effective for 24 hours of intercourse. The FemCap is a silicone cap fitted by a health care provider and then placed on the cervix by the user before intercourse. This method is technically difficult, especially for an adolescent. The diaphragm is fitted by a health care provider but is technically simpler to use than the cap because the edges go into the vaginal fornices. To be effective, the diaphragm should be used with spermicide applied to the cervical side and along the rim. The diaphragm needs additional spermicide with each act of intercourse. The Lea’s Shield is a silicone device, similar to a diaphragm, that covers the cervix and adheres to the vaginal vault by a mild vacuum generated by its design. All of these methods need to be left in place for 6 hours after the last act of intercourse for optimal efficacy.
Withdrawal is a common method of birth control used by sexually active adolescents, but it is ineffective because sperm are released into the vagina before ejaculation, and withdrawal may occur after ejaculation has begun.
The rhythm method is the practice of periodic abstinence justbefore, during, and just after ovulation. This method requires the user to have an accurate knowledge of her cycle, awareness of clues indicating ovulation, and discipline. Adolescents tend to have unpredictable cycles and consequently lesspredictable ovulation, so it is difficult to determine with anyaccuracy a time of the month that can be considered completely safe.
Some adolescents engage in oral or anal sex because they believe that it eliminates the need for contraception. Many do not consider this activity to mean “having sex.” Condoms generally are not used during oral or anal sex, but the risk of acquiring an STI is still present. Adolescents should be asked specifically about nonvaginal forms of sexual activity, and adolescents who engage in oral and anal sex require STI and HIV counseling and screening.
Rape is a legal term for nonconsensual intercourse. Almost half of rape victims are adolescents, and the perpetrator is known in 50% of cases. Although gathering historical and physical evidence for a criminal investigation is important, the physician’s primary responsibility is to perform these functions in a supportive, nonjudgmental manner. The history should include details of the sexual assault, time from the assault until presentation, whether the victim cleaned herself, date of last menstrual period, and previous sexual activity, if any.
For optimal results, forensic material should be collected within 72 hours of the assault. Clothes, especially undergarments, need to be placed in a paper bag for drying (plastic holds humidity, which allows organisms to grow, destroying forensic evidence). The patient should be inspected for bruising, bites, and oral, genital, and anal trauma. Photographs are the best record to document injuries. Specimens should be obtained from the fingernails, mouth, vagina, pubic hair, and anus. The sexual assault kit provides materials to obtain DNA from semen, saliva, blood, fingernail scrapings, and pubic hair. A wet mount of vaginal fluids shows the presence or absence of sperm under the microscope. Cultures for STIs should be taken but are often negative (unless previously infected), because 72 hours are needed for the bacterial load to be sufficient for a culture. Blood should be drawn for baseline HIV and syphilis (Venereal Disease Research Laboratories test). All materials must be maintained in a “chain of evidence” that cannot be called into question in court.
Therapy after a rape includes prophylaxis for emergency contraception and STI and, if indicated, hepatitis immune globulin and hepatitis vaccine. A single oral dose of cefixime, 400 mg, and azithromycin, 1 g, treats Chlamydia, gonorrhea,and syphilis. An alternative regimen is a single intramuscular dose of ceftriaxone, 125 mg, with a single oral dose of azithromycin, 1 g. For prophylaxis against bacterial vaginosis and Trichomonas, a single oral dose of metronidazole, 2 g, is recommended. Repeat cultures, wet mounts, and a pregnancy test should be performed 3 weeks after the assault, followed by serology for syphilis, hepatitis, and HIV at 12 weeks. Longterm sequelae are common; patients should be offered immediate and ongoing psychological support, such as that offered by local rape crisis services.
Eating disorders are common chronic diseases in adolescents, especially in females. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fifth edition (DSM-V), classifies these as psychiatric illnesses. The diagnosis in young adolescents (pregrowth spurt, premenstrual) may not follow the typical diagnostic criteria (Table 70-1).
The prevalence of anorexia nervosa is 1.5% in teenage girls. The female-to-male ratio is approximately 20:1, and the condition shows a familial pattern. The cause of anorexia nervosa is unknown, but it involves a complex interaction between social, environmental, psychological, and biologic events (Fig. 70-1), with risk factors having been identified (Fig. 70-2).
Screening for eating disorders is important and is best done as a part of the larger psychosocial screen for risk-taking factors (see Fig. 67-1). Although it is recommended that the adolescent be interviewed alone, he or she may minimize the problem; thus interviewing the parent(s) alone is also important. The first event usually described by an affected patient is a behavioral change in eating or exercise (i.e., food obsession, food-related ruminations, mood changes). The patient has an unrealistic body image and feels too fat, despite appearing excessively thin. Parents’ response to this situation can be anger, self-blame, focusing attention on the child, ignoring the disorder, or approving of the behavior.
The physician should be nonjudgmental, collect information, and assess the differential diagnosis. The differential diagnosis of weight loss includes gastroesophageal reflux, peptic ulcer, malignancy, chronic diarrhea, malabsorption, inflammatory bowel disease, increased energy demands, hypothalamic lesions, hyperthyroidism, diabetes mellitus, and Addison disease. Psychiatric disorders also need to be considered (e.g., drug abuse, depression, obsessive-compulsive disorders).
The clinical features of anorexia include wearing oversized layered clothing to hide appearance, fine hair on the face and trunk (lanugo-like hair), rough and scaly skin, bradycardia, hypothermia, decreased body mass index, erosion of enamel of teeth (acid from emesis), and acrocyanosis of hands and feet. Signs of hyperthyroidism should not be present (see Chapter 175). The diagnostic criteria for anorexia nervosa are listed in Table 70-2.
Treatment requires a multidisciplinary approach, including a feeding program as well as individual and family therapy. Feeding is accomplished through voluntary intake of regular foods, nutritional formula orally or by nasogastric tube. When vital signs are stable, discussion and negotiation of a detailed treatment contract with the patient and the parents
Early adolescence— Fear of growing up increased body awareness Middle adolescence— Rebelliousness increased self-awareness
Late adolescence— Anxiety and worry for the future identityAnxious Sad Angry Down Feeling: “I’m fat” “I hate...” Rebellious Thoughts: Restrictions Binging Purging Eating disorder behaviors
Figure 70-1 The eating disorder cycle.are essential. The first step is to restore body weight. Hospitalization may be necessary (Table 70-3). When 80% of normal weight is achieved, the patient is given freedom to gain weight at a personal pace. The prognosis includes a 3% to 5% mortality (suicide, malnutrition) rate, the development of bulimic symptoms (30% of individuals), and persistent anorexia nervosa syndrome (20% of individuals).
Available @ StudentConsult.comTable 70-4 presents the diagnostic criteria for bulimia nervosa. The prevalence of bulimia nervosa is 5% in female college students. The female-to-male ratio is 10:1. Binge-eating episodes consist of large quantities of often forbidden foods or leftovers or both, consumed rapidly, followed by vomiting. Metabolic abnormalities result from the excessive vomiting or laxative
Risk Factors Familial Personality types Previous overweight Affective disorders (family history) Impulsive/negative (bulimia nervosa) Psychiatric disease Clinical features -Wearing oversized clothing Fine hair on the face and trunk (lanugo-like hair) Bradycardia, hypothermia Decreased body mass index Erosion of enamel of teeth (acid from emesis) Acrocyanosis of hands and feet. Susceptible individual Feeling that something is not right: With self With control (environment) Behavioral change Exercise or Eating Eating disorder cycle
Figure 70-2 The slippery slope to eating disorders.Refusal to maintain body weight at or above a minimally normal weight for age and height (e.g., weight loss leading to body weight <85% of ideal)*
Intense fear of gaining weight or becoming fat, even though underweight
Denial of the seriousness of the low body weight—a disturbance in the way in which one’s body weight or shape is experienced *The diagnostic criteria may be difficult to meet in a young adolescent. Allow for a wide spectrum of clinical features.
Weight loss >25% ideal body weight* Risk of suicide Bradycardia, hypothermia Dehydration, hypokalemia, dysrhythmias Outpatient treatment fails *Less weight loss accepted in young adolescent.
Recurrent episodes of binge eating, at least twice a week for 3 months, characterized by the following:
Eating in a discrete period an amount of food that is definitely larger than most people would eat during a similar period
A sense of lack of control over eating during the episode (e.g., a feeling that one cannot stop eating or control what or how much one is eating)
Compensatory behavior to prevent weight gain (i.e., self-induced vomiting, misuse of laxatives or diuretics, excessive exercise)
Disturbance does not occur exclusively during episodes of anorexia nervosa.
and diuretic intake. Binge-eating episodes and the loss of control over eating often occur in young women who are slightly overweight with a history of dieting.
Nutritional, educational, and self-monitoring techniques are used to increase awareness of the maladaptive behavior, following which efforts are made to change the eating behavior. Patients with bulimia nervosa may respond to antidepressant therapy because they often have personality disturbances, impulse control difficulties, and family histories of affective disorders. Patients feel embarrassed, guilty, and ashamed of their actions. Attempted suicide and completed suicide (5%) are an important concern.
The age at which street drugs are first used is decreasing (<12 years), and females are overtaking males in terms of substance use. Ninety percent of adult smokers begin their habit during their adolescent years. Marijuana and stimulant drug use is increasing. Inhalant use (glue solvents, aerosol products) is prevalent in younger adolescents and in Native Americans. The use of club drugs by adolescents from upper income groups at rave parties (3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine [Ecstasy]) and so-called date-rape drugs (gamma-hydroxybutyrate or flunitrazepam [Rohypnol]) has risen sharply. Anabolic steroid use has increased in adolescent boys seeking enhanced athletic performance.
A history of drug use should be taken in a nonjudgmentaland supportive manner and include the types of substances,frequency, timing, circumstances, and outcomes of substance use. Table 71-1 is a helpful screening tool. There are few physicalfindings even with chronic adolescent substance use. An adolescent may present in an overdose or intoxicated state, or ina psychosis triggered by a hallucinogen, such as phencyclidine(“angel dust”). Club drugs have direct (coma and seizures) andindirect (sexual assault and dehydration) adverse effects. Anabolic steroids also have direct (gynecomastia and testicular atrophy) and indirect (mood swings and violence) adverse effects.
Available @ StudentConsult.comMany drugs (most commonly alcohol, amphetamines, opiates, and cocaine) can result in a toxicologic emergency, often with first time use (Table 71-2). Initial management should be directed at appropriate supportive medical treatment, with follow-up counseling after the toxic effects have diminished.
Alcohol (Meths) Disinhibition, ataxia, slurred Ingested (depends on amount Urine and blood speech, respiratory and CNS and tolerance) depression
Nicotine Relaxation, CNS dependence, Inhaled (minutes) ↑ blood pressure, ↑ heart rate, ↓
Snuffed, dipped, chewed temperatureMarijuana Euphoria, relaxation, ↑ appetite, ↓ Inhaled (minutes) Urine up to 1 mo (Cannabis, hashish, joints) reaction time Tablets (30 min +)
Stimulants Alertness, euphoria Inhaled and snorted Urine up to 48 h
Cocaine (crack) Insomnia, ↓ appetite (Quick high) Tablets (longer effect)
Hallucinogens Hallucination, anxiety OralMescaline Psychosis, dilated pupils Injected, sniffed, ingested ImmunoassayLSD “Artistic high” 2–12 h “trip” “Lucy in the sky with diamonds”
Phencyclidine (PCP, angel dust) Microdots in many colorsEcstasy not detected by urine combinations, i.e.,Ecstasy (club drugs: screen of hallucinogens and amphetamines)Opiates Euphoria, ataxia, miosis, slurred Oral, IV, smoked, snorted, and speech sniffed
OxyContin (cotton, hillbilly)—newSedatives (barbiturates, “downers”)Inhalants (solvents, gasoline) Like alcohol InhaledCommon side effects (treatment) of substance abuse drugs are paranoia (haloperidol), seizures (diazepam), hyperthermia (slow cooling), hypertension (β-blockers), and opiate overdose (naloxone).
From Office of the Surgeon General: Reducing tobacco use: a report of the Surgeon General, August 9, 2000 (website).
http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/library/ reports/tobacco_use/index.html . Accessed October 31, 2013.CNS, central nervous system; EDMA, 3,4-ethylenedioxy-N-methylamphetamine; LSD, lysergic acid diethylamide; PCP, phencyclidine.
Heavy alcohol use can cause acute gastritis and acute pancreatitis. Intravenous drug use can result in hepatitis B, bacterial endocarditis, osteomyelitis, septic pulmonary embolism, infection, or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (commonly known as AIDS). Chronic marijuana or tobacco use is associated with bronchoconstriction and bronchitis. Compulsive drug or alcohol use results in an adolescent being unable to help himself or herself out of the psychosocial sequelae that attend such habituation (e.g., stealing, prostitution, drug dealing, unemployment, school failure, social isolation).
Specific management of substance use by adolescents depends on many individual patient factors. Because of the highly addictive (physical and psychological) nature of most substances, residential drug treatment facilities are suggested, especially for younger adolescents.
Black A, Fleming N, Rome E: Pregnancy in adolescents, Adolesc Med State
Art Rev Apr 23(1):123–138, 2012Blake K, Mann K, Kutcher M: The structured communication adolescent guide (SCAG), MedEdPORTAL, 2008.
https:// www.mededportal.org/publication/798 . Accessed October 31, 2013.The Emergency Contraception Website, Office of Population Research: Princeton, NJ.
http://ec.princeton.edu/ . Updated June 2012.Hartman L, Monasterio E, Hwang L: Adolescent contraception: review and guidance for pediatric clinicians, Curr Probl Pediatr Adolesc Health Care 24:221–263, 2012
Keel PK, Brown TA: Update on course and outcome in eating disorders,
Int J Eat Disord 43(3):195–204, 2010Williams C, Creighton S: Menstrual disorders in adolescents: review of current practice, Horm Res Paediatr 78(30):135–143, 2012
James W. Verbsky 13The major components of host defense include anatomic barriers and the innate and adaptive immune systems. Integrity of the anatomic and mucociliary barrier (i.e., skin and mucous membranes) is essential for protection against infection, and defects in this barrier function can lead to infections (Table 72-1). The innate immune system acts as the first line of defense against pathogens, responding rapidly but nonspecifically before the development of the more versatile adaptive immune system. The innate immune system includes soluble factors, including acute-phase proteins, cytokines, chemokines,and complement, as well as cellular components, including neutrophils, monocytes/macrophages, and natural killer (NK) cells. The adaptive immune system is made up of T and B lymphocytes and their effector molecules (Table 72-2).
Recognition of pathogens by the innate immune system is facilitated by receptors on macrophages, NK cells, and neutrophils that recognize conserved pathogen motifs called pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs), including lipopolysaccharide of gram-negative bacteria, lipoteichoic acid of gram-positive bacteria, mannans of yeast, and specific nucleotide sequences of bacterial and viral DNA. Recognition of PAMPs by the innate immune system leads to the production of cytokines and chemokines that initiate inflammation and recruit inflammatory cells, induce an acute phase response (e.g., C-reactive protein, mannose binding lectin, complement), and activate the adaptive immune system. Complement proteins kill pathogens by facilitating uptake by phagocytic cells or by lysis of pathogens. Polymorphonuclear neutrophils ingest pyogenic bacteria and some fungi. Macrophages are effective in killing facultative intracellular organisms such as Mycobacterium, Toxoplasma, and Legionella. In addition NK lymphocytes mediate cytotoxic activity against virus-infected cells and cancer cells.
The key features of the adaptive immune system are antigen specificity and the development of immunologic memory, produced by expansion and maturation of antigen-specific T cells and B cells. Antibodies (immunoglobulin) produced by B cells neutralize toxins released by pathogens, opsonize pathogens to facilitate uptake by phagocytic cells, activate complement causing cytolysis of the pathogen, and direct NK cells to kill infected cells through antibody-mediated cytotoxicity. T cells kill virus-infected cells and cancer cells, activate macrophage to kill intracellular pathogens, and deliver the necessary signals for B-cell antibody synthesis and memory B-cell formation. Immunodeficiency can result from defects in one or more components of innate or adaptive immunity, leading
Aspiration syndromes (gastroesophageal reflux, ineffective cough, foreign body) Cleft palate, eustachian tube dysfunction Adenoidal hypertrophy
Nasal polyps Obstruction of paranasal sinus drainage (osteomeatal complex disease), encephaloceles
Tracheoesophageal fistula, bronchobiliary fistula Pulmonary sequestration, bronchogenic cysts Vascular ring Tumor, foreign body, or enlarged lymph nodes
Primary ciliary dyskinesia syndromes, Young syndrome Cystic fibrosis Bronchopulmonary dysplasia Bronchiectasis
Allergic disease (allergic rhinitis, asthma)Burns Chronic atopic dermatitis Ureteral obstruction, vesicoureteral reflux IV drug use Central venous line, artificial heart value, CSF shunt, peritoneal dialysis catheter, urinary catheter Dermal sinus tract
CSF, Cerebrospinal fluid.to recurrent, opportunistic, or life-threatening infections. Primary immunodeficiency diseases are relatively rare individually, but together they cause significant chronic disease, morbidity, and mortality (Table 72-3).
The frequency, severity, and location of the infection and thepathogens involved can help differentiate infections in a normalhost from infections in an immunodeficient patient (see Table 72-3). Although otitis media and sinopulmonary infectionsare common in children, recurrent infections, invasive or deepseeded infections, infections that require multiple rounds of oralantibiotics or need intravenous antibiotics, or infections with opportunistic infections suggest a primary immunodeficiency.Recurrent sinopulmonary infections with encapsulated bacteria suggest a defect in antibody-mediated immunity becausethese pathogens evade phagocytosis. Failure to thrive, diarrhea,malabsorption, and infections with opportunistic infections (i.e., fungi, Candida sp, Pneumocystis jiroveci [carinii]) suggest T-cell immunodeficiency. Recurrent viral infections can resultfrom T-cell or NK-cell deficiency. Deep-seated abscesses and infections with Staphylococcus aureus, Serratia marcescens, and Aspergillus suggest a disorder of neutrophil function, such as chronic granulomatous disease (CGD). Delayed separation ofthe umbilical cord, especially in the presence of omphalitis andlater onset periodontal disease, in addition to poorly formedabscesses, indicates leukocyte adhesion deficiency.
Age of onset of symptoms can be helpful in defining animmune deficiency, although significant variability does occur. Neutrophil defects (e.g., congenital neutropenia, leukocyte adhesion deficiency) typically present in the first severalmonths of life. Antibody defects (e.g., agammaglobulinemia)and T-cell defects (e.g., severe combined immunodeficiency[SCID]) typically present after 3 months of life after maternal antibody levels have waned. Presentation with symptomsof an antibody deficiency in adolescence or young adulthoodsuggests common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) ratherthan agammaglobulinemia, although milder phenotypes ofprimary immunodeficiency disease may not present until later
Table 72-2 Cytokines and Chemotactic Cytokines and Their Functions FACTOR SOURCE FUNCTION IL-1 Macrophages Co-stimulatory effect on T cells, enhances antigen presentation, acute phase response, fever IL-2 T cells Primary T-cell growth factor; B-cell and NK-cell growth factors; required for T regulatory cell function and survival
T cells, macrophages, Enhances immunoglobulin synthesis, antiviral activity, induces acute phase response, fever, fibroblasts, endothelium hematopoietic effects
IL-7 Stromal cells Enhances growth of pre-T cellsT cells, macrophages, Neutrophil-activating protein; T lymphocyte and neutrophil chemotactic factor epithelium
IL-9 T cells Acts in synergy with IL-4 to induce IgE production, mast cell growth
T cells, including regulatory Cytokine synthesis inhibitory factor; suppresses macrophage function; enhances B-cell T cells, macrophages growth; inhibits IL-12 production; suppresses inflammation at mucosal surfaces
Macrophages, neutrophils NK cell stimulatory factor; cytotoxic lymphocyte maturation factor; enhances IFN-γ synthesis; inhibits IL-4 synthesis
IL-17 T cells Induces IL-1β and IL-6 synthesis, important in fungal infections
TGF-β T cells, including regulatory Inhibits T-cell and B-cell proliferation and activation, induces T regulatory cells T cells, many other cells
RANTES T cells, endothelium Chemokine for monocytes, T cells, eosinophils
MIP-1α Mononuclear cells, Chemokine for T cells; enhances differentiation of CD4+ T cells endothelium
IP-10 Monocytes, macrophages, Chemokine for activated T cells, monocytes, and NK cells endothelium
IFN, Interferon; NK, natural killer; RANTES, regulated on activation, normal T expressed and secreted; Th2, T helper 2.
Recurrent pyogenic infections with extracellular encapsulated organisms, such as Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae type b, and group A streptococcus
Otitis, sinusitis, recurrent pneumonia, bronchiectasis, and conjunctivitisFew problems with fungal or viral infections (except enterovirus and poliomyelitis)
Diarrhea common, especially secondary to infection with Giardia lambliaCompatible with survival to adulthood or for several years after onset unless complications occur
Recurrent bacterial infections with extracellular encapsulated organisms, such as S. pneumoniae and H. influenzae Susceptibility to recurrent infections with Neisseria meningitides Increased incidence of autoimmune disease Severe or recurrent skin and respiratory tract infection
Recurrent infections with less virulent or opportunistic organisms, such as fungi, Candida sp mycobacteria, viruses, and protozoa as well as bacteria
Growth retardation, malabsorption, diarrhea, and failure to thrive commonAnergy Susceptible to graft-versus-host disease from nonirradiated blood or from maternal engraftment
Fatal reactions may occur from live virus or bacille Calmette-Guérin vaccination. High incidence of malignancy Poor survival beyond infancy or early childhood
Recurrent dermatologic infections with bacteria such as Staphylococcus, Pseudomonas, and Escherichia coli, and fungi such as Aspergillus
Subcutaneous, lymph node, lung, and liver abscesses Pulmonary infections common, including abscess and pneumatocele formation, contributing to chronic disease
Delayed separation of umbilical cordAbsence of pus at site(s) of infection Poor wound healing in life. The presence of associated problems, such as congenital heart disease and hypocalcemia (DiGeorge syndrome),abnormal gait and telangiectasia (Ataxia-telangiectasia),atopic dermatitis (hyper-IgE syndrome, Omenn syndrome),and easy bruising or a bleeding disorder (Wiskott-Aldrichsyndrome) can be informative in guiding an immune workup.Finally a family history of a primary immune deficiency or death of a young child due to infections should prompt an immune evaluation, particularly in the setting of recurrentinfections.
Immunosuppressive agents (e.g., corticosteroids, radiation, and antimetabolites) Malignancy (leukemia, Hodgkin disease, nonlymphoid cancer) Acquired asplenia Acquired neutropenia (autoimmune, viral, or drug-induced) Stem cell transplantation/graft-versus-host disease Systemic lupus erythematosus and other autoimmune diseases Sarcoidosis
Recurrent infection in immunologically deficient children is associated with pathology at sites of infection resulting in substantial morbidity, such as scarring tympanic membranes leading to hearing loss or chronic lung disease due to recurrent pneumonia. Height and weight percentiles, nutritional status, and presence of subcutaneous fat should be assessed. Oral thrush, purulent nasal or otic discharge, and chronic rales may be evidence of repeated or persistent infections. Absence of lymphoid tissue (e.g., tonsils) suggests agammaglobulinemia or SCID, whereas increased size of lymphoid tissue suggests CVID, CGD, or human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Cerebellar ataxia and telangiectasia indicate ataxia-telangiectasia. Severe eczema and inflammatory bowel disease are seen in some disorders of immune regulation with polyendocrinopathy and enteropathy that is X-linked (IPEX), whereas eczema and petechiae or bruises suggest Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome.
There are many secondary causes of immunodeficiency that should be considered, particularly if the immunologic testing is nonrevealing (Table 72-4). In patients with primary immunodeficiencies, infections develop at multiple sites (e.g., ears, sinuses, lungs, skin), whereas in individuals with anatomic problems (e.g., sequestered pulmonary lobe, ureteral reflux), infections are confined to a single anatomic site. Asplenia is associated with recurrent and severe infections, even in the presence of protective antibody titers. Infection with HIV should be considered in any patient presenting with a history suggesting a T-cell immunodeficiency.
The diagnosis of patients with primary immunodeficiency diseases depends on early recognition of signs and symptoms, followed by laboratory tests to evaluate immune function. Recognizing the patient who may have an immunodeficiency disease prompts an evaluation and referral to an immunologist (see Table 72-3).
A diagnosis of primary immunodeficiency disease cannot be established without the use of laboratory tests based on the clinical history (Table 72-5). A complete blood count with differential should always be obtained to identify patients with neutropenia or lymphopenia (SCID) as well as the presence of eosinophils (allergic disease) and anemia (chronic disease). Serum immunoglobulin levels are essential to the workup of suspected primary immunodeficiency. Antibody levels vary with age, with normal adult values of IgG at full-term birth from transplacental transfer of maternal IgG, a physiologic nadir occurring between 3 and 6 months of age, and a gradual increase to adult values over several years. IgA and IgM are low at birth, and levels increase gradually over several years, with IgA taking the longest to reach normal adult values. Low albumin levels with low immunoglobulin levels suggest low synthetic rates for all proteins or increased loss of proteins, as in protein-losing enteropathy. High immunoglobulin levels suggest intact B-cell immunity and can be found in diseases with recurrent infections, such as CGD, immotile cilia syndrome, cystic fibrosis, HIV infection, and autoimmune diseases. Elevated IgE levels can be found in a number of immune deficiencies such as hyper-IgE syndrome, as well as in atopic dermatitis.
Specific antibody titers after childhood vaccination (tetanus, diphtheria, Haemophilus influenzae type b, or Streptococcus pneumoniae vaccines) reflect the capacity of the immune system to synthesize specific antibodies and to develop memory B cells. If titers are low, immunization with a specific vaccine and titers obtained 4 to 6 weeks later confirm response to the immunization. Poor response to bacterial polysaccharide antigens is normal before 24 months of age but is also associated with IgG subclass deficiency or specific antibody deficiency. The development of protein-conjugate polysaccharide vaccines has prevented infections with these organisms in early childhood. Antibody responses to the S. pneumoniaeserotypes found in the 23-valent polysaccharide vaccine, but not in the conjugate vaccine, can be used to test antibody responses to polysaccharide antigens.
Delayed-type hypersensitivity skin tests to protein antigens such as tetanus, diphtheria, Candida, or mumps demonstrate the presence of antigen-specific T cells and functional antigen-presenting cells. If delayed-type hypersensitivity skin test results are negative, patients should receive a booster vaccination and be retested 4 weeks later.
Complete blood count, including hemoglobin, differential white blood cell count and morphology, and platelet count Radiographs to document infection in chest, sinus, mastoids, and long bones, if indicated by clinical history
Cultures, if appropriateQuantitative immunoglobulin levels: IgG, IgA, IgM, IgE, Isohemagglutinin titers (anti-A, anti-B, measures IgM function) Specific antibody levels:
Protein antigens: diphtheria, tetanus Protein-conjugated antigens: Haemophilus influenzae, Streptococcus pneumoniae (conjugate vaccine)
Polysaccharide antigens: S. pneumoniae (unconjugated vaccine) B-cell numbers and subsets by flow cytometry
Delayed hypersensitivity skin tests (Candida, tetanus toxoid, mumps): measure T-cell and macrophage function T-cell and NK cell numbers and subsets by flow cytometry
T-lymphocyte functional analyses (mitogen responses, cytokines) NK cell cytotoxicity assays
Nitroblue tetrazolium dye test/dihydrorhodamine 123 using flow cytometry Staphylococcal killing, chemotaxis assay Myeloperoxidase stain
Total hemolytic complement CH50: measures classical and common pathway activity
AH50: measures alternative and common pathway activity Levels of individual complement components
NK, Natural killer.Lymphocyte phenotyping by flow cytometry enumerates the percentage and absolute numbers of T-cell, B-cell, and NK-cell subsets. Flow cytometry can also test for the presence of surface proteins that are necessary for normal immunity, such as major histocompatibility complex molecules or adhesion molecules, as well as intracellular analysis of signaling proteins and cytokines. T-cell proliferation assays to mitogens (phytohemagglutinin, concanavalin A, or pokeweed mitogen) or antigens (tetanus toxoid or Candida) are in vitro assays that confirm the capacity of T cells to proliferate in response to a nonspecific stimulus (mitogens) or the presence of antigen-specific memory T cells (antigens). Such presence requires prior vaccination (tetanus) or exposure (Candida)to the antigen. Tests for cytokine synthesis or expression of activation markers by T cells may be performed in specialized research laboratories and can help identify defects in T-cell function when, despite present T cells, the clinical history suggests a T-cell disorder.
Complement assays include the CH50 test, which measures the presence of proteins in the classical pathway of complement(C1, C2, C3, C4), and the AH50 test, which tests the proteins of the alternative pathway of complement (C3, factor B, proper-din). If both the CH50 and AH50 levels are abnormal, a defect in the common pathway is likely (C5−C9). Specialized laboratories can measure the presence or function of specific complement proteins. Tests for C1-inhibitor antigen and function areused to diagnose hereditary or acquired angioneurotic edema.
Tests for neutrophil function include the nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) or dihydrorhodamine 123 (DHR) test for CGD,in which oxygen radicals generated by activated neutrophilsoxidize NBT to an insoluble blue dye and DHR to a fluorescentmolecule. Patients with CGD have no blue-staining neutrophilswith NBT and little fluorescence when DHR is used. In vitro tests for evaluation of neutrophil phagocytosis, chemotaxis,bacterial killing, and for the presence of myeloperoxidase activity are available in some laboratories. Tests for the expression ofadhesion molecules such as CD18 (leukocyte function–associated antigen type 1, LFA-1) can be performed by flow cytometry.
Genetic testing to confirm the diagnosis of a primary immunodeficiency disease can be performed in specialized laboratories and may be helpful for deciding on a course of treatment, determining the natural history and prognosis of the disease, genetic counseling, and prenatal diagnosis. In patients in whom DiGeorge syndrome is suspected, fluorescent in situ hybridization studies for deletions of chromosome 22 can be helpful. In patients in whom ataxia-telangiectasia is suspected, chromosomal studies for breakage in chromosomes 7 and 14 are useful.
The absence of a thymus on chest x-ray suggests DiGeorge syndrome or other defects in T-cell development. Abnormalities in the cerebellum are found in patients with ataxia-telangiectasia. Otherwise the use of diagnostic imaging in the evaluation of immunodeficiency diseases is essentially limited to the diagnosis of infectious diseases.
Disorders that affect lymphocyte development or function result in significant immunodeficiency because lymphocytes provide antigen specificity and memory responses. Hematopoietic stem cells give rise to lymphoid precursors that develop into T lymphocytes in the thymus or B lymphocytes in the bone marrow (Fig. 73-1). Isolated B-cell disorders result in antibody deficiency diseases, whereas T-cell disorders usually cause combined immunodeficiency because they are necessary for cell-mediated immunity to clear intracellular pathogens and for antibody synthesis by B cells. NK cells are an important component of the innate immune response, develop from lymphoid precursors, and can kill virus-infected cells and tumor cells. Antibodies can enhance NK cell function by antibody-mediated cellular cytotoxicity.
Available @ StudentConsult.comDisorders of B cells result in an increased susceptibility to infections by encapsulated bacteria.
Agammaglobulinemia results from the absence or defective function of B cells with subsequent severe decrease in immunoglobulin levels and a total absence of specific antibody. X-linked agammaglobulinemia affects males and is characterized by a profound deficiency of B cells, severe hypogammaglobulinemia, and absence of lymphoid tissue (Table 73-1; see Fig. 73-1). The defect is caused by mutations in a gene encoding the tyrosine kinase Btk on chromosome Xq22 that is involved in a signaling of the pre-B-cell receptor and the B-cell antigen receptor. Autosomal recessive agammaglobulinemiaresults from a variety of defects in the pre-B-cell and B-cell antigen receptor complexes and includes mutations in the μ heavy chain gene, λ5, Igα, Igβ, and BLNK. X-linked agammaglobulinemia is more common than the autosomal recessive forms.
Patients with agammaglobulinemia usually present during the first 6 to 12 months of life as maternally derived antibodies wane, although patients can present years later. These patients develop infections with Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae type b, Staphylococcus aureus, and Pseudomonas, organisms for which antibody is an important opsonin. They also have increased susceptibility to giardiasis and enteroviral infections, leading to chronic enteroviral meningoencephalitis and vaccine-associated poliomyelitis (if immunized with oral live, attenuated poliovirus vaccine).
Common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) is a heterogeneous disorder characterized by hypogammaglobulinemia developing after an initial period of normal immune function, most commonly in the second and third decades of life (see Table 73-1). Serum IgG levels are less than 500 mg/dL (usually <300 mg/dL) with IgA levels less than 10 mg/dL and/or low IgM levels. Antibody titers to protein antigens, suchas tetanus and diphtheria, and to polysaccharide antigens,such as pneumococcus, are low or absent. T-cell numbersand function are highly variable, and B-cell numbers can be normal or low. Patients exhibit normal-sized or enlargedtonsils and lymph nodes and may have splenomegaly. Theyare susceptible to frequent respiratory tract infections due to Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae type b, and Mycoplasma. Gastrointestinal infections with Giardia, Campylobacter, Salmonella, Helicobacter, and enteroviruses are common. Autoimmune hemolytic anemia and thrombocytopenia occur frequently, and granulomatous diseaseaffecting the gastrointestinal tract, liver, and lungs leadsto significant morbidity. Cancer, especially lymphoma, is amajor cause of mortality.
Common variable immunodeficiency Defects in T cell & B cell development T− B− SCID Defects in T cell activation and function Differentiation Pre–B cell Mature B cellB LYMPHOCYTE LINEAGEIsotype Switching/ Somatic Hypermutation IgA Stem cell T LYMPHOCYTE LINEAGEThymus Mature T cell Effector helper, functions Effector cytotoxic, functions DiGeorge syndrome /MHC deficiency Agammaglobulinemia Defects in T cell development T− B+ SCID PROLIFERATION PROLIFERATION CD8+ CD4+ CD34+ Plasma cells IgG Bone marrow X-linked hyper IgM Hyper IgMSelective Ig isotype deficiencies Memory cell
Figure 73-1 Sites of cellular abnormalities in congenital immunodeficiencies. In primary immunodeficiency diseases, the maturation or activation of B or T lymphocytes may be blocked at different stages.
, Inhibition; B, B lymphocyte; T, T lymphocyte. (Adapted from Abbas AK, Lichtman AH, Pober JS: Cellular and Molecular Immunology, ed 3, Philadelphia, 1997, Saunders.)
The gene defects leading to the majority of cases of CVID decreased while total IgG levels are normal. Normal indiare unknown. Some patients have a defect in the gene encod-viduals can express low levels of one or more subclasses, so ing for inducible co-stimulator (ICOS) on activated T cells, a history of recurrent infections is important. An inability to transmembrane activator and calcium-modulating cyclophi-synthesize specific antibody titers to protein or polysaccharide lin ligand interactor (TACI), CD19, CD21, CD81, or BAFF-R. antigens is the best marker of IgG subclass deficiency associ-It is important to exclude X-linked agammaglobulinemia, ated with recurrent infections and requiring therapy. X-linked lymphoproliferative disease, or hyper-IgM syndrome Transient hypogammaglobulinemia of infancy is a temas well as other causes of hypogammaglobulinemia, such as porary condition characterized by delayed immunoglobulin hypogammaglobulinemia associated with thymoma, second-production. The pathogenesis of this disorder is unknown ary to protein losing enteropathy, or secondary to medica-but is thought to result from a prolongation of the physiologic tions, before making the diagnosis of CVID. hypogammaglobulinemia of infancy. The immunoglobulin
Selective IgA deficiency is defined as serum IgA levels less nadir at 6 months of age is accentuated, with immunoglobuthan 10 mg/dL with normal levels of other immunoglobulins. lin levels less than 200 mg/dL. Immunoglobulin levels remain The diagnosis cannot be confirmed until the patient is at least 4 diminished throughout the first year of life and usually increase years of age when IgA levels should reach adult levels. Selective to normal, age-appropriate levels, generally by 2 to 4 years of IgA deficiency occurs in approximately 1 in 500 individuals. age. The incidence of sinopulmonary infection is increased in Most patients with selective IgA deficiency are asymptomatic. some patients. The diagnosis is supported by normal levels of In others it is associated with recurrent sinopulmonary infec-both B and T cells and by normal antibody responses to protions, IgG2 subclass deficiency, specific antibody deficiency, tein antigens such as diphtheria and tetanus toxoids. The tranfood allergy, autoimmune disease, or celiac disease. IgA defi-sient nature of this disorder cannot be confirmed, however, ciency occurs in families, suggesting autosomal inheritance. until immunoglobulin levels return to normal ranges.
IgG subclass deficiency occurs when the level of antibod-Specific antibody deficiency syndrome is characterized by ies in one or more of the four IgG subclasses is selectively recurrent infections with normal immunoglobulin levels and
Agammaglobulinemia X-linked, AR Infancy (6–9 Recurrent infections, Arrest in B-cell Lymphoid hypoplasia mo) sinusitis, pneumonia, differentiation (pre-B level); meningitis (encapsulated mutations in: Btk gene bacteria, enteroviruses) (X-linked); μ chain, BLNK, Igα, Igβ, Vpre-B, and λ5 (AR)
Hyper-IgM syndrome AR Variable Sinopulmonary infections Defect in AID, UNG Autoimmunity
AD, Autosomal dominant; AID, activation-induced cytidine deaminase; AR, autosomal recessive; ITP, idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura; RA, rheumatoid arthritis;
SLE, systemic lupus erythematosus; UNG, uracil-DNA glycosylase.normal lymphocyte numbers and subsets, but the disorder has an inability to synthesize specific antibody to polysaccharideantigens, such as to the 23-valent pneumococcal vaccine. Thepathogenesis of this disorder is unknown. Lack of specific antibody titers explains the recurrent infections and justifies therapy.
Available @ StudentConsult.comDisorders that affect T-cell development or function usuallyresult in combined immunodeficiency because T cells providenecessary signals for B-cell differentiation. X-linked hyper-IgM syndrome, the most common form of hyper-IgM syndrome, is a combined immunodeficiency with deficient T-cellfunction due to defects in CD40 ligand. Defects in CD40 causeautosomal recessive hyper-IgM syndrome and present similarly to X-linked hyper-IgM syndrome (Fig. 73-2 and Table 73-2). Hyper-IgM syndrome is characterized by a failure ofimmunoglobulin isotype switching from IgM and IgD to IgG,IgA, or IgE, and a lack of memory responses. Affected patientshave normal or elevated serum levels of IgM with low or absentlevels of IgG, IgA, and IgE. Immunoglobulin isotype switching allows a B cell to maintain antigen specificity while alteringimmunoglobulin function, and is directed by cytokines and interaction between CD40 ligand on CD4 T cells and CD40 onB cells (see Fig. 73-2). Signal transduction via CD40 activatesseveral signaling molecules and transcription factors, including nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) and two enzymes, activation-induced cytidine deaminase (AID) and uracil-DNA glycosylase(UNG), which are required for class switching. Deficiency ofAID or UNG presents with a failure of immunoglobulin isotype switching without any abnormality in T-cell function.These forms of hyper-IgM are antibody deficiency diseases andnot combined immunodeficiencies (see Table 73-1).
All patients with hyper-IgM syndrome have increased susceptibility to sinopulmonary infections, whereas patients with defects in CD40 ligand or CD40 are susceptible to opportunistic infections, such as P. jiroveci (carinii) and Cryptosporidium parvum. Signaling via CD40 on B cells and other antigen-presenting cells leads to upregulation of co-stimulatory molecules important for promoting T-cell differentiation and for activating cell-mediated immune responses. The hyper-IgM phenotype is also found in an X-linked disorder associated with ectodermal dysplasia, resulting from defects in the gene encoding the NF-κB essential modulator (NEMO). Patients with defects in NEMO are susceptible to a wider spectrum of infectious organisms, especially meningitis and infection with atypical mycobacteria, because NF-κB signaling is important for the function of both innate and adaptive immune systems.
Severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) is characterized by a profound lack of T-cell numbers or function, andB-cell dysfunction resulting from the absence of B cells fromthe gene defect itself, or secondary to lack of T-cell function(see Table 73-2). T cells develop from bone marrow−derived
Figure 73-2 Schematic representation of the interaction between a CD4 T cell and a B cell. T-cell activation follows T-cell receptor (TCR) recognition of peptide antigen presented via MHC class II molecules resulting in CD40 ligand (CD40L) expression and cytokine synthesis. CD40L stimulates the B cell via CD40, resulting in expression of co-stimulatory molecules (B7) that are important in T-cell priming and cytokine synthesis that drives T-cell differentiation. CD40 and cytokine signaling in B cells activate activation-induced cytidine deaminase (AID) and uracil-DNA glycosylase (UNG) to promote immunoglobulin isotype switching and somatic hypermutation. Defects in CD40L cause X-linked hyper-IgM (X-HIM), and defects in CD40, AID, or UNG cause autosomal recessive hyper-IgM (AR-HIM). Defects in either CD40L or CD40 affect T-cell co-stimulation and priming, leading to T-cell defects, whereas defects in AID and UNG maintain normal T-cell co-stimulation and function.
Table 73-2 Combined Immunodeficiency Diseases DISORDER GENETICS ONSET MANIFESTATIONS PATHOGENESIS ASSOCIATED FEATURES Hyper-IgM syndrome (see Table 73-1) X-linked, AR First year Sinopulmonary infections, opportunistic infections, Pneumocystis jiroveci Defect in CD40 ligand (X-linked) or CD40 (AR) Neutropenia, liver disease, cancer
AD, Autosomal dominant; ADA, adenosine deaminase; AR, autosomal recessive; dATP, deoxyadenosine triphosphate; dGTP, deoxyguanosine triphosphate; GVHD, graft-versus-host disease; IL, interleukin; IL-2Rγ, interleukin-2 receptor gamma chain; MHC, major histocompatibility complex; PNP, purine nucleoside phosphorylase; SCID, severe combined immunodeficiency; T− B−, T− cells absent and B cells present; T− B−, T cells absent and B cells absent.
precursors in the thymus (see Fig. 73-2), where they undergoseveral stages of development characterized by DNA recombination of the variable region of T-cell antigen receptor genes togenerate a diverse T-cell receptor repertoire. A process of positive selection occurs in the thymus to select thymocytes withantigen receptors that can interact with major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules to ensure their survival (see Fig. 73-2). Thymocytes differentiate into CD4 or CD8 T cells if theyinteract with MHC class II or class I molecules, respectively.Some of the positively selected thymocytes, however, haveantigen receptors that recognize self-antigens presented byMHC molecules in the thymus. These cells are deleted in the thymus by a process of negative selection. Positive selectionand negative selection in the thymus ensure that the mature Tcells that leave the thymus can function with the individual’sMHC molecules and recognize a multitude of foreign antigenswithout mounting autoimmune responses. SCID can resultfrom any specific genetic mutation that interferes with T-celldevelopment in the thymus or T-cell function in the periphery.
Clinical manifestations of SCID include failure to thrive, severe bacterial infections, chronic candidiasis and other fungal infections, chronic viral infections, infection with
P. jiroveci (carinii) and other opportunistic organisms, and intractable diarrhea. Patients often have skin disease similar to eczema, possibly related to graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) from engraftment of maternal lymphocytes, which usually is not fatal. Patients with SCID are extremely susceptible to fatal GVHD from lymphocytes in blood transfusions and can be infected by cytomegalovirus-positive blood products. Patients with T-cell disorders always should receive irradiated blood products.
X-linked SCID, the most common form, is caused by mutations in the gene on chromosome Xq13.1 coding for the common gamma chain of the interleukin-2 (IL-2), IL-4, IL-7, IL-9, IL-15, and IL-21 receptors. Affected patients have no T cells or NK cells in the peripheral blood but have normal numbers of B cells. Immunoglobulin levels are low or undetectable because there are no CD4 T cells to stimulate B cells. The defect in T-cell development results from a failure of signaling via the IL-7 receptor, and IL-15 is required for NK-cell development. There are many causes of autosomal recessive SCID. Defects in Janus kinase 3 (Jak3), which binds to the common gamma chain, results in a similar phenotype as X-linked SCID. Defects in the IL-7 receptor, ZAP-70, and subunits of the CD3 molecule result in a deficiency of T cells with normal Band NK-cell numbers. In addition there is a variety of defects that affect DNA recombination in T and B cells, including two genes called recombinase activating gene (RAG) 1 and 2 as well as other genes important in DNA excision and repair such as Artemis. Defects in any of the genes that abolish DNA recombination or DNA repair result in autosomal recessive SCID with no T cells or B cells present. Mutations in RAG1, RAG2, or Artemis that preserve limited function result in Omenn syndrome, a variant form of SCID that is characterized by exfoliative erythroderma, lymphadenopathy, hepatosplenomegaly, marked eosinophilia, elevated serum IgE, and impaired T-cell function. Patients with Omenn syndrome have T cells in the periphery, but these T cells have a limited repertoire.
Deficiencies in adenosine deaminase (ADA) and purine nucleoside phosphorylase, two enzymes involved in the purine salvage pathway, also result in SCID. Accumulation of nucleoside substrates or their metabolic products in the plasma and urine is toxic to lymphocytes, including T, B, and NK cells. Most patients exhibit severe infection early in life, although the diagnosis in patients with partial enzyme function may not be established until after 5 years of age or, occasionally, in adulthood. Patients with late-onset diagnosis are generally lymphopenic; they may have B cells and normal total immunoglobulin levels but little functional antibody (Nezelof syndrome). All patients with ADA or purine nucleoside phosphorylase deficiency SCID have lymphopenia and loss of immune function over time.
Bare lymphocyte syndrome results from defects in transcription factors that regulate expression of class II molecules or genes that affect transport of antigen peptides, which leads to the absence of either MHC class I or MHC class II molecules. Lymphoid tissue and B cells may be present in normal amounts, but CD4 T cells are decreased or absent in class II deficiency, whereas CD8 cells are decreased or absent in class I deficiency. Some patients may have normal numbers of CD4 or CD8 T cells, but none of the T cells are functional because peptide antigens cannot be presented to T cells.
DiGeorge syndrome, also known as velocardiofacial syndrome or CATCH 22 syndrome (cardiac anomalies, abnormal facies, thymic hypoplasia, cleft palate, and hypocalcemia), is the result of dysmorphogenesis of the third and fourth pharyngeal pouches, resulting in hypoplasia of the thymus required for T-cell maturation. Most, but not all, patients with DiGeorge syndrome have a defect on chromosome 22q11.2.DiGeorge syndrome is classically characterized by hypocalcemic tetany, conotruncal and aortic arch anomalies, and increased infections. The diagnosis is established by fluorescent in situ hybridization or a polymerase chain reaction with a DNA probe to detect deletions in chromosome 22q11.2.Most patients have partial immune defects with low T-cell numbers and function that generally improve with age. Severe T-cell deficiency is rare, but it results in SCID due to a complete lack of T cells. Most important, DiGeorge syndrome and bare lymphocyte syndrome do not respond well to bone marrow transplantation as do other forms of SCID because the defects are in the thymus, although transfer of mature T cells during transplant may confer some immune function.
Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome is an X-linked disorder characterized by thrombocytopenia, eczema, defects in cell-mediated and humoral immunity, and a predisposition to lymphoproliferative disease (Table 73-3). It is caused by mutations of the gene on chromosome Xp11.22 coding for the Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome protein (WASP), expressed in lymphocytes, platelets, and monocytes. Deficiency of this protein results in elevated levels of IgE and IgA, decreased IgM, poor responses to polysaccharide antigens, waning T-cell function, and profound thrombocytopenia. Opportunistic infections and autoimmune cytopenias become problematic in older children. Isolated X-linked thrombocytopenia also results from mutations of the identical gene. One third of patients with Wis-kott-Aldrich syndrome die as a result of hemorrhage, and two thirds die as a result of recurrent infection caused by bacteria, cytomegalovirus, P. jiroveci (carinii), or herpes simplex virus. Stem cell transplantation has corrected the immunologic and hematologic problems in some patients.
Ataxia-telangiectasia is a syndrome caused by the ATM (ataxia-telangiectasia, mutated) gene on chromosome 11q22.3(see Table 73-3). Patients have cutaneous and conjunctival
Wiskott-Aldrich X-linked, Early infancy Thrombocytopenia, atopic 53-kD protein (WASP) Polysaccharide antibody syndrome (Xp11.22) dermatitis, recurrent defect deficiency, small infections platelets, decreased cell-mediated immunity, lymphoproliferation
AD, Autosomal dominant; AR, autosomal recessive; NK, natural killer.telangiectasias and progressive cerebellar ataxia with degeneration of Purkinje cells. IgA deficiency, IgG2 subclass deficiencyof variable severity, low IgE levels, and variably depressedT-cell function may be seen. The normal function of the ATM gene is not clear but appears to be involved in detecting DNAdamage, blocking cell growth division until the damage isrepaired, or both. Ataxia-telangiectasia cells are exquisitelysensitive to irradiation. Leukemias, lymphomas, and diabetesalso may be present. Sexual maturation is delayed. There isno uniformly effective therapy, but antimicrobial therapy andintravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) replacement therapymay be helpful.
Available @ StudentConsult.comChronic mucocutaneous candidiasis (autoimmune-polyendocrinopathy-candidiasis-ectodermal dystrophy [APECED])is characterized by chronic or recurrent candidal infections of the mucous membranes, skin, and nails (see Table 73-3). There is normal antibody production but significantly decreased or absent lymphocyte proliferation and delayed skin reactivity to Candida. Patients usually do not respond to topical antifungal therapy and must be treated with oral antifungal agents. In most patients, an autoimmune endocrine disorder, such as hypoparathyroidism and Addison disease, develops by early adulthood. Other autoimmune disorders have been reported. The insidious onset requires the need for frequent evaluation for autoimmune endocrine disorders. This disease results from a defect in the gene for the transcription factor autoimmune regulator (AIRE), which is necessary for expression of peripheral tissue antigens in the thymus, resulting in a negative selection in the thymus and in tolerance to these tissues in normal individuals.
Patients with X-linked lymphoproliferative disease (see Table 73-3) have a defect in immune responsiveness to Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). Boys with this disease are normal until infected with EBV, which is acutely fatal in 80% of patients. The disease is caused by a mutation in the gene called SH2D1A at chromosome Xq25, which codes for an adapter protein involved in signal transduction of lymphocytes. With EBV infection, the mutation results in an extensive expansion of CD8 T cells, hepatic necrosis, and death. Boys who survive initial EBV infection have significant hypogammaglobulinemia and are at high risk for developing aplastic anemia and lymphoma. A similar disorder is seen in boys with mutations in XIAP, which results in X-linked lymphoproliferative disorder type 2.
Avoid transfusions with blood products unless they are irradiated and cytomegalovirus-negative.
Avoid live virus vaccines, especially in patients with severe T-cell deficiencies or agammaglobulinemia, and in household members.
Use prophylaxis to Pneumocystis jiroveci (carinii) in T-cell immunodeficiency, and in X-linked hyper-IgM, consider antifungal prophylaxis in T-cell immunodeficiency.
Follow pulmonary function in patients with recurrent pneumonia.Use chest physiotherapy and postural drainage in patients with recurrent pneumonia.
Consider using prophylactic antibiotics because minor infections can quickly disseminate.
Examine diarrheal stools for Giardia lamblia and Clostridium difficile.Avoid unnecessary exposure to individuals with infection. Boil water for T-cell defects and hyper-IgM syndrome (Cryptosporidium risk).
Use immunoglobulin for severe antibody deficiency states (400–600 mg/kg q3–4 wk IV).
Hyper-IgE syndrome is characterized by markedly elevated serum IgE levels, a rash that resembles atopic dermatitis, eosinophilia, and staphylococcal abscesses of the skin, lungs, joints, and viscera (see Table 73-3). Infections with H. influenzae type b, Candida, and Aspergillus also may occur. These patients have coarse facial features, develop osteopenia, and may have giant pneumatoceles in the lungs after staphylococcal pneumonias. Although serum IgG, IgA, and IgM levels are normal, humoral immune responses to specific antigens are reduced, as is cell-mediated immunity. Long-term treatment with antistaphylococcal medications is indicated, and immunoglobulin replacement therapy may be helpful. Most patients have an autosomal dominant form of inheritance, whereas some patients appear to have an autosomal recessive inheritance. Defects in the TYK2 and DOCK8 genes have been found in a patient with an autosomal recessive hyper-IgE syndrome, and defects in the STAT3 (signal transducer and activator of transcription 3) gene were identified in autosomal dominant hyper-IgE syndrome.
The approach to therapy of lymphocyte disorders depends on the diagnosis, clinical findings, and laboratory findings (Table 73-4). When immunodeficiency is suspected and while the evaluation is in process, all blood products need to be irradiated and negative for cytomegalovirus. Lymphocytes present in blood products can cause fatal GVHD in patients with SCID. Cytomegalovirus infection can be fatal in an immunodeficiency patient undergoing stem cell transplantation. Live virus vaccines should be withheld from patients and household members until a diagnosis is established.
Infections should be treated with appropriate antibiotics;prophylactic antibiotics can be used to prevent recurrent infections, provide a better quality of life, and decrease possible consequences. Antibiotic prophylaxis can be provided withonce-daily administration of trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole or amoxicillin at one half of the total daily therapeutic dose.Patients with severe T-cell deficiencies should receive prophylaxis against Pneumocystis and fungi until treated withstem cell transplantation. Patients with milder forms of antibody deficiency diseases may benefit from vaccination with protein-conjugate vaccines to H. influenzae type b and S. pneumoniae, assaying post vaccination titers at least 1 monthlater. These vaccines are administered routinely to youngchildren; older children and adults with antibody deficiencysyndrome should also receive them to generate protectiveantibody levels.
Immunoglobulin replacement therapy, intravenously orsubcutaneously, is a lifesaving therapy for patients with severeantibody deficiency diseases and SCIDs. It provides passiveimmunity against common microorganisms and reduces thefrequency and severity of infection in most patients. Immunoglobulin replacement therapy is usually administered ata total monthly dose of 400 to 600 mg/kg of body weightadministered intravenously every 3 to 4 weeks, or subcutaneously by infusion pump every 1 to 2 weeks. IVIG therapyshould be monitored by regularly measuring trough immunoglobulin levels and, more important, the patient’s clinical course. Patients who continue to have recurrent infections, especially in the last week before the administration of IVIG,may require higher doses or more frequent administration.A combination of prophylactic antibiotics and immunoglobulin replacement therapy may be indicated in patientswho continue to have recurrent infections. Complications of IVIG therapy include transfusion reactions with chills,fever, and myalgias. They usually can be prevented in subsequent infusions by pretreatment with an antihistamine, anantipyretic, and by a slower rate of infusion. Headache fromaseptic meningitis can develop after IVIG therapy, usually inthe first 24 hours. It most often responds to treatment with ibuprofen. Allergic reactions to IVIG can occur in patientswith absent IgA. Allergic reactions are rare and should not occur in patients who have detectable serum IgA levels or patients who cannot synthesize any antibodies. Subcutaneous administration of immunoglobulin has fewer adverseeffects but may be complicated by local reactions at the site(s)of infusion. The risk of transmission of infectious agents,despite preparation from large numbers of selected donors,is extremely low.
Therapy for severe T-cell disorders is stem cell transplantation, preferably from a human leukocyte antigen–matchedsibling (see Chapter 76). Immunoglobulin replacement provides passive antibody-mediated immunity. Some patientscontinue to have poor B-cell function after stem cell transplantation and require lifelong immunoglobulin replacementtherapy. GVHD, in which the transplanted cells initiate animmune response against the host tissues, is the main complication of stem cell transplantation. Patients with the ADAdeficiency form of SCID who lack matched sibling donors canreceive repeated intramuscular replacement doses of ADA,stabilized by coupling to polyethylene glycol. Gene therapyhas been performed in several patients with common gammachain deficiency and ADA deficiency by transfer of a normalgene into bone marrow stem cells, which are infused into thepatient. Gene therapy for common gamma chain deficiencywas successful in most of the treated patients; however, itwas complicated by the development of leukemia in somepatients.
Population-based screening programs for SCID is underwaybecause early identification of SCID prior to infectious complications improves outcomes. Polymerase chain reaction amplification of T-cell receptor excision circles (TRECs) formed duringT-cell receptor recombination can be performed on newbornscreening blood spots to detect severe T-cell lymphopenia. Newborn screening for TRECs has been shown to detect SCID at birth,and this test has been recommended for universal screening.
Neutrophils play important roles in immunity and wound healing; their primary function is ingesting and killing pathogens.Neutrophil disorders can result from deficient cell numbersor defective function (Table 74-1). Patients with neutrophildisorders are susceptible to a variety of bacterial infectionsand certain fungi. Suggestive signs include mucous membrane infections (gingivitis), abscesses in the skin and viscera,lymphadenitis, poor wound healing, delayed umbilical cordseparation, or absence of pus. Neutrophils develop in the bonemarrow from hematopoietic stem cells by the action of severalcolony-stimulating factors, including stem cell factor, granulocyte-monocyte colony-stimulating factor, granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF), and interleukin-3. On leavingthe bone marrow, mature neutrophils are found in the circulation or reside in the marginating pool. Adhesion molecules arenecessary for neutrophils to roll and adhere to vascular endothelium and extravasate from the blood into sites of infection, where they phagocytose and kill pathogens, especially thosecoated by complement or antibodies. Chemotactic factors, including the complement fragment C5a, interleukin-8, andbacterial formulated peptides, mobilize neutrophils to enter tissues and sites of infections. Neutrophils kill ingested pathogensusing granular enzymes or by activation of oxygen radicals.
Disorders of Neutrophil NumbersAvailable @ StudentConsult.comDiarrhea Neutropenia Failure to ThriveThe normal neutrophil count varies with age. Neutropenia is defined as an absolute neutrophil count (ANC) less than 1500/mm3 for white children 1 year of age or older. African American children normally have lower total white blood cell and neutrophil counts. The effect of neutropenia depends on its severity. The susceptibility to infection is minimally increased until the ANC is less than 1000/mm3. Most patients do well with an ANC greater than 500/mm3. At these levels, localized infections are more common than generalized bacteremia. Serious bacterial infections are more common with an ANC less than 200/mm3. The major types of infections associated with neutropenia are cellulitis, pharyngitis, gingivitis, lymphadenitis, abscesses (cutaneous or perianal), enteritis (typhlitis), and pneumonia. The sites of the infection usually are colonized heavily with normal bacterial flora that becomes invasive in the presence of neutropenia. Neutropenia may be congenital or acquired (Table 74-2) and may be associated with specific diseases, especially infections (Table 74-3), or result from drug reactions (Table 74-4).
There are several forms of congenital neutropenia. Severe congenital neutropenia (Kostmann syndrome) is an autosomal recessive disorder in which myeloid cells fail to mature beyond the early stages of the promyelocyte due to mutations in the HAX-1 gene. The peripheral blood may show an impressive monocytosis. Although endogenous G-CSF levels are increased, exogenous G-CSF produces a rise in the neutrophil count, improving the care of these children. Acute myeloid leukemia has developed in a few patients who have survived into adolescence. Stem cell transplantation may be curative. Defects in G6PC3 and GFI1 have also been shown to cause severe congenital neutropenia. Cyclic neutropenia is a stem cell disorder in which all marrow elements cycle. It may be transmitted as an autosomal dominant, recessive, or sporadic disorder. Because of the short half-life of neutrophils in the blood (6 to 7 hours) compared to platelets (10 days) and red blood cells (120 days), neutropenia is the only clinically significant abnormality. The usual cycle is 21 days, with neutropenia lasting 4 to 6 days, accompanied by monocytosis and often by eosinophilia. Severe, debilitating bone pain is common when the neutrophil count is low. G-CSF results in increasing neutrophil numbers and a shorter duration of neutropenia. Defects in ELA2, the gene encoding for neutrophil elastase, has been found in patients with cyclic neutropenia. Further analysis has demonstrated ELA2 mutations in some cases of severe congenital neutropenia.
Severe congenital neutropenia that may be either persistent or cyclic also is a component of Shwachman-Diamond syndrome, an autosomal recessive syndrome of pancreatic insufficiency accompanying bone marrow dysfunction. This is a panmyeloid disorder in which neutropenia is the most prominent manifestation. Metaphyseal dysostosis and dwarfism may occur. Patients usually respond to G-CSF. Other congenital neutropenia caused by deficient neutrophil production vary in severity and are poorly characterized. A gain of function mutation in the Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome protein has also been associated with an X-linked form of severe congenital neutropenia. Benign congenital neutropenia is a functional diagnosis for patients with significant neutropenia in whom major infectious complications do not develop. Many patients whose ANC ranges from 100 to 500/mm3 have an increased frequency of infections, particularly respiratory infections, but the major problem is the slow resolution of infections that develop. These disorders may be sporadic or familial and, in some instances, are transmitted as an autosomal dominant disorder. Severe congenital neutropenia may be associated with severe combined immunodeficiency in reticular dysgenesis, a
Table 74-1 Phagocytic Disorders NAME DEFECT COMMENT Chronic granulomatous disease Bactericidal X-linked recessive (66%), autosomal recessive (33%); eczema, osteomyelitis, granulomas, abscesses caused by Staphylococcus aureus, Burkholderia cepacia, Aspergillus fumigatus
Chédiak-Higashi syndrome Bactericidal plus chemotaxis; Autosomal recessive; oculocutaneous albinism, neuropathy, giant (1q42I-44) poor natural killer function neutrophilic cytoplasmic inclusions; malignancy, neutropenia
Myeloperoxidase deficiency Bactericidal, fungicidal Reduced chemiluminescence; autosomal recessive (1:4000); persistent candidiasis in diabetic patients
Glucose-6-phosphate Bactericidal Phenotypically similar to chronic granulomatous disease dehydrogenase deficiency
Burns, malnutrition Bactericidal plus chemotaxis Reversible defectsShwachman-Diamond Chemotaxis, neutropenia Pancreatic insufficiency, metaphyseal chondrodysplasia; autosomal syndromeCR3, Complement receptor 3; LFA-1, leukocyte function-associated antigen type 1; Mac-1, macrophage 1 antigen.
disorder of hematopoietic stem cells affecting all bone marrow lineages due to mutations in the AK2 gene.
Isoimmune neutropenia occurs in neonates as the result of transplacental transfer of maternal antibodies to fetal neutrophil antigens. The mother is sensitized to specific neutrophil antigens on fetal leukocytes that are inherited from the father and are not present on maternal cells. Isoimmune neonatal neutropenia, similar to isoimmune anemia and thrombocytopenia, is a transient process (see Chapters 62 and 151). Cutaneous infections are common, and sepsis is rare. Early treatment of infection while the infant is neutropenic is the major goal of therapy. Intravenous immune globulin may decrease the duration of neutropenia.
Autoimmune neutropenia usually develops in children 5 to 24 months of age and often persists for prolonged periods. Neutrophil autoantibodies may be IgG, IgM, IgA, or a combination of these. Usually the condition resolves in 6 months to 4 years. Although intravenous immune globulin and corticosteroids have been used, most patients respond to G-CSF. Autoimmune neutropenia rarely may be an early manifestation of systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, or autoimmune lymphoproliferative disease.
Disorders of Neutrophil MigrationNeutrophils normally adhere to endothelium and migrate to areas of inflammation by the interaction of membrane proteins, called integrins and selectins, with endothelial cell adhesion molecules. A hallmark of defects in neutrophil migration is the absence of pus at sites of infection. In leukocyte adhesion deficiency type I (LAD-I), infants lacking the β2 integrin CD18 exhibit the condition early in infancy with failure of separation of the umbilical cord (often 2 months after birth) with attendant omphalitis and sepsis (see Table 74-1). The neutrophil count usually is greater than 20,000/mm3 because of failure of the neutrophils to adhere normally to vascular endothelium and to migrate out of blood to the tissues (Fig. 74-1). Cutaneous, respiratory, and mucosal infections occur. Children with this condition often have severe gingivitis. Sepsis usually leads to death in early childhood. This disorder is transmitted as an autosomal recessive trait. Stem cell transplantation can be lifesaving.
LAD-II results from impairment of neutrophil rolling along the vascular wall, which is the first step in neutrophil migration into tissues and sites of infection. Rolling is mediated by sialylated and fucosylated tetrasaccharides related to the sialylated Lewis X (S-LeX) blood group found on the surface of neutrophils, monocytes, and activated lymphocytes binding to selectin molecules on vascular endothelium (see Fig. 74-1).LAD-II results from a general defect in fucose metabolism leading to the absence of S-LeX blood group on the surface of neutrophils and other leukocytes. LAD-III is a rare disorder caused by defects in the KINDLIN-3 protein resulting in defective neutrophil adhesion as well as platelet defects. Defective migration of neutrophils has also been described in Hyper-IgE syndrome and with mutations in the RAC2 gene (see Chapter 73 and Table 74-1).
Disorders of Neutrophil FunctionAvailable @ StudentConsult.comDefects in neutrophil function are relatively rare inherited disorders and tend to be associated with a marked susceptibility to bacterial and fungal infection. Chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) is a disorder of white blood cells that results
Drugs: idiosyncratic, cytotoxic (myelosuppressive) Radiation Chemicals: DDT, benzene Immune-mediated: T and B cell and immunoglobulin Infections (viruses, rickettsia) Infiltrative processes: tumor, storage disease Myelodysplasia Aplastic anemia
Kostmann syndrome (HAX-1, G6PC3, ELA-2, G-CSF, GFI-1) Cyclic neutropenia (ELA-2) Cartilage hair hypoplasia Shwachman-Diamond syndrome Diamond-Blackfan syndrome Griscelli syndrome Chédiak-Higashi syndrome WHIM syndrome (warts, hypogammaglobulinemia, infections,
Pseudoneutropenia: Shift to Bone MarrowDestruction: neonatal isoimmune, autoimmune, hypersplenism Autoimmune diseases (systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, Sjögren syndrome)
Leukoagglutination: lung, after cardiac bypass surgeryELA-2, Elastase 2; G6PC3, glucose-6-phosphatase catalytic subunit 3; G-CSF, granulocyte colony-stimulating factor; GFI-1, growth factor independent 1;
HAX-1, HS1-associated protein X-1.from defective intracellular killing of bacteria and intracellular pathogens by neutrophils and macrophages because of an inability to activate the “respiratory burst,” the catalytic conversion of molecular oxygen to superoxide (O2–). Reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase, the enzyme that catalyzes the respiratory burst, consists of four subunits; gp91phox, p22phox, p47phox, and p67phox. Defects in any of these enzymes lead to an inability to kill catalase-positive pathogens such as S. aureus and enteric gram-negative bacteria (Burkholderia) and fungi (Aspergillus fumigatus, Candida albicans). The gp91phox gene is located on chromosome Xp21.1 and is responsible for the most common form of the disease. The other gene defects are inherited in an autosomal recessive manner. The chromosome locations for
HIV, human immunodeficiency virus.Table 74-4 Drug-Associated Neutropenia CYTOTOXIC Myelosuppressive, chemotherapeutic agents Immunosuppressive agents IDIOSYNCRATIC
Indomethacin Para-aminophenol derivatives Pyrazolone derivatives (aminopyrine, dipyrone, oxyphenbutazone) Chloramphenicol Sulfonamides Antithyroid drugs (propylthiouracil, methimazole, carbimazole) Phenothiazines (chlorpromazine, phenothiazines) Penicillins and semisynthetic penicillins
Adapted from Dale DC: Neutropenia. In Lichtman MA, Kipps TJ, Seligsohn U, et al, editors: Williams Hematology, ed 8, New York, 2010, McGraw-Hill.
these genes are 16q24 for p22phox, 7q11.23 for p47phox, and 1q25 for p67phox. Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase also is involved in the production of superoxide, and severe forms of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency also result in CGD. Patients characteristically have lymphadenopathy, hypergammaglobulinemia, hepatosplenomegaly, dermatitis, failure to thrive, anemia, chronic diarrhea, and abscesses. Infections occur in the lungs, the middle ear, gastrointestinal tract, skin, urinary tract, lymph nodes, liver, and bones.
Figure 74-1 Schematic representation of neutrophil migration from the vascular space across the vascular endothelium into tissues. Neutrophils bind to selectin (Eor P-selectin) molecules on the surface of vascular endothelium via sialylated and fucosylated tetrasaccharides related to the S-LeX blood group found on the surface of neutrophils. The bound neutrophils roll along the endothelium and become tightly bound by the interaction of the adhesion molecule leukocyte function-associated antigen type 1 (LFA-1) on the neutrophil and intercellular adhesion molecule type 1 on vascular endothelium, allowing neutrophils to move through the endothelium and into the tissue spaces. (Adapted from Janeway CA, Travers P, Walport M, et al: Immunobiology: the Immune System in Health and Disease, ed 4, New York, 1999, Elsevier.)
Granulomas are prominent and may obstruct the pylorus or ureters.
Chédiak-Higashi syndrome, an abnormality of secondary granules, is an autosomal recessive disorder caused by a mutation in a cytoplasmic protein (CHS1) thought to be involved in organellar protein trafficking, resulting in a fusion of the primary and secondary granules in neutrophils. Giant granules are present in many cells, including lymphocytes, platelets, and melanocytes. Patients usually have partial oculocutaneous albinism. The defect in Chédiak-Higashi syndrome results in defective neutrophil and natural killer cell function, leading to recurrent and sometimes fatal infections with streptococci and staphylococci. Most patients progress to an accelerated phase associated with Epstein-Barr virus infection and characterized by a lymphoproliferative syndrome with generalized lymphohistiocytic infiltrates, fever, jaundice, hepatomegaly, lymphadenopathy, and pancytopenia. The condition resembles hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis.
The evaluation of a neutropenic child depends on clinical signs of infection, family and medication history, age of the patient, cyclic or persistent nature of the condition, signs of bone marrow infiltration (malignancy or storage disease), and evidence of involvement of other cell lines. Neutropenia is confirmed by a complete blood count and differential. A bone marrow aspirate and biopsy may be necessary to determine whether the neutropenia is due to a failure of production in the bone marrow, infiltration of the bone marrow, or loss of neutrophils in the periphery. Antineutrophil antibodies help diagnose autoimmune neutropenia.
Neutrophil chemotactic defects can be excluded by the presence of neutrophils at the site of infection. The Rebuck skin window is a 4-hour in vivo test for neutrophil chemotaxis thatis not performed routinely by most laboratories. In vitro studies of neutrophil migration are available in specialized laboratories.Flow cytometry for the presence of adhesion molecules, such as CD18 or CD15, can help diagnose leukocyte adhesion defects.Point mutations that affect the function of the adhesion molecule but do not alter antibody binding are missed using flow cytometry. CGD can be diagnosed by the flow cytometry-based test usingdihydrorhodamine 123 or the nitroblue tetrazolium test (seeChapter 72). Light microscopy of neutrophils for the presence ofgiant granules can help diagnose Chédiak-Higashi syndrome.
Therapy for neutropenia depends on the underlying cause. Patients with severe bacterial infections require broad-spectrum antibiotics; the resolution of neutropenia is the most important prognostic factor. Most patients with severe congenital neutropenia or autoimmune neutropenia respond to therapy with G-CSF. Granulocyte transfusion should be reserved for life-threatening infection. Chronic mild neutropenia not associated with immunosuppression can be managed expectantly with prompt antimicrobial treatment of softtissue infections, which usually are caused by S. aureus or group A streptococcus.
Frequent courses of antibiotics, including trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole prophylaxis, and surgical débridement of infections are required in CGD. Because A. fumigatus can cause serious infection in patients with CGD, moldy hay, decomposing compost, and other nests of fungi must be avoided, and prophylactic antifungals can be helpful. The frequency of infection in CGD is lessened by treatment with recombinant interferon-γ administered subcutaneously three times a week. Stem cell transplantation (see Chapter 76) may be lifesaving in CGD, LAD-1, and Chédiak-Higashi syndrome.
The prognosis depends on the particular defect. Milder and transient defects in neutrophil numbers have a better prognosis. Prolonged absence of neutrophils or their function has a poor prognosis, especially with the risk of bacterial and fungal sepsis. Treatment with prophylactic antibiotics and interferon-γ has improved the prognosis of patients with CGD. Stem cell transplantation is the only currently available mode of therapy that can reverse the poor prognosis of severe neutrophil defects. As in other genetic defects, prenatal diagnosis and genetic counseling are possible for all known gene mutations.
The complement system consists of plasma and membrane proteins that function in the innate immune response as well as facilitate adaptive immunity. Complement proteins can kill pathogens with or without antibodies, opsonize pathogens
LECTIN PATHWAY CLASSIC PATHWAY ALTERNATIVE PATHWAY (Antibody independent) (Antibody dependent) (Antibody independent) C4 C1 (C1q, C1r, C1s) C3
B, D, P C2bFigure 75-1 Complement component cascade involving the classic, alternative, and lectin pathways. The initiating events for the pathways differ, but they result in the production of C3 cleaving enzyme activity, which is the pivotal step as the three pathways converge to the terminal activation sequences. Ag-Ab, Antigen-antibody complex; B, factor B; D, factor D (factor B clearing enzyme); P, properdin.
to facilitate their uptake by phagocytes, or mediate inflammation. The complement system can be activated through three pathways—classic, alternative, or lectin—that involve a cascade-like, sequential activation of complement factors resulting in an amplified response (Fig. 75-1). Disorders of the complement system predispose to recurrent infection, autoimmunity, and angioedema (Table 75-1).
The three pathways for complement activation are initiated by different mechanisms. The classic pathway is activated by antigen-antibody complexes or by C-reactive protein. The alternative pathway may be activated by C3b generated through classic complement activation or by spontaneous hydrolysis of C3 on microbial surfaces. The lectin pathwayis initiated by the interaction of mannose-binding lectin with microbial carbohydrate. Activation of the classic pathway by an antigen-antibody complex is initiated by the binding of C1q to the Fc portion of an antibody molecule in the immune complex. C1r auto-activates and cleaves C1s, which cleaves C4 and then C2, forming the C3 convertase, C4b2a. C4b2a is activated by the lectin pathway when mannose-binding protein binds to sugar residues on the surface of pathogens, and mannose-binding protein–associated proteases (MASP) cleave C4 and C2. The alternative pathway is always active at a low level and is amplified when active C3 binds to a surface that lacks regulatory proteins. C3b generated from C3 binds to factor B, which is cleaved by factor D to form the alternative pathway C3 convertase, C3bBb. Properdin binds to and stabilizes the C3 convertase (see Fig. 75-1). The C3 convertase can cleave C3 resulting in further C3b deposition and activation of the alternative pathway that acts as an amplification loop by generating more C3b, or it can form the C5 convertase which initiates the formation of a membrane attack complex (MAC). The MAC is a complex of C5b, C6, C7, C8, and several C9 molecules that is common to all three pathways (see Fig. 75-1). The MAC generates pores in the cell membrane, leading to lysis of the cells. C3a and C5a, produced by cleavage of C3 and C5 respectively, can release histamine from mast cells and basophils, leading to increased vascular permeability and smooth muscle contraction. In addition, C5a has chemotactic
C1q, C1r SLE, glomerulonephritis; encapsulatedC2 SLE, glomerulonephritis; encapsulated bacterial infectionsC3 Recurrent bacterial infections, rare glomerulonephritis, or SLEC4 SLE, glomerulonephritis; encapsulated bacterial infectionsProperdin Recurrent infections, severe meningococcal infectionMBL Increased susceptibility to infectionsFactor H Glomerulonephritis, atypical HUSFactor I Recurrent infections, glomerulonephritisMCP Glomerulonephritis, atypical HUSHUS, hemolytic uremic syndrome; MBL, mannose binding lectin; MCP, membrane cofactor protein; SLE, systemic lupus erythematosus.
activity, attracting phagocytes to the site of complement activation, and it can cause degranulation of phagocytic cells. C3b acts as an opsonin when attached to the surface of a pathogen by binding to phagocytes via complement receptor 1 (CR1). Its degradation product, iC3b, can bind to CR3 on the surface of phagocytes leading to the ingestion of the C3b-coated or iC3b-coated pathogen. iC3b and its breakdown product C3dg can bind complement receptor 2 (CR2) on B cells leading to activation and differentiation.
The complement system is under tight regulation because it has potent inflammatory activity and the potential to cause significant damage to host cells. The complement cascade is inherently regulated by the short half-life C4b and C3b and byinstability of the C3 convertases, C4b2a, and C3bBb. C1-inhibitorregulates the cascade by blocking active sites on C1r, C1s, and the MASP. Factor I destabilizes C3 convertase complexes and degrades the active fragments. Other inhibitors include membrane proteins, such as decay accelerating factor, CR1, membrane cofactor protein (MCP), and plasma proteins such as C4b-binding protein and factor H. Formation of the MAC can be blocked by cell surface CD59, protein S, and other plasma proteins. Deficiency of any of these regulatory proteins can result in an inflammatory response, tissue damage, or excessive complement consumption.
Disorders of complement proteins can result from inherited deficiency or can be secondary to increased consumption. The consequences of decreased complement depend on the affected factor (see Table 75-1). Deficiencies of early components of the classic pathway (C1, C2, or C4) are not usually associated with severe infections, although patients with C2 deficiency may present with milder recurrent infections. Patients with C1, C2, or C4 deficiency are susceptible to autoimmune diseases, especially systemic lupus erythematosus. The exact mechanism of this susceptibility is not known but is thought to arise from the role of these early components in clearing immune complexes.
Deficiency of properdin, C3, or the terminal componentspredisposes patients to severe recurrent infections. Deficiency of C3, the major opsonin, due to a genetic defect or secondary to excessive consumption, predisposes patients to infections, especially with encapsulated organisms. Deficiency of one of the terminal components that compose the MAC predisposes patients to infection with Neisseria meningitidis. Complement deficiency may be found in 40% of patients presenting with recurrent neisserial infections. Deficiency of mannose-binding lectin also is associated with an increased frequency of bacterial infections, including sepsis.
Congenital deficiency of C1-inhibitor results in hereditary angioedema, characterized by recurrent episodes of nonpruritic angioedema lasting 48 to 72 hours, which occur spontaneously or after minor trauma, stress, or anxiety. Abdominaledema can cause acute abdominal pain; edema of the upperairway can be life threatening and may necessitate emergencytracheostomy. The disorder is inherited as an autosomal dominant disease and results from a heterozygous deficiency of C1-inhibitor leading to serum levels less than 30% of normal values. Some mutations (type II hereditary angioedema) resultin normal levels of C1-inhibitor with defective function. An acquired form of angioedema results from autoantibodies toC1-inhibitor in lymphoid malignancies or autoimmune disorders but is uncommon in childhood. C1-inhibitor is a regulatorof Hageman factor (clotting factor XIIa), clotting factor XIa,plasma kallikrein, and plasmin in addition to C1r and C1s. Lackof inhibition of the contact system, Hageman factor and plasmakallikrein, is responsible for the development of angioedema.Deficiencies in the complement regulatory proteins factor H,factor I, and MCP result in atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome, membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis type II, and have been linked to age-related macular degeneration.
The CH50 test is a widely available test of classic complement pathway function, based on an antibody-dependent hemolytic assay, which measures the serum dilution that results in lysis of 50% of sheep red blood cells. The CH50 test depends on the function of all nine complement proteins, C1 through C9. The AH50 test, which measures complement activation using red blood cells from different species (e.g., rabbit) that can activate the alternative pathway without antibody, is less widely available than the CH50 test and requires the alternative pathway components and C5 to C9. Abnormal results of both tests indicate a deficiency in a terminal component common to both pathways, whereas an abnormal result of one or the other test indicates a deficiency of an early component of the respective pathway. If the CH50 or AH50 levels are abnormal, individual components can be analyzed in specialized laboratories.
Determination of C1-inhibitor levels and function is needed to diagnose hereditary angioedema. Some functional tests miss rare mutations that allow C1-inhibitor to bind C1s, but not one or more of the other enzymes with which it interacts. Low C1-inhibitor levels or function results in chronically decreased C4 levels and decreased C2 levels during acute attacks. Low C1q levels are found in acquired C1-inhibitor deficiency, which distinguishes it from hereditary angioedema. Tests for autoantibodies to C1-inhibitor and C1q can be performed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.
Specific treatment of complement deficiencies with component replacement is not available. Long, frequent courses of antibiotics constitute the primary therapy. Immunization of patients and close contacts with pneumococcal and meningococcal vaccines may be useful, but infections may still occur in immunized complement-deficient patients. Replacement of complement proteins by plasma transfusion has been used in some patients with C2 deficiency, factor H deficiency, or factor I deficiency. MCP deficiency is treated with renal transplantation because it is a membrane protein.
Patients with C1-inhibitor deficiency and frequent episodes of angioedema respond to prophylactic use of an oral attenuated androgen (stanozolol or danazol), which increases serum concentrations of C1-inhibitor. Adverse effects, including masculinization in females, growth arrest, and hepatitis, limit their use. Prophylactic administration of fresh frozen plasma before surgery can prevent angioedema, but administration during an acute episode may exacerbate the episode. Angioedema of the airway can present as an acute emergency, necessitating a tracheostomy because administration of epinephrine, antihistamines, or corticosteroids is ineffective in reversing this type of angioedema. Purified C1-inhibitor is available and can be used prophylactically (before surgery) and during acute episodes of angioedema. Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, such as captopril, should be avoided in patients with C1-inhibitor deficiency because these drugs can precipitate episodes of angioedema by inhibiting degradation of kinins that mediate edema formation. Novel therapeutic agents, including a kallikrein inhibitor and a bradykinin receptor 2 antagonist, are being investigated as potential therapy for hereditary angioedema.
Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) can cure some patients with primary immunodeficiency disease (Table 76-1). Use of HSCT is limited to immunodeficiency diseases with T-cell defects, some metabolic storage diseases (see Chapters 55 and 56), malignancies (see Chapter 154), aplastic anemia (see Chapter 150), hemoglobinopathies (Chapter 150), and a few other disorders.
Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome X-linked hyper-IgM X-linked lymphoproliferative syndromes Cartilage hair hypoplasia Autoimmune lymphoproliferative syndrome (Fas defect) Severe congenital neutropenia Shwachman-Diamond syndrome Immune dysregulation, polyendocrinopathy, enteropathy, X-linked
The principle of HSCT is to replace a patient’s defective bone marrow stem cells with normal stem cells. Hematopoietic stem cells reside in the bone marrow but can also be obtained from peripheral blood or cord blood. Peripheral blood does not contain a significant proportion of stem cells unless the donor’s bone marrow is actively stimulated to generate stem cells. Cord blood is a good source of stem cells and is used for sibling and unrelated HSCT.
Major histocompatibility complex (MHC) compatibilityis crucial in the choice of a stem cell donor to avoid rejection of the donor cells by the host immune system and to prevent graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) caused by contaminating mature T cells. The donor stem cells give rise to T cells that develop in the host thymus and need to interact with donor and host antigen-presenting cells. In cases with MHC mismatched donors, mature T cells need to be removed from the donor to reduce the risk of GVHD; this complication outweighs the disadvantage of a prolonged time of 90 to 120 days before T-cell development. Patients are at risk for developing B-cell lymphoproliferative disease, usually associated with Epstein-Barr virus, when T-cell–depletion techniques are used, likely due to the delay in T-cell engraftment.
The most important factor affecting outcomes in HSCT is the similarity of the donor MHC. The best outcomes are obtained using MHC-identical siblings (25% chance of a matched sibling) as donors, followed by matched unrelated donors. Unlike transplantation for other disorders, MHC haploidentical bone marrow from a parent (preferred) or a sibling can be used to treat severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID), likely the result of these patients lacking functioning T cells. Stem cells from a partially mismatched donor, such as a parent, can give rise to a functioning immune system because the patient shares at least half of the MHC molecules with the donor stem cells.
MHC molecules are highly polymorphic, and typing is currently performed on DNA rather than by serology. Bone marrow and cord blood registries are available worldwide. Searching and identifying a donor can be a lengthy process, especially for some underrepresented ethnic backgrounds. Finding a suitable cord blood donor is faster because the cord blood already has been obtained and stored, whereas bone marrow donors have to be identified, located, and tested. A matched sibling, if available, is the preferred source of hematopoietic stem cells.
Patients with SCID are ideal candidates for HSCT, which is the only option for treatment of SCID at this time. Patients are unlikely to survive beyond 1 to 2 years of age without transplantation, and they have no T-cell function to reject donor cells. Thus they may not need to undergo conditioning with chemotherapy or irradiation before transplantation. The development of transplantation using T-cell–depleted, haploidentical bone marrow from a parent for SCID has provided almost every patient with SCID a potential donor. The mother is the preferred source for haploidentical bone marrow, if she is able to donate, because some transfer of maternal T cells can occur during pregnancy, and these maternal T cells can reject cells obtained from the father. The survival rate after HSCT for SCID is approximately 90% with MHC-identical and 60% with haploidentical bone marrow transplantation. Early transplant before the acquisition of infection improves outcomes. Because newborn screening for SCID is now possible, stem cell transplantation can occur as early as possible when the infants are healthy, providing the best opportunity for a cure.
The decision to treat other primary immunodeficiency diseases with HSCT is more difficult because it is difficult to predict the prognosis of a particular patient because of the variability in clinical course of most primary immunodeficiency diseases. This must be weighed with the risks of transplantation. In addition, HSCT for other primary immunodeficiencies is less successful than for SCID because patients typically have some T-cell function and require conditioning with the risks that it entails. The availability of a matched related sibling favors the decision to perform HSCT. Disorders of B cells have not been treated with HSCT because, in many cases, donor B cells do not engraft, and patients usually do well with intravenous immunoglobulin. Regardless a variety of primary immunodeficiencies have been treated with HSCT (see Table 76-1)
Rejection of the grafted cells is the first potential complication of HSCT and depends on the immunocompetence of thepatient, the degree of MHC incompatibility, and the number of cells administered. Preconditioning with myeloablativedrugs, such as busulfan and cyclophosphamide, can preventgraft rejection but may be complicated by pulmonary toxicity and by venoocclusive disease of the liver, which resultsfrom damage to the hepatic vascular endothelium and canbe fatal. Myeloablation results in anemia, leukopenia, andthrombocytopenia, making patients susceptible to infectionand bleeding disorders. Neutropenic precautions should bemaintained and patients supported with red blood cell andplatelet transfusions until the red blood cell, platelet, and neutrophil lineages engraft. Reduced intensity preconditioninghas been used recently to prevent graft rejection and decreasethe adverse effects of myeloablation. B-cell lymphoproliferative disorder can develop after T-cell depleted bone marrowtransplantation. GVHD can arise from an MHC-mismatched transplantation or from mismatch in minor histocompatibility antigens that are not tested for before transplantation.T-cell depletion of haploidentical bone marrow reduces the risk of GVHD. Patients with SCID transplanted withT-cell–depleted haploidentical bone marrow do not usuallydevelop severe GVHD. Acute GVHD begins 6 or more daysafter transplantation and can result from transfusion of non-irradiated blood products in patients with no T-cell function.Acute GVHD presents with fever, skin rash, and severe diarrhea. Patients develop a high, unrelenting fever; a morbilliform maculopapular erythematous rash that is painful andpruritic; hepatosplenomegaly and abnormal liver functiontests; and nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and waterydiarrhea. Acute GVHD is staged from grades 1 to 4, depending on the degree of skin, fever, gastrointestinal, and liverinvolvement. Chronic GVHD results from acute GVHD lasting longer than 100 days and can develop without acuteGVHD or after acute GVHD has resolved. Chronic GVHD is characterized by skin lesions (hyperkeratosis, reticularhyperpigmentation, fibrosis, and atrophy with ulceration),limitation of joint movement, interstitial pneumonitis, andimmune dysregulation with autoantibody and immune complex formation.
Klein C: Genetic defects in severe congenital neutropenia: emerging insights into life and death of human neutrophil granulocytes, Annu Rev Immunol 29:399–413, 2011
Ricklin D, Hajishengallis G, Yang K, et al: Complement: a key system for immune surveillance and homeostasis, Nat Immunol 11:785–797, 2010
Szabolcs P, Cavazzana-Calvo M, Fischer A, et al: Bone marrow trans plantation for primary immunodeficiency diseases, Pediatr Clin N Am 57:207–237, 2010
Waleed A, Bousfiha A, Casanova JL, et al: Primary immunodeficiency diseases: an update on the classification from the International Union of ciency, Front Immunol 2:1–26, 2011
Asriani M. Chiu 14Atopy is a result of a complex interaction between multiple genes and environmental factors. It implies specific IgE-mediated diseases, including allergic rhinitis, asthma, and atopic dermatitis. An allergen is an antigen that triggers an IgE response in genetically predisposed individuals.
Hypersensitivity disorders of the immune system are classified into four groups, based on the mechanism that leadsto tissue inflammation (Table 77-1). Type I reactions are triggered by the binding of antigen to high-affinity IgE receptors on the surface of tissue mast cells, circulating basophils,or both, causing the release of preformed chemical mediators, such as histamine and tryptase, and newly generatedmediators, such as leukotrienes, prostaglandins, and platelet-activating factor. These mediators contribute to the development of allergic symptoms, with anaphylaxis as the mostprofound symptom. Several hours after the initial response, a late-phase reaction may develop with an influx of other inflammatory cells such as basophils, eosinophils, monocytes, lymphocytes, and neutrophils, and their inflammatorymediators. Recruitment of these cells leads to more persistentand chronic symptoms.
Type II (antibody cytotoxicity) reactions involve IgM, IgG, or IgA antibodies binding to the cell surface and activating the entire complement pathway resulting in lysis of the cell or release of anaphylatoxins, such as C3a, C4a, and C5a (see Chapter 75). These anaphylatoxins trigger mast cell degranulation, resulting in inflammatory mediator release. The target can be cell surface membrane antigens, such as red blood cells (hemolytic anemia); platelet cell surface molecules (thrombocytopenia); basement membrane molecules in the kidney (Goodpasture syndrome); the alpha chain of the acetylcholine receptor at the neuromuscular junction (myasthenia gravis); and thyroid-stimulating hormone receptor on thyroid cells (Graves disease).
Type III (immune complex) reactions involve the formation of antigen-antibody or immune complexes that enter into the circulation and are deposited in tissues such as blood vessels and filtering organs (i.e., liver, spleen, and kidney). These complexes initiate tissue injury by activating the complement cascade and recruiting neutrophils that release their toxic mediators. Local reactions caused by the injection of antigen
I—Anaphylactic <30 min IgE Pollens, food, Histamine, tryptase, Anaphylaxis, immediate late 2–12 h venom, drugs leukotrienes, urticaria, allergic phase prostaglandins, platelet-rhinitis, allergic activating factor asthma
CSF, Cerebrospinal fluid; GM-CSF, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor; IFN-γ, interferon-γ; TB, tuberculosis; TNF-α, tumor necrosis factor-α.
into tissue are called Arthus reactions. The administration of large amounts of antigen leads to serum sickness, a classic example of a type III reaction. Other type III–mediated reactions include hypersensitivity pneumonitis and some vasculitic syndromes.
Type IV (cellular immune–mediated or delayed-hypersensitivity) reactions involve recognition of antigen by sensitized T cells. Antigen-presenting cells form peptides that are expressed on the cell surface in association with major histocompatibility complex class II molecules. Memory T cells recognize the antigen peptide/major histocompatibility complex class II complexes. Cytokines, such as interferon-γ, tumor necrosis factor-α, and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor, are secreted from this interaction, which activates and attracts tissue macrophages. Contact allergies (nickel, poison ivy, topical medications) and immunity to tuberculosis are type IV reactions.
Available @ StudentConsult.comA family history of allergic disease is often present in affected patients. Multiple genes predispose to atopy. If one parent has allergies, the risk that a child will develop an allergic disease is 25%. If both parents have allergies, the risk increases to 50% to 70%. Similar atopic diseases tend to occur in families.
Available @ StudentConsult.comChildren with allergic rhinitis exhibit frequent nasal itching and rubbing of the nose with the palm of the hand, the allergic salute, which can lead to a transverse nasal crease found across the lower bridge of the nose. Allergic shiners, blue-gray to purple discoloration below the lower eyelids that is attributed to venous congestion, along with swollen eyelids or conjunctival injection are often present in children. Dermatologic findings of atopy include hyperlinearity of the palms and soles, white dermatographism, pityriasis alba, prominent creases under the lower eyelids (Dennie−Morgan folds or Dennie lines), and keratosis pilaris (asymptomatic horny follicular papules on the extensor surfaces of the arms).
Cutaneous manifestations are most common and range from generalized xerosis (dry skin) to urticaria to the pruritic, erythematous papules, and vesicles of atopic dermatitis. There may be involvement of the upper respiratory tract with allergic rhinitis and the lower respiratory tract with asthma. Allergic disease may involve only the skin or the nose, eyes, lungs, and gastrointestinal tract alone or in combination. It is distinguished by environmental exposure to an inciting trigger and usually a history of previous similar disease or development of symptoms after a suspected trigger. Many patients have more than one allergic symptom.
Atopy is characterized by elevated levels of IgE (Table 77-2)
Available @ StudentConsult.com and eosinophilia (3% to 10% of white blood cells or an absolute eosinophil count of >250 eosinophils/mm3) with a predominance of Th2 cytokines, including interleukin (IL)-4, IL-5, and IL-13. Extreme eosinophilia suggests a nonallergic disorder such as infections with tissue-invasive parasites, drug reactions, or malignancies (Table 77-3). A classic example of a type IV reaction is the tuberculin skin test. A small amount of purified protein derivative from Mycobacterium tuberculosis is injected intradermally (see Chapter 124). In a previously sensitized individual, a type IV inflammatory reaction (induration) develops over the next 24 to 72 hours.
There are two methods for identifying allergen-specific IgE: in vivo skin testing and in vitro serum testing (Table 77-4).In vivo skin testing introduces allergen into the skin via a prick/puncture or intradermal injection. The allergen diffuses through the skin to interact with IgE that is bound to mast cells. Cross-linking of IgE causes mast cell degranulation, which results in a histamine release; this prompts the development of a central wheal and erythematous flare. The wheal and flare are measured 15 to 20 minutes after the allergen has been placed. Properly performed skin tests are the best available method for detecting the presence of allergen-specific IgE.
In vitro serum testing, such as immunoassays like the radioallergosorbent test (also known as RAST) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (also known as ELISA), measures levels of antigen-specific IgE. Many allergists and laboratories regard the ImmunoCAP System as the method of choice. This method uses a solid phase and shows higher sensitivity,
Results available immediately Preferable to skin testing for dermatographism Widespread dermatitis Uncooperative children
From Skoner DP: Allergic rhinitis: definition, epidemiology, pathophysiology, detection, and diagnosis, J Allergy Clin Immunol 108:S2−S8, 2001.
specificity, and reproducibility. The assay uses a quantitative fluorescent immunoassay (FEIA); FEIA is more sensitive than other assays. These tests are indicated for patients who have dermatographism or extensive dermatitis; who cannot discontinue medications, such as antihistamines, that interfere with skin test results; who are very allergic by history, where anaphylaxis is a possible risk; or who are noncompliant for skin testing. The presence of specific IgE antibodies alone is not sufficient for the diagnosis of allergic diseases. Diagnosis must be based on the physician’s assessment of the entire clinical picture, including the history and physical examination, the presence of specific IgE antibodies, and the correlation of symptoms to IgE-mediated inflammation.
Diagnostic imaging has a limited role in the evaluation of allergic disease. Chest radiography is helpful with the differential diagnosis of asthma. Sinus radiography and computed tomography may be useful, but when these images are abnormal, they do not distinguish allergic disease from nonallergic disease.
Inflammatory cells (mast cells, eosinophils, T lymphocytes, neutrophils), chemical mediators (histamine, leukotrienes, platelet-activating factor, bradykinin), and chemotactic factors (cytokines, eotaxin) mediate the underlying inflammation found in asthmatic airways. Inflammation contributes to airway hyperresponsiveness (airways constricting in response to allergens, irritants, viral infections, and exercise). It also results in edema, increased mucus production in the lungs, influx of inflammatory cells into the airway, and epithelial cell denudation. Chronic inflammation can lead to airway remodeling, which results from a proliferation of extracellular matrix proteins and vascular hyperplasia and may lead to irreversible structural changes and a progressive loss of pulmonary function.
Asthma is the most common chronic disease of childhood in industrialized countries, affecting nearly 7 million children younger than 18 years of age in the United States. The number of people with asthma continues to grow. One in 11 children (7 million) had asthma, and 1 in 12 (18.7 million) adults (totaling over 25 million or 8% of U.S. population) had asthma in 2010 compared to 1 in 14 people (about 20 million, or 7%) in 2001. One in 5 children went to the emergency department for an asthma-related visit in 2009. Women are more likely than men to have asthma, and boys are more likely than girls to have asthma.
Available @ StudentConsult.comChildren with asthma have symptoms of coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath or rapid breathing, and chest tightness. The history should elicit the frequency, severity, and factors that worsen the child’s symptoms as well as a family history of
Tracheal stenosis Toxic inhalation, including smokeFrom Lemanske RF Jr, Green CG: Asthma in infancy and childhood. In Middleton E Jr, Reed CE, Ellis EF, et al, editors: Allergy: Principles and Practice, ed 5, St Louis, 1998, Mosby–Year Book, p 878.
asthma and allergy. Exacerbating factors include viral infections, exposure to allergens and irritants (e.g., smoke, strong odors, fumes), exercise, emotions, and change in weather/humidity. Nighttime symptoms are common. Rhinosinusitis, gastroesophageal reflux, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (especially aspirin) can aggravate asthma. Treatment of these conditions may lessen the frequency and severity of the asthma.
During acute episodes, tachypnea, tachycardia, cough, wheezing, and a prolonged expiratory phase may be present. Physical findings may be subtle. Classic wheezing may not be prominent if there is poor air movement from airway obstruction. As the attack progresses, cyanosis, diminished air movement, retractions, agitation, inability to speak, tripod sitting position, diaphoresis, and pulsus paradoxus (decrease in blood pressure of >15 mm Hg with inspiration) may be observed. Physical examination may show evidence of other atopic diseases such as eczema or allergic rhinitis.
Objective measurements of pulmonary function (spirometry) help establish the diagnosis and direct the treatment of asthma. Spirometry is used to monitor response to treatment, assess degree of reversibility with therapeutic intervention, and measure the severity of an asthma exacerbation. Children older than 5 years of age can perform spirometry maneuvers. Variability in predicted peak flow reference values make spirometry preferred to peak flow measures in the diagnosis of asthma. For younger children who cannot perform spirometry maneuvers or peak flow, a therapeutic trial of controller medications helps in the diagnosis of asthma.
Allergy skin testing should be included in the evaluation of all children with persistent asthma but not during an exacerbation of wheezing. Positive skin tests results, identifying immediate hypersensitivity to aeroallergens (e.g., as tree and grass pollens, and dust), correlate strongly with bronchial allergen provocative challenges. In vitro serum tests, such as radioallergosorbent test (also known as RAST), fluorescent enzyme immunoassay (also known as FEIA), or enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, are generally less sensitive in defining clinically pertinent allergens, are more expensive, and require several days for results compared to several minutes for skin testing (see Table 77-4).
A chest radiograph should be performed with the first episode of asthma or with recurrent episodes of undiagnosed cough or wheeze to exclude anatomic abnormalities. Repeat chest radiographs are not needed with new episodes unless there is fever (suggesting pneumonia) or localized findings on physical examination.
Two novel forms of monitoring asthma and airway inflammation directly include exhaled nitric oxide analysis and quantitative analysis of expectorated sputum for eosinophilia.
Many childhood conditions can cause wheezing and coughingof asthma (Table 78-1) but not all cough and wheeze is asthma. Misdiagnosis delays correcting the underlying cause andexposes children to inappropriate asthma therapy (Table 78-2).
Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis is a hypersensitivity type of reaction to antigens of the mold Aspergillus fumigatus. It occurs primarily in patients with steroid-dependent asthma and in patients with cystic fibrosis.
Optimal medical treatment of asthma includes several key components: environmental control, pharmacologic therapy, and patient education, including attainment of
C—Cystic fibrosis R—Respiratory tract infections A—Aspiration (swallowing dysfunction, gastroesophageal reflux, tracheoesophageal fistula, foreign body) D—Dyskinetic cilia L—Lung and airway malformations (laryngeal webs, laryngotracheomalacia, tracheal stenosis, vascular rings and slings) E—Edema (heart failure, congenital heart disease)
From Schidlow DV: Cough. In Schidlow DV, Smith DS, editors: A Practical Guide to Pediatric Disease, Philadelphia, 1994, Hanley & Belfus.
self-management skills. Because many children with asthma have coexisting allergies, steps to minimize allergen exposure should be taken (Table 78-3). For all children with asthma, exposures to tobacco and wood smoke and to persons with viral infections should be minimized. Influenza immunizations are indicated. Asthma medications can be divided into long-term control medications and quick-relief medications.
Inhaled corticosteroids are the most effective anti-inflammatory medications for the treatment of chronic, persistent asthma and are the preferred therapy when initiating longterm control therapy. Early intervention with inhaled corticosteroids reduces morbidity but does not alter the natural history of asthma. Regular use reduces airway hyperreactivity, the need for rescue bronchodilator therapy, risk of hospitalization, and risk of death from asthma. Inhaled corticosteroids are available as an inhalation aerosol, dry powder inhaler, and nebulizer solution.
The potential risks of inhaled corticosteroids are favorably balanced with their benefits. A reduction in growth velocity may occur with poorly controlled asthma or inhaled corticosteroids use. Low-to-medium dose inhaled corticosteroids may decrease growth velocity, although these effects are small (approximately 1 cm in the first year of treatment), generally not progressive, and may be reversible. Regularly scheduled height measurements should be monitored. Inhaled corticosteroids do not have clinically significant adverse effects on hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis function, glucose metabolism, or subcapsular cataracts or glaucoma when used at low-to-medium doses in children. Rinsing the mouth after inhalation and using spacers help lessen the local adverse effects of dysphonia and candidiasis and decrease systemic absorption from the gastrointestinal tract. Inhaled corticosteroids should be titrated to the lowest dose needed to maintain control of a child’s asthma. For children with severe asthma, higher dose inhaled corticosteroids may be needed to minimize the oral corticosteroid dose, but other “add-on” therapy should be considered (see the following sections).
Leukotrienes, synthesized via the arachidonic acid metabolism cascade, are potent mediators of inflammation and smooth
Viral upper Limit exposure to viral infections (day care respiratory tract with fewer children) (RSV, influenza virus) with persistent asthma Tobacco smoke, No smoking around the child or in child’s wood smoke home
Help parents and caregivers quit smoking Eliminate use of wood stoves and fireplaces Dust mites Essential actions
Encase pillow, mattress, and box spring in allergen-impermeable encasement Wash bedding in hot water weekly
Avoid sleeping or lying on upholstered furniture Minimize number of stuffed toys in child’s bedroom Reduce indoor humidity to <50% If possible, remove carpets from bedroom and play areas; if not possible, vacuum frequently Animal dander Remove the pet from the home or keep outdoors (if removal is not acceptable) Keep pet out of bedroom
Use a filter on air ducts in child’s room Wash pet weekly (the evidence to support this has not been firmly established)
Cockroach allergens Do not leave food or garbage exposed Use boric acid traps Reduce indoor humidity to <50% Fix leaky faucets, pipes
Indoor mold Avoid vaporizers Reduce indoor humidity to <50% Fix leaky faucets, pipes
From American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology: Pediatric Asthma:
Promoting Best Practice, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 1999, American Academy ofAllergy Asthma & Immunology, p 50. RSV, Respiratory syncytial virus.
muscle bronchoconstriction. Leukotriene modifiers are oral, daily-use medications that inhibit these biologic effects in the airway. Two classes of leukotriene modifiers include cysteinyl leukotriene receptor antagonists (zafirlukast and montelukast) and leukotriene synthesis inhibitors (zileuton). The leukotriene receptor antagonists have much wider appeal than zileuton. Zafirlukast is approved for children older than 5 years of age and is given twice daily. Montelukast is dosed once daily, at night, as 4-mg granules or chewable tablets (for children 6 months to 5 years), 5-mg chewable tablets (6 to 14 years), and 10-mg tablets (15 years of age or older). Pediatric studies show the usefulness of leukotriene modifiers in mild asthma and the attenuation of exercise-induced bronchoconstriction. These agents may be helpful as steroid-sparing agents in patients with asthma that is more difficult to control.
Long-Acting β2-Agonists Long-acting β2-agonists, formoterol and salmeterol, have twice-daily dosing and relax airway smooth muscle for 12 hours but do not have any significant anti-inflammatory effects. Adding a long-acting bronchodilator to inhaled corticosteroid therapy is more beneficial than doubling the dose of inhaled corticosteroids. Multiple formulations are available. Formoterol is approved for use in children older than 5 years of age for maintenance asthma therapy and for prevention of exercise-induced asthma. It has a rapid onset of action similar to albuterol (15 minutes). Salmeterol is approved for children 4 years of age or older and has an onset of 30 minutes. Because combination agents administer two medications simultaneously, compliance is generally improved.
Theophylline was more widely used previously, but, because current management is aimed at inflammatory control, its popularity has declined. It is mildly to moderately effective as a bronchodilator and is considered an alternative, add-on treatment to lowand medium-dose inhaled corticosteroids.
Omalizumab (Xolair) is a humanized anti-IgE monoclonal antibody that prevents binding of IgE to high-affinity receptors on basophils and mast cells. It is approved for moderate to severe allergic asthma in children 12 years of age and older. Xolair is delivered by subcutaneous injection every 2 to 4 weeks, depending on body weight and pretreatment serum IgE level.
Short-Acting β2-Agonists Short-acting β2-agonists, such as albuterol, levalbuterol, and pirbuterol, are effective bronchodilators that exert their effect by relaxing bronchial smooth muscle within 5 to 10 minutes of administration. They last for 4 to 6 hours. Generally a short-acting β2-agonist is prescribed for acute symptoms and as prophylaxis before allergen exposure and exercise. The inhaled route is preferred because adverse effects—tremor, prolonged tachycardia, and irritability—are less. Overuse of β2-agonists implies inadequate control; a change in medications may be warranted. The definition of overuse depends on the severity of the child’s asthma; use of more than one metered dose inhaler canister per month or more than eight puffs per day suggests poor control.
Ipratropium bromide is an anticholinergic bronchodilator that relieves bronchoconstriction, decreases mucus hyper-secretion, and counteracts cough-receptor irritability by binding acetylcholine at the muscarinic receptors found in bronchial smooth muscle. It seems to have an additive effect with β2-agonists when used for acute asthma exacerbations. Long-term use of anticholinergic medications in asthma is not supported by the literature.
Short bursts of oral corticosteroids (3 to 10 days) are administered to children with acute exacerbations. The initial startingdose is 1 to 2 mg/kg/day of prednisone followed by 1 mg/kg/dayover the next 2 to 5 days. Oral corticosteroids are available inliquid or tablet formulations. Prolonged use of oral corticosteroids can result in systemic adverse effects such as hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal suppression, cushingoid features, weightgain, hypertension, diabetes, cataracts, glaucoma, osteoporosis, and growth suppression. Children with severe asthma mayrequire oral corticosteroids over extended periods. The doseshould be tapered as soon as possible to the minimum effectivedose, preferably administered on alternate days.
Approach to TherapyTherapy is based on the concept that chronic inflammation is a fundamental feature of asthma and that the processes underlying asthma can vary in intensity over time, requiring treatment to be adjusted accordingly. Classification of asthma severity is emphasized for initiation of therapy in patients not currently receiving controller medications. Assessing control is emphasized for monitoring and adjusting therapy. A stepwise approach is used for management of infants and young children 0 to 4 years, children 5 to 11 years (Fig. 78-1), youths 12 years or older, and adults (Fig. 78-2). Medication type, amount, and scheduling are determined by the level of asthma severity or asthma control. Therapy is then increased (stepped up) as necessary and decreased (stepped down) when possible. A short-acting bronchodilator should be available for all children with asthma. A child with intermittent asthma has asthma symptoms less than two times per week. To determine whether a child is having more persistent asthma, using the Rules of Two is helpful: daytime symptoms occurring two or more times per week or nighttime awakening two or more times per month implies a need for daily anti-inflammatory medication.
Inhaled corticosteroids are the preferred initial long-term control therapy for children of all ages (Fig. 78-3). Daily longterm control therapy is recommended for infants and young children 0 to 4 years of age who had four or more episodes of wheezing in the previous year that lasted more than 1 day, affected sleep, and who have a positive asthma predictive index. For children over 5 years of age with moderate persistent asthma, combining long-acting bronchodilators with low-tomedium doses of inhaled corticosteroids improves lung function and reduces rescue medication use. For children with severe persistent asthma, a high-dose inhaled corticosteroid and a long-acting bronchodilator are the preferred therapy. The guidelines also recommend that treatment be reevaluated within 2 to 6 weeks of initiating therapy. Once asthma is under control, control should be assessed on an ongoing basis every 1 to 6 months. The asthma should be well controlled for at least 3 months before stepping down therapy. Note that asthma management guidelines are based on review of the published evidence, not solely on age recommendations and dosages approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Step up if needed (first check inhaler technique, adherence, environmental control, and comorbid conditions)
Step down if possible (and asthma is well controlled at least 3 months)
Preferred Intermittent asthma Persistent asthma: Daily medication Consult with asthma specialist if Step 3 care or higher is required. The stepwise approach is meant to assist, not Consider consultation at Step 2.Intermittent Asthma Persistent Asthma: Daily Medication Consult with asthma specialist if Step 4 care or higher is required. Consider consultation at Step 3. Alternative Alternative Quick-Relief Medication Quick-Relief Medication SABA PRN Low-dose ICS Cromolyn or Montelukast Cromolyn LTRA Nedocromil, or Theophylline Medium-dose ICS Medium-dose ICS + LABA or Montelukast High-dose ICS + LABA or Montelukast High-dose ICS LABA orMontelukast+ +Oral corticosteroids ICS Preferred SABA PRN Low-dose ICS Low-dose ICS Medium-dose ICS + + + LABALABA, LTRA, or Theophylline High-dose ICS + LABA High-dose ICS LABA + + Oral corticosteroids Oral corticosteroids Children 0–4 years of ageChildren 5–11 Years of Age Each Step: Patient Education and Environmental Control Each Step: Patient Education and Environmental Control, and Management of Comorbidities Steps 2–4:  Consider subcutaneous allergen immunotherapy for patients                   who have persistent, allergic asthma.  SABA as needed for symptoms. Intensity of treatment depends on severity of  symptoms.  With viral respiratory symptoms: SABA q 4–6 hours up to 24 hours (longer with  physician consult). Consider short course of oral systemic corticosteroids if exacerbation is severe or patient has history of previous severe exacerbations. Caution: Frequent use of SABA may indicate the need to step up treatment. See text for recommendations on initiating daily long-term-control therapy. Caution: Increasing use of SABA or use >2 days a week for symptom relief (not prevention of EIB) generally indicates inadequate control and the need to step up treatment. OR Medium-dose ICS Medium-dose ICS LTRA or Theophylline + High-dose ICS LTRA or Theophylline + + High-dose ICSLTRA or Theophylline  SABA as needed for symptoms. Intensity of treatment depends on severity of  symptoms: up to 3 treatments at 20-minute intervals as needed. Short course of  oral systemic corticosteroids may be needed.   replace, the clinical decision making required to   meet individual patient needs.  If an alternative treatment is used and response is  inadequate, discontinue it and use the preferred  treatment before stepping up.  If clear benefit is not observed within 4–6 weeks,   and patient’s/family’s medication technique and   adherence are satisfactory, consider adjusting   therapy or an alternative diagnosis.  Studies on children 0–4 years of age are limited.  Step 2 preferred therapy is based on Evidence A. All other recommendations are based on expert opinion and extrapolation from studies in older children.  Clinicians who administer immunotherapy should be prepared and equipped to identify and treat  anaphylaxis that may occur. Key: Alphabetical listing is used when more than one treatment option is listed within either preferred or alternative therapy. ICS, Inhaled corti-costeroid; LABA, inhaled long-acting beta2-agonist; LTRA, leukotriene receptor antagonist, oral corti-costeroids, oral systemic corticosteroids; SABA, inhaled short-acting beta2-agonist  The stepwise approach is meant to assist, not  replace, the clinical decision making required to  meet individual patient needs.  If an alternative treatment is used and response is  inadequate, discontinue it and use the preferred  treatment before stepping up.  Theophylline is a less desirable alternative due to  the need to monitor serum concentration levels. Steps 1 and 2 medications are based on Evidence A.   Step 3 ICS and ICS plus adjunctive therapy are  based on Evidence B for efficacy of each treatment and extrapolation from comparator trials in older   children and adults–comparator trials are not available for this age group; Steps 4–6 are based on expert opinion and extrapolation from studies in   older children and adults.  Immunotherapy for Steps 2–4 is based on Evidence  B for house-dust mites, animal danders, and pollens;  evidence is weak or lacking for molds and cock roaches. Evidence is strongest for immunotherapy  with single allergens. The role of allergy in asthma is  greater in children than adults. Clinicians who administer immunotherapy should be prepared and equipped to identify and treat  anaphylaxis that may occur. Key: Alphabetical listing is used when more than one treatment option is listed within either preferred or alternative therapy. ICS, Inhaled corti-costeroid; LABA, inhaled long-acting beta2-agonist; LTRA, leukotriene receptor antagonist; SABA, inhaled short-acting beta2-agonist
Figure 78-1 Stepwise long-term approach for managing asthma in children, 0 to 4 years of age and 5 to 11 years of age. (From National Heart Lung Blood Institute, National Asthma Education and Prevention Program: Expert panel report 3: guidelines for the diagnosis and management of asthma. Summary report 2007, NIH Publication No. 08-5846, Bethesda, MD, 2007, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, p 42, http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/guidelines/asthma/asthsumm.pdf
Intermittent asthma Persistent asthma: Daily medication Consult with asthma specialist if Step 4 care or higher is required. Consider consultation at Step 3. Step 1 Preferred:SABA PRN Step 2 Preferred:Low-dose ICS Alternative:Cromolyn, LTRA, Nedocromil, or Theophylline Step 3 Preferred:Low-dose ICS + LABA ORMedium-dose ICS Alternative:Low-dose ICS + either LTRA, Theophylline, or Zileuton Step 4 Preferred:Medium-dose ICS + LABA Alternative:Medium-dose ICS + either LTRA, Theophylline, or Zileuton Step 5 AND Preferred:High-dose ICS + LABA Consider Omalizumab for patients who have allergies Preferred:Step 6 AND High-dose ICS + LABA + oral corticosteroid Consider Omalizumab for patients who have allergies Each step: Patient education, environmental control, and management of comorbidities. Steps 2–4: Consider subcutaneous allergen immunotherapy for patients who have allergic asthma (see Notes). Quick-relief medication for all patients  SABA as needed for symptoms. Intensity of treatment depends on severity of symptoms: up  to 3 treatments at 20-minute intervals as needed. Short course of oral systemic corti costeroids may be needed.  Use of SABA >2 days a week for symptom relief (not prevention of EIB) generally indicates inadequate control and the need to step up treatment. AssesscontrolStep up if needed (first, check adherence, environmental control, and comorbid conditions) Step down if possible (and asthma is well controlled at least 3 months)
Figure 78-2 Stepwise approach for managing asthma in youths 12 years of age or older and adults. (From National Heart Lung Blood Institute, National Asthma Education and Prevention Program: Expert panel report 3: guidelines for the diagnosis and management of asthma. Summary report 2007, NIH Publication No. 08-5846, Bethesda, MD, 2007, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, p 45,
Key: Alphabetical order is used when more than one treatment option is listed within either preferred or alternative therapy. ICS, Inhaled corticosteroid; LABA, long-acting inhaled beta2-agonist; LTRA, leukotriene receptor antagonist; SABA, inhaled short-acting beta2-agonist
Notes:  The stepwise approach is meant to assist,   not replace, the clinical decision making  required to meet individual patient needs.
 If alternative treatment is used and  response is inadequate, discontinue it and  use the preferred treatment before stepping  up.
 Zileuton is a less desirable alternative due  to limited studies as adjunctive therapy and  the need to monitor liver function. Theophylline requires monitoring of serum  concentration levels.
 In Step 6, before oral corticosteroids are  introduced, a trial of high-dose ICS + LABA + either LTRA, Theophylline, or Zileuton may be considered, although this approach has  not been studied in clinical trials.
 Step 1, 2, and 3 preferred therapies are  based on Evidence A; Step 3 alternative  therapy is based on Evidence A for LTRA,  Evidence B for Theophylline, and Evidence  D for Zileuton. Step 4 preferred therapy is  based on Evidence B, and alternative  therapy is based on Evidence B for LTRA  and Theophylline and Evidence D Zileuton.  Step 5 preferred therapy is based on  Evidence B. Step 6 preferred therapy is based on (EPR–2 1997) and Evidence B for Omalizumab.
 Immunotherapy for Steps 2–4 is based on  Evidence B for house-dust mites, animal  danders, and pollens; evidence is weak or  lacking for molds and cockroaches.  Evidence is strongest for immunotherapy  with single allergens. The role of allergy in  asthma is greater in children than in adults.
 Clinicians who administer immunotherapy or Omalizumab should be prepared and  equipped to identify and treat anaphylaxis  that may occur.
Most asthma exacerbations can be successfully managed at home. Status asthmaticus is an acute exacerbation of asthma that does not respond adequately to therapeutic measures and may require hospitalization. Exacerbations may progress over several days or occur suddenly and can range in severity from mild to life threatening. Significant respiratory distress, dyspnea, wheezing, cough, and a decrease in peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) characterize deterioration in asthma control. During severe episodes of wheezing, pulse oximetry is helpful in monitoring oxygenation. In status asthmaticus, arterial blood gases may be necessary for measurement of ventilation. As airway obstruction worsens and chest compliance decreases, carbon dioxide retention can occur. In the face of tachypnea, a normal pCO2 (40 mm Hg) indicates impending respiratory arrest.
First-line management of asthma exacerbations includes supplemental oxygen, repetitive, or continuous administration of short-acting bronchodilators. Early administration of oral or intravenous corticosteroids (Fig. 78-4) is important in treating the underlying inflammation. Administration of anticholinergic agents (ipratropium) with bronchodilators decreases rates of hospitalization and duration of time in the emergency department. Intravenous magnesium sulfate is given in the emergency department if there is clinical deterioration, despite treatment with β2-agonists, ipratropium, and systemic glucocorticoids. The typical dose is 25 to 75 mg/kg (maximum 2.0 g) intravenously administered over 20 minutes. Epinephrine (intramuscular) or terbutaline (subcutaneous) is rarely used except when severe asthma is associated with anaphylaxis or unresponsive to continuous administration of short-acting bronchodilators.
For some children, symptoms of wheezing with respiratoryinfections subside in the preschool years, whereas othershave more persistent asthma symptoms. Prognostic indicators for children younger than 3 years of age who are at riskfor asthma include eczema, parental asthma, or two of the 90, 180, or 200 µg/inhalation
Fluticasone HFA/MDI: 44, 110, or 220 µg/puff DPI: 50, 100, or 250 µg/inhalation
Years of Age Years of AgeYears of AgeYears of AgeYears of AgeYears of Age >600–1,200 µg >1,200 µg 0.25–0.5 mg 1.0 mg 0.5 mg >0.5–1.0 mg >1.0 mg 2.0 mg 500–1,000 µg 1,000–1,250 >1,000–2,000 >1,250 µg >2,000 µg >1,500 µg >750–1,500 µg
Key: DPI, Dry power inhaler; HFA, hydrofluoroalkane; MDI, metered-dose inhaler; NA, not available (either not approved, no data available, or safety and efficacy not established for this age group)
Therapeutic Issues:  The most important determinant of appropriate dosing is the clinician’s judgment of the patient’s response to therapy. The clinician must monitor the patient’s  response on several clinical parameters and adjust the dose accordingly. Once control of asthma is achieved, the dose should be carefully titrated to the minimum dose required to maintain control.
 Preparations are not interchangeable on a µg or per puff basis. This figure presents estimated comparable daily doses. See EPR–3 Full Report 2007 for full discussion.
 Some doses may be outside package labeling, especially in the high-dose range. Budesonide nebulizer suspension is the only inhaler corticosteroid (ICS) with FDAapproved labeling for children <4 years of age.
 For children <4 years of age: The safety and efficacy of ICSs in children <1 year has not been established. Children <4 years of age generally require delivery of ICS  (budesonide and fluticasone HFA) through a face mask that should fit snugly over nose and mouth and avoid nebulizing in the eyes. Wash face after each treatment  to prevent local corticosteroid side effects. For budesonide, the dose may be administered 1–3 times daily. Budesonide suspension is compatible with Albuterol,  Ipratropium, and Levalbuterol nebulizer solutions in the same nebulizer. Use only jet nebulizers, as ultrasonic nebulizers are ineffective for suspensions. For  Fluticasone HFA, the dose should be divided 2 times daily; the low dose for children <4 years of age is higher than for children 5–11 years of age due to lower dose delivered with face mask and data on efficacy in young children.
Potential Adverse Effects of Inhaled Corticosteroids:  Cough, dysphonia, oral thrush (candidiasis).
 Spacer or valved holding chamber with non-breath-actuated MDIs and mouthwashing and spitting after inhalation decrease local side effects.
 A number of the ICSs, including Fluticasone, Budesonide, and Mometasone, are metabolized in the gastrointestinal tract and liver by CYP 3A4 isoenzymes. Potent  inhibitors of CYP 3A4, such as Ritonavir and Ketoconazole, have the potential for increasing systemic concentrations of these ICSs by increasing oral availability and  decreasing systemic clearance. Some cases of clinically significant Cushing syndrome and secondary adrenal insufficiency have been reported.
 In high doses, systemic effects may occur, although studies are not conclusive, and clinical significance of these effects has not been established (e.g., adrenal  suppression, osteoporosis, skin thinning, and easy bruising). In low-to-medium doses, suppression of growth velocity has been observed in children, but this effect may be transient, and the clinical significance has not been established.
Figure 78-3 Estimated comparative daily dosages for inhaled corticosteroids. (From National Heart Lung Blood Institute, National Asthma Education and Prevention Program: Expert panel report 3: guidelines for the diagnosis and management of asthma. Summary report 2007, NIH Publication No. 08-5846, Bethesda, MD, 2007, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, p 49, http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/ guidelines/asthma/asthsumm.pdf following: allergic rhinitis, wheezing with a cold, or eosino-teaching basic asthma facts, explaining the role of medica philia of greater than 4%. Atopy is the strongest predictor for tions, teaching environmental control measures, and improv wheezing continuing into persistent asthma (Table 78-4). ing patient skills in the use of spacer devices for metered dose inhalers and peak flow monitoring. Families should have an asthma management plan (Fig. 78-5) for daily care and for
PREVENTION exacerbations.Education plays an important role in helping patients and Peak flow monitoring is a self-assessment tool that is help- their families adhere to the prescribed therapy and needs to ful for children over 5 years of age. It is advisable for children begin at the time of diagnosis. Successful education involves who are poor perceivers of airway obstruction, have moderate
FEV1 or PEF <40% (severe)      Oxygen to achieve SaO2 ˜90%  High-dose inhaled SABA plus       Ipratropium by nebulizer or MDI plus valved holding chamber, every 20 minutes or continuously for 1 hour      Oral systemic corticosteroids
FEV1 or PEF ˜40% (mild-to-moderate)      Oxygen to achieve SaO2 ˜90%      Inhaled SABA by nebulizer or MDI with valved holding chamber, up to 3 doses in first hour      Oral systemic corticosteroids if no immediate response or if patient recently took oral systemic       corticosteroids
Initial assessment Brief history, physical examination (auscultation, use of accessory muscles, heart rate, respiratory rate), PEF or FEV1, oxygen saturation, and other tests as indicated
Severe exacerbation FEV1 or PEF <40% predicted/personal best Physical exam: severe symptoms at rest, accessory muscle use, chest retraction History: high-risk patient No improvement after initial treatment  Oxygen      Nebulized SABA plus Ipratropium, hourly or continuous      Oral systemic corticosteroids  Consider adjunct therapies
Moderate exacerbation FEV1 or PEF 40–69% predicted/personal best Physical exam: moderate symptoms  Inhaled SABA every 60 minutes      Oral systemic corticosteroid      Continue treatment 1–3 hours, provided       there is improvement; make admit decision in <4 hours
Admit to hospital intensive care (see box below) Repeat assessment Symptoms, physical examination, PEF, O2 saturation, other tests as needed Good response  FEV1 or PEF ˜70%  Response sustained 60       minutes after last treatment  No distress      Physical exam: normal Incomplete response  FEV1 or PEF 40–69%  Mild-to-moderate symptoms Poor response  FEV1 or PEF <40%  PCO2 ˜42 mm Hg      Physical exam:       symptoms severe,       drowsiness, confusion Individualized decision re: hospitalization (see text) Discharge home  Continue treatment with inhaled SABA  Continue course of oral       systemic corticosteroid  Consider initiation of an ICS      Patient education         Review medications, including inhaler technique         Review/initiate action plan Recommend close medical           follow-up Admit to hospital ward  Oxygen  Inhaled SABA      Systemic (oral or intravenous)       corticosteroid  Consider adjunct therapies      Monitor vital signs, FEV1 or       PEF, SaO2 Improve Improve Admit to hospital intensive care  Oxygen      Inhaled SABA hourly or       continuously      Intravenous corticosteroid  Consider adjunct therapies      Possible intubation and       mechanical ventilation Discharge home      Continue treatment with inhaled SABAs.      Continue course of oral systemic corticosteroid.      Continue on ICS. For those not on long-term-control therapy, consider       initiation of an ICS.      Patient education (e.g., review medications, including inhaler technique:       review/initiate action plan and, whenever possible, environmental control       measures; and recommend close medical follow-up).      Before discharge, schedule follow-up appointment with primary care provider       and/or asthma specialist in 1–4 weeks. Key: FEV1, Forced expiratory volume in 1 second; ICS, inhaled corticosteroid; MDI, metered-dose inhaler; PCO2, partial pressure carbon dioxide; PEF, peak expiratory flow; SABA, short-acting beta2-agonist; SaO2, oxygen saturation Figure 78-4 Management of asthma exacerbations: emergency department and hospital-based care. (From National Heart Lung Blood Institute, National Asthma Education and Prevention Program: Expert panel report 3: guidelines for the diagnosis and management of asthma. Summary report 2007, NIH Publication No. 08-5846, Bethesda, MD, 2007, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, p 55, http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/guidelines/asthma/asthsumm.pdf
Figure 78-5 Asthma self-management guideline. (From National Heart Lung Blood Institute, National Asthma Education and Prevention Program: Expert panel report 3: guidelines for the diagnosis and management of asthma. Summary report 2007, NIH Publication No. 05-5251, Bethesda, MD, 2007, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, p 119, http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/guidelines/asthma/asthgdln.pdf
For: Doctor: Date: Doctor’s Phone Number Hospital/Emergency Department Phone Number
Doing Well Take these long-term-control medicines each day (include an anti-inflammatory).
No cough, wheeze, chest tightness, or Medicine How much to take When to take it shortness of breath during the day or night Can do usual activities
And, if a peak flow meter is used, Peak flow: more than Identify and avoid and control the things that make your asthma worse, like (list here): (80 percent or more of my best peak flow)
My best peak flow is: Before exercise, if prescribed, take: 45 to 60 minutes before exercise
Asthma Is Getting Worse First Add: quick-relief medicine–and keep taking your GREEN ZONE medicine. Cough, wheeze, chest tightness, or puffs, 4every 20 minutes for up to 1 hour shortness of breath, or onceNebulizer,
Waking at night due to asthma, or If applicable, remove yourself from the thing that made your asthma worse.
Can do some, but not all, usual activities Second If your symptoms (and peak flow, if used) return to GREEN ZONE after 1 hour of above treatment: monitoring to be sure you stay in the green zone. ContinuePeak flow: to -Or(50 to 79 percent of my best peak flow) If your symptoms (and peak flow, if used) do not return to GREEN ZONE after 1 hour of above treatment: Take:
Add: mg per day.  For  (3–10) days (oral corticosteroid) the doctor hours after taking the oral corticosteroid.(phone)
Medical Alert! Take this medicine:Very short of breath, orNebulizer Quick-relief medicines have not helped, or (short-acting beta2-agonist) Cannot do usual activities, or mg Symptoms are same or get worse after (oral corticosteroid) 24 hours in Yellow Zone.
Then call your doctor NOW. Go to the hospital or call an ambulance if
You are still in the red zone after 15 minutes AND
Peak flow: less thanYou have not reached your doctor.(50 percent of my best peak flow)Trouble walking and talking due to shortness of breath puffs of your quick-relief medicine 6AND Lips or fingernails are blue
Go to the hospital or call for an ambulance                                  NOW!
Allergy Atopic dermatitis Allergic rhinitis Elevated total serum IgE levels (first year of life) Peripheral blood eosinophilia >4% (2–3 yr of age) Food and inhalant allergen sensitization
Girls Asthma associated with obesity and early-onset puberty Triad asthma (adulthood)
Lower respiratory tract infection Respiratory syncytial virus, parainfluenza Severe bronchiolitis (e.g., requiring hospitalization) Pneumonia
From Liu A, Martinez FD, Taussig LM: Natural history of allergic diseases and asthma. In Leung DYM, Sampson HA, Geha RS, et al, editors: Pediatric
Allergy: Principles and Practice. St Louis, 2003, Mosby, p 15.
to severe asthma, or have a history of severe exacerbations. Peak flow monitoring also can be useful in children who are still learning to recognize asthma symptoms.
To use a peak flow meter, a child should be standing with the indicator placed at the bottom of the scale. The child must inhale deeply, place the device in the mouth, seal the lips around the mouthpiece, and blow out forcefully and rapidly. The indicator moves up the numeric scale. The PEFR is the highest number achieved. The test is repeated three times to obtain the best possible effort. Peak flow meters are available as low range (<300 L/sec) and high range (<700 L/sec). It is important to provide the appropriate range meter so that accurate measurements can be obtained and children do not become discouraged because their exhalations barely move the indicator.
A child’s personal best is the highest PEFR achieved over a2-week period when stable. Based on the child’s personal best, a written action plan can be established, which is divided into three zones, similar to a stoplight. The green zone indicates aPEFR 80% to 100% of the child’s personal best value. In thiszone, the child is likely asymptomatic and should continuewith medications as usual. The yellow zone indicates a PEFR50% to 80% of the child’s personal best value, which generallycoincides with more asthma symptoms. Rescue medications,such as albuterol, are added. A call to the physician may be warranted if the peak flows do not return to the green zone within24 to 48 hours or if asthma symptoms are increasing. The redzone indicates a PEFR below 50% and is a medical emergency.Rescue medication should be taken immediately. If the PEFRremains in the red zone or the child has significant airway compromise, a call to the physician or emergency care is needed.
Children with asthma should be seen not only when they are ill but also when they are healthy. Regular office visits allow the health care team to review adherence to medication and control measures and to determine whether doses of medications need adjustment.
Rhinitis describes diseases that involve inflammation of the nasal epithelium and is characterized by sneezing, itching, rhinorrhea, and congestion. There are many different causes of rhinitis in children, but approximately half of all cases of rhinitis are caused by allergies.
Allergic rhinitis, commonly known as hay fever, is caused by an IgE-mediated allergic response. During the early allergic phase, mast cells degranulate and release preformed chemical mediators, such as histamine and tryptase, and newly generated mediators, such as leukotrienes, prostaglandins, and platelet-activating factor. After a quiescent phase in which other cells are recruited, a late phase occurs approximately 4 to 8 hours later. Eosinophils, basophils, CD4 T cells, monocytes, and neutrophils release their chemical mediators, which leads to the development of chronic nasal inflammation.
Allergic rhinitis can be seasonal, perennial, or episodicdepending on the particular allergen and the exposure. Somechildren experience perennial symptoms with seasonal exacerbations. Seasonal allergic rhinitis is caused by airborne pollens,which have seasonal patterns. Typically trees pollinate in thespring, grasses in late spring to summer, and weeds in the summer and fall. The pollen, microscopic in size, can travel airbornehundreds of miles and be inhaled easily into the respiratory tract.Perennial allergic rhinitis is primarily caused by indoor allergens, such as house dust mites, animal dander, mold, and cockroaches. Episodic rhinitis occurs with intermittent exposure toallergens, such as visiting a friend’s home where a pet dwells.
Chronic rhinitis is one of the most common disorders encountered in infants and children. Overall allergic rhinitis is observed in 10% to 25% of the population, with children and adolescents more commonly affected than adults. The prevalence of physician-diagnosed allergic rhinitis may be 40%.
Available @ StudentConsult.comTable 79-1 Classification of the Etiology of Rhinitis in Children ALLERGIC NONALLERGIC NONANATOMIC ANATOMIC Seasonal Nonallergic, noninfectious (vasomotor) rhinitis Adenoidal hypertrophy
Episodic Nonallergic rhinitis with eosinophilia Choanal atresiaCSF, Cerebrospinal fluid.The hallmarks of allergic rhinitis are clear: thin rhinorrhea; nasal congestion; paroxysms of sneezing; and pruritus of the eyes, nose, ears, and palate. Postnasal drip may result in frequent attempts to clear the throat, nocturnal cough, and hoarseness. It is important to correlate the onset, duration, and severity of symptoms with seasonal or perennial exposures, changes in the home or school environment, and exposure to nonspecific irritants, such as tobacco smoke.
The physical examination includes a thorough nasal examination and an evaluation of the eyes, ears, throat, chest, and skin. Physical findings may be subtle. Classic physical findings include pale pink or bluish gray, swollen, boggy nasal turbinates with clear, watery secretions. Frequent nasal itching and rubbing of the nose with the palm of the hand, the allergic salute, can lead to a transverse nasal crease found across the lower bridge of the nose. Children may produce clucking sounds by rubbing the soft palate with their tongue. Oropharyngeal examination may reveal lymphoid hyperplasia of the soft palate and posterior pharynx or visible mucus or both. Orthodontic abnormalities may be seen in children with chronic mouth breathing. Allergic shiners, dark periorbital swollen areas caused by venous congestion, along with swollen eyelids or conjunctival injection, are often present in children. Retracted tympanic membranes from eustachian tube dysfunction or serous otitis media also may be present. Other atopic diseases, such as asthma or eczema, may be present, which helps lead the clinician to the correct diagnosis.
Allergy testing can be performed by in vivo skin tests or by in vitro serum tests (radioallergosorbent test [RAST], fluorescent enzyme immunoassay [FEIA], or enzyme linked immunosorbent assay [ELISA]) to pertinent allergens found in the patient’s environment (see Table 77-4). Skin tests (prick/puncture) provide immediate and accurate results. Positive tests correlate strongly with nasal and bronchial allergen provocative challenges. In vitro serum tests are useful for patients with abnormal skin conditions, for those with a tendency for anaphylaxis, or for those taking medications that interfere with skin testing. Disadvantages of serum tests include increased cost, inability to obtain immediate results, and reduced sensitivity compared with skin tests. Widespread screening with serum testing without regard to symptoms is not recommended. Measurement of total serum IgE or blood eosinophils generally is not helpful. The presence of eosinophils on the nasal smear suggests a diagnosis of allergy, but eosinophils also can be found in patients with nonallergic rhinitis with eosinophilia. Nasal smear eosinophilia is often predictive of a good clinical response to nasal corticosteroid sprays.
Rhinitis can be divided into allergic and nonallergic rhinitis (Table 79-1). Nonallergic rhinitis describes a group of nasal diseases in which there is no evidence of allergic etiology. It can be divided further into nonanatomic and anatomic etiologies. The most common form of nonallergic rhinitis in children is infectious rhinitis, which may be acute or chronic. Acute infectious rhinitis (the common cold) is caused by viruses, including rhinoviruses and coronaviruses, and typically resolves within 7 to 10 days (see Chapter 102). An average child has three to six common colds per year, with the most affected being younger children and children attending day care. Infection is suggested by the presence of sore throat, fever, and poor appetite, especially with a history of exposure to others with colds. Chronic infectious rhinosinusitis, or sinusitis, should be suspected if there is mucopurulent nasal discharge with symptoms that persist beyond 10 days (see Chapter 104). Classic signs of acute sinusitis in older children include facial tenderness, tooth pain, headache, and fever. Classic signs are usually not present in young children who may present with postnasal drainage with cough, throat clearing, halitosis, and rhinorrhea. The character of the nasal secretions with infectious rhinitis varies from purulent to minimal or absent. Coexistence of middle ear disease, such as otitis media or eustachian tube dysfunction, may be additional clues of infection.
Nonallergic, noninfectious rhinitis (formerly known as vasomotor rhinitis) can manifest as rhinorrhea and sneezing in children with profuse clear nasal discharge. Exposure to irritants, such as cigarette smoke and dust, and strong fumes and odors, such as perfumes and chlorine in swimming pools, can trigger these nasal symptoms. Nonallergic rhinitis with eosinophilia syndrome is associated with clear nasal discharge and eosinophils on nasal smear and is seen infrequently in children. Cold air (skier’s nose), hot/spicy food ingestion (gustatory rhinitis), and exposure to bright light (reflex rhinitis) are examples of physical rhinitis. Treatment with topical ipratropium before exposure may be helpful.
Rhinitis medicamentosa, which is due primarily to overuse of topical nasal decongestants, such as oxymetazoline, phenylephrine, or cocaine, is not a common condition in younger children. Adolescents or young adults may become dependent on these over-the-counter medications. Treatment requires discontinuation of the offending decongestant spray, topical corticosteroids, and, frequently, a short course of oral corticosteroids.
The most common anatomic problem seen in young children is obstruction secondary to adenoidal hypertrophy, which can be suspected from symptoms such as mouth breathing, snoring, hyponasal speech, and persistent rhinitis with or without chronic otitis media. Infection of the nasopharynx may be secondary to infected hypertrophied adenoid tissue.
Choanal atresia is the most common congenital anomaly of the nose and consists of a bony or membranous septum between the nose and pharynx, either unilateral or bilateral. Bilateral choanal atresia classically presents in neonates as cyclic cyanosis because neonates are preferential nose breathers. Airway obstruction and cyanosis are relieved when the mouth is opened to cry and recurs when the calming infant reattempts to breathe through the nose. Some newborns show respiratory difficulty while feeding only. Nearly half of infants with choanal atresia have other congenital anomalies as a part of the CHARGE association (coloboma, congenital heart disease, choanal atresia, retardation, genitourinary defects, ear anomalies). Unilateral choanal atresia may go undiagnosed until later in life and presents with symptoms of unilateral nasal obstruction and discharge.
Nasal polyps typically appear as bilateral, gray, glistening sacs originating from the ethmoid sinuses and may be associated with clear or purulent nasal discharge. Nasal polyps are rare in children younger than 10 years of age but, if present, warrant evaluation for an underlying disease process, such as cystic fibrosis or primary ciliary dyskinesia. Triad asthma is asthma, aspirin sensitivity, and nasal polyps with chronic or recurrent sinusitis.
Foreign bodies are seen more commonly in young children who place food, small toys, stones, or other things in their nose. The index of suspicion should be raised by a history of unilateral, purulent nasal discharge, or foul odor. The foreign body can often be seen on examination with a nasal speculum.
Management of allergic rhinitis is based on disease severity, impact of the disease on the patient, and the ability of the patient to comply with recommendations. Treatment modalities include allergen avoidance, pharmacologic therapy, and immunotherapy. Environmental control and steps to minimize allergen exposure, similar to preventive steps for asthma, should be implemented whenever possible (see Table 78-3).
Intranasal corticosteroids are the most potent pharmacologic therapy for treatment of allergic and nonallergic rhinitis. These include beclomethasone, budesonide, ciclesonide, flunisolide, fluticasone, mometasone, and triamcinolone. These topical agents work to reduce inflammation, edema, and mucus production. They are effective for symptoms of nasal congestion, rhinorrhea, itching, and sneezing but less helpful for ocular symptoms. Nasal corticosteroid sprays have been used safely in long-term therapy. Deleterious effects on adrenal function or nasal membranes have not been reported when these agents are used appropriately. The most common adverse effects include local irritation, burning, and sneezing, which occur in 10% of patients. Nasal bleeding from improper technique (spraying the nasal septum) can occur. Rare cases of nasal septal perforation have been reported.
Antihistamines are the medications used most frequentlyto treat allergic rhinitis. They are useful in treating rhinorrhea, sneezing, nasal itching, and ocular itching but are lesshelpful in treating nasal congestion. First-generation antihistamines, such as diphenhydramine and hydroxyzine, easily cross the blood-brain barrier, with sedation as the mostcommon reported adverse effect. Use of first-generation antihistamines in children has an adverse effect on cognitive andacademic function. In very young children, a paradoxicalstimulatory central nervous system effect, resulting in irritability and restlessness, has been noted. Other adverse effectsof first-generation antihistamines include anticholinergiceffects, such as blurred vision, urinary retention, dry mouth,tachycardia, and constipation. Second-generation antihistamines, such as cetirizine, loratadine, desloratadine, fexofenadine and levocetirizine, are less likely to cross the blood-brainbarrier, resulting in less sedation. Cetirizine, fexofenadine,and loratadine are over-the-counter medications. Azelastine and olopatadine, topical nasal antihistamine sprays,are approved for children older than 5 years and older than6 years, respectively.
Decongestants, taken orally or intranasally, may be used to relieve nasal congestion. Oral medications, such as pseudoephedrine and phenylephrine, are available either alone or in combination with antihistamines. Adverse effects of oral decongestants include insomnia, nervousness, irritability, tachycardia, tremors, and palpitations. For older children participating in sports, oral decongestant use may be restricted. Topical nasal decongestant sprays are effective for immediate relief of nasal obstruction but should be used for less than 5 to 7 days to prevent rebound nasal congestion (rhinitis medicamentosa).
Topical ipratropium bromide, an anticholinergic nasalspray, is used primarily for nonallergic rhinitis and rhinitis associated with viral upper respiratory infection. Leukotrienemodifiers have been studied in the treatment of allergic rhinitis. Montelukast is approved for use in seasonal allergicrhinitis.
If environmental control measures and medication intervention are only partially effective or produce unacceptable adverse effects, immunotherapy may be recommended. The mechanism of action for allergen immunotherapy is complex but includes increased production of an IgG-blocking antibody, decreased production of specific IgE, and alteration of cytokine expression produced in response to an allergen challenge. Immunotherapy is effective for desensitization to pollens, dust mites, and cat and dog proteins. Use in young children may be limited by the need for frequent injections. Immunotherapy must be administered in a physician’s office with 20 to 30 minutes of observation after the allergen injection. Anaphylaxis may occur, and the physician must be experienced in the treatment of these severe adverse allergic reactions.
Approximately 60% of children with allergic rhinitis have symptoms of reactive airways disease/asthma (see Chapter 78). Chronic allergic inflammation leads to chronic cough from postnasal drip; eustachian tube dysfunction and otitis media; sinusitis; and tonsillar and adenoid hypertrophy, which may lead to obstructive sleep apnea. Children with allergic rhinitis may experience sleep disturbances, limitations of activity, irritability, and mood and cognitive disorders that adversely affect their performance at school and their sense of well-being.
Seasonal allergic rhinitis is a common and prominent condition that may not improve as children grow older. Patients become more adept at self-management. Perennial allergic rhinitis improves with allergen control of indoor allergens.
Removal or avoidance of the offending allergen is advised. The only effective measure for minimizing animal allergens from pets is removal of the pet from the home. Avoidance of pollen and outdoor molds can be accomplished by staying indoors in a controlled environment. Air conditioning and keeping windows and doors closed lower exposure to pollen. High-efficiency particle air filters reduce exposure to allergens (e.g., pet dander). Sealing the mattress, pillow, and covers in allergen-proof encasings is the most effective strategy for reduction of mite allergen. Bedding should be washed in hot water (>130 °F) every week.
Atopic dermatitis is a chronic, pruritic, relapsing inflammatory skin condition. The pathogenesis is multifactorial and involves a complex interplay of factors, including genetic predisposition, immunologic abnormalities, disturbances in skin barrier function, environmental interactions, and infectious triggers. Several genes encoding epidermal (filaggrin) or other epithelial structural proteins and genes encoding major elements of the immune system play a major role in atopic dermatitis.
Several immunoregulatory abnormalities have been described in patients with atopic dermatitis. There is an exaggerated cutaneous inflammatory response to environmentaltriggers, including irritants and allergens. Activated Langerhanscells in the dermis expressing surface-bound IgE stimulate Tcells. In acute lesions, activated Th2 lymphocytes infiltrate the dermis. They initiate and maintain local tissue inflammationprimarily through interleukin-4 (IL-4) and IL-13, which promote IgE production, and IL-5, which promotes eosinophil differentiation. As the disease progresses from an acute to a chronicphase, there is a switch from Th2 to Th1/Th0 cellular response.Chronic lesions are characterized by increased IL-12 and IL-18.
Patients with atopic dermatitis have hyperirritable skin,and many factors can cause the disease to worsen or relapse. Known triggers include anxiety and stress, climate (extremes of temperature and humidity), irritants, allergens, and infections. Approximately 35% to 40% of infants and young children with moderate to severe atopic dermatitis have coexisting food allergies. The more severe the atopic dermatitis and the younger the patient, the more likely a food allergy will be identified as a contributing factor. Egg allergy is the most common cause of food-induced eczematous reactions.
The prevalence of atopic dermatitis increased twofold to threefold over the past 30 years. Approximately 15% to 20% of children and 2% to 10% of adults are affected. Atopic dermatitis oftenstarts in early infancy. Approximately 50% of affected childrenshow symptoms in the first year of life, and 80% of these childrenexperience disease onset before 5 years of age. Atopic dermatitisis often the first manifestation of other atopic diseases. Approximately 80% of children with atopic dermatitis develop otherallergic diseases, such as asthma or allergic rhinitis. Symptomsof dermatitis often disappear at the onset of respiratory allergy.
The clinical manifestations of atopic dermatitis vary with age. In infants, atopic dermatitis involves the face, scalp, cheeks, and extensor surfaces of the extremities (Fig. 80-1). The diaper area is spared. In older children, the rash localizes to the antecubital and popliteal flexural surfaces, head, and neck. In adolescents and adults, lichenified plaques are seen in the flexural areas (Fig. 80-2) and the head and neck regions. Itching or pruritus has a significant impact on the child and family’s quality of life; it is often worse at night, interrupting sleep. Physical examination may show hyperlinearity of the palms and soles, white dermatographism, pityriasis alba, creases under the lower eyelids (Dennie−Morgan folds or Dennie lines), and keratosis pilaris (asymptomatic horny follicular papules on the extensor surfaces of the arms).
Figure 80-1 Atopic dermatitis typical cheek involvement. (From Eichenfield LF, Frieden IJ, Esterly NB: Textbook of Neonatal Derma-tology, Philadelphia, 2001, Saunders, p 242.)
Figure 80-2 Rubbing and scratching the inflamed flexural areas cause thickened (lichenified) skin. (From Habif T: Clinical Dermatology, ed 4, Philadelphia, 2004, Elsevier.)
The diagnosis of atopic dermatitis is based on clinical features rather than laboratory tests (Table 80-1). Skin biopsy is of little value, but it may be used to exclude other skin diseases that mimic atopic dermatitis. Skin testing or, alternatively, CAP fluorescent immunoassay (also known as FEIA) may be helpful in assessing the contribution of food or environmental allergies to disease expression.
Many conditions share signs and symptoms of atopic dermatitis (Table 80-2). Infants presenting in the first year of life with failure to thrive, recurrent skin or systemic infections, and scaling, erythematous rash should be evaluated for immunodeficiency disorders. Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome is an X-linked recessive syndrome characterized by atopic
The diagnosis requires evidence of itchy skin (or parental report of scratching or rubbing) plus three or more of the following: 1.
History of involvement of skin creases 2.History of asthma or allergic rhinitis (or history of atopic disease in a first-degree relative if child is <4 years of age) 3.
History of generally dry skin in the past year 4.
Onset in a child <2 years of age (criterion not used if child is <4 years of age) 5.
Visible flexural dermatitis (including dermatitis affecting cheeks, forehead, and outer aspects of limbs in children <4 years of age)
Modified from Williams HC, Burney PG, Hay RJ, et al: Diagnostic criteria for atopic dermatitis. III. Independent hospital validation. Br J Dermatol 131:406–416, 1994.
Zinc deficiency Pyridoxine (vitamin B6) and niacin deficiency Multiple carboxylase deficiency, phenylketonuria
From Leung DYM: Atopic dermatitis. In Leung DYM, Sampson HA, Geha RS, et al, editors: Pediatric allergy: principles and practice, St Louis, 2003, Mosby, p 562.
IPEX, Immunodeficiency polyendocrinopathy X-linked.dermatitis, thrombocytopenia, small-sized platelets, and recurrent infections. Langerhans cell histiocytosis is characterized by hemorrhagic or petechial lesions. Scabies is an intensely pruritic skin condition caused by the human scabies mite. The presence of a burrow found in the web spaces of the fingers, the flexor surfaces of the wrists, elbows, axilla, or genitals is pathognomonic. Burrows may be few in number or absent, however.
The goals of therapy are to reduce the number and severity of flares and to increase the number of disease-free periods. Successful management involves skin hydration, pharmacologic therapy to reduce pruritus, and identification and avoidance of triggers. Patients with atopic dermatitis have a decrease in skin barrier function and enhanced transepidermal water loss. Daily, lukewarm baths for 15 to 20 minutes followed immediately by the application of fragrance-free emollients to retain moisture are a major component of therapy. Prevention of xerosis is important for control of pruritus and for maintaining the integrity of the epithelial barrier. Emollients should be ointments or creams, such as petrolatum, Aquaphor, Eucerin, or Cetaphil. Lotions are not as effective because they contain water or alcohol and may have a drying effect owing to evaporation. A mild nonsoap cleanser also is recommended.
Topical anti-inflammatory agents, including corticosteroids and immunomodulators, are the cornerstone of therapy for acute flares and prevention of relapses. Topical corticosteroids are used for reducing inflammation and pruritus; they are effective for the acute and chronic phases of the disease. Ointments generally are preferred over creams and lotions because of enhanced potency and skin penetration. Corticosteroids are ranked by potency into seven classes. The least potent corticosteroid that is effective should be used. Higher potency corticosteroids may be necessary to diminish the dermatitis flare but should be used for limited periods. Low-potency, nonfluorinated corticosteroids should be used on the face, intertriginous areas (groin, axilla), and large areas to reduce the risk of adverse effects. Reduced efficacy of topical corticosteroids may be related to disease severity rather than glucocorticoid resistance. Local adverse effects, such as skin atrophy and striae, and systemic adverse effects, such as hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and growth suppression and hyperglycemia, are related to the potency, length of use, and extent of medication application. In infants and younger children, the possibility of corticosteroid-induced adverse effects may be greater. When control of inflammatory lesions is achieved, most patients can be managed with emollients and low-potency topical corticosteroids.
The topical immunomodulating drugs, tacrolimus and pimecrolimus, are approved as second-line agents for short-term and intermittent treatment of atopic dermatitis in patients unresponsive to or intolerant of other therapies. They are approved for use in children older than 2 years of age. These agents may be used on all body locations and are especially useful on delicate skin sites, such as the face, neck, and axilla without the adverse effect of cutaneous atrophy seen with topical corticosteroids. These medications have a potential increased cancer risk, and their long-term safety has not been established. Other less serious adverse effects include local burning and the need for sun protection.
Defective cell-mediated immunity leads to increased susceptibility to many bacterial, viral, and fungal infections of the skin. More than 90% of patients with atopic dermatitis have colonization of lesional skin with Staphylococcus aureus, and more than 75% of patients have colonization of uninvolved skin. Colonization and infection by S. aureus are associated with disease severity. S. aureus secretes exotoxins that act as a superantigen, stimulating T cells and increasing IgE production. Secondarily infected atopic dermatitis often presents as impetiginous, pustular lesions with crusting and honey-colored exudate. Topical antibiotics, such as mupirocin or retapamulin, can be used to treat local areas of infection, or oral antibiotics (such as cephalexin, dicloxacillin, or amoxicillin-clavulanate) can be used for multifocal disease or for infection around the eyes and mouth that is difficult to treat topically. Bacterial cultures may be helpful in patients who do not respond to oral antibiotics or who have infection after multiple antibiotic courses. The incidence of community-acquired methicillin-resistant S. aureus is increasing.
Herpes simplex superinfection of affected skin, or Kaposi varicelliform eruption or eczema herpeticum, results in vesiculopustular lesions that appear in clusters and can become hemorrhagic. Herpes simplex virus infection can be misdiagnosed as bacterial infection and should be considered if skin lesions fail to respond to antibiotics.
In individuals with atopic dermatitis, smallpox vaccination or exposure to a vaccinated individual may lead to eczema vaccinatum, a localized vaccinial superinfection of affected skin. Eczema vaccinatum may progress to generalized vaccinia with vaccinial lesions appearing at sites distant from the inoculation. In patients with underlying immunodeficiencies, it may be life threatening.
Widespread infections with human papillomavirus (warts) and molluscum contagiosum are also common in children with atopic dermatitis.
Atopic dermatitis is a chronic, relapsing skin disorder that tends to be more severe and prominent in young children. Symptoms become less severe in two thirds of children, with complete remission for approximately 20%. Early onset disease that is more widespread, concomitant asthma and allergic rhinitis, family history of atopic dermatitis, and elevated serum IgE levels may predict a more persistent course. Patients and families should be taught that a single cause and cure for atopic dermatitis is unlikely but that good control is possible for the majority of affected patients.
An important step in the management of atopic dermatitis is to identify and avoid allergens and irritants. Common irritants include soaps, detergents, fragrances, chemicals, smoke, and extremes of temperature and humidity. Wool and synthetic fabrics can be irritating to the skin; 100% cotton fabric is preferred. Sweating is a recognized trigger. Fingernails should be trimmed frequently to minimize excoriations from scratching.
In infants and younger children who do not respond to the usual therapies, identifying and removing a food allergen from the diet may lead to clinical improvement. Food allergy is not a common trigger for older patients. Other environmental exposures, such as dust mites, pet dander, or pollens, can also contribute to the disease state.
URTICARIA, ANGIOEDEMA, AND ANAPHYLAXISUrticaria, commonly referred to as hives, is swelling of the dermis and one of the most common skin conditions seen in clinical practice. Angioedema results from a process similar to urticaria, but the reaction extends below the dermis. Urticaria and angioedema occur in response to the release of inflammatory mediators, including histamine, leukotrienes, platelet-activating factor, prostaglandins, and cytokines from mast cells present in the skin. A variety of stimuli can trigger mast cells and basophils to release their chemical mediators. Typically mast cells degranulate when cross-linking of the membrane-bound IgE occurs. Release of these mediators results in vasodilation, increased vascular leakage, and pruritus. Basophils from the circulatory system also can localize in tissue and release mediators similar to mast cells. Patients with urticaria have elevated histamine content in the skin that is more easily released.
Anaphylaxis is mediated by IgE, whereas anaphylactoid reactions result from mechanisms that are due to nonimmunologic mechanisms. Both reactions are acute, severe, and can be life threatening due to a massive release of inflammatory mediators. Urticaria, angioedema, and anaphylaxis are best considered as symptoms because they have a variety of causes.
Not all mast cell activation is IgE-mediated. Immunologic, nonimmunologic, physical, and chemical stimuli can produce degranulation of mast cells and basophils. Anaphylatoxins,C3a and C5a, can cause histamine release in a non–IgE-mediated reaction. Anaphylatoxins are generated in serum sickness (reactions to blood transfusions) (see Chapter 82) and in infectious, neoplastic, and rheumatic diseases. In addition mast cell degranulation can occur from a direct pharmacologic effect or physical or mechanical activation, such as urticaria after exposure to opiate medications, and dermatographism.
Urticaria/angioedema can be classified into three subcategories: acute, chronic, and physical. By definition acute urticaria and angioedema are hives and diffuse swellingthat last less than 6 weeks. Often the history is quite helpfulin eliciting the cause of the acute reaction (Table 81-1). AnIgE mechanism is more commonly found in acute urticariathan in chronic urticaria. Chronic urticaria and angioedemaare characterized by persistence of symptoms beyond 6 weeks(Table 81-2). Some have daily symptoms of hives and swelling, whereas others have intermittent or recurrent episodes.Chronic urticaria can be idiopathic with unknown causal
Foods Egg, milk, wheat, peanuts, tree nuts, soy, shellfish, fish, strawberries (direct mast cell degranulation)
Medications Suspect all medications, even over-thecounter or homeopathic medicationsInsect stings Hymenoptera (honeybee, yellow jacket, hornets, wasp, fire ants), biting insects (papular urticaria)
Infections Bacterial (group A streptococcus pharyngitis, Mycoplasma, sinusitis); viral (hepatitis B, mononucleosis [EBV], coxsackieviruses A and B); parasitic (Ascaris, Ancylostoma, Echinococcus, Fasciola, Filaria, Schistosoma, Strongyloides, Toxocara, Trichinella); fungal (dermatophytes, Candida)
Contact allergy Latex, pollen, animal saliva, nettle plants, caterpillarsTransfusion reactions Blood, blood products, or IVIG administrationFrom Lasley MV, Kennedy MS, Altman LC: Urticaria and angioedema. In Altman LC, Becker JW, Williams PV, editors: Allergy in Primary Care, Philadelphia, 2000, Saunders, p 232.
EBV, Epstein-Barr virus; IVIG, intravenous immunoglobulin.Idiopathic 75%–90% of cases 25%–50% of adult patients have IgG, anti-IgE, and anti-FcεR1 (high-affinity IgE receptor alpha chain) autoantibodies
Angioedema Hereditary angioedema (autosomal dominant inherited deficiency of Cl-esterase inhibitor)
From Lasley MV, Kennedy MS, Altman LC: Urticaria and angioedema. In Altman LC, Becker JW, Williams PV, editors: Allergy in Primary Care, Philadelphia, 2000, Saunders, p 234.
factors; 35% to 40% of chronic urticaria cases have an autoimmune process due to IgG autoantibodies binding directly toIgE or to the IgE receptor. Physical urticaria and angioedemaare characterized by known eliciting external factors that mayinclude pressure, cold, heat, exercise, or exposure to sun or water.
The most common physical urticaria is dermatographism, affecting 2% to 5% of persons. Dermatographism means “writing on the skin” and is easily diagnosed by firmly scratching the skin with a blunt point, such as the wooden tip of a cotton swab or tongue depressor. It is characterized by an urticarial reaction localized to the site of skin trauma. It has been suggested that trauma induces an IgE-mediated reaction causing histamine to be released from the mast cells.
Cholinergic urticaria, characterized by the appearance of 1to 3-mm wheals surrounded by large erythematous flares after an increase in core body temperature, occurs commonly in young adults. Lesions may develop during strenuous exercise, after a hot bath, or emotional stress. The lack of airway symptoms differentiates it from exercise-induced anaphylaxis.
Cold urticaria occurs with exposure to cold and may develop within minutes on areas directly exposed to cold or on rewarming of the affected parts. Ingestion of cold drinks may result in lip swelling. Cold urticaria syndromes can be categorized into acquired and familial disorders. Severe reactions resulting in death can occur with swimming or diving into cold water. Patients must never swim alone, avoid total body exposure to cold, and have injectable epinephrine available.
Hereditary angioedema (HAE) is an autosomal dominant disease due to a deficiency of Cl inhibitor. The genetic defect may be caused by spontaneous mutation; approximately 25% of cases occur in patients without any family history. The disease is estimated to affect approximately 10,000 persons in the United States. It is characterized by unpredictable, recurrent attacks of episodic swelling that involves the face, peripheral extremities, genitalia, abdomen, oropharynx, and pharynx. Episodes are often triggered by trauma. Asphyxiation from laryngeal attacks is a significant cause of mortality. Patients with HAE rarely have urticaria associated with angioedema. The majority of patients (85%) have type I disease, which is due to decreased production of Cl-esterase inhibitor. A minority of patients (15%) have type II disease, which is due to production of dysfunctional Cl-esterase inhibitor. A low C4 level serves as an initial screening test. Patients with reduced C4 should have quantitative and functional levels of Cl-esterase inhibitor measured. C2 levels are low during an acute attack. Type III HAE patients have normal laboratory evaluation. These patients are more typically females, but some males have been reported in the literature. Three products are approved to treat HAE attacks: Berinert (for acute facial or abdominal attacks in children ≥13 years old), Kalbitor (for acute attacks in children ≥16 years of age), and Cinryze (for prophylaxis in adolescents and adults).
Anaphylactic reactions are type I, IgE-mediated reactions and result from many causes (Table 81-3). Cross-linking of the IgE molecule with the allergen leads to IgE receptor activation on the mast cell and basophil and release of mediators, including histamine, tryptase, tumor necrosis factor, platelet-activating factor, leukotrienes, prostaglandins, and cytokines. Other cell types involved in the reactions include monocytes, macrophages, eosinophils, neutrophils, and platelets. The mediator release results in the clinical picture of anaphylaxis.
From Young MC: General treatment of anaphylaxis. In Leung DYM, Sampson
HA, Geha RS, et al, editors: Pediatric Allergy: Principles and Practice, St Louis, 2003, Mosby, p 644. *In order of frequency.
Anaphylactoid reactions are due to nonimmunologic mechanisms. Mast cells and basophils can be activated by direct, nonspecific stimulation, although the exact underlying mechanism is unknown. Reactions to agents, such as opiates and radiocontrast material, are classic examples. Complement system activation also can result in mast cell and basophil activation. Anaphylatoxins, C3a and C5a, are named because of their ability to trigger mediator release and are generated in serum sickness. The most common cause of this type of reaction is transfusion with blood products. There are other causes of anaphylactoid reactions for which the mechanism has not been clarified.
Urticaria and angioedema are common skin conditions affecting 15% to 25% of individuals at some point in their lives. Most cases of urticaria are self-limited, but, for some patients, they are chronic. In approximately 50% of patients, urticaria and angioedema occur together. In the remaining 50%, 40% have urticaria alone and 10% have angioedema alone. The incidence of anaphylaxis in children is unknown.
Available @ StudentConsult.comRaised, erythematous lesions with pale centers that are intenselypruritic characterize urticaria, commonly called hives (Fig. 81-1). The lesions vary in size and can occur anywhere on the body. Typically urticaria arises suddenly and may resolvewithin 1 to 2 hours or may persist for 24 hours. Angioedemais a similar process that involves the deeper dermis or subcutaneous tissue, with swelling as the principal symptom. Generally angioedema is not pruritic, may be mildly painful, andpersists for longer than 24 hours. In rare cases it may becomelife threatening if swelling affects the upper airway.
The clinical manifestations of anaphylaxis and anaphylactoid reactions are the same for children and adults. The signs and symptoms vary and can range from mild skin findings to a fatal reaction. Ninety percent of patients present with cutaneous symptoms, including urticaria, angioedema, flushing, and warmth; the absence of dermal symptoms does not exclude the diagnosis of anaphylaxis. Other affected organ systems include the respiratory tract (rhinorrhea, oropharyngeal edema, laryngeal edema, hoarseness, stridor, wheezing, dyspnea, and asphyxiation), cardiovascular system (tachycardia, hypotension, shock, syncope, and arrhythmias), gastrointestinal tract (nausea, abdominal pain, crampy diarrhea, and vomiting), and neurologic system (syncope, seizure, dizziness, and a sense of impending doom). The severity of an anaphylactic reaction is often proportionate to the speed of symptom onset.
The laboratory evaluation of patients with urticaria and angioedema must be tailored to the clinical situation. Acute urticaria and angioedema do not require specific laboratory evaluation except to document the suspected cause. For patients with chronic urticaria and angioedema, laboratory evaluation should be performed to exclude underlying diseases (Table 81-4). Patients with recurrent angioedema without urticaria should be evaluated for HAE (Table 81-5).
Measurement of the mast cell mediators, histamine and tryptase, may be helpful when the diagnosis of anaphylaxis isin question. A tryptase level is a more useful test because histamine is released quickly, has a short half-life, and is often difficult to detect in the serum. Serum tryptase levels peak 1 to 1.5 hours after anaphylaxis. Elevated levels may be helpful in
Figure 81-1 Examples of urticaria. (From Zitelli BJ, Davis HW, editors: Pediatric Physical Diagnosis Electronic Atlas,
Philadelphia, 2004, Mosby.)Complete blood count with If vasculitis is suspected differential Erythrocyte sedimentation rate Antinuclear antibody Urinalysis Skin biopsy
From Zuraw B: Urticaria and angioedema. In Leung DYM, Sampson HA, Geha
RS, et al, editors: Pediatric Allergy: Principles and Practice, St Louis, 2003,
Mosby, p 580.establishing the diagnosis, but normal tryptase levels do not ruleout the diagnosis. It is best to measure a serum tryptase level 1to 2 hours after the onset of symptoms. It also can be orderedretrospectively on stored serum that is less than 2 days old.
The diagnosis of urticaria and angioedema is straightforward;finding the etiology may be more difficult. Other dermatologic conditions can mimic urticaria. Erythema multiforme has target-shaped, erythematous, macular or papular lesionsthat may look similar to urticaria, but the lesions are fixedand last for several days. Other dermatologic diseases includedermatitis herpetiformis and bullous pemphigoid, which arequite pruritic, and early on, the lesions may resemble urticaria. Mastocytosis is characterized by mast cell infiltrationof various organs, including the skin. Some patients have skin lesions similar in appearance to urticaria rather than theclassic urticaria pigmentosa. Urticaria pigmentosa appears ashyperpigmented, red-brown macules, which may coalesce.
From Zuraw B: Urticaria and angioedema. In Leung DYM, Sampson HA, Geha RS, et al, editors: Pediatric Allergy: Principles and Practice, St Louis, 2003, Mosby, p 580.
When these lesions are stroked, they urticate, which is calledthe Darier sign. A rare disorder that should be included in the differential diagnosis of urticaria is Muckle-Wells syndrome. It is an autosomal dominant disorder characterized by episodic urticaria presenting in infancy, with sensorineuraldeafness, amyloidosis, arthralgias, and skeletal abnormalities.Another rare syndrome is Schnitzler syndrome, which is characterized by chronic urticaria, macroglobulinemia, bonepain, anemia, fever, fatigue, and weight loss. Urticarial vasculitis is a small vessel vasculitis with histologic features of aleukocytoclastic response. The main distinguishing feature isthat the lesions last longer than 24 hours, may be tender, andleave behind skin pigmentation. Skin biopsy is required fordefinitive diagnosis.
The diagnosis of anaphylaxis is usually apparent from the acute and often dramatic onset of multisystem involvement of the skin, respiratory tract, and cardiovascular system. Sudden cardiovascular collapse in the absence of cutaneous symptoms suggests vasovagal collapse, seizure disorder, aspiration, pulmonary embolism, or myocardial infarction. Laryngeal edema, especially with abdominal pain, suggests HAE. Many patients with anaphylaxis are initially thought to have septic shock (see Chapter 40).
Avoidance of triggering agents is important in the management of urticaria and angioedema. The mainstay of pharmacologic treatment is H1 antihistamines. Second-generation H1 antihistamines, such as cetirizine, desloratadine, fexofenadine, levocetirizine, and loratadine, are preferred because they have fewer adverse effects. If a second-generation H1 antihistamine, by itself, does not provide adequate relief, the next step is to add a sedating H1 antihistamine at bedtime or H2 antihistamines, such as cimetidine or ranitidine. Tricyclic antidepressants, such as doxepin, exhibit potent activity at both H1 and H2 receptors. Corticosteroids are effective in treating urticaria and angioedema, although adverse effects from long-term use mandate the lowest dose for the shortest time. When urticaria is resistant to treatment, the leukotriene receptor blocker montelukast has been used in several case studies. Other immunomodulating agents, such as cyclosporine, hydroxychloroquine, methotrexate, cyclophosphamide, and intravenous immunoglobulin, have been used; however, data supporting their use are limited, and they require laboratory monitoring due to potential adverse effects.
Anaphylaxis is a medical emergency; prompt recognition and immediate treatment are crucial (Fig. 81-2). Early administration of intramuscular epinephrine is the mainstay of therapy and should be given at the same time that basic measures of cardiopulmonary resuscitation are being performed. If the child is not in a medical setting, emergency medical services should be called. Supplemental oxygen and intravenous fluid should be administered with the child lying in supine position. An airway must be secured; intubation or tracheotomy may be required. Additional pharmacologic therapies, such as corticosteroids, antihistamines, H2-receptor antagonists, and bronchodilators, may be given to improve symptoms. Up to 20% of people with anaphylaxis have biphasic or protracted anaphylaxis.
A person with biphasic anaphylaxis has both earlyandlate-phase reactions. The biphasic reaction is a recurrence ofanaphylactic symptoms after an initial remission, occurringwithin 8 to 72 hours after the initial reaction. A person with protracted anaphylaxis has signs and symptoms that persist for hours or even days despite treatment, although thisis rare.
Prevention of urticaria, angioedema, and anaphylaxis focuses on avoidance of known triggers. A referral to an allergy specialist for a thorough history, diagnostic testing, and recommendations for avoidance is suggested for patients following severe reactions or anaphylaxis. Skin testing and serum IgEspecific testing are available for foods, inhalants, insect venoms, drugs (penicillin), vaccines, and latex. Educating the patient and family members about the signs and symptoms of anaphylaxis and using self-administered epinephrine early result in better outcomes. Fatal anaphylaxis has occurred despite timely and appropriate treatment. A MedicAlert bracelet with appropriate information should be worn. Medications such as β-blockers, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, and monoamine oxidase inhibitors should be discontinued because they may exacerbate anaphylaxis or interfere with its treatment.
ACUTE TREATMENT, Health care settingLONG-TERM RISK REDUCTION, Community settingTREATMENT, IF NEEDED  Allergen-specific –Immunotherapy with insect venom –Desensitization to ˜-lactam antibiotics, NSAIDs, other  Allergen non-specific –Idiopathic anaphylaxis: consider glucocorticoid treatment
EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS Epinephrine autoinjector Anaphylaxis Emergency Action Plan (www.aaaai.com) Medical ID    ASSESS/TREAT COMORBIDITIES ALLERGEN AVOIDANCE www.foodallergy.org www.latexallergyresources.org www.aaaai.org www.acaai.org     ASSESS NEED FOR CO-MEDICATIONS Asthma Cardiovascular disease Mastocytosis Other     Nonselective ˜-blockers Other  
Figure 81-2 Summary of anaphylaxis management. Acute treatment is the same regardless of the mechanism or trigger involved in anaphylaxis. In contrast, for long-term risk reduction, avoidance measures and immunomodulation are trigger-specific; currently immunomodulation is available only for a minority of individuals with anaphylaxis. All at-risk individuals need to have comorbidities and comedications assessed, be taught the importance of emergency preparedness, and be instructed in the use of self-injectable epinephrine. ACLS, Advanced cardiac life support; CPR, cardiopulmonary resuscitation; CVS, cardiovascular; GI, gastrointestinal; ID, identification (e.g., bracelet, wallet card); IV, intravenous. (From Simon FER: Anaphylaxis, J Allergy Clin Immunol 121:S405, 2008.) *The skin should be inspected, and weight estimation is important, especially in infants and children, and also in overweight and obese teens and adults, in order to calculate an optimal dose of epinephrine and other medications needed in treatment and resuscitation.
†Supine position, as tolerated, to prevent empty ventricle syndrome.‡Call 911/emergency medical services for anaphylaxis occurring in community health care facilities such as medical, dental, or infusion clinics, where optimal backup might not be available for resuscitation.
Serum sickness is a type III hypersensitivity reaction (see Table 77-1). The patient’s immune system recognizes the proteins in the drug or antiserum as foreign and produces antibodies against them. The newly formed antibodies bind with the foreign protein to form antigen-antibody or immune complexes, which may enter the circulation and be deposited in blood vessels and in filtering organs. These complexes cause tissue injury by activating the complement cascade and recruiting neutrophils, resulting in increased capillary permeability, toxic mediator release, and tissue damage.
Immune complexes were first described after administration of heterologous serum, such as horse serum for diphtheria. The availability of human-derived biologics, bioengineered antibodies, and alternative pharmacotherapies has greatly reduced the incidence of serum sickness. Common inciting agents include blood products and foreign proteins, such as antithymocyte globulin and antivenoms. Medications frequently implicated include penicillin, sulfonamides, minocycline, cefaclor, hydantoins, and thiazides.
Available @ StudentConsult.comThe symptoms of serum sickness typically occur 7 to 21 daysafter the administration of drugs, foreign proteins, or infections.Symptom onset may be more rapid (within 1 to 4 days) in previously sensitized individuals. The classic clinical manifestationsconsist of fever, polyarticular arthralgias, lymphadenopathy, andcutaneous symptoms. Cutaneous lesions vary and may includeurticaria, angioedema, erythema multiforme, morbilliformrash, and a palpable purpura or serpiginous rash at the interfaceof the dorsal and palmar or plantar aspects of the hands and feet.
Carditis, glomerulonephritis, Guillain-Barre syndrome, encephalomyelitis, and peripheral neuritis are rare complications.
Laboratory tests may show an elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate, presence of circulating immune complexes, and depressed complement (C3 and C4) levels. Skin biopsy specimens show immune deposits of IgM, IgA, IgE, or C3. Hematuria or proteinuria or both may be present. The diagnosis is established by history of exposure to an inciting cause, characteristic clinical manifestations, and laboratory testing showing circulating immune complexes and depressed complement levels.
Serum sickness is self-limited and resolves within 1 to 2 weeks; therefore, treatment is symptomatic relief. Antihistamines may be administered to relieve pruritus. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are given for fever and joint pain, and, if necessary, prednisone (1 to 2 mg/kg orally daily) is administered with a tapering dose. Allergy skin testing does not predict the likelihood of serum sickness development.
The primary means of prevention is to avoid exposure to the implicated cause.
Systemic allergic reactions usually result from stinging insectsof the order Hymenoptera, which include apids (honeybee and bumblebee), vespids (yellow jacket, wasp, yellow-face, and white-face hornets), and formicids (fire and harvester ants).Honeybees have a barbed stinger that remains embedded aftera sting. Yellow jackets are responsible for most allergic reactions in most parts of the United States, whereas wasps are themost frequent cause of sting reactions in Texas. Fire ants are found in the southeastern and south central United States.
Biting insects rarely cause anaphylaxis. Anaphylaxis has been described, however, after the bites of a kissing bug (Triatoma), bed bug, blackfly, and deerfly. Large local reactions from biting insects, such as mosquitoes, fleas, and flies, are a more common occurrence. The reaction appears urticarial and is caused by the salivary secretions deposited by the biting insect and does not represent an allergic response.
Insect sting allergy may develop at any age and typically manifests after several uneventful stings. Although children are stung more frequently than adults, systemic allergic reactions occur in only about 1% of children and 3% of adults. Reactions in adults are generally more severe than in children and can result in death. Large local reactions to insect stings are more common in children, with an estimated incidence of 20% for children and 10% for adults.
The diagnosis of insect sting allergy is dependent on the history of the reaction and the presence of venom-specific IgE. Normal reactions to insect stings, which are observed in 90%
Large local reaction >2 inches in diameter Swelling contiguous to the site Duration 2–7 days
Nonlife-threatening Immediate generalized reaction confined to the skin (erythema, urticaria, angioedema)
Life-threatening Immediate generalized reaction not confined to the skin with respiratory (laryngeal edema, bronchospasm) or cardiovascular (hypotension, shock) symptoms
Toxic Follows multiple stings, produced by exogenous vasoactive amines in venom
Unusual Serum sickness, vasculitis, nephrosis, neuritis, encephalitis Symptoms start several days to weeks after the insect sting.
of children, include localized pain, swelling, and erythema at the sting site that usually subside within 24 hours. Large local reactions occur in approximately 10% of patients. They are usually late-phase, IgE-mediated reactions, with large swelling, contiguous to the sting site that develops over 24 to 48 hours and resolves within 2 to 7 days. Virtually all individuals with large local reactions have similar reactions with subsequent stings. Systemic reactions are IgE mediated and occur in 1% of children. They can be mild and nonlife-threatening with cutaneous symptoms only or life-threatening with respiratory, cardiovascular, or neurologic symptoms of anaphylaxis (see Chapter 81). Toxic reactions may result if a person receives a large number of stings (50 to 100). Symptoms include malaise, nausea, and emesis resulting from the toxic effects of the venom. Unusual reactions, such as vasculitis, nephrosis, neuritis, serum sickness, and encephalitis, rarely are associated with insect stings (Table 83-1).
A positive skin test to Hymenoptera venom extract demonstrates the presence of venom-specific IgE in the context of a positive sting reaction history and helps identify specific insects to which an individual is allergic. Venom-specific IgE antibodies also may be measured by in vitro serum tests. Both testing methods should be considered complementary because neither test alone detects all patients with insect sting allergy. Future reactions correlate more with past individual patterns than the level of sensitivity of venom skin testing or serum specific IgE testing.
A history of an immediate systemic reaction is necessary before venom testing and immunotherapy should be considered.
Identification of the offending insect is often unreliable. Honeybee stings may be identified by the stinger that remains in place. Vespid stings are usually unprovoked and occur at summer’s end when the insects are more aggressive.
Local reactions should be treated by cleaning the site,applying cold compresses, and administering oral antihistamines and analgesics. Occasionally large local reactionsmay be mistaken for cellulitis. Infection is unlikely if reaction occurs within 24 to 48 hours after a sting. Treatment iswith an oral corticosteroid for 4 to 5 days rather than oralantibiotics.
Treatment of systemic reactions is guided by the severity of the reaction, but epinephrine is the cornerstone of therapy and should be administered without delay. Antihistamines may be administered concurrently with epinephrine. Corticosteroids should be given to prevent recurrent or prolonged symptoms. For severe reactions, intravenous fluids and epinephrine, oxygen, and respiratory support in an intensive care unit may be needed. After acute care of a systemic sting reaction, patients should be provided an epinephrine autoinjector, referral to an allergist/immunologist, and instructions on prevention of insect stings.
At least 50 to 100 fatalities per year in the United States are attributed to insect sting reactions. Most deaths (80%) occur in adults older than 40 years of age, and only 2% occur in individuals younger than 20 years of age. Approximately one half of deaths occur in persons without any history of a prior sting reaction.
Successfully avoiding the stinging insect is the most important prognostic factor. More than 85% of adults who complete 5 years of immunotherapy tolerate challenge stings without systemic reactions for 5 to 10 years after completion.
Measures to reduce the chance of accidental sting include exterminating infested areas; not eating or drinking outdoors; wearing long pants and shoes; and avoiding brightly colored clothing, fragrances, or hairspray when outdoors. Common insect repellents are not effective against Hymenoptera.
Current recommendations are to administer venom immunotherapy to individuals who have had a systemic life-threatening reaction from an insect sting and have positive venom skin tests or elevated levels of venom-specific IgE. All persons with a history of systemic reactions to insects should be instructed in the use of an epinephrine autoinjector and encouraged to wear a MedicAlert bracelet. Children younger than 16 years of age who have had only a cutaneous reaction generally do not require immunotherapy because their prognosis is benign and can be managed with the availability of epinephrine.
An adverse reaction to food is a generic description of anyuntoward reaction after food ingestion, including toxic reactions such as food poisoning and nontoxic reactions, which canbe subdivided further into nonimmune and immune reactions. Lactose intolerance is a nonimmune reaction. Food allergy orhypersensitivity reactions encompass immune reactions to foodand can be divided further into IgE-mediated reactions, whichare typically rapid in onset, and non-IgE-mediated reactions.
Oral tolerance is the process of suppression of the immune response to the array of dietary elements ingested daily. Food allergy or hypersensitivity reactions are the result of immune reactions to glycoproteins and develop in genetically predisposed individuals. In children, cow’s milk, eggs, peanuts, soybean, wheat, tree nuts, fish, and shellfish cause 90% of IgE-mediated reactions. In older children and adults, peanuts, tree nuts, fish, and shellfish account for most reactions. Exposure to the allergenic food protein results in cross-linking of the IgE receptor found on the mast cells and basophils, which become activated and degranulate, releasing numerous potent mediators and cytokines. Non-IgE-mediated reactions typically occur hours to days after the allergen ingestion and are manifest as gastrointestinal symptoms. A cell-mediated immune mechanism may be responsible.
Approximately 6% to 8% of children are affected with food allergy. In adults this declines to 1% to 2%.
Symptoms of hypersensitivity reactions vary from involvement of the skin, gastrointestinal tract, and respiratory tract to anaphylaxis. Non-IgE-mediated food allergy typically presents during infancy as proctitis/proctocolitis, enteropathy, or enterocolitis (Table 84-1).
In acute IgE reactions, skin prick allergy testing and serum testing to foods may help confirm the suspected food allergy.
A careful history focuses on symptoms, the time interval fromingestion to onset of symptoms, the quantity of food necessaryto evoke the reaction, the most recent reaction, patterns of reactivity, and associated factors such as exercise and medicationuse. Skin prick testing can be performed to confirm IgE-mediated food allergies. A negative skin test virtually excludes anIgE-mediated reaction (unless the clinical history suggests asevere reaction after an isolated ingestion of the food). A positive skin test indicates sensitization but does not prove clinicalreactivity and must be interpreted, based on the history.
Table 84-1 Gastrointestinal Food Allergic Disorders DISORDER AGE GROUP CHARACTERISTICS DIAGNOSIS PROGNOSIS/COURSE IgE-MEDIATED Acute gastrointestinal hypersensitivity Any Onset: minutes to 2 h Nausea, abdominal pain, emesis, History, positive PST, and/ or serum food-IgE Variable, food-dependent Milk, soy, egg, and wheat
Allergic eosinophilic esophagitis Any, but especially infants, children, adolescents Children: chronic/intermittent symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux, emesis, dysphagia, abdominal pain, irritability Adults: abdominal pain, dysphagia, food impaction History, positive PST, and/ or food-IgE in 50%, but poor correlation with clinical symptoms Patch testing may be of value Elimination diet and OFC Endoscopy, biopsy provides conclusive diagnosis and response to treatment information Variable, not well established, improvement with elimination diet within 6–8 wk Elemental diet may be required Often responds to swallowed topical steroids
Biopsy diagnostic: villus Lifelong atrophy Screening with serum IgA antitissue transglutaminase and antigliadin Resolution of symptoms with gluten elimination and relapse on oral challenge
From Adkinson NF Jr, Bochner BS, Busse WW, et al: Middleton’s Allergy: Principles and Practice, ed 7, Philadelphia, 2008, Mosby. OFC, Oral food challenge; PST, prick skin test.
Adapted from Sampson HA: Food allergy, J Allergy Clin Immunol 111:S544, 2003.
An in vitro serum specific IgE assay can be used to helpconfirm clinical allergy as well. Many allergists and laboratories regard the ImmunoCAP system as the method of choice.This method uses a quantitative fluorescent immunoassay,which is more sensitive than other assays; this method also has improved specificity and reproducibility compared toother assays. These tests provide supplementary informationto skin tests. Researchers have tried to determine concentrations of food-specific IgE at which clinical reactions are highlylikely to occur (Table 84-2). Patients with allergen specific IgElevels greater than 95% of the predictive value may be considered allergic, and there is no need for an oral food challenge.Monitoring the allergen specific IgE level may be helpful in predicting whether a child has outgrown the food allergy.Oral food challenges remain the standard of diagnosis andcan be performed to determine whether a child can eat thefood safely.
Management of food allergies consists of educating the patient to avoid ingestion of the responsible allergen and to initiate therapy if ingestion occurs. For mild symptoms limited to the skin only, such as mild itching or hives in the area of allergen contact, oral antihistamines such as diphenhydramine or cetirizine can be administered. If symptoms extend beyond skin, including but not limited to difficulty breathing or swallowing, tongue or throat swelling, vomiting, and fainting or symptoms not responding to diphenhydramine within 20 minutes, injectable epinephrine should be administered and immediate medical attention pursued. Types of injectable epinephrine include EpiPen (0.3 mg), EpiPen Jr. (0.15 mg), and Twinject (0.3 or 0.15 mg).
Anaphylaxis is the most serious complication of allergic food reactions and can result in death (see Chapter 81).
Hypersensitivity to egg, milk, wheat, and soy resolves within the first 5 years of life in approximately 80% of children. Sensitivity to certain foods, such as peanuts, tree nuts, fish, and shellfish, tends to be lifelong. However 20% of children who manifested peanut allergy younger than 2 years of age may outgrow it.
Avoidance of the suspect food is crucial. Careful reading of food labels is a priority. A MedicAlert bracelet with appropriate information should be worn. The Food Allergy Research & Education organization ( www.foodallergy.org ) is a useful educational resource for families and physicians.
Recommendations for prevention of allergic diseases aimed at the high-risk newborn who has not manifested atopic disease include (1) breastfeeding for the first 4 to 6 months or (2) using a hydrolyzed casein formula (e.g., Alimentum or Nutramigen) or partially hydrolyzed whey formula (e.g., Good Start) (if supplementing) for the first 4 to 6 months and delaying introduction of solid foods until 4 to 6 months of age. Other approaches, such as maternal avoidance diets during pregnancy and during lactation, as well as avoidance of allergenic foods for infants beyond 6 months of age, are unproven.
An adverse drug reaction is defined as an unwanted, negative consequence associated with the use of a drug or biologic agent. Drug reactions can be classified as immunologic or nonimmunologic reactions (Table 85-1). Nearly 75% to 80% of adverse drug reactions are caused by a predictable, nonimmunologic mechanism, and between 5% and 10% of all drug reactions are explained by an immune-mediated mechanism. The remaining drug reactions are caused by an unpredictable mechanism, which may or may not be immune-mediated. The Gell and Coombs classification can be used to describe some drug-induced allergic reactions (see Table 77-1). Many drug reactions cannot be classified because the exact immune mechanism has not been defined. Most drugs cannot elicit an immune response because of their small size; rather, the drug or a metabolite acts as a hapten and binds to larger molecules, such as tissue or serum proteins, a process called haptenation.The multivalent hapten-protein complex forms a new immunogenic epitope that elicits Tand B-lymphocyte responses.
Drug reactions to penicillins and cephalosporins are the most common allergic drug reactions encountered in the pediatric population. Approximately 6% to 10% of children are labeled as penicillin allergic. Risk factors for drug reactions include previous drug exposure, increasing age (>20 years of age), parenteral or topical administration, higher dose, intermittent
Type IV reaction (delayed, cell-mediated) Contact dermatitis from topical antihistamine
Drug-drug interactions Torsades de pointes arrhythmia from terfenadine with erythromycin
Idiosyncratic Hemolytic anemia in a patient with G6PD deficiency after primaquine therapy
Intolerance Tinnitus after a single, small dose of aspirinAdapted from Riedl MA, Casillas AM: Adverse drug reactions: types and treatment options, Am Fam Physician 68(9):1781−1790, 2003.
G6PD, Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase.repeated exposure, and a genetic predisposition of slow drug metabolism. An atopic background does not predispose an individual to the development of drug reactions but may indicate a greater risk of serious reaction.
Allergic reactions can be classified as immediate (anaphylactic) reactions, which occur within 60 minutes of drug administration; accelerated reactions, which begin l to 72 hours after drug administration; and late reactions, which occur after 72 hours. The most common form of adverse drug reaction is cutaneous. Accelerated reactions are usually dermatologic or serum sickness reactions. Late reactions include desquamating dermatitis, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, toxic epidermal necrolysis, and serum sickness.
Skin testing protocols are standardized for penicillin and are well described for other agents, such as local anesthetics, muscle relaxants, vaccines, and insulin. Positive skin testing to such reagents confirms the presence of antigen-specific IgE and supports the diagnosis of a type I hypersensitivity reaction in the appropriate clinical setting.
The broadest experience with managing adverse drug reactions is with penicillin. Penicillin allergy should be evaluated when the individual is well and not in acute need of treatment. Penicillin skin testing is helpful for IgE-mediated reactions because of its negative predictive value; only 1% to 3% of patients with negative skin tests have a reaction, which is mild, when re-exposed to penicillin. Skin testing for penicillin should be performed using the major determinant, penicilloyl polylysine (available as Pre-Pen), and minor determinants, which include penicillin G, penicilloate, and penilloate. Skin testing to penicillin does not predict non-IgE-mediated reactions. For patients with a history consistent with serum sickness or desquamative-type reactions, skin testing should not be performed, and penicillin should be avoided indefinitely.
The risk of a child who has reacted positively to penicillinskin testing suffering an allergic reaction to a cephalosporinantibiotic is less than 2%. It is believed that the first-generation cephalosporins (e.g., cephalexin) are more likely thansecond-generation (e.g., cefuroxime) or third-generation (cefpodoxime) cephalosporins to be cross-reactive. This is dueto the chemical similarity of side chains of the β-lactam ringbetween penicillin and first-generation cephalosporins.
If penicillin skin testing is positive, penicillin should be avoided, and an alternative antibiotic should be used. If there is a definite need for penicillin, desensitization can be accomplished by administration of increasing amounts of drug over a short time in a hospital setting. The exact mechanism of desensitization is unclear; however, it is thought to render mast cells unresponsive to the drug. To maintain desensitization, the drug must be given at least twice daily. If the drug is stopped for longer than 48 hours, the patient is no longer desensitized, and the same protocol must be repeated before repeated antibiotic use.
For other antibiotics, the relevant allergenic determinants produced by metabolism or degradation are not well defined. Skin testing to the native antibiotic in nonirritating concentrations can be performed. A negative response does not exclude allergy; however, a positive response suggests the presence of IgE-mediated allergy. In the case of a negative skin test response, a graded challenge or test dose may be administered, depending on the clinical history of the reaction. Patients who have experienced Stevens-Johnson syndrome, toxic epidermal necrolysis, or serum sickness should not be challenged.
Anaphylaxis is the most serious complication of allergic drug reactions and can result in death (see Chapter 81).
Most drug reactions do not seem to be allergic in nature. Repeated, intermittent exposure during childhood or early adulthood contributes to an increased incidence of adverse drug reactions in adults.
Avoidance of the suspect drug is paramount. A MedicAlert bracelet with appropriate information should be worn. One of the most common concerns in regard to allergic drug reactions is cross-reactivity between penicillin and cephalosporins. In children with a history of penicillin allergy, it is important to determine whether they are truly allergic by skin testing to penicillin, using the major and minor determinants. If the penicillin skin test is negative, there is not an increased risk of an allergic reaction to cephalosporins. A positive penicillin skin test leads to an alternate non-cross-reacting antibiotic, a graded challenge to the required cephalosporin under appropriate monitoring, or desensitization to the required cephalosporin.
For children with a history of a cephalosporin allergy who require another cephalosporin, two approaches may be considered: a graded challenge with a cephalosporin that does not share the same side chain determinant, or skin testing with the same or a different cephalosporin. A positive response suggests the presence of IgE-mediated allergy, and the value of a negative test is unknown. Skin testing with cephalosporins has not been standardized or validated.
Bieber T: Atopic dermatitis, N Engl J Med 58:483–1494, 2008
Greenberger P, Grammer L: Northwestern University allergy-immunology syllabus 2012: residents and students, Allergy Asthma Proc 33(3), 2012
Greer FR, Sicherer SH, Burks AW: Effects of early nutritional interventions on the development of atopic disease in infants and children: the role of maternal dietary restriction, breastfeeding, timing of introduction of complementary foods and hydrolyzed formulas, Pediatrics 121:183–191,
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Practice, ed 2, St Louis, 2010, ElsevierNational Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute and National Asthma Education and Prevention Program: Expert panel report 3: guidelines for the diagnosis and management of asthma. Full report 2007. NTH Publication No. 08–4051. Bethesda, MD, 2007,
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.  Available at http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/guidelines/asthma/asthgdln.htm
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute and National Asthma Education and Prevention Program: Expert panel report 3: guidelines for the diagnosis and management of asthma. Summary report 2007. NTH Publication No. 08–5846. Bethesda, MD, 2007,
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.  Available at http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/guidelines/asthma/asthsumm.pdf
Shearer WT, Leung DYM: 2010 primer on allergic and immunologic diseases, J Allergy Clin Immunol 125:S1–S2, 2010
Sicherer SH: Understanding and Managing Your Child’s Food Allergies,Baltimore, 2006, Johns Hopkins University PressWilliams HC: Atopic dermatitis, N Engl J Med 352:2314–2324, 2005
Wood RA: Food Allergies for Dummies, Hoboken, NJ, 2007, Wiley
Hilary M. HaftelThe rheumatic diseases (collagen vascular or connective tissue diseases) of childhood are characterized by autoimmunity and inflammation, which may be localized or generalized. The classic rheumatic diseases of children include juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), formerly called juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and juvenile dermatomyositis (JDM). Vasculitis is a component of many rheumatic diseases. Musculoskeletal pain syndromes are a set of overlapping conditions characterized by poorly localized pain involving the extremities. Scleroderma, Behçet syndrome, and Sjögren syndrome are rare in childhood. The differential diagnosis of rheumatologic disorders typically includes infections, postinfectious processes, and malignancies (Table 86-1).
The history can identify symptoms that reflect the source of the inflammation, including whether it is localized or systemic. Symptoms of systemic inflammation tend to be nonspecific. Fever, caused by cytokine release, can take many forms. A hectic fever, without periodicity or pattern, is commonly found in vasculitides such as Kawasaki disease but also occurs in children with underlying infection. Certain illnesses, such as systemic-onset JIA, produce a patterned fever with regular temperature spikes once or twice a day. Other rheumatic illnesses cause low-grade fevers. Charting the child’s fever pattern, particularly in the absence of antipyretics, is useful. Rashes occur in many forms (see Table 86-1). Other systemic symptoms (malaise, anorexia, weight loss, and fatigue) can vary from mild to debilitating.
Symptoms of localized inflammation vary depending on the involved site. Arthritis, or inflammation of the synovium (synovitis), leads to joint pain, swelling, and impaired ability to use the affected joint. Morning stiffness or gelling is described. The child may be slow to arise in the morning and may have a limp. Children may refrain from usual activities and athletics. Enthesitis is inflammation at the insertion of a ligament to a bone. Serositis, inflammation of serosal lining such as pleuritis, pericarditis, or peritonitis, gives rise to chest pain, shortness of breath, or abdominal pain. Myositis,inflammation of the muscle, may lead to symptoms of muscle pain, weakness, or difficulty performing tasks of daily living. Vasculitis, inflammation of the blood vessels, leads to nonspecific symptoms of rash (petechiae, purpura) and edema when small vessels deep in the papillary dermis are involved; involvement of medium-sized vessels results in a circumscribed tender nodule.
A thorough history and physical examination is frequently sufficient to narrow the differential diagnosis and elicit the diagnosis. The child’s overall appearance, evidence of growth failure, orfailure to thrive may point to a significant underlying inflammatory disorder. The head and neck examination may showevidence of mucosal ulceration, seen in diseases such as SLE. The eye examination may show pupillary irregularity and synechiae from uveitis or the conjunctivitis of Kawasaki disease.Diffuse lymphadenopathy may be found and is nonspecific. Therespiratory and cardiac examinations may show pericardial orpleural friction rubs, indicating serositis. Splenomegaly or hepatomegaly raises suspicion of activation of the reticuloendothelial system that occurs in systemic-onset JIA or SLE.
The joint examination is crucial for the diagnosis of arthritis and may identify evidence of joint swelling, effusion, tenderness, and erythema from increased blood flow. Joint contractures may be seen. The joint lining, or synovium, may be thickened from chronic inflammation. Activation of epiphyseal growth plates in an area of arthritis can lead to localized bony proliferation and limb length discrepancies. Conversely inflammation at sites of immature growth centers may lead to maldevelopment of bones, such as the carpals or tarsals, resulting in crowding, or the temporomandibular joints, resulting in micrognathia. A rash or evidence of underlying skin disorders, such as skin thickening from scleroderma or sclerodactyly, may be noted. Chronic Raynaud phenomenon may result in nail-fold capillary changes, ulceration, or digital tuft wasting.
The rheumatic diseases of childhood encompass a heterogeneous group of diseases with a shared underlying pathogenesis: disordered functioning of the immune system leading to inflammation directed against native proteins, with secondary increases in numbers of activated lymphocytes, inflammatory
Monarticular, Yes 50% No Yes Yes Yes —Eye disease Uveitis/retinitis Iridocyclitis (rare in No Conjunctivitis, No No Conjunctivitis, uveitis systemic)
Pathogenesis Autoimmune Autoimmune Group A Borrelia Acute lymphoblastic N. gonorrhoeae Unknown streptococcus burgdorferi leukemia
ANA, Antinuclear antibody; ASO, antistreptolysin-O titer; CCP, cyclic citrullinated protein; NSAID, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug; TNF, tumor necrosis factor; WBC, white blood cell.
Coombs-positive hemolytic anemia Immune neutropenia Immune thrombocytopenia Thrombosis (anticardiolipin, antiphospholipid, lupus anticoagulant) Immune lymphopenia Antimitochondrial (primary biliary cirrhosis, SLE) Antimicrosomal (chronic active hepatitis, SLE) Antithyroid (thyroiditis, SLE) Antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA-cytoplasmic) (granulomatosis with polyangiitis) ANCA-perinuclear (microscopic polyangiitis) Anti-CCP (rheumatoid positive JIA)
Single-stranded DNA (nonspecific, indicates inflammation) Double-stranded DNA (SLE, renal disease) DNA-histone (drug-induced SLE) Sm (Smith) (SLE, renal, CNS) RNP (ribonucleoprotein) (SLE, Sjögren syndrome, scleroderma, polymyositis, MCTD)
Ro (Robert: SSA) (SLE, neonatal lupus-congenital heart block, Sjögren syndrome) La (Lane: SSB) (SLE, neonatal lupus [congenital heart block],
Sjögren syndrome) Jo-1 (polymyositis, dermatomyositis) Scl-70 (systemic sclerosis) Centromere (CREST; limited scleroderma) PM-Scl (scleroderma, UCTD)
Adapted from Condemi J: The autoimmune disease, JAMA 268:2882–2892, 1992.
ANCA, Antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody; CCP, cyclic citrullinated protein; CNS, central nervous system; CREST syndrome, calcinosis, Raynaud phenomenon, esophageal dysfunction, sclerodactyly, telangiectasia; MCTD, mixed connective tissue disease; SLE, systemic lupus erythematosus; SSA, Sjögren syndrome antigen A; SSB, Sjögren syndrome antigen B; UCTD, undifferentiated connective tissue disease.
cytokines, and circulating antibodies. This antibody production can be nonspecific, or it can be targeted against specific native proteins, leading to subsequent disease manifestations (Table 86-2). Although immune system hyperactivity may be self-limited, the hallmark of most rheumatic diseases of childhood is chronicity, or the perpetuation of the inflammatory process, which can lead to long-term disability.
Although rheumatic diseases sometimes present with nonspecific symptoms, especially early in the course, over time a characteristic set of symptoms and physical findings can be elicited. In conjunction with carefully chosen confirmatory laboratory tests, an appropriate differential diagnosis is made, and eventually the correct diagnosis and treatment plan is developed.
Most rheumatologic diagnoses are established by clinicalfindings and fulfillment of classification criteria. Laboratorytesting should be judicious and based on a differential diagnosisrather than random screening in search of a diagnosis. Laboratory tests confirm clinical diagnoses rather than develop them.
Evidence of an underlying systemic inflammation may be indicated by elevated acute phase reactants, especially the erythrocyte sedimentation rate, but also the white blood cell count, platelet count, and C-reactive protein. The complete blood count may demonstrate a normochromic, normocytic anemia of chronic disease. These laboratory findings are nonspecific for any particular rheumatologic diagnosis. Certain laboratory tests may help confirm a diagnosis, such as autoantibody production in SLE or muscle enzyme elevation in JDM, or identify increased risk for complications, such as uveitis in a patient with JIA with a positive antinuclear antibody.
Radiologic studies should focus on areas of concern identified by history or physical examination. Radiography of jointsin patients with arthritis on examination may be beneficial,but radiographic abnormalities may lag far behind the clinicalexamination. Tests with greater sensitivity, such as bone scan,computed tomography scan, and magnetic resonance imaging,may be useful when trying to differentiate between synovitisand traumatic soft tissue injury. Magnetic resonance imagingmay also be useful to identify evidence of central nervous system involvement with SLE or for evidence of myositis with JDM.
Henoch-Schönlein purpura (HSP) is a vasculitis of unknown etiology characterized by inflammation of small blood vesselswith leukocytic infiltration of tissue, hemorrhage, and ischemia.The immune complexes associated with HSP are predominantlycomposed of IgA.
HSP is the most common systemic vasculitis of childhood and cause of nonthrombocytopenic purpura, with an incidence of 13 per 100,000 children. It occurs primarily in children 3 to 15 years of age, although it has been described in adults. HSP is slightly more common in boys than girls and occurs more frequently in the winter than in the summer months.
Available @ StudentConsult.comHSP is characterized by rash, arthritis, and, less frequently, gastrointestinal or renal vasculitis. The hallmark of HSP is palpable purpura, caused by small vessel inflammation in the skin leading to extravasation of blood into the surrounding tissues, frequently with IgA deposition. The rash is classically found in dependent areas: below the waist, on the buttocks, and lower extremities (Fig. 87-1). The rash can begin as small macules or urticarial lesions but rapidly progresses to purpura with areas of ecchymosis. The rash also can be accompanied by edema, particularly of the calves and dorsum of the feet, scalp, and scrotum or labia. HSP occasionally is associated with encephalopathy, pancreatitis, and orchitis.
Arthritis occurs in 80% of patients with HSP and is most common in the lower extremities, particularly the ankles and knees. The arthritis is acute and very painful with refusal to bear weight. Joint swelling can be confused with peripheral edema seen with the rash of HSP.
Gastrointestinal involvement occurs in about one half of affected children and most typically presents as mild to moderate crampy abdominal pain, thought to be due to small vessel involvement of the gastrointestinal tract leading to ischemia. Less commonly, significant abdominal distention, bloody diarrhea, intussusception, or abdominal perforation occurs and requires emergent intervention. Gastrointestinal involvement is typically seen during the acute phase of the illness. It may precede the onset of rash.
One third of children with HSP develop renal involvement, which can be acute or chronic. Although renal involvement is mild in most cases, acute glomerulonephritis manifested by hematuria, hypertension, or acute renal failure can occur. Most cases of glomerulonephritis occur within the first few months of presentation, but rarely patients develop late renal disease, which ultimately can lead to chronic renal disease, including renal failure.
Figure 87-1 Rash of Henoch-Schönlein purpura on the lower extremities of a child. Note evidence of both purpura and petechiae.
Erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein, and white blood cell count are elevated in patients with HSP. The platelet count is the most important test, because HSP is characterized by nonthrombocytopenic purpura with a normal, or even high, platelet count, differentiating HSP from other causes of purpura that are associated with thrombocytopenia such as autoimmune thrombocytopenia, systemic lupus erythematosus, or leukemia. A urinalysis screens for evidence of hematuria. A serum blood urea nitrogen and creatinine should be obtained to evaluate renal function. Testing the stool for blood may identify evidence of gut ischemia. Any question of gut perforation requires radiologic investigation.
The diagnosis of HSP is based on the presence of two of four criteria (Table 87-1), which provides 87.1% sensitivity and 87.7% specificity for the disease. The differential diagnosis includes other systemic vasculitides (Table 87-2) and diseases associated with thrombocytopenic purpura, such as idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura and leukemia.
Therapy for HSP is supportive. A short-term course of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can be administered for the acute arthritis. Systemic corticosteroids usually are reserved for children with gastrointestinal disease and provide significant relief of abdominal pain. A typical dosing regimen is prednisone, 1 mg/kg/day for 1 to 2 weeks, followed by a taper schedule. Recurrence of abdominal pain as corticosteroids are weaned may necessitate a longer course of treatment. Acute nephritis typically is treated with corticosteroids but may require more aggressive immunosuppressive therapy.
Most cases of HSP are monophasic, lasting 3 to 4 weeks andresolving completely. The rash can wax and wane, however, for1 year after HSP. Parents should be warned regarding possiblerecurrences. The arthritis of HSP does not leave any permanent joint damage; it does not typically recur. Gastrointestinalinvolvement can lead to temporary abnormal peristalsis thatposes a risk of intussusception, which may be followed by complete obstruction or infarction with bowel perforation. Any child
Palpable purpura Raised, palpable hemorrhagic skin lesions in the absence of thrombocytopenia
Bowel angina Diffuse abdominal pain or the diagnosis of bowel ischemia
Diagnostic biopsy Histologic changes showing granulocytes in the walls of arterioles or venules; IgA deposits in vessel wall
Pediatric age group Age <20 years at onset of symptoms *The diagnosis of Henoch-Schönlein purpura is based on the presence of two of four criteria.
Granulomatosis with polyangiitis (formerly known as Wegener granulomatosis) Polyarteritis nodosa Churg-Strauss syndrome Microscopic polyangiitis
Henoch-Schönlein purpura Serum sickness (e.g., drug-related) Vasculitis associated with infections with a recent history of HSP who presents with acute abdominalpain, obstipation, or diarrhea should be evaluated for intussusception. Renal involvement rarely may lead to renal failure.
The prognosis of HSP is excellent. Most children have complete resolution of the illness without any significant sequelae. Patients with HSP renal disease (elevated blood urea nitrogen, persistent high-grade proteinuria) are at highest risk for long-term complications, such as hypertension or renal insufficiency, particularly if the initial course was marked by significant nephritis. There is a long-term risk of progression to end-stage renal disease in less than 1% of children with HSP. The rare patients who develop end-stage renal disease may require renal transplantation. HSP may recur in the transplanted kidney.
Kawasaki disease (KD) is a vasculitis of unknown etiology that is characterized by multisystem involvement and inflammation of small to medium-sized arteries with resulting aneurysm formation.
KD is the second most common vasculitis of childhood. It is more common in children of Asian descent. It has been described in variable frequency in all parts of the world; the highest frequency is in Japan. KD most commonly occurs in children younger than 5 years of age, with a peak between 2 to 3 years, and is rare in children older than 7 years. The incidence in the United States is approximately 6 per 100,000 children who are younger than 5 years of age. A seasonal variability has been described with a peak between February and May, but the disease occurs throughout the year.
The clinical course of KD can be divided into three phases, each with its own unique manifestations. Aneurysmal involvement of the coronary arteries is the most important manifestation of KD.
Available @ StudentConsult.comLymphadenopathy Fever Without a Source Fever of Unknown OriginThe acute phase of KD, which lasts 1 to 2 weeks, is marked by sudden onset of a high, hectic fever (>40 °C) without an apparent source. The onset of fever is followed by conjunctival erythema; mucosal changes, including dry, cracked lips and a strawberry tongue; cervical lymphadenopathy; and swelling of the hands and feet (Fig. 88-1). Conjunctivitis is bilateral, bulbar, and nonsuppurative. Cervical lymphadenopathy is found in 70% of children and should be greater than 1.5 cm in diameter for the purposes of diagnosis. A rash, which can vary in appearance, occurs in 80% of children with KD and may be particularly accentuated in the inguinal area and on the chest. Extreme irritability is prominent, especially in infants. Abdominal pain and hydrops of the gallbladder, cerebrospinal fluid pleocytosis, sterile pyuria, and arthritis, particularly of medium-sized to large joints, may occur. Carditis in the acute phase may be manifested by tachycardia, shortness of breath, or overt congestive heart failure. Giant coronary artery aneurysms, which are rare but occur most commonly in very young children, can appear during this phase.
The subacute phase, which lasts until about the fourth week, is characterized by gradual resolution of fever (if untreated) and other symptoms. Desquamation of the skin, particularly of the fingers and toes, appears at this point. The platelet count, previously normal or slightly depressed, increases to a significant degree (often >1 million/mm3). This phase heralds the onset of coronary artery aneurysms, which may also appear in the convalescent phase and pose the highest risk of morbidity and mortality. Risk factors for development of coronary artery aneurysms include prolonged fever, prolonged elevation of inflammatory parameters such as the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), age younger than 1 year or older than 6 years, and male gender.
Figure 88-1 Facial features of Kawa-saki disease with (A) morbilliform rash and nonsuppurative conjunctivitis and (B) red, chapped lips. AB
The convalescent phase begins with the disappearance of clinical symptoms and continues until the ESR returns to normal, usually 6 to 8 weeks after the onset of illness. Beau lines of the fingernails may appear during this phase.
It is particularly important to exclude other causes of fever, notably infection. It is appropriate to obtain blood and urine culturesand to perform a chest x-ray. In the acute phase, inflammatory parameters are elevated, including white blood cell count, C-reactive protein, and the ESR, which can be profoundlyelevated (often >80 mm/hr). Platelet counts may be inappropriately low or normal. A lumbar puncture, if performed toexclude infection, may reveal pleocytosis. Tests of hepatobiliary function may be abnormal. Greatly elevated platelet countsdevelop during the subacute phase. The development of coronary artery aneurysms is monitored by performing two-dimensional echocardiograms, usually during the acute phase, at 2 to3 weeks, and again at 6 to 8 weeks. More frequent echocardiograms and, potentially, coronary angiography are indicated forpatients who develop coronary artery abnormalities.
The diagnosis of KD is based on the presence of fever for more than 5 days without an identifiable source and the presence of four of five other clinical criteria (Table 88-1).
The diagnosis of incomplete (atypical) KD, which occurs more commonly in infants, is made when fever is present for at least 5 days even if only two or three clinical criteria are present, particularly in the presence of coronary artery aneurysms. The diagnosis of KD should be considered in infants younger than 6 months of age with fever for at least 7 days even if no other criteria are present. Because many of the manifestations of KD are found in other illnesses, many diagnoses must be considered and excluded before the diagnosis of KD can be established (Table 88-2).
Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) is the mainstay of therapy for KD, although the mechanism of action is unknown.
Fever of >5 days’ duration associated with at least four* of the following five changes:
One or more changes of the mucous membranes of the upper respiratory tract, including pharyngeal injection, dry fissured lips, injected lips, and “strawberry” tongue
One or more changes of the extremities, including peripheral erythema, peripheral edema, periungual desquamation, and generalized desquamation
Polymorphous rash, primarily truncalCervical lymphadenopathy >1.5 cm in diameterDisease cannot be explained by some other known disease process.
*A diagnosis of Kawasaki disease can be made if fever and only three changes are present in conjunction with coronary artery disease documented by two-dimensional echocardiography or coronary angiography.
Coronary artery thrombosis Peripheral artery aneurysm Coronary artery aneurysms Myocardial infarction Myopericarditis Heart failure Hydrops of gallbladder Aseptic meningitis Irritability Arthritis Sterile pyuria (urethritis) Thrombocytosis (late) Diarrhea Pancreatitis Peripheral gangrene
A single dose of IVIG (2 g/kg over 12 hours) results in rapiddefervescence and resolution of clinical illness in most patients and, more important, reduces the incidence of coronary artery aneurysms. Aspirin is initially given in anti-inflammatory doses (80 to 100 mg/kg/day divided every 6hours) in the acute phase. Once the fever resolves, aspirin isreduced to antithrombotic doses (3 to 5 mg/kg/day as a single dose) and given through the subacute and convalescentphases, usually for 6 to 8 weeks, until follow-up echocardiography documents the absence or resolution of coronary artery aneurysms.
Up to 10% of children with KD initially fail to respondsatisfactorily to IVIG therapy. Most of these patients respondto retreatment with IVIG, but an alternative preparation ofIVIG may be required. Corticosteroids or infliximab arerarely used in KD, as opposed to other vasculitides, but mayhave a role during the acute phase if active carditis is apparent or for children with persistent fever after two doses ofIVIG.
Most cases resolve without sequelae. Myocardial infarction has been documented, most likely caused by stenosis of a coronary artery at the site of an aneurysm. Coronary artery aneurysms found on autopsy in older children following sudden cardiac death may have been due to past KD. Other complications are listed in Table 88-3.
IVIG reduces the prevalence of coronary artery disease from 20% to 25% in children treated with aspirin alone to 2% to 4% in children treated with IVIG and aspirin. Other than the risk of persistent coronary artery aneurysms, KD has an excellent prognosis.
The chronic arthritides of childhood include several types, the most common of which is juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), formerly called juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA). The classification of JIA includes several other types of juvenile arthritis, such as enthesitis-related arthritis and psoriatic arthritis. The etiology of this autoimmune disease is unknown. The common underlying manifestation of this group of illnesses is the presence of chronic synovitis, or inflammation of the joint synovium. The synovium becomes thickened and hypervascular with infiltration by lymphocytes, which also can be found in the synovial fluid along with inflammatory cytokines. The inflammation leads to production and release of tissue proteases and collagenases. If left untreated, the inflammation can lead to tissue destruction, particularly of the articular cartilage and, eventually, the underlying bony structures.
JIA is the most common chronic rheumatologic disease of childhood, with a prevalence of 1:1000 children. The disease has two peaks, one at 1 to 3 years and one at 8 to 12 years, but it can occur at any age. Girls are affected more commonly than boys, particularly with the oligoarticular form of the illness.
Available @ StudentConsult.comJIA can be divided into several subtypes, depending on the number of joints involved (less than five versus five or more), thepresence of sacroiliac involvement, and the presence of systemicfeatures, each with particular disease characteristics (Table 89-1).Although the onset of the arthritis is slow, the actual joint swelling is often noticed acutely by the child or parent, such as after anaccident or fall, and can be confused with trauma (even thoughtraumatic effusions are rare in children). The child may developpain and stiffness in the joint that limit use, but rarely refuses touse the joint at all. Morning stiffness and gelling also can occur inthe joint and, if present, can be followed in response to therapy.
On physical examination, signs of inflammation are present,including joint tenderness, erythema, and effusion (Fig. 89-1).Joint range of motion may be limited because of pain, swelling,or contractures from lack of use. In children, because of the
Table 89-1 Features of Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis Subgroups FEATURE OLIGOARTICULAR POLYARTICULAR SYSTEMIC ONSET SPONDYLOARTHROPATHIES No. joints <5 ≥5 Varies, usually ≥5 Varies Types of joints Medium to large (also small in extended Small to medium Small to medium Medium to large, including sacroiliac joints
Extra-articular None None Systemic features Enthesopathy, psoriasis, bowel manifestationsRF positivity + (in older children with early-onset RA)ANA, Antinuclear antibody; RA, rheumatoid arthritis; RF, rheumatoid factor.Figure 89-1 An affected knee in a patient with oligoarticular juve-nile idiopathic arthritis. Note sizeable effusion, bony proliferation, and flexion contracture.
presence of an active growth plate, it may be possible to findbony abnormalities of the surrounding bone, causing bonyproliferation and localized growth disturbance. In a lowerextremity joint, a leg length discrepancy may be appreciable ifthe arthritis is asymmetric.
All children with chronic arthritis are at risk for chronic iridocyclitis or uveitis. There is an association between human leukocyte antigens (HLAs) (HLA-DR5, HLA-DR6, and HLA-DR8) and uveitis. The presence of a positive antinuclear antibody identifies children with arthritis who are at higher risk for chronic uveitis. Although all children with JIA are at increased risk, the subgroup of children, particularly young girls, with oligoarticular (less than five affected joints) JIA and a positive antinuclear antibody are at highest risk, with an incidence of uveitis of 80%. The uveitis associated with JIA can be asymptomatic until the point of visual loss, making it a primary treatable cause of blindness in children. It is crucial for children with JIA to undergo regular ophthalmologic screening with a slit-lamp examination to identify anterior chamber inflammation and to initiate prompt treatment of any active disease.
Oligoarticular JIA is defined as the presence of arthritis in fewer than five joints within 6 months of diagnosis. This is the most common form of JIA, accounting for approximately 50% of cases.
Oligoarticular JIA presents in young children, with a peak at 1 to 3 years and another peak at 8 to 12 years. The arthritis is found in medium-sized to large joints; the knee is the most common joint involved, followed by the ankle and the wrist. It is unusual for small joints, such as the fingers or toes, to be involved, although this may occur. Neck and hip involvement also is uncommon. Children with oligoarticular JIA may be otherwise well without any evidence of systemic inflammation (fever, weight loss, or failure to thrive) or any laboratory evidence of systemic inflammation (elevated white blood cell count or erythrocyte sedimentation rate). A subset of these children later develops polyarticular disease (called extended oligoarthritis).
Polyarticular JIA describes children with arthritis in five or more joints within the first 6 months of diagnosis and accounts for about 40% of cases. Children with polyarticular JIA tend to have symmetric arthritis, which can affect any joint but typically involves the small joints of the hands, feet, ankles, wrists, and knees. The cervical spine can be involved, leading
Extra-articular manifestations Systemic symptoms Enthesopathy Psoriasis, nail Bowel symptoms (systemic-onset JRA)
ANA, Antinuclear antibody; IBD, inflammatory bowel disease; JAS, juvenile ankylosing spondylitis; JIA, juvenile idiopathic arthritis;
PSA, poststreptococcal arthritis; RF, rheumatoid factor.to fusion of the spine over time. In contrast to oligoarticular JIA, children with polyarticular disease can present with evidence of systemic inflammation, including malaise, low-grade fever, growth retardation, anemia of chronic disease, and elevated markers of inflammation. Polyarticular JIA can present at any age, although there is a peak in early childhood. There is a second peak in adolescence, but these children differ by the presence of a positive rheumatoid factor (and anti-CCP antibody) and most likely represent a subgroup with true adult rheumatoid arthritis; the clinical course and prognosis are similar to the adult entity.
A small subgroup of patients (approximately 10%) with juvenile arthritis does not present with onset of arthritis but rather with preceding systemic inflammation. This form of JIA, thought to be an autoinflammatory disease, manifests with a typical recurring, spiking fever, usually once or twice per day, which can occur for several weeks to months. This is accompanied by a rash, typically morbilliform and salmon-colored. The rash may be evanescent and occur at times of high fever only. Rarely the rash can be urticarial in nature. Internal organ involvement also occurs. Serositis, such as pleuritis and pericarditis, occurs in 50% of children. Pericardial tamponade rarely may occur. Hepatosplenomegaly occurs in 70% of children. Children with systemic-onset JIA appear sick; they have significant constitutional symptoms, including malaise and failure to thrive. Laboratory findings show the inflammation, with elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein, white blood cell count, and platelet counts and anemia. The arthritis of JIA follows the systemic inflammation by 6 weeks to 6 months. The arthritis is typically polyarticular in nature and can be extensive and resistant to treatment, placing these children at highest risk for long-term disability.
The spondyloarthropathies describe a group of arthritides that include inflammation of the axial skeleton and sacroiliac joints and enthesitis, or inflammation of tendinous insertions. These include juvenile ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis, and the arthritis of inflammatory bowel disease. This group of diseases can also present with peripheral arthritis and can be initially classified in other subgroups. It is only later, when the patient develops evidence of sacroiliac arthritis, psoriasis, or gastrointestinal disease, that the diagnosis becomes clear (Table 89-2). Other important features of this group include the frequent presence of HLA-B27 and the need for earlier treatment with tumor necrosis factor (TNF) blockers.
Most children with oligoarticular JIA have no laboratory abnormalities. Children with polyarticular and systemic-onset disease commonly show elevated acute phase reactants and anemia of chronic disease. In all pediatric patients with joint or bone pain, a complete blood count should be performed to exclude leukemia, which also can present with limb pain (see Chapter 155). All patients with oligoarticular JIA should have an antinuclear antibody test to help identify those at higher risk for uveitis. Older children and adolescents with polyarticular disease should have a rheumatoid factor performed to identify children with early onset adult rheumatoid arthritis.
Diagnostic arthrocentesis may be necessary to exclude suppurative arthritis in children who present with acute onset of monarticular symptoms. The synovial fluid white blood cell count is typically less than 50,000 to 100,000/mm3 and should be predominantly lymphocytes, rather than neutrophils seen with suppurative arthritis. Gram stain and culture should be negative (see Chapter 118).
The most common radiologic finding in the early stagesof JIA is a normal bone x-ray. Over time, periarticular osteopenia, resulting from decreased mineralization, is mostcommonly found. Growth centers may be slow to develop,whereas there may be accelerated maturation of growth platesor evidence of bony proliferation. Erosions of bony articularsurfaces may be a late finding. If the cervical spine is involved,fusion of C1-4 may occur, and atlantoaxial subluxation maybe demonstrable.
The diagnosis of JIA is established by the presence of arthritis, the duration of the disease for at least 6 weeks, and exclusion of other possible diagnoses. Although a presumptive diagnosis of systemic-onset JIA can be established for a child during the systemic phase, a definitive diagnosis is not possible until arthritis develops. Children must be younger than 16 years of age at time of onset of disease; the diagnosis of JIA does not change when the child becomes an adult. Because there are so many other causes of arthritis, these disorders need to be excluded before providing a definitive diagnosis of JIA (Table 89-3). The acute arthritides can affect the same joints as JIA but have a shorter time course.
The treatment of JIA focuses on suppressing inflammation, preserving and maximizing function, preventing deformity, and preventing blindness. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are the first choice in the treatment of JIA. Naproxen, sulindac, ibuprofen, indomethacin, and others have been used successfully. Systemic corticosteroid medications, such as prednisone and prednisolone, should be avoided in all but the most extreme circumstances, such as for severe systemic-onset JIA with internal organ involvement or for significant active arthritis leading to the inability to ambulate. In this circumstance, the corticosteroids are used as bridging therapy until other medications take effect. For patients with a few isolated inflamed joints, intra-articular corticosteroids may be helpful.
Second-line medications, such as hydroxychloroquine and sulfasalazine, have been used in patients whose arthritis is not completely controlled with NSAIDs alone. Methotrexate, given either orally or subcutaneously, has become the drug of choice for polyarticular and systemic-onset JIA, which may not respond to baseline agents alone. Methotrexate can cause bone marrow suppression and hepatotoxicity; regular monitoring can minimize these risks. Leflunomide, with a similar adverse effect profile to methotrexate, has also been used. Biologic agents that inhibit TNF-α and block the inflammatory cascade, including etanercept, infliximab, and adalimumab, are effective in the treatment of JIA. The risks of these agents are greater, however, and include serious infection and, possibly, increased risk of malignancy. Anakinra, an interleukin-1 receptor antagonist, is very beneficial in the treatment of the systemic features of systemic-onset JIA.
Complications with JIA result primarily from the loss of function of an involved joint secondary to contractures, bony fusion, or loss of joint space. Physical and occupational therapies, professionally and through home programs, are crucial to preserve and maximize function. More serious complications stem from associated uveitis; if left untreated, it can lead to serious visual loss or blindness.
The prognosis of JIA is excellent, with an overall 85% complete remission rate. Children with oligoarticular JIA uniformly tend to do well, whereas children with polyarticular disease and systemic-onset disease constitute most children with functional disability. Systemic-onset disease, a positive
Juvenile idiopathic arthritis Systemic lupus erythematosus Juvenile dermatomyositis Scleroderma with arthritis
Leukemia Lymphoma Sickle cell disease Thalassemia Malignant and benign tumors of bone, cartilage, or synovium Metastatic bone disease Hemophilia
Rickets/metabolic bone disease Lysosomal storage diseases Heritable disorders of collagen rheumatoid factor, poor response to therapy, and the presence of erosions on x-ray all connote a poorer prognosis. The importance of physical and occupational therapy cannot be overstated because when the disease remits, the physical limitations remain with the patient into adulthood.
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a multisystem disorder of unknown etiology characterized by a production of large amounts of circulating autoantibodies. This antibody production may be due to loss of T-lymphocyte control on B-lymphocyte activity, leading to hyperactivity of B lymphocytes, which leads to nonspecific and specific antibody and autoantibody production. These antibodies form immune complexes that become trapped in the microvasculature, leading to inflammation and ischemia.
Although SLE affects primarily women of childbearing age, approximately 5% of cases present in childhood, mainly around puberty. SLE is rare in children younger than 9 years of age. Although there is a female predominance of this disease in adolescence and adulthood, there is an equal gender distribution in children. The overall prevalence of SLE in the pediatric population is 10 to 25 cases per 100,000 children.
Patients with SLE can present either in an abrupt fashion with fulminant disease or in an indolent manner (Tables 90-1 and 90-2). Nonspecific symptoms are common but can be quite profound and may include significant fatigue and malaise, low-grade fever, and weight loss.
Skin disease can be a prominent finding, occurring in up to 95% of patients. A raised, erythematous rash on the cheeks, called a malar butterfly rash, is common (Fig. 90-1). This rash also can occur across the bridge of the nose, on the forehead, and on the chin. Photosensitivity can be problematic, particularly during the summer months. Both of these rashes improve with appropriate therapy. The rash of discoid lupus, by contrast, is an inflammatory process that leads to disruption of the dermal-epidermal junction, resulting in permanent scarring and loss of pigmentation in the affected area. If discoid lupus occurs in the scalp, permanent alopecia ensues because of loss of hair follicles. Raynaud phenomenon, although not specific for SLE, and livedo reticularis also can occur.
Mouth and nasal sores resulting from mucosal ulceration are a common complaint in patients with SLE and can lead to ulceration and perforation of the nasal septum. Because of reticuloendothelial system stimulation, lymphadenopathy and splenomegaly are common findings in SLE. In particular, axillary lymphadenopathy can be a sensitive indicator of disease activity. Serositis can be seen, with chest pain and pleural or pericardial friction rubs or frank effusion.
Renal involvement is one of the most serious manifestations of SLE and is common in pediatric SLE, occurring in 50% to 70% of children. Renal disease may range from microscopic
Malar butterfly rash Discoid lupus Photosensitivity Oral and nasopharyngeal ulcers Nonerosive arthritis (more than two joints with effusion and tenderness) Pleuritis or pericarditis (serositis) Seizures or psychosis in absence of metabolic toxins or drugs
Cellular casts (RBC, granular, or tubular)Hemolytic anemia with reticulocytosis or Leukopenia (<4000 on two occasions) or Lymphopenia (<1500 on two occasions) or Thrombocytopenia (<100,000/mm3)
Evidence of presence of antiphospholipid antibodies IgG or IgM anticardiolipin antibodies or Lupus anticoagulant or False-positive VDRL for >6 mo
Positive ANA in absence of drugs known to induce lupus
ANA, Antinuclear antibody; RBC, red blood cell; VDRL, Venereal Disease Research Laboratory.
*These are the 1997 revised criteria for diagnosing systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). A patient must have 4 of the 11 criteria to establish the diagnosis of SLE. These criteria may be present at the same or at different times during the patient’s illness. Additional, less specific diagnostic manifestations are noted in Table 90-2.
proteinuria or hematuria to gross hematuria, nephrotic syndrome, and renal failure. Hypertension or the presence of edema suggests lupus renal disease.
Arthralgias and arthritis are common. The arthritis is rarely deforming and typically involves the small joints of the hands; any joint may be involved. Myalgias or frank myositis, with muscle weakness and muscle fatigability, may occur. SLE can affect the central nervous system (CNS), leading to a myriad of symptoms ranging from poor school performance and difficulty concentrating, to seizures, psychosis, and stroke.
Testing for SLE is performed to establish the diagnosis, determine prognosis, and monitor response to therapy. Althoughnonspecific, a positive antinuclear antibody is found in more than 97% of patients with SLE, usually at high titers.Because of its high sensitivity, a negative antinuclear antibodyhas a high negative predictive value for SLE. The presence of
Myositis, myalgia ArthralgiaFigure 90-1 Malar butterfly rash on teenage boy with systemic lupus erythematosus. Note erythema on cheeks and chin, sparing the nasolabial folds.
antibodies to double-stranded DNA should raise suspicionfor SLE because these antibodies are present in most patientswith SLE and are found almost exclusively in the disease. Titers of anti-double-stranded DNA antibodies are quantifiable and vary with disease activity. Antibodies directed against Sm (Smith) are specific to SLE but are found in onlyapproximately 30% of persons with SLE, limiting its clinical utility. Antibodies to Ro (SSA) and La (SSB) also can befound in patients with SLE, but they also occur in patientswith Sjögren syndrome. Likewise patients with SLE can haveantibodies directed against phospholipids, which also can beseen in other rheumatologic diseases and in primary antiphospholipid syndrome.
These antibodies lead to an increased risk of arterial and venous thrombosis and can be detected by the presence of anticardiolipin antibodies, a false-positive Venereal Disease Research Laboratory (VDRL) test, or a prolonged activated partial thromboplastin time.
Hematologic abnormalities also are prevalent in patients with SLE. Leukopenia, primarily manifest as lymphopenia, is common. Thrombocytopenia and anemia of chronic disease may be found. Rarely patients with SLE develop Coombspositive autoimmune hemolytic anemia. Excessive antibody production can lead to polyclonal hypergammopathy with an elevated globulin fraction in the serum. Excessive circulating antibodies and immune complexes also lead to the consumption of complement proteins, with low levels of C3 and C4 and decreased complement function as measured by CH50. Effective therapy returns the low complement levels to normal. This is one way to monitor therapy except in patients with familial deficiency in complement components, which, itself, predisposes to SLE.
Urinalysis may show hematuria and proteinuria, identifying patients with lupus nephritis. Serum blood urea nitrogen and creatinine evaluate renal function. Hypoalbuminemia and hypoproteinemia may be present. Elevation of muscle enzymes may be a clue for the presence of myositis. Elevated cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) protein and an elevated IgG-to-albumin ratio when comparing CSF with serum (IgG index) can indicate antibody production in the CSF and help diagnose SLE affecting the CNS. CNS lupus has a specific pattern on gadolinium-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging.
Because SLE is a multisystem disease, it can be difficult to diagnosis early in the disease course. Suspicion must be high in patients who present with diffuse symptoms, particularly adolescent girls. Many of the clinical manifestations of SLE are found in other inflammatory illnesses and during acute or chronic infection. Criteria have been developed for the diagnosis of SLE (see Table 90-1). The presence of 4 of 11 of these criteria has 98% sensitivity and 97% specificity for SLE.
Corticosteroids have been the mainstay of treatment for SLE for decades. Initial use of pulse methylprednisolone and high-dose oral prednisone (up to 2 mg/kg) frequently is required, followed by cautious tapering to minimize recurrence of symptoms. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs have been used to treat the arthralgias and arthritis associated with SLE. Hydroxychloroquine is used not only for the treatment of lupus skin disease, such as discoid lupus, but as maintenance therapy. Hydroxychloroquine treatment results in longer periods of wellness between flares of disease as well as decreased numbers of flares.
Corticosteroids and hydroxychloroquine frequently are not sufficient therapies for lupus nephritis or cerebritis. Cyclophosphamide is effective for the worst forms of lupus nephritis, with significant improvements in outcome and decreased rates of progression to renal failure. CNS lupus responds to cyclophosphamide. For patients who are not able to tolerate the tapering of corticosteroids, the use of steroid-sparing agents, such as azathioprine, methotrexate, or mycophenolate mofetil, may be indicated.
Patients with SLE should be counseled to wear sun block and avoid sun exposure because exposure to the sun precipitates flares of the disease. Because of this prohibition,patients benefit from calcium and vitamin D supplementation to reduce the risk of osteoporosis that may result from prolonged corticosteroid use. Early treatment of hyperlipidemiato decrease long-term cardiovascular complications is alsoindicated.
Long-term complications include avascular necrosis secondary to corticosteroid use, infections, and myocardial infarction. Adult patients with SLE develop accelerated atherosclerosis, not only because of prolonged corticosteroid use but also due to the underlying disease. All patients with SLE should be counseled regarding their weight and maintaining an active lifestyle to reduce other cardiac risk factors.
Outcomes for SLE have improved significantly over the past several decades and depend largely on the organ systems that are involved. Worse prognoses are seen in patients with severe lupus nephritis or cerebritis, with risk of chronic disability or progression to renal failure. With current therapy for the disease and the success of renal transplantation, however, most patients live well into adulthood.
The etiology of juvenile dermatomyositis (JDM) is unknown. It is characterized by activation of T and B lymphocytes, leading to vasculitis affecting small vessels of skeletal muscle, with immune complex deposition and subsequent inflammation of blood vessels and muscle. JDM may follow infections, allergic reactions, or sun exposure, but no causal relationship has been shown.
JDM is a rare disease, with an incidence of less than 0.1:100,000 children. JDM can occur in all age groups with a peak incidence between 4 to 10 years. The disease is slightly more common in girls than boys.
Dermatomyositis tends to present in a slow, progressive fashion, with insidious onset of fatigue, malaise, and progressive muscle weakness, accompanied by low-grade fevers and rash. Some children present in an acute fashion, however, with rapid onset of severe disease.
The muscle disease of JDM primarily affects the proximal muscles, particularly the hip and shoulder girdles, and the abdominal and neck muscles. Children have difficulty climbing steps, getting out of chairs, and getting off the floor. The patient may have a positive Gower sign. In severe cases, the patient is not able to sit up from a supine position or even liftthe head off the examination table (see Chapter 182). If muscles of the upper airway and pharynx are involved, the patient’s voice will sound nasal and the patient may have difficulty swallowing.
A classic JDM rash occurs on the face and across the cheeks but also can be found on the shoulders and back (shawl sign). Patients may have heliotrope discoloration of the eyelids. Scaly, red plaques (Gottron papules) classically are found across the knuckles but can be found on the extensor surfaces of any joint. Patients may have periungual erythema and dilated nail-fold capillaries. Less commonly, patients develop cutaneous vasculitis, with inflammation, erythema, and skin breakdown.
Rash typical of dermatomyositis Symmetric proximal muscle weakness Elevated muscle enzymes (ALT, AST, LDH, CPK, and aldolase) EMG abnormalities typical of dermatomyositis (fasciculations, needle insertion irritability, and high-frequency discharges) Positive muscle biopsy specimen with chronic inflammation
ALT, Alanine aminotransferase; AST, aspartate aminotransferase; CPK, creatine phosphokinase; EMG, electromyography; LDH, lactate dehydrogenase. *To make a definitive diagnosis of dermatomyositis, four of five criteria are required.
At some point, 15% of patients with JDM develop arthritis, commonly affecting small joints, but any joint may be involved. Raynaud phenomenon, hepatomegaly, and splenomegaly may also occur.
Many patients with JDM have no evidence of systemic inflammation (normal blood count and erythrocyte sedimentation rate). Evidence of myositis can be identified in 98% of children with active JDM by elevated serum muscle enzymes, including aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, creatine phosphokinase, aldolase, and lactate dehydrogenase. Electromyography and muscle biopsy can document the myositis. Magnetic resonance imaging is a noninvasive means of showing muscle inflammation.
Diagnosis of JDM is based on the presence of documented muscle inflammation in the setting of classic rash (Table 91-1).A small percentage of children have muscle disease without skin manifestations, but polymyositis is sufficiently rare in children that they should have a muscle biopsy to exclude other causes of muscle weakness, such as muscular dystrophy (particularly boys). The differential diagnosis also includes postinfectious myositis and other myopathies (see Chapter 182).
Methotrexate, supplemented by short-term use of systemic corticosteroids, is the cornerstone of therapy for JDM. Initial treatment with pulse intravenous methylprednisolone is followed by several months of tapering doses of oral prednisone. Early institution of methotrexate significantly decreases the duration of corticosteroid use and its associated toxicities. In severe or refractory cases, it may be necessary to use cyclosporine or cyclophosphamide. Intravenous immunoglobulin is useful as adjunctive therapy. Hydroxychloroquine or dapsone has been used for the skin manifestations. These drugs do not significantly affect the muscle disease. Exposure to the sun worsens the cutaneous manifestations and exacerbates the muscle disease; sunlight may lead to flare. Patients should be advised to wear sun block and refrain from prolonged sun exposure. Accordingly supplementation with calcium and active forms of vitamin D is also indicated.
The most serious complication of JDM is the development of calcinosis. Dystrophic calcification can occur in the skin and soft tissues in any area of the body; it ranges from mild to extensive (calcinosis universalis). Although it is difficult to predict who will develop calcinosis, it occurs more commonly in children with cutaneous vasculitis, prolonged disease activity, or delays in onset of therapy. Patients with JDM who develop vasculitis also are at risk for gastrointestinal perforation and gastrointestinal bleeding. JDM has been associated with lipoatrophy and insulin resistance, which can progress to type 2 diabetes. Control of insulin resistance frequently leads to improvement in muscle disease in these patients.
The outcome of JDM depends greatly on the extent of muscle disease and the time between disease onset and initiation of therapy. JDM follows one of three clinical courses: a monophasic course, in which patients are treated and improve without significant sequelae; a chronic recurrent course; and a chronic progressive course marked by poor response to therapy and resulting loss of function. Patients who ultimately develop calcinosis are at risk for chronic loss of mobility, depending on the extent of calcium deposition. The association of dermatomyositis with malignancy seen in adults does not occur in children.
Growing pains, or benign musculoskeletal pain syndrome, occur in 10% to 20% of school-age children. The peak age range is 3 to 7 years; the syndrome seems to be more common in boys than girls. There is no known etiology, although there seems to be a familial predisposition.
Children with growing pains complain of deep, crampy pain in the calves and thighs. It most typically occurs in the evening or as nocturnal pain that occasionally can waken the child from sleep. Growing pains tend to be more common in children who are extremely active; bouts are exacerbated by increased physical activity. The physical examination is unremarkable, with no evidence of arthritis or muscular tenderness or weakness. Laboratory studies or x-rays, if performed, are normal.
The diagnosis of growing pains is based on a typical history and a normal physical examination. Hypermobility excludes the diagnosis. It is important to consider leukemia as a cause of nocturnal leg pain in children of this age group, so it is prudent to document a normal complete blood count.
The treatment of growing pains consists of reassurance and a regular bedtime ritual of stretching and relaxation. The pain can be relieved by massage. Some patients may benefit from a nighttime dose of acetaminophen or an analgesic dose of a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). Occasionally nocturnal awakening has been of long duration, leading to disruptive behavior patterns. In these cases, intervention must be aimed at decreasing the secondary gain associated with nighttime parental attention and should focus on sleep hygiene. Other than the negative behavioral patterns that can occur, there are no significant complications. Growing pains are not associated with other illnesses and resolve over time.
Figure 92-1 Hyperextension of the knees, an example of hypermobility.
Hypermobility syndromes are disorders of unknown etiology that cause musculoskeletal pain secondary to excessive mobility of joints. These disorders most commonly present in children 3 to 10 years of age. Girls are more commonly affected than boys. There is a familial predisposition to hypermobility syndromes.
Hypermobility can be isolated to a specific joint group or can present as a generalized disorder. Symptoms vary depending on the joints involved. The most consistent symptom is pain, which may occur during the day or night. The discomfort may increase after exertion but rarely interferes with regular physical activity. Children with hypermobility of the ankles or feet may complain of chronic leg or back pain.
Joint hypermobility may be quite marked. Range of motion may be exaggerated with excessive flexion or extension at the metacarpophalangeal joints, wrists, elbows, or knees (genu recurvatum) (Fig. 92-1). There may be excessive pronation of the ankles. Hypermobility of the foot (flat foot; pes planus) is shown by the presence of a longitudinal arch of the foot that disappears with weight bearing and may be associated with a shortened Achilles tendon (see Chapter 200). These findings
Touch thumb to flexor aspect of the 1 point each for right and forearm
Extend fifth metacarpophalangeal 1 point each for right and joint to 90 degrees left >10 degrees hyperextension of 1 point each for right and elbow left >10 degrees hyperextension of knee 1 point each for right and left
Touch palms to floor with knees 1 point straight *>6 points defines hypermobility.
are rarely associated with tenderness on examination. No laboratory test abnormalities are apparent, and radiographs of affected joints are normal.
The diagnosis of isolated hypermobility is made on the basis of physical examination with demonstration of exaggerated mobility of a joint. Generalized hypermobility is diagnosed by the presence of sufficient criteria (Table 92-1) and the absence of evidence of other underlying disorders. Excessive skin elasticity, easy bruisability, or mitral valve prolapse suggests Ehlers-Danlos syndrome or Marfan syndrome rather than benign hypermobility.
The treatment of hypermobility consists of reassurance and regular stretching, similar to treatment for other benign musculoskeletal disorders. NSAIDs can be administered as needed but do not need to be prescribed on a regular basis. Arch supports can be helpful in children with symptomatic pes planus but are not indicated in the absence of symptoms. Benign hypermobility tends to improve with increasing age and is not associated with long-term complications.
The myofascial pain syndromes are a group of noninflammatory disorders characterized by diffuse musculoskeletal pain, the presence of multiple tender points, fatigue, malaise, and poor sleep patterns. The etiology of these disorders is unknown, although there seems to be a familial predisposition. Although these disorders sometimes follow viral infection or trauma, no causal relationship has been shown. The myofascial pain syndromes are most common in adults but can occur in children (particularly >12 years of age). The syndromes are more common in girls than in boys. The prevalence of fibromyalgia in children has been reported to be 6%.
Patients with myofascial pain syndromes complain of long-standing diffuse pain in muscles and in the soft tissues around joints that can occur at any time of day, awaken the patient from sleep, and interfere with regular activities. There is frequently a high degree of school absenteeism, despite maintaining adequate school performance. A significant percentage of patients with myofascial pain syndromes exhibit symptoms consistent with depression. An increased incidence of sexual abuse has been reported in children presenting with fibromyalgia.
Physical examination is typically unremarkable with the exception of the presence of specific points that are painful—not just tender—to digital palpation. These points often are located on the neck, back, lateral epicondyles, greater trochanter, and knees. There is no evidence of arthritis or muscular weakness.
Patients with myofascial pain syndromes frequently undergo extensive medical testing because of the concern for underlying inflammatory disease. These tests are invariably normal. Children may have a false-positive antinuclear antibody, which is found in 20% of the normal pediatric population.
The diagnosis of myofascial pain syndrome is based on the presence of multiple tender points in the absence of other illness. To fulfill strict criteria for a diagnosis of fibromyalgia, the patient must have a history of diffuse pain for at least 3 months and the presence of 11 of 18 specific tender points on examination. It is important to exclude underlying inflammatory diseases, such as systemic lupus erythematosus, or the post-infectious fatigue that characteristically follows Epstein-Barr virus and influenza virus infection. Mood and conversion disorders also should be considered.
Treatment consists of pain control, usually using NSAIDs, physical therapy, relaxation techniques, and education regarding sleep hygiene. Patients may require low doses of medications, such as amitriptyline to regulate sleep or gabapentin to reduce pain sensitivity. Education and reassurance are crucial.
Because of the disability associated with myofascial pain syndromes, patients and parents frequently believe that the child has a serious underlying condition and may be resistant to reassurance. It should be emphasized that there is no simple cure, and time and perseverance are required.
The long-term outcomes in the myofascial pain syndromes vary. Patients and families who focus on therapy and are positive in their approach tend to have better outcomes. Patients who demand prolonged evaluations, especially from multiple health care providers, may do more poorly. Overall children with fibromyalgia and myofascial pain syndromes have better prognoses than their adult counterparts.
Connelly M, Schanberg L: Latest developments in the assessment and management of chronic musculoskeletal pain syndromes in children, Curr
Opin Rheumatol 18:496–502, 2006Falcini F: Kawasaki disease, Curr Opin Rheumatol 18:33–38, 2006Feldman BM, Rider LG, Reed AM, et al: Juvenile dermatomyosítis and other idiopathic inflammatory myopathies of childhood, Lancet 371:2201–2212,
Gottlieb BS, Ilowite NT: Systemic lupus erythematosus in children and adolescents, Pediatr Rev 27:323–330, 2006
Ravelli A, Martini A: Juvenile idiopathic arthritis, Lancet 369:767–778, 2007
Tizard EJ, Hamilton-Ayres MJJ: Henoch Schonlein purpura, Arch Dis Child
Ed Pract 93:1–8, 2008Matthew P. Kronman and Sherilyn Smith 16Overlapping clinical symptoms caused by infectious and noninfectious illnesses make the diagnosis of some diseases difficult. Clinicians are concerned that an untreated minor infection may progress to a life-threatening illness, if appropriate treatment is not given. However unnecessary treatment with antimicrobial agents may lead to a serious problem—emergence of antimicrobial resistant organisms. Accurate diagnosis of infectious and noninfectious diseases and providing specific treatment only as indicated reduce the unnecessaryuse of antibiotics.
A thorough assessment of the patient, including a detailed history, complete physical examination, and appropriate diagnostic testing is the cornerstone of optimal care.
The ability to diagnose specific infections accurately begins with an understanding of the epidemiology; risk factors, including exposures to sick contacts or environmental risks (e.g., zoonosis); and age-related susceptibility reflecting the maturity of the immune system. Obtaining a thorough history and physical examination identifies most of these elements (Tables 93-1 and 93-2) and guides appropriate use of other diagnostic tests.
Unique questions that help identify whether an infectionis causing the patient’s symptoms include a detailed environmental history (including sick contacts, travel, and animal exposure) (see Table 93-1). Certain infections are more common in specific geographic areas. For instance parasitic infections are more common in tropical climates. Diarrhea maybe bacterial, viral, or parasitic in the tropics, but in temperateclimates parasitic causes of diarrhea, other than giardiasis,are much less likely. Certain fungal infections have specificgeographic distribution (coccidioidomycosis in the southwestern United States, blastomycosis in the upper Midwest,and histoplasmosis in central United States). In other areas,fungal pneumonias are rare except in immunocompromised persons.
An immunization history is critical for determining susceptibility to vaccine preventable diseases. Family history, especially of unexpected deaths of male infants, may suggest familial immunodeficiency (see Chapters 73 through 76). Localization of symptoms to a specific site may narrow diagnostic possibilities (see Table 93-2).
A complete physical examination is essential to identify signs of infection, which may be systemic, such as fever and shock, or focal, including swelling, erythema, tenderness, and limitation of function. Many infectious diseases are associated with characteristic cutaneous signs (see Table 97-1). Accurate otolaryngologic examination is critical for diagnosing upper respiratory tract infections and otitis media, the most common childhood infectious diseases in the United States.
Available @ StudentConsult.comFever and Rash Fever without a Source Fever of Unknown Origin
Fever does not always represent infection. Rheumatologic disease, inflammatory bowel disease, Kawasaki disease, poisoning, and malignancy also may present with fever. Particularly, children with overwhelming infection may be afebrile or hypothermic. Common symptoms, such as bone pain or lymphadenopathy that suggest infection, may also be due to leukemia, lymphoma, juvenile idiopathic arthritis, or Kawasaki disease (see Chapters 88, 89, and 153). Acute mental status changes or focal neurologic impairment could be manifestations of infections (encephalitis, meningitis, or brain abscess) or noninfectious causes (brain or spinal tumors, inflammatory conditions, postinfectious sequelae, or impairment from toxic ingestions or inhalants). Many manifestations of mucosal allergy (rhinitis, diarrhea) may mimic common infectious diseases (see Chapter 77).
Some infections are prone to recurrence, especially if treatment is suboptimal (inadequate antimicrobial or shorter duration). Recurrent, severe, or unusual (opportunistic) infections suggest the possibility of immunodeficiency (see Chapters 72 and 125).
Laboratory diagnosis of infection includes examination of bacterial morphology using Gram stain, various culture techniques,
Season of year Age General health Weight change Fever—presence, duration, and pattern Previous similar symptoms Previous infections and other illnesses Previous surgeries, dental procedures Preceding trauma Presence of outbreaks or epidemics in the community Exposures to infected individuals Exposures to farm or feral animals and pets Exposures to ticks and mosquitoes Sexual history, including possibility of sexual abuse Illicit drug use Transfusion of blood or blood products Travel history Daycare or school attendance Sources of water and food (e.g., undercooked meat, unpasteurized dairy products) Home sanitary facilities and hygiene Pica Exposure to soil-borne and waterborne organisms (e.g., swimming in brackish water) Presence of foreign bodies (e.g., indwelling catheters, shunt, grafts) Immunization history Immunodeficiency (chemotherapy, acquired, congenital) Current medications molecular microbiologic methods such as polymerase chainreaction, and assessment of the immune response with antibodytiters or skin testing. The acute phase response is a nonspecificmetabolic and inflammatory response to infection, trauma, autoimmune disease, and some malignancies. Acute phase reactantssuch as erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C-reactive proteinare commonly elevated during an infection but are not specificfor infection and do not identify any specific infection. Thesetests are often used to monitor response to therapy.
A complete blood count is frequently obtained for evidence of infection. The initial response to infection, especially in children, is usually a leukocytosis (increased number of circulating leukocytes) with an initial neutrophilic response to both bacterial and viral infections. With most viral infections, this response is transient and is followed quickly by a characteristic mononuclear response. In general, bacterial infections are associated with greater neutrophil counts than viral infections (Table 93-3). A shift-to-the-left is an increase in the numbers of circulating immature cells of the neutrophil series, including band forms, metamyelocytes, and myelocytes and indicates the rapid release of cells from the bone marrow. It is characteristic of the early stages of infection and, if sustained, bacterial infections. Transient lymphopenia at the beginning of illness and lasting 24 to 48 hours has been described with many viral infections. Atypical lymphocytes are mature T lymphocytes with larger, eccentrically placed, and indented nuclei classically seen with infectious mononucleosis caused by Epstein-Barr virus. Other infections associated with atypical lymphocytosis include cytomegalovirus infection, toxoplasmosis, viral hepatitis, rubella, roseola, mumps, and some drug reactions. Eosinophilia is characteristic of allergic diseases but may be seen with tissue-invasive multicellular parasites, such as the migration of the larval stages of parasites through skin, connective tissue, and viscera. High-grade eosinophilia (>30% eosinophils, or a total eosinophil count >3000/μL) frequently occurs during the muscle invasion phase
Table 93-2 Localizing Manifestations of Infection SITE LOCALIZING SYMPTOMS LOCALIZING SIGNS* Eye Eye pain, double vision, photophobia, conjunctival discharge Periorbital erythema, periorbital edema, drainage, chemosis, limitation of extraocular movements
Ear pain, drainage Red bulging tympanic membrane, drainage from ear canal
Upper respiratory Rhinorrhea, sore throat, cough, drooling, stridor, Nasal congestion, pharyngeal erythema, enlarged tonsils with exudate, tract trismus, sinus pain, tooth pain, hoarse voice swollen red epiglottis, regional lymphadenopathy
Lower respiratory Cough, chest pain, dyspnea, sputum Tachypnea, crackles, wheezing, localized diminished breath sounds, tract production, cyanosis intercostal retractions
Gastrointestinal Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain Hypoactive or hyperactive bowel sounds, abdominal tenderness (focal tract (focal or diffuse), anorexia, weight loss or generalized), hematochezia
Liver Anorexia, vomiting, dark urine, light stools Jaundice, hepatomegaly, hepatic tenderness, bleeding diatheses, coma
Genitourinary tract Dysuria, frequency, urgency, flank or Costovertebral angle or suprapubic tenderness, cervical motion and suprapubic pain, vaginal discharge adnexal tenderness
Central nervous Lethargy, irritability, headache, neck stiffness, Nuchal rigidity, Kernig sign, Brudzinski sign, bulging fontanelle, focal system seizures neurologic deficits, altered mental status, coma
Musculoskeletal Limp, bone pain, limited function Local swelling, erythema, warmth, limited range of motion, point bone (pseudoparalysis) tenderness, joint line tenderness *Fever usually accompanies infection as a systemic manifestation.
of trichinellosis, the pulmonary phases of ascariasis and hookworm infection (eosinophilic pneumonia), and the hepatic and central nervous system phases of visceral larva migrans.
Other common screening tests include urinalysis for urinary tract infections, transaminases for liver function, and lumbar puncture for evaluation of the cerebrospinal fluid if there is concern for meningitis or encephalitis (see Chapters 100 and 101). Various tests may help distinguish viral versus bacterial infection, but definitive diagnosis requires identifying the agent by culture or another test, such as polymerase chain reaction.
Cultures are the mainstay of diagnosis of many infections. Blood cultures are sensitive and specific for bacteremia, which may be primary or secondary to a focal infection (osteomyelitis, gastroenteritis, urinary tract, and endocarditis). Urine cultures are important to confirm urinary tract infection, which may be occult in young infants. Cultures should be obtained with every lumbar puncture, aspiration, or biopsy of other fluid collections or masses. Specific types of cultures (bacterial, fungal, viral, or mycobacterial) are guided by the clinical problem. Tissue culture techniques are used to identify viruses and intracellular bacterial pathogens.
Antibiotics often are begun before a definitive diagnosis is established, complicating the ability to rely on subsequent cultures for microbiologic diagnosis (see Chapter 95). Although persistent or progressive symptoms, despite antibiotic treatment, may indicate the need to change the regimen, more frequently this indicates the need to stop all antibiotics to facilitate definitive diagnosis by obtaining appropriate cultures. Antibiotics should not be given before obtaining appropriate cultures unless there is a life-threatening situation (e.g., septic shock).
Rapid tests, such as antigen tests, are useful for preliminary diagnosis and are included in numerous bacterial, viral, fungal, and parasitic antigen detection tests. Serologic tests, using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay or Western
CRP, C-reactive protein; ESR, erythrocyte sedimentation rate; IL, interleukin; PAF, platelet-activating factor; TNF, tumor necrosis factor.
*Adenovirus and herpes simplex may cause leukocytosis and increased ESR; Epstein-Barr virus may cause petechiae and increased ESR.
†Early viral (enterovirus, arbovirus) meningitis initially may have a neutrophilic pleocytosis.
‡Nuchal rigidity, bulging fontanelle, Kernig sign, Brudzinski sign.blotting, showing an IgM response, high IgG titer, or seroconversion between acute and convalescent sera, can be used for diagnosis. Molecular tests, such as polymerase chain reaction for DNA or RNA, offer the specificity of culture, high sensitivity, and rapid results. When an unusual infection is suspected, a microbiologist should be consulted before samples are obtained.
The choice of diagnostic imaging mode should be based on the location of the findings. In the absence of localizing signs and during an acute infection, imaging of the entire body is less productive. Plain x-rays are useful initial tests for respiratory tract infections. Ultrasonography is a noninvasive, nonirradiating technique well suited to infants and children for imaging solid organs. It also is useful to identify soft tissue abscesses with lymphadenitis and to diagnose suppurative arthritis of the hip. Computed tomography (CT) (with contrast enhancement) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) (with gadolinium enhancement) allow characterization of lesions and precise anatomic localization and are the modalities of choice for the brain. CT shows greater bone detail, and MRI shows greater tissue detail. MRI is especially useful for diagnosis of osteomyelitis, myositis, and necrotizing fasciitis. High-resolution CT is useful for complicated chest infections. Judicious use of CT scans is important because of the longterm effects of radiation on children’s health. Contrast studies (upper gastrointestinal series, barium enema) are used to identify mucosal lesions of the gastrointestinal tract, whereas CT or MRI is preferred for evaluation of appendicitis and intra-abdominal masses. A voiding cystourethrogram may be used to evaluate for vesicoureteral reflux, a predisposing factor for upper urinary tract infections. Radionuclide scans, such as technetium-99m for osteomyelitis and dimercaptosuccinic acid for acute pyelonephritis, are often informative.
Childhood immunization has markedly reduced the impact of major infectious diseases. Active immunization induces immunity through the administration of a vaccine or toxoid (inactivated toxin). Passive immunization includes transplacental transfer of maternal antibodies and the administration of antibody, either as immunoglobulin or monoclonal antibody.
Vaccinations may be with live attenuated viruses (measles, mumps, rubella [MMR], varicella, nasal influenza), inactivated or killed viruses (polio, hepatitis A, intramuscular influenza), recombinant products (hepatitis B, human papillomavirus), reassortants (rotavirus), or immunogenic components of bacteria (pertussis, Haemophilus influenzae type b, Neisseria meningitidis, and Streptococcus pneumoniae), including toxoids (diphtheria, tetanus). Many purified polysaccharides are T-independent antigens that initiate B-cell proliferation without involvement of CD4 T lymphocytes and are poor immunogens in children younger than 2 years of age. Conjugation of a polysaccharide to a protein carrier induces a T-dependent response in infants and creates immunogenic vaccines for
H. influenzae type b, S. pneumoniae, and N. meningitidis.Childhood immunization standards and recommendations in the United States (Figs. 94-1 and 94-2) are formulated by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (ACIP), the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the American Academy of Family Physicians. In the United States, due to state laws requiring immunization for school entry, approximately 95% of children entering kindergarten are vaccinated for the common infectious diseases. The ACIP recommends that children in the United States routinely receive vaccines against 16 diseases (see Fig. 94-1). This schedule includes up to 21 injections in four to five visits by 18 months of age. Children and adolescents who are at increased risk for pneumococcal infections should receive the pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine, as well. Children who are behind in immunization should receive catch-up immunizations as rapidly as feasible. Infants born prematurely, regardless of birth weight, should be vaccinated at the same chronologic age and according to the same schedule as full-term infants and children (see Fig. 94-2). The single exception to this practice is providing hepatitis B vaccine for infants weighing less than 2000 g if the mother is hepatitis B virus surface antigen (HBsAg)-negative at 1 month instead of at birth. Vaccines for adolescents should be given at 11 to 12 years of age (see Fig. 94-1), with completion of any vaccine series at 13 to 18 years of age and a booster for N. meningitidis at 16 years of age.
Vaccines should be administered after obtaining informed consent. The National Childhood Vaccine Injury Actrequires that all health care providers provide parents or patients with copies of Vaccine Information Statements prepared by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/vis/default.htm ) before administering each vaccine dose.
Most vaccines are administered by intramuscular or subcutaneous injection. The preferred sites for administration are the anterolateral aspect of the thigh in infants and the deltoid region in children and adults. Multiple vaccines can be administered simultaneously at anatomically separate sites (different limbs, or separated by >1 in.) without diminishing the immune response. MMR and varicella vaccines should be administered simultaneously or more than 30 days apart. Administration of blood products and immunoglobulin can diminish response to live virus vaccines if administered before the recommended interval.
General contraindications to vaccination include serious allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) after a previous vaccine dose or to a vaccine component, immunocompromised states or pregnancy (live virus vaccines), and moderate or severe acute illness with or without fever. History of anaphylactic-like reactions to eggs is a contraindication to influenza and yellow fever vaccines, which are produced in embryonated chicken eggs. Current preparations of measles and mumps vaccines, which are produced in chick embryo fibroblast tissue culture, do not contain significant amounts of egg proteins and may be administered without testing children with history of egg allergy. Mild acute illness, with or without fever, convalescent phase of illness, recent exposure to infectious diseases, current antimicrobial therapy, breastfeeding, mild to moderate local reaction or low-grade to moderate fever after previous vaccination, and history of penicillin or other nonvaccine allergy or receiving allergen extract immunotherapy are not contraindications to immunization.
Severe immunosuppression resulting from congenital immunodeficiency, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, leukemia, lymphoma, cancer therapy, or a prolonged course of high-dose corticosteroids (>2 mg/kg/day for >2 weeks) predisposes to complications and is a contraindication for live virus vaccines. For HIV-infected children who do not have evidence of severe immunosuppression, MMR vaccination is recommended at 12 months of age with a second dose 1 month later rather than waiting until 4 to 6 years of age. Varicella vaccine is contraindicated for persons with cellular immunodeficiency but is recommended for persons with impaired humoral immunity (hypogammaglobulinemia or dysgammaglobulinemia) and at 12 months of age for HIV-infected children without evidence of severe immunosuppression, given as two doses 3 months apart.
The National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act requires that clinically significant adverse events after vaccination be reported to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) ( http://www.vaers.hhs.gov or (800) 822-7967). Suspected cases of vaccine-preventable diseases should be reported to state or local health departments. The act also established the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, a no-fault system in which persons thought to have suffered an injury or death as a result of administration of a covered vaccine can seek compensation.
Prophylaxis may include antibiotics, immunoglobulin or monoclonal antibody, vaccine, alone or in combination; they may be used postexposure, for perinatal exposure, and preexposure for persons at increased risk for infection. Primary prophylaxis is used to prevent infection before a first occurrence. Secondary prophylaxis is used to prevent recurrence after a first episode.
Primary prophylaxis to all contacts of index cases of N. meningitidis infection should be administered as soon as possible (see Chapter 100). Prophylaxis is recommended for all household contacts, especially young children; child care or nursery school contacts in the previous 7 days; for direct exposure to the index patient’s secretions through kissing or sharing of toothbrushes or eating utensils; and for mouth-to-mouth resuscitation or unprotected contact during endotracheal intubation within 7 days before onset of illness. Prophylaxis is also recommended for contacts who frequently sleep or eat in the same dwelling as the index patient or passengers seated directly next to the index case during airline flights lasting longer than 8 hours. Chemoprophylaxis is not recommended for casual contacts with no history of direct exposure to the patient’s oral secretions (school or work mate), indirect
Recommended immunization schedule for persons aged 0 through 18 years – 2013. (FOR THOSE WHO FALL BEHIND OR START LATE, SEE THE CATCH-UP SCHEDULE [FIGURE 94-2]).
These recommendations must be read with the footnotes that follow. For those who fall behind or start late, provide catch-up vaccination at the earliest opportunity as indicated by the green bars in Figure 94-1. To determine minimum intervals between doses, see the catch-up schedule (Fig. 94-2). School entry and adolescent vaccine age groups are in bold.
Vaccines Birth 1 mo 2 mos 4 mos 6 mos 9 mos 12 mos 15 mos 18 mos 19–23 mos 2-3 yrs 4-6 yrs 7-10 yrs 11-12 yrs 13–15 yrs 16–18 yrs Hepatitis B (HepB) Rotavirus (RV) RV-1 (2-dose series); RV-5 (3-dose series) Diphtheria, tetanus, & acellular pertussis (DTaP: <7 yrs) Tetanus, diphtheria, & acellular pertussis (Tdap: >7 yrs) type b (Hib) Pneumococcal conjugate (PCV13) Pneumococcal polysaccharide (PPSV23) Inactivated Poliovirus (IPV) (<18years) (IIV; LAIV) 2 doses for some : see footnote 8 Measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) Varicella (VAR) Hepatitis A (HepA) Human papillomavirus (HPV2: females only; HPV4: males and females) Meningococcal (Hib-MenCY > 6 weeks; MCV4-D > 9 mos; MCV4-CRM > 2 yrs.) booster 1 dosesee footnote 13 (3-dose series) 2dose series, see footnote 11 2 dose1 dose 2 dose1 dose Annual vaccination (IIV or LAIV) Annual vaccination (IIV only) 4 dose3 dose2 dose1 dose 4 dose3 dose2 dose1 dose 3 or 4 dose, see footnote 5 See footnote 52 dose1 dose (Tdap) 5 dose4 dose3 dose2 dose1 dose See footnote 22 dose1 dose 3 dose2 dose1 dose
Range of recommended ages during which ages for all children
Range of recommendedRange of recommended ages Range of recommended ages forNot routinely recommended high-risk groups catch-up is encouraged and for certain for catch-up immunization certain high-risk  groups
This schedule includes recommendations in effect as of January 1, 2013. Any dose not administered at the recommended age should be administered at a subsequent visit, when indicated and feasible. The use of a combination vaccine generally is preferred over separate injections of its equivalent component vaccines. Vaccination providers should consult the relevant Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) statement for detailed recommendations, available online at http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/acip-list.htm. Clinically significant adverse events that follow vaccination should be reported to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) online ( http://www.vaers.hhs.gov ) or by telephone (800-822-7967). Suspected cases of vaccine-preventable diseases should be reported to the state or local health department. Additional information, including precautions and contraindications for vaccination, is available from CDC online (http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines ) or by telephone (800-CDC-INFO [800-232-4636]).
This schedule is approved by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/acip/index.html), the American Academy of Pediatrics (http://www. aap.org), the American Academy of Family Physicians ( http://www.aafp.org), and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists ( http://www.acog.org).
Figure 94-1 Recommended immunization schedules for persons ages 0 through 18 years—United States, 2013. (Approved by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices; American Academy of Pediatrics; American Academy of Family Physicians; and American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists). (Courtesy of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/schedules/hcp/child-adolescent.html
For further guidance on the use of the vaccines mentioned below, see: http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/acip-list.htm.
1. Hepatitis B (HepB) vaccine. (Minimum age: birth) Routine vaccination: At birth  Administer monovalent HepB vaccine to all newborns before hospital  discharge.  For infants born to hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)–positive mothers,  administer HepB vaccine and 0.5 mL of hepatitis B immune globulin  (HBIG) within 12 hours of birth. These infants should be tested for HBsAg and antibody to HBsAg (anti-HBs) 1 to 2 months after completion of the  HepB series, at age 9 through 18 months (preferably at the next well-child visit).  If mother’s HBsAg status is unknown, within 12 hours of birth administer  HepB vaccine to all infants regardless of birth weight. For infants  weighing <2,000 grams, administer HBIG in addition to HepB within 12  hours of birth. Determine mother’s HBsAg status as soon as possible  and, if she is HBsAg-positive, also administer HBIG for infants weighing 2,000 grams (no later than age 1 week). Doses following the birth dose  The second dose should be administered at age 1 or 2 months.  Monovalent HepB vaccine should be used for doses administered before  age 6 weeks.  Infants who did not receive a birth dose should receive 3 doses of a  HepB-containing vaccine on a schedule of 0, 1 to 2 months, and 6  months starting as soon as feasible. See Figure 2.  The minimum interval between dose 1 and dose 2 is 4 weeks and  between dose 2 and 3 is 8 weeks. The final (third or fourth) dose in the  HepB vaccine series should be administered no earlier than age 24  weeks, and at least 16 weeks after the first dose.  Administration of a total of 4 doses of HepB vaccine is recommended  when a combination vaccine containing HepB is administered after the  birth dose. Catch-up vaccination:  Unvaccinated persons should complete a 3-dose series.  A 2-dose series (doses separated by at least 4 months) of adult formulation Recombivax HB is licensed for use in children aged 11  through 15 years.  For other catch-up issues, see Figure 2.
2. Rotavirus (RV) vaccines. (Minimum age: 6 weeks for both RV-1 [Rotarix] and RV-5 [RotaTeq]). Routine vaccination:  Administer a series of RV vaccine to all infants as follows: 1.
If RV-1 is used, administer a 2-dose series at 2 and 4 months of age.
If RV-5 is used, administer a 3-dose series at ages 2, 4, and 6 months.
If any dose in series was RV-5 or vaccine product is unknown for any      dose in the series, a total of 3 doses of RV vaccine should be administered.
Catch-up vaccination:  The maximum age for the first dose in the series is 14 weeks, 6 days.  Vaccination should not be initiated for infants aged 15 weeks 0 days or older.  The maximum age for the final dose in the series is 8 months, 0 days.  If RV-1(Rotarix) is administered for the first and second doses, a third dose is not indicated.  For other catch-up issues, see Figure 2.
3. Diphtheria and tetanus toxoids and acellular pertussis (DTaP)  vaccine. (Minimum age: 6 weeks) Routine vaccination:  Administer a 5-dose series of DTaP vaccine at ages 2, 4, 6, 15–18  months, and 4 through 6 years. The fourth dose may be administered as  early as age 12 months, provided at least 6 months have elapsed since  the third dose. Catch-up vaccination:  The fifth (booster) dose of DTaP vaccine is not necessary if the fourth  dose was administered at age 4 years or older.  For other catch-up issues, see Figure 2.
4. Tetanus and diphtheria toxoids and acellular pertussis (Tdap) vaccine. (Minimum age: 10 years for Boostrix, 11 years for Adacel). Routine vaccination:  Administer 1 dose of Tdap vaccine to all adolescents aged 11 through 12  years.  Tdap can be administered regardless of the interval since the last tetanus  and diphtheria toxoid-containing vaccine.  Administer one dose of Tdap vaccine to pregnant adolescents during  each pregnancy (preferred during 27 through 36 weeks gestation)  regardless of number of years from prior Td or Tdap vaccination. Catch-up vaccination:  Persons aged 7 through 10 years who are not fully immunized with the  childhood DTaP vaccine series, should receive Tdap vaccine as the first  dose in the catch-up series; if additional doses are needed, use Td  vaccine. For these children, an adolescent Tdap vaccine should not be  given.  Persons aged 11 through 18 years who have not received Tdap vaccine  should receive a dose followed by tetanus and diphtheria toxoids (Td) booster doses every 10 years thereafter.  An inadvertent dose of DTaP vaccine administered to children aged 7  through 10 years can count as part of the catch-up series. This dose can  count as the adolescent Tdap dose, or the child can later receive a Tdap  booster dose at age 11–12 years.  For other catch-up issues, see Figure 2.
5. Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) conjugate vaccine. (Minimum age: 6 weeks) Routine vaccination:  Administer a Hib vaccine primary series and a booster dose to all infants. The primary series doses should be administered at 2, 4, and 6 months  of age; however, if PRP-OMP (PedvaxHib or Comvax) is administered at  2 and 4 months of age, a dose at age 6 months is not indicated. One  booster dose should be administered at age 12 through15 months.  Hiberix (PRP-T) should only be used for the booster (final) dose in  children aged 12 months through 4 years, who have received at least 1  dose of Hib. Catch-up vaccination:  If dose 1 was administered at ages 12-14 months, administer booster (as final dose) at least 8 weeks after dose 1.  If the first 2 doses were PRP-OMP (PedvaxHIB or Comvax), and were  administered at age 11 months or younger, the third (and final) dose should be administered at age 12 through 15 months and at least 8  weeks after the second dose.  If the first dose was administered at age 7 through 11 months, administer the second dose at least 4 weeks later and a final dose at age 12 through  15 months, regardless of Hib vaccine (PRP-T or PRP-OMP) used for first  dose.  For unvaccinated children aged 15 months or older, administer only 1  dose.  For other catch-up issues, see Figure 2. Vaccination of persons with high-risk conditions:  Hib vaccine is not routinely recommended for patients older than 5 years of age. However one dose of Hib vaccine should be administered to  unvaccinated or partially vaccinated persons aged 5 years or older who  have leukemia, malignant neoplasms, anatomic or functional asplenia  (including sickle cell disease), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)  infection, or other immunocompromising conditions.
6a. Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV). (Minimum age: 6 weeks) Routine vaccination:  Administer a series of PCV13 vaccine at ages 2, 4, 6 months with a  booster at age 12 through 15 months.  For children aged 14 through 59 months who have received an  age-appropriate series of 7-valent PCV (PCV7), administer a single  supplemental dose of 13-valent PCV (PCV13). Catch-up vaccination:  Administer 1 dose of PCV13 to all healthy children aged 24 through 59 months who are not completely vaccinated for their age.  For other catch-up issues, see Figure 2. Vaccination of persons with high-risk conditions:  For children aged 24 through 71 months with certain underlying medical  conditions (see footnote 6c), administer 1 dose of PCV13 if 3 doses of  PCV were received previously, or administer 2 doses of PCV13 at least 8  weeks apart if fewer than 3 doses of PCV were received previously.  A single dose of PCV13 may be administered to previously unvaccinated  children aged 6 through 18 years who have anatomic or functional  asplenia (including sickle cell disease), HIV infection or an immunocompromising condition, cochlear implant or cerebrospinal fluid  leak. See MMWR 2010;59 (No. RR-11), available at http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/pdf/rr/rr5911.pdf.  Administer PPSV23 at least 8 weeks after the last dose of PCV to  children aged 2 years or older with certain underlying medical conditions  (see footnotes 6b and 6c).
6b. Pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV23). (Minimum age: 2  years) Vaccination of persons with high-risk conditions:  Administer PPSV23 at least 8 weeks after the last dose of PCV to  children aged 2 years or older with certain underlying medical conditions  (see footnote 6c). A single revaccination with PPSV should be  administered after 5 years to children with anatomic or functional asplenia  (including sickle cell disease) or an immunocompromising condition.
6c. Medical conditions for which PPSV23 is indicated in children aged 2  years and older and for which use of PCV13 is indicated in children aged 24 through 71 months:  Immunocompetent children with chronic heart disease (particularly  cyanotic congenital heart disease and cardiac failure); chronic lung disease (including asthma if treated with high-dose oral corticosteroid therapy), diabetes mellitus; cerebrospinal fluid leaks; or cochlear implant.  Children with anatomic or functional asplenia (including sickle cell disease and other hemoglobinopathies, congenital or acquired asplenia, or splenic dysfunction);  Children with immunocompromising conditions: HIV infection, chronic renal failure and nephrotic syndrome, diseases associated with treatment with immunosuppressive drugs or radiation therapy, including malignant neoplasms, leukemias, lymphomas and Hodgkin disease; or solid organ transplantation, congenital immunodeficiency.
7. Inactivated poliovirus vaccine (IPV). (Minimum age: 6 weeks) Routine vaccination:  Administer a series of IPV at ages 2, 4, 6–18 months, with a booster at age 4–6 years. The final dose in the series should be administered on or after the fourth birthday and at least 6 months after the previous dose. Catch-up vaccination:  In the first 6 months of life, minimum age and minimum intervals are only recommended if the person is at risk for imminent exposure to circulating  poliovirus (i.e., travel to a polio-endemic region or during an outbreak).  If 4 or more doses are administered before age 4 years, an additional dose should be administered at age 4 through 6 years.  A fourth dose is not necessary if the third dose was administered at age 4 years or older and at least 6 months after the previous dose.  If both OPV and IPV were administered as part of a series, a total of 4 doses should be administered, regardless of the child’s current age.  IPV is not routinely recommended for U.S. residents aged 18 years or older.  For other catch-up issues, see Figure 2.
8. Influenza vaccines. (Minimum age: 6 months for inactivated influenza vaccine [IIV]; 2 years for live, attenuated influenza vaccine [LAIV])
Routine vaccination:  Administer influenza vaccine annually to all children beginning at age 6 months. For most healthy, nonpregnant persons aged 2 through 49 years, either LAIV or IIV may be used. However, LAIV should NOT be administered to some persons, including 1) those with asthma, 2) children 2 through 4 years who had wheezing in the past 12 months, or 3) those who have any other underlying medical conditions that predispose them to influenza complications. For all other contraindications to use of LAIV see MMWR 2010; 59 (No. RR-8), available at http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/pdf/rr/rr5908.pdf.
 Administer 1 dose to persons aged 9 years and older.
For children aged 6 months through 8 years:  For the 2012–13 season, administer 2 doses (separated by at least 4 weeks) to children who are receiving influenza vaccine for the first time. For additional guidance, follow dosing guidelines in the 2012 ACIP influenza vaccine recommendations, MMWR 2012; 61: 613–618, available at http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/pdf/wk/mm6132.pdf.
 For the 2013–14 season, follow dosing guidelines in the 2013 ACIP influenza vaccine recommendations.
9. Measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine. (Minimum age: 12 months for routine vaccination) Routine vaccination:  Administer the first dose of MMR vaccine at age 12 through 15 months, and the second dose at age 4 through 6 years. The second dose may be administered before age 4 years, provided at least 4 weeks have elapsed since the first dose.  Administer 1 dose of MMR vaccine to infants aged 6 through 11 months before departure from the United States for international travel. These children should be revaccinated with 2 doses of MMR vaccine, the first at age 12 through 15 months (12 months if the child remains in an area where disease risk is high), and the second dose at least 4 weeks later.  Administer 2 doses of MMR vaccine to children aged 12 months and older, before departure from the United States for international travel. The first dose should be administered on or after age 12 months and the second dose at least 4 weeks later. Catch-up vaccination:  Ensure that all school-aged children and adolescents have had 2 doses of MMR vaccine; the minimum interval between the 2 doses is 4 weeks.
10. Varicella (VAR) vaccine. (Minimum age: 12 months) Routine vaccination:  Administer the first dose of VAR vaccine at age 12 through 15 months, and the second dose at age 4 through 6 years. The second dose may be administered before age 4 years, provided at least 3 months have elapsed since the first dose. If the second dose was administered at least 4 weeks after the first dose, it can be accepted as valid.
Figure 94-1, cont’dCatch-up vaccination:  Ensure that all persons aged 7 through 18 years without evidence of immunity (see MMWR 2007;56 [No. RR-4], available at http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/pdf/rr/rr5604.pdf) have 2 doses of varicella vaccine. For children aged 7 through 12 years the recommended minimum interval between doses is 3 months (if the second dose was administered at least 4 weeks after the first dose, it can be accepted as valid); for persons aged 13 years and older, the minimum interval between doses is 4 weeks.
11. Hepatitis A vaccine (HepA). (Minimum age: 12 months) Routine vaccination:  Initiate the 2-dose HepA vaccine series for children aged 12 through 23 months; separate the 2 doses by 6 to 18 months.  Children who have received 1 dose of HepA vaccine before age 24 months, should receive a second dose 6 to 18 months after the first dose.  For any person aged 2 years and older who has not already received the HepA vaccine series, 2 doses of HepA vaccine separated by 6 to 18 months may be administered if immunity against hepatitis A virus infection is desired. Catch-up vaccination:  The minimum interval between the two doses is 6 months. Special populations:  Administer 2 doses of Hep A vaccine at least 6 months apart to previously unvaccinated persons who live in areas where vaccination programs target older children, or who are at increased risk for infection.
12. Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines. (HPV4 [Gardasil] and HPV2  [Cervarix]). (Minimum age: 9 years) Routine vaccination:  Administer a 3-dose series of HPV vaccine on a schedule of 0, 1-2, and 6 months to all adolescents aged 11-12 years. Either HPV4 or HPV2 may be used for females, and only HPV4 may be used for males.  The vaccine series can be started beginning at age 9 years.  Administer the second dose 1 to 2 months after the first dose and the third dose 6 months after the first dose (at least 24 weeks after the first dose). Catch-up vaccination:  Administer the vaccine series to females (either HPV2 or HPV4) and males (HPV4) at age 13 through 18 years if not previously vaccinated.  Use recommended routine dosing intervals (see above) for vaccine series catch-up.
13. Meningococcal conjugate vaccines (MCV). (Minimum age: 6 weeks   for Hib-MenCY, 9 months for Menactra [MCV4-D], 2 years for Menveo [MCV4-CRM]). Routine vaccination:  Administer MCV4 vaccine at age 11–12 years, with a booster dose at age 16 years.  Adolescents aged 11 through 18 years with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection should receive a 2-dose primary series of MCV4, with at least 8 weeks between doses. See MMWR 2011; 60:1018–1019 available at: http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/pdf/wk/mm6030.pdf.  For children aged 2 months through 10 years with high-risk conditions, see below. Catch-up vaccination:  Administer MCV4 vaccine at age 13 through 18 years if not previously vaccinated.  If the first dose is administered at age 13 through 15 years, a booster dose should be administered at age 16 through 18 years with a minimum interval of at least 8 weeks between doses.  If the first dose is administered at age 16 years or older, a booster dose is not needed.  For other catch-up issues, see Figure 2. Vaccination of persons with high-risk conditions:  For children younger than 19 months of age with anatomic or functional asplenia (including sickle cell disease), administer an infant series of Hib-MenCY at 2, 4, 6, and 12-15 months.  For children aged 2 through 18 months with persistent complement component deficiency, administer either an infant series of Hib-MenCY at 2, 4, 6, and 12 through 15 months or a 2-dose primary series of MCV4-D starting at 9 months, with at least 8 weeks between doses. For children aged 19 through 23 months with persistent complement component deficiency who have not received a complete series of Hib-MenCY or MCV4-D, administer 2 primary doses of MCV4-D at least 8 weeks apart.  For children aged 24 months and older with persistent complement component deficiency or anatomic or functional asplenia (including sickle cell disease), who have not received a complete series of Hib-MenCY or MCV4-D, administer 2 primary doses of either MCV4-D or MCV4-CRM. If MCV4-D (Menactra) is administered to a child with asplenia (including sickle cell disease), do not administer MCV4-D until 2 years of age and at least 4 weeks after the completion of all PCV13 doses. See MMWR 2011;60:1391–2, available at   http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/pdf/wk/mm6040.pdf.  For children aged 9 months and older who are residents of or travelers to countries in the African meningitis belt or to the Hajj, administer an age appropriate formulation and series of MCV4 for protection against serogroups A and W-135. Prior receipt of Hib-MenCY is not sufficient for children traveling to the meningitis belt or the Hajj. See MMWR 2011;60:1391–2, available at http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/pdf/wk/mm6040.pdf.  For children who are present during outbreaks caused by a vaccine serogroup, administer or complete an age and formulation-appropriate series of Hib-MenCY or MCV4.  For booster doses among persons with high-risk conditions refer to http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/acip-list.htm#mening.
Additional information  For contraindications and precautions to use of a vaccine and for additional information regarding that vaccine, vaccination providers should consult the relevant ACIP statement available online at http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/acip-list.htm.  For the purposes of calculating intervals between doses, 4 weeks = 28 days. Intervals of 4 months or greater are determined by calendar months.  Information on travel vaccine requirements and recommendations is available at http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/page/vaccinations.htm.  For vaccination of persons with primary and secondary immunodeficiencies, see Table 13, “Vaccination of persons with primary and secondary immunodeficiencies,” in General Recommendations on Immunization (ACIP), available at http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/rr6002a1.htm; and American Academy of Pediatrics. Immunization in Special Clinical Circumstances. In: Pickering LK, Baker CJ, Kimberlin DW, Long SS eds. Red book: 2012 report of the Committee on Infectious Diseases. 29th ed. Elk Grove Village, IL: American Academy of Pediatrics.
The figure below provides catch-up schedules and minimum intervals between doses for children whose vaccinations have been delayed. A vaccine series does not need to be restarted, regardless of the time that has elapsed between doses. Use the section appropriate for the child’s age. Always use this table in conjunction with Figure 94-1 and the footnotes that follow.
Figure 94-2 Catch-up immunization schedule for persons ages 4 months through 18 years who start late or who are more than 1 month behind—United States, 2013. This figure provides catch-up schedules and minimum intervals between doses for children whose vaccinations have been delayed. A vaccine series does not need to be restarted, regardless of the time that has elapsed between doses. Use the section appropriate for the child’s age. Always use this table in conjunction with the Recommended Immunization Schedule for 2013 and the footnotes that follow. (Approved by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices; American Academy of Pediatrics; American Academy of Family Physicians; and American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.) (Courtesy of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/schedules/hcp/child-adolescent.html
For further guidance on the use of the vaccines mentioned below, see: http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/acip-list.htm.
1. Hepatitis B (HepB) vaccine. (Minimum age: birth) Routine vaccination: At birth  Administer monovalent HepB vaccine to all newborns before hospital  discharge.  For infants born to hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)–positive mothers,  administer HepB vaccine and 0.5 mL of hepatitis B immune globulin  (HBIG) within 12 hours of birth. These infants should be tested for HBsAg and antibody to HBsAg (anti-HBs) 1 to 2 months after completion of the  HepB series, at age 9 through 18 months (preferably at the next well-child visit).  If mother’s HBsAg status is unknown, within 12 hours of birth administer  HepB vaccine to all infants regardless of birth weight. For infants  weighing <2,000 grams, administer HBIG in addition to HepB within 12  hours of birth. Determine mother’s HBsAg status as soon as possible  and, if she is HBsAg-positive, also administer HBIG for infants weighing 2,000 grams (no later than age 1 week). Doses following the birth dose  The second dose should be administered at age 1 or 2 months.  Monovalent HepB vaccine should be used for doses administered before  age 6 weeks.  Infants who did not receive a birth dose should receive 3 doses of a  HepB-containing vaccine on a schedule of 0, 1 to 2 months, and 6  months starting as soon as feasible. See Figure 2.  The minimum interval between dose 1 and dose 2 is 4 weeks and  between dose 2 and 3 is 8 weeks. The final (third or fourth) dose in the  HepB vaccine series should be administered no earlier than age 24  weeks, and at least 16 weeks after the first dose.  Administration of a total of 4 doses of HepB vaccine is recommended  when a combination vaccine containing HepB is administered after the  birth dose. Catch-up vaccination:  Unvaccinated persons should complete a 3-dose series.  A 2-dose series (doses separated by at least 4 months) of adult formulation Recombivax HB is licensed for use in children aged 11  through 15 years.  For other catch-up issues, see Figure 2.
2. Rotavirus (RV) vaccines. (Minimum age: 6 weeks for both RV-1 [Rotarix] and RV-5 [RotaTeq]). Routine vaccination:  Administer a series of RV vaccine to all infants as follows: 1.
If RV-1 is used, administer a 2-dose series at 2 and 4 months of age.
If RV-5 is used, administer a 3-dose series at ages 2, 4, and 6 months.
If any dose in series was RV-5 or vaccine product is unknown for any      dose in the series, a total of 3 doses of RV vaccine should be administered.
Catch-up vaccination:  The maximum age for the first dose in the series is 14 weeks, 6 days.  Vaccination should not be initiated for infants aged 15 weeks 0 days or older.  The maximum age for the final dose in the series is 8 months, 0 days.  If RV-1(Rotarix) is administered for the first and second doses, a third dose is not indicated.  For other catch-up issues, see Figure 2.
3. Diphtheria and tetanus toxoids and acellular pertussis (DTaP)  vaccine. (Minimum age: 6 weeks) Routine vaccination:  Administer a 5-dose series of DTaP vaccine at ages 2, 4, 6, 15–18  months, and 4 through 6 years. The fourth dose may be administered as  early as age 12 months, provided at least 6 months have elapsed since  the third dose. Catch-up vaccination:  The fifth (booster) dose of DTaP vaccine is not necessary if the fourth  dose was administered at age 4 years or older.  For other catch-up issues, see Figure 2.
4. Tetanus and diphtheria toxoids and acellular pertussis (Tdap) vaccine. (Minimum age: 10 years for Boostrix, 11 years for Adacel). Routine vaccination:  Administer 1 dose of Tdap vaccine to all adolescents aged 11 through 12  years.  Tdap can be administered regardless of the interval since the last tetanus  and diphtheria toxoid-containing vaccine.  Administer one dose of Tdap vaccine to pregnant adolescents during  each pregnancy (preferred during 27 through 36 weeks gestation)  regardless of number of years from prior Td or Tdap vaccination. Catch-up vaccination:  Persons aged 7 through 10 years who are not fully immunized with the  childhood DTaP vaccine series, should receive Tdap vaccine as the first  dose in the catch-up series; if additional doses are needed, use Td  vaccine. For these children, an adolescent Tdap vaccine should not be  given.  Persons aged 11 through 18 years who have not received Tdap vaccine  should receive a dose followed by tetanus and diphtheria toxoids (Td) booster doses every 10 years thereafter.  An inadvertent dose of DTaP vaccine administered to children aged 7  through 10 years can count as part of the catch-up series. This dose can  count as the adolescent Tdap dose, or the child can later receive a Tdap  booster dose at age 11–12 years.  For other catch-up issues, see Figure 2.
5. Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) conjugate vaccine. (Minimum age: 6 weeks) Routine vaccination:  Administer a Hib vaccine primary series and a booster dose to all infants. The primary series doses should be administered at 2, 4, and 6 months  of age; however, if PRP-OMP (PedvaxHib or Comvax) is administered at  2 and 4 months of age, a dose at age 6 months is not indicated. One  booster dose should be administered at age 12 through15 months.  Hiberix (PRP-T) should only be used for the booster (final) dose in  children aged 12 months through 4 years, who have received at least 1  dose of Hib. Catch-up vaccination:  If dose 1 was administered at ages 12-14 months, administer booster (as final dose) at least 8 weeks after dose 1.  If the first 2 doses were PRP-OMP (PedvaxHIB or Comvax), and were  administered at age 11 months or younger, the third (and final) dose should be administered at age 12 through 15 months and at least 8  weeks after the second dose.  If the first dose was administered at age 7 through 11 months, administer the second dose at least 4 weeks later and a final dose at age 12 through  15 months, regardless of Hib vaccine (PRP-T or PRP-OMP) used for first  dose.  For unvaccinated children aged 15 months or older, administer only 1  dose.  For other catch-up issues, see Figure 2. Vaccination of persons with high-risk conditions:  Hib vaccine is not routinely recommended for patients older than 5 years of age. However one dose of Hib vaccine should be administered to  unvaccinated or partially vaccinated persons aged 5 years or older who  have leukemia, malignant neoplasms, anatomic or functional asplenia  (including sickle cell disease), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)  infection, or other immunocompromising conditions.
6a. Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV). (Minimum age: 6 weeks) Routine vaccination:  Administer a series of PCV13 vaccine at ages 2, 4, 6 months with a  booster at age 12 through 15 months.  For children aged 14 through 59 months who have received an  age-appropriate series of 7-valent PCV (PCV7), administer a single  supplemental dose of 13-valent PCV (PCV13). Catch-up vaccination:  Administer 1 dose of PCV13 to all healthy children aged 24 through 59 months who are not completely vaccinated for their age.  For other catch-up issues, see Figure 2. Vaccination of persons with high-risk conditions:  For children aged 24 through 71 months with certain underlying medical  conditions (see footnote 6c), administer 1 dose of PCV13 if 3 doses of  PCV were received previously, or administer 2 doses of PCV13 at least 8  weeks apart if fewer than 3 doses of PCV were received previously.  A single dose of PCV13 may be administered to previously unvaccinated  children aged 6 through 18 years who have anatomic or functional  asplenia (including sickle cell disease), HIV infection or an immunocompromising condition, cochlear implant or cerebrospinal fluid  leak. See MMWR 2010;59 (No. RR-11), available at http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/pdf/rr/rr5911.pdf.  Administer PPSV23 at least 8 weeks after the last dose of PCV to  children aged 2 years or older with certain underlying medical conditions  (see footnotes 6b and 6c).
6b. Pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV23). (Minimum age: 2  years) Vaccination of persons with high-risk conditions:  Administer PPSV23 at least 8 weeks after the last dose of PCV to  children aged 2 years or older with certain underlying medical conditions  (see footnote 6c). A single revaccination with PPSV should be  administered after 5 years to children with anatomic or functional asplenia  (including sickle cell disease) or an immunocompromising condition.
6c. Medical conditions for which PPSV23 is indicated in children aged 2  years and older and for which use of PCV13 is indicated in children aged 24 through 71 months:  Immunocompetent children with chronic heart disease (particularly  cyanotic congenital heart disease and cardiac failure); chronic lung disease (including asthma if treated with high-dose oral corticosteroid therapy), diabetes mellitus; cerebrospinal fluid leaks; or cochlear implant.  Children with anatomic or functional asplenia (including sickle cell disease and other hemoglobinopathies, congenital or acquired asplenia, or splenic dysfunction);  Children with immunocompromising conditions: HIV infection, chronic renal failure and nephrotic syndrome, diseases associated with treatment with immunosuppressive drugs or radiation therapy, including malignant neoplasms, leukemias, lymphomas and Hodgkin disease; or solid organ transplantation, congenital immunodeficiency.
7. Inactivated poliovirus vaccine (IPV). (Minimum age: 6 weeks) Routine vaccination:  Administer a series of IPV at ages 2, 4, 6–18 months, with a booster at age 4–6 years. The final dose in the series should be administered on or after the fourth birthday and at least 6 months after the previous dose. Catch-up vaccination:  In the first 6 months of life, minimum age and minimum intervals are only recommended if the person is at risk for imminent exposure to circulating  poliovirus (i.e., travel to a polio-endemic region or during an outbreak).  If 4 or more doses are administered before age 4 years, an additional dose should be administered at age 4 through 6 years.  A fourth dose is not necessary if the third dose was administered at age 4 years or older and at least 6 months after the previous dose.  If both OPV and IPV were administered as part of a series, a total of 4 doses should be administered, regardless of the child’s current age.  IPV is not routinely recommended for U.S. residents aged 18 years or older.  For other catch-up issues, see Figure 2.
8. Influenza vaccines. (Minimum age: 6 months for inactivated influenza vaccine [IIV]; 2 years for live, attenuated influenza vaccine [LAIV])
Routine vaccination:  Administer influenza vaccine annually to all children beginning at age 6 months. For most healthy, nonpregnant persons aged 2 through 49 years, either LAIV or IIV may be used. However, LAIV should NOT be administered to some persons, including 1) those with asthma, 2) children 2 through 4 years who had wheezing in the past 12 months, or 3) those who have any other underlying medical conditions that predispose them to influenza complications. For all other contraindications to use of LAIV see MMWR 2010; 59 (No. RR-8), available at http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/pdf/rr/rr5908.pdf.
 Administer 1 dose to persons aged 9 years and older.
For children aged 6 months through 8 years:  For the 2012–13 season, administer 2 doses (separated by at least 4 weeks) to children who are receiving influenza vaccine for the first time. For additional guidance, follow dosing guidelines in the 2012 ACIP influenza vaccine recommendations, MMWR 2012; 61: 613–618, available at http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/pdf/wk/mm6132.pdf.
 For the 2013–14 season, follow dosing guidelines in the 2013 ACIP influenza vaccine recommendations.
9. Measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine. (Minimum age: 12 months for routine vaccination) Routine vaccination:  Administer the first dose of MMR vaccine at age 12 through 15 months, and the second dose at age 4 through 6 years. The second dose may be administered before age 4 years, provided at least 4 weeks have elapsed since the first dose.  Administer 1 dose of MMR vaccine to infants aged 6 through 11 months before departure from the United States for international travel. These children should be revaccinated with 2 doses of MMR vaccine, the first at age 12 through 15 months (12 months if the child remains in an area where disease risk is high), and the second dose at least 4 weeks later.  Administer 2 doses of MMR vaccine to children aged 12 months and older, before departure from the United States for international travel. The first dose should be administered on or after age 12 months and the second dose at least 4 weeks later. Catch-up vaccination:  Ensure that all school-aged children and adolescents have had 2 doses of MMR vaccine; the minimum interval between the 2 doses is 4 weeks.
10. Varicella (VAR) vaccine. (Minimum age: 12 months) Routine vaccination:  Administer the first dose of VAR vaccine at age 12 through 15 months, and the second dose at age 4 through 6 years. The second dose may be administered before age 4 years, provided at least 3 months have elapsed since the first dose. If the second dose was administered at least 4 weeks after the first dose, it can be accepted as valid.
Figure 94-2, cont’dCatch-up vaccination:  Ensure that all persons aged 7 through 18 years without evidence of immunity (see MMWR 2007;56 [No. RR-4], available at http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/pdf/rr/rr5604.pdf) have 2 doses of varicella vaccine. For children aged 7 through 12 years the recommended minimum interval between doses is 3 months (if the second dose was administered at least 4 weeks after the first dose, it can be accepted as valid); for persons aged 13 years and older, the minimum interval between doses is 4 weeks.
11. Hepatitis A vaccine (HepA). (Minimum age: 12 months) Routine vaccination:  Initiate the 2-dose HepA vaccine series for children aged 12 through 23 months; separate the 2 doses by 6 to 18 months.  Children who have received 1 dose of HepA vaccine before age 24 months, should receive a second dose 6 to 18 months after the first dose.  For any person aged 2 years and older who has not already received the HepA vaccine series, 2 doses of HepA vaccine separated by 6 to 18 months may be administered if immunity against hepatitis A virus infection is desired. Catch-up vaccination:  The minimum interval between the two doses is 6 months. Special populations:  Administer 2 doses of Hep A vaccine at least 6 months apart to previously unvaccinated persons who live in areas where vaccination programs target older children, or who are at increased risk for infection.
12. Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines. (HPV4 [Gardasil] and HPV2  [Cervarix]). (Minimum age: 9 years) Routine vaccination:  Administer a 3-dose series of HPV vaccine on a schedule of 0, 1-2, and 6 months to all adolescents aged 11-12 years. Either HPV4 or HPV2 may be used for females, and only HPV4 may be used for males.  The vaccine series can be started beginning at age 9 years.  Administer the second dose 1 to 2 months after the first dose and the third dose 6 months after the first dose (at least 24 weeks after the first dose). Catch-up vaccination:  Administer the vaccine series to females (either HPV2 or HPV4) and males (HPV4) at age 13 through 18 years if not previously vaccinated.  Use recommended routine dosing intervals (see above) for vaccine series catch-up.
13. Meningococcal conjugate vaccines (MCV). (Minimum age: 6 weeks   for Hib-MenCY, 9 months for Menactra [MCV4-D], 2 years for Menveo [MCV4-CRM]). Routine vaccination:  Administer MCV4 vaccine at age 11–12 years, with a booster dose at age 16 years.  Adolescents aged 11 through 18 years with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection should receive a 2-dose primary series of MCV4, with at least 8 weeks between doses. See MMWR 2011; 60:1018–1019 available at: http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/pdf/wk/mm6030.pdf.  For children aged 2 months through 10 years with high-risk conditions, see below. Catch-up vaccination:  Administer MCV4 vaccine at age 13 through 18 years if not previously vaccinated.  If the first dose is administered at age 13 through 15 years, a booster dose should be administered at age 16 through 18 years with a minimum interval of at least 8 weeks between doses.  If the first dose is administered at age 16 years or older, a booster dose is not needed.  For other catch-up issues, see Figure 2. Vaccination of persons with high-risk conditions:  For children younger than 19 months of age with anatomic or functional asplenia (including sickle cell disease), administer an infant series of Hib-MenCY at 2, 4, 6, and 12-15 months.  For children aged 2 through 18 months with persistent complement component deficiency, administer either an infant series of Hib-MenCY at 2, 4, 6, and 12 through 15 months or a 2-dose primary series of MCV4-D starting at 9 months, with at least 8 weeks between doses. For children aged 19 through 23 months with persistent complement component deficiency who have not received a complete series of Hib-MenCY or MCV4-D, administer 2 primary doses of MCV4-D at least 8 weeks apart.  For children aged 24 months and older with persistent complement component deficiency or anatomic or functional asplenia (including sickle cell disease), who have not received a complete series of Hib-MenCY or MCV4-D, administer 2 primary doses of either MCV4-D or MCV4-CRM. If MCV4-D (Menactra) is administered to a child with asplenia (including sickle cell disease), do not administer MCV4-D until 2 years of age and at least 4 weeks after the completion of all PCV13 doses. See MMWR 2011;60:1391–2, available at   http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/pdf/wk/mm6040.pdf.  For children aged 9 months and older who are residents of or travelers to countries in the African meningitis belt or to the Hajj, administer an age appropriate formulation and series of MCV4 for protection against serogroups A and W-135. Prior receipt of Hib-MenCY is not sufficient for children traveling to the meningitis belt or the Hajj. See MMWR 2011;60:1391–2, available at http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/pdf/wk/mm6040.pdf.  For children who are present during outbreaks caused by a vaccine serogroup, administer or complete an age and formulation-appropriate series of Hib-MenCY or MCV4.  For booster doses among persons with high-risk conditions refer to http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/acip-list.htm#mening.
Additional information  For contraindications and precautions to use of a vaccine and for additional information regarding that vaccine, vaccination providers should consult the relevant ACIP statement available online at http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/acip-list.htm.  For the purposes of calculating intervals between doses, 4 weeks = 28 days. Intervals of 4 months or greater are determined by calendar months.  Information on travel vaccine requirements and recommendations is available at http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/page/vaccinations.htm.  For vaccination of persons with primary and secondary immunodeficiencies, see Table 13, “Vaccination of persons with primary and secondary immunodeficiencies,” in General Recommendations on Immunization (ACIP), available at http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/rr6002a1.htm; and American Academy of Pediatrics. Immunization in Special Clinical Circumstances. In: Pickering LK, Baker CJ, Kimberlin DW, Long SS eds. Red book: 2012 report of the Committee on Infectious Diseases. 29th ed. Elk Grove Village, IL: American Academy of Pediatrics.
Table 94-1 Guide to Tetanus Prophylaxis in Routine Wound Management CLEAN MINOR WOUNDS ALL OTHER WOUNDS* Previous Tetanus Immunization (Doses) DTap, Tdap, or Td† TIG†,‡ DTap, Tdap, or Td TIG‡ ≥3 doses Yes if ≥10 yr since the last tetanus No Yes if ≥5 yr since the last tetanus No toxoid-containing vaccine dose
Modified from American Academy of Pediatrics. Pickering LK, editor: Red Book: 2012 report of the committee on infectious diseases, ed 29, Elk Grove Village, IL, 2012, American Academy of Pediatrics. Tdap, tetanus and diphtheria toxoids, adsorbed (for adolescents >11 yr of age and adults); Td, Tetanus-diphtheria toxoid; TIG, tetanus immunoglobulin. *Such as, but not limited to, wounds contaminated with dirt, feces, soil, or saliva; puncture wounds; avulsions; and wounds resulting from missiles, crushing, burns, and frostbite.
†Tdap is preferred for adolescents who have never received Tdap. Td is preferred to tetanus toxoid for adolescents who received Tdap previously or when Tdap is not available.
‡Immune globulin intravenous should be used if TIG is not available.
contact with the index patient, or medical personnel without direct exposure to the patient’s oral secretions. Rifampin twice daily for 2 days, ceftriaxone once, and ciprofloxacin once (>18 years of age) are the recommended regimens. Azithromycin may be used in the case of resistant organisms.
All postexposure wound treatment begins with immediate, thorough cleansing using soap and water, removal of foreign bodies, and debridement of devitalized tissue. Tetanus prophylaxis after wounds and injuries includes vaccination of persons with incomplete immunization and tetanus immunoglobulin for contaminated wounds (soil, feces, saliva), puncture wounds, avulsions, and wounds resulting from missiles, crushing, burns, and frostbite (Table 94-1).
Rabies immune globulin (RIG) and rabies vaccine are extremely effective for prophylaxis after exposure to rabies but are of no known benefit after symptoms appear. Because rabies is one of the deadliest infections, recognition of potential exposure and prophylaxis are crucial. Any healthy-appearing domestic animal responsible for an apparently unprovoked bite should be observed for 10 days for signs of rabies, without immediate treatment of the victim. Prophylaxis should be administered if the animal is rabid or suspected to be rabid, or if the animal develops signs of rabies while under observation. A captured wild animal should be euthanized (by animal control officials) without a period of observation and its brain examined for evidence of rabies. If the biting animal is not captured, particularly if it is a wild animal of a species known to harbor the virus in the region, rabies should be presumed and prophylaxis administered to the victim. Skunks, raccoons, foxes, woodchucks, most other carnivores, and bats are regarded as rabid unless proved negative by testing. Prophylaxis also should be provided following exposure to a bat for persons who might be unaware or unable to relate that a bite or direct contact has occurred, such as a mentally disabled person, a sleeping child, or an unattended infant.
All rabies postexposure management begins with immediate thorough cleansing of the bite using soap and water and, if available, irrigation with a virucidal agent such as povidone-iodine. RIG at a dose of 20 U/kg should be administered, with the full dose of RIG infiltrated subcutaneously into the area around the wound, if possible. Any remaining RIG that cannot be infiltrated into the wound should be administered as an intramuscular injection. Inactivated rabies vaccine should be administered simultaneously as soon as possible, with additional vaccine doses at 3, 7, and 14 days.
The selection of anti-infective therapy depends on a number of factors: the site of infection and clinical syndrome, host immunity, probable causative agents, the pathogen’s susceptibility to antimicrobial agents and the local epidemiology of resistance, the pharmacokinetics of the selected agents, and their pharmacodynamics in specific patient populations.
Empirical or presumptive anti-infective therapy is based on a clinical diagnosis combined with published evidence and experience of the probable causative pathogens. Definitive therapy relies on microbiologic diagnosis by isolation or other direct evidence of a pathogen. Microbiologic diagnosis permits characterization of the pathogen’s anti-infective drug susceptibilities and delivery of the appropriate anti-infective agent to the site of infection in concentrations sufficient to kill or alter the pathogen and facilitate an effective immune response. Antiviral therapy must include consideration of the intracellular nature of viral replication and, to avoid toxicity to host cells, must be targeted to viral-specific proteins, such as the thymidine kinase of herpesviruses or the reverse transcriptase of human immunodeficiency virus.
Empirical antimicrobial therapy is best initiated after obtaining appropriate cultures of fluids or tissues. In high-risk circumstances, such as neonatal sepsis or bacteremia in immunocompromised persons, empirical therapy includes broad-spectrum antimicrobials (see Chapters 96 and 120).
Empirical antimicrobial therapy may be tailored to specific pathogens based on the clinical diagnosis (e.g., streptococcal pharyngitis) or defined risks (e.g., close exposure to tuberculosis). Definitive therapy can additionally minimize drug toxicity, development of resistant microorganisms, and cost.
Antimicrobial agents are an adjunct to the normal host immune response. Infections associated with foreign bodies, such as an intravascular catheter, are difficult to eradicate with antimicrobials alone because of organism-produced biofilms that impair phagocytosis. Similarly it is difficult for phagocytic cells to eradicate bacteria amid vegetations of fibrin and platelets on infected heart valves. Prolonged, bactericidal therapy is required with these infections, and outcomes are not always satisfactory. Foreign body devices may have to be removed if sterilization does not occur promptly. Infections in closed spaces with limited perfusion (such as abscesses or chronic osteomyelitis with poorly perfused bone) are difficult to cure without surgical drainage, debridement of the infected tissue, and reestablishment of a good vascular supply.
Optimal antimicrobial therapy requires an understanding of both the pharmacokinetics (e.g., bioavailability and tissue penetration) of the administered drugs and their pharmacodynamics (e.g., metabolism and excretion by the body) in specific patient populations. The bioavailability of orally administered antibiotics varies, depending on the acid stability of the drug; degree of gastric acidity; and whether it is taken with food, antacids, H2 blockers, or other medications. An ileus or profuse diarrhea may alter intestinal transit time and result in unpredictable absorption.
The site and nature of the infection may affect the choice of antimicrobials. Aminoglycosides, active against aerobic organisms only, have significantly reduced activity in abscesses with low pH and oxygen tension. Infections of the central nervous system or the eye necessitate treatment with antimicrobials that penetrate and achieve therapeutic levels in these sites.
Limited renal function (as in premature infants or those with renal failure) requires increasing dosing intervals to allow time for excretion of certain drugs. The larger volume of distribution of certain hydrophilic antimicrobials and increased renal clearance (e.g., in cystic fibrosis) requires higher doses to achieve therapeutic levels. Weight-based dosage regimens may result in overdoses in obese children due to significantly smaller volumes of distribution for hydrophilic drugs. Determining serum drug levels for antibiotics with narrow safety margins (e.g., aminoglycosides and vancomycin) minimizes adverse effects of treatment.
Drug-drug interactions must be considered when multiple antimicrobial agents are used to treat infection. Use of two or more antimicrobial agents may be justified before organism identification or for the benefit of two drugs with different mechanisms of action. Several antimicrobials are administered routinely in combination (e.g., trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, amoxicillin-clavulanate) because of synergism(significantly greater bacterial killing or spectrum of activity than when either is used alone). The use of a bacteriostatic drug, such as a tetracycline, along with a β-lactam agent, effective against growing organisms only, may result in antibiotic antagonism, or less bacterial killing in the presence of both drugs than if either is used alone.
Available @ StudentConsult.comFever without a Source Fever of Unknown OriginCore body temperature is normally maintained within 1° C to 1.5° C in a range of 37° C to 38° C. Normal body temperature is generally considered to be 37° C (98.6° F; range, 97° F to 99.6° F). There is a normal diurnal variation, with maximum temperature in the late afternoon. Rectal temperatures higher than 38° C (>100.4° F) generally are considered abnormal, especially if associated with symptoms.
Normal body temperature is maintained by a complex regulatory system in the anterior hypothalamus. Development of fever begins with release of endogenous pyrogens into the circulation as the result of infection, inflammatory processes, or malignancy. Microbes and microbial toxins act as exogenous pyrogens by stimulating release of endogenous pyrogens, including cytokines such as interleukin-1, interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor, and interferons. These cytokines reach the anterior hypothalamus, liberating arachidonic acid, which is metabolized to prostaglandin E2. Elevation of the hypothalamic thermostat occurs via a complex interaction of complement and prostaglandin-E2 production. Antipyretics (acetaminophen, ibuprofen, aspirin) inhibit hypothalamic cyclooxygenase, decreasing production of prostaglandin E2. Aspirin is associated with Reye syndrome in children and is not recommended as an antipyretic. The response to antipyretics does not distinguish bacterial from viral infections.
The pattern of fever in children may vary, depending on ageand the nature of the illness. Neonates may not have a febrileresponse and may be hypothermic, despite significant infection,whereas older infants and children younger than 5 years of agemay have an exaggerated febrile response with temperatures ofup to 105° F (40.6° C) in response to either a serious bacterialinfection or an otherwise benign viral infection. Fever to this degree is unusual in older children and adolescents and suggests a serious process. The fever pattern does not reliably distinguish fever caused by infectious microorganisms from that resulting from malignancy, autoimmune diseases, or drugs.
Children with fever without a focus present a diagnostic challenge that includes identifying bacteremia and sepsis. Bacteremia, the presence of bacteria in the bloodstream, may be primary or secondary to a focal infection. Sepsis is the systemic response to infection that is manifested by hyperthermia or hypothermia, tachycardia, tachypnea, and shock (see Chapter 40). Children with septicemia and signs of central nervous system dysfunction (irritability, lethargy), cardiovascular impairment (cyanosis, poor perfusion), and disseminated intravascular coagulation (petechiae, ecchymosis) are readily recognized as toxic appearing or septic. Most febrile illnesses in children may be categorized as follows:
Fever of short duration accompanied by localizing signs and symptoms, in which a diagnosis can often be established by clinical history and physical examination
Fever without localizing signs (fever without a focus), frequently occurring in children younger than 3 years of age, in which a history and physical examination fail to establish a cause
Fever of unknown origin (FUO), defined as fever for >14 days without an identified etiology despite history, physical examination, and routine laboratory tests or after 1 week of hospitalization and evaluation
Fever or temperature instability in infants younger than3 months of age is associated with a higher risk of serious bacterial infections than in older infants. These youngerinfants usually exhibit only fever and poor feeding, without localizing signs of infection. Most febrile illnesses inthis age group are caused by common viral pathogens, butserious bacterial infections include bacteremia (caused by group B streptococcus [GBS], Escherichia coli, and Listeria monocytogenes in neonates; and Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, nontyphoidal Salmonella, and Neisseria meningitidis in 1to 3-month-old infants), urinary tract infection (UTI) (E. coli), pneumonia (S. pneumoniae, GBS, or Staphylococcus aureus), meningitis (S. pneumoniae,
H. influenzae type b, GBS, N. meningitidis, herpes simplex virus [HSV], enteroviruses), bacterial diarrhea (Salmonella, Shigella, E. coli), and osteomyelitis or septic arthritis (S. aureus or GBS).
Differentiation between viral and bacterial infections in young infants is difficult. Febrile infants <3 months of age who appear ill, especially if follow-up is uncertain, and all febrile infants <4 weeks of age should be admitted to the hospital for empirical antibiotics pending culture results. After blood, urine, and cerebrospinal fluid cultures are obtained, broad-spectrum parenteral antibiotics (typically ampicillin with cefotaxime or gentamicin) are administered. The choice of antibiotics depends on the pathogens suggested by localizing findings. The possibility of neonatal HSV should also be considered in febrile children <4 weeks old, and empirical acyclovir begun in those in whom neonatal HSV is a concern. Well-appearing febrile infants ≥4 weeks of age without an identifiable focus and with certainty of follow-up are at a low risk of developing a serious bacterial infection (0.8% develop bacteremia, and 2% develop a serious localized bacterial infection). Specific criteria identifying these low-risk infants include age older than 1 month, well-appearing without a focus of infection, no history of prematurity or prior antimicrobial therapy, a white blood cell (WBC) count of 5000 to 15,000/μL, and urine with less than 10 WBCs/high-power field. Fecal leukocyte testing and chest radiograph can be considered in infants with diarrhea or respiratory signs. Low-risk infants may be followed as outpatients without empirical antibiotic treatment, or, alternatively, may be treated with intramuscular ceftriaxone. Regardless of antibiotic treatment, close follow-up for at least 72 hours, including re-evaluation in 24 hours or immediately with any clinical change, is essential.
A common problem is the evaluation of a febrile but well-appearing child younger than 3 years of age without localizing signs of infection. Although most of these children have self-limited viral infections, some have occult bacteremia (bacteremia without identifiable focus) or UTIs, and a few have severe and potentially life-threatening illnesses. It is difficult, even for experienced clinicians, to differentiate patients with bacteremia from those with benign illnesses.
Observational assessment is a key part of the evaluation. Descriptions of normal appearance and alertness include child looking at the observer and looking around the room, with eyes that are shiny or bright. Descriptions that indicate severe impairment include glassy eyes and stares vacantly into space. Observations such as sitting, moving arms and legs on table or lap, and sits without support reflect normal motor ability, whereas no movement in mother’s arms and lies limply on tableindicate severe impairment. Normal behaviors, such as vocalizing spontaneously, playing with objects, reaching for objects, smiling, and crying with noxious stimuli, reflect playfulness; abnormal behaviors reflect irritability. Normally, crying children are consolable and stop crying when held by the parent, whereas severe impairment is indicated by continual cry despite being held and comforted.
Children between 2 months and 3 years of age are atincreased risk for infection with organisms with polysaccharide capsules, including S. pneumoniae, H. influenzae, N. meningitidis, and nontyphoidal Salmonella. Effective phagocytosisof these organisms requires opsonic antibody. Transplacentalmaternal IgG initially provides immunity to these organisms,but as the IgG gradually dissipates, risk of infection increases.In the United States, use of conjugate H. influenzae type b and S. pneumoniae vaccines has dramatically reduced the incidence of these infections. Determining the child’s immunization status is essential to evaluate risk of these infections. An approach to evaluation of these children is outlined inFigure 96-1.
Most episodes of fever in children younger than 3 years of age have a demonstrable source of infection elicited by history, physical examination, or a simple laboratory test. In this age group, the most commonly identified serious bacterial infection is a UTI. A blood culture to evaluate for occult bacteremia, and urinalysis and urine culture to evaluate for a UTI, should be considered for all children younger than 3 years of age with fever without localizing signs. Stool culture should be obtained in those with diarrhea marked by blood or mucous. Ill-appearing children should be admitted to the hospital and treated with empirical antibiotics.
Approximately 0.2% of well-appearing febrile children 3 to 36 months of age vaccinated against S. pneumoniae and
H. influenzae and without localizing signs have occult bacteremia. Risk factors for occult bacteremia include temperature of 102.2° F (39° C) or greater, WBC count of 15,000/mm3 or more, and elevated absolute neutrophil count, band count, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, or C-reactive protein. No combination of demographic factors (socioeconomic status, race, gender, and age), clinical parameters, or laboratory tests in these children reliably predicts occult bacteremia. Occult bacteremia in otherwise healthy children is usually transient and self-limited but may progress to serious localizing infections. Well-appearing children usually are followed as
Assess H and P for “low risk” status Age? <1 mo >1 mo Low risk Not low risk
CBC with differential, blood culture, urine cultureAll parameters normal? No YesAll parameters normal? NoYes outpatients without empirical antibiotic treatment or, alternatively, treated with intramuscular ceftriaxone. Regardless of antibiotic treatment, close follow-up for at least 72 hours, including re-evaluation in 24 hours or immediately with any clinical change, is essential. Children with a positive blood culture require immediate re-evaluation, repeat blood culture, consideration for lumbar puncture, and empirical antibiotic treatment.
Children with sickle cell disease have impaired splenic function and properdin-dependent opsonization that places them at increased risk for bacteremia, especially during the first 5 years of life. Children with sickle cell disease and fever who appear seriously ill, have a temperature of 104° F (40° C) or greater, or WBC count less than 5000/mm3 or greater than 30,000/mm3 should be hospitalized and treated empirically with antibiotics. Other children with sickle cell disease and fever should have blood culture, empirical treatment with ceftriaxone, and close outpatient follow-up. Osteomyelitis resulting from Salmonella or S. aureus is more common in children with sickle cell disease; blood culture is not always positive in the presence of osteomyelitis.
Available @ StudentConsult.comFever of Unknown OriginFUO is defined as temperature greater than 100.4° F (38° C) lasting for >14 days without an obvious cause despite a complete history, physical examination, and routine screening laboratory evaluation. It is important to distinguish persistent fever from recurrent or periodic fevers, which usually represent serial acute illnesses.
The initial evaluation of FUO requires a thorough history and physical examination supplemented with a few screening laboratory tests (Fig. 96-2). Additional laboratory and imaging tests are guided by abnormalities on initial evaluation.
Figure 96-1 Approach to a child younger than 36 months of age with fever without localizing signs. The specific management varies, depending on the age and clinical status of the child.
Important historical elements include the impact the fever has on the child’s health and activity; weight loss; the use of drugs, medications, or immunosuppressive therapy; history of unusual, severe, or chronic infection suggesting immunodeficiency (see Chapter 72); immunizations; exposure to unprocessed or raw foods; history of pica and exposure to soil-borne or waterborne organisms; exposure to industrial or hob-by-related chemicals; blood transfusions; domestic or foreign travel; exposure to animals; exposure to ticks or mosquitoes; ethnic background; recent surgical procedures or dental work; tattooing and body piercing; and sexual activity.
The etiology of most occult infections causing FUO is an unusual presentation of a common disease. Sinusitis, endocarditis, intra-abdominal abscesses (perinephric, intrahepatic, subdiaphragmatic), and central nervous system lesions (tuberculoma, cysticercosis, abscess, toxoplasmosis) may be relatively asymptomatic. Infections are the most common cause of FUO in children, followed by inflammatory diseases, malignancy, and other etiologies (Table 96-1). Inflammatory diseases account for approximately 20% of episodes. Malignancies are a less common cause of FUO in children than in adults, accounting for about 10% of all episodes. Approximately 15% of children with FUO have no diagnosis. Fever eventually resolves in many of these cases, usually without sequelae, although some may develop definable signs of rheumatic disease over time. Common infections causing FUO in patients with known or newly diagnosed immunodeficiencyinclude viral hepatitis, Epstein-Barr virus, cytomegalovirus, Bartonella henselae, ehrlichiosis, Salmonella, and tuberculosis.
Factitious fever or fever produced or feigned intentionally by the patient (Munchausen syndrome) or the parent of a child (Munchausen syndrome by proxy) is an importantconsideration, particularly if family members are familiar with health care practices (see Chapter 22). Fever should be recorded in the hospital by a reliable individual who remains with the patient when the temperature is taken. Continuous observation over a long period and repetitive evaluation are essential.
Screening tests for FUO include complete blood count with WBC and differential count, platelet count, erythrocyte
Admit, obtain appropriate tests Begin appropriate therapyAdditional tests (special cultures, PCR, serology, biopsy) and imaging studies (CT, MRI, radionuclide scans)
Figure 96-2 Approach to the evaluation of fever of unknown origin (FUO) in children. Screening laboratory tests include a complete blood count and differential white blood cell count, platelet count, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, hepatic transaminase levels, urinalysis, bacterial cultures of urine and blood, chest radio-graph, and evaluation for rheumatic disease with antinuclear antibody, rheumatoid factor, and serum complement (C3, C4, CH50). PCR, polymerase chain reaction.
Abscesses: abdominal, brain, dental, hepatic, pelvic, perinephric, rectal, subphrenic, splenic, periappendiceal, psoas Cholangitis Infective endocarditis Mastoiditis Osteomyelitis Pneumonia Pyelonephritis Sinusitis
Mycoplasma pneumoniae Relapsing fever (Borrelia recurrentis, other Borrelia) Salmonellosis Spirillum minus (rat-bite fever) Streptobacillus moniliformis (rat-bite fever)
Causes of Fever of Unknown Origin in Children—cont’dJuvenile idiopathic arthritis (systemic onset, Still disease) Inflammatory bowel disease (Crohnʼs disease, ulcerative colitis) Kawasaki disease Polyarteritis nodosa Rheumatic fever
Castleman disease Chronic active hepatitis Cyclic neutropenia Deafness, urticaria, amyloidosis syndrome
Periodic fever syndromes Poisoning Postoperative (pericardiotomy, craniectomy)Modified from Nield LS, Kamat D: Fever without a focus. In Kliegman RM, Stanton BF, St. Geme III JW, et al: Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics, ed 19, Philadelphia, 2011, Saunders.
sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein, hepatic transaminase and B. henselae antibody. Consultation with infectious dis-levels, urinalysis, cultures of urine and blood, chest radio-ease, immunology, rheumatic disease, or oncology specialists graph, and evaluation for rheumatic disease with antinuclear should be considered. Further tests may include lumbar puncantibody, rheumatoid factor, and serum complement (C3, C4, ture for cerebrospinal fluid analysis and culture; computed CH50). Additional tests for FUO may include throat culture, tomography or magnetic resonance imaging of the chest, stool culture, tuberculin skin test or interferon-gamma release abdomen, and head; radionuclide scans; and bone marrow assay, HIV antibody, Epstein-Barr virus antibody profile, biopsy for cytology and culture.
Available @ StudentConsult.comRashes are a common manifestation of many infections; this chapter describes five common childhood viral exanthems characterized by fever and rash. Rash distribution and appearance provide important clues to the differential diagnosis, including other infectious agents (Table 97-1).
Measles (rubeola) is highly contagious and is caused by a single-stranded RNA paramyxovirus with one antigenic type. Humans are the only natural host. Measles virus infects the upper respiratory tract and regional lymph nodes and is spread systemically during a brief, low-titer primary viremia. A secondary viremia occurs within 5 to 7 days as virus-infected monocytes spread the virus to the respiratory tract, skin, and other organs. Virus is present in respiratory secretions, blood, and the urine of infected individuals. Measles virus is transmitted by droplets or the airborne route and is highly contagious. Infected persons are contagious from 1 to 2 days before onset of symptoms—from about 5 days before to 4 days after the appearance of rash—and immunocompromised persons can have prolonged excretion of contagious virus.
Measles remains endemic in regions of the world where measles vaccination is not available and is responsible for about 1 million deaths annually. Since 2000 there typically have been fewer than 100 cases reported annually in the United States, although outbreaks resulting from imported virus after international travel occur. Infections of nonimmigrant children during outbreaks may occur among those too young to be vaccinated or in communities with low immunization rates. Most young infants are protected by transplacental maternal antibody until the end of their first year.
Measles infection is divided into four phases: incubation, prodromal (catarrhal), exanthematous (rash), and recovery. The incubation period is 8 to 12 days from exposure to symptom onset and a mean of 14 days (range, 7 to 21) from exposure to rash onset. The manifestations of the 3-day prodromal period
Viruses Adenovirus Measles Rubella Roseola (HHV-6 or HHV-7) Erythema infectiosum (fifth disease, parvovirus
Meningococcal infection (early) Salmonella typhi (typhoid fever, “rose spots”) Lyme disease (erythema migrans)
Rickettsiae Rocky Mountain spotted fever (early) Typhus (scrub, endemic) Ehrlichiosis
Bacteria Scarlet fever (group A streptococcus) Staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome Toxic shock syndrome (Staphylococcus aureus,
Bacteria M. pneumoniae Group A streptococcus Other Drug reaction Serum sickness
Vesicular, Bullous, PustularBacteria Sepsis (meningococcal, gonococcal, pneumococcal, Haemophilus influenzae type b)Fungi Necrotic eschar (Aspergillus, Mucor)HBV, Hepatitis B virus; HHV, human herpesvirus.are cough, coryza, conjunctivitis, and the pathognomonic Koplik spots (gray-white, sand grain-sized dots on the buccal mucosa opposite the lower molars) that last 12 to 24 hours. The conjunctiva may reveal a characteristic transverse line of inflammation along the eyelid margin (Stimson line). The classic symptoms of cough, coryza, and conjunctivitis occur during the secondary viremia of the exanthematous phase, which often is accompanied by high fever (40° C to 40.5° C [104° F to 105° F]). The macular rash begins on the head (often above the hairline) and spreads over most of the body in a cephalad to caudal pattern over 24 hours. Areas of the rash often are confluent. The rash fades in the same pattern, and illness severity is related to the extent of the rash. It may be petechial or hemorrhagic (black measles). As the rash fades, it undergoes brownish discoloration and desquamation.
Cervical lymphadenitis, splenomegaly, and mesenteric lymphadenopathy with abdominal pain may be noted with the rash. Otitis media, pneumonia, and diarrhea are more common in infants. Liver involvement is more common in adults.
The term modified measles describes mild cases of measles occurring in persons with partial protection against measles. Modified measles occurs in persons vaccinated before 12 months of age or with coadministration of immune serum globulin, in infants with disease modified by transplacental antibody, or in persons receiving immunoglobulin.
Routine laboratory findings are nonspecific and do not aid in diagnosis. Leukopenia is characteristic. In patients with acute encephalitis, the cerebrospinal fluid reveals an increased protein, a lymphocytic pleocytosis, and normal glucose levels. Measles virus culture is not generally available, though identification of measles RNA via reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (PCR) may be available through state public health departments or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Serologic testing for IgM antibodies that appear within 1 to 2 days of the rash and persist for 1 to 2 months in unimmunized persons confirms the clinical diagnosis, though IgM antibodies may be present only transiently in immunized people. Suspected cases should be reported immediately to the local or state health department.
The constellation of fever, rash, cough, and conjunctivitis isdiagnostic for measles. Koplik spots are pathognomonic butare not always present at the time the rash is most pronounced.Confirmation is by diagnostic antibody increases in acute andconvalescent sera. The rash must be differentiated from rubella, roseola, enteroviral or adenoviral infection, infectious mononucleosis, toxoplasmosis, meningococcemia, scarlet fever, rickettsial disease, Kawasaki disease, serum sickness, and drug rash.
Routine supportive care includes maintaining adequate hydration and antipyretics. High-dose vitamin A supplementation has been shown to improve the outcome of infants with measles in developing countries. The World Health Organization recommends routine administration of vitamin A for 2 days to all children with acute measles.
Otitis media is the most common complication of measles infection. Interstitial (measles) pneumonia can occur, or pneumonia may result from secondary bacterial infection with Streptococcus pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, or group A streptococcus. Persons with impaired cell-mediated immunity may develop giant cell (Hecht) pneumonia, which is usually fatal. Myocarditis and mesenteric lymphadenitis are infrequent complications.
Encephalomyelitis occurs in 1 to 2 per 1000 cases and usually occurs 2 to 5 days after the onset of the rash. Early encephalitis probably is caused by direct viral infection of brain tissue, whereas later onset encephalitis is a demyelinating and probably an immunopathologic phenomenon. Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis is a late neurologic complication of slow measles infection that is characterized by progressive behavioral and intellectual deterioration and eventual death. It occurs in approximately 1 in every 1 million cases of measles, an average of 8 to 10 years after measles. There is no effective treatment.
Deaths most frequently result from bronchopneumonia orencephalitis, with much higher risk in persons with malignancy,severe malnutrition, age under 5 years, or immunocompromise (such as HIV infection). Late deaths in adolescents andadults usually result from subacute sclerosing panencephalitis. Other forms of measles encephalitis in immunocompetentpersons are associated with a mortality rate of approximately15%, with 20% to 30% of survivors having serious neurologicsequelae.
Live measles vaccine prevents infection and is recommended as measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) for children at 12 to 15 months and 4 to 6 years of age. The MMRV (MMR combined with varicella vaccine) is an alternative vaccine for children 12 months to 12 years of age, provided there are no contraindications, but is associated with a higher rate of febrile seizures following administration. The second dose of MMR is not a booster dose but significantly reduces the primary vaccine failure rate, from <5% to <1%. Contraindications to measles vaccine include immunocompromised states or an immunosuppressive course of corticosteroids (>2 mg/kg/day for >14 days); pregnancy; or recent administration of immunoglobulin (3 to 11 months, depending on dose). MMR vaccination is recommended for all HIV-infected persons without evidence of severe immunosuppression (low age-specific total CD4 T-lymphocyte count or a low CD4 T-lymphocyte count as a percentage of total lymphocytes), children with cancer in remission who have not received chemotherapy in the previous 3 months, and children who have not received immunosuppressive corticosteroids in the previous month. Susceptible household contacts with a chronic disease or who are immunocompromised should receive postexposure prophylaxiswith measles vaccine within 72 hours of measles exposure or immunoglobulin within 6 days of exposure.
Rubella, also known as German measles or 3-day measles,is caused by a single-stranded RNA virus with a glycolipid envelope and is a member of the togavirus family. Humans are the only natural host. Rubella virus invades the respiratory epithelium and disseminates via a primary viremia. Afterreplication in the reticuloendothelial system, a secondaryviremia ensues, and the virus can be isolated from peripheral blood monocytes, cerebrospinal fluid, and urine. Rubellavirus is most contagious through direct or droplet contactwith nasopharyngeal secretions from 2 days before until5 to 7 days after rash onset, although virus may be present innasopharyngeal secretions from 7 days before until 14 days after the rash.
Infection in utero results in significant morbidity from congenital rubella syndrome (CRS) with associated ophthalmologic, cardiac, and neurologic manifestations (see Chapter 66).Maternal infection during the first trimester results in fetalinfection with generalized vasculitis in more than 90% of cases.Infants with congenital rubella may shed the virus in nasopharyngeal secretions and urine for longer than 12 months afterbirth and may transmit the virus to susceptible contacts.
In unvaccinated populations, rubella usually occurs in the spring, with epidemics occurring in cycles of every 6 to 9 years. Approximately 25% to 50% of cases are subclinical. Fewer than 20 cases of rubella now occur annually in the United States. Outbreaks of rubella occasionally occur in nonvaccinated groups from internationally imported cases. Transplacental antibody is protective during the first 6 months of life.
Available @ StudentConsult.comThe incubation period for postnatal rubella is typically 16 to18 days (range, 14 to 21 days). The mild catarrhal symptomsof the prodromal phase of rubella may go unnoticed. The characteristic signs of rubella are retroauricular, posterior cervical,and posterior occipital lymphadenopathy accompanied by anerythematous, maculopapular, discrete rash. The rash beginson the face and spreads to the body, lasting for 3 days and lessprominent than that of measles. Rose-colored spots on the softpalate, known as Forchheimer spots, develop in 20% of patientsand may appear before the rash. Other manifestations of rubellainclude mild pharyngitis, conjunctivitis, anorexia, headache,malaise, and low-grade fever. Polyarthritis, usually of the hands,may occur, especially among adult females, but usually resolveswithout sequelae. Paresthesias and tendinitis may occur.
Routine laboratory findings are nonspecific and generally do not aid in diagnosis. The white blood cell count usually is normal or low, and thrombocytopenia rarely occurs. Diagnosis is confirmed by serologic testing for IgM antibodies (typically positive 5 days after symptom onset) or by a fourfold or greater increase in specific IgG antibodies in paired acute and convalescent sera. CRS cases can have detectable IgM until 3 months of age, and stable or rising IgG titers over the first 7 to 11 months of age. False-positive IgM results can occur. Cases of suspected congenital rubella syndrome and postnatal rubella infection should be reported to the local and state health department.
The rash must be differentiated from measles, roseola, enteroviral or adenoviral infection, infectious mononucleosis, toxoplasmosis, scarlet fever, rickettsial disease, Kawasaki disease, serum sickness, and drug rash.
There is no specific therapy for rubella. Routine supportive care includes maintaining adequate hydration and antipyretics.
Other than congenital rubella syndrome (see Chapter 66) arising from rubella infection during pregnancy, complications are rare. Deaths rarely occur with rubella encephalitis.
Live rubella vaccine prevents infection and is recommended as MMR for children at 12 to 15 months and at 4 to 6 yearsof age. After vaccination, rubella virus is shed from the nasopharynx for several weeks, but it is not communicable. In children, rubella vaccine rarely is associated with adverse effects,but in postpubertal females, it causes arthralgias in 25% ofvaccinated individuals and acute arthritis-like symptoms in10% of vaccinated individuals. These symptoms typicallydevelop 1 to 3 weeks after vaccination and last 1 to 3 days.
Contraindications to rubella vaccine include immunocompromised states or an immunosuppressive course of corticosteroids (>2 mg/kg/day for >14 days); pregnancy; or recent administration of immunoglobulin (3 to 11 months, depending on dose). Vaccine virus has been recovered from fetal tissues, although no cases of CRS have been identified among infants born to women inadvertently vaccinated against rubella during pregnancy. Nevertheless women are cautioned to avoid pregnancy after receipt of rubella-containing vaccine for 28 days. All pregnant women should have prenatal serologic testing to determine their immune status to rubella, and susceptible mothers should be vaccinated after delivery and before hospital discharge.
Susceptible, nonpregnant persons exposed to rubella should receive rubella vaccination. Immunoglobulin is not recommended for postexposure prophylaxis of susceptible, pregnant women exposed to rubella.
Roseola infantum (exanthem subitum, sixth disease) is caused primarily by human herpesvirus type 6 (HHV-6), and by HHV-7 in 10% to 30% of cases. HHV-6 and HHV-7 are large, enveloped double-stranded DNA viruses that are members of the herpesvirus family. They infect mature mononuclear cells and cause a relatively prolonged (3 to 5 day) viremia during primary infection. They can be detected in the saliva of healthy adults, which suggests, as with other herpes-viruses, the development of lifelong latent infection and intermittent viral shedding.
Transplacental antibody protects most infants until 6 months ofage. The incidence of infection increases as maternally derivedantibody levels decline. By 12 months of age, approximately60% to 90% of children have antibodies to HHV-6, and essentially all children are seropositive by 2 to 3 years of age. Thevirus is likely acquired from asymptomatic adults who periodically shed these viruses. HHV-6 is a major cause of acute febrileillnesses in infants and may be responsible for 20% of visits tothe emergency department for children 6 to 18 months of age.
Roseola is characterized by high fever (often >40° C) with an abrupt onset that lasts 3 to 5 days. A maculopapular, rose-colored rash erupts coincidentally with defervescence, although it may be present earlier. The rash usually lasts 1 to 3 days but may fade rapidly and is not present in all infants with HHV-6 infection. Upper respiratory symptoms, nasal congestion, erythematous tympanic membranes, and cough may occur. Gastrointestinal symptoms are described. Most children with roseola are irritable and appear toxic. Roseola is associated with approximately one third of febrile seizures. Roseola caused by HHV-6 and HHV-7 is clinically indistinguishable, although HHV-6-associated roseola typically occurs in younger infants. Reactivation of HHV-6 following bone marrow transplantation may result in bone marrow suppression, hepatitis, rash, and encephalitis.
Routine laboratory findings are nonspecific and do not aid in diagnosis. Encephalitis with roseola is characterized by pleocytosis (30 to 200 cells/mm3) with mononuclear cell predominance, elevated protein concentration, and normal glucose concentration. Serologic testing showing a fourfold rise in acute and convalescent sera or documentation of HHV-6 DNA by PCR in the cerebrospinal fluid is diagnostic.
The pattern of high fever for 3 to 5 days without significant physical findings followed by onset of rash with defervescence of fever is characteristic. Many febrile illnesses may be easily confused with roseola during the preeruptive stage. Serious infections must be excluded, although most children are alert, behave normally, and continue with their usual daily activities.
There is no specific therapy for roseola. Routine supportive care includes maintaining adequate hydration and antipyretics. In immunocompromised hosts, use of ganciclovir or foscarnet can be considered.
The prognosis for roseola is excellent. A few deaths have been attributed to HHV-6, usually in cases complicated by encephalitis or virus-associated hemophagocytosis syndrome.
There are no guidelines for prevention of roseola.Erythema infectiosum (fifth disease) is caused by the human parvovirus B19, a single-stranded DNA virus producing a benign viral exanthem in healthy children. The viral affinity for red blood cell progenitor cells makes it an important cause of aplastic crisis in patients with hemolytic anemias, including sickle cell disease, spherocytosis, and thalassemia. Parvovirus B19 also causes fetal anemia and hydrops fetalis after primary infection during pregnancy. The cell receptor for parvovirus B19 is the erythrocyte P antigen, a glycolipid present on erythroid cells. The virus replicates in actively dividing erythroid stem cells, leading to cell death that results in erythroid aplasia and anemia.
Erythema infectiosum is common. Parvovirus B19 seroprevalence is only 2% to 9% in children younger than 5 years of age but increases to 15% to 35% in children 5 to 18 years and 30% to 60% in adults. Community epidemics usually occur in the spring. The virus is transmitted by respiratory secretions and by blood product transfusions.
The incubation period is typically 4 to 14 days and rarely maylast 21 days. Parvovirus B19 infections usually begin with a mild,nonspecific illness characterized by fever, malaise, myalgias, andheadache. In some cases, the characteristic rash appears 7 to 10days later. Erythema infectiosum is manifested by rash, low-grade or no fever, and occasionally pharyngitis and mild conjunctivitis. The rash appears in three stages. The initial stage istypically a “slapped cheek” rash with circumoral pallor. An erythematous symmetric, maculopapular, truncal rash appears 1 to4 days later, then fades as central clearing takes place, giving adistinctive lacy, reticulated rash that lasts 2 to 40 days (mean, 11days). This rash may be pruritic, does not desquamate, and mayrecur with exercise, bathing, rubbing, or stress. Adolescents andadults may experience myalgia, significant arthralgias or arthritis, headache, pharyngitis, coryza, and gastrointestinal upset.
Children with shortened erythrocyte life span (e.g., sickle cell disease) may develop a transient aplastic crisis characterized by ineffective erythroid production typically lasting 7 to 10 days (see Chapter 150). Most children with parvovirus B19-induced transient aplastic crisis have multiple symptoms, including fever, lethargy, malaise, pallor, headache, gastrointestinal symptoms, and respiratory symptoms. The reticulocyte count is extremely low, and the hemoglobin level is lower than usual for the patient. Transient neutropenia and thrombocytopenia also commonly occur.
Persistent parvovirus B19 infection may develop in children with immunodeficiency, causing severe anemia resulting from pure red blood cell aplasia. These children do not display the typical manifestations of erythema infectiosum.
Hematologic abnormalities occur with parvovirus infection, including reticulocytopenia lasting 7 to 10 days, mild anemia, thrombocytopenia, lymphopenia, and neutropenia. Parvovirus B19 can be detected by PCR and by electron microscopy of erythroid precursors in the bone marrow. Serologic tests showing specific IgM antibody to parvovirus are diagnostic, demonstrating infection that probably occurred in the prior 2 to 4 months.
The diagnosis of erythema infectiosum in children is established on the basis of the clinical findings of typical facial rash with absent or mild prodromal symptoms, followed by a reticulated rash over the body that waxes and wanes. The differential diagnosis includes measles, rubella, scarlet fever, enteroviral or adenoviral infection, infectious mononucleosis, scarlet fever, Kawasaki disease, systemic lupus erythematosus, serum sickness, and drug reaction.
There is no specific therapy. Routine supportive care includes maintaining adequate hydration and antipyretics. Transfusions may be required for transient aplastic crisis. Intrauterine transfusion has been performed for hydrops fetalis associated with fetal parvovirus B19 infection. Intravenous immunoglobulin may be used for immunocompromised persons with severe anemia or chronic infection.
The prognosis for erythema infectiosum is excellent. Fatalities associated with transient aplastic crisis are rare. Parvovirus B19 is not teratogenic, but in utero infection of fetal erythroid cells may result in fetal heart failure, hydrops fetalis, and fetal death. Of the approximately 50% of women of childbearing age susceptible to parvovirus B19 infection, 30% of exposed women develop infection, with 25% of exposed fetuses becoming infected and 10% of these culminating in fetal death.
The greatest risk is to pregnant women. Effective control measures are limited. Exclusion of affected children from school is not recommended, because children generally are not infectiousby the time the rash is present. Good handwashing and hygieneare practical measures that should help reduce transmission.
Chickenpox and zoster are caused by varicella-zoster virus (VZV), an enveloped, icosahedral, double-stranded DNA virus that is a member of the herpesvirus family. Humans are the only natural host. Chickenpox (varicella) is the manifestation of primary infection. VZV infects susceptible individuals via the conjunctivae or respiratory tract and replicates in the nasopharynx and upper respiratory tract. It disseminates by a primary viremia and infects regional lymph nodes, the liver, the spleen, and other organs. A secondary viremia follows, resulting in a cutaneous infection with the typical vesicular rash. After resolution of chickenpox, the virus persists in latent infection in the dorsal root ganglia cells. Zoster (shingles) is the manifestation of reactivated latent infection of endogenous VZV. Chickenpox is highly communicable in susceptible individuals, with a secondary attack rate of more than 90%. The period of communicability ranges from 2 days before to 7 days after the onset of the rash, when all lesions are crusted.
In the prevaccine era, the peak age of occurrence was 5 to 10 years, with peak seasonal infection in late winter and spring. In the postvaccine era, the incidence of varicella has declined in all age groups, with the peak incidence now in 10 to 14 year olds. Transmission is by direct contact, droplet, and air. Zoster is a recurrence of latent VZV and is transmitted by direct contact. Only 5% of cases of zoster occur in children younger than 15 years of age. The overall incidence of zoster (215 cases per 100,000 person-years) results in a cumulative lifetime incidence of approximately 10% to 20%, with 75% of cases occurring after 45 years of age. The incidence of zoster is increased in immunocompromised persons.
Available @ StudentConsult.comThe incubation period of varicella is generally 14 to 16 days, witha range of 10 to 21 days after exposure. Prodromal symptomsof fever, malaise, and anorexia may precede the rash by 1 day.The characteristic rash appears initially as small red papules thatrapidly progress to nonumbilicated, oval, “teardrop” vesicles onan erythematous base. The fluid progresses from clear to cloudy,and the vesicles ulcerate, crust, and heal. New crops appear for 3to 4 days, usually beginning on the trunk followed by the head,the face, and, less commonly, the extremities. There may be atotal of 100 to 500 lesions, with all forms of lesions being presentat the same time. Pruritus is universal and marked. Lesions maybe present on mucous membranes. Lymphadenopathy may begeneralized. The severity of the rash varies, as do systemic signsand fever, which generally abate after 3 to 4 days.
The preeruption phase of zoster includes intense localized and constant pain and tenderness (acute neuritis) along a dermatome, accompanied by malaise and fever. In several days,the eruption of papules, which quickly vesiculate, occurs in thedermatome or in two adjacent dermatomes. Groups of lesions occur for 1 to 7 days and then progress to crusting and healing.Thoracic and lumbar regions are typically involved. Lesionsgenerally are unilateral and are accompanied by regionallymphadenopathy. In one third of patients, a few vesicles occuroutside of the primary dermatome. Any branch of cranial nerveV may be involved, which also may cause corneal and intraorallesions. Involvement of cranial nerve VII may result in facialparalysis and ear canal vesicles (Ramsay Hunt syndrome).Ophthalmic zoster may be associated with ipsilateral cerebralangiitis and stroke. Immunocompromised persons may haveunusually severe, painful herpes zoster that involves cutaneousand, rarely, visceral dissemination (to liver, lungs, and centralnervous system). Postherpetic neuralgia, defined as pain persisting longer than 1 month, is uncommon in children.
Laboratory testing confirmation for diagnosis is usuallyunnecessary. PCR is the current diagnostic method of choice,and genotyping to distinguish vaccine and wild-type strainsis available through the CDC. Detection of varicella-specificantigen in vesicular fluid by immunofluorescence using monoclonal antibodies or demonstration of a fourfold antibodyincrease of acute and convalescent sera is also diagnostic but not as sensitive as PCR.
The diagnosis of varicella and zoster is based on the distinctive characteristics of the rash. Eczema herpeticum, or Kaposi varicelliform eruption, is a localized, vesicular eruption caused by HSV that develops on skin affected by underlying eczema or trauma. The differentiation between zoster and HSV infection may be difficult because HSV may cause eruption that appears to be in a dermatomal distribution. Coxsackievirus A infection has a vesiculopustular appearance, but lesions are usually localized to the extremities and oropharynx. A previously healthy patient with more than one recurrence probably has HSV infection, which can be confirmed by viral culture.
Symptomatic therapy of varicella includes nonaspirin antipyretics, cool baths, and careful hygiene. Routine oral administration of acyclovir is not recommended in otherwise healthy children with varicella. The decision to use antiviral medications, the route, and duration of treatment depend on host factors and the risk for severe infection or complications. Early therapy with antivirals (especially within 24 hours of rash onset) in immunocompromised persons is effective in preventing severe complications, including pneumonia, encephalitis, and death from varicella. Acyclovir or valacyclovir may be considered in those at risk of severe varicella, such as unvaccinated persons older than 12 years; those with chronic cutaneous or pulmonary disease; receiving short-course, intermittent, or aerosolized corticosteroids; or receiving long-term salicylate therapy. The dose of acyclovir used for VZV infections is much higher than that for HSV.
Antiviral treatment of zoster accelerates cutaneous healing, hastens the resolution of acute neuritis, and reduces the risk of postherpetic neuralgia. Oral famciclovir and valacyclovir have much greater oral bioavailability than acyclovir and are recommended for treatment of zoster in adults. Acyclovir is recommended for children and is an alternative therapy for adults. The necessity of concomitant oral corticosteroids for zoster is controversial.
Secondary infection of skin lesions by streptococci or staphylococci is the most common complication. These infections may be mild, resembling impetigo, or life-threatening with toxic shock syndrome or necrotizing fasciitis. Pneumonia is uncommon in healthy children but occurs in 15% to 20% of healthy adults and immunocompromised persons. Myocarditis, pericarditis, orchitis, hepatitis, ulcerative gastritis, glomerulonephritis, and arthritis may complicate varicella. Reye syndrome may follow varicella; thus, salicylate use is contraindicated during varicella infection.
Neurologic complications frequently include postinfectious encephalitis, cerebellar ataxia, nystagmus, and tremor. Less common neurologic complications include Guillain-Barre syndrome, transverse myelitis, cranial nerve palsies, optic neuritis, and hypothalamic syndrome.
Primary varicella can be a fatal disease in immunocompromised persons as a result of visceral dissemination, encephalitis, hepatitis, and pneumonitis. The mortality rate approaches 15% in children with leukemia who do not receive prophylaxis or therapy for varicella (see Chapter 66).
A severe form of neonatal varicella may develop in newborns of mothers with varicella (but not shingles) occurring 5 days before to 2 days after delivery. The fetus is exposed to a large inoculum of virus but is born before the maternal antibody response develops and can cross the placenta. These infants should be treated as soon as possible with varicellazoster immunoglobulin (VZIG) or intravenous immunoglobulin if VZIG is unavailable, to attempt to prevent or ameliorate the infection.
Primary varicella usually resolves spontaneously. The mortality rate is much higher for persons older than 20 years of age and for immunocompromised persons. Zoster usually is self-limited, especially in children. Advanced age and severity of pain at presentation and at 1 month are predictors of prolonged pain. Scarring is more common with zoster because of involvement of the deeper layers of the skin.
Children with chickenpox should not return to school until all vesicles have crusted. A hospitalized child with chickenpox should be isolated in a negative-pressure room to prevent transmission.
A live attenuated varicella vaccine—two doses for all children—is recommended. The first dose should be administered at age 12 to 15 months and the second dose at 4 to 6 years. Varicella vaccine is 85% effective in preventing any disease and 97% effective in preventing moderately severe and severe disease. Transmission of vaccine virus from a healthy vaccinated individual is rare but possible.
Passive immunity can be provided by VZIG, which is indicated within 96 hours of exposure for susceptible individuals at increased risk for severe illness. Administration of VZIG does not eliminate the possibility of disease in recipients and prolongs the incubation period up to 28 days.
Available @ StudentConsult.comNonbullous or crusted impetigo is caused most often by Staphylococcus aureus and occasionally by group A streptococcus. Itbegins as a single erythematous papulovesicle that progresses to one or many honey-colored, crusted lesions weeping serous drainage. Bullous impetigo accounts for approximately 10%of all impetigo. The skin lesions are thin-walled (0.5 to 3 cm)bullae with erythematous margins resembling second-degreeburns and are associated with S. aureus phage type 71. Impetigo most frequently occurs on the face, around the nares andmouth, and on the extremities. Fever is uncommon. The diagnosis usually is established by the clinical appearance alone.
Recommended treatment for nonbullous impetigo is topical 2% mupirocin or oral antistaphylococcal antibiotics. Extensive or disseminated lesions, bullous impetigo, lesions around the eyes, or lesions otherwise not amenable to topical therapy are best treated with oral antibiotics. Streptococcal impetigo is associated with increased risk of postinfectious glomerulonephritis but not acute rheumatic fever (see Chapter 163). Antibiotic treatment does not decrease the risk of postinfectious glomerulonephritis but decreases possible spread of nephritogenic strains to close contacts. Children with impetigo should remain out of school or day care until 24 hours of antibiotic therapy have been completed.
Available @ StudentConsult.comCellulitis is infection involving the subcutaneous tissues and the dermis and is usually caused by S. aureus or groupA streptococci. Cellulitis typically presents with indurated, warm, and erythematous macules with indistinct borders that expand rapidly. Additional manifestations commonly include fever, lymphangitis, and regional lymphadenitis. Erysipelasis a superficial variant of cellulitis usually caused by group A streptococcus that involves the dermis only. The rapidly advancing lesions are tender, bright red in appearance, and have sharp margins. The patients may appear toxic. Blood cultures are recommended for erysipelas. Empirical antibiotic treatment for cellulitis is recommended with a first-generation cephalosporin unless the local S. aureus methicillin-resistance rate is high, in which case alternatives include clindamycin or trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (although this agent has poor group A streptococcal activity). Many patients may be managed with oral antibiotics and close follow-up; hospitalization and intravenous antibiotics are recommended for erysipelas and cellulitis of the face, hands, feet, or perineum; those with lymphangitis; and those not responding to outpatient therapy.
Ecthyma usually is caused by group A streptococcus and may complicate impetigo. Initially it is characterized by a lesion with a rim of erythematous induration surrounding an eschar, which, if removed, reveals a shallow ulcer. Ecthyma gangrenosum is a serious skin infection occurring in immunocompromised persons due to hematogenous spread of septic emboli to the skin, classically caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa, other gram-negative organisms, or occasionally Aspergillus. The lesions begin as purple macules that undergo central necrosis to become exquisitely tender, deep, punched-out ulcers 2 to 3 cm in diameter with a dark necrotic base, raised red edges, and sometimes a yellowish green exudate. Fever usually is present.
Necrotizing fasciitis is the most extensive form of cellulitis and involves deeper subcutaneous tissues and fascial planes. It may progress to myonecrosis of the underlying muscle. Common causes include S. aureus and group A streptococcus alone or in combination with anaerobic organisms, such as Clostridium perfringens. Risk factors include underlying immunodeficiency, recent surgery or trauma, and varicella infection. Lesions progress rapidly with raised or sharply demarcated margins, although disease typically extends on a deeper plane beyond superficially evident lesions. Warning signs of necrotizing fasciitis include pain out of proportion to evident skin lesions, shock or toxic appearance, or crepitus due to subcutaneous gas formation by anaerobes. Necrotizing fasciitis is a surgical emergency, and early consultation with an experienced surgeon is recommended. Adjunctive tests such as magnetic resonance imaging can confirm the presence of gas in tissues, but obtaining imaging should not delay surgical consultation. Treatment includes rapid surgical debridement of all necrotic tissues and broad-spectrum intravenous antibiotics, such as clindamycin plus cefotaxime or ceftriaxone, with or without an aminoglycoside or vancomycin.
Folliculitis refers to small, dome-shaped pustules or erythematous papules predominantly caused by S. aureus and located in hair follicles, with superficial, limited inflammatory reaction in the surrounding tissue. Furuncles (boils) are deeper hair follicle infections that manifest as nodules with intense surrounding inflammatory reaction. These occur most frequently on the neck, trunk, axillae, and buttocks. A carbuncle represents the deepest of hair follicle infections and is characterized by multiseptate, loculated abscesses. Boils and carbuncles frequently require incisional drainage. Superficial folliculitis can be treated with topical therapy, such as an antibacterial chlorhexidine wash or an antibacterial lotion or solution such as clindamycin 1%, applied twice a day for 7 to 10 days. Oral antibiotics are necessary for unresponsive cases, or for furuncles and carbuncles.
P. aeruginosa folliculitis (hot tub folliculitis) presents as pruritic papules; pustules; or deeper, purple-red nodules predominantly on skin areas covered by a swimsuit after bathing in hot tubs. Folliculitis develops 8 to 48 hours after exposure, usually without associated systemic symptoms, and resolves in 1 to 2 weeks without treatment.
Perianal dermatitis (perianal streptococcal disease) is caused by group A streptococcus and is characterized by well-demarcated, tender, marked perianal erythema extending 2 cm from the anus. Manifestations include anal pruritus and painful defecation, sometimes with blood-streaked stools. The differential diagnosis includes diaper dermatitis, candidiasis, pin-worm infection, and anal fissures. Treatment is oral penicillin or cefuroxime.
Available @ StudentConsult.comCutaneous fungal infections are common in children (Table 98-1). The estimated lifetime risk of developing a dermatophytosis is 10% to 20%. Diagnosis is usually established by visual inspection and may be confirmed by potassium hydroxide (KOH) examination or fungal culture of skin scrapings from the margins of the lesion. Recommended tinea treatment is usually for 4 to 6 weeks and 2 weeks after resolution; topical antifungal creams (e.g., miconazole, clotrimazole, ketoconazole, tolnaftate) are appropriate for tinea corporis, tinea pedis, and tinea cruris, whereas tinea capitis requires oral treatment. The diagnosis of onychomycosis should be confirmed by KOH examination and fungal culture. Recommended treatment is terbinafine or itraconazole for at least 12 weeks.
Available @ StudentConsult.comPrimary herpetic infections can occur after inoculation of the virus at any mucocutaneous site. Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) is common in children and classically causes gingivostomatitis, whereas HSV-2 classically infects the genitalia as a sexually transmitted infection (see Chapter 116), though HSV-1 may cause approximately 30% of genital herpes, and
Microsporum audouinii, Prepubertal infection of scalp, M. audouinii fluorescence: Griseofulvin; terbinafine, (ringworm) Trichophyton tonsurans, hair-shafts; black dot alopecia; blue-green with Wood itraconazole Microsporum canis T. tonsurans common in African lamp*; +KOH, culture Americans
KOH, Potassium hydroxide. *Wood lamp examination uses an ultraviolet source in a completely darkened room. Trichophyton usually has no fluorescence.
HSV-2 can cause gingivostomatitis. For the cutaneous manifestations of neonatal HSV infection, see Chapter 65.
Herpes gingivostomatitis involves the gingivae and the vermilion border of the lips. Herpes labialis (cold sores or fever blisters) is limited to the vermilion border involving skin and mucous membranes. Clinical manifestations of primary HSV gingivostomatitis include typical oropharyngeal vesicular lesions with high fever, malaise, stinging mouth pain, drooling, fetid breath, and cervical lymphadenopathy.
Herpetic skin lesions are quite painful and characteristically begin as erythematous papules that quickly progress tothe characteristically grouped, 2-to 4-mm, fluid-filled vesicles on an erythematous base. Removal of the vesicle roofreveals a small, sharply demarcated ulcer with a punched-outappearance. The characteristic grouped vesicles distinguishHSV from chickenpox (see Chapter 97). Within several days,the vesicles become pustular, rupture, and encrust. Diagnosisis made clinically, or with viral culture, fluorescent antibody staining, or polymerase chain reaction. Scarring is uncommon, but there may be residual hyperpigmentation. After primary infection, the virus remains latent in nerve dorsal rootganglia. About 20% to 40% of adults experience recurrentoral episodes of HSV labialis throughout life. Recurrencesoccur in roughly the same location and may be preceded byprodromal symptoms of tingling or burning without fever orlymphadenopathy.
Viral paronychia (herpetic whitlow) is a painful, localized infection of a digit, usually of the distal pulp space, with erythematous and occasionally vesiculopustular eruption. It occurs in children who suck their thumbs, bite their nails, and those with herpetic gingivostomatitis. Herpes gladiatorum occurs in wrestlers and rugby players who acquire cutaneous herpes from close body contact with other players’ cutaneous infections. Cutaneous HSV infection in persons with an underlying skin disorder (e.g., atopic dermatitis) can result in eczema herpeticum (Kaposi varicelliform eruption), a disseminated cutaneous infection. There may be hundreds of herpetic vesicles over the body, usually concentrated in the areas of skin affected by the underlying disorder.
Treatment with oral valacyclovir or famciclovir may shorten duration of disease for primary and recurrent infection. Prophylactic antiviral therapy may be warranted in those with frequent recurrences. Infants, persons with eczema, and persons with immunodeficiency are at increased risk for disseminated and severe HSV disease and should receive intravenous acyclovir therapy.
Available @ StudentConsult.comWarts are caused by the human papillomaviruses (HPVs),nonenveloped, double-stranded DNA viruses that infect skin and mucous membrane keratinocytes. More than 100 HPV serotypes have been identified, with different serotypes accounting for the variation in location and clinical presentations. There are 15 to 20 oncogenic (high-risk) types, including 16, 18, 31, 33, 35, 39, 45, 51, 52, and 58. HPV types 16 and 18 are associated with 70% of cases of cervical cancer as well as vulvar and vaginal cancers. Common nononcogenic (low-risk) types include 1, 2, 3, 6, 10, 11, 40, 42, 43, 44, and 54. Regardless of the infecting serotype, all warts are associated with hyperplasia of the epidermal cells.
Warts occur at all ages. Common warts (verruca vulgaris),associated with HPV types 1 and 2, are the most common form (71%). They occur frequently in school-age children, with a prevalence of 4% to 20%. They are transmitted by direct contact or by fomites and have an incubation period of approximately 1 month before clinical presentation. The common wart is a painless, well-circumscribed, small (2to 5-mm) papule with a papillated or verrucous surface typically distributed on the fingers, toes, elbows, and knees. They also may be found on the nose, ears, and lips. Filiform warts are verrucous, exophytic, 2-mm papules that have a narrow or pedunculated base. Flat warts (verruca plana) are associated with HPV types 3 and 10 and are multiple, flat-topped 2to 4-mm papules clustered on the dorsal surface of the hands, on the soles of the feet (plantar warts), or on the face. Plantar warts may be painful because of the effect of pressure and friction on the lesions. Genital warts (condylomata acuminata) are associated with the HPV types 6 and 11 (90%). They are flesh-colored, hyperpigmented, or erythematous lesions that are filiform, fungating, or plaquelike in appearance and involve multiple sites on the vulva, vagina, penis, or perineum. Genital warts are the most common sexually transmitted infection, with 1 million new cases annually.
Warts typically are self-limited and resolve spontaneously over years without specific treatment. Treatment options are available for common and flat warts as well as condylomata acuminata. Topical preparations for common and flat warts disrupt infected epithelium (using salicylic acid, liquid nitrogen, or laser therapy) and result in the cure of approximately 75% of patients. Treatment of anogenital warts is complex, and specific treatments ( www.cdc.gov/std/hpv/default.htm ) may include topical podophyllotoxin or imiquimod. Additional treatment methods include laser ablation and immunotherapy with intralesional interferon; immunotherapy may result in significant toxicities.
The most serious consequence of HPV infection is cervical cancer (more than 12,000 new cases annually), vulvar, vaginal, penile, and anal cancers. A quadrivalent, recombinant HPV vaccine against serotypes 6, 11, 31, and 33 is recommended for all children at 11 to 12 years of age but may be given to children between 9 and 26 years of age. The three-dose regimen has 98% to 100% efficacy in preventing the precancerous dysplasia that precedes cervical cancer.
Molluscum contagiosum virus, a poxvirus that replicates in host epithelial cells, produces discrete, small (2 to 4 mm), pearly flesh-colored or pink, nontender, dome-shaped papules with central umbilication. Papules occur most commonly in intertriginous regions, such as the axillae, groin, and neck. They rarely occur on the face or in the periocular region. The infection typically affects toddlers and young children and is acquired through direct contact with infected individuals. Spread occurs by autoinoculation. Infection with molluscum contagiosum may be complicated by a surrounding dermatitis. Severely immunocompromised persons or persons with extensive atopic dermatitis often have widespread lesions.
Diagnosis is made clinically. Lesions are self-limited, resolvingover months to years, and usually no specific treatment is recommended. Available treatment options are limited to destructive modalities, such as cryotherapy with topical liquid nitrogen,vesicant therapy with topical 0.9% cantharidin, or removal bycurettage, and should be reserved for extensive disease.
Available @ StudentConsult.comLymphoid tissue steadily enlarges until puberty and subsequently undergoes progressive atrophy. Lymph nodes aremost prominent in children 4 to 8 years of age. Normallymph node size is 10 mm in diameter, with the exceptions of15 mm for inguinal nodes, 5 mm for epitrochlear nodes, and2 mm for supraclavicular nodes, which are usually undetectable. Lymphadenopathy is enlargement of lymph nodes andoccurs in response to a wide variety of infectious, inflammatory, and malignant processes. Generalized lymphadenopathy is enlargement of two or more noncontiguous lymphnode groups, whereas regional lymphadenopathy involves one lymph node group only.
Lymphadenitis is acute or chronic inflammation of lymph nodes. Acute lymphadenitis usually results when bacteria and toxins from a site of acute inflammation are carried via lymph to regional nodes. Numerous infections cause lymphadenopathy and lymphadenitis (Tables 99-1 and 99-2). Causes of inguinal regional lymphadenopathy also include sexually transmitted infections (see Chapter 116). Regional lymphadenitis associated with a characteristic skin lesion at the site of inoculation defines various lymphocutaneous syndromes. Lymphangitis is an inflammation of subcutaneous lymphatic channels that presents as an acute bacterial infection, usually caused by Staphylococcus aureus and group A streptococci.
Cervical lymphadenitis is the most common regional lymphadenitis among children and is associated most commonly with pharyngitis caused by group A streptococcus (see Chapter 103), respiratory viruses, and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). Other common infectious causes of cervical lymphadenitis include Bartonella henselae (cat-scratch disease) and nontuberculous mycobacteria.
EBV is the primary cause of infectious mononucleosis, a clinical syndrome characterized by fever, fatigue and malaise, cervical or generalized lymphadenopathy, tonsillitis, and pharyngitis. EBV, a member of the herpesvirus family, infects B lymphocytes and is spread by salivary secretions. After primary infection, EBV is maintained latently in multiple episomes in the cell nucleus of resting B lymphocytes and establishes lifelong infection that remains clinically inapparent. Most persons shed EBV intermittently, with approximately
F. tularensis (ulceroglandular tularemia)B. henselae (cat-scratch disease)Y. pestis (plague) Nocardia (nocardiosis) Cutaneous diphtheria (Corynebacterium diphtherial) Cutaneous coccidioidomycosis (Coccidioides immitis) Cutaneous histoplasmosis (Histoplasma capsulatum)
Cutaneous leishmaniasis Cutaneous sporotrichosis (S. schenckii) 20% of healthy individuals shedding EBV at any given time. Cytomegalovirus (CMV), Toxoplasma gondii, adenoviruses, hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus, and initial human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, known as acute retroviral syndrome, can cause an infectious mononucleosis-like syndrome with lymphadenopathy.
The cause of cat-scratch disease is B. henselae, a small, pleomorphic, gram-negative bacillus that stains with Warthin-Starry silver stain. B. henselae causes apparently asymptomatic bacteremia in cats, and kittens under 1 year of age are more likely to harbor the organism. B. henselae is transmitted to humans by bites and scratches, which may be minor. B. henselae also causes bacillary angiomatosis and peliosis hepatis in persons with HIV infection (see Chapter 125).
Nontuberculous mycobacteria are ubiquitous in soil, vegetation, dust, and water. Mycobacterium species commonly causing lymphadenitis in children includes M. avium complex,
M. scrofulaceum, and M. kansasii. M. tuberculosis uncommonly causes cervical lymphadenitis.
Acute cervical lymphadenitis as a complication of group A streptococcal infection parallels the incidence of streptococcal pharyngitis (see Chapter 103). Many cases are caused by
S. aureus. EBV and CMV are ubiquitous, with most infections occurring in young children, who may often be asymptomatic or only mildly symptomatic. Risk factors for other specific causes of lymphadenopathy may be indicated by past medical and surgical history; preceding trauma; exposure to animals; contact with persons infected with tuberculosis; sexual history; travel history; food and ingestion history, especially of undercooked meat or unpasteurized dairy products; and current medications.
The exact location and detailed measurement of the size, shape, characteristics, and number of involved nodes should be noted, including their consistency, mobility, tenderness, warmth, fluctuance, firmness, and adherence to adjacent tissues. Important findings include presence or absence of dental disease, oropharyngeal or skin lesions, ocular disease, other nodal enlargement, and any other signs of systemic illness, including hepatosplenomegaly and skin lesions.
Acute cervical lymphadenopathy associated with pharyngitis is characterized by small and rubbery lymph nodes in the anterior cervical chain with minimal to moderate tenderness. Suppurative cervical lymphadenitis, frequently caused by S. aureus or group A streptococcus, shows erythema and warmth of the overlying skin with moderate to exquisite tenderness.
The characteristic triad of EBV infectious mononucleosis is fever, pharyngitis, and lymphadenopathy. The pharynx shows enlarged tonsils and exudate and, sometimes, anenanthem with pharyngeal petechiae. Lymphadenopathy ismost prominent in the anterior and posterior cervical andsubmandibular lymph nodes and less commonly involvesaxillary and inguinal lymph nodes. Other findings includesplenomegaly in 50% of cases, hepatomegaly in 10% to 20%, and maculopapular or urticarial rash in 5% to 15%. A diffuse,erythematous rash develops in approximately 80% of mononucleosis patients treated with amoxicillin. Compared with EBV infection, infectious mononucleosis-like illness caused by CMV has minimal pharyngitis and often more prominentsplenomegaly; it often presents with fever only. The mostcommon manifestation of toxoplasmosis is asymptomaticcervical lymphadenopathy, but approximately 10% of casesof acquired toxoplasmosis develop chronic posterior cervical lymphadenopathy and fatigue, usually without significantfever.
Cat-scratch disease typically presents with a cutaneous papule or conjunctival granuloma at the site of bacterial inoculation, followed by lymphadenopathy of thedraining regional nodes. The nodes are tender, with suppuration in approximately 10% of cases. Lymphadenopathy may persist 1 to 4 months. Less common features ofcat-scratch disease include erythema nodosum, osteolytic lesions, encephalitis, oculoglandular (Parinaud) syndrome,hepatic or splenic granulomas, endocarditis, polyneuritis,and transverse myelitis.
Lymphadenitis caused by nontuberculous mycobacteria usually is unilateral in the cervical, submandibular, or preauricular nodes and is more common in toddlers. The nodes are relatively painless and firm initially, but gradually soften, rupture, and drain over time. The local reaction is circumscribed, and overlying skin may develop a violaceous discoloration without warmth. Fever and systemic symptoms are minimal or absent.
Initial laboratory tests of regional lymphadenopathy include a complete blood count and inflammatory markers. Infectious mononucleosis is characterized by lymphocytosis with atypical lymphocytes; thrombocytopenia and elevated hepatic enzymes are common.
Cultures of infected skin lesions and tonsillar exudates should be obtained. Isolation of group A streptococci from the oropharynx suggests, but does not confirm, streptococcal cervical lymphadenitis. A blood culture should be obtained from children with systemic signs and symptoms of bacteremia.
Serologic testing for EBV and for B. henselae should be obtained if there are appropriate findings. The most reliable test for diagnosis of acute EBV infection is the IgM antiviral capsid antigen (Fig. 99-1). Heterophil antibody is also diagnostic but is not reliably positive in children younger than 4 years with infectious mononucleosis.
Extended diagnostic workup for lymphadenopathy is guided by the specific risk factors in the history and physical examination findings. Chest radiograph, throat culture, antistreptolysin O titer, and serologic tests for CMV, toxoplasmosis, syphilis, tularemia, Brucella, histoplasmosis, and coccidioidomycosis may be indicated. Genital tract evaluation and specimens should be obtained with regional inguinal lymphadenopathy (see Chapter 116). Screening for tuberculosis can be performed using the standard tuberculin skin test or an interferon gamma release assay; both may be positive with atypical mycobacterial infection.
Aspiration is indicated for acutely inflamed, fluctuant cervical lymph nodes, especially those larger than 3 cm in diameter or not responding to antibiotic treatment. Ultrasound orcomputed tomography may help in establishing the extent oflymphadenopathy and defining whether the mass is solid, cystic, or suppurative with abscess formation. Pus from fluctuantlesions should be examined by Gram and acid-fast stains andcultured for aerobic and anaerobic bacteria and mycobacteria. Biopsy should be performed if lymphoma is suspectedbecause of firm, matted, nontender nodes and other systemicfindings.
If the diagnosis remains uncertain and lymphadenopathy persists despite empirical antibiotic therapy for presumed S. aureus and group A streptococcus, excisional biopsy of the entire node should be performed, if possible. This is curative for nontuberculous mycobacterial lymphadenitis. Biopsy material should be submitted for histopathology as well as Gram, acid-fast, Giemsa, periodic acid-Schiff, Warthin-Starry silver (B. henselae), and methenamine silver stains. Cultures for aerobic and anaerobic bacteria, mycobacteria, and fungi should be performed.
1:320 1:160 1:80 1:40Figure 99-1 The development of antibodies to vari-1:20 ous Epstein-Barr virus antigens in patients with infectious mononucleosis. The titers are geometric mean values expressed as reciprocals of the serum dilution. The IgM 1:10 response to viral capsid antigen (VCA) is divided because of the significant differences noted according to the age of the patient. (From Jenson HB, Ench Y: Epstein-Barr virus. In Rose NR, Hamilton RG, Detrick B: Manual of Clinical Laboratory Immunology, ed 7, Washington DC, 2006, American Society for Microbiology Press, p 640.)
Noninfectious causes of cervical swelling and/or lymphadenopathy include congenital and acquired cysts, Kawasakidisease, sarcoidosis, benign neoplasms, and malignancies.The differential diagnosis for generalized lymphadenopathy includes juvenile idiopathic arthritis; systemic lupuserythematosus; and serum sickness and other adverse drugreactions, especially with phenytoin and other antiepileptic medications, allopurinol, isoniazid, antithyroid medications, and pyrimethamine. Leukemia, lymphoma, and occasionally neuroblastoma may have lymph nodes that areusually painless, uninflamed, matted, and firm (see Chapters 155 and 156). A syndrome of periodic fever, aphthous stomatitis, pharyngitis, and adenitis is an occasional cause of recurrent fever and cervical lymphadenitis (seeChapter 103).
Management of lymphadenopathy and lymphadenitis depends on patient age, associated findings, node size and location, and severity of the acute systemic symptoms. In children most cases of cervical lymphadenopathy, without other signs of acute inflammation, require no specific therapy and usually regress within 2 to 3 weeks. Progression to lymphadenitis or development of generalized lymphadenopathy requires further evaluation.
The specific treatment of cervical lymphadenitis dependson the underlying etiology. Empirical treatment targeting
S. aureus and group A streptococcus includes a penicillinase-resistant penicillin (e.g., oxacillin) or first-generationcephalosporin (e.g., cefazolin). For patients with hypersensitivity to β-lactam antibiotics, or if community-acquired methicillin-resistant S. aureus is suspected, clindamycin is appropriate.Response to empirical antibiotic therapy for suppurative cervical lymphadenitis obviates the need for further evaluation.Absence of a clinical response within 48 to 72 hours is an indication for further laboratory evaluation and possible excisionalbiopsy and culture.
There is no specific treatment for infectious mononucleosis. Cat-scratch disease usually does not require treatment because the lymphadenopathy resolves in 2 to 4 months without sequelae. Azithromycin may hasten resolution and reduces node size at 30 days but no benefit is evident at 90 days. Aspiration is indicated for suppurative nodes. The recommended treatment of cervical lymphadenitis caused by nontuberculous mycobacteria is complete surgical excision. Antimycobacterial drugs are necessary only if there is recurrence or inability to excise infected nodes completely, or if M. tuberculosis is identified, which requires 6 months of antituberculous chemotherapy (see Chapter 124).
Most acute infections caused by S. aureus and group A streptococcus respond to treatment and have an excellent prognosis. Complications such as abscess formation, cellulitis, andbacteremia may occur. Abscess formation is treated with incision and drainage in conjunction with appropriate antibiotictherapy.
Infectious mononucleosis usually resolves in 2 to 4 weeks,but fatigue and malaise may wax and wane for several weeks tomonths. EBV also is associated with numerous complicationsduring the acute illness. Neurologic complications includeseizures, aseptic meningitis syndrome, Bell palsy, transversemyelitis, encephalitis, and Guillain-Barre syndrome. Hematologic complications include Coombs-positive hemolytic anemia, antibody-mediated thrombocytopenia, hemophagocyticsyndrome, and, rarely, aplastic anemia. Corticosteroids havebeen used for respiratory compromise resulting from tonsillar hypertrophy, which responds rapidly, and for thrombocytopenia, hemolytic anemia, and neurologic complications.Splenic rupture is very rare. X-linked lymphoproliferative disease, which results from a mutation of the SH2D1A gene located in the Xq25 region, manifests as fulminant infectiousmononucleosis with primary EBV infection and progresses tomalignant lymphoproliferative disease or dysgammaglobulinemia.
EBV infection, as with other herpesviruses, persists for life, but no symptoms are attributed to intermittent reactivation in immunocompetent hosts. EBV is causally associated with nasopharyngeal carcinoma; Burkitt lymphoma; Hodgkin disease; leiomyosarcoma in immunocompromised persons; and EBV lymphoproliferative disease, especially in posttransplant patients and in those with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).
Lymphadenitis caused by nontuberculous mycobacteria has an excellent prognosis. Surgical excision of cervical lymphadenitis caused by nontuberculous mycobacteria is curative in >97% of cases.
The incidence of suppurative regional lymphadenitis reflects the incidence of predisposing conditions, such as dental disease, streptococcal pharyngitis, otitis media, impetigo, and other infections involving the face and scalp. There are no guidelines to prevent lymphadenitis caused by nontuberculous mycobacteria.
Meningitis, inflammation of the leptomeninges, can be caused by bacteria, viruses, or, rarely, fungi. The term aseptic meningitis refers principally to viral meningitis, but meningitis with negative cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) bacterial cultures may be seen with other infectious organisms (Lyme disease, syphilis, tuberculosis), parameningeal infections (brain abscess, epidural abscess, venous sinus empyema), chemical exposure (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, intravenous immunoglobulin), autoimmune disorders, and other diseases.
The organisms commonly causing bacterial meningitis (Table 100-1) before the availability of current conjugate vaccines were Haemophilus influenzae, Streptococcus pneumoniae, and Neisseria meningitidis. In the United States, the rates of H. influenzae type b and S. pneumoniae meningitis have declined substantially after the introduction of targeted vaccines. The bacteria causing neonatal meningitis are the same as those causing neonatal sepsis (see Chapter 65). Staphylococcal meningitis occurs primarily after neurosurgery or penetrating head trauma.
Partially treated meningitis refers to bacterial meningitis complicated by antibiotic treatment before the lumbar puncture, which may result in negative CSF cultures, although other CSF findings suggestive of bacterial infection persist. The etiology can sometimes be confirmed by polymerase chain reaction of the CSF.
Viral meningitis is caused principally by enteroviruses andparechoviruses. Fecal excretion and transmission are continuous and persist for several weeks. Enteroviruses, parechoviruses, and arboviruses (St. Louis, LaCrosse, West Nile,California encephalitis viruses) are the principal causes ofmeningoencephalitis (see Chapter 101). Other viruses thatcause meningitis include herpes simplex virus, Epstein-Barrvirus, cytomegalovirus, lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus,and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Mumps virus isa common cause of viral meningitis in unvaccinated children.Less frequent causes of meningitis include Borrelia burgdorferi (Lyme disease), Bartonella henselae (cat-scratch disease),Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Toxoplasma, fungi (Cryptococcus,
Histoplasma, Blastomycosis, and Coccidioides), and parasites(Angiostrongylus cantonensis, Naegleria fowleri, and Acanthamoeba).
The incidence of bacterial meningitis is highest among children under 1 year of age. Extremely high rates are found in Native Americans, Alaskan Natives, and Australian aboriginals, suggesting that genetic factors play a role in susceptibility. Other risk factors include acquired or congenital immunodeficiencies, hemoglobinopathies such as sickle cell disease, functional or anatomic asplenia, and crowding such as occurs in some households, day care centers, or college and military dormitories. A CSF leak (fistula), resulting from congenital anomaly or following a basilar skull fracture, increases the risk of meningitis, especially that caused by S. pneumoniae.
Enteroviruses and parechoviruses cause meningitis with peaks during summer and fall in temperate climates. These infections are more prevalent among low socioeconomic groups, young children, and immunocompromised persons. The prevalence of arboviral meningitis is determined by geographic distribution and seasonal activity of the arthropod (mosquito) vectors. In the United States, most arboviral infections occur during the summer and fall.
Available @ StudentConsult.comPreceding upper respiratory tract symptoms are common. Rapid onset is typical of S. pneumoniae and N. meningitidis.Indications of meningeal inflammation include headache, irritability, nausea, nuchal rigidity, lethargy, photophobia, and vomiting. Fever usually is present. Kernig and Brudzinski types a, b, c, d, e, f, and nontypable
Table 100-2 Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF) Findings in Various Central Nervous System Disorders CONDITION PRESSURE LEUKOCYTES (/µL) PROTEIN (mg/dL) GLUCOSE (mg/dL) COMMENTS Normal 50–180 mm H2O <4; 60%–70% lymphocytes, 30%–40% monocytes, 1%–3% neutrophils 20–45 >50% of serum glucose
HSV, Herpes simplex virus; IGRA, interferon gamma release assay for tuberculosis; PCR, polymerase chain reaction; PMNs, polymorphonuclear leukocytes; TST, tuberculin skin test.
signs of meningeal irritation are often positive in children older than 12 months. In young infants, signs of meningeal inflammation may be minimal with only irritability, restlessness, depressed mental status, and poor feeding present. Focal neurologic signs, seizures, arthralgia, myalgia, petechial or purpuric lesions, sepsis, shock, and coma may occur. Symptoms of increased intracranial pressure include headache, diplopia, and vomiting; a bulging fontanelle may be present in infants. Ptosis, sixth nerve palsy, anisocoria, bradycardia with hypertension, and apnea are signs of increased intracranial pressure with brain herniation. Papilledema is uncommon, unless there is occlusion of the venous sinuses, subdural empyema, or brain abscess.
If bacterial meningitis is suspected, a lumbar puncture shouldbe performed unless there is evidence of cardiovascular instability or of increased intracranial pressure (because of the risk ofherniation), other than a bulging fontanelle. Routine CSF examination includes a white blood cell count, differential, proteinand glucose levels, and Gram stain (Table 100-2). CSF should be cultured for bacteria and, when appropriate, fungi, viruses, andmycobacteria. The polymerase chain reaction is used to diagnose enteroviruses, parechoviruses, and herpes simplex virus;it is more sensitive and rapid than viral culture. Peripheral leukocytosis is common, and blood cultures are positive in 90%of cases of bacterial meningitis. An electroencephalogram mayconfirm an encephalitis component (see Chapter 101).
Many disorders may show signs of meningeal irritation and increased intracranial pressure, including the infectious causes of meningitis or encephalitis, hemorrhage, rheumatic diseases, and malignancies. Seizures are associated with meningitis, encephalitis, and intracranial abscess or can be the sequelae of brain edema, cerebral infarction or hemorrhage, or vasculitis.
Treatment of bacterial meningitis focuses on sterilization of the CSF by antibiotics (Table 100–3) and maintenance of (0–28 days) ceftriaxone plus gentamicin ampicillin with or Ceftazidime plus without gentamicin ampicillin adequate cerebral and systemic perfusion. Due to increasing
S. pneumoniae resistance to penicillin and cephalosporins, empirical cefotaxime (or ceftriaxone) plus vancomycin should be administered until antibiotic susceptibility testing is available. Cefotaxime or ceftriaxone are also adequate to treat
N. meningitidis and H. influenzae. For infants younger than 2 months of age, ampicillin is added to cover the possibility of Listeria monocytogenes. Duration of treatment is 5 to 7 days for N. meningitidis, 7 to 10 days for H. influenzae, and 10 to 14 days for S. pneumoniae.
Dexamethasone (0.6 to 0.8 mg/kg daily in two to three divided doses for 2 days), as adjunctive therapy initiated just before or concurrently with the first dose of antibiotics, significantly diminishes the incidence of hearing loss and neurologic deficits resulting from H. influenzae meningitis. Adjuvant steroids do not appear to decrease mortality or hospital stay in studies in the developed world.
Supportive therapy involves treatment of dehydration, shock, disseminated intravascular coagulation, syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone (SIADH), seizures, increased intracranial pressure, apnea, arrhythmias, and coma. Adequate cerebral perfusion must be maintained in the presence of cerebral edema.
Available @ StudentConsult.comSIADH may complicate meningitis and necessitates monitoring of urine output and fluid administration. Computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging commonly detects subdural effusions with S. pneumoniae and H. influenzae meningitis. Most effusions are sterile and asymptomatic and do not necessitate drainage unless associated with increased intracranial pressure or focal neurologic signs. Persistent fever is common during treatment but also may be related to infective treatment or immune complex-mediated pericardial or joint effusions, thrombophlebitis, drug fever, or nosocomial infection. A repeat lumbar puncture after 48 hours of therapy should be considered for those whose condition has not improved or has worsened and for those who received adjunct steroids, which can interfere with the ability to monitor clinical response.
Even with appropriate antibiotic therapy, the mortality rate for bacterial meningitis in children is significant: 25% for
S. pneumoniae, 15% for N. meningitidis, and 8% for H. influenzae. Of survivors, 35% have sequelae, particularly after pneumococcal infection, including deafness, seizures, learning disabilities, blindness, paresis, ataxia, or hydrocephalus. All patients with meningitis should have a hearing evaluation before discharge and at follow-up. Poor prognosis is associated with young age, long duration of illness before effective antibiotic therapy, seizures, coma at presentation, shock, low or absent CSF white blood cell count in the presence of visible bacteria on CSF Gram stain, and immunocompromised status.
Rarely relapse may occur 3 to 14 days after treatment, possibly from parameningeal foci or resistant organisms. Recurrence may indicate an underlying immunologic or anatomic defect that predisposes the patient to meningitis.
Routine immunizations against H. influenzae and S. pneumoniae are recommended for children beginning at 2 months of age. Quadrivalent vaccines against N. meningitidis (serotypes A, C, Y, and W-135) are recommended for adolescents, college freshmen, military personnel, and travelers to highly endemic areas (see Chapter 94), and are licensed down to 2 years of age. Chemoprophylaxis with rifampin, ciprofloxacin, or ceftriaxone to eradicate the carrier state and decrease transmission is recommended both for index cases with N. meningitidis or
H. influenzae and for their close contacts.Encephalitis is an inflammatory process of the brain parenchyma leading to cerebral dysfunction. It is usually an acute process but may be a postinfectious encephalomyelitis, a chronic degenerative disease, or a slow viral infection. Encephalitis may be diffuse or localized. Organisms cause encephalitis by one of two mechanisms: (1) direct infection of the brain parenchyma or (2) an apparent immune-mediated response in the central nervous system that usually begins several days after the appearance of extraneural manifestations of the infection.
Viruses are the principal causes of acute infectious encephalitis (Table 101-1). The most common viral causes of encephalitis in the United States are the enteroviruses, arboviruses, and herpesviruses. Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is an important cause of subacute encephalitis in children and adolescents and may present as an acute febrile illness but, more commonly, is insidious in onset (see Chapter 125).
Enterovirus and parechovirus +++ Herpes simplex viruses (HSV 1, 6, 7) ++ Arthropod-borne viruses (especially West Nile ++ virus, St. Louis, California, LaCrosse, and equine encephalitis viruses) Epstein-Barr virus + Adenovirus + Human immunodeficiency virus + Borrelia burgdorferi (Lyme disease) + Bartonella henselae (cat-scratch disease) + Mycoplasma pneumoniae + Rickettsia rickettsii +
Adapted from Willoughby RE Jr, Long SS: Encephalitis, meningoencephalitis, acute disseminated encephalomyelitis, and acute necrotizing encephalopathy. In Long SS, Pickering LK, Prober CG : Principles and Practice of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, revised reprint, ed 3, Philadelphia, 2008,
Other causes of subacute encephalitis include measles, slow viruses (e.g., JC virus), and prion-associated diseases (e.g., Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease). Encephalitis also may result from metabolic, toxic, and neoplastic disorders.
Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM) is the abrupt development of multiple neurologic signs related to an inflammatory, demyelinating disorder of the brain and spinal cord. ADEM follows childhood viral infections (such as measles and chickenpox) or vaccinations and resembles multiple sclerosis clinically.
Arboviral and enteroviral encephalitides characteristically appear in clusters or epidemics that occur from midsummer to early fall, although sporadic cases of enteroviral encephalitis occur throughout the year. Herpesviruses and other infectious agents account for additional sporadic cases throughout the year.
Arboviruses tend to be limited to certain geographic areas, reflecting the reservoir and mosquito vector. St. Louis encephalitis virus is present throughout the United Statesin birds. California encephalitis virus, common in the Midwest, is carried by rodents and spread by mosquitoes. Easternequine encephalitis virus is limited to the East Coast in birds.Western equine encephalitis virus is present throughout theMidwest and West in birds. West Nile virus infection occurs worldwide and causes outbreaks of summer encephalitis inNorth America. The principal vector for West Nile virus isthe Culex pipiens mosquito, but the organism can be isolatedin nature from a wide variety of Culex and Aedes species.A broad range of birds serves as the major reservoir for WestNile virus.
Acute infectious encephalitis usually is preceded by a prodrome of several days of nonspecific symptoms such as sore
Available @ StudentConsult.com throat, fever, headache, and abdominal complaints followed by the characteristic symptoms of progressive lethargy, behavioral changes, and neurologic deficits. Seizures are common at presentation. Children with encephalitis also may have a maculopapular rash and severe complications such as fulminant coma, transverse myelitis, anterior horn cell disease, or peripheral neuropathy.
West Nile encephalitis produces a broad spectrum of illness from asymptomatic infection to death. Severity of disease increases with advancing age. Most children are asymptomatic. Typical symptoms include mild, nonspecific extraneurologic illness characterized by fever, rash, arthralgias, lymphadenopathy, gastrointestinal complaints, and conjunctivitis.
The diagnosis is established presumptively by the presenceof characteristic neurologic signs, typical epidemiology findings, and evidence of infection by cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)analysis, electroencephalogram (EEG), and brain imagingtechniques. Encephalitis may result from infections withbacteria, Mycoplasma, Rickettsia, fungi, and parasites andfrom many noninfectious diseases, including metabolic diseases (encephalopathy), such as Reye syndrome, hypoglycemia, collagen vascular disorders, drugs, hypertension, andmalignancies.
The diagnosis of viral encephalitis is supported by examination of the CSF, which typically shows a lymphocytic pleocytosis, slight elevation in protein content, and normal glucose level. The CSF occasionally may be normal. Extreme elevations of protein and reductions of glucose suggest tuberculosis, cryptococcal infection, or meningeal carcinomatosis. The EEG is the definitive test and shows diffuse, slow wave activity, although focal changes may be present. Neuroimaging studies may be normal or may show diffuse cerebral swelling of the parenchyma or focal abnormalities. A temporal lobe focus on EEG or brain imaging is the characteristic feature of herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection.
Serologic studies should be obtained for arboviruses (including West Nile virus, if indicated by the patient risk factors), Epstein-Barr virus, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, cat-scratch disease, and Lyme disease. Additional serologic testing for less common pathogens should be performed as indicated by the travel, social, or medical history. In most cases of viral encephalitis, the virus is difficult to isolate from the CSF. Polymerase chain reaction tests for HSV, enteroviruses, West Nile virus, and other viruses are available and should be sent. Viral cultures of stool and a nasopharyngeal swab may also be obtained. Even with extensive testing and the use of polymerase chain reaction assays, the cause of encephalitis remains undetermined in one third of cases.
Brain biopsy is seldom performed but may be useful in patients with focal neurologic findings. It may be appropriate for patients with severe encephalopathy who show no clinical improvement if the diagnosis remains obscure. Rabies encephalitis and prion-related diseases (Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease and kuru) may be routinely diagnosed by culture or pathologic examination of brain biopsy tissue. Brain biopsy may be helpful to identify arbovirus and enterovirus infections, tuberculosis, fungal infections, and noninfectious illnesses, particularly primary central nervous system vasculopathies and malignancies.
With the exception of HSV, varicella-zoster virus, cytomegalovirus, and HIV, there is no specific therapy for viral encephalitis. Management is supportive and frequently requires intensive care unit admission to facilitate aggressive therapy for seizures, timely detection of electrolyte abnormalities, and, when necessary, airway monitoring and protection or reduction of increased intracranial pressure and maintenance of adequate cerebral perfusion pressure.
Intravenous acyclovir is the treatment of choice for HSV andvaricella-zoster virus infections. Cytomegalovirus infection is treated with ganciclovir. HIV infections may be treated with a combination of antiretroviral agents. M. pneumoniae infections may be treated with doxycycline, erythromycin, azithromycin, or clarithromycin, although the clinical value of treatingencephalitis associated with mycoplasmal disease is uncertain.
ADEM has been treated with high-dose intravenous corticosteroids, but it is unclear whether the improved outcome with corticosteroids reflects milder cases recognized by magnetic resonance imaging, fewer cases of ADEM caused by measles (which causes severe ADEM), or improved supportive care.
Among survivors, symptoms usually resolve over several days to 2 to 3 weeks. Although most patients with epidemic forms of infectious encephalitis (St. Louis, California, West Nile, and enterovirus infections) in the United States recover without sequelae, severe cases leading to death or substantial neurologic sequelae can occur with virtually any of these neurotropic viruses. About two thirds of patients recover fully before being discharged from the hospital. The remainder show clinically significant residua, including paresis or spasticity, cognitive impairment, weakness, ataxia, and recurrent seizures. Most patients with neurologic sequelae of infectious encephalitis at the time of hospital discharge gradually recover some or all of their function. The overall mortality for infectious encephalitis is approximately 5%.
Disease caused by HSV, Eastern equine encephalitis, or M. pneumoniae is associated with a worse prognosis. The prognosis may be worse for encephalitis in children younger than 1 year of age or with coma. Rabies, with very rare exceptions, is fatal.
Relapses of ADEM occur in 14%, usually within 1 year with the same or new clinical signs. Recurrences of ADEM may represent onset of multiple sclerosis in childhood.
The best prevention for arboviral encephalitis is to avoid mos-quito-borne or tick-borne exposures and to remove ticks carefully (see Chapter 122). There are no vaccines in use in the United States for the prevention of arboviral infection or for enteroviruses except for poliomyelitis. There are no specific preventive measures for HSV encephalitis except for cesarean section for mothers with active genital lesions (see Chapter 65). Rabies can be prevented by preexposure or postexposure vaccination. Influenza encephalitis can be prevented by use of influenza vaccination. Reye syndrome can be prevented by avoiding use of aspirin or aspirin-containing compounds for children with fever as well as use of varicella and influenza vaccines.
The common cold is a viral infection with prominent symptoms of rhinorrhea and nasal obstruction, absent or mild fever, and no systemic manifestations. It is often referred to as rhinitis but usually involves the sinus mucosa and is more correctly termed rhinosinusitis.
The viruses primarily associated with colds are rhinoviruses and, less commonly, coronaviruses. Other viruses that cause common cold symptoms include respiratory syncytial virus and, less commonly, influenza, parainfluenza, and adenoviruses. Viral infection of nasal epithelium causes an acute inflammatory response with mucosal infiltration by inflammatory cells and release of cytokines. The inflammatory response is partly responsible for many of the symptoms.
Colds occur throughout the year with peak incidence from early fall through late spring, reflecting the seasonal prevalence of viral pathogens and confined habitation during colder months. Young children have an average of 6 to 7 colds each year, and 10% to 15% of children have at least 12 colds each year. The annual number of colds decreases with age, to two to three colds each year by adulthood. Children in out-of-home day care during the first year of life have 50% more colds than children cared for at home only. This difference diminishes during subsequent years in day care.
Available @ StudentConsult.comCommon cold symptoms typically develop 1 to 3 days after viral infection and include nasal obstruction, rhinorrhea, sore or scratchy throat, and occasional nonproductive cough. Colds usually persist about 1 week, although 10% last 2 weeks. There is often a change in the color or consistency of nasal secretions, which is not indicative of sinusitis or bacterial superinfection. Examination of the nasal mucosa may reveal swollen, erythematous nasal turbinates.
Laboratory studies often are not helpful. A nasal smear for eosinophils may be useful in the evaluation for allergic rhinitis (see Chapter 79).
The differential diagnosis of the common cold includes allergic rhinitis, foreign body (especially with unilateral nasal discharge), sinusitis, pertussis, and streptococcal nasopharyngitis. Allergic rhinitis is characterized by absence of fever, eosinophils in the nasal discharge, and other manifestations, such as allergic shiners, nasal polyps, a transverse crease on the nasal bridge, and pale, edematous, nasal turbinate mucosa. Rare causes of rhinorrhea are choanal atresia or stenosis, cerebrospinal fluid fistula, diphtheria, tumor, congenital syphilis (with snuffles), nasopharyngeal malignancy, and Wegener granulomatosis.
There is no specific therapy for the common cold. Antibacterial therapy is not beneficial. Management consists of symptomatic therapies. Antihistamines, decongestants, and combination antihistamine-decongestants are not recommended for children younger than 6 years of age because of adverse effects and lack of benefits. Low-grade fever is seen with colds, particularly in the first few days of illness and can be treated with antipyretic medications. Cough suppressants and expectorants have not been shown to be beneficial. Vitamin C and inhalation of warm, humidified air are no more effective than placebo. The benefit of zinc lozenges or sprays has been inconsistent.
Otitis media is the most common complication and occursin 5% to 20% of children with a cold (see Chapter 105). Othercomplications include bacterial sinusitis, which should beconsidered if rhinorrhea or daytime cough persists without improvement for at least 10 to 14 days or if severe signsof sinus involvement develop, such as fever, facial pain, orfacial swelling (see Chapter 104). Colds may lead to exacerbation of asthma and may result in inappropriate antibiotic treatment.
There are no proven methods for prevention of colds other than good hand washing and avoiding contact with infected persons. No significant effect of vitamin C or Echinacea for prevention of the common cold has been confirmed.
Many infectious agents can cause pharyngitis (Table 103-1).Group A streptococci (Streptococcus pyogenes) are gram-positive, nonmotile cocci that are facultative anaerobes. Onsheep blood agar, the colonies are small (1 to 2 mm in diameter)and have a surrounding zone of β (clear) hemolysis. Other bacterial organisms less often associated with pharyngitis include group C streptococcus (also β-hemolytic), Arcanobacterium haemolyticum (β-hemolytic, gram-positive rod), and Francisella tularensis (gram-negative coccobacillus and cause of tularemia). Chlamydophila pneumoniae, strain TWAR, is associated with lower respiratory disease but also causes sore throat.Mycoplasma pneumoniae is associated with atypical pneumoniaand may cause mild pharyngitis without distinguishing clinical manifestations. Other bacteria, including Staphylococcus aureus, Haemophilus influenzae, and Streptococcus pneumoniae,are cultured frequently from the throats of children with pharyngitis, but their role in causing pharyngitis is unclear.
Many viruses cause acute pharyngitis. Some viruses, such as adenoviruses, are more likely than others to cause pharyngitis as a prominent symptom, whereas other viruses, such as rhinoviruses, are more likely to cause pharyngitis as a minor part of an illness that primarily features other symptoms, such as rhinorrhea or cough. Epstein-Barr virus, enteroviruses (herpangina), herpes simplex virus, and primary human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection also produce pharyngitis.
Sore throat is the primary symptom in approximately one third of upper respiratory tract illnesses. Streptococcal pharyngitis is relatively uncommon before 2 to 3 years of age, but the incidence increases in young school-age children and then declines in late adolescence and adulthood. Streptococcal pharyngitis occurs throughout the year in temperate climates, with a peak during the winter and early spring. The illness often spreads to siblings and classmates. Viral infections generally spread via close contact with an infected person and peak during winter and spring.
Available @ StudentConsult.comPharyngeal inflammation causes cough, sore throat, dysphagia, and fever. If involvement of the tonsils is prominent, the term tonsillitis or tonsillopharyngitis is often used.
Adapted from Hayden GF, Hendley JO, Gwaltney JM Jr: Management of the ambulatory patient with a sore throat, Curr Clin Top Infect Dis 9:62–75, 1988.
The onset of streptococcal pharyngitis is often rapid and associated with prominent sore throat and moderate to high fever. Headache, nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain are frequent. In a typical, florid case, the pharynx is distinctly red. The tonsils are enlarged and covered with a yellow, blood-tinged exudate. There may be petechiae or doughnut-shapedlesions on the soft palate and posterior pharynx. The uvula may be red, stippled, and swollen. Anterior cervical lymph nodes are enlarged and tender to touch. Many children, however, present with only mild pharyngeal erythema without tonsillar exudate or cervical lymphadenitis. Conjunctivitis, cough, coryza, hoarseness, or ulcerations suggest a viral etiology. The diagnosis of streptococcal pharyngitis cannot be made on clinical features alone.
In addition to sore throat and fever, some patients exhibit the stigmata of scarlet fever: circumoral pallor, strawberry tongue, and a fine diffuse erythematous macular-papular rash that has the feeling of goose flesh. The tongue initially has a white coating, but red and edematous lingual papillae later project through this coating, producing a white strawberry tongue. When the white coating peels off, the resulting red strawberry tongue is beefy red with prominent papillae. Patients infected with A. haemoyticum may present with similar findings.
Compared with classic streptococcal pharyngitis, the onset of viral pharyngitis is typically more gradual, and symptoms more often include rhinorrhea, cough, and diarrhea. Many upper respiratory tract infections present with symptoms of rhinorrhea and nasal obstruction, whereas systemic symptoms and signs, such as myalgia and fever, are absent or mild.
Gingivostomatitis is characteristic of herpes simplex virus-1 (see Chapter 65). Herpangina is an enteroviral infection with sudden onset of high fever, vomiting, headache, malaise, myalgia, backache, conjunctivitis, poor intake, drooling, sore throat,and dysphagia. The oral lesions of herpangina may be nonspecific, but classically there are one or more small, tender, papular,or pinpoint vesicular lesions on an erythematous base scatteredover the soft palate, uvula, and tongue. These vesicles enlargefrom 1 to 2 mm to 3 to 4 mm over 3 to 4 days, rupture, and produce small, punched-out ulcers that persist for several days.
The principal challenge is to distinguish pharyngitis caused by group A streptococcus from pharyngitis caused by nonstreptococcal (usually viral) organisms. A rapid streptococcal antigen test, a throat culture, or both are often performed to improve diagnostic precision and to identify children most likely to benefit from antibiotic therapy of streptococcal disease.
Many rapid diagnostic techniques for streptococcal pharyngitis are available with excellent specificity of 95% to 99%. The sensitivity of these rapid tests varies, however, and negative rapid tests should be confirmed by a throat culture.
Throat culture is the diagnostic gold standard for establishing the presence of streptococcal pharyngitis. False-positive cultures can occur if other organisms are incorrectly identified as group A streptococcus. As many as 20% of positive cultures in children during winter months reflect streptococcal carriers and not acute pharyngitis.
The predictive values of white blood cell count and differential, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and C-reactive protein arenot sufficient to distinguish streptococcal from nonstreptococcal pharyngitis, and these tests are not routinely recommended.The white blood cell count in patients with infectious mononucleosis usually shows a predominance of atypical lymphocytes.
Available @ StudentConsult.comThe differential diagnosis of infectious pharyngitis includes other local infections of the oral cavity, retropharyngeal abscesses (S. aureus, streptococci, anaerobes), diphtheria (if unimmunized), peritonsillar abscesses (with quinsy sore throat or unilateral tonsil swelling caused by streptococci, anaerobes, or, rarely, S. aureus), and epiglottitis. In addition neutropenic mucositis (leukemia, aplastic anemia), thrush (candidiasis secondary to T-cell immune deficiency), autoimmune ulceration (systemic lupus erythematosus, Behçet disease), and Kawasaki disease may cause pharyngitis. Pharyngitis is often a prominent feature of Epstein-Barr virus-associated mononucleosis (see Chapter 99).
Vincent infection or trench mouth is a fulminant form of acute necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis with synergistic infection with certain spirochetal organisms, notably Treponema vincentii, with anaerobic Selenomonas and Fusobacterium. Vincent angina refers to a virulent form of anaerobic pharyngitis; gray pseudomembranes are found on the tonsils. Lemierre syndrome is acute pharyngitis complicated by thrombosis of the internal jugular vein and septic emboli (most often to the lungs). It occurs primarily in adolescents and is caused by Fusobacterium necrophorum.
Ludwig angina is a mixed anaerobic bacterial cellulitis of the submandibular and sublingual regions. Although often applied to any infection of the sublingual or submandibular region, the term originally was reserved for a rapidly spreading bilateral cellulitis of the sublingual and submandibular spaces. It typically is due to spreading from a periapical abscess of the second or third mandibular molar. It also has been associated with tongue piercing. A propensity for rapid spread, glottic and lingual swelling, and consequent airway obstruction makes prompt intervention imperative.
A syndrome of periodic fever, aphthous stomatitis, pharyngitis, and cervical adenitis is a rare cause of recurrent fever in children. Recurring nonspecific pharyngitis is accompanied by fever and painful solitary vesicular lesions in the mouth. The fevers begin at a young age (usually <5 years). Episodes last approximately 5 days, with a mean of 28 days between episodes. Episodes are shorter with oral prednisone and unresponsive to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or antibiotics. The syndrome resolves in some but persists in other children. Long-term sequelae do not develop.
Even if untreated, most episodes of streptococcal pharyngitis resolve uneventfully over a few days. Early antimicrobial therapy accelerates clinical recovery by 12 to 24 hours. The major benefit of antimicrobial therapy is prevention of acute rheumatic fever (see Chapter 146). Because the latent (incubation) period of acute rheumatic fever is relatively long (1 to 3 weeks), treatment instituted within 9 days of illness is virtually 100% successful in preventing rheumatic fever. Treatment begun more than 9 days after the onset of illness, although less than 100% successful, has some preventive value. Antibiotic therapy should be started promptly in children with a positive rapid test for group A streptococcus, scarlet fever, symptomatic pharyngitis whose sibling has documented streptococcal pharyngitis, a past history of rheumatic fever or a recent family history of rheumatic fever, or symptomatic pharyngitis and living in an area experiencing an epidemic of acute rheumatic fever or poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis.
A variety of antimicrobial agents can be used to treat streptococcal pharyngitis (Table 103-2). Cephalosporins have superior pharyngeal bacterial eradication rates compared to
Oral penicillin V (2–3 times daily for 10 days) 10 mg/kg/dose, maximum dose 250 mg/dose Intramuscular benzathine penicillin G (single dose) For children ≤27 kg: 600,000 U For larger children and adults: 1.2 million U
For persons allergic to penicillinCephalexin 20 mg/kg/dose BID, maximum dose 500 mg/dose × 10 days
Cefadroxil 30 mg/kg OD maximum, maximum dose 1 g × 10 days
Clindamycin 7 mg/kg/dose TID, maximum dose 300 mg/dose × 10 days
For persons allergic to β-lactamsErythromycin ethyl succinate: 40–50 mg/kg/day (max 1 g/day) in 3–4 doses for 10 days
Erythromycin estolate: 20–40 mg/kg/day in 2–4 doses (max 1 g/day) for 10 days
Azithromycin, children: 12 mg/kg orally once daily for 5 days (to maximum adult dose); adults: 500 mg orally on day 1, then 250 mg orally on days 2–5
BID, Twice daily; OD, once daily; TID, three times daily.
penicillin. One proposed explanation is that staphylococci or anaerobes in the pharynx produce β-lactamase, which inactivates penicillin and reduces its efficacy. Another possible explanation is that cephalosporins are more effective in eradicating streptococcal carriage.
Children with recurrent throat culture episodes of group A streptococcal pharyngitis pose a particular problem. An alternative antibiotic may be chosen to treat β-lactamase producing flora, which may be responsible for the recurrences. Either amoxicillin-clavulanate or clindamycin is an effective regimen for eliminating streptococcal carriage.
Specific antiviral therapy is unavailable for most cases of viral pharyngitis. Patients with primary herpetic gingivostomatitis benefit from early treatment with oral acyclovir.
Pharyngitis caused by streptococci or respiratory viruses usually resolves completely. The complications of group A streptococcal pharyngitis include local suppurative complications, such as parapharyngeal abscess and other infections of the deep fascial spaces of the neck, and nonsuppurative complications, such as acute rheumatic fever and acute postinfectious glomerulonephritis. Viral respiratory tract infections, including infections caused by influenza A, adenoviruses, parainfluenza type 3, and rhinoviruses, may predispose to bacterial middle ear infections.
Antimicrobial prophylaxis with daily oral penicillin V prevents recurrent streptococcal infections and is recommended only to prevent recurrences of rheumatic fever.
Sinusitis is a suppurative infection of the paranasal sinuses and often complicates the common cold and allergic rhinitis. The maxillary and ethmoid sinuses are present at birth, but only the ethmoidal sinuses are pneumatized. The maxillary sinuses become pneumatized at 4 years of age. Frontal sinuses begin to develop at 7 years of age and are not completely developed until adolescence. The sphenoid sinuses are present by 5 years of age. The ostia draining the sinuses are narrow (1 to 3 mm) and drain into the middle meatus in the ostiomeatal complex. The mucociliary system maintains the sinuses as normally sterile.
Obstruction to mucociliary flow, such as mucosal edemaresulting from the common cold, impedes sinus drainage andpredisposes to bacterial proliferation. In 90% of children withacute sinusitis, the bacterial causes are Streptococcus pneumoniae, nontypable Haemophilus influenzae, Moraxella catarrhalis,Staphylococcus aureus, and group A streptococcus. Anaerobesemerge as important pathogens in subacute and chronic sinusitis. Indwelling nasogastric and nasotracheal tubes predisposeto nosocomial sinusitis, which may be caused by gram-negativebacteria (Klebsiella or Pseudomonas). Antibiotic therapy predisposes to infection with antibiotic-resistant organisms. Sinusitis in neutropenic and immunocompromised persons may becaused by Aspergillus or the Zygomycetes (e.g., Mucor, Rhizopus).
The true incidence of sinusitis is unknown. The common cold is the major predisposing factor for developing sinusitis at allages. Other risk factors include allergy, cystic fibrosis, immunodeficiency, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection,nasogastric or nasotracheal intubation, immotile cilia syndrome,nasal polyps, and nasal foreign body. Sinusitis also is a frequent problem in immunocompromised children after organtransplantation.
Available @ StudentConsult.comClinical manifestations most commonly include persistent, mucopurulent, unilateral or bilateral rhinorrhea, nasal stuffiness, and cough, especially at night. Less common symptoms include a nasal quality to the voice, halitosis, facial swelling, facial tenderness and pain, and headache. Sinusitis may exacerbate asthma.
Culture of the nasal mucosa is not useful. Sinus aspirate culture is the most accurate diagnostic method but is not practical or necessary in immunocompetent patients.
Plain x-ray and computed tomography may reveal sinus clouding, mucosal thickening, or an air-fluid level. Abnormal radiographic findings do not differentiate infection from allergic disease; computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging often show abnormalities, including air-fluid levels, in the sinuses of asymptomatic persons. Conversely normal radiographs have high negative predictive value for bacterial sinusitis.
The diagnosis usually is based on history and physical findings for longer than 10 to 14 days without improvement or increased severity of symptoms compared to the common cold.
Amoxicillin-clavulanate for 10 to 14 days is recommended as first-line therapy of sinusitis in children. High-dose therapy is recommended for children at increased risk for resistant bacteria (antibiotic treatment in the preceding 1 to 3 months, day care attendance, age <2 years, high rates of antimicrobial resistance locally). Levofloxacin is recommended for children with type I hypersensitivity to penicillins. Clindamycin plus a third generation cephalosporin (cefixime, cefpodoxime) is recommended for children with non-type I hypersensitivity.
Complications include orbital cellulitis, epidural or subdural empyema, brain abscess, dural sinus thrombosis, osteomyelitis of the outer or inner table of the frontal sinus (Pott puffy tumor), and meningitis. These all should be managed with sinus drainage and broad-spectrum parenteral antibiotics. Sinusitis also may exacerbate bronchoconstriction in asthmatic patients.
Orbital cellulitis is a serious complication of sinusitisthat follows bacterial spread into the orbit through the wallof the infected sinus. It typically begins as ethmoid sinusitisand spreads through the lamina papyracea, a thin, bony platethat separates the medial orbit and the ethmoid sinus. Orbitalinvolvement can lead to subperiosteal abscess, ophthalmoplegia, cavernous sinus thrombosis, and vision loss. Manifestations of orbital cellulitis include orbital pain, proptosis,chemosis, ophthalmoplegia and limited extraocular muscle motion, diplopia, and reduced visual acuity. Infection of the orbit must be differentiated from that of the preseptal (anterior to the palpebral fascia) or periorbital space. Preseptal (periorbital) cellulitis usually occurs in children younger than 3 years of age; these children do not have proptosis or ophthalmoplegia. Periorbital cellulitis may be associated with a skin lesion or trauma and usually is caused by S. aureus or group A streptococcus.
The diagnosis of orbital cellulitis is confirmed by a computed tomography scan of the orbit, which determines the extent of orbital infection and the need for surgical drainage. Disorders to be considered in the differential diagnosis are zygomycosis (mucormycosis), aspergillosis, rhabdomyosarcoma, neuroblastoma, Wegener granulomatosis, inflammatory pseudotumor of the orbit, and trichinosis. Therapy for orbital cellulitis involves broad-spectrum parenteral antibiotics, such as vancomycin and ceftriaxone.
More than half of children with acute bacterial sinusitis recover without any antimicrobial therapy. Fever and nasal discharge should improve dramatically within 48 hours of initiating treatment. Persistent symptoms suggest another etiology.
The best means of prevention are good hand washing to minimize acquisition of colds and management of allergic rhinitis.
Otitis media (OM) is a suppurative infection of the middle ear cavity. Bacteria gain access to the middle ear when the normal patency of the eustachian tube is blocked by upper airway infection or hypertrophied adenoids. Air trapped in the middle ear is resorbed, creating negative pressure in this cavity and facilitating reflux of nasopharyngeal bacteria. Obstructed flow of secretions from the middle ear to the pharynx combined with bacterial reflux leads to infected middle ear effusion.
Both bacteria and viruses can cause OM. The common bacterial pathogens are Streptococcus pneumoniae, nontypable Haemophilus influenzae, Moraxella catarrhalis, and, less frequently, group A streptococcus. S. pneumoniae that is relatively resistant to penicillin (minimal inhibitory concentration 0.1 to 1 μg/mL) or highly resistant to penicillin (minimal inhibitory concentration ≥2 μg/mL) is isolated with increasing frequency from young children, particularly those who attend day care or have received antibiotics recently. Viruses, including rhinoviruses, influenza, and respiratory syncytial virus, are recovered alone or as co-pathogens in 20% to 25% of patients.
Diseases of the middle ear account for approximately one third of office visits to pediatricians. The peak incidence of acute OM is between 6 and 15 months of life. By the first birthday, 62% of children experience at least one episode. Few first episodes occur after 18 months of age. OM is more common in boys and in patients of lower socioeconomic status. There is increased incidence of OM in Native Americans and Alaskan Natives and in certain high-risk populations, such as children with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), cleft palate, and trisomy 21. In most of the United States, OM is a seasonal disease with a distinct peak in January and February, which corresponds to the rhinovirus, respiratory syncytial virus, and influenza seasons. The major risk factors for acute OM are young age, lack of breastfeeding, passive exposure to tobacco smoke, and increased exposure to infectious agents (day care).
As defined by the presence of six or more acute OM episodes in the first 6 years of life, at least 12% of children in the general population have recurrent OM and would be considered otitis-prone. Craniofacial anomalies and immunodeficiencies often are associated with recurrent OM; most children with recurrent acute OM are otherwise healthy.
Available @ StudentConsult.comIn infants, the most frequent symptoms of acute OM are nonspecific and include fever, irritability, and poor feeding. Inolder children and adolescents, acute OM usually is associatedwith fever and otalgia (acute ear pain). Acute OM also may present with otorrhea (ear drainage) after spontaneous ruptureof the tympanic membrane. Signs of a common cold, whichpredisposes to acute OM, are often present (see Chapter 102).A bulging tympanic membrane, air fluid level, or visualizationof purulent material by otoscopy are reliable signs of infection(Table 105-1).
Examination of the ears is essential for diagnosis and should be part of the physical examination of any child with fever. The hallmark of OM is the presence of effusion in the middle ear cavity (see Table 105-1). The presence of an effusion does not define its nature or potentially infectious etiology, but it does define the need for appropriate diagnosis and therapy.
Pneumatic otoscopy, using an attachment to a hermetically sealed otoscope, allows evaluation of ventilation of the middle ear and is a standard for clinical diagnosis. The tympanic membrane of the normal, air-filled middle ear has much greater compliance than if the middle ear is fluid-filled. With acute OM, the tympanic membrane is characterized by hyperemia, or red color rather than the normal pearly gray color, but it can be pink, white, or yellow with a full to bulging position and with poor or absent mobility to negative and positive pressure. The light reflex is lost, and the middle ear structures are obscured and difficult to distinguish. A hole in the tympanic membrane or purulent drainage confirms perforation. Occasionally bullae are present on the lateral aspect of the tympanic membrane, which characteristically are associated with severe ear pain.
Routine laboratory studies, including complete blood count and erythrocyte sedimentation rate, are not useful in the evaluation of OM. Tympanometry provides objective acoustic measurements of the tympanic membrane-middle ear system by reflection or absorption of sound energy from the external
A diagnosis of AOM requires: History of acute onset of signs and symptoms Presence of middle ear effusion Signs and symptoms of middle ear inflammation
The definition of AOM includes all of the following: Recent, usually abrupt, onset of signs and symptoms of middle ear inflammation and middle ear effusion The presence of middle ear effusion that is indicated by any of the following: Bulging of the tympanic membrane Limited or absent mobility of the tympanic membrane Air-fluid level behind the tympanic membrane Otorrhea
Signs or symptoms of middle ear inflammation as indicated by either:
Distinct erythema of the tympanic membrane Distinct otalgia (discomfort clearly referable to the ear that results in interference with or precludes normal activity or sleep) ear duct as pressure in the duct is varied. Measurements of the resulting tympanogram correlate well with the presence or absence of middle ear effusion.
Instruments using acoustic reflectometry are available for office and home use. Use of reflectometry as a screening test for acute OM should be followed by examination with pneumatic otoscopy when abnormal reflectometry is identified.
Bacteria recovered from the nasopharynx do not correlate with bacteria isolated by tympanocentesis. Tympanocentesis and middle ear exudate culture are not always necessary, but they are required for accurate identification of bacterial pathogens and may be useful in neonates, immunocompromised patients, and patients not responding to therapy.
The major difficulty is differentiation of acute OM from OM with effusion, which also is referred to as chronic OM. Acute OM is accompanied by signs of acute illness, such as fever, pain, and upper respiratory tract inflammation. OM with effusion is the presence of effusion without any of the other signs and symptoms.
Recommendations for treatment are based on certainty of diagnosis and severity of illness. A certain diagnosis can be made if there is rapid onset, signs of middle ear effusion, and signs and symptoms of middle ear inflammation. The recommended first-line therapy for most children with a certain diagnosis of acute OM or those with an uncertain diagnosis but who are younger than 2 years of age or have fever greater than 39° C or otalgia is amoxicillin (80 to 90 mg/kg/day in two divided doses). Children with an uncertain diagnosis who are older than 2 years of age may be observed if appropriate follow-up can be arranged. Failure of initial therapy with amoxicillin at 3 days suggests infection with β-lactamase-producing H. influenza, M. catarrhalis or resistant S. pneumoniae. Recommended next-step treatments include high-dose amoxicillin-clavulanate (amoxicillin 80 to 90 mg/kg/day), cefuroxime axetil, cefdinir, or ceftriaxone (50 mg/kg intramuscularly in daily doses for 1 to 3 days). Intramuscular ceftriaxone is especially appropriate for children younger than 3 years of age with vomiting that precludes oral treatment. Tympanocentesis may be required for patients who are difficult to treat or who do not respond to therapy. Acetaminophen and ibuprofen are recommended for fever. Decongestants or antihistamines are not effective.
Available @ StudentConsult.comThe complications of OM are chronic effusion, hearing loss, cholesteatoma (mass-like keratinized epithelial growth), petrositis, intracranial extension (brain abscess, subdural empyema, or venous thrombosis), and mastoiditis. Acute mastoiditis is a suppurative complication of OM with inflammation and potential destruction of the mastoid air spaces. The disease progresses from a periostitis to an osteitis with mastoid abscess formation. Posterior auricular tenderness, swelling, and erythema, in addition to the signs of OM, are present. The pinna is displaced downward and outward. Radiographs or computed tomography scan of the mastoid reveals clouding of the air cells, demineralization, or bone destruction. Treatment includes systemic antibiotics and drainage if the disease has progressed to abscess formation.
OM with effusion is the most frequent sequela of acute OM and occurs most frequently in the first 2 years of life. Persistent middle ear effusion may last for many weeks or months in some children but usually resolves by 3 months following infection. Evaluating young children for this condition is part of all well-child examinations.
Conductive hearing loss should be assumed to be present with persistent middle ear effusion; the loss is mild to moderate and often is transient or fluctuating. Normal tympanograms after 1 month of treatment obviate the need for further follow-up. In children at developmental risk or with frequent episodes of recurrent acute OM, 3 months of persistent effusion with significant bilateral hearing loss is a reasonable indicator of need for intervention with insertion of pressure equalization tubes.
Parents should be encouraged to continue exclusive breastfeeding as long as possible and should be cautioned about the risks of bottle-propping and of children taking a bottle to bed. The home should be a smoke-free environment.
Children identified at high-risk for recurrent acute OM are candidates for prolonged courses of antimicrobial prophylaxis, which can reduce recurrences significantly. Amoxicillin (20 to 30 mg/kg/day) or sulfisoxazole (50 mg/kg/day) given once daily at bedtime for 3 to 6 months or longer is used for prophylaxis.
The conjugate S. pneumoniae vaccine reduces pneumococcal OM caused by vaccine serotypes by 50%, all pneumococcal OM by 33%, and all OM by 6%. Annual immunization against influenza virus may be helpful in high-risk children.
Otitis externa, also known as swimmer’s ear, is defined byinflammation and exudation in the external auditory canal inthe absence of other disorders, such as otitis media or mastoiditis. The most common bacterial pathogens are Pseudomonas aeruginosa, especially in association with swimming in pools or lakes, and Staphylococcus aureus. Otitis externa develops in approximately 20% of children with tympanostomy tubes, associated with S. aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Moraxellacatarrhalis, Proteus, Klebsiella, and occasionally anaerobes.Coagulase-negative staphylococci and Corynebacterium are isolated frequently from cultures of the external canal but representnormal flora. Malignant otitis externa is caused by P. aeruginosa in immunocompromised persons and adults with diabetes.
Otitis externa cases peak in summer, in contrast to otitis media, which occurs primarily in colder seasons in association with viral upper respiratory tract infections. Cleaning of the auditory canal, swimming, and, in particular, diving disrupt the integrity of the cutaneous lining of the ear canal and local defenses such as cerumen, predisposing to otitis externa.
Available @ StudentConsult.comPain, tenderness, and aural discharge are the characteristic clinical findings of otitis externa. Fever is notably absent, and hearing is unaffected. Tenderness with movement of the pinna, especially the tragus, and with chewing is particularly characteristic, symptoms notably absent in otitis media. Inspection usually reveals that the lining of the auditory canal is inflamed with mild to severe erythema and edema. Scant to copious discharge from the auditory canal may obscure the tympanic membrane. The most common symptoms of malignant otitis externa are similar, but facial nerve palsy occasionally occurs. The most common physical findings are swelling and granulation tissue in the canal, usually with a discharge from the external auditory canal.
The diagnosis of uncomplicated otitis externa usually is established solely on the basis of the clinical symptoms and physical examination findings without the need for additional laboratory or microbiologic evaluation. In malignant otitis externa, an elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate is a constant finding. Cultures are required to identify the etiologic agent, which is usually P. aeruginosa, and the antimicrobial susceptibility.
Otitis media with tympanic perforation and discharge into the auditory canal may be confused with otitis externa. Pain on movement of the pinnae or tragus, typical of otitis externa, is not present. Local and systemic signs of mastoiditis indicate a process more extensive than otitis externa. Malignancies or cholesteatoma presenting in the auditory canal are rare in children but may present with discharge, unusual pain, or hearing loss.
Topical antimicrobial/corticosteroid otic preparations (such as ofloxacin, ciprofloxacin with hydrocortisone or dexamethasone, and polymyxin B-neosporin-hydrocortisone) are sufficient in most cases of otitis externa. These preparations are equally effective and are active against S. aureus and most gram-negative bacteria, including P. aeruginosa. None of these antibiotics has any antifungal activity. Use of aminoglycosides such as neomycin should be avoided in cases of tympanic membrane rupture due to their ototoxicity. Tympanostomy tube otorrhea is best treated with quinolone otic drugs, which is considered less likely to be ototoxic.
Treatment with topical otic analgesics and cerumenolytics is usually unnecessary. It is important with any topical therapy to remove purulent discharge from the external auditory canal with a swab or with suction to permit instillation of the solution. Excess water should be removed after bathing and the ear canal dried using a hairdryer. The predisposing activity, such as swimming or diving, should be avoided until the inflammation has resolved.
Fungi such as Aspergillus, Candida, and dermatophytes occasionally are isolated from the external ear. It may be difficult to determine whether they represent normal flora or are the cause of inflammation. In most cases, local therapy and restoration of normal pH as recommended for bacterial otitis externa are sufficient.
Malignant otitis externa is treated by parenteral antimicrobials with activity against P. aeruginosa, such as an expand-ed-spectrum penicillin (mezlocillin, piperacillin-tazobactam) or a cephalosporin with activity against P. aeruginosa (ceftazidime, cefepime) plus an aminoglycoside.
Acute otitis externa usually resolves promptly without complications within 1 to 2 days of initiating treatment. Persistent pain, especially if severe or if accompanied by other symptoms such as fever, should prompt re-evaluation for other conditions.
Complications of malignant otitis externa include invasion of the bones of the base of the skull, which may cause cranial nerve palsies. A mortality of 15% to 20% occurs in adults with malignant otitis media. Relapses within the first year after treatment are common.
Overvigorous cleaning of an asymptomatic auditory canal should be avoided. Drying the auditory canals with acetic acid (2%), Burow solution, or diluted isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol) after swimming may be used prophylactically to help prevent the maceration that facilitates bacterial invasion. Often underwater gear, such as earplugs or diving equipment, must be avoided to prevent recurrent disease. There is no role for prophylactic otic antibiotics.
Croup, or laryngotracheobronchitis, is the most common infection of the middle respiratory tract (Table 107-1). The most common causes of croup are parainfluenza viruses (types 1, 2, 3, and 4) and respiratory syncytial virus. Laryngotracheal airway inflammation disproportionately affects children because a small decrease in diameter secondary to mucosal edema and inflammation exponentially increases airway resistance and the work of breathing. During inspiration, the walls of the subglottic space are drawn together, aggravating the obstruction and producing the stridor characteristic of croup. Croup is most common in children 6 months to 3 years of age, with a peak in fall and early winter. It typically follows a common cold. Symptomatic reinfection is common, yet reinfections are usually mild. In adolescents, it manifests as laryngitis.
Available @ StudentConsult.comThe manifestations of croup are a harsh cough described as barking or brassy, hoarseness, inspiratory stridor, low-grade fever, and respiratory distress that may develop slowly or quickly. Stridor is a harsh, high-pitched respiratory sound produced by turbulent airflow. It is usually inspiratory, but it may be biphasic and is a sign of upper airway obstruction. Signs of upper airway obstruction, such as labored breathing and marked suprasternal, intercostal, and subcostal retractions, may be evident on examination (see Chapter 135). Wheezing may be present if there is associated lower airway involvement.
Anteroposterior radiographs of the neck often show the diagnostic subglottic narrowing of croup known as the steeple sign (Fig. 107-1). Routine laboratory studies are not useful in establishing the diagnosis. Leukocytosis is uncommon and suggests epiglottitis or bacterial tracheitis. Many rapid tests (using polymerase chain reaction or fluorescent antibodies) are available for parainfluenza viruses, respiratory syncytial virus, and other less common viral causes of croup, such as influenza and adenoviruses.
The diagnosis of croup usually is established by clinical manifestations. The infectious differential diagnosis includes epiglottitis, bacterial tracheitis, and parapharyngeal abscess. Noninfectious causes of stridor include mechanical and anatomic causes (foreign body aspiration, laryngomalacia, subglottic stenosis, hemangioma, vascular ring, vocal cord paralysis). Stridor in infants younger than 4 months of age or persistence of symptoms for longer than 1 week indicates an increased probability of another lesion and the need for imaging and direct laryngoscopy (see Chapter 135).
Epiglottitis is a medical emergency because of the risk of sudden airway obstruction. This illness is now rare and usually caused by group A streptococcus or Staphylococcus aureus or Haemophilus influenza type b in unimmunized patients. Patients typically prefer sitting, often with the head held forward, the mouth open, and the jaw thrust forward (sniffing position). Lateral radiograph reveals thickened and bulging epiglottis (thumb sign) and swelling of the aryepiglottic folds. The diagnosis is confirmed by direct observation of the inflamed and swollen supraglottic structures and swollen, cherry-red epiglottitis, which should be performed only in the operating room with an anesthesiologist and a competent surgeon prepared to place an endotracheal tube or perform a tracheostomy if needed. Epiglottitis requires antibiotic therapy and endotracheal intubation to maintain the airway. Clinical recovery is rapid, and most children can be extubated safely within 48 to 72 hours.
Bacterial tracheitis is a rare but serious superinfection of the trachea that may follow viral croup and is most commonly caused by S. aureus. Spasmodic croup describes sudden onset of croup symptoms, usually at night, but without a significant upper respiratory tract prodrome. These episodes may be recurrent and severe but usually are of short duration. Spasmodic croup has a milder course than viral croup and responds to relatively simple therapies, such as exposure to cool or humidified air. The etiology is not well understood and may be allergic.
Oral or intramuscular dexamethasone for children with mild, moderate, or severe croup reduces symptoms, the need for hospitalization, and shortens hospital stays. Dexamethasone
Onset of illness Gradual Acute Acute Sudden (at night)Quality of stridor Harsh Mild Harsh HarshDrooling, neck – ++ + – hyperextensionFrom Bell LM: Middle respiratory tract infections. In Jenson HB, Baltimore RS: Pediatric Infectious Diseases: Principles and Practice, ed 2, Philadelphia, 2002, Saunders, p 772.
+, frequently present; –, absent; ±, may or may not be present; ++, present and usually pronounced.
Figure 107-1 Croup (laryngotracheobronchitis). A, Posteroanterior view of the upper airway shows the so-called steeple sign, the tapered narrowing of the immediate subglottic airway (arrows). B, Lateral view of the upper airway shows good delineation of the supraglottic anatomy. The subglottic trachea is hazy and poorly defined (arrow) because of the inflammatory edema that has obliterated the sharp undersurface of the vocal cords and extends down the trachea in a diminishing manner. (From Bell LM: Middle respiratory tract infections. In Jenson HB, Baltimore RS: Pediatric Infectious Diseases: Principles and Practice, ed 2, Philadelphia, 2002, Saunders, p 774.) phosphate (0.6 to 1 mg/kg) may be given once intramuscularly or dexamethasone (0.6 to 1 mg/kg) once orally. Alternatively prednisolone (2 mg/kg per day) may be given orally in two to three divided doses. For significant airway compromise, administration of aerosolized racemic (Dand L-) epinephrine reduces subglottic edema by adrenergic vasoconstriction, temporarily producing marked clinical improvement. The peak effect is within 10 to 30 minutes and fades within 60 to 90 minutes. A rebound effect may occur, with worsening of symptoms as the effect of the drug dissipates. Aerosol treatment may need to be repeated every 20 minutes (for no more than 1 to 2 hours) in severe cases.
Children should be kept as calm as possible to minimize forceful inspiration. One useful calming method is for a child with croup to sit on the parent’s lap. Sedatives should be used cautiously and in the intensive care unit only. Cool mist administered by face mask may help prevent drying of the secretions around the larynx.
Hospitalization is often required for children with stridor at rest. Children receiving aerosol treatment should be hospitalized or observed for at least 2 to 3 hours because of the risk of rebound airway obstruction. Decreased symptoms may indicate improvement or fatigue and impending respiratory failure.
The most common complication of croup is viral pneumonia, which occurs in 1% to 2% of children. Parainfluenza virus pneumonia and secondary bacterial pneumonia are more common in immunocompromised persons. Bacterial tracheitis may also be a complication of croup.
The prognosis for croup is excellent. Illness usually lasts approximately 5 days. As children grow, they become less susceptible to the airway effects of viral infections of the middle respiratory tract.
There is no vaccine for parainfluenza.Classic pertussis (whooping cough) is caused by B. pertussis,a gram-negative pleomorphic bacillus with fastidious growth requirements. B. pertussis infects only humans and is transmitted person to person by coughing.
The incubation period is 7 to 10 days. Patients are most contagious during the first 2 weeks of cough. The peak incidence of pertussis in the United States is among those less than 4 months of age—infants too young to be completely immunized and most likely to have severe complications. The annual rate of pertussis was approximately 100 to 200 cases per 100,000 population in the prevaccination era; worldwide there are an estimated 30 to 50 million cases of pertussis and 300,000 deaths annually. In the United States, the incidence of pertussis decreased after the introduction of vaccine but has increased steadily since the 1980s with more than 27,000 cases reported in 2010. Infections in adolescents have also been rising, likely due to waning immunity from previous vaccines. Likewise when vaccination rates are low, pertussis rates increase: there was a steady decline in the incidence of pertussis until the late 1970s in the United Kingdom, when the incidence increased dramatically as the vaccination rate declined. Epidemics also occur in fully immunized patients, as vaccine-induced immunity wanes.
Available @ StudentConsult.comClassic pertussis is seen in children between 1 and 10 years old. The progression of the disease is divided into catarrhal, paroxysmal, and convalescent stages. The catarrhal stage is marked by nonspecific signs (increased nasal secretions andlow-grade fever) lasting 1 to 2 weeks. The paroxysmal stage is the most distinctive stage of pertussis and lasts 2 to 4 weeks.Coughing occurs in paroxysms during expiration, causingyoung children to lose their breath. This pattern of coughingis needed to dislodge plugs of necrotic bronchial epithelialtissues and thick mucus. The forceful inhalation against a narrowed glottis that follows this paroxysm of cough producesthe characteristic whoop. Posttussive emesis is common. The convalescent stage is marked by gradual resolution of symptoms over 1 to 2 weeks. Coughing becomes less severe, andthe paroxysms and whoops slowly disappear. Although thedisease typically lasts 6 to 8 weeks, residual cough may persist for months, especially with physical stress or respiratoryirritants.
Infants may not display the classic findings, and the first sign in the neonate may be apnea. Young infants are unlikely to have the classic whoop, more likely to have central nervous system damage as a result of hypoxia, and more likely to have secondary bacterial pneumonia. Adolescents and adults with pertussis usually present with a prolonged bronchitic illness with persistent, nonproductive cough that often begins as a nonspecific upper respiratory tract infection. Generally adolescents and adults do not have a whoop with the cough, although they may have severe paroxysms. The cough may persist many weeks to months.
The diagnosis depends on isolation of B. pertussis or detection of its nucleic acids. Culture on specialized media is usually accomplished during the early phases of illness on specimens from nasopharyngeal swabs or aspirates but can be difficult to accomplish given the organism’s fastidious nature. Polymerase chain reaction, although potentially lacking sensitivity in previously immunized individuals, is likely as sensitive as culture and is available in many clinical laboratories. False positive results can occur. Direct fluorescent antibody staining is not recommended. Serologic tests are not useful for diagnosing acute infection but can be confirmatory in the convalescent phase of illness, though there are no commercial kits approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Lymphocytosis is present in 75% to 85% of infants and young children but is not diagnostic. The white blood cell count may increase from 20,000 cells/mm3 to more than 50,000 cells/mm3, consisting primarily of mature lymphocytes. Physical examination and radiographic signs of segmental lung atelectasis may develop during pertussis, especially during the paroxysmal stage. Perihilar infiltrates are common and are similar to those seen in viral pneumonia.
For a young child with classic pertussis, the diagnosis based on the pattern of illness is quite accurate. The paroxysmal stage is the most distinctive part of the syndrome. Other causes of per-tussis-like prolonged cough illnesses include Bordetella parapertussis, which causes a similar but milder illness and is not prevented by B. pertussis vaccination, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Chlamydia pneumoniae and Chlamydophila pneumoniae, adenoviruses, and respiratory syncytial virus.
Azithromycin, clarithromycin, or erythromycin are recommended for children under 1 month of age. Azithromycin should be used in neonates due to the association between erythromycin treatment and the development of pyloric stenosis. Treatment during the catarrhal phase eradicates nasopharyngeal carriage of organisms within 3 to 4 days and may lessen symptom severity. Treatment in the paroxysmal stage does not alter the course of illness but decreases the potential for spread to others. Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole is an alternative therapy among children older than 2 months, though studies of its use for this indication are limited.
Major complications are most common among infants andyoung children and include hypoxia, apnea, pneumonia, seizures, encephalopathy, malnutrition, and death. The mostfrequent complication is pneumonia caused by B. pertussis itself or resulting from secondary bacterial infection with Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, and Staphylococcus aureus. Atelectasis may develop secondaryto mucous plugs. The force of the paroxysm may producepneumomediastinum, pneumothorax, or interstitial or subcutaneous emphysema; epistaxis; hernias; and retinal andsubconjunctival hemorrhages. Otitis media and sinusitis may occur.
Most children recover normal pulmonary function with complete healing of the respiratory epithelium. Most permanent disability is a result of encephalopathy.
Active immunity is induced with acellular pertussis components given as a vaccine in combination with the tetanus and diphtheria toxoids (DTaP). The acellular pertussis vaccines contain two to five antigens of B. pertussis, including pertussis toxin, pertactin, filamentous hemagglutinin, and fimbrial agglutinogens, FIM-2 and FIM-3. DTaP vaccine is recommended at 2, 4, 6, and 15 to 18 months, with a booster at 4 to 6 years, and has an efficacy of 70% to 90%. A single booster dose of Tdap vaccine is recommended at 11 to 12 years or once for all adults.
Macrolides are effective in preventing secondary cases in contacts exposed to pertussis. Underimmunized close contacts under 7 years of age should receive a booster dose of DTaP (unless a booster dose has been given within the preceding 3 years), whereas those 7 to 10 years of age should receive Tdap. All close contacts should receive prophylactic antibiotics for 5 days (azithromycin) or 7 to 14 days (clarithromycin or erythromycin, duration based on age).
Bronchiolitis is a disease of small bronchioles with increased mucus production and occasional bronchospasm, sometimes leading to airway obstruction. It is most commonly caused by a viral lower respiratory tract infection. Bronchiolitis is most commonly seen in infants and young children, with most severe cases occurring among infants. Bronchiolitis is potentially life-threatening.
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a primary cause ofbronchiolitis, followed in frequency by human metapneumovirus, parainfluenza viruses, influenza viruses, adenoviruses,rhinoviruses, coronaviruses, and, infrequently, Mycoplasma pneumoniae. Viral bronchiolitis is extremely contagiousand is spread by contact with infected respiratory secretions. Although coughing produces aerosols, hand carriageof contaminated secretions is the most frequent mode oftransmission.
Bronchiolitis is a leading cause of hospitalization of infants. Bronchiolitis occurs almost exclusively during the first 2 years of life, with a peak age at 2 to 6 months. Many healthy children with bronchiolitis can be managed as outpatients; however, premature infants and children with chronic lung disease of prematurity, hemodynamically significant congenital heart disease, neuromuscular weakness, or immunodeficiency are at increased risk of severe, potentially fatal disease. Children acquire infection after exposure to infected family members, who typically have symptoms of an upper respiratory tract infection, or from infected children in day care. In the United States, annual peaks are usually in the late winter months from December through March.
Available @ StudentConsult.comBronchiolitis caused by RSV has an incubation period of 4 to6 days. Bronchiolitis classically presents as a progressive respiratory illness similar to the common cold in its early phasewith cough and rhinorrhea. It progresses over 3 to 7 days tonoisy, raspy breathing and audible wheezing. There is usually a low-grade fever accompanied by irritability, which mayreflect the increased work of breathing. In contrast to the classic progression of disease, young infants infected with RSV may not have a prodrome and may have apnea as the first signof infection.
Physical signs of bronchiolar obstruction include prolongation of the expiratory phase of breathing, nasal flaring, intercostal retractions, suprasternal retractions, and air trapping with hyperexpansion of the lungs. During the wheezing phase, percussion of the chest usually reveals only hyperresonance, but auscultation usually reveals diffuse wheezes and crackles throughout the breathing cycle. With more severe disease, grunting and cyanosis may be present.
Routine laboratory tests are not required to confirm the diagnosis. It is important to assess oxygenation in severe cases of bronchiolitis. Pulse oximetry is adequate for monitoring oxygen saturation. Frequent, regular assessments and cardiorespiratory monitoring of infants are necessary because respiratory failure may develop precipitously in very tired infants even though blood gas values taken before rapid decompensation are reassuring.
Antigen tests (usually by immunofluorescence or enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay [also referred to as ELISA]) of nasopharyngeal secretions for RSV, parainfluenza viruses, influenza viruses, and adenoviruses are sensitive tests to confirm the infection. Rapid viral diagnosis also is performed by polymerase chain reaction. Identifying the viral agent is helpful for cohorting children with the same infection but is not necessary to make the diagnosis of bronchiolitis.
Chest radiographs frequently show signs of lung hyperinflation, including increased lung lucency and flattened or depressed diaphragms. Areas of increased density may represent either viral pneumonia or localized atelectasis.
The major difficulty in the diagnosis of bronchiolitis is to differentiate other diseases associated with wheezing. It may be difficult to differentiate asthma from bronchiolitis by physical examination, but age of presentation, presence of fever, and absence of personal or family history of asthma are the major differential factors. Bronchiolitis occurs primarily in the first year of life and is accompanied by fever, whereas asthma usually presents in older children with previous wheezing episodes typically unaccompanied by fever unless a respiratory tract infection is the trigger for the asthma exacerbation.
Wheezing also may be due to an airway foreign body, congenital airway obstructive lesion, cystic fibrosis, exacerbation of chronic lung disease, viral or bacterial pneumonia, and other lower respiratory tract diseases (see Chapter 78). Cardiogenic asthma, which can be confused with bronchiolitis in infants, is wheezing associated with pulmonary congestion secondary to left-sided heart failure.
Wheezing associated with gastroesophageal reflux is likely to be chronic or recurrent, and the patient may have a history of frequent emesis. Cystic fibrosis is associated with poor growth, chronic diarrhea, and a positive family history. A focal area on radiography that does not inflate or deflate suggests foreign body aspiration.
Bronchiolitis treatment consists of supportive therapy, including respiratory monitoring, control of fever, hydration, upper airway suctioning, and, if needed, oxygen administration. Indications for hospitalization include moderate to marked respiratory distress, hypoxemia, apnea, inability to tolerate oral feeding, and lack of appropriate care available at home. Hospitalization of high-risk children with bronchiolitis should be considered. Among hospitalized infants, supplemental oxygen by nasal cannula is often necessary, but intubation and ventilatory assistance for respiratory failure or apnea are required in fewer than 10% of these infants. Bronchodilators and corticosteroids are seldom effective and are not generally recommended.
Most hospitalized children show marked improvement in 2 to 5 days with supportive treatment alone. The course of the wheezing phase varies, however. Tachypnea and hypoxia may progress to respiratory failure requiring assisted ventilation. Apnea is a major concern for very young infants with bronchiolitis.
Most cases of bronchiolitis resolve completely, although minor abnormalities of pulmonary function and bronchial hyperreactivity may persist for several years. Recurrence is common but tends to be mild and should be assessed and treated similarly to the first episode. The incidence of asthma seems to be higher for children hospitalized for bronchiolitis as infants, but it is unclear whether this is causal or whether children prone to asthma are more likely to be hospitalized with bronchiolitis. There is a 1% to 2% mortality rate, highest among infants with preexisting cardiopulmonary or immunologic impairment.
Monthly injections of palivizumab, an RSV-specific monoclonal antibody, initiated just before the onset of the RSV season confers some protection from severe RSV disease. Palivizumab is indicated for some infants under 2 years old with chronic lung disease, very low birth weight, and those with hemodynamically significant cyanotic and acyanotic congenital heart disease. Immunization with influenza vaccine is recommended for all children older than 6 months and may prevent influenza-associated disease.
Pneumonia is an infection of the lower respiratory tract that involves the airways and parenchyma with consolidation of the alveolar spaces. The term lower respiratory tract infection is often used to encompass bronchitis, bronchiolitis (see Chapter 109), pneumonia, or any combination of the three. Pneumonitis is a general term for lung inflammation that may or may not be associated with consolidation. Lobar pneumonia describes pneumonia localized to one or more lobes of the lung. Atypical pneumonia describes patterns typically more diffuse or interstitial than lobar pneumonia. Bronchopneumonia refers to inflammation of the lung that is centered in the bronchioles and leads to the production of a mucopurulent exudate that obstructs some of these small airways and causes patchy consolidation of the adjacent lobules. Interstitial pneumonitis refers to inflammation of the interstitium, which is composed of the walls of the alveoli, the alveolar sacs and ducts, and the bronchioles. Interstitial pneumonitis is characteristic of acute viral infections but also may be a chronic inflammatory or fibrosing process.
Defects in host defenses increase the risk of pneumonia. Lower airways and secretions are sterile as a result of a multifactorial system. Airway contaminants are caught in the mucus secreted by the goblet cells. Cilia on epithelial surfaces, composing the ciliary elevator system, beat synchronously to move particles upward toward central airways and into the throat, where they are swallowed or expectorated. Polymorphonuclear neutrophils from the blood and tissue macrophages ingest and kill microorganisms. IgA secreted into the upper airway fluid protects against invasive infections and facilitates viral neutralization.
Infectious agents that commonly cause community-acquired pneumonia vary by age (Table 110-1). Most common causes are respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in infants (see Chapter 109), other respiratory viruses (parainfluenza viruses, influenza viruses, human metapneumovirus, adenoviruses) in children younger than 5 years old, and Mycoplasma pneumoniae in children older than age 5 years. Streptococcus pneumoniae is the most common bacterial cause of lobar pneumonia, and occurs in children of any age outside the neonatal period.
M. pneumoniae and Chlamydophila pneumoniae are principal causes of atypical pneumonia.
Chlamydia trachomatis and less commonly Mycoplasma hominis, Ureaplasma urealyticum, and cytomegalovirus (CMV) cause a similar respiratory syndrome in infants 1 to 3 months of age with subacute onset of an afebrile pneumonia; cough and hyperinflation are the predominant signs. These infections are difficult to diagnose and to distinguish from each other. In adults these organisms are carried primarily as part of the genital mucosal flora. Women who harbor these agents may transmit them perinatally to newborns.
Additional agents occasionally cause pneumonia. Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is due to SARS-associated coronavirus (SARS-CoV). Avian influenza (bird flu) is a highly contagious viral disease of poultry and other birds caused by influenza A (H5N1). There were outbreaks among humans in South East Asia in 1997 and 2003 to 2004 with high mortality rates. A novel influenza A (H1N1) of swine origin began circulating in 2009. Other etiologic agents to consider, based on specific exposure history, include Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Francisella tularensis, Brucella spp., Coxiella burnetii, Chlamydophila psittaci, Legionella pneumophila, hantavirus, Histoplasma capsulatum, Coccidioides immitis, and Blastomyces dermatitidis.
Causes of pneumonia in immunocompromised persons include gram-negative enteric bacteria, mycobacteria (M. avium complex), fungi (aspergillosis), viruses (CMV), and Pneumocystis jiroveci (carinii). Pneumonia in patients with cystic fibrosis usually is caused by Staphylococcus aureus in infancy and Pseudomonas aeruginosa or Burkholderia cepacia in older patients.
Immunizations have had a great impact on the incidence of pneumonia caused by pertussis, diphtheria, measles, Haemophilus influenza type b, and S. pneumoniae. Where used, bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG) for tuberculosis also has had an impact. An estimated 2 million deaths in developing countries are due to acute respiratory tract infections annually. Risk factors for lower respiratory tract infections include gastroesophageal reflux, neurologic impairment (aspiration), immunocompromised states, anatomic abnormalities of the respiratory tract, residence in residential care facilities, and hospitalization, especially in an intensive care unit.
Available @ StudentConsult.comCough Wheezing Hemoptysis Chest Pain Abdominal Pain Failure to Thrive Acidemia
Age is a determinant in the clinical manifestations of pneumonia. Neonates may have fever or hypoxia only, with subtle or absent physical examination findings (see Chapter 65). With a young infant, apnea may be the first sign of pneumonia. Fever, chills, tachypnea, cough, malaise, pleuritic chest pain, retractions, and apprehension, because of difficulty breathing or shortness of breath, are common in older infants and children. Physical examination findings cannot reliably distinguish viral and bacterial pneumonias, but complete physical examination may help identify other foci of disease or associated findings to suggest an etiology.
In general viral pneumonias are associated more often with cough, wheezing, or stridor; fever is less prominent than with bacterial pneumonia. Mucosal congestion and upper airway inflammation suggest a viral infection. Bacterial pneumonias typically are associated with higher fever, chills, cough, dyspnea, and auscultatory findings of lung consolidation. Atypical pneumonia in young infants is characterized by tachypnea, cough, crackles on auscultation, and concomitant (chlamydial) conjunctivitis (infants) may be present. Other signs of respiratory distress include nasal flaring, intercostal and subcostal retractions, and grunting.
Asymmetry or shallow breathing may be due to splinting from pain. Hyperexpansion, common in asthma but also frequently accompanying viral lower respiratory infections, may cause a low diaphragm or liver. Poor diaphragmatic excursion may indicate hyperexpanded lungs or an inability for expansion due to a large consolidation or effusion. Dullness to percussion may be due to lobar or segmental infiltrates or pleural fluid. Auscultation may be normal in early or very focal pneumonia, but the presence of localized crackles, rhonchi, and wheezes may help one detect and locate pneumonia. Distant breath sounds may indicate a large, poorly ventilated area of consolidation or pleural fluid.
Table 110-1 Etiologic Agents and Empirical Antimicrobial Therapy for Pneumonia in Patients without History of Recent Antibiotic Therapy AGE GROUP COMMON PATHOGENS* (IN APPROXIMATE ORDER OF FREQUENCY) LESS COMMON PATHOGENS OUTPATIENTS† (7–10 DAYS TOTAL DURATION OF TREATMENT) PATIENTS REQUIRING HOSPITALIZATION‡ (10–14 DAYS TOTAL DURATION OF TREATMENT) PATIENTS REQUIRING INTENSIVE CARE*,‡ (10–14 DAYS TOTAL DURATION OF TREATMENT) 1 to 3 months
Amoxicillin or ampicillin if fully immunized for age for S. pneumoniae and H. influenzae type b. Alternatives: cefotaxime or ceftriaxone if not fully immunized or local
S. pneumoniae penicillin resistance is significant, with clindamycin if MRSA suspected Cefotaxime or ceftriaxone plus nafcillin, oxacillin, clindamycin, or vancomycin 3 months to 5 Respiratory syncytial years virus, other respiratory viruses (parainfluenza viruses, influenza viruses, human metapneumovirus adenoviruses), S. pneumoniae,
H. influenzae (type b,§ nontypable) C. trachomatis, Mycoplasma Amoxicillin plus pneumoniae, Chlamydophila erythromycin, azithromycin, pneumoniae, group A or clarithromycin if atypical streptococcus, Staphylococcus pneumonia suspected aureus, Mycobacterium tuberculosis Ampicillin Alternatives: Cefuroxime or ceftriaxone plus cefotaxime or ceftriaxone if azithromycin, erythromycin or not fully immunized or local clarithromycin with or without
S. pneumoniae penicillin clindamycin or vancomycin resistance is significant, with clindamycin if MRSA suspected; Add erythromycin, azithromycin, or clarithromycin if atypical pneumonia suspected
MRSA, Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.*Severe pneumonia, from S. pneumoniae, S. aureus, group A streptococcus, H. influenzae, or M. pneumoniae requiring admission to an intensive care unit. Antipseudomonal agents should be added if Pseudomonas is suspected.
†Oral administration.‡Intravenous administration for inpatients except for the macrolides (erythromycin, azithromycin, and clarithromycin), which are given orally. §H. influenzae type b infection is uncommon with universal H. influenzae type b immunization. ǁFluoroquinolones are contraindicated for children younger than 18 years of age and pregnant or lactating women. Tetracyclines are not recommended for children younger than 9 years.
Bacterial flora of the upper respiratory tract do not accurately reflect flora present in lower respiratory tract infections, and high-quality sputum is rarely obtainable from children. In otherwise healthy children without life-threatening disease, invasive procedures to obtain lower respiratory tissue or secretions usually are not indicated. Serologic tests are not useful for the most common causes of bacterial pneumonia.
The white blood cell (WBC) count with viral pneumonias is often normal or mildly elevated, with a predominance of lymphocytes, whereas with bacterial pneumonias the WBC count is elevated (>20,000/mm3) with a predominance of neutrophils. Mild eosinophilia is characteristic of infant C. trachomatis pneumonia. Blood cultures should be performed on hospitalized children to attempt to diagnose a bacterial cause of pneumonia. Blood cultures are positive in 10% to 20% of bacterial pneumonia and are considered to be confirmatory of the cause of pneumonia if positive for a recognized respiratory pathogen. Urinary antigen tests are especially useful for L. pneumophila (legionnaires’ disease).
Viral respiratory pathogens can be diagnosed using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) or rapid viral antigen detection, but neither rules out concomitant bacterial pneumonia. M. pneumoniae should be suspected if cold agglutinins are present in peripheral blood samples and can be confirmed by Mycoplasma PCR. CMV and enterovirus can be cultured from the nasopharynx, urine, or bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. The diagnosis of M. tuberculosis is established by tuberculin skin test, serum interferon-gamma release assay, or analysis of sputum or gastric aspirates by culture, antigen detection, or PCR.
The need to establish an etiologic diagnosis of pneumonia is greater for patients who are ill enough to require hospitalization, immunocompromised patients, patients with recurrent pneumonia, or patients with pneumonia unresponsive to empirical therapy. For these patients, bronchoscopy with bronchoalveolar lavage and brush mucosal biopsy, needle aspiration of the lung, and open lung biopsy are methods of obtaining material for microbiologic diagnosis.
When there is a pleural effusion or empyema, a thoracentesis to obtain pleural fluid can be diagnostic and therapeutic. Evaluation differentiates between empyema and a sterile parapneumonic effusion caused by irritation of the pleura contiguous with the pneumonia. Gram stain, culture, or broad-range bacterial PCR may lead to microbiologic diagnosis. The pleural fluid should be cultured for bacteria, mycobacteria, fungi, and viruses. If the fluid is grossly purulent, removal reduces the patient’s toxicity and associated discomfort and may facilitate more rapid recovery. If the accumulation is large and impairs the ability of the lung to expand, removal of the fluid improves pulmonary mechanics and gas exchange.
Frontal and lateral radiographs are required to localize disease and adequately visualize retrocardiac infiltrates and are recommended for diagnosis among hospitalized children, but they are not necessary to confirm the diagnosis in well-appearing outpatients. Although there are characteristic radiographic findings of pneumonia, radiography alone cannot provide a definitive microbiologic diagnosis. Bacterial pneumonia characteristically shows lobar consolidation, or a round pneumonia, with pleural effusion in 10% to 30% of cases (Fig. 110-1).Viral pneumonia characteristically shows diffuse, streaky infiltrates of bronchopneumonia (Fig. 110-2) and hyperinflation. Atypical pneumonia, such as with M. pneumoniae and
Figure 110-1 Acute lobar pneumonia of the lingula in a 6-year-old child with high fever, cough, and chest pain. Frontal chest radiograph shows airspace consolidation, which obliterates the silhouette of the heart border on the left. The left hemidiaphragm is mildly elevated as a result of splinting. (From Markowitz RI: Diagnostic imaging. In Jen-son HB, Baltimore RS, editors: Pediatric Infectious Diseases: Principles and Practice, ed 2, Philadelphia, Saunders, 2002, p 133.)
Figure 110-2 Diffuse viral bronchopneumonia in a 12-year-old boy with cough, fever, and wheezing. Frontal chest radiograph shows bilateral, perihilar, peribronchial thickening, and shaggy infiltrate. Focal airspace disease representing consolidation or atelectasis is present in the medial portion of the right upper lobe. The findings are typical of bronchopneumonia. (From Markowitz RI: Diagnostic imaging. In Jenson HB, Baltimore RS, editors: Pediatric Infectious Diseases: Principles and Practice, ed 2, Philadelphia, Saunders, 2002, p 132.)
C. pneumoniae, shows increased interstitial markings or bronchopneumonia (Fig. 110-3). Chest radiographs may be normal in early pneumonia, with infiltrates appearing during treatment as hydration is restored. Hilar lymphadenopathy is uncommon with bacterial pneumonia but may be a sign of tuberculosis, histoplasmosis, or an underlying malignant neoplasm. Decubitus views or ultrasound should be used to assess size of pleural effusions and whether they are freely mobile.
Figure 110-3 Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection (atypical pneumonia) in a 14-year-old boy with malaise, dry cough, and mild shortness of breath for 1 week. Frontal chest radiograph shows a diffuse pattern of increased interstitial markings, including Kerley lines. The heart is normal, and there are no focal infiltrates. Cold agglutinins were markedly elevated, and the patient responded to erythromycin. This radiographic pattern of reticulonodular interstitial disease is observed in 25% to 30% of patients with pneumonia caused by Mycoplasma pneumoniae. (From Baltimore RS: Pneumonia. In Jenson HB, Baltimore RS, editors: Pediatric Infectious Diseases: Principles and Practice, ed 2, Philadelphia, Saunders, 2002, p 808.)
Computed tomography (CT) is used to evaluate serious disease, pleural abscesses, bronchiectasis, and effusion characteristics. Unusual etiologies or recurrent pneumonias require special considerations (Table 110-2). Lung abscesses, pneumatoceles, and empyema all require special management.
Pneumonia must be differentiated from other acute pulmonary diseases, including allergic pneumonitis, asthma, and cystic fibrosis; cardiac diseases, such as pulmonary edema caused by heart failure; and autoimmune diseases, such as certain vasculitides and systemic lupus erythematosus. Radiographically pneumonia must be differentiated from lung trauma and contusion, hemorrhage, foreign body aspiration, and sympathetic effusion due to subdiaphragmatic inflammation.
Available @ StudentConsult.comTherapy for pneumonia includes supportive and specific treatment and depends on the degree of illness, complications, and knowledge of the infectious agent likely causing the pneumonia. Most cases of pneumonia in healthy children can be managed on an outpatient basis. However children with hypoxemia, inability to maintain adequate hydration, or moderate to severe respiratory distress should be hospitalized. Hospitalization should be considered in infants under 6 months with suspected bacterial pneumonia, those in whom there is a concern for a pathogen with increased virulence (e.g., methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus), or when concern exists about a family’s ability to care for the child and to assess symptom progression.
Because viruses cause most community-acquired pneumonias in young children, not all children require empirical antibiotic treatment for pneumonia. Recommended therapies in those without recent antibiotic exposure are listed in Table 110-1. Exceptional situations include lack of response to empirical therapy, unusually severe presentations, nosocomial pneumonia, and immunocompromised children susceptible to infections with opportunistic pathogens (Table 110-3). In contrast to pneumococcal meningitis, presumed pneumococcal pneumonia can be treated with high-dose cephalosporin therapy even with high-level penicillin resistance. Vancomycin can be used if the isolate shows high-level resistance and the patient is severely ill. For infants 4 to 18 weeks old with afebrile pneumonia most likely caused by C. trachomatis, a macrolide is the recommended treatment. Oseltamivir or zanamivir should be used if influenza is identified or suspected, ideally within 48 hours of symptom onset.
Table 110-3 Antimicrobial Therapy for Pneumonia Caused by Specific Pathogens* PATHOGEN RECOMMENDED TREATMENT ALTERNATIVE TREATMENT Streptococcus pneumoniae with MIC for penicillin ≤2.0 μg/mL Ampicillin or penicillin IV; amoxicillin PO Ceftriaxone, cefotaxime, clindamycin or vancomycin IV; Cefuroxime, cefpodoxime, levofloxacin†, or linezolid PO
Streptococcus pneumoniae with MIC for Ceftriaxone IV; levofloxacin† or linezolid PO Ampicillin, levofloxacin†, clindamycin or penicillin ≥4.0 μg/mL
Group A streptococcus Penicillin or ampicillin IV; amoxicillin or Ceftriaxone, cefotaxime, clindamycin or penicillin PO vancomycin IV; clindamycin PO
Group B streptococcus Penicillin or ampicillin IV; amoxicillin or Ceftriaxone, cefotaxime, clindamycin or penicillin PO vancomycin IV; clindamycin PO
Staphylococcus aureus, methicillin Cefazolin, oxacillin, or nafcillin IV; cephalexin Clindamycin or vancomycin IV; clindamycin susceptible (MSSA) PO PO
Staphylococcus aureus, methicillin resistant Clindamycin or vancomycin IV; clindamycin Linezolid IV or PO (MRSA) PO
IV, Intravenous; MIC, minimum inhibitory concentration; PO, per os (orally); TMP-SMX, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole. *Oral outpatient therapy may be used for mild illness. Intravenous inpatient therapy should be used for moderate to severe illness.
†Appropriate fluoroquinolones include moxifloxacin, gatifloxacin, levofloxacin, and gemifloxacin. Fluoroquinolones are contraindicated for children younger than 18 years of age and pregnant or lactating women. Tetracyclines are not recommended for children younger than 9 years.
‡Aminoglycoside dosing should be guided by serum antibiotic concentrations after a steady state has been reached.
Bacterial pneumonias frequently cause inflammatory fluid to collect in the adjacent pleural space, causing a parapneumonic effusion or, if grossly purulent, an empyema. Small effusions may not require any special therapy. Large effusions may restrict breathing and require drainage. Air dissection within lung tissue results in a pneumatocele. Scarring of the airways and lung tissue may leave dilated bronchi, resulting in bronchiectasis and increased risk for recurrent infection.
Pneumonia that causes necrosis of lung tissue may evolve into a lung abscess. Lung abscess is an uncommon problem in children and usually is caused by aspiration, infection behind an obstructed bronchus, or certain virulent organisms. Anaerobic bacteria usually predominate, along with various streptococci, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Staphylococcus aureus. Chest radiograph or CT scan reveals a cavitary lesion, often with an air-fluid level, surrounded by parenchymal inflammation. If the cavity communicates with the bronchi, organisms may be isolated from sputum. Diagnostic bronchoscopy may be indicated to exclude a foreign body and obtain microbiologic specimens. Lung abscesses usually respond to appropriate antimicrobial therapy with clindamycin, penicillin G, or ampicillin-sulbactam.
Most children recover from pneumonia rapidly and completely, although radiographic abnormalities may take 6 to 8 weeks to return to normal. In a few children, pneumonia may persist longer than 1 month or may be recurrent. In such cases, the possibility of underlying disease must be investigated further, such as with tuberculin skin test, sweat chloride determination for cystic fibrosis, serum immunoglobulin and IgG subclass determinations, bronchoscopy to identify anatomic abnormalities or foreign body, and barium swallow for gastroesophageal reflux.
Severe adenovirus pneumonia may result in bronchiolitis obliterans, a subacute inflammatory process in which the small airways are replaced by scar tissue, resulting in a reduction in lung volume and lung compliance. Unilateral hyper-lucent lung, or Swyer-James syndrome, is a focal sequela of severe necrotizing pneumonia in which all or part of a lung has increased translucency radiographically; it has been linked to adenovirus type 21.
Annual influenza vaccine is recommended for all children over 6 months of age (see Chapter 94). Trivalent, inactivated influenza vaccine is licensed for use beginning at 6 months of age; live, attenuated vaccine can be used for persons 2 to 49 years of age. Universal childhood vaccination with conjugate vaccines for H. influenzae type b and S. pneumoniae has greatly diminished the incidence of these pneumonias. The severity of RSV infections can be reduced by use of palivizumab in high-risk patients (see Chapter 109).
Reducing the duration of mechanical ventilation and administering antibiotics judiciously reduces the incidence of ventilator-associated pneumonias. The head of the bed should be raised to 30 to 45 degrees for intubated patients to minimize risk of aspiration, and all suctioning equipment and saline should be sterile. Hand washing before and after every patient contact and use of gloves for invasive procedures are important measures to prevent nosocomial transmission of infections. Hospital staff with respiratory illnesses or who are carriers of certain organisms, such as methicillin-resistant
S. aureus, should comply with infection control policies to prevent transfer of organisms to patients. Treating sources of aerosols, such as air coolers, can prevent Legionella pneumonia.
Infective endocarditis is an infection on the endothelial surface of the heart, including the heart valves. The management of infections on the endothelial surfaces of blood vessels is very similar. Infectious endothelial lesions, called vegetations, usually occur on the valve leaflets and are composed of microorganisms trapped in a fibrin mesh that extends into the bloodstream.
Many microorganisms have been reported to cause endocarditis, although there are only a few principal causes in children (Table 111-1). Viridans streptococci are the principal causes in children with congenital heart diseases without previous surgery. Staphylococcus aureus and coagulase-negative staphylococci are important causes of endocarditis, especially following cardiac surgery and in the presence of prosthetic cardiac and endovascular materials.
Infective endocarditis among children is primarily a complication of congenital heart disease and cardiac surgery, although it can occur in a previously normal native valve. Patients at high risk for infective endocarditis include those with prosthetic cardiac valves or prior infective endocarditis; children who have unrepaired cyanotic congenital heart disease, are within 6 months of repair using prosthetic material, or have residual defects at or near a site of prosthetic material; or transplant patients who develop valvular lesions. The risk is increased after dental and oral procedures or instrumentation or surgical procedures of the respiratory tract, genitourinary tract, or gastrointestinal tract. Rheumatic heart disease is a risk factor but is uncommon. Neonatal endocarditis is associated with the use of central vascular catheters and surgery
Viridans streptococci (the most common causative organism at all ages)*
Hemolytic streptococci: groups A, B (in neonates and elderly), C, G, D
HACEK organisms (i.e., Haemophilus aphrophilus, Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans, Cardiobacterium hominis, Eikenella corrodens, and Kingella kingae)
Coxiella burnetii (Q fever) Chlamydia Agents of culture-negative endocarditis *Most common causes of infective endocarditis in children.
in neonates. Endocarditis is a sporadic disease with no geographic predisposition and little gender or socioeconomic predisposition in children.
Available @ StudentConsult.comThe most common early symptoms of infective endocarditis are nonspecific and include fever, malaise, and weight loss. Tachycardia and a new or changed heart murmur are common findings. The subtle and nonspecific findings underscore the need to obtain blood cultures if endocarditis is suspected, especially for children with congenital heart disease and for unexplained illness after dental or surgical procedures. Endocarditis is usually a subacute, slowly progressive process, but acute endocarditis is often due to S. aureus and may resemble sepsis. Heart failure, splenomegaly, petechiae, and embolic phenomena (Osler nodes, Roth spots, Janeway lesions, and splinter hemorrhages) may be present.
The key to diagnosis is confirming continuous bacteremia or fungemia by culturing the blood. Multiple blood cultures are performed before initiating antibiotic therapy. Three separate venipunctures for blood culture achieve near-maximal sensitivity (about 95%) among patients who have not been treated recently with antibiotics. Patients who have been treated with antibiotics recently or who are currently receiving antibiotics should have additional serial cultures performed. Despite adequate blood culture techniques, the microbiologic diagnosis is not confirmed in 10% to 15% of cases, known as culture-negative endocarditis.
Erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein are often elevated. Leukocytosis, anemia, and hematuria are common laboratory findings. A positive rheumatoid factor or antinuclear antibody may also be seen.
Echocardiography visualizes endocardial and valvular vegetations measuring 2 mm or greater. Transesophageal echocardiography is more sensitive than transthoracic echocardiography for adolescents and adults and for patients with prosthetic valves but is often unnecessary in children.
Infective endocarditis must be differentiated from other causes of bacteremia or other cardiac conditions using the Modified Duke Criteria for categorizing the strength of the endocarditis diagnosis (Table 111-2). Noninfectious causes of endocardial vegetations must be excluded, such as sterile clots and vegetations associated with rheumatoid disease and lupus erythematosus. Prolonged bacteremia can be caused by infectious endothelial foci outside of the heart, often associated with congenital malformations, vascular trauma, an infected venous thrombosis, and previous vascular surgery.
Severely ill patients must be stabilized with supportive therapies for cardiac failure, pulmonary edema, and low cardiac output (see Chapter 145). Empirical antibiotic therapy may be started for acutely ill persons after blood cultures are obtained. With subacute disease, awaiting results of blood cultures to confirm the diagnosis is recommended to direct therapy according to the susceptibility of the isolate. Because antibiotics must reach the organisms by passive diffusion through the fibrin mesh, high doses of bactericidal antibiotics are required for an extended period of treatment (4 to 8 weeks). Infective carditis from susceptible viridans streptococci can be treated with monotherapy penicillin G for 4 weeks. A 2-week regimen of penicillin G plus an aminoglycoside is effective in adults. Surgery is indicated if medical treatment is unsuccessful, with persistent bacteremia, an unusual or difficult to treat pathogen (fungal endocarditis), valve annulus or myocardial abscess, rupture of a valve leaflet, valvular insufficiency with acute or refractory heart failure, recurrent serious embolic complications, or refractory prosthetic valve disease.
The major complications of infective endocarditis are direct damage to the heart and heart valves and distant complications secondary to sterile and septic emboli from vegetations. Damage to the heart and heart valves may include regurgitation with vegetations or actual defects in the leaflets resulting from embolization of the leaflet tissue, abscess of the valve
Histopathologic Criteria Microorganisms shown by culture or histopathologic examination in a vegetation, emboli, intracardiac abscess or Active endocardial lesions on pathologic examination Clinical Criteria Two major criteria or one major and three minor criteria or five minor criteria) Major Criteria Positive blood cultures Two or more separate cultures positive with typical organisms for infective endocarditis Two or more positive cultures of blood drawn more than 12 hours apart or 4 positive blood cultures irrespective of timing of obtaining specimen A positive blood culture for Coxiella burnetii or positive IgG titer >1:800 Evidence of endocardial involvement Positive findings on echocardiogram (vegetation on valve or supporting structure, abscess, new valvular regurgitation) Minor Criteria Predisposition—predisposing heart condition or injection drug use Fever—temperature >38° C (>100.4° F) Vascular phenomena (major arterial emboli, septic pulmonary infarcts, mycotic aneurysm, intracranial hemorrhage, conjunctival hemorrhages, Janeway lesions) Immunologic phenomena (glomerulonephritis, Osler nodes, Roth spots, rheumatoid factor)
Microbiologic evidence (positive blood culture result, but not meeting major criteria, or serologic evidence of active infection with organism consistent with infective endocarditis)
Firm alternative diagnosis for manifestations of endocarditis orResolution of manifestations of endocarditis with antibiotic therapy for <4 days or
No pathologic evidence of endocarditis at surgery or autopsy after antibiotic therapy of >4 days or does not meet criteria for possible endocarditis
Adapted from Tissieres P, Gervaix A, Beghetti M, et al: Value and limitations of the van Reyn, Duke, and modified Duke criteria for the diagnosis of infective endocarditis in children, Pediatrics 112: e467−e471, 2003.
ring, or myocardial abscess. These complications should be monitored by physical examination and echocardiography. Cerebral abscesses or aneurysms can cause a stroke-like picture. Splenic abscesses can cause fatal bleeding.
The outcome of infective endocarditis caused by the most common organisms is often good. The cure rate is greater than 90% in uncomplicated endocarditis caused by viridans streptococci on a natural valve, 75% to 90% for Enterococcus endocarditis treated by a synergistic combination of antibiotics, and 60% to 75% for S. aureus endocarditis with an acute, severe presentation. The prognosis for endocarditis caused by gram-negative bacilli and rarer organisms is poor. Fungal endocarditis has the poorest prognosis, with a cure rate of about 50% even with valve replacement.
In high-risk patients, prophylactic antibiotics are required before and during all dental procedures that involve manipulation of gingival tissue or the periapical region as well as invasive procedures of the respiratory tract, infected skin, or muscle. In most cases, oral amoxicillin 50 mg/kg (maximum dose, 2 g) taken 30 to 60 minutes before the procedure is the recommended regimen. Clindamycin or azithromycin are alternative regimens indicated for most patients allergic to β-lactams. Prolonged or continuous antibiotic prophylaxis is not recommended.
Acute enteritis or acute gastroenteritis refers to diarrhea, which is abnormally frequent, and liquidity of fecal discharges. Diarrhea is caused by different infectious or inflammatory processes in the intestine that directly affect enterocyte secretory and absorptive functions. Enteritis has many viral, bacterial, and parasitic causes (Table 112-1). Some of these processes act by increasing cyclic adenosine monophosphate levels (Vibrio cholerae, Escherichia coli heat-labile toxin). Other processes (Shigella toxin) cause secretory diarrhea by affecting ion channels or by unknown mechanisms (Table 112-2).
Diarrhea is a leading cause of morbidity and a common disease in children in the United States. In the developing world, it is a major cause of childhood fatality. The epidemiology of gastroenteritis depends on the specific organisms. Some organisms are spread person to person, others are spread via contaminated food or water, and some are spread from animal to human. Many organisms spread by multiple routes. The ability of an organism to infect relates to the mode of spread, ability to colonize the gastrointestinal tract, and minimum number of organisms required to cause disease.
Viral causes of gastroenteritis in children include rotaviruses, caliciviruses (including the noroviruses), astroviruses,and enteric adenoviruses (serotypes 40 and 41). Rotavirus is the most frequent cause of diarrhea during the wintermonths. Vomiting may last 3 to 4 days, and diarrhea maylast 7 to 10 days. Dehydration is common in younger children. Primary infection with rotavirus may cause moderate to severe disease in infancy but is less severe later in life. Thisillness is much less common in areas where infants receive the rotavirus vaccine.
Rotaviruses Damage to microvilli Caliciviruses (noroviruses) Mucosal lesion Astroviruses Mucosal lesion Enteric adenoviruses Mucosal lesion
Campylobacter jejuni Invasion, enterotoxin Clostridium difficile Cytotoxin, enterotoxinEnteropathogenic (EPEC) Adherence, effacementEnterotoxigenic (ETEC) Enterotoxins (heat-stable or heat(traveler’s diarrhea) labile) Enteroinvasive (EIEC) Invasion of mucosa Enterohemorrhagic (EHEC) Adherence, effacement, cytotoxin (includes O157: H7 causing HUS) Enteroaggregative (EAEC) Adherence, mucosal damage Salmonella Invasion, enterotoxin Shigella Invasion, enterotoxin, cytotoxin Vibrio cholerae Enterotoxin Vibrio parahaemolyticus Invasion, cytotoxin Yersinia enterocolitica Invasion, enterotoxin
Entamoeba histolytica Invasion, enzyme and cytotoxin production; cyst resistant to physical destruction
Giardia lamblia Adheres to mucosa; cyst resistant to physical destruction
Spore-forming intestinal Adherence, inflammation protozoa (Enterocytozoon bieneusi, Encephalitozoon intestinalis)HUS, Hemolytic uremic syndrome.Typhoid fever is caused by Salmonella typhi and, occasionally, Salmonella paratyphi. Worldwide, there are an estimated 16 million cases of typhoid fever annually, resulting in 600,000 deaths. The typhoid bacillus infects humans only. These infections are distinguished by prolonged fever and extraintestinal manifestations, despite inconsistent presence of diarrhea. In the United States, approximately 400 cases of typhoid fever occur each year. Most occur in travelers returning from other countries. The incubation period of typhoid fever is usually 7 to 14 days (range 3 to 60 days). Infected persons without symptoms, or chronic carriers, serve as reservoirs and sources of continuous spread. Carriers often have cholelithiasis.
Nontyphoidal Salmonella produces diarrhea by invading the intestinal mucosa. The organisms are transmitted through
Table 112-2 Mechanisms of Infectious Diarrhea PRIMARY MECHANISM DEFECT STOOL EXAMINATION EXAMPLES COMMENTS Secretory Decreased absorption, increased secretion: electrolyte transport Watery, normal osmolality; osmoles = 2 × (Na+ + K+) Cholera, toxigenic Escherichia coli (EPEC, ETEC); carcinoid, Clostridium difficile, Persists during fasting; bile salt malabsorption also may increase intestinal water secretion;
From Wyllie R: Major symptoms and signs of digestive tract disorders. In Kliegman RM, Behrman RE, Jenson HB, editors: Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics, ed 18,
Philadelphia, 2007, Saunders, Table 303-7, p 152. WBCs, White blood cells; infection may also contribute to increased motility.
contact with infected animals (chickens, pet iguanas, other reptiles, turtles) or from contaminated food products, such as dairy products, eggs, and poultry. A large inoculum, of 1000 to 10 billion organisms, is required because Salmonella is killed by gastric acidity. The incubation period for gastroenteritis ranges from 6 to 72 hours but usually is less than 24 hours.
Shigella dysenteriae may cause disease by producing Shiga toxin, either alone or combined with tissue invasion. The incubation period is 1 to 7 days. Infected adults may shed organisms for 1 month. Infection is spread by person-to-person contact or by the ingestion of contaminated food with 10 to 100 organisms. The colon is selectively affected. High fever and febrile seizures may occur in addition to diarrhea.
Only certain strains of E. coli produce diarrhea. E. coli strains associated with enteritis are classified by the mechanism of diarrhea: enterotoxigenic (ETEC), enterohemorrhagic (EHEC), enteroinvasive (EIEC), enteropathogenic (EPEC), or enteroaggregative (EAEC). ETEC strains produce heat-labile (cholera-like) enterotoxin, heat-stable enterotoxin, or both. ETEC causes 40% to 60% of cases of traveler’s diarrhea. ETEC adhere to the epithelial cells in the upper small intestine and produce disease by liberating toxins that induce intestinal secretion and limit absorption. EHEC, especially the E. coli O157:H7 strain, produce a Shiga-like toxin that is responsible for a hemorrhagic colitis and most cases of diarrhea associated with hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), which is a syndrome of microangiopathic hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia, and renal failure (see Chapter 164). EHEC is associated with contaminated food, including unpasteurized fruit juices and, especially, undercooked beef. EHEC is associated with a self-limited form of gastroenteritis, usually with bloody diarrhea, but production of this toxin blocks host cell protein synthesis and affects vascular endothelial cells and glomeruli, resulting in the clinical manifestations of HUS. EIEC invades the colonic mucosa, producing widespread mucosal damage with acute inflammation, similar to Shigella. EPEC is responsible for many of the epidemics of diarrhea in newborn nurseries and in day care centers.
Campylobacter jejuni is spread by person-to-person contact and by contaminated water and food, especially poultry, raw milk, and cheese. The organism invades the mucosa of the jejunum, ileum, and colon. Yersinia enterocolitica is transmitted by pets and contaminated food, especially chitterlings. Infants and young children characteristically have a diarrheal disease, whereas older children usually have acute lesions of the terminal ileum or acute mesenteric lymphadenitis mimicking appendicitis or Crohnʼs disease. Postinfectious arthritis, rash, and spondylopathy may develop.
Clostridium difficile causes C. difficile-associated diarrhea or antibiotic-associated diarrhea, secondary to its toxin. The organism produces spores that spread from person to person.
C. difficile-associated diarrhea may follow exposure to any antibiotic.Important enteric parasites found in North America includeEntamoeba histolytica (amebiasis), Giardia lamblia, and Cryptosporidium parvum. Amebiasis occurs in warmer climates, whereas giardiasis is endemic throughout the United Statesand is common among infants in day care centers. E. histolytica infects the colon; amebae may pass through the bowel walland invade the liver, lung, and brain. Diarrhea is of acute onset,is bloody, and contains leukocytes. G. lamblia is transmitted through ingestion of cysts, either from contact with an infectedindividual or from food or freshwater or well water contaminated with infected feces. The organism adheres to the micro-villi of the duodenal and jejunal epithelium. Insidious onset ofprogressive anorexia, nausea, gaseousness, abdominal distention, watery diarrhea, secondary lactose intolerance, and weightloss is characteristic of giardiasis. Cryptosporidium causes mild, watery diarrhea in immunocompetent persons that resolveswithout treatment. It produces severe, prolonged diarrhea inpersons with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)(see Chapter 125).
Available @ StudentConsult.comGastroenteritis may be accompanied by systemic findings, suchas fever, lethargy, and abdominal pain. Patients often presentwith clinical syndromes. Viral diarrhea is characterized bywatery stools, with no blood or mucus. Vomiting may be present, and dehydration may be prominent, especially in infantsand younger children. Fever, when present, is low grade.
Typhoid fever is characterized by bacteremia and fever that usually precede the final enteric phase. Fever, headache, and abdominal pain worsen over 48 to 72 hours with nausea, decreased appetite, and constipation over the first week. If untreated, the disease persists for 2 to 3 weeks marked by significant weight loss and, occasionally, hematochezia or melena. Bowel perforation is a common complication in adults but is rare in children. Infected persons without symptoms, or chronic carriers, serve as reservoirs and sources of continuous spread.
Dysentery is enteritis involving the colon and rectum, with blood and mucus, possibly foul smelling stools, and fever. Shigella is the prototype cause of dysentery, which must be differentiated from infection with EIEC, EHEC, E. histolytica (amebic dysentery), C. jejuni, Y. enterocolitica, and nontyphoidal Salmonella. Gastrointestinal bleeding and blood loss may be significant.
Enterotoxigenic disease is caused by agents that produce enterotoxins, such as V. cholerae and ETEC. Fever is absent or low grade. Diarrhea usually involves the ileum with watery stools without blood or mucus and usually lasts 3 to 4 days with four to five loose stools per day.
A chief consideration in management of a child with diarrhea is to assess the degree of dehydration as evident from clinical signs and symptoms, ongoing losses, and daily requirements(see Chapter 33). The degree of dehydration dictates the urgencyof the situation and the volume of fluid needed for rehydration.Mild to moderate dehydration usually can be treated with oralrehydration; severe dehydration usually requires intravenous (IV) rehydration and may require ICU admission.
Initial laboratory evaluation of moderate to severe diarrhea includes electrolytes, blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, and urinalysis for specific gravity as an indicator of hydration. Stool specimens should be examined for mucus, blood, and leukocytes, which indicate colitis in response to bacteria that diffusely invade the colonic mucosa, such as Shigella, Salmonella,
C. jejuni, and invasive E. coli. Patients infected with Shiga toxin-producing E. coli and E. histolytica generally have minimal fecal leukocytes.
A rapid diagnostic test for rotavirus in stool should be performed, especially during the winter. Bacterial stool culturesare recommended for patients with fever, profuse diarrhea, anddehydration or if HUS or pseudomembranous colitis is suspected. If the stool test result is negative for blood and leukocytes,and there is no history to suggest contaminated food ingestion, aviral etiology is most likely. Stool evaluation for parasitic agentsshould be considered for acute dysenteric illness, especially inreturning travelers, and in protracted cases of diarrhea in whichno bacterial agent is identified. The diagnosis of E. histolytica is based on identification of the organism in the stool. Serologictests are useful for diagnosis of extraintestinal amebiasis, including amebic hepatic abscess. Giardiasis can be diagnosed by identifying trophozoites or cysts in stool but require three specimens.More specific and sensitive fecal immunoassays are the diagnostic tests of choice.
Positive blood cultures are uncommon with bacterial enteritis except for S. typhi (typhoid fever), nontyphoidal Salmonella, and E. coli enteritis in very young infants. Intyphoid fever, blood cultures are positive early in the disease, whereas stool cultures become positive only after the secondary bacteremia.
Available @ StudentConsult.comAbdominal Pain Vomiting Diarrhea Failure to ThriveDiarrhea can be caused by infection, toxins, gastrointestinal allergy (including allergy to milk or soy proteins), malabsorption defects, inflammatory bowel disease, celiac disease, or any injury to enterocytes. Specific infections are differentiated from each other by the use of stool cultures and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay or polymerase chain reaction tests, when necessary. Acute enteritis may mimic other acute diseases, such as intussusception and acute appendicitis, which are best identified by diagnostic imaging. Many noninfectious causes of diarrhea produce chronic diarrhea, with persistence for more than 14 days. Persistent or chronic diarrhea may require tests for malabsorption or invasive studies, including endoscopy and small bowel biopsy (see Chapter 129).
Common-source diarrhea usually is associated with ingestion of contaminated food. In the United States, the most common bacterial food-borne causes (in order of frequency) are nontyphoidal Salmonella, Campylobacter, Shigella, E. coli O157:H7, Yersinia, Listeria monocytogenes, and V. cholerae. The most common parasitic food-borne causes are Cryptosporidium parvum and Cyclospora cayetanensis.
Common-source diarrhea also includes ingestion of preformed enterotoxins produced by bacteria, such as S. aureus and Bacillus cereus, which multiply in contaminated foods, and nonbacterial toxins such as from fish, shellfish, and mushrooms. After a short incubation period, vomiting and cramps are prominent symptoms, and diarrhea may or may not be present. Heavy metals that leach into canned food or drinks causing gastric irritation and emetic syndromes may mimic symptoms of acute infectious enteritis.
Most infectious causes of diarrhea in children are self-limited. Management of viral and most bacterial causes of diarrhea is primarily supportive and consists of correcting dehydration and ongoing fluid and electrolyte deficits and managing secondary complications resulting from mucosal injury.
Hyponatremia is common; hypernatremia is less common. Metabolic acidosis results from losses of bicarbonate in stool, lactic acidosis results from shock, and phosphate retention results from transient prerenal-renal insufficiency. Traditionally therapy for 24 hours with oral rehydration solutions alone is effective for viral diarrhea. Therapy for severe fluid and electrolyte losses involves IV hydration. Less severe degrees of dehydration (<10%) in the absence of excessive vomiting or shock may be managed with oral rehydration solutions containing glucose and electrolytes. Ondansetron may be administered to reduce emesis when persistent.
Antibiotic therapy is necessary only for patients with S. typhi(typhoid fever) and sepsis or bacteremia with signs of systemic toxicity, those with metastatic foci, or infants younger than 3 months with nontyphoidal salmonella. Antibiotic treatment of Shigella produces a bacteriologic cure in 80% of patients after 48 hours, reducing the spread of the disease. Many Shigella sonnei isolates, the predominant strain affecting children, are resistant to amoxicillin and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole. Recommended treatment for children is an oral third-generation cephalosporin or a fluoroquinolone for patients 18 years and older.
Treatment of C. difficile (pseudomembranous colitis) includesdiscontinuation of the antibiotic and, if diarrhea is severe, oral metronidazole or vancomycin. E. histolytica dysentery is treatedwith metronidazole followed by a luminal agent, such as iodoquinol. The treatment of G. lamblia is with albendazole, metronidazole, furazolidone, or quinacrine. Nitazoxanide can be usedin children younger than 12 months of age for the treatment ofCryptosporidium.
The major complication of gastroenteritis is dehydration and hypovolemic shock. Seizures may occur with high fever, especially with Shigella. Intestinal abscesses can form with Shigella and Salmonella infections, especially typhoid fever, leading to intestinal perforation, a life-threatening complication. Severe vomiting associated with gastroenteritis can cause esophageal tears or aspiration pneumonia.
Deaths resulting from diarrhea reflect the principal problem of disruption of fluid and electrolyte homeostasis, which leads to dehydration, electrolyte imbalance, vascular instability, and shock. In the United States, approximately 75 to 150 deaths occur annually from diarrheal disease, primarily in children under 1 year of age. These deaths occur in a seasonal pattern between October and February, concurrent with the rotavirus season.
At least 10% of patients who have typhoid fever shed S. typhifor about 3 months, and 4% become chronic carriers. The risk of becoming a chronic carrier is low in children. Ciprofloxacin is recommended for adult carriers with persistent Salmonella excretion.
The most important means of preventing childhood diarrhea is the provision of clean, uncontaminated water and proper hygiene in growing, collecting, and preparing foods. Good hygienic measures, especially good hand washing with soap and water, are the best means of controlling person-to-person spread of most organisms causing gastroenteritis. Similarly poultry products should be considered potentially contaminated with Salmonella and should be handled and cooked appropriately.
Immunization against rotavirus infection is recommended for all children beginning at 6 weeks of age, with the first dose by 14 weeks 6 days and the last dose by 8 months (see Chapter 94). Two typhoid vaccines are licensed in the United States: an oral live attenuated vaccine (Ty21a) for children 6 years and older, and a capsular polysaccharide vaccine (ViCPS) for intramuscular administration for persons 2 years and older. These are recommended for travelers to endemic areas of developing countries or for household contacts of S. typhi chronic carriers.
Families should be aware of the risk of acquiring salmonellosis from household reptile pets. Transmission of Salmonella from reptiles can be prevented by thorough hand washing with soap and water after handling reptiles or reptile cages. Children under 5 years of age and immunocompromised persons should avoid contact with reptiles.
The risk for traveler’s diarrhea, caused primarily by ETEC, may be minimized by avoiding uncooked food and untreated drinking water. Prophylaxis with bismuth subsalicylate (Pepto-Bismol) for adults (2 oz or two tablets orally four times a day) may be effective for prevention but is not recommended for children. Symptomatic self-treatment for mild diarrhea with loperamide (Imodium) and WHO oral rehydration solution is recommended for children at least 6 years of age and adults. Self-treatment of moderate diarrhea and fever with a fluoroquinolone is recommended in adults of at least 18 years old. Prompt medical evaluation is indicated for disease persisting more than 3 days, bloody stools, fever above 102° F (38.9° C) or chills, persistent vomiting, or moderate to severe dehydration, especially in children.
Lactobacillus acidophilus is a probiotic and reduces the incidence of community-acquired and antibiotic-associated diarrhea in children treated with oral antibiotics for other infectious diseases.
There are six primary hepatotropic viruses:Hepatitis A virus (HAV)Hepatitis B virus (HBV)Hepatitis C virus (HCV)Hepatitis D virus (HDV)Hepatitis E virus (HEV)Hepatitis G virus (HGV)
They differ in their virologic characteristics, transmission, severity, likelihood of persistence, and subsequent risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (Table 113-1). HDV, also known as the delta agent, is a defective virus that requires HBV for spread and causes either coinfection with HBV or superinfection in chronic HBsAg (hepatitis B surface antigen) carriers. HBV, HCV, and HDV infections can result in chronic hepatitis, or a chronic carrier state, which facilitates spread. The cause of 10% to 15% of cases of acute hepatitis is unknown.
HAV causes approximately half of all cases of viral hepatitis in the United States. Among U.S. children, approximately 70% to 80% of all new cases of viral hepatitis are caused by HAV, 5% to 30% by HBV, and 5% to 15% by HCV. The major risk factors for HBV and HCV are injectable drug use, frequent exposure
Table 113-1 Characteristics of Agents Causing Acute Viral Hepatitis HEPATITIS VIRUSES FEATURE HAV* HBV HCV† HDV HEV‡ HGV TTV, SEN-V Viral structure 27-nm ssRNA virus 42-nm dsDNA virus 30to 60-nm ssRNA virus 36-nm circular ssRNA hybrid 27–34 nm ssRNA virus 50to 100-nm ssRNA virus 30to 50nm ssDNA virus particle with HBsAg coat
Increased No Yes Yes No No Unknown risk of hepatocellular carcinoma dsDNA, Double-stranded DNA; HAV, hepatitis A virus; HBV, hepatitis B virus; HCV, hepatitis C virus; HDV, hepatitis D virus; HEV, hepatitis E virus; HGV, hepatitis G virus; PCR, polymerase chain reaction; RIBA, recombinant immunoblot assay; RT-PCR, reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction; ssDNA/ssRNA, single- stranded DNA/RNA; TTV, transfusion-transmitted virus. *I.e., enterovirus 72.
†Formerly posttransfusion non-A, non-B virus.‡Formerly enteral non-A, non-B virus.to blood products, and prenatal transmission from maternal infection. HEV occurs following travel to endemic areas outside of the United States. HGV is prevalent in HIV-infected persons. HBV and HCV cause chronic infection, which may lead to cirrhosis and is a significant risk factor for hepatocellular carcinoma and represents a persistent risk of transmission.
Available @ StudentConsult.comThere is considerable overlap in the characteristic clinical courses of HAV, HBV, and HCV (Fig. 113-1). The preicteric phase, which lasts approximately 1 week, is characterized by headache, anorexia, malaise, abdominal discomfort, nausea, and vomiting and usually precedes the onset of clinically detectable disease. Infants with perinatal acquired HBV may have immune complexes accompanied by urticaria and arthritis before the onset of icterus. Jaundice and tender hepatomegaly are the most common physical findings and are characteristic of the icteric phase. Prodromal symptoms, particularly in children, may abate during the icteric phase. Asymptomatic or mild, nonspecific illness without icterus is common with HAV, HBV, and HCV, especially in young children. Hepatic enzymes may increase 15to 20-fold. Resolution of the hyperbilirubinemia and normalization of the transaminases may take 6 to 8 weeks.
Alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase levels are elevated and generally reflect the degree of parenchymal inflammation. Alkaline phosphatase, 5α-nucleotidase, and total and direct (conjugated) bilirubin levels indicate the degree of cholestasis, which results from hepatocellular and bile duct damage. The prothrombin time is a good predictor
Figure 113-1 Clinical course and laboratory findings associated with hepatitis A, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C. ALT, Alanine aminotransferase; HAV, hepatitis A virus; anti-HBc, antibody to hepatitis B core antigen; HBeAg, hepatitis B early antigen; anti-HBe, antibody to hepatitis B early antigen; HBsAg, hepatitis B surface antigen; anti-HBs, antibody to hepatitis B surface antigen; HCV, hepatitis C virus; PCR, polymerase chain reaction.
of severe hepatocellular injury and progression to fulminant hepatic failure (see Chapter 130).
The diagnosis of viral hepatitis is confirmed by serologic testing (see Table 113-1 and Fig. 113-1). The presence of IgM-specific antibody to HAV with low or absent IgG antibody to HAV is presumptive evidence of HAV. There is no chronic carrier state of HAV. The presence of HBsAg signifies acute or chronic infection with HBV. Antigenemia appears early in the illness and is usually transient but is characteristic of chronic infection. Maternal HBsAg status should always be determined when HBV infection is diagnosed in children younger than 1 year of age because of the likelihood of vertical transmission. Hepatitis B early antigen (HBeAg) appears in the serum with acute HBV. The continued presence of HBsAg and HBeAg in the absence of antibody to e antigen (anti-HBe) indicates high risk of transmissibility that is associated with ongoing viral replication. Clearance of HBsAg from the serum precedes a variable window period followed by the emergence of the antibody to surface antigen (anti-HBs), which indicates development of lifelong immunity and is also a marker of immunization. Antibody to core antigen (anti-HBc) is a useful marker for recognizing HBV infection during the window phase (when HBsAg has disappeared but before the appearance of anti-HBs). Anti-HBe is useful in predicting a low degree of infectivity during the carrier state. Seroconversion after HCV infection may occur 6 months after infection. A positive result of HCV enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay should be confirmed with the more specific recombinant immunoblot assay, which detects antibodies to multiple HCV antigens. Detection of HCV RNA by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is a sensitive marker for active infection, and results of this test may be positive 3 days after inoculation.
Many other viruses may cause hepatitis as part of systemic infection, including Epstein-Barr virus, cytomegalovirus, varicella zoster virus (chickenpox), herpes simplex virus, and adenoviruses. Bacterial infections that may cause hepatitis include Escherichia coli sepsis and leptospirosis. Patients with cholecystitis, cholangitis, and choledocholithiasis may present with acute symptoms and jaundice. Other causes of acute liver disease in childhood include drugs (isoniazid, phenytoin, valproic acid, carbamazepine, oral contraceptives, acetaminophen), toxins (ethanol, poisonous mushroom), Wilson disease, metabolic disease (galactosemia, tyrosinemia), α1-antitrypsin deficiency, tumor, shock, anoxia, and graft-versus-host disease (see Chapter 130).
The treatment of acute hepatitis is largely supportive andinvolves rest, hydration, and adequate nutrition. Hospitalizationis indicated for persons with severe vomiting and dehydration,a prolonged prothrombin time, or signs of hepatic encephalopathy. When the diagnosis of viral hepatitis is established, attention should be directed toward preventing its spread to closecontacts. For HAV, hygienic measures include hand washingand careful disposal of excreta, contaminated diapers or clothing, needles, and other blood-contaminated items.
Chronic HBV infection may be treated with interferon alfa-2b or lamivudine, and HCV may be treated with interferon alfa alone or usually in combination with ribavirin. Mostly adults experience these treatment regimens. The decision to treat is based on the patient’s current age, age at HBV acquisition, development of viral mutations during therapy, and stage of viral infection. Transmission of HBV by vertical transmission or infection early in life often results in chronic HBV infection in an immune tolerant phase, in which interferon usually is not effective.
A protracted or relapsing course may develop in 10% to 15% of cases of HAV in adults, lasting up to 6 months with an undulating course before eventual clinical resolution. Fulminant hepatitis with encephalopathy, gastrointestinal bleeding from esophageal varices or coagulopathy, and profound jaundice is uncommon but is associated with a high mortality rate.
Most cases of acute viral hepatitis resolve without specific therapy, with less than 0.1% of cases progressing to fulminant hepatic necrosis. HAV and HEV cause acute infection only. HBV, HCV, and HDV may persist as chronic infection with chronic inflammation, fibrosis, and cirrhosis and the associated risk of hepatocellular carcinoma.
From 5% to 10% of adults with HBV develop persistent infection, defined by persistence of HBsAg in the blood for more than 6 months, compared with 90% of children who acquire HBV by perinatal transmission. Chronic HBsAg carriers are usually HBeAg-negative and have no clinical, biochemical, or serologic evidence of active hepatitis, unless there is superinfection with HDV. Approximately 10% to 15% of HBsAg carriers eventually clear HBsAg.
Approximately 85% of persons infected with HCV remain chronically infected, which is characterized by fluctuating transaminase levels (see Fig. 113-1). There is poor correlation of symptoms with ongoing liver damage. Approximately 20% of persons with chronic infection develop cirrhosis, and approximately 25% of those develop hepatocellular carcinoma. HIV infection and ethanol use increase the risk of HCV progression.
Good hygienic practices significantly reduce the risk of fecal-oral transmission of HAV. Screening blood donors for evidence of hepatitis significantly reduces the risk of blood-borne transmission. Specific postexposure measures are recommended to prevent secondary cases in susceptible persons.
HAV vaccine is recommended for routine immunization of all children beginning at 12 months and for unvaccinatedolder children in areas with targeted vaccination programs.Unvaccinated household and sexual contacts of persons withHAV should receive postexposure prophylaxis as soon as possible and within 2 weeks of the last exposure. A single doseof HAV vaccine at the age-appropriate dose is preferred forpersons 12 months to 40 years of age. Immunoglobulin (0.02mL/kg) given intramuscularly is preferred for children under12 months of age, persons over 40 years of age, and immunocompromised persons. Unvaccinated travelers to endemicregions should receive a single dose of HAV vaccine administered at any time before departure.
HBV vaccine is recommended for routine immunization of all infants beginning at birth and for all children and adolescents through 18 years of age who have not been immunized previously (see Fig. 94-1). It also is recommended as a preexposure vaccination for older children and adults at increased risk of exposure to HBV, including persons undergoing hemodialysis, recipients of clotting factor concentrates, residents and staff of institutions for developmentally disabled persons, men who have sex with men, injectable drug users, inmates of juvenile detention and other correctional facilities, and health care workers. HBV vaccine already has shown effectiveness in reducing the incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma in high-risk populations. Routine prenatal screening for HBsAg is recommended for all pregnant women in the United States. Infants born to HBsAg-positive mothers should receive HBV vaccine and hepatitis B immunoglobulin (HBIG) (0.5 mL) within 12 hours of birth, with subsequent vaccine doses at 1 month and 6 months of age followed by testing for HBsAg and anti-HBs at 9 to 15 months of age. Infants born to mothers whose HBsAg status is unknown should receive vaccine within 12 hours of birth. If maternal testing is positive for HBsAg, the infant should receive HBIG as soon as possible (no later than 1 week of age). The combination of HBIG and vaccination is 99% effective in preventing vertical transmission of HBV. Vaccination alone without HBIG may prevent 75% of cases of perinatal HBV transmission and approximately 95% of cases of symptomatic childhood HBV infection.
Postexposure prophylaxis of unvaccinated persons usingHBIG and vaccine is recommended following needle stick injuries with blood from an HBsAg-positive patient and forhousehold members with intimate contact, including sex partners.
Urinary tract infections (UTIs) include cystitis (infection localized to the bladder), pyelonephritis (infection of the renal parenchyma, calyces, and renal pelvis), and renal abscess, which may be intrarenal or perinephric. The urinary tract and urine are normally sterile. Escherichia coli, ascending from bowel flora, accounts for 90% of first infections and 75% of recurrent infections. Over 90% of nephritogenic E. coli possess P fimbriae that binds to uroepithelial cells and P blood group antigens. Individuals with high-level expression of P1 blood group antigen are predisposed to pyelonephritis and bacteremia, as well as recurrent UTIs. Other bacteria commonly causing infection include Klebsiella, Proteus, Enterococcus, and Pseudomonas. Staphylococcus saprophyticus is associated with UTI in some children and in sexually active adolescent girls. S. saprophyticus, Chlamydia trachomatis, and E. coli are the chief causes of the acute urethral syndrome, or postcoital urethritis, which typically occur 12 to 72 hours after sexual intercourse.
Approximately 8% of girls and 2% of boys have a UTI by 11 years of age. The lifetime incidence of UTI in females is about 30% compared to only 1% in males. Approximately 75% of infants younger than 3 months of age with bacteriuria are male compared with only 10% between 3 and 8 months of age. After 12 months of age, UTI in healthy children usually is seen in girls.
A short urethra predisposes girls to UTI. Uncircumcised maleinfants are at 5to 12-fold increased risk for UTI compared withcircumcised male infants. Obstruction to urine flow and urinary stasis is the major risk factor and may result from anatomicabnormalities, nephrolithiasis, renal tumor, indwelling urinarycatheter, ureteropelvic junction obstruction, megaureter, extrinsic compression, and pregnancy. Vesicoureteral reflux, whetherprimary (70% of cases) or secondary to urinary tract obstruction, predisposes to chronic infection and renal scarring. Scarring also may develop in the absence of reflux.
Available @ StudentConsult.comThe symptoms and signs of UTI vary markedly with age. Few have high positive predictive values in neonates, with failure to thrive, feeding problems, and fever as the most consistent symptoms. Direct hyperbilirubinemia may develop secondary to gram-negative endotoxin. Infants 1 month to 2 years old may present with feeding problems, failure to thrive, diarrhea, vomiting, or unexplained fever. The symptoms may masquerade as gastrointestinal illness with colic, irritability, and screaming periods. At 2 years of age, children begin to show the classic signs of UTI such as urgency, dysuria, frequency, and abdominal or back pain. The presence of UTI should be suspected in all infants and young children with unexplained fever and in patients of all ages with fever and congenital anomalies of the urinary tract.
The diagnosis of UTI in infants and young children requires the presence of both pyuria and at least 50,000 CFU/mL of a single pathogenic organism. For older children and adolescents, >100,000 CFU/mL indicates infection. Urine samples for urinalysis should be examined promptly (within 20 minutes) or refrigerated until cultured. Urine obtained by midstream, clean-catch technique for older children and adolescents is an appropriate collection method, whereas transurethral catheterization is the appropriate method for younger children and infants in which antibiotics are being started. Perineal bags for urine collection are prone to contamination and are not recommended for urine collection for culture. If there
Urinalysis showing pyuria (leukocyturia of >10 white blood cells [WBCs]/mm3) suggests infection, but also is consistent with urethritis, vaginitis, nephrolithiasis, glomerulonephritis, and interstitial nephritis. Urinary dipstick tests that combine both the leukocyte esterase and nitrite (or positive leukocyte esterase and positive microscopy for bacteria) have sensitivity of 70% and specificity of 99% for detecting a UTI. Either test used alone has poor sensitivity.
Ultrasonography of the bladder and kidneys is recommended for infants with febrile UTIs to exclude structural abnormalities or detect hydronephrosis. Voiding cystourethrogram (VCUG) is indicated if the ultrasound is abnormal (hydronephrosis, scarring, or other findings to suggest obstruction or congenital abnormality). Vesicoureteral reflux is the most common abnormality found and is ranked from grade I (ureter only) to grade V (complete gross dilation of the ureter and obliteration of caliceal and pelvic anatomy) (see Chapter 167). A technetium-99m DMSA scan can identify acute pyelonephritis and is most useful to define renal scarring as a late effect of UTI.
The diagnosis of a UTI is confirmed by a positive urine culture, but this does not distinguish between upper tract andlower tract infection. Localization of a UTI is importantbecause upper UTI is associated more frequently with bacteremia and with anatomic abnormalities than is uncomplicated cystitis. The clinical manifestations of UTI do notreliably distinguish the site of infection in neonates, infants,and toddlers. Fever and abdominal pain may occur with either lower or upper UTI, although high fever, costovertebral tenderness, high erythrocyte sedimentation rate, leukocytosis, and bacteremia each suggest upper tract involvement.DMSA scan is sensitive for detecting acute pyelonephritisbut not commonly used.
The manifestations of UTI overlap with signs of sepsis seen in young children and with enteritis, appendicitis, mesenteric lymphadenitis, and pneumonia in older children. Dysuria may indicate pinworm infection, hypersensitivity to soaps or detergents, vaginitis, or sexual abuse and infection.
Available @ StudentConsult.comEmpirical therapy should be initiated for symptomatic children and for all children with a urine culture confirming UTI. For an older child who does not appear ill but has a positive urine culture, oral antibiotic therapy should be initiated. For a child with suspected UTI who appears toxic, appears dehydrated, or is unable to retain oral fluids, initial antibiotic therapy should be administered parenterally, and hospitalization should be considered.
is uncertainty about diagnosis of UTI in a younger child or Neonates with UTI are treated for 10 to 14 days with par-infant, urine can be collected by the most convenient method enteral antibiotics because of the higher rate of bacteremia. for urinalysis and if suggestive of infection, collect urine by Older children with UTI are treated for 7 to 14 days. Initial catheterization prior to starting antibiotics. treatment with parenteral antibiotics is determined by clinical status. Parenteral antibiotics should be continued until there is clinical improvement (typically 24 to 48 hours). Specificantibiotic therapy should be guided by the local antimicrobial susceptibility patterns and the results of the patient’surine cultures because of increasing problems related to antimicrobial resistance. Commonly used parenteral antibiotics include ceftriaxone or gentamicin. Oral regimens include acephalosporin, amoxicillin plus clavulanic acid, or trimethoprim sulfamethoxazole. Infants and children who do notshow the expected clinical response within 2 days of startingantimicrobial therapy should be re-evaluated, have anotherurine specimen obtained for culture, and undergo imagingpromptly.
The degree of toxicity, dehydration, and ability to retain oral intake of fluids should be assessed carefully. Restoring or maintaining adequate hydration, including correction of electrolyte abnormalities that are often associated with vomiting or poor oral intake, is important.
Bacteremia occurs in 2% to 5% of episodes of pyelonephritis and is more likely in infants than in older children. Focal renal abscesses are an uncommon complication.
The relapse rate of UTI is approximately 25% to 40%. Most relapses occur within 2 to 3 weeks of treatment. Parents should be counseled to follow up for evaluation for subsequent fevers to evaluate for the possibility of a recurrence of UTI. If a recurrent UTI is diagnosed, further imaging studies (VCUG) are indicated to evaluate the possibility of vesicoureteral reflux (see Chapter 167).
Primary prevention is achieved by promoting good perinealhygiene and managing underlying risk factors for UTI, suchas chronic constipation, encopresis, and daytime and nighttime urinary incontinence. There is evidence that antibioticprophylaxis may prevent more severe symptomatic recurrentinfections, although the effect is small. The impact of secondary prophylaxis to prevent renal scarring is unknown.Acidification of the urine with cranberry juice is not recommended as the sole means of preventing UTI in children at high risk.
Vulvovaginitis, which is inflammation of the vulva or the vagina or both, is the most common gynecologic problem inchildren. Low prepubertal levels of estrogen result in thin, atrophic vaginal epithelium that is susceptible to bacterialinvasion. At puberty estrogen increases, and the pH of the vagina becomes more acidic. There are several specific causesof vulvovaginitis (Table 115-1), including sexually transmitted infections such as Trichomonas vaginalis and herpes simplex virus (see Chapter 116). Nonspecific vaginitis results from overgrowth of normal aerobic vaginal flora that is associated with poor hygiene. Bacterial vaginosis is caused by Gardnerella vaginalis, which interacts synergistically with vaginal anaerobes, including Bacteroides, Mobiluncus, and Peptostreptococcus.
Nonspecific vaginitis is the most common cause of vulvovaginitis in young girls. G. vaginalis is often present as part of the normal vaginal flora in preadolescent girls but is more common in girls who are sexually active. Candida is much less common in preadolescent girls than in women.
Available @ StudentConsult.comThe primary symptoms of vulvovaginitis are vaginal discharge, erythema, and pruritus. Characteristics of specific etiologies are outlined in Table 115-1.
Wet mount microscopic examination, prepared by mixing vaginal secretions with normal saline solution, and culture may be used to confirm a specific diagnosis (see Table 115-1).Clue cells are vaginal epithelial cells that are covered with G. vaginalis and have a granular appearance. Vaginal cultures for
G. vaginalis are not useful. Candida may be identified by saline wet mount or by culture.
Noninfectious causes of vulvovaginitis include physicalagents (foreign body, sand), chemical agents (bubble bath,soap, detergent), and vulvar skin disease (atopic dermatitis, seborrhea, psoriasis). Physiologic vaginal discharge orphysiologic leukorrhea of desquamated vaginal cells andmucus occurs normally in girls soon after birth, with discharge lasting for about 1 week, and appears again at 6 to 12months before menarche. The discharge is minimal, clear,and thin without pruritus or inflammation. No treatment is necessary.
The treatment of vulvovaginitis depends on the etiology (see Table 115-1). Treatment of nonspecific vaginitisfocuses on improving perineal hygiene. The recommendedtreatment for bacterial vaginosis is oral metronidazole orclindamycin. Imidazole creams and vaginal tablets andsuppositories all are effective for the treatment of acute
Physiologic vaginal discharge Minimal, clear, thin discharge No pathogenic organisms on Reassurance
Nonspecific vaginitis Vaginal discharge, dysuria, Evidence of poor hygiene; no Improved hygiene, sitz baths 2−3 itching; fecal soiling of underwear pathogenic organisms on culture times/day
Bacterial vaginosis Often asymptomatic; possible thin vaginal discharge with a “fishy” odor
At least three of the following Metronidazole, clindamycin four criteria: (1) thin, homogeneous vaginal discharge; (2) vaginal pH ≥4.5; (3) a fishy odor of volatile amines on the addition of a drop of 10% potassium hydroxide to a drop of vaginal discharge (the whiff test); and (4) the presence of clue cells on a saline wet mount of vaginal discharge (Gardnerella vaginalis and anaerobes)
Sarcoptes scabiei infection Nocturnal pruritus, pruritic Mites; ova black, dots of feces 5% permethrin (scabies) vesicles, pustules in runs (microscopic)
Foreign body Foul-smelling vaginal discharge, Foreign body on physical Removal of foreign body sometimes bloody examination vulvovaginal candidiasis. Douching or vaginal irrigation is PREVENTION not beneficial and is not recommended. There are no recognized prophylactic measures for bacterial vaginosis or nonspecific vaginitis. Douching is not protective and reduces normal vaginal flora, which are protective against
COMPLICATIONS AND PROGNOSIS pathogenic organisms. Complications are rare. The prognosis is excellent.
Available @ StudentConsult.comAdolescents have the highest rates of sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Compared with adults, sexually active adolescents are more likely to believe they will not contract an STI, more likely to come into contact with an infected sexual partner, less likely to receive health care when an STI develops, and less likely to be compliant with treatment for an STI.
Although numerous organisms cause STIs, the diseases can be grouped by the characteristic clinical presentation. Urethritis and endocervicitis (Table 116-1) are characteristic of Neisseria gonorrhoeae and C. trachomatis and are the most common STIs. Note that more than 70% of genital chlamydial infections in women are asymptomatic. Genital ulcers (Table 116-2) are characteristic of syphilis (Treponema pallidum), genital herpes simplex virus (HSV) infections, chancroid (Haemophilus ducreyi), and granuloma inguinale, also known as donovanosis (Klebsiella granulomatis). Vaginal discharge (Table 116-3) is a symptom of trichomoniasis (Trichomonas vaginalis) and is part of the spectrum of vulvovaginitis (see Chapter 115), which is not always associated with sexual activity. Human papillomavirus (HPV) causes condylomata acuminata, or genital warts (Table 116-4), and is the major risk factor for cervical, vulvar, and vaginal cancers.
STIs are associated with significant physiologic and psychological morbidity. Early diagnosis and treatment are important
Table 116-1 Features of Sexually Transmitted Infections Caused by Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae* FEATURE C. TRACHOMATIS N. GONORRHOEAE Incubation period 5–12 days 3–14 days Possible presentations Pharyngitis, conjunctivitis (including neonatal conjunctivitis), disseminated disease (arthritis, dermatitis, endocarditis, meningitis)
Signs/symptoms of common syndromesMucopurulent cervicitis Cervical erythema, friability, with thick creamy discharge >10 PMNs/hpf Mild cervical tenderness Gram-negative intracellular diplococci
Pelvic inflammatory disease Onset of symptoms day 3–10 of menstrual cycle
Adnexal tenderness, mass (95%)Nausea, vomiting (variable)Weakness, syncope, dizziness (variable)Diagnostic tests NAAT, culture (using Thayer-Martin selective media) NAAT hpf, High-powered field; NAAT, nucleic acid amplification test; PID, pelvic inflammatory disease; PMN, polymorphonuclear cells. *Coinfection is common, and clinical presentations have significant overlap.
Table 116-2 Features of Sexually Transmitted Infections Characterized by Genital Ulcers SYPHILIS GENITAL HERPES CHANCROID GRANULOMA INGUINALE (DONOVANOSIS) Agent Treponema pallidum HSV-1, HSV-2 Haemophilus ducreyi Klebsiella granulomatis
Primary lesion Papule Vesicle Papule to pustule PapuleNumber >1 Multiple <3 >1, may coalesceEdges Distinct Reddened, ragged Ragged, undermined Rolled, distinctBase Red, smooth Red, smooth Necrotic Beefy red, cleanSecretion Serous Serous Pus, blood NoneIsolation No in vitro test; rabbit Culture Aspirate of node, swab of None inoculation
Treatment Early: Benzathine penicillin G Acyclovir or famciclovir or Aspirate fluctuant nodes Doxycycline or TMP-SMX (2.4 million U IM) once valacyclovir
Late (>1 yr duration):Incision and drainage Benzathine penicillin G (2.4FTA-ABS, Fluorescent treponemal antibody-absorption; HSV, herpes simplex virus; MHA-TP, microhemagglutination assay-Treponema pallidum; PCR, polymerase chain reaction; RPR, rapid plasma reagin; TMP-SMX, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole; VDRL, Venereal Disease Research Laboratory.
Table 116-3 Features of Sexually Transmitted Infections Characterized by Vaginal Discharge FEATURE PHYSIOLOGIC LEUKORRHEA (NORMAL) TRICHOMONIASIS BACTERIAL VAGINOSIS (GARDNERELLA VAGINALIS-ASSOCIATED VAGINITIS) Agent Normal flora Trichomonas vaginalis G. vaginalis and anaerobes
Pruritus None Mild to moderate None to mildDischarge Minimal Moderate to severe Mild to moderateCharacteristics of dischargeColor Clear, milky Yellow-green or grey GreyOdor with None Possible Characteristic fishy odor pH <4.5 >5.0 >4.5
Saline drop Squamous and few WBCs WBC; Motile flagellates, slightly Squamous cells studded with larger than WBCs bacteria (“clue cells”) and WBCs
Treatment Reassurance Metronidazole or tinidazole Metronidazole, tinidazole, or clindamycinKOH, Potassium hydroxide; WBCs, white blood cells.Presenting complaints Genital warts are seen or felt Vulvar itching or discharge Pubic itching; live organisms may be seen; sexual partner has “crabs”
Clinical associations Cervical neoplasia, dysplasia Oral contraceptives, diabetes, — antibiotics
Treatment Patient-applied therapies: Podofilox solution Intravaginal agents: butoconazole Permethrin 1% cream or gel or Imiquimod cream or clotrimazole or miconazole
KOH, Potassium hydroxide.for preventing medical complications and infertility. All STIs are preventable; primary prevention of STIs should be a goal for all health care providers for adolescents. Diagnosis of an STI necessitates evaluation or treatment for concomitant STIs, notification and treatment of sexual partners, and some are reportable to state health departments.
Many infections that are not traditionally considered STIs are sexually transmissible, including those caused by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), human T cell leukemia viruses types I and II, cytomegalovirus, Epstein-Barr virus, human herpes virus (HHV-6, HHV-7), hepatitis B virus, molluscum contagiosum virus, and Sarcoptes scabiei. The presence of any STI suggests behavior that increases risk for HIV (see Chapter 125), and HIV counseling and testing should be provided to all adolescents with STIs. Acquisition of gonorrhea, syphilis, HSV-2, and trichomoniasis in prepubertal children beyond the neonatal period indicates sexual contact and signifies the need to investigate for possible sexual abuse (see Chapter 22); diagnosis of STIs in infants can represent abuse or perinatal acquisition. The association of sexual abuse with vulvovaginitis and genital HPV infection, which may result from skin or genital HPV types, is less certain.
Direct extension of N. gonorrhoeae, often in combination with C. trachomatis, to the endometrium, fallopian tubes, and peritoneum causes pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). PID complications include tubo-ovarian abscess, perihepatitis (Fitz-Hugh-Curtis syndrome, an inflammation of the liver capsule), and infertility. The differential diagnosis of PID includes ectopic pregnancy, septic abortion, ovarian cyst torsion or rupture, urinary tract infection, appendicitis, mesenteric lymphadenitis, and inflammatory bowel disease. Pelvic ultrasound may detect thickened adnexal structures and is the imaging study of choice to exclude other possible diagnoses. Minimum clinical criteria for diagnosis of PID are lower abdominal tenderness with uterine, adnexal, or cervical motion tenderness. Additional criteria that support the diagnosis are fever, mucopurulent cervix discharge, elevated white blood cell (WBC) count, elevated inflammatory markers, and documented infection with N. gonorrhoeae or C. trachomatis. Adolescents should be hospitalized for treatment if there is uncertainty about the diagnosis; pregnancy; no clinical response to oral therapy within 72 hours; inability to adhere to or tolerate oral therapy; a tubo-ovarian abscess; or severe illness with high fever, nausea, and vomiting. The recommended parenteral treatment for hospitalized patients is cefotetan or cefoxitin, plus doxycycline orally. The recommended ambulatory treatment of PID for younger persons is ceftriaxone (250 mg) in a single intramuscular (IM) dose, plus doxycycline orally for 14 days, with or without metronidazole for 14 days. Follow-up examination should be performed within 72 hours.
N. gonorrhoeae, a gram-negative coccus, is often seen microscopically as diplococci. Gonorrhea is a common STI among adolescents. The highest incidence in the United States is in 15to 24-year-old females and 20to 24-year-old males, and incidence rates differ by race. The organism causes infection at the site of acquisition, which commonly results in mucopurulent cervicitis and urethritis (see Table 116-1), but infection of the rectum and pharynx can also occur. Disseminated gonococcal infections can occur with hematogenous spread and results in petechial or pustular acral skin lesions, asymmetric arthralgia, tenosynovitis or septic arthritis, and, occasionally, endocarditis or meningitis. Perinatal transmission of maternal infection can lead to neonatal sepsis and meningitis (see Chapter 65) and ophthalmia neonatorum (see Chapter 119).
Treatment regimens should be effective against N. gonorrhoeae and C. trachomatis because of the high frequency of coinfection. Increasing rates of resistance to fluoroquinolones limit treatment options. A single IM dose of ceftriaxone (250 mg) is recommended for uncomplicated gonococcal infections of the cervix, urethra, and rectum. Hospitalization and treatment with ceftriaxone are recommended for disseminated gonococcal infections. For all gonococcal infections, azithromycin or doxycycline also should be administered unless chlamydial infection is excluded.
Available @ StudentConsult.comChlamydiae are obligate intracellular bacteria with a biphasic life cycle, existing as relatively inert elementary bodies in their extracellular form and as reticulate bodies when phagocytosed and replicating within a phagosome. Reticulate bodies divide by binary fission and, after 48 to 72 hours, reorganize into elementary bodies that are released from the cell. Chlamydia infects nonciliated squamocolumnar cells and the transitional epithelial cells that line the mucosa of the urethra, cervix, rectum, and conjunctiva.
C. trachomatis serovars D through K cause urethritis, cervicitis, PID, inclusion conjunctivitis in newborns, and infant pneumonia. C. trachomatis serovars L1–3 cause lymphogranuloma venereum, an infrequent STI characterized by unilateral, painful inguinal lymphadenitis. C. trachomatis serovars A, B, Ba, and C produce trachoma (hyperendemic blinding), which eventually leads to blindness from extensive local scarring.
Chlamydia is the most frequently diagnosed bacterial STI in adolescents and accounts for most cases of nongonococcal urethritis and cervicitis (see Table 116-1). There is a 5:1 female-to-male ratio. Males often have dysuria and a mucopurulent discharge, although approximately 25% may be asymptomatic. Women are more often asymptomatic (approximately 70%) or may have minimal symptoms including dysuria, mild abdominal pain, or vaginal discharge. Prepubertal girls may have vaginitis. At least 30% of persons with gonococcal cervicitis, urethritis, proctitis, or epididymitis have C. trachomatis coinfection.
Chlamydia infection usually is diagnosed by the detection of bacterial nucleic acids (polymerase chain reaction [PCR] tests, using ligase chain reaction and transcription-mediated amplification) of cervical, urethral, and early morning first-voided urine specimens. Amplification tests have supplanted less sensitive culture and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay tests. Because of false positive results, only culture should be used for medicolegal purposes to confirm C. trachomatis infection in cases of suspected sexual abuse.
Treatment regimens should be effective against C. trachomatis and N. gonorrhoeae because of the high frequency of coinfection. A single oral dose of azithromycin (1 g) or doxycycline for 7 days is recommended, which can be combined with a single dose of ceftriaxone (250 mg) to treat concomitant gonorrhea infection.
Available @ StudentConsult.comSyphilis is caused by T. pallidum, a long, slender, coiled spirochete. It cannot be cultivated routinely in vitro but can be observed by dark-field microscopy. Untreated infectionprogresses through several clinical stages (see Table 116-2). Primary syphilis is manifested as a single, painless genital ulcer, or chancre, usually on the genitalia, that appears 3 to 6 weeks after inoculation. Secondary syphilis follows 6 to 8 weeks later and is manifested as fever, generalized lymphadenopathy, and a disseminated maculopapular rash that alsois present on the palms and soles. Plaquelike skin lesions,condylomata lata, and mucous membrane lesions occur and are infectious. Tertiary syphilis is a slowly progressivedisease that involves the cardiovascular, neurologic, andmusculoskeletal systems and is not seen in children. Latent syphilis is an asymptomatic infection detected by serologictesting. Early latent syphilis indicates acquisition within thepreceding year; all other cases of latent syphilis are designated either late latent syphilis or latent syphilis of unknownduration. Infection can be passed from pregnant women and infect their infants resulting in congenital syphilis (see Chapter 66).
The diagnosis of syphilis is based on serologic testing. Nontreponemal antibody tests, the Venereal Disease Research Laboratory (VDRL) test, and the rapid plasma reagin (RPR)test are screening tests and can be quantified as titers that increase with increasing duration of infection and decrease in response to therapy. A nonquantitative VDRL test can be performed on cerebrospinal fluid but is insensitive. Rheumatic disease and other infectious diseases may cause false positive results. Confirmatory, specific treponemal antibody tests, the microhemagglutination assay-T. pallidum (MHA-TP) and fluorescent treponemal antibody-absorption (FTA-ABS) are more specific and are used to confirm the diagnosis of syphilis. These tests usually remain positive lifelong even if the infection is treated and cured. Dark-field examination of chancres, mucous membranes, or cutaneous lesions may reveal motile organisms.
The treatment of choice for all stages of syphilis is parenteral penicillin G. Primary syphilis, secondary syphilis, and early latent syphilis are treated with a single IM dose of benzathine penicillin G. Tertiary, late latent, and latent syphilis of unknown duration are treated with three doses at 1-week intervals. Neurosyphilis is treated with intravenous aqueous crystalline penicillin G for 10 to 14 days. A systemic, febrile Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction occurs in 15% to 20% of syphilitic patients treated with penicillin.
Available @ StudentConsult.comHSV-1 and HSV-2 are large, double-stranded DNA viruses of the herpesvirus family with a linear genome contained within an icosahedral capsid. There is significant DNA homology between types 1 and 2. The virus initially infects mucosal surfaces and enters cutaneous neurons where it migrates along the axons to sensory ganglia. As viral replication occurs in the ganglia, infectious virus moves along the axon to infect and destroy epithelial cells. Infection may disseminate to other organs in immunocompromised patients. Virus latency is maintained in the ganglia where it undergoes periodic reactivation and replication triggered by undefined events. Although either virus can be found in any site, HSV-1 more commonly occurs in the central nervous system, eyes, and mouth, whereas HSV-2 more commonly involves the genitalia. Reinfection can occur with exposure to the other type or even a second strain of the same type.
Primary genital herpes is characterized by multiple painful, grouped vesicles or ulcerative and crusted external genital lesions on an erythematous base (see Table 116-2). Infemales the cervix is also involved. Symptoms may includeregional lymphadenopathy, discharge, and dysuria. Primaryillness lasts 10 to 20 days with recurrences in 50% to 80% ofpatients. Secondary, recurrent, or reactivation eruptions are not as dramatic and are not associated with systemicsymptoms. In primary infection, viral shedding lasts 1 to2 weeks, and the entire course from vesicle and ulcer onset resolves over 16 to 20 days. In recurrent disease, virus shedding lasts for less than 7 days, and the course resolves over8 to 10 days. Many persons experience five to eight recurrences per year. Some primary and many recurrent episodesare asymptomatic.
Viral cultures and PCR are the preferred methods of diagnosis; culture typically shows cytopathic effect in 1 to 3 days and seldom takes longer than 5 days. PCR assays have increased sensitivity over culture. Viral shedding is intermittent after primary infection, so both culture and PCR can fail to detect latent infection. Serologic testing is useful for primary infection only (to show seroconversion between acute and convalescent sera), and positive serologies persist lifelong. Titers are not helpful in guiding management of recurrences.
Oral famciclovir and valacyclovir are effective treatments in reducing the severity and duration of symptoms in primary cases and may reduce recurrences. Once-daily suppressive therapy reduces the frequency of genital herpes recurrences by 70% to 80% among patients who have frequent recurrences (more than six recurrences per year). Local hygiene and sitz baths may relieve discomfort. The use of condoms provides some protection against sexual transmission of HSV.
Available @ StudentConsult.comTrichomoniasis is caused by the protozoan T. vaginalis and often is associated with other STIs such as gonorrhea and Chlamydia. Infection is asymptomatic in as many as 90% of men and 85% of women. Symptomatic males can have urethritis. Symptomatic females have vaginitis with thin, malodorous, frothy yellow-green discharge, vulvar irritation, and cervical “strawberry hemorrhages” (see Table 116-3). Diagnosis is based on visualization of motile, flagellated protozoans in the urine or in a saline wet mount, which has a sensitivity of only 60% to 70% among symptomatic women. Culture is the most sensitive method of diagnosis. Treatment of both sexual partners with oral metronidazole or tinidazole in a single dose is recommended.
Available @ StudentConsult.comHPV, the cause of genital warts (condylomata acuminata), is the most common STI in the United States with the highest prevalence rates among 15to 24-year-olds. Most HPV infections are asymptomatic or subclinical. HPV types 6 and 11 cause 90% of genital warts and are nononcogenic. HPV types 16 and 18 are associated with 70% of cases of cervical cancer. HPV types 31, 33, and 35 are also oncogenic.
Genital warts can occur on the squamous epithelium or mucous membranes of the genital and perineal structures of females and males (see Table 116-4). Genital warts are usually multiple, firm, gray-to-pink excrescences. Untreated genital warts may remain unchanged, increase in size or number, or resolve spontaneously. They can become tender if macerated or secondarily infected. The diagnosis usually is established by appearance without biopsy. The differential diagnosis includes condylomata lata (secondary syphilis) and tumors.
The goal of treatment is removal of symptomatic warts to induce wart-free periods. Treatment modalities involve destruction of infected epithelium; patient-applied therapies include podofilox or imiquimod, and provider-applied therapies include cryotherapy with liquid nitrogen or cryoprobe, topical podophyllin resin, and trichloroacetic acid or bichloracetic acid. An alternative is surgical removal.
Intralesional interferon and laser surgery also have been effective. Factors that may influence selection of treatment include wart number, size, anatomic sites, wart morphology, patient preference, treatment cost, convenience, adverse effects, and provider experience. Recurrences after treatment are common and are frequently asymptomatic.
Pubic lice, or pediculosis pubis, are caused by infestation with Phthirus pubis, the pubic crab louse. The louse is predominantly sexually transmitted and lives out its life cycle on pubic hair, where it causes characteristic, intense pruritus (see Table 116-4). Diagnosis can be made clinically; lice are visible to the naked eye. Erythematous papules and egg cases (nits) are not seen before puberty. Treatment consists of education regarding personal and environmental hygiene and the application of an appropriate pediculicide, such as permethrin 1% cream or pyrethrins with piperonyl butoxide. Bedding and clothing should be decontaminated (machine washed and machine dried using the heat cycle or dry cleaned) or removed from body contact for at least 72 hours.
Acute hematogenous osteomyelitis is the most common manifestation of osteomyelitis in children and evolves secondary to bacteremia. Subacute osteomyelitis usually follows local inoculation by penetrating trauma and is not associated with systemic symptoms, and chronic osteomyelitis results from an untreated or inadequately treated (usually subacute) osteomyelitis.
In children beyond the newborn period and without hemoglobinopathies, bone infections occur almost exclusively in the metaphysis of long bones due to sluggish blood flow through tortuous vascular loops unique to this site. Preceding nonpenetrating trauma is often reported and may lead to local bone injury that predisposes to infection. Bone infections in children with sickle cell disease occur in the diaphyseal portion of the long bones, probably as a consequence of antecedent focal infarction. In children younger than 12 to 18 months of age, capillaries perforate the epiphyseal growth plate, permitting spread of infection across the epiphysis leading to suppurative arthritis, whereas in older children, infection is contained in the metaphysis because these vessels no longer cross the epiphyseal plate (Figs. 117-1AB).
Staphylococcus aureus is responsible for more than 80% of acute skeletal infections. Other common causes include Group A streptococcus and Streptococcus pneumoniae. Neisseria meningitidis, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Bartonella henselae, Actinomyces spp., and anaerobes are less common causes. Group B streptococcus and enteric gram-negatives are other major causes in neonates. Sickle cell disease and other hemoglobinopathies predispose to osteomyelitis caused by Salmonella and S. aureus. Pasteurella multocida osteomyelitis may
Figure 117-1 A, Major structures of the bone of an infant before maturation of the epiphyseal growth plate. Note the transphyseal vessel, which connects the vascular supply of the epiphysis and metaphysis, facilitating spread of infection between these two areas. B, Major structures of the bone of a child. Joint capsule A inserts below the epiphyseal growth plate, as in the hip, elbow, ankle, and shoulder. Rupture of a metaphyseal abscess in these bones is likely to produce pyarthrosis. Joint capsule B inserts at the epiphyseal growth plate, as in other tubular bones. Rupture of a metaphyseal abscess in these bones is likely to lead to a subperiosteal abscess but seldom to an associated pyarthrosis. (From Gutman LT: Acute, subacute, and chronic osteomyelitis and pyogenic arthritis in children, Curr Probl Pediatr 15:1−72, 1985.) follow cat or dog bites. The use of polymerase chain reaction testing reveals that a significant proportion of culture negative osteomyelitis is due to Kingella kingae. Conjugate vaccine has reduced greatly the incidence of Haemophilus influenzae type b infections.
Subacute focal bone infections caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa and S. aureus usually occur in ambulatory persons who sustain puncture wounds of the foot. Pseudomonas chondritis is strongly associated with puncture wounds through sneakers, which harbor Pseudomonas in the foam insole. S. aureus is the most common cause of chronic osteomyelitis. Chronic recurrent multifocal osteomyelitis is an autoinflammatory syndrome characterized by recurrent episodes of fever, bone pain, and radiographic findings of osteomyelitis. Bones uncommonly involved in acute hematogenous osteomyelitis such as the clavicle, scapula, or small bones of the hands or feet are often affected, pathogens are not identified on culture, and histopathology demonstrates plasmacytic infiltrates.
Osteomyelitis may occur at any age but is most common in children 3 to 12 years of age and affects boys twice as frequently as girls. Osteomyelitis from penetrating trauma or peripheral vascular disease is more common in adults.
Available @ StudentConsult.comLimp Knee Pain Extremity Pain Stiff or Painful Neck Fever without a Source Fever of Unknown Origin
The most common presenting complaints are focal pain, exquisite point tenderness over the bone, warmth, erythema, and swelling. Fever, anorexia, irritability, and lethargy may accompany the focal findings. Weight bearing and active and passive motion of the affected extremity are decreased, mimicking paralysis (pseudoparalysis). Muscle spasm may make the extremity difficult to examine. The adjacent joint space may be involved in young children, suggested by pain with minimal joint range of motion (see Chapter 118).
Usually only one bone is involved. The femur, tibia, or humerus is affected in approximately two thirds of patients. Approximately 15% of cases involve the bones of the hands or feet, and 10% involve the pelvis. Vertebral osteomyelitis is notable for an insidious onset, vague symptoms, backache, occasional spinal cord compression, and, usually, little associated fever or systemic toxicity. Patients with osteomyelitis of the pelvis may present with fever, limp, and vague abdominal, hip, groin, or thigh pain. Pyomyositis of pelvic muscles may mimic osteomyelitis.
The presence of leukocytosis is inconsistent. Blood cultures are important but are negative in many cases. Elevated acute phase reactants, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein (CRP), are sensitive but nonspecific findings. Serial determinations of ESR and CRP are helpful in monitoring the course of the illness and response to treatment. Direct subperiosteal or metaphyseal needle aspiration definitively establishes the diagnosis. Identification of bacteria in aspirated material by Gram stain can establish the diagnosis within hours of clinical presentation.
Plain radiographs can demonstrate soft tissue swelling such as the loss of the periosteal fat line within the first 3 days of symptoms, but bony lesions such as periosteal elevation and bone destruction are absent until after 10 to 14 days of symptoms (Fig. 117-2). Brodie abscess is a subacute intraosseous abscess that does not drain into the subperiosteal space and is classically located in the distal tibia. Sequestra, portions of
Figure 117-2 Multifocal acute osteomyelitis in a 3-week-old infant with multiple joint swelling and generalized malaise. Frontal (A) and lateral (B) radiographs of the left knee show focal destruction of the distal femoral metaphysis with periosteal reaction and generalized soft tissue swelling. Frontal (C) and lateral (D) views of the right knee show an area of focal bone destruction at the distal femoral metaphysis with periosteal reaction and medial soft tissue swelling. Needle aspiration of multiple sites revealed Staphylococcus aureus. (From Moffett KS, Aronoff SC: Osteomyelitis. In Jenson HB, Baltimore RS, editors: Pediatric Infectious Diseases: Principles and Practice, ed 2, Philadelphia, 2002, Saunders, p 1038.) avascular bone that have separated from adjacent bone, frequently are covered with a thickened sheath, or involucrum, both of which are hallmarks of chronic osteomyelitis.
Radionuclide scanning for osteomyelitis has largely been supplanted by magnetic resonance imaging, which is sensitive to the inflammatory marrow changes even during the earliest stages of osteomyelitis. Technetium-99m bone scans are useful for identifying multifocal disease. Gallium-67 scans are often positive if the technetium-99m bone scan is negative.
Osteomyelitis must be differentiated from infectious arthritis (see Chapter 118), cellulitis, pyomyositis, fasciitis, diskitis, trauma, juvenile idiopathic arthritis, bone cysts, histiocytosis, and malignancy.
Available @ StudentConsult.comInitial antibiotic therapy for osteomyelitis is based on the likely organism for the age of the child, Gram stain of bone aspirate, and associated diseases (Table 117-1). Initial therapy includes an antibiotic that targets S. aureus and Kingella, such as oxacillin or nafcillin. Clindamycin or vancomycin should be used if methicillin-resistant S. aureus is suspected based on patient factors or local S. aureus epidemiology. For patients with sickle cell disease, initial therapy should include an antibiotic with activity against Salmonella.
Kingella kingae Penicillin G, oxacillin, or cefotaxime *Optimal specific therapy is based on susceptibilities of the organism that is isolated.
Response to intravenous (IV) antibiotics usually occurs within 48 hours. Lack of improvement after 48 hours indicates that surgical drainage may be necessary or that an unusual pathogen may be present. Surgical drainage is indicated for extensive or severe disease, if the disease is chronic or atypical, the hip joint is involved, or sequestrum or spinal cord compression is present. Antibiotics are administered for a minimum of 4 to 6 weeks. After initial inpatient treatment and adequate clinical response, including decreases in CRP or ESR, transition to home therapy with oral or IV antibiotics may be considered if adherence is ensured.
Complications of acute osteomyelitis are uncommon and usually arise because of inadequate or delayed therapy or concomitant bacteremia. Vascular insufficiency, which affects delivery of antibiotics, and trauma are associated with higher rates of complications.
Hematogenous osteomyelitis has an excellent prognosis if treated promptly and if surgical drainage is performed when appropriate. The poorest outcomes are in neonates and in infants with involvement of the hip or shoulder joints (see Chapter 118). Approximately 2% to 4% of acute infections recur despite adequate therapy, and approximately 25% of these fail to respond to extensive surgical debridement and prolonged antimicrobial therapy, ultimately resulting in bone loss, sinus tract formation, or amputation (although rare). Sequelae related to skeletal growth disturbance are most common with neonatal osteomyelitis.
There are no effective means to prevent hematogenous S. aureus osteomyelitis. Universal immunization of infants with conjugate Haemophilus influenzae type b vaccine has practically eliminated serious bacterial infections from this organism, including bone and joint infections.
Children with puncture wounds to the foot should receive prompt irrigation, cleansing, debridement, removal of any visible foreign body or debris, and tetanus prophylaxis. The value of oral prophylactic antibiotics for preventing osteomyelitis after penetrating injury is uncertain.
Infectious arthritis (suppurative or septic arthritis) is a serious bacterial infection of the joint space resulting from hematogenous dissemination of bacteria. Infectious arthritis less often results from contiguous spread of infection from surrounding soft tissues or direct inoculation into the joint (penetrating trauma). Spread of osteomyelitis into the joint space is more common in children under 18 months of age and occurs via organisms passing through transphyseal vessels to the epiphysis (see Fig. 117-1A). The bacteria causing infectious arthritis are similar to bacteria causing osteomyelitis (Table 118-1). Lyme disease also may cause arthritis (see Chapter 122).
The arthritis of disseminated gonococcal infectionsincludes both reactive and suppurative forms in early and late gonococcal disease, respectively. With untreated genital infection, gonococcemia may occur with fever and a polyarticular, symmetric arthritis and rash, known as the arthritis-dermatitis syndrome. Bacterial cultures of the synovium are sterile at this stage, despite a relatively high prevalence of bacteremia. Monarticular arthritis of large, weight-bearing joints develops
S. aureus Anaerobic bacteria Streptococcus pneumoniae Pseudomonas aeruginosa Group A streptococci Enterobacteriaceae Kingella kingae Haemophilus influenzae type b*
N. gonorrhoeae Mycobacterium tuberculosis *The incidence of invasive infections caused by H. influenzae type b has diminished greatly with universal childhood Hib vaccination.
days to weeks later. Cultures of affected synovial fluid at this stage often yield the pathogen.
Reactive arthritis is immune-mediated synovial inflammation that follows a bacterial or viral infection, especially Yersinia and other enteric infections. Reactive arthritis of the hip joints in children 3 to 6 years of age is known as toxic or transient synovitis (see Chapter 200).
Infectious arthritis occurs most commonly in children younger than 5 years of age and adolescents.
Available @ StudentConsult.comThe typical features of suppurative arthritis include monarticular involvement with erythema, warmth, swelling, and tenderness over the affected joint with a palpable effusion
Normal Clear, yellow 0–200 (200)* <10 Good No difference —
Trauma Clear, turbid, or 50–4000 (600) <30 Good No difference Common in hemorrhagic
LE, Lupus erythematosus; PMN, polymorphonuclear cell; PPD, purified protein derivative of tuberculin; WBC, white blood cell.
*Average in parentheses.and markedly decreased range of movement. The onset may be sudden or insidious with symptoms noted when the joint is moved only, such as during a diaper change, or if parents become aware of decreased voluntary movement of a joint or limb. Toddlers may exhibit a limp or refuse to walk. In septic arthritis of the hip, the lower limb may be preferentially held in external rotation and flexion to minimize pain from pressure on the joint capsule. Similarly the knee and elbow joints usually are held in flexion. The joints of the lower extremity are most often involved: the knees (40%), the hips (20%), and the ankles (14%). Small joints, such as those of the hand, usually are involved after penetrating trauma or closed fist injuries.
Minor genital tract symptoms that have been ignored may precede development of the early arthritis-dermatitis syndrome associated with disseminated gonococcal infection. A history of febrile illness antedating the development of monarticular arthritis characterizes late gonococcal arthritis.
Reactive arthritis is typically symmetric, polyarticular, and usually involves the large joints, especially the hips. Patients may have had a preceding episode of gastroenteritis or urethritis. Urethritis may appear with the arthritis.
Leukocytosis and an elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein (CRP) are common. Arthrocentesis is important to distinguish among the causes of arthritis (Table 118-2). Adolescents with acute infectious arthritis should have urethral, cervical, rectal, and pharyngeal examinations and cultures or nucleic acid amplification tests performed for Neisseria gonorrhoeae.
Blood or joint cultures are positive in approximately 50% of cases. Joint fluid that exhibits the characteristics of pyogenic infection may not reveal bacterial pathogens, even in the absence of preceding antibiotic therapy, because of the bacteriostatic effects of synovial fluid. Gram stain, acid-fast stain, and potassium hydroxide preparation for fungi should be performed and are often informative even if the cultures are negative.
Plain radiographs typically add little information to the physical findings. Radiographs may show swelling of the joint capsule, a widened joint space, and displacement of adjacent normal fat lines. Radionuclide scans are of limited use, although magnetic resonance imaging or technetium-99m bone scans may be helpful to exclude concurrent bone infection or deep abscesses. Ultrasound is especially useful for identifying joint effusions and is the initial diagnostic procedure of choice for evaluation of suppurative infections of the hip.
The differential diagnosis of infectious arthritis in infants, children, and adolescents includes other infectious diseases, autoimmune disorders, rheumatic fever, and trauma.
Suppurative arthritis must be distinguished from Lyme disease, osteomyelitis, suppurative bursitis, fasciitis, myositis, cellulitis, and soft tissue abscesses. Psoas muscle abscess often presents with fever and pain on hip flexion and rotation. Juvenile idiopathic arthritis, Kawasaki disease, Henoch-Schönlein purpura, other rheumatic disorders, and Crohn’s disease must be differentiated from infectious arthritis. In most of these diseases, the presence of symmetric or multiple joint involvement
Infants (younger Group B Ampicillin plus than 2 months of streptococci aminoglycoside age)
Staphylococcus Nafcillin (or oxacillin), aureus vancomycinOlder infants and S. aureus Nafcillin (or oxacillin), childrenKingella kingae Penicillin G, nafcillin (or oxacillin) or cefotaximeNeisseria Ceftriaxone gonorrhoeae: *The incidence of invasive infections caused by H. influenzae type b has diminished greatly with universal childhood Hib vaccination.
often excludes infectious arthritis. Suppurative bursitis with Staphylococcus aureus occurs most often in older boys and men and is usually a consequence of trauma or, less commonly, a complication of bacteremia.
Initial antibiotic therapy for infectious arthritis is based on the likely organism for the age of the child and the Gram stain of joint fluid. Suppurative arthritis of the hip joint, especially, or shoulder joint necessitates prompt surgical drainage. With insertion of the joint capsule below the epiphysis in these balland-socket joints, increased pressure in the joint space can adversely affect the vascular supply to the head of the femur or humerus, leading to avascular necrosis. Infections of the knee may be treated with repeated arthrocenteses, in addition to appropriate parenteral antibiotics.
Several antimicrobial agents provide adequate antibiotic levels in joint spaces (Table 118-3). Initial therapy for neonates should include antibiotics with activity against S. aureus, group B streptococcus, and aerobic gram-negative rods, such as nafcillin and cefotaxime. Initial therapy for children 3 months to 5 years old should include antibiotics with activity against S. aureus. Addition of appropriate antibiotics should be considered if the child is unimmunized against Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib). Confirmed methicillin-susceptible S. aureus infections are best treated with nafcillin or oxacillin, and methicillin-resistant S. aureus infections are best treated with clindamycin, if susceptible, or vancomycin otherwise.
The duration of therapy depends on clinical resolution offever and pain and decline of the ESR and CRP. Infectionwith virulent organisms, such as S. aureus, usually necessitates treatment for at least 21 days. Treatment may bechanged to oral antibiotics if adherence can be ensured. Oral agents with excellent activity against S. aureus that are often used to complete therapy include cephalexin, clindamycin,amoxicillin-clavulanate, dicloxacillin, and ciprofloxacin (forpatients >18 years).
The prognosis for the common forms of infectious arthritis encountered in infants and children is excellent. The major complications of neonatal, childhood, and gonococcal arthritis are loss of joint function resulting from damage to the articular surface. The highest incidence of these complications occurs with hip and shoulder infections, presumably resulting from avascular necrosis. The high incidence of concurrent suppurative arthritis with adjacent osteomyelitis in neonates places the epiphyseal growth plate at high risk for growth abnormalities. Neonates with osteomyelitis have an approximately 40% to 50% likelihood of growth disturbances with loss of longitudinal bone growth and ultimate limb shortening.
There are no effective means to prevent hematogenousS. aureus arthritis. Universal immunization of infants with conjugate Hib vaccine has practically eliminated serious bacterial infections from this organism, including bone and joint infections.
Acute conjunctivitis is usually a bacterial or viral infection of the eye characterized by a rapid onset of symptoms that persist for a few days. Nontypable Haemophilus influenzae, Streptococcus pneumoniae, and Moraxella catarrhalis account for approximately two thirds of bacterial causes (Table 1191). Other causes include Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which is associated with extended-wear soft contact lenses. Viral conjunctivitis most commonly is caused by adenoviruses, which cause epidemic keratoconjunctivitis, and less frequently by coxsackieviruses and other enteroviruses. Keratitis, or inflammation of the cornea, is not commonly associated with conjunctivitis but occurs with N. gonorrhoeae, herpes simplex virus (HSV), and adenovirus infections.
Neonatal conjunctivitis, or ophthalmia neonatorum, is purulent conjunctivitis during the first month of life, usually acquired during birth. The common causes of neonatal conjunctivitis, in order of decreasing prevalence, are chemical conjunctivitis secondary to silver nitrate gonococcal prophylaxis, Chlamydia trachomatis, common bacterial causes of conjunctivitis, Escherichia coli, other gram-negative enteric bacilli, HSV, and N. gonorrhoeae.
Conjunctivitis is common in young children, especially if they come in contact with other children with conjunctivitis. Predisposing factors for bacterial infection include nasolacrimal duct obstruction, sinus disease, ear infection, and allergic disease when children rub their eyes frequently. Conjunctivitis occurs in 1% to 12% of neonates. A mild to moderate chemical conjunctivitis commonly is present from 24 to 48 hours of age in most newborns who receive ophthalmic silver nitrate as gonococcal prophylaxis. Approximately 50% of infants born vaginally to infected mothers have neonatal acquisition of C. trachomatis, in which the risk of chlamydial conjunctivitis (inclusion conjunctivitis) is 25% to 50%.
Available @ StudentConsult.comSymptoms include redness, discharge, matted eyelids, and mild photophobia. Physical examination findings include chemosis, injection of the conjunctiva, and edema of the eyelids. Corneal involvement suggests gonococcal or herpetic infection. Herpetic corneal lesions appear as dendritic or ameboid ulcers or, more commonly, in recurrent infection, as a deep keratitis. Unilateral conjunctivitis with ipsilateral otitis media is often caused by nontypable H. influenzae.
The timing and manifestations of neonatal conjunctivitis are helpful in identifying the cause (Table 119-2). N. gonorrhoeaecauses severe conjunctivitis with profuse purulent discharge. Chlamydial conjunctivitis usually occurs in the second week of life but may appear 3 days to 6 weeks after delivery. There is mild to moderate inflammation with purulent discharge issuing from one or both eyes.
Cultures are not routinely obtained because bacterial conjunctivitis is usually self-limited or responds quickly to topical antibiotic treatment. If gonococcal conjunctivitis is suspected, especially in neonates, Gram stain and culture must be obtained. In these infants, blood and other sites of infection (such as cerebrospinal fluid) should be cultured. Additional testing for Chlamydia, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and syphilis should be performed on the mother and infant as necessary as well.
Distinguishing bacterial from viral conjunctivitis by presentation and appearance is difficult (see Table 119-1). Vesicular lid lesions, if present, suggest HSV. Hyperpurulent conjunctivitis characterized by reaccumulation of purulent discharge within minutes is characteristic of N. gonorrhea infection. The differential diagnosis is delineated in Table 119-3.
Blepharitis is associated with staphylococcal infections, seborrhea, and meibomian gland dysfunction. The child complains of photophobia, burning, irritation, and a foreign body sensation that causes the child to rub the eyes. Eyelid hygiene with an eyelid scrub routine is the initial step in treatment.
Hordeola are acute suppurative nodular inflammatory lesions of the eyelids associated with pain and redness. External hordeola or styes occur on the anterior eyelid, in the Zeis glands, or in the lash follicles and usually are caused by staphylococci. Internal hordeola occur in the meibomian glands and may be infected with staphylococci or may be sterile. If the meibomian gland becomes obstructed, the gland secretions accumulate, and a chalazion develops. Hordeola usually respond spontaneously to local treatment measures but may recur.
Dacryocystitis is an infection or inflammation of the lacrimal sac, which is usually obstructed, and is most commonly caused by Staphylococcus aureus or coagulase-negative staphylococci. A mucopurulent discharge can be expressed with
Chemical: silverVariable (1%), Watery discharge 1–3 days No organisms on None None nitrate depending on use smear or culture of silver nitrate
CSF, Cerebrospinal fluid; DIF, direct immunofluorescence; HSV, herpes simplex virus; PCR, polymerase chain reaction.
Bacterial conjunctivitis Haemophilus influenzae, Mucopurulent unilateral or Topical antibiotics, parenteral Haemophilus aegyptius, bilateral discharge, normal ceftriaxone for gonococcus Streptococcus pneumoniae, vision, photophobia, conjunctival Neisseria gonorrhoeae injection and edema (chemosis);
Viral conjunctivitis Adenovirus, echovirus, Same as for bacterial infection; Self-limited coxsackievirus may be hemorrhagic, unilateral
Posterior uveitis (choroiditis) Toxoplasmosis, histoplasmosis, No signs of erythema, decreased Specific therapy for pathogen Toxocara canis vision
Table 119-3 Differential Diagnosis of Ocular Infections—cont’d CONDITION ETIOLOGIC AGENTS SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS TREATMENT Episcleritis/scleritis Idiopathic autoimmune disease (e.g., SLE, Henoch-Schönlein purpura) Localized pain, intense erythema, unilateral; blood vessels bigger than in conjunctivitis; scleritis may cause globe perforation Episcleritis is self-limiting; topical steroids for fast relief
Foreign body Occupational or other exposure Unilateral, red, gritty feeling; Irrigation, removal; check for visible or microscopic size ulceration
CMV, Cytomegalovirus; EBV, Epstein-Barr virus; JIA, juvenile idiopathic arthritis; SLE, systemic lupus erythematosus.
gentle pressure on the nasolacrimal sac. Treatment usually requires probing of the nasolacrimal system to establish communication.
Endophthalmitis is an emergent, sight-threatening infection that usually follows trauma, surgery, or hematogenous spread from a distant focus. Causative organisms include coagulase-negative staphylococci, S. aureus, S. pneumoniae, Bacillus cereus, and Candida albicans. Examination is difficult because of severe blepharospasm and extreme photophobia. A hypopyon and haze may be visible on examination.
The lids should be treated as needed with warm compresses to remove accumulated discharge. Acute bacterial conjunctivitis is frequently self-limited, but topical antibiotics hasten resolution. Antibiotics are instilled between the eyelids four times a day until the discharge and chemosis subside. Recommended treatment includes topical trimethoprim-polymyxin B solution, sulfacetamide 5% solution, or erythromycin ointment. Ciprofloxacin solution should be restricted to corneal infections and resistant gram-negative infections in hospitalized patients. Gonococcal conjunctivitis in adults is treated with a single intramuscular (IM) dose of ceftriaxone (1 g) plus azithromycin (to treat possible concomitant chlamydial infection).
The treatment of ophthalmia neonatorum depends on the cause (see Table 119-2). Gonococcal ophthalmia neonatorum is treated with a single dose of ceftriaxone (25 to 50 mg/kg intravenous [IV] or IM; maximum dose 125 mg). These infants should be hospitalized. Antibiotic treatment also is recommended for newborns to mothers with untreated gonorrhea. Chlamydial conjunctivitis is treated with oral erythromycin for 14 days, partly to reduce the risk of subsequent chlamydial pneumonia.
The prognosis for bacterial and viral conjunctivitis is excellent. The major complication is keratitis, which can lead to ulcerations and perforation, and is uncommon except with N. gonorrhoeae and HSV infections. Chlamydial conjunctivitis may progress in infants to chlamydial pneumonia, which typically develops from 4 to 12 weeks of age (see Chapter 110).
Careful hand washing is important to prevent spread of conjunctivitis. Bacterial conjunctivitis is considered contagious for 24 hours after initiating effective treatment. Children may return to school, but treatment measures must be continued until there is complete clinical resolution.
All newborns, whether delivered vaginally or by cesarean section, should receive prophylaxis for gonococcal ophthalmia neonatorum as soon as possible after delivery. Silver nitrate 1% is used frequently but usually causes a chemical conjunctivitis. Alternative methods are equally effective and less irritating and include a single application of erythromycin 0.5% ointment or tetracycline 1% ointment.
Many diseases or their treatments adversely affect the immune system, including genetic immunodeficiencies, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), cancer, stem cell and organ transplantation, and immunosuppressive drugs used to treat cancer, autoimmune diseases, and transplant patients. These patients are at significant risk of life-threatening infections from invasive endogenous infection from bacterial or fungal flora of the oropharynx, skin, and gastrointestinal tract, acquisition of exogenous infection from infected persons, and reactivation of latent infections until immune function recovers (Table 120-1).
The infections seen in immunocompromised persons canoften be predicted by which component of the immune system isabnormal, and the evaluation of fever in immunocompromisedhosts differs. Episodes of fever and neutropenia, defined as an absolute neutrophil count of less than 500/mm3 neutrophilsand bands, are especially common in cancer and transplant patients and increase risk for bacterial and fungal infections. The use of corticosteroids and potent immunosuppressive drugs that impair the activation of T lymphocytes increases the risk for pathogens normally controlled by T cell–mediated responses, such as Pneumocystis jiroveci and Toxoplasma gondii, and intracellular pathogens, such as Salmonella, Listeria, and Mycobacterium.
Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonasaeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and coagulase-negativestaphylococci are the most commonly identified bacterialpathogens in immunocompromised persons. Central indwelling catheters often are associated with infections caused bycoagulase-negative staphylococci, S. aureus, gram-negative bacteria, Enterococcus, and Candida.
Fungal pathogens account for approximately 10% of all infections associated with childhood cancer. Candida causes 60% of all fungal infections, with Aspergillus as the second most common pathogen. Other risk factors for fungal infections include oropharyngeal and gastrointestinal mucositis
Clostridium difficile Candida spp. Cystoisospora belli EchovirusesEnterobacter cloacae Fusarium spp. Septata intestinalis Human herpes virus 6
Chapter 120 u Infection in the Immunocompromised Person 391 facilitating systemic fungal invasion, presence of long-term indwelling intravascular catheters, extreme prematurity, and broad-spectrum antibacterial therapy that promotes fungal colonization as a precursor to infection.
Infection with T. gondii represents reactivation of quiescent infection facilitated by cancer-associated or therapy-associated cellular immunodeficiency. P. jirovecii primarily causes pneumonitis in patients with leukemia, lymphoma, HIV or those on long-term corticosteroids, but can also cause extrapulmonary disease (sinusitis, otitis media).
Viral opportunistic infections in patients with cancer usually represent symptomatic reactivation from latency facilitated by cancer-associated or therapy-associated cellular immunodeficiency. Herpes simplex virus (HSV) can cause severe and prolonged mucocutaneous infection or disseminated disease. Cytomegalovirus (CMV) can cause focal disease in immunocompromised persons, especially in stem cell transplant patients. Manifestations of CMV disease include hepatitis, pneumonitis, esophagitis, encephalitis, and enteritis with gastrointestinal ulcerations. Reactivation of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is associated with posttransplant lymphoproliferative disorder. Varicella zoster virus (VZV) can cause serious primary infection in susceptible persons, often with accompanying encephalitis, hepatitis, or, most ominously, pneumonitis. Zoster also can reactivate during chemotherapy and may be disseminated.
Chemotherapeutic agents target rapidly dividing cells, especially myeloproliferative cells, which cause myelosuppression.Children receiving allogeneic transplants are at greater riskfor infection than children receiving autologous transplants.Prolonged time to hematologic engraftment is a significantrisk factor for infection in these patients. Children receiving stem cell or organ transplants have significantly greaterimmunosuppression as a consequence of the myeloablative conditioning regimens. Foreign bodies (shunts, centralvenous catheters) interfere with cutaneous barriers againstinfection and together with neutropenia or immunosuppression increase the risk of bacterial or fungal infections (seeChapter 121).
The relative rate of infection in patients with cancer at admission or during hospitalization is 10% to 15%. The most frequently infected sites, in descending order, are the respiratory tract, the bloodstream, surgical wounds, and the urinary tract.
Available @ StudentConsult.comFever is the most common, and sometimes the only, presenting symptom of serious infection in cancer and transplant patients. The presence of fever with neutropenia, even in the absence of other signs or symptoms, demands prompt evaluation because of the potential for life-threatening infection. Despite being immunocompromised, these patients develop fever and some typical signs and symptoms associated with infections. All symptoms and signs should be evaluated thoroughly. However, some symptoms may be absent based on the underlying immunodeficiency. For example, in the absence of neutrophils to contain and induce localized signs of inflammation, determination of the source of infection by physical examination is often difficult. Chest findings may be absent, despite pneumonia, and revealed only by chest radiograph at presentation or when the neutrophil count recovers.
Assessing fever and neutropenia in immunocompromised persons requires blood cultures for bacterial and fungal pathogens obtained by peripheral venipuncture and from all lumens of any indwelling vascular catheters. A complete blood count with differential, C-reactive protein, complete chemistry panel, culture of urine and Gram staining/culture of potential sites of specific infection found during history and physical should be performed. Antigen tests, especially for serum cryptococcal antigen, should be considered. Chest radiographs are important to assess for the presence of pulmonary infiltrates. Specialized imaging studies, such as the CT or MRI, can be useful in selected cases, such as with suspected sinusitis or intra-abdominal infection, or to further delineate the location and extent of abnormalities seen on plain radiographs. Sinus infection with bacteria, Aspergillus, or Zygomycetes is common in neutropenic hosts and may be detected only on the CT scan.
Initially the patient should have a complete physical examination, including careful scrutiny of the oropharynx, nares, external auditory canals, skin and axilla, groin, perineum, and rectal area. The exit site and subcutaneous tunnel of any indwelling vascular catheter should be examined closely for erythema and palpated for tenderness and expression of purulent material. Perirectal abscess is a potentially serious infection in neutropenic hosts, with tenderness and erythema that may be the only clues to infection. Any presumptive infection identified during the evaluation should direct appropriate cultures and tailor anti-infective therapy.
Treatment should be provided as appropriate for focal infections identified by physical examination or diagnostic imaging. Select low-risk patients may be managed as outpatients. Empirical treatment of fever and neutropenia without an identified source should include an extended-spectrum penicillin or cephalosporin with activity against gram-negative bacilli, including P. aeruginosa, sometimes in combination with an aminoglycoside (Fig. 120-1). If the patient has an indwelling vascular catheter, vancomycin should be added because of the increasing prevalence of methicillin-resistant S. aureus but can be discontinued if S. aureus is not cultured after 48 to 72 hours. Specific antibiotic regimens should be guided by local antibiotic resistance patterns at each institution.
No source of infection identified Empirical anti-infective therapy Fever (38.5C) and neutropenia (granulocytes <500/mm3) Focal infection Specific therapy directed against most likely pathogens
Figure 120-1 Initial management of fever and neutropenia without an identified source in cancer and transplant patients. (From Conrad DA: Patients with cancer. In Jenson HB, Baltimore RS, editors: Pediatric Infectious Diseases: Principles and Practice, ed 2, Philadelphia, 2002, Saunders, p 1161.)
If no microbiologic cause is isolated, empirical broad-treatment with amphotericin B or another antifungal agent spectrum antibiotics are continued as long as the patient is instituted in patients who have neutropenia and persistent remains neutropenic, regardless of whether the fever resolves fever without a focus, despite broad-spectrum antibacterial (Fig. 120-2). Antibiotic therapy should be modified as indi-therapy for approximately 5 days (see Fig. 120-2).cated by new findings or if the patient’s clinical status deterio-The use of recombinant granulocyte colony-stimulating rates. Further investigation for fungal infection and empirical factor or granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor plus Add: If: plus Substitute: If:
Figure 120-2 Continuing management of possible infection after 7 days of fever without an identified source in cancer and transplant patients. (From Conrad DA: Patients with cancer. In Jenson HB, Baltimore RS editors: Pediatric Infectious Diseases: Principles and Practice, ed 2, Philadelphia, 2002, Saunders, p 1165.)
Chapter 120 u Infection in the Immunocompromised Person 393 stimulates neutrophil production by the bone marrow, reduces the duration and severity of neutropenia, and decreases the risk of infection. Some chemotherapeutic protocols for the treatment of solid tumors that result in prolonged neutropenia incorporate hematopoietic cytokine therapy as part of the treatment protocol.
Current guidelines discourage the use of broad-spectrum prophylactic antibiotics to prevent fever and neutropenia becauseof lack of efficacy and concerns about development of antibioticresistance. Administration of trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole to prevent P. jiroveci infection is routine for patients undergoing intensive chemotherapy or immunosuppression for transplantation. Prophylaxis generally is begun with initiation ofanticancer therapy and continued until 6 months after chemotherapy has been completed. In select populations, such aspatients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation,prophylactic antifungals such as fluconazole are beneficial.
Immunocompromised susceptible persons exposed to chickenpox within 2 days before the onset of rash until 5 days after the onset of rash in the index case should receive varicella zoster immune globulin (VZIG). Modified infection after VZIG may not result in protective immunity, and persons who receive VZIG prophylaxis should be considered still at risk with any subsequent exposures.
Infections are a common and important complication of medical devices and are a major part of health care–associated infections (formerly known as nosocomial infections).
Vascular catheters are inserted in most inpatients and used in many outpatients. The use of catheters for long-term access to the bloodstream has been an important advance for the care of persons who require parenteral nutrition, chemotherapy, or extended parenteral antibiotic therapy. The major complication of catheters is infection.
Short, peripheral intravenous (IV) catheters used for short-term access in stable patients are associated with a low rate of infection, especially in children. Peripherally inserted central catheters are commonly used for short-term venous access. Central catheters are commonly placed for extended venous access, such as for chemotherapy, using tunneled silicone elastomer catheters (Broviac or Hickman catheters) that are surgically inserted into a central vein, passed through a
Gram-positive Coagulase-negative Diphtheroids, organisms staphylococci, Bacillus, Staphylococcus Micrococcus aureus, Enterococcus
Gram-negative Escherichia Acinetobacter, organisms coli, Klebsiella, Enterobacter, Pseudomonas Neisseria aeruginosa
Fungi Candida albicans Malassezia furfur, Candida parapsilosis, Candida glabrata, Candida tropicalis subcutaneous tunnel before exiting the skin, and anchored by a subcutaneous cuff. Contamination of the catheter hub or any connection of the IV tubing is common and is a major predisposition to catheter-associated infection. Totally implanted venous access systems (Port-a-Cath, Infuse-a-Port) have a silicone elastomer catheter tunneled beneath the skin to a reservoir implanted in a subcutaneous pocket. Implanted catheters or ports decrease, but do not eliminate, the opportunity for microbial entry at the skin site.
Catheter-related thrombosis and catheter-related infection can develop separately or together. Ultrasound or radiographscan identify thrombi, but infection can be identified by culture only. Thrombophlebitis is inflammation with thrombosis. Septic thrombophlebitis is thrombosis with organisms embedded in the clot. Catheter-related bloodstream infection implies isolation of the same organism from a catheterand from peripheral blood of a patient with clinical symptomsof bacteremia and no other apparent source of infection. Confirmation requires quantitative colony counts of both samples,which is not routinely performed. Possible sources of the bacteremia include the infusate, contamination via tubing and catheter connections, or established infection, which may or maynot be clinically apparent. Infection may appear as an exit site infection limited to the insertion site or may extend along thecatheter tunnel of buried catheters to cause a tunnel infection.
Many microorganisms cause catheter-related infections, most commonly Staphylococcus aureus, coagulase-negative staphylococci, Enterococcus, and Candida (Table 121-1).Gram-positive cocci, primarily staphylococci, cause more than 50% of central venous catheter associated bacteremias and exit site infections. Other skin flora, diphtheroids, and Bacillus are often involved. Gram-negative organisms cause 25% to 40% of infections. Polymicrobial infections of central venous catheters are common. Fungal catheter infections, usually Candida albicans, are most common among persons receiving broad-spectrum antibiotics or parenteral nutrition.
The rates of bloodstream infection of peripheral venous catheters are from 0 to 2 per 1000 catheter-days and for central catheters from less than 2 to 30 per 1000 catheter-days. Risk factors for infection include prematurity, burns and skin disorders that adversely affect the skin integrity, neutropenia, and
Chapter 121 u Infections Associated with Medical Devices 395Tunneled? Tunneled? Hemodynamically unstable or no improvement after 72 hours persistently positive culture or endocarditis/ thrombophlebitis or pocket infection cellulitis AND: NOT TERMINALLY ILL LINE NEEDED? YES1 line >1 line Antibiotic through all lumina consider thrombolytic agents YES NO NO YES NO YES NO NO Insertion easy? REMOVE  THE LINE YES
Figure 121-1 Management of central venous catheter infection.(From De Paw BE, Verweij PE: Infections in patients with hematologic malignancies. In Mandell GL, Bennett JE, Dolin R, editors: Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases, ed 6, Philadelphia, 2005, Churchill Livingstone, Fig. 307-1, p 3434.) other immunodeficiencies (see Chapter 120). Infection rates are lower for tunneled and implanted catheters. Catheters inserted in emergency settings are more likely to be infected than catheters placed electively.
Clinical signs of catheter-associated bacteremia or fungemia range from mild fever to overwhelming sepsis. Infection at the site of the central catheter entrance is manifested as a localized cellulitis with warmth, tenderness, swelling, erythema, and discharge. Tunnel infection is manifested by similar findings along the tunnel route. Peripheral phlebitis or catheter-related infection is classically manifested as a warm, erythematous, tender palpable cord originating at the IV catheter site but may be subclinical or manifested only by fever without signs of local inflammation.
Available @ StudentConsult.comThe treatment of catheter-related infection depends on the site of the infection and the pathogen involved. Catheters that are no longer necessary should be removed if infection is suspected. Catheter-associated bacteremia can be treated with simple catheter removal, removal plus antibiotics, or, in a stable patient, an attempt of antibiotic therapy alone (Fig. 1211). Infection with organisms of low virulence may be manifested by fever alone, and removal of the catheter frequently is followed by prompt defervescence and complete resolution of infection. Empirical initial therapy for suspected infection should include antibiotics active against gram-negative organisms such as a broad-spectrum cephalosporin, and against
S. aureus and coagulase-negative staphylococci such as oxacillin, nafcillin, or vancomycin. Antibiotic regimens should be tailored to the specific organism identified. Eradication of infection can be accomplished without removal of the central line in 89% of uncomplicated bacteremic infections, 94% of exit site infections, and 25% of tunnel infections. If the patient is not critically ill and the pathogen is likely to be susceptible to antibiotic therapy, a trial of antibiotics is given through the infected catheter. The total duration of therapy depends on the pathogen and the duration of positive cultures and is usually 10 to 14 days after sterilization of the bloodstream. Catheter removal is indicated with sepsis, septic thrombophlebitis, clinical deterioration (despite appropriate therapy), persistently positive blood culture results after 48 to 72 hours of appropriate antimicrobial therapy, embolic lesions, or fungal infection because of poor response to antifungal therapy alone (see Fig. 121-1). Infection of the pocket around an implanted port is unlikely to respond to antibiotics, and removal of the foreign body is usually necessary.
Antibiotic-lock is a method of sterilizing intravascular catheters by using high concentrations of antibiotics infused into the portion of the catheter between the hub and the vessel entry. The solution is allowed to dwell within the catheter segment for several hours. It also may be useful for treatment of catheter-associated infections and for prevention of infection.
Aseptic technique is essential during catheter insertion. Catheters that are placed during emergency situations should be replaced as soon as medically feasible. Care of indwelling catheters involves meticulous attention to sterile technique whenever the system is entered. Care of the catheter entry site commonly involves a topical antibiotic or disinfectant. Catheters that are no longer necessary should be removed.
Intubation of the airway provides direct access to the lungs and bypasses normal host defenses. Organisms enter the lungs directly through the lumen of the tube or by descending around the tube, which may result in ventilator-associated pneumonia. Contaminated respiratory equipment, humidification systems, or condensate introduces bacteria directly into lower airways. The continuously open upper airway increases the risk of aspiration of oropharyngeal flora and reflux of gastric contents and interferes with clearance of the airway by coughing because an effective cough requires a closed glottis. Suctioning of the upper respiratory tract or mouth requires clean technique but does not require aseptic technique. Suction catheters that reach the lower airways must be sterile and usually are designed for single use.
The most important risk factors for urinary tract infections (UTIs) are the presence of catheters, instrumentation, and anatomic abnormalities (see Chapter 114). Organisms enter the bladder through the catheter by instillation of contaminated irrigation fluids, backflow of contaminated urine from the drainage bag, or ascent of bacteria around the meatus along the outside of the catheter. Indwelling catheters facilitate direct access to the bladder and should have a closed drainage system. After simple, straight catheterization, the incidence of UTI is 1% to 2%. Organisms that cause catheter-associated UTIs include fecal flora, such as gram-negative enteric bacilli, most commonly Escherichia coli, and Enterococcus. With concomitant antibiotic treatment, resistant organisms predominate, and fungi emerge as pathogens.
The most important aspect of prevention is to minimize the duration and use of catheterization. Intermittent catheterization is preferred over indwelling catheter drainage whenever feasible. Insertion of catheters must be performed with aseptic technique, and the drainage system must remain closed at all times, with sterile technique used whenever the system is entered. Drainage bags always should be dependent to avoid backflow of urine into the bladder.
Indwelling catheters used for peritoneal dialysis may develop exit site infections, tunnel infections, or lead to peritonitis. The usual route of infection is from the skin surface along the tunnel and into the peritoneum. The most common pathogens are skin flora, including Staphylococcus; organisms that contaminate water, such as Pseudomonas and Acinetobacter; enteric flora, such as E. coli and Klebsiella; and fungi, such as
C. albicans. Peritonitis may present with fever, vague abdominal pain, and cloudy dialysate. The diagnosis is established on clinical manifestations and confirmed by culture of the dialysate. Prevention of infection requires careful planning of the location of the exit site to minimize contamination, aseptic insertion of the catheter, meticulous care of the catheter site, securing of the catheter to avoid tension and motion, and aseptic technique during dialysis.
Important risk factors of health care–associated central nervous system infections are surgery, ventriculoperitoneal shunts, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leaks. Infection of ventriculoperitoneal shunts results from contamination of the system at the time of placement or from hematogenous seeding. Externalized ventricular drains and subdural bolts allow direct access of skin flora to the CSF. For these devices, the rates of infection increase with the duration of catheterization, especially beyond 5 days.
The most common pathogens causing shunt infections are coagulase-negative staphylococci and S. aureus. After skull fracture or cranial surgery, a CSF fistula leak may facilitate ascending infection from the nasopharynx, especially with Streptococcus pneumoniae, which frequently colonizes the nasopharynx. Patients with shunt infections may present with only fever and headache, or may present with typical signs and symptoms of meningitis (see Chapter 100). Infections caused by coagulase-negative staphylococci typically present with insidious onset of fever, malaise, headache, and vomiting. Empirical therapy is with vancomycin, with additional antibiotics if gram-negative bacteria are suspected.
Antibiotics frequently are used perioperatively during placement of shunts and other neurosurgical procedures. There is no proof that antibiotics decrease infection rates in these clean procedures. External ventricular drains should be maintained as closed systems with aseptic technique and removed as soon as possible. Drainage bags always should be dependent to avoid backflow.
Zoonoses are infections that are transmitted in nature between vertebrate animals and humans. Many zoonotic pathogens are maintained in nature by means of an enzootic cycle, in which mammalian hosts and arthropod vectors reinfect each other. Humans frequently are only incidentally infected. Of the more than 150 different human zoonotic diseases that have been described (Table 122-1), Lyme disease (Borrelia burgdorferi)accounts for 90% of reported vector-borne infections in the United States. Other common pathogens include Rickettsia rickettsii (Rocky Mountain spotted fever), ehrlichiosis (Ehrlichia chaffeensis), West Nile virus, and anaplasmosis (Anaplasma phagocytophilum). The epidemiology of zoonoses is related to the geographic distribution of the hosts and, if vector-borne, the distribution and seasonal life cycle of the vector.
Many zoonoses are spread by ticks including Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, ehrlichiosis, tularemia, tick typhus,and babesiosis. Mosquitoes transmit the arboviral encephalitides (see Chapter 101), dengue fever, malaria, and yellow fever. Preventive measures to avoid tick-borne and mosquito-borne diseases include using insect repellants that contain DEET (N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide) on skin and insect repellants that contain permethrin on clothing; avoiding tick-infested habitats(thick scrub oak, briar, poison ivy sites); avoiding excretory products of wild animals; wearing appropriate protective clothing(closed-toe shoes, long pants, etc.); and promptly removing ticks.
Ticks are best removed using blunt forceps or tweezers to grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible to pull the tick steadily outward. Squeezing, twisting, or crushing the tick should be avoided because the tick’s bloated abdomen can act like a syringe if squeezed. Transmission of infection seems to bemost efficient after 30 to 36 hours of nymphal tick attachment forhuman granulocytic ehrlichiosis, after 36 to 48 hours for B. burgdorferi, and after 56 to 60 hours for Babesia. Prophylactic antimicrobial therapy after a tick bite or exposure is not recommended.
Lyme disease is a tick-borne infection caused by the spirochete, B. burgdorferi. The vector in the eastern and midwestern United States is Ixodes scapularis, the black-legged tick that is commonly known as the deer tick. The vector on the Pacific Coast is Ixodes pacificus, the western black-legged tick. Ticks usually become infected by feeding on the white-footed mouse (Peromyscus leucopus), which is a natural reservoir for B. burgdorferi. The larvae are dormant over winter and emerge the following spring in the nymphal stage, the stage of the tick that is most likely to transmit the infection to humans.
Over 20,000 cases are reported annually in the United States, with 96% of cases reported from New England, the eastern parts of the Middle Atlantic states, and the upper Midwest
Figure 122-1 The geographic distribution of 24,364 confirmed cases of Lyme disease in the United States in 2011. The risk for acquiring Lyme disease varies by the distribution of Ixodes scapularis and Ixodes pacificas, the proportion of infected ticks for each species at each stage of the tick’s life cycle, and the presence of grassy or wooded locations favored by white-tailed deer. (From Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Lyme Disease—United States, 2011, available from the CDC website: http://www.cdc.gov/lyme/stats/ maps/map2011.html (Fig. 122-1). In Europe most cases occur in Scandinavian countries and central Europe. Because exposure to ticks is more common in warm months, Lyme disease is noted predominantly in summer. The incidence is highest among children 5 to 10 years old, at almost twice the incidence among adolescents and adults.
Available @ StudentConsult.comThe clinical manifestations are divided into early and late stages. Early infection may be localized or disseminated. Early localized disease develops 7 to 14 days after a tick bite as the site forms an erythematous papule that expands to form a red, raised border, often with central clearing. The lesion, erythema migrans, harbors B. burgdorferi and may be 15 cm wide, pruritic, or painful. Systemic manifestations may include malaise, lethargy, fever, headache, arthralgias, stiff neck, myalgias, and lymphadenopathy. The skin lesions and early manifestations resolve without treatment over 2 to 4 weeks. Not all patients with Lyme disease recall a tick bite or develop erythema migrans.
Approximately 20% of patients develop early disseminated disease with multiple secondary skin lesions, aseptic meningitis, pseudotumor, papilledema, cranioneuropathies including Bell palsy, polyradiculitis, peripheral neuropathy, mononeuritis multiplex, or transverse myelitis. Carditis with various degrees of heart block rarely may develop during this stage. Neurologic manifestations usually resolve by 3 months but may recur or become chronic.
Late disease begins weeks to months after infection. Arthritis is the usual manifestation and may develop in 50% to 60% of untreated patients. The male to female ratio is 7:1. The knee is involved in greater than 90% of cases, but any joint may be affected. Symptoms may resolve over 1 to 2 weeks but often recur in other joints. If untreated most cases resolve, but chronic erosive arthritis persists in 10% of patients as the episodes increase in duration and severity. Cardiac abnormalities occur in approximately 10% of untreated patients. Neuroborreliosis, the late manifestations of Lyme disease involving the central nervous system (CNS), is rarely reported in children.
Antibody tests during early, localized Lyme disease may be negative and are not useful. The diagnosis of late disease is confirmed by serologic tests specific for B. burgdorferi. Thesensitivity and specificity of serologic tests for Lyme disease vary substantially. A positive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay or immunofluorescence assay result must be confirmed by immunoblot showing antibodies against at least either two to three (for IgM) or five (for IgG) proteins of B. burgdorferi(at least one of which is one of the more specific, low-molecular-weight, outer-surface proteins).
In late disease, the erythrocyte sedimentation rate is elevated and complement may be reduced. The joint fluid shows an inflammatory response with total white blood cell count of 25,000 to 125,000 cells/mm3, often with a polymorphonuclear predominance (see Table 118-2). The rheumatoid factor and antinuclear antibody are negative, but the Venereal Disease Research Laboratory test may be falsely positive. With CNS involvement, the cerebrospinal fluid shows a lymphocytic pleocytosis with normal glucose and slightly elevated protein.
A history of a tick bite and the classic rash is helpful but is not always present. Erythema migrans of early, localized disease may be confused with nummular eczema, tinea corporis, granuloma annulare, an insect bite, or cellulitis. Southern tick-associated rash illness, which is similar to erythema migrans, occurs in southeastern and south central states and is associated with the bite of Amblyomma americanum, the lone star tick, and infection with Borrelia lonestari.
During early, disseminated Lyme disease, multiple lesions may appear as erythema multiforme or urticaria. The aseptic meningitis is similar to viral meningitis, and the seventh nerve palsy is indistinguishable from herpetic or idiopathic Bell palsy. Lyme carditis is similar to viral myocarditis. Monarticular or pauciarticular arthritis of late Lyme disease may mimic suppurative arthritis, juvenile idiopathic arthritis, or rheumatic fever (see Chapter 89). The differential diagnosis of neuroborreliosis includes degenerative neurologic illness, encephalitis, and depression.
Early localized disease and early disseminated disease, including facial nerve palsy (or other cranial nerve palsy) and carditis with first-degree or second-degree heart block, is treated with doxycycline or amoxicillin for 14 to 21 days. Early disease with carditis with third-degree heart block or meningitis and
Cat-scratch disease Bartonella henselae Cats, dogs Bites and scratches United States
Erysipeloid Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae Sheep, swine, turkeys, Direct contact Worldwide ducks, fish
Wound infection Mycobacterium marinum, Fish, aquarium Direct contact, scratches Worldwide Mycobacterium fortuitum, Mycobacterium kansasii
Leptospirosis Leptospira interrogans Dogs, rodents, livestock Direct contact, contact Worldwide with water or soil contaminated by urine of infected animals
Relapsing fever Borrelia Rodents, fleas Louse bite, flea bite, Western and southern transplacental transmission United States
Southern tick-associated Borrelia lonestari Deer, rodents Tick bite (I. scapularis) Southeastern and rash illness south-central U.S.
African tick-bite fever Rickettsia africae Cattle, goats (?) Tick bite Sub-Saharan Africa, Caribbean
Rickettsialpox Rickettsia akari Mice Mite bite North America, Russia, Ukraine, Adriatic region, Korea, South Africa
Murine typhus–like illness Rickettsia felis Opossums, cats, dogs Flea bite Western hemisphere, Europe
Epidemic typhus Rickettsia prowazekii Humans Louse feces Africa, South America, Central America, Mexico, Asia
Flying squirrel (sylvatic) R. prowazekii Flying squirrels Lice or fleas of flying United States typhus
Scrub typhus Orientia tsutsugamushi Rodents (?) Chigger bite Southern Asia, Japan, Indonesia, Australia, Korea, Asiatic Russia, India, China
Human Ehrlichia chaffeensis Deer, dogs Tick bite (Amblyomma United States, Europe, monocytic ehrlichiosis
Anaplasmosis (human Anaplasma Rodents, deer, Tick bite (I. scapularis) United States, Europe granulocytic ehrlichiosis) phagocytophilum ruminants
Sennetsu ehrlichiosis Neorickettsia sennetsu Unknown Ingestion of helminth-Japan, Malaysia contaminated fish (?)
Table 122-1 Major Zoonotic and Vector-Borne Infections*—cont’d DISEASE CAUSATIVE AGENT COMMON ANIMAL RESERVOIRS VECTORS/MODES OF TRANSMISSION GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION Hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome Hantavirus Rodents, mice, cats Aerosol inhalation Southwestern United States
Lymphocytic Lymphocytic Rodents, hamsters, mice Aerosol inhalation, direct Worldwide choriomeningitis choriomeningitis virus contact, bite
Rabies Rabies virus Dogs, skunks, bats, Bites and scratches Worldwide raccoons, foxes, cats
Vesicular stomatitis Vesicular stomatitis virus Horses, cattle, swine Direct contact Americas
Babesiosis Babesia Cattle, wild and Tick bite (I. scapularis), Worldwide domestic rodents blood transfusion
Leishmaniasis, Leishmania Domestic and wild dogs Sandfly bite Tropics mucocutaneous and cutaneous
Leishmaniasis, visceral Leishmania donovani Domestic and wild dogs Sandfly bite Tropics complex
Malaria Plasmodium Humans Mosquito bite (Anopheles) Usually imported to the United States, Southern California
Toxoplasmosis Toxoplasma gondii Cats, livestock, pigs Ingestion of oocysts in Worldwide fecally contaminated material or ingestion of tissue cysts in undercooked meat
Adapted from Christenson JC: Epidemiology of infectious diseases. In Jenson HB, Baltimore RS, editors: Pediatric Infectious Diseases: Principles and Practice, ed 2,
Philadelphia, 2002, Saunders, pp 18−20.*Many helminths are also zoonotic (see Tables 123-4 and 123-5).
late neurologic disease (other than facial nerve or other cranial nerve palsy) are treated with intravenous or intramuscular ceftriaxone or intravenous penicillin G for 14 to 28 days. Arthritis is treated with doxycycline (for children >9 years of age) or amoxicillin for 28 days. If there is recurrence, treatment should be with a repeated oral regimen or with the regimen for late neurologic disease.
Carditis, especially conduction disturbances, and arthritis are the major complications of Lyme disease. Even untreated, most cases eventually resolve without sequelae.
Lyme disease is readily treatable and curable. The long-term prognosis is excellent for early and late disease. Early treatment may prevent progression to carditis and meningitis. Recurrences of arthritis are rare after recommended treatment.
A community-based study of children with Lyme disease found no evidence of impairment 4 to 11 years later.
Measures to minimize exposure to tick-borne diseases are the most reasonable means of preventing Lyme disease. Postexposure prophylaxis is not routinely recommended because the overall risk of acquiring Lyme disease after a tick bite is only 1% to 2% even in endemic areas, and treatment of the infection, if it develops, is highly effective. Nymphal stage ticks must feed for 36 to 48 hours, and adult ticks must feed for 48 to 72 hours before the risk of transmission of B. burgdorferi from infected ticks becomes substantial. In hyperendemic regions, prophylaxis of adults with doxycycline, 200 mg as a single dose, within 72 hours of a nymphal tick bite is effective in preventing Lyme disease.
The cause of Rocky Mountain spotted fever is R. rickettsii, gram-negative coccobacillary organisms that resemble bacteria but have incomplete cell walls and require an intracellular site for replication. The organism invades and proliferates within the endothelial cells of blood vessels, causing vasculitis and resulting in increased vascular permeability, edema, and, eventually, decreased vascular volume, altered tissue perfusion, and widespread organ failure. Many tick species are capable of transmitting R. rickettsii. The principal ticks are the American dog tick (Dermacentor variabilis) in the eastern United States and Canada, the wood tick (Dermacentor andersoni) in the western United States and Canada, the brown dog tick (Rhipicephalus sanguineus) in Mexico, and Amblyomma cajennense in Central and South America.
Rocky Mountain spotted fever is the most common rickettsial illness in the United States, occurring primarily in the eastern coastal, southeastern, and western states. Most cases occur from May to October after outdoor activity in wooded areas, with peak incidence among children 1 to 14 years of age. Approximately 40% of infected persons are unable to recall a tick bite.
Available @ StudentConsult.comThe incubation period of Rocky Mountain spotted fever is 2 to 14 days, with an average of 7 days. The onset is nonspecific with headache, malaise, and fever. A pale, rose-red macular or maculopapular rash appears in 90% of cases. The rash begins peripherally and spreads to involve the entire body, including palms and soles. The early rash blanches on pressure and is accentuated by warmth. It progresses over hours or days to a petechial and purpuric eruption that appears first on the feet and ankles, then the wrists and hands, and progresses centripetally to the trunk and head. Myalgias, especially of the lower extremities, and intractable headaches are common. Severe cases progress with splenomegaly, myocarditis, renal impairment, pneumonitis, and shock.
Thrombocytopenia (usually <100,000 cells/mm3), anemia, hyponatremia, and elevated hepatic transaminase levels are common laboratory findings. Organisms can be detected in skin biopsy specimens by fluorescent antibodies or polymerase chain reaction, although this test is not widely available. Serologic testing is used to confirm the diagnosis, although treatment is begun before confirmation.
The differential diagnosis includes meningococcemia, bacterial sepsis, toxic shock syndrome, leptospirosis, ehrlichiosis, measles, enteroviruses, infectious mononucleosis, collagen vascular diseases, Henoch-Schönlein purpura, and idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura. The diagnosis of Rocky Mountain spotted fever should be suspected with fever and petechial rash, especially with a history of a tick bite or outdoor activities during spring and summer in endemic regions. Fever, headache, and myalgias lasting more than 1 week in patients in endemic areas indicate Rocky Mountain spotted fever. Delayed diagnosis and late treatment usually result from atypical initial symptoms and late appearance of the rash.
Therapy for suspected Rocky Mountain spotted fever should not be postponed pending results of diagnostic tests. Doxycycline is the drug of choice, even for young children, despite the theoretical risk of dental staining in children younger than 9 years of age. Fluoroquinolones also are active against R. rickettsii and may be an alternative treatment.
In severe infections, capillary leakage results in noncardiogenic pulmonary edema (acute respiratory distress syndrome), hypotension, disseminated intravascular coagulation, circulatory collapse, and multiple organ failure, including encephalitis, myocarditis, hepatitis, and renal failure.
Untreated illness may persist for 3 weeks before progressing to multisystem involvement. The mortality rate is 25% without treatment, which is reduced to 3.4% with treatment. Permanent sequelae are common after severe disease.
Preventive measures to avoid tick-borne infections and careful removal of ticks are recommended.
The term ehrlichiosis often is used to refer to all forms of infection with Ehrlichia. Human monocytic ehrlichiosis is caused by
E. chaffeensis, which infects predominantly monocytic cells andis transmitted by the tick A. americanum. Disease may also be caused by Ehrlichia ewingii. Human anaplasmosis is caused by
A. phagocytophilum and is transmitted by the tick I. scapularis.
Ehrlichiosis occurs commonly in the United States. Human monocytic ehrlichiosis occurs in broad areas across the southeastern, south central, and Mid-Atlantic United States in a distribution that parallels that of Rocky Mountain spotted fever. Anaplasmosis is found mostly in the northeastern and upper midwestern United States, but infections have now been identified in northern California, the Mid-Atlantic states, and broadly across Europe.
Human monocytic ehrlichiosis, anaplasmosis, and Ehrlichiosis ewingii cause similar acute febrile illness characterized by fever, malaise, headache, myalgias, anorexia, and nausea, but often without a rash. In contrast to adult patients, nearly two thirds of children with human monocytic ehrlichiosis present with a macular or maculopapular rash, although petechial lesions may occur. Symptoms usually last for 4 to 12 days.
Characteristic laboratory findings include leukopenia, lymphocytopenia, thrombocytopenia, anemia, and elevated hepatic transaminases. Morulae are found infrequently in circulating monocytes of persons with human monocytic ehrlichiosis but are found in 40% of circulating neutrophils in 20% to 60% of persons with anaplasmosis (Fig. 122-2). Seroconversion or fourfold rise in antibody titer confirms the diagnosis.
Ehrlichiosis is clinically similar to other arthropod-borne infections, including Rocky Mountain spotted fever, tularemia, babesiosis, early Lyme disease, murine typhus, relapsing fever, and Colorado tick fever. The differential diagnosis also includes infectious mononucleosis, Kawasaki disease, endocarditis, viral infections, hepatitis, leptospirosis, Q fever, collagen vascular diseases, and leukemia.
As with Rocky Mountain spotted fever, therapy for suspected ehrlichiosis should not be postponed pending results of diagnostic tests. Ehrlichiosis and anaplasmosis are treated with doxycycline.
Figure 122-2 A morula (arrowhead) containing Anaplasma phagocytophilum in a neutrophil. Ehrlichia chaffeensis and A. phagocytophilum have similar morphologies but are serologically and genetically distinct. (Wright stain, original magnification X 1200.) (From Walker DH, Dumler JS: Ehrlichia chaffeensis (human monocytotropic ehrlichiosis), Anaplasma phagocytophilum (human granulocytotropic anaplasmosis), and other ehrlichieae. In Mandell GL, Bennett JE, Dolin R, editors: Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases, ed 6, Philadelphia, 2005, Churchill Livingstone, Fig. 190-2, p 2315.)
Severe pulmonary involvement with acute respiratory distress syndrome has been reported in several cases. Other reported severe complications include meningoencephalitis and myocarditis. Most patients improve within 48 hours.
Preventive measures to avoid tick-borne infections and careful removal of ticks are recommended.
Protozoa are the simplest organisms of the animal kingdom. They are unicellular. Most are free living, but some have a commensal or parasitic existence. Protozoal diseases include malaria, toxoplasmosis, babesiosis, and the intestinal protozoal diseases, amebiasis, cryptosporidiosis, and giardiasis.
Malaria is caused by obligate intracellular protozoa of the genus Plasmodium, including P. falciparum, P. malariae, P. ovale, P. vivax, and P. knowlesi. Plasmodium has a complex life cycle that enables survival in different cellular environments in the human host and in the mosquito vector. There are two major phases in the life cycle, an asexual phase (schizogony) in humans and a sexual phase (sporogony) in mosquitoes. The erythrocytic phase of Plasmodium asexual development begins when the merozoites released from exoerythrocytic schizonts in the liver penetrate erythrocytes. When inside the erythrocyte, the parasite transforms into the ring form, which enlarges to become a trophozoite. These latter two forms can be identified with Giemsa stain on blood smear, which is the primary means of confirming the diagnosis of malaria.
The parasites usually are transmitted to humans by female Anopheles mosquitoes. Malaria also can be transmitted through blood transfusion via contaminated needles and transplacentally to a fetus.
Malaria is a worldwide problem with transmission in more than 100 countries with a combined population of more than 1.6 billion people. Malaria is an important cause of fever and morbidity in the tropical world. The principal areas of transmission are sub-Saharan Africa, southern Asia, Southeast Asia, Mexico, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Central and South America, Papua New Guinea, and the Solomon Islands. Approximately 1000 to 2000 imported cases are recognized annually in the United States, with most cases occurring among infected foreign civilians from endemic areas who travel to the United States and among U.S. citizens who travel to endemic areas without appropriate chemoprophylaxis.
Available @ StudentConsult.comFever of Unknown OriginThe clinical manifestations of malaria range from asymptomatic infection to fulminant illness and death, depending on the virulence of the infecting malaria species and the host immune response. The incubation period ranges from 6 to 30 days, depending on the Plasmodium species (Table 123-1).The most characteristic clinical feature of malaria, which is seldom noted with other infectious diseases, is febrile paroxysms alternating with periods of fatigue but otherwise relative wellness. The classic symptoms of the febrile paroxysms of malaria include high fever, rigors, sweats, and headache. Paroxysms coincide with the rupture of schizonts that occur every 48 hours with P. vivax and P. ovale (tertian periodicity) and every 72 hours with P. malariae (quartan periodicity).
Short-term relapse describes the recurrence of symptoms after a primary attack that is due to the survival of erythrocyte forms in the bloodstream. Long-term relapse describes the renewal of symptoms long after the primary attack, usually due to the release of merozoites from an exoerythrocytic source in the liver. Long-term relapse occurs with P. vivax and
P. ovale because of persistence in the liver and with P. malariae because of persistence in the erythrocyte.
The diagnosis of malaria is established by the identification oforganisms on stained smears of peripheral blood. In nonimmune persons, symptoms typically occur 1 to 2 days beforeparasites are detectable on blood smear. Although P. falciparumis most likely to be identified from blood during a febrile paroxysm, the timing of the smears is less important than obtainingsmears several times each day over 3 successive days. Both thickand thin blood smears should be examined. The concentration of erythrocytes on a thick smear is approximately 20 to 40 times greater than that on a thin smear. Thick smears are used to scan large numbers of erythrocytes quickly. Thin smears allow for positive identification of the malaria species and determinationof the percentage of infected erythrocytes, which also is usefulin following the response to therapy. Rapid diagnostic tests mayemerge as point of care tests in the near future.
The most important aspect of diagnosing malaria in children isto consider the possibility of malaria in any child who has fever,chills, splenomegaly, anemia, or decreased level of consciousness with a history of recent travel or residence in an endemicarea, regardless of the use of chemoprophylaxis. The differential diagnosis is broad and includes many infectious diseases,such as typhoid fever, tuberculosis, brucellosis, relapsing fever,infective endocarditis, influenza, poliomyelitis, yellow fever,trypanosomiasis, kala-azar, and amebic liver abscess.
Table 123-1 Characteristics of Plasmodium Species Causing Malaria CHARACTERISTIC P. FALCIPARUM P. VIVAX P. OVALE P. MALARIAE P. KNOWLESI Exoerythrocytic cycle 5.5–7 days 6–8 days 9 days 12–16 days 8-9 days Erythrocytic cycle 48 hours 42–48 hours 49–50 hours 72 hours 24 hours
Erythrocyte Young erythrocytes, Reticulocytes Reticulocytes Older erythrocytes Older erythrocytes preference but can infect all
Duration of untreated 1–2 years 1.5–4 years (includes 1.5–4 years (includes 3–50 years Unknown infection
Usual periodicity of None 48 hours 48 hours 72 hours 24 hours febrile attacks
Duration of febrile 16–36 hours (may be 8–12 hours 8–12 hours 8–10 hours Unknown paroxysm longer)
Adapted from Strickland GT: Malaria. In Strickland GT, editor: Hunter’s Tropical Medicine, ed 7, Philadelphia, 1991, WB Saunders, p 589.
Oral chloroquine is the recommended treatment except for chloroquine-resistant P. falciparum. Either atovaquone-proguanil (Malarone) or artemether-lumefantrine (Coartem) is an appropriate first-line therapy for malaria acquired in areas of chloroquine resistance. Specific treatment should be guided by where the patient acquired the infection and the local resistance patterns. Patients with malaria usually require hospitalization and may require intensive care unit admission. Quinidine gluconate is the only drug available in the United States that is used for parenteral treatment.
Cerebral malaria is a complication of P. falciparum infection and a frequent cause of death (20% to 40% of cases), especially among children and nonimmune adults. Similar to other complications, cerebral malaria is more likely to occur among patients with intense parasitemia (>5%). Other complications include splenic rupture, renal failure, severe hemolysis (blackwater fever), pulmonary edema, hypoglycemia, thrombocytopenia, and algid malaria (sepsis syndrome with vascular collapse).
Death may occur with any of the malarial species but is most frequent with complicated P. falciparum malaria. The likelihood of death is increased in children with preexisting health problems, such as measles, intestinal parasites, schistosomiasis, anemia, and malnutrition. Death is much more common in developing countries.
There are two components of malaria prevention: reduction of exposure to infected mosquitoes and chemoprophylaxis. Mosquito protection is necessary because no prophylactic regimen can guarantee protection in every instance due to the widespread development of resistant organisms.
Chemoprophylaxis is necessary for all visitors to and residents of the tropics who have not lived there since infancy. Children of nonimmune women should have chemoprophylaxis from birth. Children of women from endemic areas have passive immunity until 3 to 6 months of age, after which they are increasingly likely to acquire malaria. Specific chemoprophylaxis should be guided by the distribution of resistance pattern and determined before making specific recommendations ( http://www.cdc.gov/malaria/travelers/country_table/a.html ).Mefloquine, doxycycline, chloroquine, and Malarone are commonly prescribed medications.
Available @ StudentConsult.comSplenomegaly Lymphadenopathy Petechiae/Purpura Fever of Unknown OriginToxoplasmosis is a zoonosis caused by Toxoplasma gondii, an intracellular protozoan parasite. Infection is acquired by infectious oocysts, such as those excreted by newly infected cats, which play an important role in amplifying the organism in nature, or from ingesting cysts in contaminated, undercooked meat. Less commonly, transmission occurs transplacentally during acute infection of pregnant women. In the United States, the incidence of congenital infection is 1 to 2 per 1000 live births.
Acquired toxoplasmosis is usually asymptomatic. Symptomatic infection is typically a heterophile-negative mononucleosis syndrome that includes lymphadenopathy, fever,and hepatosplenomegaly. Disseminated infection, includingmyocarditis, pneumonia, and central nervous system (CNS)toxoplasmosis, is more common among immunocompromised persons, especially persons with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Among women infected duringpregnancy, 40% to 60% give birth to an infected infant. Thelater in pregnancy that infection occurs, the more likely it isthat the fetus will be infected, but the less severe the illness (see Chapter 66). Serologic diagnosis can be established by afourfold increase in antibody titer or seroconversion, a positive IgM antibody titer, or positive polymerase chain reactionfor T. gondii in peripheral white blood cells, cerebrospinalfluid (CSF), serum, or amniotic fluid.
Treatment includes pyrimethamine and sulfadiazine, which act synergistically against Toxoplasma. Because these compounds are folic acid inhibitors, they are used in conjunction with folinic acid. Spiramycin, which is not licensed in the United States, also is used in therapy of pregnant women with toxoplasmosis. Corticosteroids are reserved for patients with acute CNS or ocular infection.
Ingesting only well-cooked meat and avoiding cats orsoil in areas where cats defecate are prudent measures forpregnant or immunocompromised persons. Administration of spiramycin to infected pregnant women has beenassociated with lower risks of congenital infection in theiroffspring.
Helminths are divided into three groups: roundworms, or nematodes, and two groups of flatworms, the trematodes (flukes) and the cestodes (tapeworms).
Hookworm infection is caused by several species of hookworms, with Ancylostoma duodenale and Necator americanus being the most important (Table 123-2). There are more than 9 million humans worldwide infected with hookworms. Ancylostoma duodenale is the predominant species in Europe, the Mediterranean region, northern Asia, and the west coast of South America. N. americanus predominates in the Western hemisphere, sub-Saharan Africa, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific Islands. Optimal soil conditions and fecal contamination are found in many agrarian tropical countries and in the southeastern United States. Infection typically occurs in young children, especially during the first decade of life. The larvae are found in warm, damp soil and infect humans by penetrating the skin. They migrate to the lungs, ascend the trachea, are swallowed, and reside in the intestine. The worms mature and attach to the intestinal wall, where they suck blood and shed eggs.
Cutaneous larva migrans Ancylostoma braziliense Larval penetration Albendazole or ivermectin or (azoonotic hookworm) (and failure to migrate) thiabendazole topically
Infant ancylostomiasis A. duodenale Perinatal (?) Albendazole or mebendazole or pyrantel pamoate
Intestinal ascariasis Ascaris lumbricoides Ingestion of Ascaris eggs Albendazole or mebendazole or pyrantel pamoate
Diarrhea, malabsorption Strongyloides stercoralis Larval penetration Ivermectin or thiabendazole (celiac-like)
Pinworm Enterobius vermicularis Ingestion of embryonated eggs Albendazole or mebendazole or pyrantel pamoate
Abdominal angiostrongyliasis Angiostrongylus costaricensis Ingestion of contaminated food Mebendazole or thiabendazole
Eosinophilic meningitis Angiostrongylus cantonensis (rat Ingestion of undercooked Mebendazole lungworm) contaminated seafood
Infections are usually asymptomatic. Intense pruritus (ground itch) occurs at the site of larval penetration, usually the soles of the feet or between the toes, and may include papules and vesicles. Migration of larvae through the lungs usually is asymptomatic. Symptoms of abdominal pain, anorexia, indigestion, fullness, and diarrhea occur with hookworm infestation. The major manifestation of infection is anemia. Examination of fresh stool for hookworm eggs is diagnostic. Therapy includes anthelmintic treatment with albendazole, mebendazole, or pyrantel pamoate and treatment for anemia. Eradication depends on sanitation of the patient’s environment and chemotherapy.
Ascariasis is caused by Ascaris lumbricoides, a large nematode. It is the most prevalent helminthiasis, affecting 1 billion people (see Table 123-2). After humans ingest the eggs, larvae are released and penetrate the intestine, migrate to the lungs, ascend the trachea, and are swallowed. On entering the intestines again, they mature and produce eggs that are excreted in the stool and are deposited in the soil, where they survive for prolonged periods.
Manifestations may be the result of migration of the larvae to other sites of the body or the presence of adult worms in the intestine. Pulmonary ascariasis occurs as the larvae migrate through the lung, producing cough, blood-stained sputum, eosinophilia, and transient infiltrates on chest x-ray films.
Adult larvae in the small intestine may cause abdominal pain and distention. Intestinal obstruction from adult worms rarely occurs. Migration of worms into the bile duct may rarely cause acute biliary obstruction. Examination of fresh stool for characteristic eggs is diagnostic. Effective control depends on adequate sanitary treatment and disposal of infected human feces.
Visceral larva migrans is a systemic nematodiasis caused by ingestion of the eggs of the dog tapeworm, Toxocara canis, or, less commonly, the cat tapeworm, Toxocara cati, or the raccoon tapeworm, Baylisascaris procyonis (see Table 123-2).These organisms also cause ocular larva migrans.
Visceral larva migrans is most common in young children with pica who have dogs or cats as pets. Ocular toxocariasis occurs in older children. The eggs of these roundworms are produced by adult worms residing in the dog and cat intestine. Ingested eggs hatch into larvae that penetrate the gastrointestinal tract and migrate to the liver, lung, eye, CNS, and heart, where they die and calcify.
Symptoms of visceral larva migrans are the result of the number of migrating worms and the associated immune response. Light infections are often asymptomatic. Symptoms include fever, cough, wheezing, and seizures. Physical findings may include hepatomegaly, crackles, rash, and lymphadenopathy. Visual symptoms may include decreased acuity, strabismus, periorbital edema, or blindness. Eye examination
Parasitoses due to otherIngestion of raw or inadequatelyParagonimiasis Paragonimus westermani, P. Praziquantel or bithionol miyazaki, P. mexicanus, P. kellicotti,
P. uterobilateralis, P. skjabini, P. hueitungensis, P. heterotrema, P. africanus (lung flukes) may reveal granulomatous lesions near the macula or disc. Ocular larva migrans is characterized by isolated, unilateral ocular disease and no systemic findings. Larvae probably enter the anterior vitreous of the eye from a peripheral branch of the retinal artery and elicit granulomas in the posterior and peripheral poles that cause vision loss.
Eosinophilia and hypergammaglobulinemia associated with elevated isohemagglutinin levels suggest the diagnosis, which is confirmed by serology (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) or, less commonly, by biopsy. This is usually a self-limited illness. In severe disease, albendazole or mebendazole is used. Deworming puppies and kittens, major excreters of eggs, decreases the risk of infection.
Available @ StudentConsult.comPinworm is caused by Enterobius vermicularis, a nematode that is distributed worldwide. Enterobiasis affects individuals at all socioeconomic levels, especially children. Crowded living conditions predispose to infection. Humans ingest the eggs carried on hands, present in house dust or on bedclothes. The eggs hatch in the stomach, and the larvae migrate to the cecum and mature. At night the females migrate to the perianal area to lay their eggs, which are viable for 2 days.
The most common symptoms are nocturnal anal pruritus (pruritus ani) and sleeplessness, presumably resulting from the migratory female worms. Vaginitis and salpingitis may develop secondary to aberrant worm migration. The eggs are detected by microscopically examining adhesive cellophane tape pressed against the anus in the morning to collect eggs. Less commonly, a worm may be seen in the perianal region. Treatment is with albendazole (400 mg), mebendazole (100 mg), or pyrantel pamoate (11 mg/kg, maximum 1 g) each given as a single oral dose and repeated in 2 weeks.
Available @ StudentConsult.comSchistosomiasis (bilharziasis) is caused by flukes that parasitize the bloodstream, including Schistosoma haematobium, Schistosoma mansoni, Schistosoma japonicum, and, rarely, Schistosoma intercalatum and Schistosoma mekongi (Table 123-3). Schistosomiasis affects more than 2 million people, mainly children and young adults with a peak age range of 10 to 20 years. Humans are infected by cercariae in contaminated water that emerge in an infectious form from snails and penetrate intact skin. Each adult worm migrates to specific sites:
S. haematobium to the bladder plexus and S. intercalatum and
S. mekongi to the mesenteric vessels. The eggs are deposited by the adult flukes in urine (S. haematobium) or stool (S. mansoni
Echinococcosis Echinococcus granulosus var.Alveolar echinococcosis Echinococcus multilocularis Surgical resection is only reliable means of treatment; some reports suggest adjunct use of albendazole or mebendazole
Neurocysticercosis Larval stage of Taenia solium Ingestion of infected raw/ Albendazole or praziquantel (cysticerci) undercooked pork
Adult tapeworm infections T. solium (pork tapeworm) Ingestion of contaminated raw/ Praziquantel undercooked pork and S. japonicum). S. haematobium is prevalent in Africa and the Middle East; S. mansoni in Africa, the Middle East, the Caribbean, and South America; S. japonicum in China, the Philippines, and Indonesia; S. mekongi in the Far East; and S. intercalatum in West Africa.
The manifestations of schistosomiasis result from eggs that are trapped at the site of deposition or at metastatic locations. Within 3 to 12 weeks of infection, while the worms are maturing, a syndrome of fever, malaise, cough, abdominal pain, and rash can occur. This syndrome is followed by a resultant inflammatory response that leads to further symptoms. Katayama fever is an acute condition, with fever, weight loss, hepatosplenomegaly, and eosinophilia. Eggs may be found in the urine (S. haematobium) or stool (S. mansoni and S. japonicum)of infected individuals. Sanitary measures, molluscacides, and therapy for infected individuals may help control the illness.
Echinococcosis includes hydatid or unilocular cyst disease, caused by Echinococcus granulosus (the minute dog tapeworm) or Echinococcus vogeli, and alveolar cyst disease, caused by Echinococcus multilocularis (Table 123-4). Dogs become infected with tapeworms by eating infected sheep or cattle viscera and excrete eggs in their stools. Humans acquire echinococcosis by ingesting eggs and become an intermediate host. The eggs hatch in the intestinal tract, and the larva (oncospheres) penetrate the mucosa and enter the circulation to pass to the liver and other visceral organs, forming cysts 2 cm in diameter.
E. granulosus has a worldwide distribution and is endemic in sheep-raising and cattle-raising areas of Australia, South America, South Africa, the former Soviet Union, and the Mediterranean region. The prevalence is highest in children. Symptoms caused by E. granulosus result from space-occupyingcysts. Pulmonary cysts may cause hemoptysis, cough, dyspnea,and respiratory distress. Brain cysts appear as tumors; livercysts cause problems as they compress and obstruct blood flow.Ultrasonography identifies cystic lesions, and the diagnosis isconfirmed by serologic testing. Large or asymptomatic granulosa cysts are removed surgically. Treatment with albendazolehas shown some benefit.
Neurocysticercosis is caused by infection with the larval stages (cysticerci) of the pork tapeworm, Taenia solium, and is the most frequent helminthic infection of the CNS (see Table 1234). Humans are infected after consuming cysticerci in raw or undercooked larva-containing pork. T. solium is endemic in Asia, Africa, and Central and South Americas.
Cysts typically enlarge slowly, causing no or minimal symptoms for years or decades until the organism begins to die. The cyst then begins to swell, and leakage of antigen incites an inflammatory response, resulting in the presenting signs of focal or generalized seizures and calcified cerebral cysts identified by computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging. The CSF shows lymphocytic or eosinophilic pleocytosis. The diagnosis is confirmed by serologic testing. Neurocysticercosis is treated with albendazole or praziquantel, corticosteroids for concomitant cerebral inflammation from cyst death, and anticonvulsant drugs.
Mycobacterium tuberculosis are pleomorphic, weakly gram-positive curved rods. Mycobacteria are acid fast, which is the capacity to form stable mycolate complexes with arylmethane dyes. Mycobacteria grow slowly; culture from clinical specimens on solid synthetic media usually takes 3 to 6 weeks. Drug-susceptibility testing requires an additional 4 weeks. Growth can be detected in 1 to 3 weeks in selective liquid media using radiolabeled nutrients. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) of clinical specimens allows rapid diagnosis in many laboratories.
An estimated 10 to 15 million persons in the United States have latent tuberculosis infection (infection with M. tuberculosis and no disease). Without treatment, tuberculosis disease develops in 5% to 10% of immunologically normal adults with tuberculosis infection at some time during their lives; the risk is higher in infants. An estimated 8 million new cases of tuberculosis occur each year among adults worldwide. Three million deaths are attributed to the disease annually. In developing countries, 1.3 million new cases of the disease occur in children under 15 years of age, and 450,000 children die each year of tuberculosis. Most children with tuberculosis infection and disease acquire M. tuberculosis from an infectious adult.
Transmission of M. tuberculosis is from person to person, usually by respiratory droplets that become airborne when the ill individual coughs, sneezes, laughs, sighs, or breathes. Infected droplets dry and become droplet nuclei, which may remain suspended in the air for hours, long after the infectious person has left the environment.
Several patient-related factors are associated with an increased chance of transmission. Of these a positive acid-fast smear of the sputum most closely correlates with infectivity. Children with primary pulmonary tuberculosis disease rarely, if ever, infect other children or adults. Tubercle bacilli are relatively sparse in the endobronchial secretions of children with primary pulmonary tuberculosis, and a significant cough is usually lacking. When young children cough, they rarely produce sputum, lacking the tussive force necessary to project and suspend infectious particles of the requisite size. Hospitalized children with suspected pulmonary tuberculosis are placed initially in respiratory isolation. Most infectious patients become noninfectious within 2 weeks of starting effective treatment, and many become noninfectious within several days.
In North America, tuberculosis rates are highest in for-eign-born persons from high-prevalence countries, residents of prisons, residents of nursing homes, homeless persons, users of illegal drugs, persons who are poor and medically indigent, health care workers, and children exposed to adults in high-risk groups. Among U.S. urban dwellers with tuberculosis, persons with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and racial minorities are overrepresented. Most children are infected with M. tuberculosis from household contacts, but outbreaks of childhood tuberculosis centered in elementary and high schools, nursery schools, family day care homes, churches, school buses, and stores still occur. A high-risk adult working in the area has been the source of the outbreak in most cases.
Available @ StudentConsult.comCough Hemoptysis Back Pain Fever and Rash Lymphadenopathy Fever of Unknown Origin
Latent tuberculosis describes the asymptomatic stage of infection with M. tuberculosis. The tuberculin skin test (TST) is positive, but the chest radiograph is normal, and there are no signs or symptoms of illness. Tuberculosis disease occurs when there are clinical signs and symptoms or an abnormal chest radiograph. The term tuberculosis usually refers to the disease. The interval between latent tuberculosis and the onset of disease may be several weeks or many decades in adults. In young children, tuberculosis usually develops as an immediate complication of the primary infection, and the distinction between infection and disease may be less obvious.
Primary pulmonary tuberculosis in older infants and children is usually an asymptomatic infection. Often the disease is manifested by a positive TST with minimal abnormalities on the chest radiograph, such as an infiltrate with hilar lymphadenopathy or Ghon complex. Hilar lymphadenopathy may compress the bronchi or trachea malaise, low-grade fever, erythema nodosum, or symptoms resulting from lymph node enlargement may occur after the development of delayed hypersensitivity.
Lymphadenopathy is common in primary pulmonary disease. Hilar lymphadenopathy may compress the bronchi or trachea. The most common extrathoracic sites of lymphadenitis are the cervical, supraclavicular, and submandibular areas (scrofula).
Progressive primary disease is characterized by a primary pneumonia that develops shortly after initial infection. Progression to pulmonary disease, disseminated miliary disease, or progression of central nervous system (CNS) granulomas to meningitis occurs most commonly in the first year of life.
Tuberculous pleural effusion, which may accompany primary infection, generally represents the immune response to the organisms and most commonly occurs in older children or adolescents. Pleurocentesis reveals lymphocytes and an increased protein level, but the pleural fluid usually does not contain bacilli.
Reactivation pulmonary tuberculosis, common in adolescents and typical in adults, usually is confined to apical segments of upper lobes or superior segments of lower lobes. There is usually little lymphadenopathy and no extrathoracic infection because of established hypersensitivity. This is a manifestation of a secondary expansion of infection at a site seeded years previously during primary infection. Advanced disease is associated with cavitation and endobronchial spread of bacilli. Symptoms include fever, night sweats, malaise, and weight loss. A productive cough and hemoptysis often herald cavitation and bronchial erosion.
Miliary tuberculosis refers to widespread hematogenous dissemination to multiple organs. The lesions are of roughly the same size as a millet seed, from which the name miliary is derived. Miliary tuberculosis is characterized by fever, general malaise, weight loss, lymphadenopathy, night sweats, and hepatosplenomegaly. Diffuse bilateral pneumonitis is common, and meningitis may be present. The chest radiograph reveals bilateral miliary infiltrates, showing overwhelming infection. The TST may be nonreactive as a result of anergy. Liver or bone marrow biopsy is useful for the diagnosis.
Tuberculous meningitis most commonly occurs in children under 5 years old and often within 6 months of primary infection. Tubercle bacilli that seed the meninges during the primary infection replicate, triggering an inflammatory response. This condition may have an insidious onset, initially characterized by low-grade fever, headache, and subtle personality change. Progression of the infection results in basilar meningitis with impingement of the cranial nerves and is manifested by meningeal irritation and, eventually, increased intracranial pressure, deterioration of mental status, and coma. Computed tomography (CT) scans show hydrocephalus, edema, periventricular lucencies, and infarctions. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis reveals pleocytosis (50 to 500 leukocytes/mm3), which early in the course of disease may be either lymphocytes or polymorphonuclear leukocytes. Glucose is low, and protein is significantly elevated. Acid-fast bacilli are not detected frequently in the CSF by either routine or fluorescent staining procedures. Although culture is the standard for diagnosis, PCR for M. tuberculosis is useful to confirm meningitis.
Skeletal tuberculosis results from either hematogenous seeding or direct extension from a caseous lymph node. This is usually a chronic disease with an insidious onset that may be mistaken for chronic osteomyelitis caused by Staphylococcus aureus. Radiographs reveal cortical destruction. Biopsy and culture are essential for proper diagnosis. Tuberculosis of the spine, Pott’s disease, is the most common skeletal site followed by the hip as well as fingers and toes (dactylitis).
Other forms of tuberculosis include abdominal tuberculosis that occurs from swallowing infected material. This is a relatively uncommon complication in developed nations where dairy herds are inspected for bovine tuberculosis. Tuberculous peritonitis is associated with abdominal tuberculosis and presents as fever, anorexia, ascites, and abdominal pain. Urogenital tuberculosis is a late reactivation complication and is rare in children. Symptomatic illness presents as dysuria, frequency, urgency, hematuria, and sterile pyuria.
Two types of tests are used to detect the immune response to M. tuberculosis and are used to screen patients for latent tuberculosis and investigation of active tuberculosis. The TST response to tuberculin antigen is a manifestation of a T cell−mediated delayed hypersensitivity. The Mantoux test, an intradermal injection of 5 TU (tuberculin units) of purified protein derivative standard (PPD-S), usually on the volar surface of the forearm, is the standard TST. It is usually positive 2 to 6 weeks after onset of infection (occasionally 3 months) and at the time of symptomatic illness. This test is preferred in children less than 5 years of age. It may also be used in other settings such as contact investigations or in older patients. Only persons at high risk should be offered a Mantoux test (Table 124-1). False-negative responses may occur early in the illness, with use of inactivated antigen (as a result of poor storage practice or inadequate administration), or as a result of immunosuppression (secondary to underlying illness, AIDS, malnutrition, or overwhelming tuberculosis). Tests with questionable results should be repeated after several weeks of therapy and adequate nutrition. Because of poor nutrition, a high proportion of internationally adopted children arriving in the United States have an initial false-positive TST. All internationally adopted children with an initially negative TST should have a repeat TST after 3 months in the United States. The TST is interpreted based on the host status and size of induration (Table 124-2).
Table 124-1 Tuberculin Skin Test (TST) Recommendations for Infants, Children, and Adolescents* CHILDREN FOR WHOM IMMEDIATE TST OR IGRA IS INDICATED:†
Contacts of people with confirmed or suspected contagious tuberculosis (contact investigation)
Children with radiographic or clinical findings suggesting tuberculosis diseaseChildren immigrating from countries with endemic infection (e.g., Asia, Middle East, Africa, Latin America, countries of the former Soviet Union), including international adoptees
Children with travel histories to countries with endemic infection and substantial contact with indigenous people from such countries
Children infected with HIV infection (TST only)Children with other medical conditions, including diabetes mellitus, chronic renal failure, malnutrition, and congenital or acquired immunodeficiencies deserve special consideration. Without recent exposure, these people are not at increased risk of acquiring tuberculosis infection. Underlying immune deficiencies associated with these conditions theoretically would enhance the possibility for progression to severe disease. Initial histories of potential exposure to tuberculosis should be included for all of these patients. If these histories or local epidemiologic factors suggest a possibility of exposure, immediate and periodic TST or IGRA should be considered. An initial TST or IGRA should be performed before initiation of immunosuppressive therapy, including prolonged steroid administration, use of tumor necrosis factor-alpha antagonists, or other immunosuppressive therapy in any child requiring these treatments.
Recommendations from American Academy of Pediatrics: Tuberculosis. InPickering LK, Baker CJ, Kimberlin DW, et al, editors. Red Book: 2012 Report of the Committee on Infectious Diseases, ed 29, Elk Grove Village, IL, 2012,
American Academy of Pediatrics. HIV, Human immunodeficiency virus; IGRA, interferon-gamma release assay;
LTBI, latent tuberculosis infection. *Bacille Calmette-Guérin immunization is not a contraindication to a TST.
†Beginning as early as 3 months of age.‡If the child is well, the TST or IGRA should be delayed for up to 10 weeks after return.
A whole blood test of interferon-gamma (INF-γ) release assay (IGRA), a cytokine elaborated by lymphocytes in response to tuberculosis antigens, is the recommended diagnostic test for persons older than 5 years of age in the United States. It has similar sensitivity as the TST but improved specificity because it is unaffected by prior bacille Calmette-Guérin vaccination.
The ultimate diagnostic confirmation relies on culture of the organism, a process that usually is more successful with tissue, such as pleura or pericardial membrane from biopsy, rather than pleural or pericardial fluid. Sputum is an excellent source for diagnosis in adults but is difficult to obtain in young children. Induced sputum or gastric fluid obtained via an indwelling nasogastric tube with samples taken before or immediately on waking contains swallowed sputum and provides appropriate samples in young children. Large volumes of fluid (CSF, pericardial fluid) yield a higher rate of recovery of organisms,
Induration ≥5 mm Children in close contact with persons with known or suspected contagious tuberculosis disease
Children suspected to have tuberculosis disease Findings on chest radiograph consistent with active or previously active tuberculosis Clinical evidence of tuberculosis disease†
Children receiving immunosuppressive therapy‡ or with immunosuppressive conditions, including HIV infection
Children <4 years of age Children with other medical conditions, including Hodgkin disease, lymphoma, diabetes mellitus, chronic renal failure, and malnutrition
Children with increased exposure to tuberculosis disease Children born, or whose parents were born, in high-prevalence regions of the world Children frequently exposed to adults who are HIV-infected, homeless, users of illicit drugs, residents of nursing homes, incarcerated or institutionalized, or migrant farm workers Children who travel to high-prevalence regions of the world
Induration ≥15 mm Children ≥4 years of age without any risk factors *These criteria apply regardless of previous bacille Calmette-Guérin immunization. Erythema at tuberculin skin test site does not indicate a positive test result. Tuberculin reactions should be read at 48 to 72 hours after placement.
†Evidence by physical examination or laboratory assessment that would include tuberculosis in the working differential diagnosis (e.g., meningitis).
‡Including immunosuppressive doses of corticosteroids.but slow growth of the mycobacteria makes culture less helpful in very ill children. When the organism is grown, drug susceptibilities should be determined because of the increasing incidence of resistant organisms.
Antigen detection and DNA probes have expedited diagnosis, especially with CNS disease.
Because many cases of pulmonary tuberculosis in children are clinically relatively silent, radiography is a cornerstone for the diagnosis of disease. All lobar segments of the lung are at equal risk of being the focus of the initial infection. In 25% of cases, two or more lobes of the lungs are involved, although disease usually occurs at one site only. Spread of infection to regional lymph nodes occurs early.
The hallmark of childhood pulmonary tuberculosis is the relatively large size and importance of the hilar lymphadenitis compared with the less significant size of the initial parenchymal focus, together historically referred to as the Ghon complex (with or without calcification of the lymph nodes). Hilar lymphadenopathy is inevitably present with childhood tuberculosis. Partial bronchial obstruction caused by external compression from the enlarging nodes can cause air trapping, hyperinflation, and lobar emphysema. Occasionally children have a picture of lobar pneumonia without impressive hilar lymphadenopathy. If the infection is progressively destructive, liquefaction of the lung parenchyma leads to formation of a thin-walled primary tuberculous cavity. Adolescents with pulmonary tuberculosis may develop segmental lesions with hilar lymphadenopathy or the apical infiltrates, with or without cavitation, that are typical of adult reactivation tuberculosis.
Radiographic studies aid greatly in the diagnosis of extrapulmonary tuberculosis in children. Plain radiographs, CT, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the tuberculous spine usually show collapse and destruction of the vertebral body with narrowing of the involved disk spaces. Radiographic findings in bone and joint tuberculosis range from mild joint effusions and small lytic lesions to massive destruction of the bone.
In tuberculosis of the CNS, CT or MRI of the brains of patients with tuberculous meningitis may be normal during early stages of the infection. As disease progresses, basilar enhancement and communicating hydrocephalus with signs of cerebral edema or early focal ischemia are the most common findings.
The differential diagnosis of tuberculosis includes a multitude of diagnoses because tuberculosis may affect any organ, and in early disease the symptoms and signs may be nonspecific. In pulmonary disease, tuberculosis may appear similar to pneumonia, malignancy, and any systemic disease in which generalized lymphadenopathy occurs. The diagnosis of tuberculosis should be suspected if the TST or IGRA is positive or if there is history of tuberculosis in a close contact.
The differential diagnosis of tuberculous lymphadenopathy includes infections caused by atypical mycobacteria, cat-scratch disease, fungal infection, viral or bacterial disease, toxoplasmosis, sarcoidosis, drug reactions, and malignancy. The diagnosis may be confirmed by fine-needle aspiration but may necessitate excisional biopsy accompanied by appropriate histologic and microbiologic studies.
The treatment of tuberculosis is affected by the presence of naturally occurring drug-resistant organisms in large bacterial populations, even before therapy is initiated, and the fact that mycobacteria replicate slowly and can remain dormant in the body for prolonged periods. Although a population of bacilli as a whole may be considered drug susceptible, a subpopulation of drug-resistant organisms occurs at fairly predictable frequencies of 105 to 107, depending on the drug. Cavities may contain 109 tubercle bacilli with thousands of organisms resistant to any one drug, but only rare organisms are resistant to multiple drugs.
Patients with latent tuberculosis infection have small bacterial populations and a single drug, such as isoniazid, can be
Table 124-3 Recommended Treatment Regimens for Drug-Susceptible Tuberculosis in Infants, Children, and Adolescents INFECTION OR DISEASE CATEGORY REGIMEN COMMENTS LATENT TUBERCULOSIS INFECTION (POSITIVE TST RESULT, NO DISEASE)
Isoniazid-susceptible 9 months of isoniazid, once a day If daily therapy is not possible, DOT twice a week can be used for 9 months.
Isoniazid-resistant 6 months of rifampin, once a dayIsoniazid-rifampin–resistant Consult a tuberculosis specialist.If hilar lymphadenopathy only, a 6-month course of isoniazid and rifampin is sufficient.
Drugs can be given 2 or 3 times per week under DOT in the initial phase if nonadherence is likely.
rifampin, once a day or twice a week For patients who may have acquired tuberculosis in (9–12 months total) geographic areas where resistance to streptomycin is common, capreomycin, kanamycin, or amikacin may be used instead of streptomycin.
Recommendations from Pickering LK, Baker CJ, Long SS, et al: Red Book: 2012 Report of the Committee on Infectious Diseases, ed 27, Elk Grove Village, IL, 2012,
American Academy of Pediatrics. DOT, Directly observed therapy; TST, tuberculin skin test.
given. Therapy for latent infection is aimed at eradicating thepresumably small inoculum of organisms sequestered withinmacrophages and suppressed by normal T cell activity. Toprevent reactivation of these latent bacilli, therapy with a single agent (usually isoniazid for 9 months) is suggested. Children with primary pulmonary tuberculosis and patients withextrapulmonary tuberculosis have medium-sized populationsin which significant numbers of drug-resistant organisms mayor may not be present. In general these patients are treated withat least two drugs (Table 124-3) for a prolonged course, typically6 to 9, depending on the type of disease. Isoniazid and rifampinare bactericidal for M. tuberculosis and are effective against allpopulations of mycobacteria. Along with pyrazinamide, theyform the backbone of the antimicrobial treatment of tuberculosis. Other drugs are used in special circumstances, such astuberculous meningitis and antibiotic-resistant tuberculosis.
A 9-month regimen of isoniazid and rifampin cures greater than 98% of cases of drug-susceptible pulmonary tuberculosis. After daily administration for the first 1 to 2 months, both drugs can be given daily or twice weekly for the remaining 7 to 8 months, with equivalent results and low rates of adverse reactions. The addition of pyrazinamide for the first 2 months of the regimen reduces the total duration of treatment to 6 months and has similar efficacy. Noncompliance, or nonadherence, is a major problem in tuberculosis control because of the long-term nature of treatment and the sometimes difficult social circumstances of the patients. As treatment regimens become shorter, adherence assumes an even greater importance. Improvement in compliance occurs with directly observed therapy, which means that the health care worker is physically present when the medications are administered, and is the standard of care in most settings.
The prognosis of tuberculosis in infants, children, and adolescents is excellent with early recognition and effective chemotherapy. In most children with pulmonary tuberculosis, the disease completely resolves, and ultimately radiographic findings are normal. The prognosis for children with bone and joint tuberculosis and tuberculous meningitis depends directly on the stage of disease at the time antituberculosis medications are started. Tuberculosis of the spine may result in angulation or gibbus formation that requires surgical correction after the infection is cured. Most childhood tuberculous meningitis occurs in developing countries, where the prognosis is poor.
Tuberculosis control programs involve case finding and treatment, which interrupts secondary transmission of infection from close contacts. Infected close contacts are identified by positive TST reactions and can be started on appropriate treatment to prevent transmission.
Prevention of transmission in health care settings involves appropriate physical ventilation of the air around the source case. Offices, clinics, and hospital rooms used by adults with possible tuberculosis should have adequate ventilation, with air exhausted to the outside (negative-pressure ventilation).Health care providers should have annual TSTs.
The only available vaccine against tuberculosis is the bacille Calmette-Guérin vaccine. The original vaccine organism was a strain of Mycobacterium bovis attenuated by subculture every 3 weeks for 13 years. The preferred route of administration is intradermal injection with a syringe and needle because this is the only method that permits accurate measurement of an individual dose. The official recommendation of the World Health Organization is a single dose administered during infancy. This vaccine is not routinely used in the United States. Some studies show bacille Calmette-Guérin to provide 80% to 90% protection from tuberculosis, and other studies show no protective efficacy at all. Many infants who receive bacille Calmette-Guérin vaccine never have a positive TST reaction. When a reaction does occur, the induration size is usually less than 10 mm, and the reaction wanes after several years.
The cause of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), a single-stranded RNA virus of the retrovirus family that produces a reverse transcriptase enabling the viral RNA to act as a template for DNA transcription and integration into the host genome. HIV-1 causes 99% of all human cases. HIV-2, which is less virulent, causes 1% to 9% of cases in parts of Africa and is very rare in the United States.
HIV infects helper T cells (CD4 cells) and cells of monocyte-macrophage lineage via interaction of viral protein gp120 with the CD4 molecule and chemokines (CXCR4 on T cells and CCR5 on dendritic cells and macrophages) that serve as coreceptors. Interaction with these molecules facilitates membrane fusion and cell entry by the virus. HIV infection directly and indirectly depletes CD4 T cells. Because helper T cells are important for delayed hypersensitivity, T cell–dependent B cell antibody production, and T cell–mediated lymphokine activation of macrophages, their destruction produces a profound combined (B and T cell) immunodeficiency. A lack of T cell regulation and unrestrained antigenic stimulation result in polyclonal hypergammaglobulinemia with nonspecific and ineffective globulins. Other cells bearing CD4, such as microglia, astrocytes, oligodendroglia, and placental tissues also may be infected with HIV.
HIV infection is a continuously progressive process with a variable period of clinical latency before development of AIDS-defining conditions. All untreated patients have evidence of ongoing viral replication and progressive CD4 lymphocyte depletion. There are no overt manifestations of immunodeficiency until CD4 cell numbers decline to critical threshold levels. Quantitation of the viral load has become an important parameter in management.
Horizontal transmission of HIV is by sexual contact (vaginal, anal, or orogenital), percutaneous contact (from contaminated needles or other sharp objects), or mucous membrane exposure to contaminated blood or body fluid. Transmission by contaminated blood and blood products has been eliminated in developed countries but still occurs in developing countries. Vertical transmission of HIV from mother to infant may occur transplacentally in utero, during birth, or by breastfeeding. Risk factors for perinatal transmission include prematurity, rupture of membranes more than 4 hours, and high maternal circulating levels of HIV at delivery. Perinatal transmission can be decreased from approximately 25% to less than 8% with antiretroviral treatment of the mother before and during delivery and postnatal treatment of the infant. Breastfeeding by HIV-infected mothers increases the risk of vertical transmission by 30% to 50%. In untreated infants, the mean incubation interval for development of an AIDS-defining condition after vertical transmission is 5 months (range, 1 to 24 months) compared with a longer incubation period after horizontal transmission of 7 to 10 years.
Worldwide, as of 2010, approximately 34 million persons are living with HIV and 3.4 million of them are children. Therewere 2.7 million new infections in 2010 with approximately390,000 new infections in children. Roughly 70% of all people living with HIV reside in sub-Saharan Africa. Worldwide, 1.8 million people died from HIV-related illnesses in 2010. In2010 the estimated number of people over the age of 13 yearsand living with HIV in the United States was 1.1 million, and approximately 9800 children are infected. Vertical transmission is much less common than previously, and approximately50 infants are born with HIV infection each year in the UnitedStates. Most pediatric cases now occur in adolescents whoengage in unprotected sexual activities. Worldwide the numberof deaths related to HIV and the number of children infected with HIV have steadily decreased in large part due to treatmentwith antiretroviral therapy.
Available @ StudentConsult.comNeck Masses Hoarseness Diarrhea Arthritis Fever and Rash Lymphadenopathy Anemia Petechiae/Purpura Failure to Thrive
In adolescents and adults, primary infection results in the acute retroviral syndrome that develops after an incubation period of 2 to 6 weeks and consists of fever, malaise, weight loss, pharyngitis, lymphadenopathy, and often a maculopapular rash. The risk of opportunistic infections and other AIDS-defining conditions is related to the depletion of CD4 T cells. A combination of CD4 cell count and percentage and clinical manifestations is used to classify HIV infection in children (Tables 125-1 and 125-2).
Initial symptoms with vertical transmission vary and may include failure to thrive, neurodevelopmental delay, lymphadenopathy, hepatosplenomegaly, chronic or recurrent diarrhea, interstitial pneumonia, or oral thrush. These findings may be subtle and remarkable only by their persistence.
From Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: 1994 revised classification system for human immunodeficiency virus infection in children less than 13 years of age,
MMWR 43(RR-12):1–10, 1994.Manifestations that are more common in children than adults with HIV infection include recurrent bacterial infections, lymphoid hyperplasia, chronic parotid swelling, lymphocytic interstitial pneumonitis, and earlier onset of progressive neurologic deterioration. Pulmonary manifestations of HIV infection are common and include Pneumocystis jirovecipneumonia, which can present early in infancy as a primary pneumonia characterized by hypoxia, tachypnea, retractions, elevated serum lactate dehydrogenase, and fever.
In the United States, most pregnant women are screened and, if indicated, treated for HIV infection. Infants born to HIV-infected mothers receive prophylaxis and are prospectively tested for infection. The diagnosis of HIV infection in most infants born in the United States is confirmed before development of clinical signs of infection.
HIV infection can be diagnosed definitively by 1 month of age and in virtually all infected infants by 6 months of age using viral diagnostic assays (RNA polymerase chain reaction [PCR], DNA PCR, or virus culture). Maternal antibodies may be detectable until 12 to 15 months of age, and a positive serologic test is not considered diagnostic until 18 months of age.
HIV DNA PCR is the preferred virologic method for diagnosing HIV infection during infancy and identifies 38% of infected infants at 48 hours and 96% at 28 days. Diagnostic viral testing should be performed by 48 hours of age, at 1 to 2 months of age, and at 3 to 6 months of age. An additional test at 14 days of age is often performed because the diagnostic sensitivity increases rapidly by 2 weeks of age. HIV RNA PCR has 25% to 40% sensitivity during the first weeks of life, increasing to 90% to 100% by 2 to 3 months of age. However a negative HIV RNA PCR cannot be used to exclude infection and, thus, is not recommended as first-line testing.
HIV infection of an exposed infant is confirmed if virologic tests are positive on two separate occasions. HIV infection can be reasonably excluded in nonbreastfed infants with at least two virologic tests performed at older than 1 month of age, with one test being performed after 4 months of age, or at least two negative antibody tests performed after 6 months of age, with an interval of at least 1 month between the tests. Loss of HIV antibody combined with negative HIV DNA PCR confirms absence of HIV infection. Persistence of a positive HIV antibody test after 18 months of age indicates HIV infection.
The differential diagnosis of AIDS in infants includes primary immunodeficiency syndromes and intrauterine infections with cytomegalovirus (CMV) and syphilis. Prominenceof individual symptoms, such as diarrhea, may suggest otheretiologies.
Management of HIV infection in children and adolescents is rapidly evolving and becoming increasingly complex. It should be directed by a specialist in the treatment of HIV infection. Therapy is initiated based on the severity of HIV disease, as indicated by AIDS-defining conditions, and the risk of disease progression, as indicated by CD4 cell count and plasma HIV RNA level (Table 125-3). Initiation of antiretroviral therapy while the patient is still asymptomatic may preserve immune function and prevent clinical progression but incurs the adverse effects of therapy and may facilitate emergence of drug-resistant virus. Because the risk of HIV progression is fourfold to sixfold greater in infants and very young children, treatment recommendations for children are more aggressive than for adults. All age groups show rapid increases in risk as CD4 cell percentage declines to less than 15%.
Initiation of therapy (see Table 125-3) is recommended for infants less than 12 months of age regardless of symptoms of HIV disease or HIV RNA level. Initiation of therapy is recommended for all children 1 to 5 years of age with AIDS or significant HIV-related symptoms or CD4 below 25% (clinical category C or most clinical category B) regardless of symptoms or HIV RNA level. For children older than 5 years with AIDS or significant HIV-related symptoms, CD4 count below 350/mm3 should be treated. Indications for treatment of adolescents and adults include CD4 cell count less than 200 to 350/mm3 or plasma HIV RNA levels above 55,000 copies/mL.
Combination therapy with highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) is recommended based on the risk of disease progression as determined by CD4 percentage or count and plasma HIV RNA copy number; the potential benefits
Children who have no signs or symptoms considered to be the result of HIV infection or who have only one of the conditions listed in category A
Children with two or more of the following conditions, but none of the conditions listed in categories B and C: Lymphadenopathy (nodal tissue enlargement of ≥0.5 cm palpable at more than two sites; bilateral = one site)
Recurrent or persistent upper respiratory infection, sinusitis, orChildren who have symptomatic conditions, other than those listed for category A or category C, that are attributed to HIV infection. Examples of conditions in clinical category B include, but are not limited to, the following:
Anemia (<8 g/dL), neutropenia (<1000/mm3), or thrombocytopenia (<100,000/mm3) persisting ≥30 days
Bacterial meningitis, pneumonia, or sepsis (single episode) Candidiasis, oropharyngeal (i.e., thrush) persisting for >2 months in children younger than 6 months of age
Cardiomyopathy Cytomegalovirus infection with onset before the age of 1 month Diarrhea, recurrent or chronic Hepatitis HSV stomatitis, recurrent (i.e., more than two episodes within 1
HSV bronchitis, pneumonitis, or esophagitis with onset before the age of 1 month Herpes zoster (i.e., shingles) involving at least two distinct episodes or more than one dermatome Leiomyosarcoma LIP or pulmonary lymphoid hyperplasia complex Nephropathy Nocardiosis Fever lasting >1 month Varicella, disseminated (i.e., complicated chickenpox)
Serious bacterial infections, multiple or recurrent (i.e., any combination of at least two culture-confirmed infections within a 2-year period), of the following types: septicemia, pneumonia, meningitis, bone or joint infection, or abscess of an internal organ or body cavity (excluding otitis media, superficial skin or mucosal abscesses, and indwelling catheter-related infections) Candidiasis, esophageal or pulmonary (bronchi, trachea, lungs)
Coccidioidomycosis, disseminated (at site other than or in addition to lungs or cervical or hilar lymph nodes)
Cryptococcosis, extrapulmonaryCryptosporidiosis or isosporiasis with diarrhea persisting >1 monthCytomegalovirus disease with onset of symptoms before the age of 1 month (other than liver, spleen, or lymph nodes)
Encephalopathy (at least one progressive deficit present for at least 2 months in the absence of a concurrent illness): (a) failure to attain or loss of developmental milestones/intellectual ability, verified by standard scale or tests; (b) impaired brain growth or acquired microcephaly; (c) acquired symmetric motor deficit manifested by two or more of the following: paresis, pathologic reflexes, ataxia, or gait disturbance
Herpes simplex virus infection (mucocutaneous ulcer persisting for >1 month; bronchitis, pneumonitis, or esophagitis affecting a child younger than 1 month of age
Histoplasmosis, disseminated (other than or in addition to lungs or cervical or hilar lymph nodes) Kaposi sarcoma
Lymphoma (primary tumor, in brain; Burkitt lymphoma; immunoblastic or large cell lymphoma of B cell or unknown immunologic phenotype)
Mycobacterium tuberculosis, disseminated or extrapulmonaryMycobacterium, other species or unidentified species, disseminated (other than or in addition to lungs, skin, or cervical or hilar lymph nodes)
Mycobacterium avium complex or Mycobacterium kansasii, disseminated (other than or in addition to lungs, skin, or cervical or hilar lymph nodes)
Salmonella (nontyphoid) septicemia, recurrentToxoplasmosis of the brain with onset before the age of 1 month
Wasting syndrome in the absence of a concurrent illness could explain the following findings: (a) persistent weight loss >10% of baseline or (b) downward crossing of at least two percentile lines on the weight-for-age chart or (c) below the 5th percentile on the weight-for-height chart on two consecutive measurements, ≥30 days apart, plus (1) chronic diarrhea (i.e., two or more loose stools per day for >30 days) or (2) documented fever (for ≥30 days, intermittent or constant)
From the Working Group on Antiretroviral Therapy and Medical Management of HIV-infected Children: Guidelines for the Use of Antiretroviral Agents in Pediatric HIV Infection. Department of Health and Human Services. February 23, 2009. Available at http://aidsinfo.nih.gov/contentfiles/PediatricGuidelines.pdf . Updated from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: 1994 revised classification system for human immunodeficiency virus infection in children less than 13 years of age, MMWR 43(RR-12):1–10, 1994.
HIV, Human immunodeficiency virus infection; HSV, herpes simplex virus; LIP, lymphoid interstitial pneumonia.
<12 months • Regardless of clinical Treat symptoms, immune status, or viral load
CD4 <25%, regardless of Treat symptoms or HIV RNA level† ◯ HIV RNA ≥100,000 copies/mL ◯ HIV RNA < 100,000 copies/mL ◯ HIV RNA < 100,000 copies/mL ◯ HIV RNA < 100,000 copies/mL *CDC clinical categories C and B (except for the following category B conditions: single episode of serious bacterial infection or lymphoid interstitial pneumonitis).
†The data supporting this recommendation are stronger for those with CD4 percentage <20% than for those with CD4 percentage of 20% to 24%.
‡CDC clinical category A or N or the following category B conditions: single episode of serious bacterial infection or lymphoid interstitial pneumonitis. §Clinical and laboratory data should be re-evaluated every 3 to 4 months. ‖The data supporting this recommendation are stronger for those with CD4 count <200 than for those with CD4 counts of 200 to 350 cells/mm3.
and risks of therapy; and the ability of the caregiver to adhere to administration of the therapeutic regimen. Effective combination therapy significantly reduces viral loads and leads to the amelioration of clinical symptoms and opportunistic infections. Combination therapy that includes either a non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor or a protease inhibitor (PI) plus a dual–nucleoside/nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitor backbone is recommended for initial treatment of all HIV infected children. The goal of therapy is to reduce the plasma HIV RNA to below the level of detection and normalize or preserve the patient’s immune status. The most recent specific recommendations for treatment regimens ( http://aidsinfo.nih.gov/guidelines/ ) should be consulted before initiating therapy for any patient.
The ability of HIV to develop resistance to antiretroviral agents rapidly and the development of cross-resistance to several classes of agents simultaneously are major problems. Determination of HIV RNA, CD4 cell count, and HIV phenotype and genotype is essential for monitoring and modifying antiretroviral treatment.
Routine immunizations are recommended to prevent vaccine-preventable infections but may result in suboptimal immune responses. In addition to heptavalent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine, 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine is recommended for HIV-infected children at 2 years of age and adolescents and adults with CD4 counts at or above 200/mm3. Because of the risk of fatal measles in children with AIDS, children without severe immunosuppression should receive their first dose of MMR at 12 months of age and may receive the booster as soon as 4 weeks later. Varicella zoster virus (VZV) vaccine should be given only to asymptomatic, nonimmunosuppressed children beginning at 12 months of age as two doses of vaccine at least 3 months apart. Inactivated split influenza virus vaccine should be administered annually to all HIV-infected children at or after 6 months of age. HIV-infected children exposed to varicella or measles should receive varicella zoster immune globulin or immunoglobulin prophylaxis.
The approach to the numerous opportunistic infections in HIV-infected patients involves treatment and prophylaxis for infections likely to occur as CD4 cells are depleted. With potent antiretroviral therapy and immune reconstitution, routine prophylaxis for common opportunistic infections depends on the child’s age and CD4 count. Infants born to HIV-infected mothers receive prophylaxis for P. jiroveci pneumonia with trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMZ) beginning at 4 to 6 weeks of age and continued for the first year of life or discontinued if HIV infection is subsequently excluded. TMP-SMZ prophylaxis for P. jiroveci pneumonia for older children and adolescents is provided if CD4 cell counts are less than 200/ mm3 or there is history of oropharyngeal candidiasis. Clarithromycin prophylaxis for Mycobacterium avium-complexinfection is provided if CD4 cell counts are below 50/mm3.
P. jiroveci pneumonia is treated with high-dose TMP-SMZ and corticosteroids. Oral and gastrointestinal candidiasis is common in children and usually responds to imidazole therapy. VZV infection may be severe and should be treated with acyclovir or other antivirals. Recurrent herpes simplex virus (HSV) infections also may require long-term antiviral prophylaxis. Other common infections in HIV-infected patients include toxoplasmosis, CMV, Epstein-Barr virus infection, salmonellosis, and tuberculosis.
Children and adults with HIV are prone to malignancies, especially non-Hodgkin lymphomas, with the gastrointestinal tract being the most common site. Leiomyosarcomas are the second most common tumors among HIV-infected children. Kaposi sarcoma, caused by HHV-8, is distinctly rare in children with HIV. It was once common among adults with AIDS and is now infrequent with HAART.
The availability of HAART has improved the prognosis for HIV and AIDS dramatically. Risk of death is directly related to the degree of immunosuppression, viral load, and young age.
Children less than 1 year of age with very low CD4 percentiles and high viral loads have the poorest prognosis.
Identification of HIV-infected women before or during pregnancy is crucial to providing optimal therapy for infected women and their infants and to preventing perinatal transmission. Prenatal HIV counseling and testing with consent should be provided for all pregnant women in the United States.
The rate of vertical transmission is reduced to less than 8% by chemoprophylaxis with a regimen of zidovudine to the mother (100 mg five times/24 hours orally) started by 4 weeks gestation, continued during delivery (2 mg/kg loading dose intravenously followed by 1 mg/kg/hour intravenously), and then administered to the newborn for the first 6 weeks of life (2 mg/kg every 6 hours orally). Other regimens incorporating single-dose nevirapine for infants have been shown to be similarly effective and are used in developing countries. The current recommendations for the United States include a 6-week prophylactic with zidovudine for the infant in combination with maternal intrapartum therapy. The maternal regimen includes continuation of antiretroviral therapy (if appropriate) and intravenous zidovudine if the mother’s viral load is >400 copies/mL or is unknown ( http://aidsinfo.nih.gov/ contentfiles/lvguidelines/peri_recommendations.pdf ). Scheduled cesarean section at 38 weeks to prevent vertical transmission is recommended for women with HIV RNA levels greater than 1000 copies/mL, but it is unclear whether cesarean section is beneficial when viral load is less than 1000 copies/mL or when membranes have already ruptured.
Preventing HIV infection in adults decreases the incidence of infection in children. Adult prevention results from behavior changes such as safe-sex practices, decrease in intravenous drug use, and needle exchange programs. Prevention of pediatric AIDS includes avoidance of pregnancy and breastfeeding (in developed countries) in high-risk women. Screening of blood donors has almost eliminated the risk of HIV transmission from blood products. HIV infection almost never is transmitted in a casual or nonsexual household setting.
Feigin RD, Cherry J, Demmler GJ, et al: Textbook of Pediatric Infectious
Diseases, ed 6, Philadelphia, 2009, SaundersIsaacs D: Evidence-based Pediatric Infectious Disease, Malden, MA, 2007,Kliegman RM, Stanton BF, Behrman RE, et al: Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics, ed 19, Philadelphia, 2007, Saunders
Long SS, Pickering LK, Prober CG: Principles and Practice of Pediatric Infec tious Diseases, ed 4, Philadelphia, 2012, Churchill Livingstone
Pickering LK, Baker CJ, Long SS, et al: Red Book: 2012 Report of the Com mittee on Infectious Diseases, ed 27, Elk Grove Village, IL, 2012, American
Academy of PediatricsPlotkin SA, Orenstein WA, Offit PA: Vaccines, ed 5, Philadelphia, 2008,
The Digestive SystemWarren P. Bishop and Dawn R. Ebach 17After identifying the major gastrointestinal (GI) symptom, onset and progression should be determined (improved, unchanged, worsening). Characterization of signs and symptoms should identify factors such as triggers; actions that alleviate the symptom; timing, frequency and duration of symptoms; relationship to meals and defecation; and associated symptoms (e.g., fever or weight loss). Other key history includes exposures to others (family, school contacts), travel, environmental exposure, and impact of illness on the child (school absences).
The history may suggest a diagnosis and direct the evaluation, which should include a full examination as well as a thorough abdominal examination. Extraintestinal disorders may produce GI manifestations (e.g., emesis with group A streptococcal pharyngitis, abdominal pain with lower lobe pneumonia). The examination should begin with a careful external inspection for abdominal distention, bruising or discoloration, abnormal veins, jaundice, surgical scars, and ostomies. Abnormalities of intensity and pitch of bowel sounds can occur with bowel obstruction. When palpating for tenderness, the examiner should note location, facial expression, guarding, and rebound tenderness. Palpation can also detect enlargement of the liver or spleen as well as feces and masses. If detected, organomegaly should be measured (with a tape measure), noting abnormal firmness or contour. A rectal examination, including inspection for fissures, skin tags, abscesses, and fistulous openings, should be performed for children with history suggesting constipation, GI bleeding, abdominal pain, chronic diarrhea, and suspicion of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Digital rectal examination should include assessment of anal sphincter tone, anal canal size and elasticity, tenderness, extrinsic masses, presence of fecal impaction, and caliber of the rectum. Stool should be tested for occult blood.
A complete blood count may provide evidence for inflammation (white blood cell [WBC] and platelet count), poornutrition or bleeding (hemoglobin, red blood cell volume, reticulocyte count), and infection (WBC number and differential, presence of toxic granulation). Serum electrolytes, bloodurea nitrogen (BUN), and creatinine help define hydration status. Tests of liver dysfunction include total and direct bilirubin, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase for evidence of hepatocellular injury, and γ-glutamyltransferase oralkaline phosphatase for evidence of bile duct injury. Hepatic synthetic function can be assessed by coagulation factor levels,prothrombin time, and albumin level. Pancreatic enzyme tests (amylase, lipase) provide evidence of pancreatic injury or inflammation. Urinalysis can gauge dehydration and identify a possible source of protein loss.
Consultation with a radiologist is often advisable to discuss appropriate imaging, decide what variants of the technique to use, and learn how to prepare the patient for the study.
A plain abdominal x-ray to document excessive retained stool when history is consistent with constipation and encopresis is not necessary, as examination alone can confirm the diagnosis.
Endoscopy permits the direct visualization of the interior of the gut. Video endoscopes may be used even in very small infants by pediatric gastroenterologists. Wireless capsule endoscopy (Fig. 126-1) enables visualization of lesions beyond the reach of conventional endoscopes.
Consultation with a pediatric gastroenterologist for endoscopy is recommended for further evaluation of suspectedesophageal or gastric inflammation unresponsive to medications and to confirm the diagnosis of eosinophilic esophagitisor celiac disease, evaluate gastrointestinal bleeding, evaluatesuspected inflammatory bowel disease, and screen for polypdisorders. In addition, a trained endoscopist can removeesophageal and gastric foreign bodies and place feeding tubes.
Available @ StudentConsult.comFigure 126-1 Wireless capsule endoscopy: Aphthous ulcers (arrows) in jejunum diagnostic of Crohn’s disease in patient with negative find-ings on upper endoscopy and colonoscopy.
Abdominal pain can result from injury to the intra-abdominal organs or overlying somatic structures in the abdominalwall, or from extra-abdominal diseases. Visceral pain results when autonomic nerves within the gut detect injury, transmitting sensation by nonmyelinated fibers. The pain is vague, dull,slow in onset, and poorly localized. A variety of stimuli, including normal peristalsis and various intraluminal chemical andosmotic states, activate these fibers to some degree. Regardlessof the stimulus, visceral pain is perceived when a threshold ofintensity or duration is crossed. Lower degrees of activation may result in perception of nonpainful or perhaps vaguelyuncomfortable sensations, whereas more intensive stimulation of these fibers results in pain. Overactive sensation may be thebasis of some kinds of abdominal pain, such as functional abdominal pain and irritable bowel syndrome.
In contrast to visceral pain, somatic pain results when overlying body structures are injured. Somatic structures include the parietal peritoneum, fascia, muscles, and skin of the abdominal wall. In contrast to pain emanating from visceral injury, somatic nociceptive fibers are myelinated and are capable of rapid transmission of well-localized painful stimuli. When intra-abdominal processes cause inflammation or injury to the parietal peritoneum or abdominal wall structures, poorly localized visceral pain becomes well-localized somatic pain. For example, in acute appendicitis, the initial activation of visceral nociceptive fibers yields poorly localized discomfort in the mid-abdomen. When the inflammatory process extends to the overlying parietal peritoneum, the pain becomes severe and localizes to the right lower quadrant. This is called somatoparietal pain.
Referred pain is a painful sensation in a body region distant from the true source of pain. The location of referred pain is predictable based on the locus of visceral injury. Stomach pain is referred to the epigastric and retrosternal regions, and liver and pancreas pain is referred to the epigastric region. Gallbladder pain often is referred to the region below the right scapula. Somatic pathways stimulated by small bowel visceral afferents affect the periumbilical area, and colonic injury results in infraumbilical referred pain.
Acute abdominal pain can signal the presence of a dangerous intra-abdominal process (e.g., appendicitis or bowel obstruction) or may originate from extraintestinal sources (e.g., lower lobe pneumonia or urinary tract stone). Not all episodes of acute abdominal pain require emergency intervention. Appendicitis and volvulus, for example, must be ruled out as quickly as possible. Few patients presenting with acute abdominal pain actually have a surgical emergency, but they must beseparated from cases that can be managed conservatively.
Table 126-1 lists a diagnostic approach to acute abdominal painin children. Events that occur with a discrete, abrupt onset, suchas passage of a stone, perforation of a viscus, or infarction, resultin a sudden onset of pain. Gradual onset of pain is common withinfectious or inflammatory causes, such as appendicitis and IBD.
A standard group of laboratory tests usually is performed for acute abdominal pain (see Table 126-1). An abdominal x-ray series evaluates for bowel obstruction or nephrolithiasis. Ultrasound or computed tomography (CT) can visualize the appendix if appendicitis is suspected but the diagnosis remains in doubt. If the initial evaluation suggests intussusception, a barium or pneumatic (air) enema may be used to diagnose and treat this condition (see Chapter 129).
Table 126-2 lists the differential diagnosis of acute abdominal pain in children. The urgent task of the clinician is to rule out surgical emergencies. In young children, malrotation with volvulus, incarcerated hernia, congenital anomalies, and intussusception are common concerns. In older children and teenagers, appendicitis is more common. An acute surgical abdomen is characterized by signs of peritonitis, including tenderness, abdominal wall rigidity, guarding, and absent or diminished bowel sounds. Helpful characteristics of onset, location, referral, and quality of pain are noted in Table 126-3.
Available @ StudentConsult.comRecurrent abdominal pain is a common problem, affecting more than 10% of all children. The peak incidence occurs between ages 7 and 12 years. Although the differential diagnosis of recurrent abdominal pain is fairly extensive (Table 126-4),most children do not have a serious (or even identifiable) underlying illness causing the pain.
Onset Sudden or gradual, prior episodes, association with meals, history of injury
Nature Sharp versus dull, colicky or constant, burningLocation Epigastric, periumbilical, generalized, right or left lower quadrant, change in location over time
Associated Fever, vomiting (bilious?), diarrhea (bloody?), symptoms abdominal distentionExtraintestinal Cough, dyspnea, dysuria, urinary frequency, symptoms flank painCourse of Worsening or improving, change in nature or symptoms location of pain, aggravating and alleviating factors
General Growth and nutrition, general appearance, position hydration, degree of discomfort, body position
Abdominal Tenderness, distention, bowel sounds, rigidity, guarding, massGenitalia Testicular torsion, hernia, pelvic inflammatory disease, ectopic pregnancySurrounding Breath sounds, rales, rhonchi, wheezing, flank structures tenderness, tenderness of abdominal wall structures, ribs, costochondral joints
Rectal Perianal lesions, stricture, tenderness, fecal examination impaction, bloodCBC, C-reactive Evidence of infection or inflammation protein, ESRAST, ALT, GGT, Biliary or liver disease bilirubinAmylase, lipase PancreatitisUrinalysis Urinary tract infection; bleeding due to stone, trauma, or obstruction
Plain flat Bowel obstruction, appendiceal fecalith, free and upright intraperitoneal air, kidney stones abdominal films
CT scan Intra-abdominal or pelvic abscess, appendicitis, Crohn’s disease, pancreatitis, gallstones, kidney stones
Barium enema Intussusception, malrotationUltrasound Gallstones, appendicitis, intussusception, pancreatitis, kidney stonesALT, Alanine aminotransferase; AST, aspartate aminotransferase; CBC, complete blood count; CT, computed tomography; ESR, erythrocyte sedimentation rate; GGT, γ-glutamyltransferase.
Intussusception* Malrotation with volvulus Ileus* Incarcerated hernia Postoperative adhesionChildren with functional abdominal pain characteristically have pain almost daily. The pain is not associated with meals Meconium ileus equivalent (cystic fibrosis) or relieved by defecation and is often associated with a ten-Duplication cyst dency toward anxiety and perfectionism. Symptoms often result from stress at school or in novel social situations. The *Common.
pain often is worst in the morning and often prevents or delays children from attending school. Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a subset of functional abdominal pain, characterized by onset of pain at the time of a change in stool frequency or consistency, a stool pattern fluctuating between diarrhea and constipation, and relief of pain with defecation. Symptoms in IBS are linked to gut motility. Pain is commonly accompanied in both groups of children by school avoidance, secondary gains, anxiety about imagined causes, lack of coping skills, and disordered peer relationships (Table 126-5).
One needs to distinguish between functional pain/IBS andmore serious underlying disorders. Warning signs for underlying illness are listed in Table 126-6. If present, further investigation is necessary. Some laboratory evaluation is warranted
Table 126-3 Distinguishing Features of Abdominal Pain in Children DISEASE ONSET LOCATION REFERRAL QUALITY COMMENTS Functional: irritable bowel syndrome Recurrent Periumbilical, splenic and hepatic flexures None Dull, crampy, intermittent; duration 2 h Family stress, school phobia, diarrhea and constipation; hypersensitive to pain from distention
Esophageal Recurrent, after Substernal Chest Burning Sour taste in mouth; reflux meals, at bedtime
Pancreatitis Acute Epigastric-hypogastric Back Constant, sharp, Nausea, emesis, marked boring tenderness
Inflammatory Recurrent Depends on site ofDull cramping, Fever, weight loss, ±Lactose Recurrent with milk Lower abdomen None Cramping Distention, gaseousness, diarrhea intolerance products
Urolithiasis Acute, sudden Back Groin Severe, colicky pain HematuriaPyelonephritis Acute, sudden Back None Dull to sharp Fever, costochondral tenderness, dysuria, urinary frequency, emesis
Adapted from Andreoli TE, Carpenter CJ, Plum F, et al: Cecil Essentials of Medicine, Philadelphia, 1986, WB Saunders.
even in the absence of warning signs. The initial evaluationrecommended in Table 126-7 is a sensible approach, avoidingunnecessary testing and providing ample sensitivity for mostserious underlying disorders. While waiting for laboratory andultrasound results, a 3-day trial of a lactose-free diet can evaluate for lactose intolerance. If tests are normal and no warningsigns are present, testing should be stopped. If there are warning signs, progression of symptoms, or laboratory abnormalities that suggest a specific diagnosis, additional investigation may be warranted.
Treatment of Recurrent Abdominal PainA child who is repeatedly kept home from school becauseof pain receives reinforcement in the form of being excusedfrom responsibilities and withdraws from full social functioning. This tends to both increase anxiety and prolong thecourse. To break the cycle of pain and disability, the childwith functional pain must be assisted in returning to normal activities immediately. Instead of being sent home fromschool with stomachaches, a child may be allowed to take ashort break from class until symptoms abate. The child and parents should be informed that pain is likely to be worse onthe day the child returns to school as anxiety worsens dysmotility and enhances pain perception. Medications may behelpful. Fiber supplements may help to manage symptoms ofIBS. Probiotics and peppermint oil can be beneficial in treating IBS. In difficult and persistent cases, cognitive behavioral
A. Diagnostic Criteria for Childhood Functional Abdominal PainMust include all of the following: 1.No evidence of an inflammatory, anatomic, metabolic, or neoplastic process that explains the subject’s symptoms.
B. Diagnostic Criteria for Childhood Functional Abdominal Pain SyndromeMust include functional abdominal pain at least 25% of the time and 1 or more of the following: 1.
Some loss of daily functioning 2.Additional somatic symptoms such as headache, limb pain, or difficulty sleeping
C. Diagnostic Criteria for Irritable Bowel SyndromeMust include all of the following: 1. Abdominal discomfort (an uncomfortable sensation not described as pain) or pain associated with 2 or more of the following at least 25% of the time: a.
improved with defecation b.onset associated with change in frequency of stool c.onset associated with a change in form (appearance) of stool 2. No evidence of an inflammatory, anatomic, metabolic, or neoplastic process that explains the subject’s symptoms.
D. Diagnostic Criteria for Abdominal MigraineMust include all of the following: 1.Paroxysmal episodes of intense, acute periumbilical pain that lasts for 1 hour or more.
Intervening periods of usual health lasting weeks to months.The pain interferes with normal activities.The pain is associated with 2 or more of the following: a.
5. No evidence of an inflammatory, anatomic, metabolic, or neoplastic process considered that explains the subject’s symptoms.
*Criteria fulfilled 2 or more times in the preceding 12 months.
E. Diagnostic Criteria for Cyclic Vomiting SyndromeMust include all of the following: 1.Two or more periods of intense nausea and unremitting vomiting or retching lasting hours to days.
Return to usual state of health lasting weeks to months.
F. Functional DiarrheaMust include all of the following 1.Daily painless, recurrent passage of three or more large, unformed stools.
Symptoms lasting more than 4 weeks.Onset of symptoms that begins between 6 and 36 months of age.
Passage of stools that occur during waking hours.There is no failure to thrive if caloric intake is adequate.
Courtesy of the Rome Foundation.Abnormal screening laboratory study (anemia, hypoalbuminemia,Family history of inflammatory bowel disease, celiac disease, or therapy, amitriptyline, or a selective serotonin reuptakeinhibitor may be helpful. When significant anxiety or socialdysfunction persists, a mental health professional should beconsulted.
Available @ StudentConsult.comVomiting is a coordinated, sequential series of events that leads to forceful oral emptying of gastric contents. It is a common problem in children and has many causes. Vomiting should be distinguished from regurgitation of stomach contents, also known as gastroesophageal reflux (GER), chalasia, or “spitting up.” Although the end result of vomiting and regurgitation is similar, they have completely different characteristics. Vomiting is usually preceded by nausea and is accompanied by forceful gagging and retching. Regurgitation, on the other hand, is effortless and not preceded by nausea.
In neonates with true vomiting, congenital obstructive lesions should be considered. Allergic reactions to formula in the first 2 months of life may present with vomiting. Infantile GER (“spitting up”) occurs in most infants and can be large in volume, but is effortless and these infants do not appear ill. Pyloric stenosis occurs in the first months of life and is characterized by steadily worsening, forceful vomiting that occurs immediately after feedings. A visibly distended stomach, often with visible peristaltic waves, is often seen before vomiting. Pyloric stenosis is more common in male infants; the family history may be positive. Other obstructive lesions, such as intestinal duplication cysts, atresias, webs, and midgut
Determine degree of functional impairment (e.g., missing school) CBC ESR Amylase, lipase
Urinalysis Abdominal ultrasound—examine liver, bile ducts, gallbladder, pancreas, kidneys, ureters (move to follow up)
Trial of 3-day lactose-free diet CT scan of the abdomen and pelvis with oral, rectal, and intravenous contrast
Barium upper GI series with small bowel follow-throughEndoscopy of the esophagus, stomach, and duodenumCBC, Complete blood count; CT, computed tomography; ESR, erythrocyte sedimentation rate; GI, gastrointestinal. *Consider using one or more of these to investigate warning signs, abnormal laboratory tests, or specific or persistent symptoms.
malrotation, should be considered. Metabolic disorders (e.g.,organic acidemias, galactosemia, urea cycle defects, adrenogenital syndromes) may present with vomiting in infants. Inolder children with acute vomiting, viruses and food poisoning are common. Other infections, especially streptococcalpharyngitis, urinary tract infections, and otitis media, commonly result in vomiting. When vomiting is chronic, centralnervous system (CNS) causes (increased intracranial pressure,migraine) must be considered. Cyclic vomiting syndrome or migraine may be the etiology of recurrent vomiting. Whenabdominal pain or bilious emesis accompanies vomiting, evaluation for bowel obstruction, peptic disorders, and appendicitismust be immediately initiated.
Table 126-8 lists common diagnoses that must be considered and their important historical features. Given the frequency of viral gastroenteritis as the etiology, it is important to be alert for unusual features that suggest another diagnosis. Viral gastroenteritis usually is not associated with severe abdominal pain or headache and does not recur at frequent intervals.
Physical examination should include assessment of the child’s hydration status, including examination of capillary refill, moistness of mucous membranes, and skin turgor (see Chapter 38). The chest should be auscultated for evidence of rales or other signs of pulmonary involvement. The abdomen must be examined carefully for distention, organomegaly, bowel sounds, tenderness, and guarding. A rectal examination and testing stool for occult blood should be considered.
Laboratory evaluation of vomiting should include serumelectrolytes, tests of renal function, complete blood count, amylase, lipase, and liver function tests. Additional testing may berequired immediately when history and examination suggest aspecific etiology. Ultrasound is useful to look for pyloric steno-sis, gallstones, renal stones, hydronephrosis, biliary obstruction,pancreatitis, malrotation, intussusception, and other anatomic
Table 126-8 Differential Diagnosis and Historical Features of Vomiting DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS HISTORICAL CLUES Viral gastroenteritis Fever, diarrhea, sudden onset, absence of pain Gastroesophageal reflux Effortless, not preceded by nausea, chronic
Hepatitis Jaundice, history of exposureOtitis media Fever, ear painUrinary tract infection Dysuria, unusual urine odor, frequency, incontinencePneumonia Cough, fever, chest discomfortMilk or soy protein intolerance (infants) Associated with particular formula or food, blood in stools
Peptic ulcer or gastritis Epigastric pain, blood or coffee-ground material in emesis, pain relieved by acid blockade
Appendicitis Fever, abdominal pain migrating to the right lower quadrant, tenderness
Intestinal atresia Neonate, usually bilious, polyhydramniosMidgut malrotation Pain, bilious vomiting, GI bleeding, shockIntussusception Colicky pain, lethargy, vomiting, currant jelly stools, mass occasionally
Duplication cysts Colic, massPyloric stenosis Nonbilious vomiting, postprandial, <4 mo old, hunger, progressive weight loss
Bacterial gastroenteritis Fever, often with bloody diarrheaHydrocephalus Large head, altered mental status, bulging fontanellesMeningitis Fever, stiff neckMigraine syndrome Attacks scattered in time, relieved by sleep; headache
Cyclic vomiting syndrome Similar to migraine, usually no headacheBrain tumor Morning vomiting, accelerating over time, headache, diplopiaMotion sickness Associated with travel in vehicleMetabolic disease Presentation early in life, worsens when catabolic or exposure to substrate
Pregnancy Morning, sexually active, cessation of mensesDrug reaction or side effect Associated with increased dose or new medication
Cancer chemotherapy Temporarily related to administration of chemotherapeutic drugs abnormalities. CT may be indicated to rule out appendicitis or to observe structures that cannot be visualized well by ultrasound. Barium studies can show obstructive or inflammatorylesions of the gut and can be therapeutic, as in the use of contrast enemas for intussusception (see Chapter 129).
Treatment needs to address the consequences and the causesof the vomiting. Dehydration must be treated with fluid resuscitation. This can be accomplished in most cases with oralfluid-electrolyte solutions, but intravenous (IV) fluids may berequired. Electrolyte imbalances should be corrected by appropriate choice of fluids. Underlying causes should be treatedwhen possible.
The use of antiemetic medications is controversial. These drugs should not be prescribed until the etiology of the vomitingis known, and then only for severe symptoms. Phenothiazines, such as prochlorperazine, may be useful for reducing symptoms in food poisoning and motion sickness. Their side-effectprofile must be considered carefully, however, and the doseprescribed should be conservative. Anticholinergics (e.g., scopolamine) and antihistamines (e.g., dimenhydrinate) are usefulfor the prophylaxis and treatment of motion sickness. Drugsthat block serotonin 5-HT3 receptors, such as ondansetron andgranisetron, are frequently used for viral gastroenteritis and canimprove tolerance of oral rehydration therapy. They are helpful for chemotherapy-induced vomiting, often combined withdexamethasone. No antiemetic should be used in patients withsurgical emergencies or when a specific treatment of the underlying condition is possible. Correction of dehydration, ketosis,and acidosis is helpful to reduce vomiting in most patients withviral gastroenteritis.
Available @ StudentConsult.comDiarrhea is a major cause of childhood morbidity and mortality worldwide. Deaths from diarrhea are rare in industrializedcountries, but are common elsewhere. Acute diarrhea is a majorproblem when it occurs with malnutrition or in the absence ofbasic medical care (see Chapter 30). In North America, mostacute diarrhea is viral and is self-limited, requiring no diagnostic testing or specific intervention. Bacterial agents tend to causemuch more severe illness and typically are seen in food-associated outbreaks or in regions with poor public sanitation. Bacterial enteritis should be suspected when there is dysentery(bloody diarrhea with fever) and whenever severe symptoms arepresent. These infections can be diagnosed by stool culture orother assays for specific pathogens. Chronic diarrhea lasts more than 2 weeks and has a wide range of possible causes, includingserious and benign conditions that are more difficult to diagnose.
Parents use the word diarrhea to describe loose or watery stools, excessively frequent stools, or stools that are large in volume. Constipation with overflow incontinence can be mislabeled as diarrhea. A more exact definition of diarrhea is excessive daily stool liquid volume (>10 mL stool/kg body weight/day). Stool texture, volume, and frequency help to characterize the episode of diarrhea.
Diarrhea may be classified by etiology or by physiologic mechanisms (secretory or osmotic). Etiologic agents include viruses,bacteria or their toxins, chemicals, parasites, malabsorbed substances, and inflammation. Table 126-9 lists common causes of diarrhea in childhood. Secretory diarrhea occurs when the intestinal mucosa directly secretes fluid and electrolytes intothe stool and is the result of inflammation (e.g., inflammatorybowel disease, chemical stimulus). Secretion also is stimulatedby mediators of inflammation and by various hormones, suchas vasoactive intestinal peptide secreted by a neuroendocrinetumor. Cholera is a secretory diarrhea stimulated by the enterotoxin of Vibrio cholerae, which causes increased levels of cAMP within enterocytes and leads to secretion into the small-bowellumen.
Osmotic diarrhea occurs after malabsorption of aningested substance, which “pulls” water into the bowellumen. A classic example is the diarrhea of lactose intolerance. Osmotic diarrhea also can result from generalizedmaldigestion, such as that seen with pancreatic insufficiency or with intestinal injury. Certain nonabsorbable laxatives, such as polyethylene glycol and milk of magnesia,also cause osmotic diarrhea. Fermentation of malabsorbed substances (e.g., lactose) often occurs, resulting in gas,cramps, and acidic stools. A common cause of chronic loosestools in early childhood is functional diarrhea, commonly known as toddler’s diarrhea. This condition is defined byfrequent watery stools in the setting of normal growth and
Common Gastroenteritis* Gastroenteritis* Gastroenteritis* Systemic infection Food poisoning Food poisoning Antibiotic associated (?) Systemic infection Antibiotic associated Antibiotic associated
Common Postinfectious secondary lactase deficiency Cow’s milk/soy protein intolerance Chronic nonspecific diarrhea of infancy (toddler’s diarrhea) Celiac disease Cystic fibrosis AIDS enteropathy Postinfectious secondary lactase deficiency Irritable bowel syndrome Celiac disease Lactose intolerance Giardiasis Inflammatory bowel disease Irritable bowel syndrome Inflammatory bowel disease Lactose intolerance Giardiasis Laxative abuse (anorexia nervosa) Celiac disease
Rare Primary immune defects Familial villous atrophy (?) Secretory tumors Congenital chloridorrhea Acrodermatitis enteropathica Lymphangiectasia Abetalipoproteinemia Eosinophilic gastroenteritis Short bowel syndrome Intractable diarrhea syndrome Autoimmune enteropathy Factitious Acquired immune defects Secretory tumors Secretory tumor Primary bowel tumor Pseudo-obstruction AIDS enteropathy Factitious AIDS enteropathy
AIDS, Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.*Gastroenteritis includes viral (rotavirus, norovirus, astrovirus) and bacterial (Salmonella, Shigella, Escherichia coli, Clostridium difficile, Yersinia, Campylobacter, other) agents.
weight gain and is caused by excessive intake of sweetened liquids, overwhelming the disaccharide absorptive capacityof the intestine. Diarrhea typically improves tremendouslywhen the child’s beverage intake is reduced or changed.
Available @ StudentConsult.comStools are isosmotic, even in osmotic diarrhea, because of the relatively free exchange of water across the intestinalmucosa. Osmoles present in the stool are a mixture of electrolytes and other osmotically active solutes. To determinewhether the diarrhea is osmotic or secretory, the osmotic gap is calculated:
Assuming the stool is isosmotic (an osmolarity of 290 mOs-m/L), the measured stool sodium and potassium (and their associated anions, accounting for an equal amount) accounts for much of the osmolality. Secretory diarrhea is characterized by an osmotic gap of less than 50. A number significantly higher than 50 defines osmotic diarrhea and indicates that malabsorbed substances other than electrolytes account for fecal osmolarity.
Another way to differentiate between osmotic and secretory diarrhea is to stop all feedings (in hospitalized patientsreceiving intravenous fluids). If the diarrhea stops completely while the child is NPO (nothing by mouth), thepatient has osmotic diarrhea. A child with a pure secretory diarrhea would continue to have massive stool output.Neither method for classifying diarrhea works perfectly,because most diarrheal illnesses are a mixture of secretoryand osmotic components. Viral enteritis damages the intestinal lining, causing malabsorption and osmotic diarrhea. Theassociated inflammation results in release of mediators that cause excessive secretion. A child with viral enteritis mayhave decreased stool volume while NPO, but the secretorycomponent of the diarrhea persists until the inflammationresolves.
The history should include the onset of diarrhea, number and character of stools, estimates of stool volume, and presence of other symptoms, such as blood in the stool, fever, and weight loss. Recent travel and exposures should be documented, dietary factors should be investigated, and a list of medications recently used should be obtained. Factors that seem to worsen or improve the diarrhea should be determined. Physical examination should be thorough, evaluating for abdominal distention, tenderness, quality of bowel sounds, presence of blood in the stool or a large fecal mass on rectal examination, and anal sphincter tone.
Laboratory testing should include stool culture and complete blood count if bacterial enteritis is suspected. If diarrhea occurs after a course of antibiotics, a Clostridium difficile toxin assay should be ordered; if stools are reported to be oily orfatty, fecal fat content or fecal elastase to test for pancreatic insufficiency should be measured. Tests for specific diagnosesshould be sent when appropriate (e.g., serum antibody testsfor celiac disease; colonoscopy for suspected ulcerative colitis). A trial of lactose restriction for several days or lactosebreath hydrogen testing is helpful in the evaluation of lactoseintolerance.
Available @ StudentConsult.comConstipation is a common problem in childhood. When a child is thought to be constipated, his parents may be concerned about straining with defecation, hard stool consistency, large stool size, decreased stool frequency, fear of passing stools, or any combination of these. Physicians define constipation as two or fewer stools per week or passage of hard, pellet-like stools for at least 2 weeks. A common pattern of constipation is functional constipation, which is characterized by two or fewer stools per week, voluntary withholding of stool, and infrequent passage of large-diameter, often painful stools. Children with functional fecal retention often exhibit “retentive posturing” (standing or sitting with legs extended and stiffor crossed legs) and have associated fecal incontinence caused by leakage of retained stool (encopresis).
The differential diagnosis is listed in Table 126-10. Functional constipation commonly occurs during toilet training, when the child is unwilling to defecate on the toilet. Retained stool becomes harder and larger over time, leading to painful defecation. This aggravates voluntary withholding of stool, with perpetuation of the constipation.
Hirschsprung disease is characterized by delayed meconium passage in newborns, abdominal distention, vomiting, occasional fever, and foul-smelling stools. This condition is caused by failure of ganglion cells to migrate into the distal bowel, resulting in spasm and functional obstruction of the aganglionic segment. Only about 6% of infants with Hirschsprung disease pass meconium in the first 24 hours of life, compared with 95% of normal infants. Most affected babies rapidly become ill with symptoms of enterocolitis or obstruction. Affected older children do not pass large-caliber stools because of rectal spasm, and they do not have encopresis. Other causes of constipation include spinal cord abnormalities, hypothyroidism, drugs, cystic fibrosis, and anorectal malformations (see Table 126-10). A variety of systemic disorders affecting metabolism or muscle function can result in constipation. Children with developmental disabilities have a great propensity for constipation because of diminished capacity to cooperate with toileting, reduced effort or control of pelvic floor muscles during defecation, and diminished perception of the need to pass stool.
Table 126-10 includes typical characteristics of the common causes of constipation. Congenital malformations usually cause
Table 126-10 Common Causes of Constipation and Characteristic Features CAUSES OF CONSTIPATION CLINICAL FEATURES Hirschsprung disease History: Failure to pass stool in first 24 h, abdominal distention, vomiting, symptoms of enterocolitis (fever, foul-smelling diarrhea, megacolon). Not associated with large-caliber stools or encopresis Examination: Snug anal sphincter, empty, contracted rectum. May have explosive release of stool as examiner’s finger is withdrawn Laboratory: Absence of ganglion cells on rectal suction biopsy specimen, absent relaxation of the internal sphincter, “transition zone” from narrow distal bowel to dilated proximal bowel on barium enema
Functional constipation History: No history of significant neonatal constipation, onset at potty training, large-caliber stools, retentive posturing, may have encopresis Examination: Normal or reduced sphincter tone, dilated rectal vault, fecal impaction, soiled underwear, palpable fecal mass in left lower quadrant Laboratory: No abnormalities, barium enema would show dilated distal bowel
Anorectal and colonic History: Constipation from birth due to abnormal anatomy malformations Examination: Anorectal abnormalities are shown easily on physical examination Anal stenosis Anteriorly displaced anus is found chiefly in females, with a normal-appearing anus located close to the Anteriorly displaced anus posterior fourchette of the vagina Imperforate anus Laboratory: Barium enema shows the anomaly Colonic stricture
Multisystem disease Muscular dystrophy Cystic fibrosis Diabetes mellitus Developmental delay Celiac disease History: Presence of other symptoms or prior diagnosis Examination: Specific abnormalities may be present that directly relate to the underlying diagnosis Laboratory: Tests directed at suspected disorder confirm the diagnosis
Spinal cord abnormalities History: History of swelling or exposed neural tissue in the lower back, history of urinary incontinence Meningomyelocele Examination: Lax sphincter tone due to impaired innervation, visible or palpable abnormality of lower back Tethered cord usually (but not always) present Sacral teratoma or lipoma Laboratory: Bony abnormalities often present on plain x-ray. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of spinal
Drugs History: Recent use of drugs known to cause constipation Narcotics Examination: Features suggest functional constipation Psychotropics Laboratory: No specific tests available symptoms from birth. Functional constipation is overwhelmingly the most common diagnosis in older patients. Constipation in older children often begins after starting school, when free and private access to toilets may be restricted. Use of some drugs, especially opiates and some psychotropic medications, also is associated with constipation.
For a few specific causes of constipation, directed diagnostictesting can make the diagnosis. A narrowed, aganglionic distalbowel and dilated proximal bowel on barium enema suggestsHirschsprung disease. Rectal suction biopsy confirms the absenceof ganglion cells in the rectal submucosal plexus, with hypertrophy of nerve fibers. Lack of internal anal sphincter relaxation canbe shown by anorectal manometry in Hirschsprung’s disease.Hypothyroidism is diagnosed by examination and by thyroidfunction testing. Anorectal malformations are easily detected byrectal examination. Cystic fibrosis (meconium ileus) is diagnosedby sweat chloride determination or CFTR gene mutation analysis (see Chapter 137). Most children with constipation have functional constipation and do not have any laboratory abnormality. Examination reveals normal or reduced anal sphincter tone(owing to stretching by passage of large stools). Fecal impaction isusually present, but a large-caliber, empty rectum may be found ifa stool has just been passed.
Evaluation and Treatment of Functional ConstipationIn most cases of constipation, the history is consistent with functional constipation—absence of neonatal constipation, active fecal retention, and infrequent, large stools with soiling. In these patients, no testing other than a good physical examination is necessary. Young children with painful defecation must have a prolonged course of stool softener therapy to alleviate fear of defecation. The child should be asked to sit on the toilet for a few minutes on awakening in the morning and immediately after meals, when the colon is most active and it is easiest to pass a stool. Use of a positive reinforcement system for taking medication and sitting on the toilet is helpful for younger children. The stool softener chosen should be non–habit forming, safe, and palatable. Polyethylene glycol and milk of magnesia are the most commonly used agents.
Available @ StudentConsult.comGI tract bleeding can be an emergency when large-volume bleeding is present, but even the presence of small amounts of blood in stool or emesis is sufficient to cause concern. Evaluation of bleeding should include confirmation that blood truly is present, estimation of the amount of bleeding, stabilization of the patient’s intravascular blood volume, localization of the source of bleeding, and appropriate treatment of the underlying cause. When bleeding is massive, it is crucial that the
Ingested maternal blood* Hematemesis or rectal, large Apt test indicates adult hemoglobin is present, cracked maternal nipples, amount
Peptic disease Hematemesis, amount varies Blood found in stomach on lavage
Coagulopathy Hematemesis or rectal, bruising, other sites History of home birth (no vitamin K)
Allergic colitis* Streaks of bloody mucus in stool Eosinophils in feces and in rectal mucosa
Necrotizing enterocolitis Rectal Sick infant with tender and distended abdomen
Volvulus Hematemesis, hematochezia Acute tender distended abdomenPeptic disease Usually hematemesis, rectal possible Epigastric pain, coffee-ground emesis
Esophageal varices Hematemesis History or evidence of liver diseaseIntussusception* Rectal bleeding Crampy pain, distention, massMeckel diverticulum* Rectal Massive, bright red bleeding; no painBacterial enteritis* Rectal Bloody diarrhea, feverNSAID injury Usually hematemesis, rectal possible Epigastric pain, coffee-ground emesis >2 YEARS OLD
Inflammatory bowel disease Usually rectal Crampy pain, poor weight gain, diarrhea
Pseudomembranous colitis Rectal History of antibiotic use, bloody diarrheaJuvenile polyp Rectal Painless, bright red blood in stool; not massive
Nodular lymphoid hyperplasia Rectal Streaks of blood in stool, no other symptoms
Mallory-Weiss syndrome* Hematemesis Bright red or coffee-ground, follows retchingHemolytic uremic syndrome Rectal Thrombocytopenia, anemia, uremiaHemorrhoids Rectal Dilated external veins, blood with wipingNSAID, Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug. *Common patient receive adequate resuscitation with fluid and blood products before moving ahead with diagnostic testing.
GI bleeding has different causes at different ages (Table 126-11).
Red substances in foods, beverages, or medications (such as cefdinir) occasionally can be mistaken for blood. A test for occultblood is worth performing whenever the diagnosis is in doubt.
The GI tract may not be the source of the observed fecal blood.A history of cough and examination of the mouth, nostrils, andlungs is needed to exclude these as a source of hematemesis.Blood in the toilet or diaper may be coming from the urinarytract, vagina, or even a severe diaper rash. If the bleeding is GI, it is important to determine the source as high in the GI tract ordistal to the ligament of Treitz. Vomited blood is always proximal. Rectal bleeding may be coming from anywhere in the gut.When dark clots or melena are seen mixed with stool, a higherlocation is suspected, whereas bright red blood on the surface ofstool probably is coming from lower in the colon. When upperGI tract bleeding is suspected, a nasogastric tube may be placedand gastric contents aspirated for evidence of recent bleeding.
The location and hemodynamic significance of the bleeding can also be assessed by history and examination. The parents should be asked to quantify the bleeding. Details of associated symptoms should be sought. Assessment of the vital signs including orthostatic changes when bleeding volume is large, pulses, capillary refill and assessment of pallor of the mucous membranes provides valuable information. Laboratory assessment and imaging studies should be ordered as indicated (Table 126-12).
Coagulation tests: prothrombin time, partial thromboplastin time Tests of liver dysfunction: AST, ALT, GGT, bilirubin Occult blood test of stool or vomitus Blood type and crossmatch
Evaluation of Bloody Diarrhea Stool culture, Clostridium difficile toxin Sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy CT with contrast
Evaluation of Rectal Bleeding with Formed StoolsEvaluation of HematemesisEvaluation of Bleeding with Pain and Vomiting (Bowel Obstruction)ALT, Alanine aminotransferase; AST, aspartate aminotransferase; CBC, complete blood count; CT, computed tomography; GGT, γ-glutamyltransferase; GI, gastrointestinal.
Hematemesis or rectal bleeding Place NG tube Blood in stomach Yes Shock, orthostatic hypotension, poor perfusion Yes Transfer to intensive care unit Vital signs stabilized? Intravenous bolus of 20 mL/kg saline or lactated Ringer's solution Check CBC, PT, PTT, platelets Transfuse with PRBCs, FFP Platelets as required Endoscopy, imaging studies or surgery as required for diagnosis and management No Leave tube in place, monitor output
Treatment of GI bleeding should begin with an initial assessment, rapid stabilization, and a logical sequence of diagnostic tests. When a treatable cause is identified, specific therapyshould be started. In many cases, the amount of blood is small,
Figure 126-2 Initial management of gastrointestinal bleeding. CBC, Complete blood count; FFP, fresh frozen plasma; NG, nasogastric; PRBCs, packed red blood cells; PT, prothrombin time; PTT, partial thromboplastin time.
and no resuscitation is required. For children with large-volume bleeds, the ABCs of resuscitation (airway, breathing, circulation) should be addressed first (see Chapters 38 and 40).Oxygen should be administered and the airway protected with an endotracheal tube if massive hematemesis is present.
Fluid boluses and transfusion with packed red blood cells as required should be administered through two large-bore IVs. Frequent reassessment should continue to ensure maintenance of physiological stability (Fig. 126-2).
Medications taken for a variety of conditions may cause oral abnormalities. Drugs with anticholinergic properties diminish saliva production and increase the risk of dental caries and parotitis. Tetracyclines taken before the eruption of the permanent teeth stain the enamel. Excessive fluoride in vitamin preparations or in drinking water can result in mottled teeth. Gingival hypertrophy may be caused by cyclosporine, phenytoin, and calcium channel blockers.
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GER) can lead to substantial enamel erosion and caries. Neonatal hyperbilirubinemia can result in bluish discoloration of the deciduous teeth. Renal failure is associated with mottled enamel of the permanent teeth. Congenital syphilis causes marked abnormalitiesin the shape of teeth, especially incisors and molars. Celiacdisease can result in enamel defects. Crohn’s disease is associated with oral aphthous ulcers. Abnormal pigmentation ofthe lips and buccal mucosa is seen with Peutz-Jeghers syndrome and Addison disease. Candidiasis is seen commonlywith immunodeficiency disorders and diabetes. Leukemicinfiltrates result in gum hyperplasia and bleeding; treatmentof neoplastic conditions can cause severe mucositis. Sometumors, including lymphoma, may present as mass lesions ofthe buccal cavity.
Osteogenesis imperfecta is associated with abnormal dentin and risk of caries. Children with ectodermal dysplasiascommonly have malformed or missing teeth. Pierre Robin syndrome is associated with micrognathia and cleft palate. Disorders resulting in facial dysmorphism can have a profound effect on dental occlusion and mandibular function. Examples include mandibulofacial dysostosis, Crouzon syndrome, conditions associated with dwarfism, and others.
Most infants are born without teeth. Natal teeth are present at birth, are usually supernumerary, and may be poorly attached. Usually, no treatment is necessary, but removal by a dentist may be needed if they are causing difficulties with feeding or injuries to the tongue. Table 127-1 presents the ages when normal deciduous teeth are acquired. The lower central incisors are typically the first to erupt, followed by the upper central incisors, lateral incisors, first molars, and bicuspids. Delayed eruption may occur in association with hypopituitarism, hypothyroidism, osteopetrosis, Gaucher disease, Down syndrome, cleidocranial dysplasia, and rickets. Deciduous teeth begin to be replaced by the permanent teeth at around age 6
PRIMARY, AGE (mo) PERMANENT, AGE (yr) years. The sequence of replacement is similar to that of the appearance of deciduous teeth.
Dental caries, commonly referred to as “cavities,” occurs as a result of interactions between the tooth enamel, dietary carbohydrates, and oral flora. There is increased susceptibility if the enamel is abnormal or hypoplastic. Bacteria (Streptococcus mutans) that can adhere to and colonize the teeth, survive at low pH, and produce acids during fermentation of carbohydrates cause dental caries. The diet has a significant role. A classic example is “bottle mouth,” or baby bottle caries. This condition results when infants are allowed to have a bottle in the mouth for prolonged periods, especially during sleep, and with sweet beverages or milk in the bottle. Bacteria then have continuous substrate for acid production and can destroy multiple teeth, especially the upper incisors. Sticky sweet foods, such as candy, have the same effect.
Risk of caries is associated with lack of dental care and poorsocioeconomic status and, predictably, is greatest in developingcountries. Baby bottle caries is seen in 50% to 70% of low-incomeinfants. Treatment of caries is with dental restorative surgery. Thecarious portion is removed and filled with silver amalgam or plastic. If the damage is severe, a protective crown may be required;extraction of the tooth may be necessary when not salvageable.If not properly treated, dental decay results in inflammation andinfection of the dental pulp and surrounding alveolar bone, whichcan lead to abscess and facial space infections.
Avoiding inappropriate use of bottles and excessive sweets isa commonsense remedy for baby bottle caries. Oral hygiene offers some protection, but young children (<8 years old)do not have the ability to brush their own teeth adequately;brushing should be done by the parents. Fluoride supplementation of community water supplies to a concentration of 1 ppm is highly effective in reducing dental caries.Home water supplies, such as from a well, should have thefluoride content tested before supplements are prescribed.If the child spends part of the day at another location, thetotal fluoride concentration from all sources must be considered before prescribing any oral supplements. Excessivefluoride supplementation causes fluorosis, a largely cosmetic defect of chalky white marks and brown staining ofthe teeth.
Cleft lip and palate occur separately or together and affect approximately 1 in 700 infants. It is more common in Asians (1:500) and least common in Africans (1:2500). Clefting occurs with two possible patterns: isolated soft tissue cleft palate or cleft lip with or without associated clefts of the hard palate. Isolated cleft palate is associated with a higher risk of other congenital malformations. The combined cleft lip/palate type has a male predominance.
Cleft lip is due to hypoplasia of the mesenchymal tissues withsubsequent failure of fusion. There is a strong genetic component; the risk is highest in children with affected first-degreerelatives. Monozygotic twins are affected with only 60%concordance, suggesting other nongenomic factors. Environmental factors during gestation also increase risk, including drugs (phenytoin, valproic acid, thalidomide), maternalalcohol and tobacco use, dioxins and other herbicides, and possibly high altitude. Chromosomal and nonchromosomal syndromes are associated with clefting, as are specific genesin some families.
Cleft lip can be unilateral or bilateral and associated with cleftpalate and defects of the alveolar ridge and dentition. When present, palatal defects allow direct communication between the nasal and oral cavities, creating problems with speech and feeding. Management includes squeeze-bottle feedings, special nipples, nipples with attached shields to seal the palate, and gastrostomy in severe cases. Surgical closure of the cleftlip is usually done by 3 months of age. Closure of the palate follows, usually before 1 year of age. Missing teeth are replaced by prostheses. Cosmetic results are often good, but depend on the severity of the defect.
Speech is nasal as a result of the cleft palate. Surgical treatment is effective, but sometimes does not restore palatal function completely. Speech therapy or, occasionally, the use of a speech-assisting appliance may help. Frequent episodes of otitis media are common, as are defects of teeth and the alveolar ridge.
Oropharyngeal Candida albicans infection, or thrush, is common in healthy neonates. The organism may be acquiredin the birth canal or from the environment. Persistent infection is common in breastfed infants as a result of colonization or infection of the mother’s nipples. Thrush in healthyolder patients can occur, but should suggest the possibilityof an immunodeficiency, broad-spectrum antibiotic use, ordiabetes.
Thrush is easily visible as white plaques, often with a “fuzzy” appearance, on oral mucous membranes. When scraped with a tongue depressor, the plaques are difficult to remove, and the underlying mucosa is inflamed and friable. Clinical diagnosis is usually adequate, but may be confirmed by fungal culture or potassium hydroxide smear. Oropharyngeal candidiasis is sometimes painful (especially if associated with esophagitis) and can interfere with feeding.
Thrush is treated with topical nystatin or an azole antifungal agent such as fluconazole. When the mother’s breasts are infected and painful, consideration should be given to treating her at the same time. Because thrush is commonly self-limited in newborns, withholding therapy in asymptomatic infants and treating only persistent or severe cases is a reasonable approach.
Available @ StudentConsult.comGastroesophageal reflux (GER) is defined as the effortless retrograde movement of gastric contents upward into the esophagusor oropharynx. In infancy, GER is not always an abnormality.Physiologic GER (“spitting up”) is normal in infants youngerthan 8 to 12 months old. Nearly half of all infants are reportedto spit up at 2 months of age. Infants who regurgitate meet thecriteria for physiologic GER so long as they maintain adequate nutrition and have no signs of respiratory complications oresophagitis. Factors involved in causing infantile GER includeliquid diet; horizontal body position; short, narrow esophagus;small, noncompliant stomach; frequent, relatively large-volumefeedings; and an immature lower esophageal sphincter (LES).As infants grow, they spend more time upright, eat more solidfoods, develop a longer and larger diameter esophagus, have a larger and more compliant stomach, and experience lower caloric needs per unit of body weight. As a result, most infantsstop spitting up by 9 to 12 months of age.
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) occurs when GERleads to troublesome symptoms or complications such as poorgrowth, pain, or breathing difficulties. GERD occurs in a minorityof infants but is often implicated as the cause of fussiness. GERDis seen in fewer than 5% of older children. In older children, normal protective mechanisms against GER include antegradeesophageal motility, tonic contraction of the LES, and the geometry of the gastroesophageal junction. Abnormalities that causeGER in older children and adults include reduced tone of the LES, transient relaxations of the LES, esophagitis (which impairsesophageal motility), increased intra-abdominal pressure, cough,respiratory difficulty (asthma or cystic fibrosis), and hiatal hernia.
Available @ StudentConsult.comCough Hoarseness Wheezing Abdominal Pain Failure to ThriveThe presence of GER is easy to observe in an infant who spits up. In older children, the refluxate is usually kept down by reswallowing, but GER may be suspected by associated symptoms, such as heartburn, cough, epigastric abdominal pain, dysphagia, wheezing, aspiration pneumonia, hoarse voice, failure to thrive, and recurrent otitis media or sinusitis. In severe cases of esophagitis, there may be laboratory evidence of anemia and hypoalbuminemia secondary to esophageal bleeding and inflammation.
When esophagitis develops as a result of acid reflux, esophageal motility and LES function are impaired further, creating a cycle of reflux and esophageal injury.
A clinical diagnosis is often sufficient in children with classic effortless regurgitation and no complications. Diagnostic studies are indicated if there are persistent symptoms or complications or if other symptoms suggest the possibility of GER in the absence of regurgitation. A child with recurrent pneumonia, chronic cough, or apneic spells without overt emesis may have occult GER. A barium upper GI series helps to rule out gastric outlet obstruction, malrotation, or other anatomic contributors to GER. Because of the brief nature of the examination, a negative barium study does not rule out GER. Another study, 24-hour esophageal pH probe monitoring, uses a pH electrode placed transnasally into the distal esophagus, with continuous recording of esophageal pH. Data typically are gathered for 24 hours and analyzed for the number and temporal pattern of acid reflux events. Esophageal impedance monitoring records the migration of electrolyte-rich gastric fluid in the esophagus. Endoscopy is useful to evaluate for esophagitis, esophageal stricture, and anatomic abnormalities.
In otherwise healthy young infants, no treatment is necessary. For infants with complications of GER, an H2 blocker or pro-ton-pump inhibitor may be offered (Table 128-1), but these have shown little benefit in infants with uncomplicated GER and/or fussiness. Prokinetic drugs, such as metoclopramide, occasionally are helpful by enhancing gastric emptying and increasing LES tone, but they are seldom very effective and may lead to complications. When severe symptoms persist despite medication, or if life-threatening aspiration is present, surgical intervention may be required. Fundoplication procedures, such as the Nissen operation, are designed to enhance the antireflux anatomy of the LES. In children with a severe neurologic defect who cannot tolerate oral or gastric tube feedings, placement of a feeding jejunostomy may be considered as an alternative to fundoplication. In older children, lifestyle changes should be discussed, including cessation of smoking, weight loss, not eating before bed or exercise, and limiting intake of caffeine, carbonation, and high-fat foods. However, proton pump inhibitor therapy is more effective in reducing symptoms and healing.
This chronic immune-mediated disorder is characterized byinfiltration of eosinophils into mucosa of the esophagus. It isthought to be triggered by non–IgE-mediated allergic reactions toingested foods or aeroallergens. EoE may have a familial connection; no specific gene has yet been identified. Incidence appears to be increasing with estimated prevalence of more than 4 per10,000 children. It may be more common in males than females.
The presentation of EoE often varies with age. In young children, it may present with oral aversion, vomiting, and failure to thrive. In school-age children, it may present with vague abdominal pain or vomiting. In adolescents and adults, it presents with dysphagia and food impactions. These symptoms are attributed to the inflammatory response in the esophagus leading to edema and poor esophageal motility.
Diagnosis requires multilevel esophageal biopsies via flexible endoscopy with the finding of more than 15 eosinophils per high-power field (Fig. 128-1). Treatment with high-dose proton pump inhibitor therapy is recommended to exclude the possibility that findings are secondary to severe acidic esophageal injury. Gross findings at endoscopy include normal appearance, esophageal furrowing, trachealization, and eosinophilic abscesses (Fig. 128-2). A barium study may reveal
Table 128-1 Treatment of Gastroesophageal Reflux THERAPIES COMMENTS CONSERVATIVE THERAPIES Towel on caregiver’s shoulder Cheap, effective. Useful only for physiologic reflux
Thickened feedings Reduces number of episodes, enhances nutritionSmaller, more frequent feedings Can help some. Be careful not to underfeed child
Avoidance of tobacco smoke and alcohol Always a good idea. May help reflux symptoms
Abstaining from caffeine Inexpensive, offers some benefitPositional therapy—upright in seat, elevate Prone positioning with head of crib or bed up is helpful, but not for young infants because of risk of SIDS
Weight loss when indicated Increased weight (especially abdominal) increases intra-abdominal pressure, leading to reflux
H2 receptor antagonist Reduces heartburn, less effective for healing esophagitis
Metoclopramide Enhances stomach emptying and LES tone. Real benefit is often minimal
Feeding jejunostomy Useful in child requiring tube feeds. Delivering feeds downstream eliminates GERD
GERD, Gastroesophageal reflux disease; LES, lower esophageal sphincter; SIDS, sudden infant death syndrome.
Figure 128-1 Histologic image of eosinophilic esophagitis. Note the large number of eosinophils within the lamina propria.
a food impaction in an acutely symptomatic patient or esophageal stricture in someone with chronic disease.
Exposure to identified causative antigens needs to be eliminated. Identification can be difficult, as typical allergy testing (skin prick, RAST, and immunocap assays) only identifies IgE-mediated antigens. Atopic patch testing may be more reliable but is not standardized and can be difficult to perform. One approach is to eliminate cow’s milk, soy, wheat, eggs, peanuts, and fish/shellfish from the diet, as these are the most
Figure 128-2 Endoscopic picture of eosinophilic esophagi-tis. White plaques on the surface are collections of eosinophils (eosinophilic abscesses). Linear furrowing is also seen.
common causative dietary antigens. Repeat endoscopies are often necessary to document efficacy of these eliminations. An elemental diet can also be used and is very effective, but often requires either nasogastric or gastrotomy administration because of its poor palatability.
Systemic glucocorticoids can decrease symptoms, but longterm use is discouraged secondary to complications. Swallowed “topical” glucocorticoids administered via a metered dose inhaler (fluticasone) or mixed as a slurry (budesonide)
Esophageal atresia Esophageal atresia H-type TEF with distal TEF with no TEF (4%) (85%) (8%)
Esophageal atresia Esophageal atresia with with proximal TEF proximal and distal TEF Figure 128-3 Various types of tracheoesophageal fis have shown benefit. Candida esophagitis or oral thrush are the most common side effects.
Endoscopy can be used to relieve food impactions and to dilate esophageal strictures secondary to EoE. The prognosis for EoE is largely unknown. Symptoms tend to wax and wane over time.
Failure to thrive or weight loss may be seen due to difficulty in eating. Food impactions are a common complication in the older child and may require endoscopic removal. Chronic inflammation of the esophagus can predispose to esophageal strictures and possibly dysplasia.
The esophagus and trachea develop in close proximity to each other during weeks 4 to 6 of fetal life. Defects in the mesenchyme separating these two structures result in a tracheoesophageal fistula (TEF), often in association with other anomalies (renal, heart, spine, limbs). This defect occurs in about 1 in 3000 live births. TEF is not thought to be a genetic defect.
The most common forms of TEF occur with esophageal atresia; the “H-type” TEF without atresia is uncommon, as is esophageal atresia without TEF (Fig. 128-3). Associated defects include the VACTERL association—vertebral anomalies (70%), anal atresia (imperforate anus) (50%), cardiac anomalies (30%), TEF (70%), renal anomalies (50%), and limb anomalies (polydactyly, forearm defects, absent thumbs, tulas (TEF) with relative frequency (%).
syndactyly) (70%). A single-artery umbilical cord is often present. Infants with esophageal atresia have a history of polyhydramnios, exhibit drooling, and have mucus and saliva bubbling from the nose and mouth. Patients with a TEF are vulnerable to aspiration pneumonia. When TEF is suspected, the first feeding should be delayed until a diagnostic study is performed.
The simplest test for TEF is to gently attempt to place a 10For larger tube via the mouth into the stomach. The passageof the tube is blocked at the level of the atresia. A chest x-rayreveals the tube coiled in the esophageal pouch. Air can beinjected through the tube to outline the atretic pouch. Barium should not be used because of extreme risk of aspiration,but a tiny amount of dilute water-soluble contrast agent canbe given carefully, then aspirated when the defect is clearlyshown.
The treatment of TEF is surgical. The fistula is divided and ligated. The esophageal ends are approximated and anastomosed. In some cases, primary anastomosis cannot be performed because of a long gap between the proximal and distal esophagus. Various techniques have been described to treat this problem, including pulling up the stomach, elongating the esophagus by myotomy, and simply delaying esophageal anastomosis and providing continuous suction to the upper pouch while allowing for growth.
The surgically reconstructed esophagus is not normal and is proneto poor motility, GER, anastomotic stricture, recurrent fistula, and leakage. The trachea also is malformed; tracheomalacia and wheezing are common.
Young children often place nonfood items in their mouths. When these items are swallowed, they may become lodged in the esophagus at the thoracic inlet or at the LES. The most common objects are coins. Smaller coins may pass harmlessly into the stomach, where they rarely cause symptoms. Other common esophageal foreign bodies include food items, small toys or toy parts, disk batteries, and other small household items. Children with a prior history of esophageal atresia or with poor motility secondary to GER or eosinophilic esophagitis are more prone to food impactions, which seldom occur in the normal esophagus.
Some children are asymptomatic, but most exhibit some degree of drooling, food refusal, or chest discomfort. Olderchildren usually can point to the region of the chest wherethey feel the object to be lodged. Respiratory symptomstend to be minimal, but cough or wheezing may be present,especially when the esophagus is completely blocked by alarge object, such as a piece of meat, which presses on thetrachea.
Plain chest and abdominal radiographs should be taken when foreign body ingestion is suspected. Metallic objectsare easily visualized. A plastic object often can be seen if thechild is given a small amount of dilute x-ray contrast material to drink, although endoscopy is probably safer and moredefinitive.
Endoscopy is ultimately necessary in most cases to remove an esophageal foreign body. Various devices can be used to remove the object, depending on its size, shape, and location.Coins usually are grasped with special-purpose forceps andremoved. Nets, baskets, and snares also are available. Whenever objects that may threaten the airway are being recovered, endoscopy should be performed with endotrachealintubation and under general anesthesia. Removal is usually not necessary if the object is small and in the stomachas it will most likely pass without complication. Endoscopyis emergent for removal of any esophageal foreign body ifsymptomatic or if the ingested foreign body is a suspecteddisc battery in the esophagus or multiple magnets located inthe upper tract.
Sharp objects may lacerate or perforate the esophagus; smooth objects present for a long time also may result in perforation due to ulceration. Corrosive objects, such as zinc-containing pennies and disc batteries, can cause considerable local tissue injury and esophageal perforation. Magnets can lead to perforation and fistula formation when they connect between adjacent loops of bowel.
In adolescents, caustic ingestion injuries are usually the result of suicide attempts. In toddlers, ingestion of household cleaning products typically is accidental. Injurious agents include drain cleaners, toilet bowl cleaners, dishwasher detergents, and powerful bleaching agents. Childproof lids for commercial products offer some protection, but have not eliminated the problem. Lye-based drain cleaners, especially liquid products, cause the worst injuries because they are swallowed easily and liquefy tissue rapidly. Full-thickness burns can occur in seconds. Granular products are less likely to cause esophageal injury during accidental exposures because they burn the tongue and lips and often are expelled before swallowing. Less caustic agents, such as bleach and detergents, cause less serious injury. Pill ulcers occur when certain medications (tetracyclines and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs [NSAIDs]) are swallowed without sufficient liquids, allowing prolonged direct contact of the pill with the esophageal mucosa.
Caustic burns cause immediate and severe mouth pain. The childcries out, drools, spits, and usually drops the container immediately. Burns of the lips and tongue are visible almost immediately.These burns clearly indicate the possibility of esophageal involvement, although esophageal injury can occur in the absence oforal burns. Symptoms may not be present; further evaluationby endoscopy usually is indicated with any significant history ofcaustic ingestion. Pill injury causes severe chest pain and oftenprominent odynophagia (painful swallowing) and dysphagia.
A chest x-ray should be obtained to rule out aspiration and toinspect for mediastinal air. The child should be admitted to the hospital and given intravenous (IV) fluids until endoscopy. Thetrue extent of burns may not be endoscopically apparent immediately, but delayed endoscopy can increase the risk of perforation. Most endoscopists perform the initial endoscopy soonafter injury, when the patient has been stabilized. The extent ofinjury and severity of the burn should be carefully determined.Risk of subsequent esophageal strictures is related to the degreeof burn and whether the injury is circumferential.
A nasogastric tube can be placed over a guidewire at the timeof the initial endoscopy to provide a route for feeding and to stent the esophagus. Systemic steroid use has not beenfound to be beneficial in reducing stricture formation. Broad-spectrum antibiotics should be prescribed if infection is suspected.
Esophageal strictures, if they occur, usually develop within 1 to 2 months and can be treated with endoscopic dilation. There is a risk of perforation during dilation. Whenesophageal destruction is severe, surgical reconstructionof the esophagus using stomach or intestine may be necessary.
Available @ StudentConsult.comPyloric stenosis is an acquired condition caused by hypertrophy and spasm of the pyloric muscle, resulting in gastric outlet obstruction. It occurs in 6 to 8 per 1000 live births, has a 5-to-1 male predominance, and is more common in first-born children. Its cause is unknown.
Infants with pyloric stenosis typically begin vomitingduring the first weeks of life, but onset may be delayed.The emesis becomes increasingly frequent and forceful astime passes. Vomiting differs from spitting up because ofits extremely forceful and often projectile nature. The vomited material never contains bile, because the gastric outlet obstruction is proximal to the duodenum. This featuredifferentiates pyloric stenosis from most other obstructivelesions of early childhood. Affected infants are ravenouslyhungry early in the course of the illness, but become morelethargic with increasing malnutrition and dehydration.The stomach becomes massively enlarged with retainedfood and secretions, and gastric peristaltic waves are often visible in the left upper quadrant. A hypertrophied pylorus (the “olive”) may be palpated. As the illness progresses,very little of each feeding is able to pass through the pylorus, and the child becomes progressively thinner and moredehydrated.
Available @ StudentConsult.comRepetitive vomiting of purely gastric contents results inloss of hydrochloric acid; the classic laboratory finding is a hypochloremic, hypokalemic metabolic alkalosis with elevated blood urea nitrogen (BUN) secondary to dehydration. Jaundice with unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia may also occur. Plain abdominal x-rays typically show a huge stomach and diminished or absent gas in the intestine(Fig. 128-4). Ultrasound examination shows marked elongation and thickening of the pylorus (Fig. 128-5). A bariumupper GI series also may be obtained whenever doubt aboutthe diagnosis exists; this shows a “string sign” caused bybarium moving through an elongated, constricted pyloricchannel.
Figure 128-4 Pyloric stenosis. Note the huge, gas-filled stomach extending across the midline, with minimal air in the intestine down-stream. (Courtesy Warren Bishop, MD.)
Figure 128-5 Ultrasound image of infant with pyloric steno-sis. Large, fluid-filled stomach (S) is seen at right, with an elongated, thickened pylorus. The length of the pylorus is marked by the red arrows; the wall thickness is marked by the yellow arrows.
Drugs NSAIDs, including aspirin Tobacco use Bisphosphonates Potassium supplementsNSAIDs, Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.Treatment of pyloric stenosis includes IV fluid and electrolyte resuscitation followed by surgical pyloromyotomy.Before surgery, dehydration and hypochloremic alkalosismust be corrected, generally with an initial normal salinefluid bolus followed by infusions of half-normal salinecontaining 5% dextrose and potassium chloride whenurine output is observed. In pyloromyotomy (often by laparoscope), the pyloric muscle is incised longitudinally torelease the constriction. Care is taken not to cut into the mucosa itself.
Acid-related injury can occur in the esophagus, stomach, or duodenum. Table 128-2 lists risk factors for peptic ulcer disease in children. Helicobacter pylori is responsible for more thanhalf of ulcers in the stomach and duodenum in adults. H. pyloriplays a significant but lesser role in childhood ulcer disease. Riskfactors for acquisition of H. pylori are low socioeconomic status and poor sanitation, with the highest incidence in developing countries. Nonulcer dyspepsia includes upper abdominalsymptoms (pain, bloating, nausea, early satiety) in the absenceof gastric or duodenal ulceration. Nonulcer dyspepsia is not associated with H. pylori infection. GER (see Chapter 128) allows acidic gastric contents to injure the esophagus, resultingin esophagitis. Esophagitis is characterized by retrosternal andepigastric burning pain and is best diagnosed by endoscopy. Itcan range from minimal, with only erythema and microscopicinflammation on biopsy, to superficial erosions and finally tofrank ulceration.
Typical symptoms are listed in Table 128-3. The presenceof recurrent burning epigastric and retrosternal pain is arisk factor for esophagitis. With duodenal ulcers, pain typically occurs several hours after meals and often awakenspatients at night. Eating tends to relieve the pain. Gastriculcers differ in that pain is commonly aggravated by eating,
Table 128-3 Peptic Disorders, Symptoms, and Clinical Investigation SYNDROME AND ASSOCIATED SYMPTOMS CLINICAL INVESTIGATION ESOPHAGITIS
Retrosternal and epigastric Endoscopy location Therapeutic trial of acid-blocker Burning pain therapy Sensation of regurgitation pH probe study Dysphagia, odynophagia
Upper abdominal location Endoscopy Fullness Therapeutic trial of acid-blocker Bloating therapy Nausea Upper GI series to ligament of
Treitz—rule out malrotation CBC, ESR, amylase, lipase, abdominal ultrasound “Alarm” symptoms Weight loss Hematemesis Melena, heme-positive stools Chronic vomiting Microcytic anemia Nocturnal pain Other symptoms—same as for esophagitis and nonulcer dyspepsia Endoscopy—mandatory with alarm symptoms Test for Helicobacter pylori CBC, ESR, amylase, lipase, abdominal ultrasound
CBC, Complete blood count; ESR, erythrocyte sedimentation rate; GI, gastrointestinal.
resulting in weight loss. GI bleeding from either can occur.Many patients report symptom relief with antacids or acidblockers.
Endoscopy can be used to diagnose the underlying condition.Empiric therapy with H2 blockers or proton pump inhibitorscan be used but may delay diagnosis of conditions such as H. pylori. For patients with chronic epigastric pain, the possibilities of inflammatory bowel disease, anatomic abnormalitysuch as malrotation, pancreatitis, and biliary disease should beruled out by appropriate testing when suspected (see Chapter126 and Table 128-3 for recommended studies). Testing for H. pylori can be performed by biopsy during endoscopy with useof a urease test or presence histologically on tissue. If endoscopyis not done, noninvasive tests for infection can be done with reasonable accuracy with H. pylori fecal antigen and 13C urea breath tests (urea is metabolized into 13CO2 by the organism).
If H. pylori is present in association with ulcers, it should be treated with a multidrug regimen, such as omeprazole-clarithromycin-metronidazole, omeprazole-amoxicillin-clarithromycin, or omeprazole-amoxicillin-metronidazole, given twice daily for 1 to 2 weeks. Other proton-pump inhibitors may be substituted when necessary. Bismuth compounds are effective against H. pylori and can be considered. In North America, only the subsalicylate salt is available, the use of which raises some concerns about Reye syndrome and potential salicylate toxicity. Tetracycline is useful in adults, but should be avoided in children less than 8 years of age. In the absence of H. pylori, esophagitis and peptic ulcer disease are treated with a pro-ton-pump inhibitor, which yields higher rates of healing than H2 receptor antagonists. Gastric and duodenal ulcers heal in 4 to 8 weeks in at least 80% of patients. Esophagitis requires 4 to 5 months of proton-pump inhibitor treatment for optimal healing.
Available @ StudentConsult.comCyclic vomiting syndrome (CVS) presents with intermittentepisodes of prolonged nausea and vomiting with periods ofhealth in between. It can occur at any age but is diagnosedmost frequently in preschool to school-age children. It isthought to be a migraine variant; many patients have a positive family history of migraines, and some with CVS willeventually develop migraine headaches. Triggers to an episode often include viral illnesses, stressful or exciting events(holidays, birthdays, vacations), physical exhaustion, and menses.
Episodes can start at any time, but will often start in theearly morning hours. Episodes are similar to each other in timing and duration. Repetitive vomiting can last hours todays. Patients can also have abdominal pain, diarrhea, andheadaches. Those affected are typically pale, listless, andprefer to be left alone. They may have photoor phonophobia.
There are no specific tests for CVS, which is diagnosedbased on the history and the exclusion of other disorders.Diagnoses that should be considered include malrotationwith intermittent volvulus, UPJ obstruction, eosinophilicesophagitis, and intracranial mass lesions, and metabolic disorders. Rome III criteria for diagnosis are outlined inTable 126-5.
For the acute episode, supportive treatment includes hydration; dark, quiet environment; and antiemetics such as ondansetron. In addition, abortive therapy using antimigraine medications such as NSAIDs and triptans can be used. For those with frequent or prolonged episodes, prophylactic therapy can be used, such as cyproheptadine, tricyclic antidepressants, beta blockers, or topiramate.
During early fetal life, the midgut is attached to the yolk sacand loops outward into the umbilical cord. Beginning ataround 10 weeks’ gestation, the bowel reenters the abdomenand rotates counterclockwise around the superior mesentericartery until the cecum arrives in the right lower quadrant.The duodenum rotates behind the artery and terminates atthe ligament of Treitz in the left upper quadrant. The baseof the mesentery becomes fixed along a broad attachmentposteriorly, running from the cecum to the ligament of Treitz (Fig. 129-1A). When rotation is incomplete or otherwiseabnormal, “malrotation” is present. Incomplete rotationoccurs when the cecum stops near the right upper quadrant, and the duodenum fails to move behind the mesenteric artery; this results in an extremely narrow mesenteric root (see Fig. 129-1B) that makes the child susceptible to mid-gut volvulus, causing intestinal obstruction or mesentericartery occlusion and intestinal infarction (Fig. 129-2). It is also common for abnormal mesenteric attachments (Laddbands) to extend from the cecum across the duodenum,causing partial obstruction.
Available @ StudentConsult.comAbout 60% of children with malrotation present withsymptoms of bilious vomiting during the first month of life.The remaining 40% present later in infancy or childhood.The emesis initially may be due to obstruction by Ladd bandswithout volvulus. When midgut volvulus occurs, the venousdrainage of the gut is impaired; congestion results in ischemia, pain, tenderness, and often bloody emesis and stools.The bowel undergoes ischemic necrosis, and the child mayappear septic. Physicians must be alert to the possibility ofvolvulus in patients with vomiting and fussiness or abdominal pain.
Plain abdominal x-rays generally show evidence of obstruction. Abdominal ultrasound may show evidence of malrotation. An upper gastrointestinal (GI) series shows the absence of a typical duodenal “C-loop,” with the duodenum instead remaining on the right side of the abdomen. Abnormal placement of the cecum on follow-through (or by contrast enema) confirms the diagnosis. Laboratory studies are nonspecific, showing evidence of dehydration, electrolyte loss, or evidence
Figure 129-1 A, Normal rotation of the midgut. Note the long axis of mesenteric attachment (line). B, Midgut malrotation. Note the narrow mesentery, which predisposes to volvulus, and the presence of Ladd bands extending across the duodenum from the abnormally elevated cecum. (From Donellan WJ, editor: Abdominal Surgery of Infancy and Childhood, Luxembourg, 1996, Harwood Academic, pp 43/6, 43/8.)
Figure 129-2 Malrotation with volvulus. Midgut is twisted around the mesentery, with an area of darker, ischemic intestine visible.
(Courtesy Robert Soper, MD.) of sepsis. A decreasing platelet count is a common indicator of bowel ischemia.
in position, but postoperative adhesions tend to hold the mesentery in place, resulting in a broad attachment and eliminating the risk of recurrent volvulus. Necrotic bowel is resected and, at times, results in short gut syndrome.
Available @ StudentConsult.comCongenital partial or complete blockage of the intestine is a developmental defect that occurs in about 1 in 1500 live births. Atresia occurs in several forms (Fig. 129-3). One ormore segments of bowel may be missing completely, theremay be varying degrees of obstruction caused by webs orstenosis, or there may be obliteration of the lumen in cord-like bowel remnants. The end result is obstruction with
Treatment is surgical. The bowel is untwisted, and Ladd bands and other abnormal membranous attachments are divided. The mesentery is spread out and flattened against the posterior wall of the abdomen by moving the cecum to the leftside of the abdomen. Sutures may be used to hold the bowel upstream dilation of the bowel and small, disused intestinedistally. When obstruction is complete or high grade, bilious vomiting and abdominal distention are present in thenewborn period. In lesser cases, as in “windsock” types of intestinal webs, the obstruction is partial, and symptoms aremore subtle.
Intestinal atresia presents with a history of polyhydramnios, abdominal distention and bilious vomiting in the neonatal period. If intestinal perforation is present, peritonitis and sepsis may develop.
Plain abdominal x-rays may localize the area of atresia andidentify evidence of perforation, such as free air or calcifications typical of meconium peritonitis. Duodenal atresiaappears as a double-bubble sign (gas in the stomach andenlarged proximal duodenum), with no gas distally. Atresiasof the distal intestine are characterized by longer segments ofdilated, air-filled bowel. Contrast studies are helpful if plainfilms are not sufficient. Atresia may be a complication ofmeconium ileus associated with cystic fibrosis. Laboratory evaluation for cystic fibrosis (see Chapter 137) is indicatedin cases of small bowel atresia. A complete blood count, serum electrolytes, liver functions, and amylase should bemeasured to identify dehydration, pancreatitis, and othercomplications.
The treatment of intestinal atresia is surgical, but surgery must be preceded by adequate hemodynamic stabilization of the patient. Intravenous (IV) fluids, nasogastric suction, and broad-spectrum antibiotics should be given.
Figure 129-3 Types of intestinal atresia. A, Internal web; B, Cordlike remnant connecting proximal and distal bowel; C, Interrupted bowel with V-shaped mesenteric defect; D, “Apple peel” atresia with surviving bowel spiraling around a marginal artery; E, Multiple atresias. (From Grosfeld JL, Ballantine TVN, Shoemaker R: Operative management of intestinal atresia based on pathologic findings, J Pediatr Surg 14:368–375, 1979.)
Gastroschisis is an abdominal wall defect, not involving the umbilicus, through which intestinal contents have herniated. In contrast to omphalocele, the bowel is not covered by peritoneum or amniotic membrane. As a result, prolonged contact with the amniotic fluid typically causes a thick, exudative covering (a “peel”) on the exposed bowel. Gastroschisis is not associated with extraintestinal anomalies, but segments of intestinal atresia are common. After surgical reduction of the defect, return of normal bowel function may be slow and requires prolonged parenteral nutrition for infants with long atretic segments (short bowel syndrome) and infants with a thick peel.
Omphalocele is an abdominal wall defect through the umbilicus caused by failure of the intestine to return to the abdomen during fetal life. The bowel remains within the umbilicalcord and is covered by peritoneum and amniotic membranes. This defect is associated with other congenital anomalies, especially cardiac defects, Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome, and intestinal complications. Treatment is surgical closure, whichsometimes must be performed in stages to fit the bowel into acongenitally small abdominal cavity.
Anorectal malformations, including imperforate anus and its variants, are embryologic defects recognized at birthby the absence of a normal anal opening. Evaluation of theseinfants should include observation for emergence of meconium from the urethra or fistulas on the perineum. A urinarycatheter should be placed if urinary distention is present.In low lesions, a fistulous opening that drains meconium is present on the perineum. Low lesions commonly are associated with fistulization between the bowel and bladder, vagina,or urethra. Lateral plain x-rays show the level of the defectand show gas in the bladder caused by a fistula. Initial treatment is a colostomy to divert the fecal flow, with subsequentanogenital reconstruction. The internal sphincter muscleis functionally absent in high lesions, and continence afterrepair is difficult to achieve. All children with imperforateanus require magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the lumbosacral spinal cord because of high incidence of tetheredspinal cord. Urologic dysfunction is common and should beevaluated.
Hirschsprung disease is a motility defect caused by failure of ganglion cell precursors to migrate into the distal bowel during fetal life. The aganglionic distal segment doesnot exhibit normal motility and is functionally obstructedsecondary to spasm. In 75% of cases, the involved segmentis limited to the rectosigmoid; total colonic involvement is seen in 8%. Rarely, long segments of small bowel also are aganglionic. “Ultrashort” segment involves only a few centimeters of distal rectum. About 95% of normal infants pass stool spontaneously by 24 hours of age; 95% of infantswith Hirschsprung disease do not. Symptoms of distalbowel obstruction occur with distention and bilious vomiting. If the diagnosis is not made quickly, enterocolitis can result, associated with a high rate of mortality. Diagnosis isbased on examination and one or more diagnostic studies. Abdominal distention is present in most cases. Digital rectalexamination reveals an empty rectum that clenches aroundthe examiner’s finger, giving the impression of an elongatedsphincter. When the finger is withdrawn, a powerful gush ofretained stool is often expelled. A deep rectal biopsy specimen obtained surgically or by using a suction biopsy instrument is required for diagnosis. When no ganglion cells areshown in the submucosal plexus, accompanied by nerve trunk hyperplasia, the diagnosis is certain. Barium enema and anorectal manometry may be used before biopsy, butfalse-negative and false-positive results can occur. Therapy is surgical. When the bowel is markedly distended orinflamed, an initial colostomy usually is performed abovethe aganglionic segment, followed weeks later by one of several definitive repair procedures. The transanal pull-throughexcises the aganglionic bowel and creates a primary colorectal anastomosis without laparotomy. This procedure can beconsidered in patients with uncomplicated involvement limited to the rectosigmoid region.
Meckel diverticulum is a remnant of the fetal omphalomesenteric duct and is an outpouching of the distal ileumpresent in 1% to 2% of the population. Although most diverticula are asymptomatic throughout life, some cause massive, painless GI bleeding. Ectopic gastric tissue within thediverticulum causes ulceration of mucosa in the adjacentileum. Meckel diverticulum may be a lead point for intussusception or may enable twisting (volvulus) of neighboring bowel around its vascular supply. Diverticulitis mimicsappendicitis. Diagnosis may be made in most cases by technetium scan (Meckel scan), which labels the acid-producingmucosa. Because not all diverticula are seen, ultrasound, barium enteroclysis, or video capsule endoscopy may beuseful. When the level of suspicion is high, surgical or laparoscopic investigation is warranted. The treatment is surgical excision.
Available @ StudentConsult.comThe peak incidence of IBD in children is in the second decadeof life. IBD includes Crohn’s disease (CD), which can involve any part of the gut, and ulcerative colitis (UC), which affects only the colon. The incidence of IBD is increasing, especiallyin industrialized countries, for reasons that are unclear. IBD is uncommon in tropical and Third World countries. It is more common in Jewish than in other ethnic populations. Geneticfactors play a role in susceptibility, with significantly higher riskif there is a family history of IBD. Having a first-degree relative with IBD increases the risk about 30-fold. Susceptibilityhas been linked to some HLA subtypes, and linkage analysishas identified multiple other susceptibility loci on several chromosomes. Environmental factors (not yet identified) also seemto play a role because there is often nonconcordance amongmonozygotic twins. It is possible that viral infections can initiate the inflammatory process. Dietary triggers are unproven.Smoking doubles the risk of CD and halves the risk for UC.
Clinical manifestations depend on the region of involvement. UC involves only the colon, whereas CD can include the entire gut from mouth to anus. Colitis from either condition results in diarrhea, blood, and mucus in the stool; urgency; and tenesmus, a sensation of incomplete emptying after defecation. When colitis is severe, the child often awakens from sleep to pass stool. Toxic megacolon is a life-threatening complication characterized by fever, abdominal distention and pain, massively dilated colon, anemia, and low serum albumin owing to fecal protein losses. Symptoms of colitis always are present in UC and usually suggest the diagnosis early in its course. Extraintestinal manifestations of UC occur in a few patients and may include primary sclerosing cholangitis, arthritis, uveitis, and pyoderma gangrenosum (Table 129-1).
Symptoms can be subtle in CD. Small bowel involvement in CD is associated with loss of appetite, crampy postprandial pain, poor growth, delayed puberty, fever, anemia, and lethargy. Some symptoms may be present for some time before the diagnosis is made. Severe CD with fibrosis may cause partial or complete small bowel obstruction. Perineal abnormalities, including skin tags and fistulas, are another feature distinguishing CD from UC. Other extraintestinal manifestations of CD include arthritis, erythema nodosum, and uveitis or iritis.
Blood tests should include complete blood count, albumin,erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and C-reactive protein(Table 129-2). Anemia and elevated platelet counts are typical. Testing for abnormal serum antibodies can be helpfulin diagnosing IBD and in discriminating between the colitis of CD and UC. Antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody is found in about 66% of UC patients and in only a few CD
Malaise, fever, weight loss Common Common Rectal bleeding Sometimes Usual Abdominal mass Common Rare Abdominal pain Common Common Perianal disease Common Rare Ileal involvement Common None (backwash ileitis) Strictures Common Unusual Fistula Common Very rare Skip lesions Common Not present Transmural Involvement Usual Not present Crypt abscesses Variable Usual Intestinal granulomas Common Rarely present Risk of cancer* Increased Greatly increased Erythema nodosum Common Less common Mouth ulceration Common Rare Osteopenia at onset Yes No Autoimmune hepatitis Rare Yes Sclerosing cholangitis Rare Yes *Colonic cancer, cholangiocarcinoma, lymphoma in Crohn’s disease.
cases. Anti–Saccharomyces cerevisiae antibody is presentin about 50% of CD patients and is uncommon in UC. MoreIBD-specific antibodies are being developed and include anti-OmpC, directed against an Escherichia coli membrane protein, and anti-CBir1, directed against bacterial flagellin,among others. Because there is overlap between CD and UC, none of these tests can discriminate absolutely between the two conditions.
In patients with suspected IBD, an upper GI series with small bowel follow-through is often used to detect small bowel involvement. Colonoscopy is preferred over contrast enemabecause biopsy specimens can be obtained and because visualfeatures can be diagnostic. Findings in UC include diffuse carpeting of the distal or entire colon with tiny ulcers and loss of haustral folds. Within the involved segment, no skip areas arepresent. In CD, ulcerations tend to be much larger with a linear,branching, or aphthous appearance; skip areas are usually present. Upper endoscopy cannot evaluate the jejunum and ileum,but is more sensitive than contrast studies in identifying proximalCD involvement. Other methods to detect small bowel involvement include video capsule endoscopy; computed tomography (CT) scanning, which can detect small bowel disease as well as abscesses; and MR enterography, which has the advantage of noradiation and good sensitivity for finding active bowel disease.
UC is treated with the aminosalicylate drugs, which deliver 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA) to the distal gut. Because it is
CBC with WBC Anemia, elevated platelets suggest IBD differential ESR Elevated in many, but not all, IBD patients C-reactive protein Elevated in many, but not all, IBD patients Albumin May be low in IBD due to fecal loss ASCA Found in about 50% of CD patients and few UC patients Atypical p-ANCA Found in most UC patients and few CD patients Anti-OmpC Found in some UC and CD patients, rare in non-IBD Anti-C Bir1 Found in about 50% of CD patients
Upper GI series with Evaluate for ileal and jejunal CD SBFT
CT scan Used to detect abscess, small bowel involvementTagged WBC scan Sometimes helpful in determining extent of disease
Magnetic Resonance Used to detect bowel thickening, Enterography inflammation, and strictures as well as
Upper endoscopy Evaluate for CD of esophagus, stomach, and duodenum; obtain tissue for histologic diagnosis
Colonoscopy Show presence or absence of colitis and terminal ileal CD; obtain tissue for histology
Video Capsule Emerging role in diagnosis of small bowel endoscopy CD, more sensitive than upper GI series with SBFT
Anti-OmpC, Antibody to outer membrane protein C; ASCA, anti–Saccharomyces cerevisiae antibody; atypical p-ANCA, atypical perinuclear staining by antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody; CBC, complete blood count; CD, Crohn’s disease; ESR, erythrocyte sedimentation rate; GI, gastrointestinal; IBD, inflammatory bowel disease; SBFT, small bowel follow- through; WBC, white blood cell.
rapidly absorbed, pure 5-ASA (mesalamine) must be specially packaged in coated capsules or pills or taken as a suppository to be effective in the colon. Other aminosalicylates (sulfasalazine, olsalazine, and balsalazide) use 5-ASA covalently linked to a carrier molecule. Sulfasalazine is the least expensive, but side effects resulting from its sulfapyridine component are common. When aminosalicylates alone cannot control the disease, steroid therapy may be required to induce remission. Whenever possible, steroids should not be used for long-term therapy. An immunosuppressive drug, such as 6-mercaptopurine or azathioprine, is useful to spare excessive steroid use in difficult cases. More potent immunosuppressives, such as cyclosporine or anti–tumor necrosis factor (TNF) agents such as infliximab may be used as rescue therapy when other treatments fail. Surgical colectomy with ileoanal anastomosis is an option for unresponsive severe disease or electively to end chronic symptoms and to reduce the risk of colon cancer, which is increased in patients with UC.
Inflammation in CD typically responds less well to aminosalicylates; oral or IV steroids are more important in inducing remission. To avoid the need for repetitive steroid therapy, immunosuppressive drugs, usually either azathioprine or 6-mercaptopurine, are often started soon after diagnosis. CD that is difficult to control also may be treated with subcutaneous methotrexate or with agents that block the action of TNF-α. Infliximab is the most effective such drug and is given intravenously. Other antibodies that inhibit white blood cell (WBC) migration or action, such as natalizumab, also show promise. As with UC, surgery is sometimes necessary, usually because of obstructive symptoms, abscess, or severe, unremitting symptoms. Because surgery is not curative in CD, its use must be limited, and the length of bowel resection must be minimized.
Celiac disease is an injury to the mucosa of the small intestine caused by the ingestion of gluten (a protein component)from wheat, rye, barley, and related grains. Rice does notcontain gluten and can be eaten freely, as can special purepreparations of oats not contaminated by other grains. In itssevere form, celiac disease causes malabsorption and malnutrition. Diagnosis was based on the presence of typicalsymptoms, followed by small bowel biopsy. The availabilityof more sensitive and specific serologic testing has revealedmany patients with few or no gastrointestinal symptoms whohave early, attenuated, or latent disease. Approximately 1 in110 persons in the United States have celiac disease, but onlya small proportion have been diagnosed. The disease is seenin association with type 1 diabetes, thyroiditis, Turner syndrome, and trisomy 21.
Available @ StudentConsult.comDiarrhea Pubertal Delay Failure to ThriveSymptoms can begin at any age when gluten-containingfoods are given. Diarrhea, abdominal bloating, failure to thrive,irritability, decreased appetite, and ascites caused by hypoproteinemia are classic. Children may be minimally symptomaticor may be severely malnourished. Constipation is found in a fewpatients, probably because of reduced intake. A careful inspection of the child’s growth curve and evaluation for reducedsubcutaneous fat and abdominal distention are crucial. Celiac disease should be considered in any child with chronic abdominal complaints. Extraintestinal manifestations include osteoporosis, pulmonary hemorrhage, seizures/encephalopathy,dermatitis herpetiformis, and erythema nodosum.
Serologic markers include IgA antiendomysial antibody and IgA tissue transglutaminase antibody. Because IgA deficiency iscommon in celiac disease, total serum IgA also must be measured to document the accuracy of these tests. In the absence ofIgA deficiency, either test yields a sensitivity and specificity of95%. An endoscopic small bowel biopsy is essential to confirm the diagnosis and should be performed while the patient is stilltaking gluten. The biopsy specimen shows various degrees ofvillous atrophy (short or absent villi), mucosal inflammation,crypt hyperplasia, and increased numbers of intraepitheliallymphocytes. When there is any question about response totreatment, a repeat biopsy specimen may be obtained severalmonths later. Other laboratory studies should be performed torule out complications, including complete blood count, calcium, phosphate, vitamin D, iron, total protein and albumin,and liver function tests. Mild elevations of the transaminases are common and should normalize with dietary therapy.
Treatment consists of complete elimination of gluten from the diet. Consultation with a dietitian experienced in celiac disease is helpful, as is membership in a celiac disease support group. Lists of prepared foods that contain hidden gluten are particularly important for patients to use. Starchy foods that are safe include rice, soy, tapioca, buckwheat, potatoes, and (pure) oats. Many resources also are available via the Internet to help families cope with the large changes in diet that are required. Most patients respond clinically within a few weeks with weight gain, improved appetite, and improved sense of well-being. Histologic improvement lags behind clinical response, requiring several months to normalize.
SEE CHAPTER 34.Intussusception is the “telescoping” of a segment of proximalbowel (the intussusceptum) into downstream bowel (the intussuscipiens). Most cases occur in infants 1 to 2 years old; in this age group, nearly all cases are idiopathic. Viral-induced lymphoidhyperplasia may produce a lead point in these children. In olderchildren, the proportion of cases caused by a pathologic leadpoint increases. In young children, ileocolonic intussusceptionis common; the ileum invaginates into the colon, beginning at ornear the ileocecal valve. When pathologic lead points are present,the intussusception may be ileoileal, jejunoileal, or jejunojejunal.
Available @ StudentConsult.comAn infant with intussusception has sudden onset of crampy abdominal pain; the infant’s knees draw up, and the infant cries out and exhibits pallor with a colicky pattern occurring every 15 to 20 minutes. Feedings are refused. As the intussusception progresses, and obstruction becomes prolonged, bilious vomiting becomes prominent, and the dilated, fatigued intestine generates less pressure and less pain. As the intussuscepted bowel is pulled further and further into the downstream intestine by motility, the mesentery is pulled with it and becomes stretched and compressed. The venous outflow from the intussusceptum is obstructed, leading to edema, weeping of fluid, and congestion with bleeding. Third space fluid losses and “currant jelly” stools result. Another unexpected feature of intussusception is lethargy. Between episodes of pain, the infant is glassy-eyed and groggy and appears to have been sedated. A sausage-shaped mass caused by the swollen, intussuscepted bowel may be palpable in the right upper quadrant or epigastrium.
The diagnosis depends on the direct demonstration of bowelwithin-bowel. A simple way of showing this is by abdominalultrasound. If the ultrasound is positive, or if good visualization has not been achieved, a pneumatic or contrast enemaunder fluoroscopy is indicated. This is a potentially useful wayto both identify and treat intussusception. Air and barium canshow the intussusception quickly and, when administered withcontrolled pressure, usually can reduce it completely. The success rate for pneumatic reduction is probably a bit higher thanhydrostatic reduction with barium and approaches 90% if donewhen symptoms have been present for less than 24 hours. Thepneumatic enema has the additional advantages over barium ofnot preventing subsequent radiologic studies and having no riskof causing barium peritonitis if perforation occurs. Nonoperative reduction should not be attempted if the patient is unstableor has evidence of pre-existing perforation or peritonitis.
Therapy must begin with placement of an IV catheter and a nasogastric tube. Before radiologic intervention is attempted, the child must have adequate fluid resuscitation to correct the often severe dehydration caused by vomiting and third space losses. Ultrasound may be performed before the fluid resuscitation is complete. Surgical consultation should be obtained early as the surgeon may prefer to be present during nonoperative reduction. If pneumatic or hydrostatic reduction is successful, the child should be admitted to the hospital for overnight observation of possible recurrence (risk is 5% to 10%). If reduction is not complete, emergency surgery is required. The surgeon attempts gentle manual reduction but may need to resect the involved bowel after failed radiologic reduction because of severe edema, perforation, a pathologic lead point (polyp, Meckel diverticulum), or necrosis.
Appendicitis is the most common surgical emergency in childhood. The prevalence of appendicitis varies by age with the peak between the ages of 10 and 12 years. It is much less common in children under the age of 5. Appendicitis begins with obstruction of the lumen, most commonly by fecal matter (fecalith), but appendiceal obstruction also can occur, secondary to hyperplasia of lymphoid tissue associated with viral infections or rarely the presence of neoplastic tissue, such as an appendiceal carcinoid tumor. Trapped bacteria proliferate and begin to invade the appendiceal wall, inducing inflammation and secretion. The obstructed appendix becomes engorged, its blood supply is compromised, and it finally ruptures. The entire process is rapid, with appendiceal rupture usually occurring within 48 hours of the onset of symptoms.
Available @ StudentConsult.comClassic appendicitis begins with visceral pain, localized to the periumbilical region. Nausea and vomiting occur soon after, triggered by the appendiceal distention. As the inflammation begins to irritate the parietal peritoneum adjacent to the appendix, somatic pain fibers are activated, and the pain localizes to the right lower quadrant. Examination of the patient reveals a tender right lower quadrant. Voluntary guarding is present initially, progressing to rigidity, then to rebound tenderness with rupture and peritonitis. These classic findings may not be present, especially in young children or if the appendix is retrocecal, covered by omentum, or in another unusual location. Clinical prediction rules have been developed for the diagnosis of appendicitis. The Alvarado/MANTRELS rule is scored by 1 point for each of the following: migration of pain to the right lower quadrant, anorexia, nausea/vomiting, rebound pain, temperature of at least 37.3°C, and WBC shift to greater than 75% neutrophils; 2 points are given for each of tenderness in the right lower quadrant and leukocytosis greater than 10,000/μL. Children with a score of 4 or less are unlikely to have appendicitis; a score of 7 or greater increases the likelihood that the patient has appendicitis. When classic history and physical examination findings are present, the patient is taken to the operating room. When doubt exists, imaging is helpful to rule out complications (right lower quadrant abscess, liver disease) and other disorders, such as mesenteric adenitis and ovarian or fallopian tube disorders. If the evaluation is negative and some doubt remains, the child should be admitted to the hospital for close observation and serial examinations.
The history and examination are often enough to make the diagnosis, but laboratory and imaging studies are helpful when the diagnosis is uncertain (Table 129-3). A WBC count greater than 10,000/mm3 is found in 89% of patients with appendicitis and 93% with perforated appendicitis. This criterion is met by 62% of abdominal pain patients without appendicitis. Urinalysis is done to rule out urinary tract infection, and x-rays of the chest or the kidney, ureter, and bladder (KUB) rule
CBC with differential Urinalysis Amylase and lipase ALT, AST, GGT Flat and upright abdominal radiographs (KUB)
Abdominal ultrasound CT scan of abdomenALT, Alanine aminotransferase; AST, aspartate aminotransferase; CBC, complete blood count; CT, computed tomography; GGT, γ-glutamyltransferase; KUB, kidney, ureter, bladder. *Perform when diagnosis remains in doubt.
out lower lobe pneumonia masquerading as abdominal pain. Amylase, lipase, and liver enzymes are done to look for pancreatic or liver and gallbladder disease. The plain abdominal x-ray may reveal a calcified fecalith, which strongly suggests the diagnosis. When these studies are inconclusive, imaging is indicated with an abdominal ultrasound or CT scan, which may reveal the presence of an enlarged, thick-walled appendix with surrounding fluid. A diameter of more than 6 mm is considered diagnostic.
Treatment of appendicitis is surgical. Simple appendectomy iscurative if performed before perforation. With perforation, a course of postoperative IV antibiotics is required. Broad-spectrumcoverage is necessary to cover the mixed bowel flora.
Cholestasis is defined as reduced bile flow and is characterized by elevation of the conjugated, or direct, bilirubin fraction. This condition must be distinguished from ordinary neonatal jaundice, in which the direct bilirubin is never elevated (see Chapter 62). Neonatal jaundice that is secondary to unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia is the result of immature hepatocellular excretory function or hemolysis, which increases the production of bilirubin. When direct bilirubin is elevated, many potentially serious disorders must be considered (Fig. 130-1). Emphasis must be placed on the rapid diagnosis of treatable and potentially imminently lethal disorders, especially biliary atresia and metabolic disorders, such as galactosemia or tyrosinemia.
Available @ StudentConsult.comThe jaundice of extrahepatic biliary atresia (biliary atresia) usually is not evident immediately at birth, but develops in the first week or two of life. The reason is that extrahepatic bile ducts are usually present at birth, but are then destroyed by an idiopathic inflammatory process. Aside from jaundice, these infants do not initially appear ill. The liver injury progresses rapidly to cirrhosis; symptoms of portal hypertension with splenomegaly, ascites, muscle wasting, and poor weight gain are evident by a few months of age. If surgical drainage is not performed successfully early in the course (ideally by 2 months), progression to liver failure is inevitable.
Neonatal hepatitis is characterized by an ill-appearing infantwith an enlarged liver and jaundice. There is no specific diagnostic test. If liver biopsy is performed, the presence of hepatocytegiant cells is characteristic. Cytomegalovirus, herpes simplexvirus, and syphilis must be ruled out. Hepatobiliary scintigraphy typically shows slow hepatic uptake with eventual excretionof isotope into the intestine. These infants have a good prognosis overall, with spontaneous resolution occurring in most.
α1-Antitrypsin deficiency presents with clinical findings indistinguishable from neonatal hepatitis. Only about 10% to 20% of all infants with the genetic defect exhibit neonatal cholestasis. Of these affected infants, about 20% to 30% develop chronic liver disease, which may result in cirrhosis and liver failure. Life-threatening α1-antitrypsin deficiency occurs in only 3% to 5% of affected pediatric patients. α1-Antitrypsin deficiency is the leading metabolic disorder requiring liver transplantation.
Alagille syndrome is characterized by chronic cholestasis with the unique liver biopsy finding of paucity of bile ducts in the portal triads. Associated abnormalities in some (syndromic) types include peripheral pulmonic stenosis or other cardiac anomalies; hypertelorism; unusual facies with deep-set eyes, prominent forehead, and a pointed chin; butterfly vertebrae; and a defect of the ocular limbus (posterior embryotoxon). Cholestasis is variable but is usually lifelong and associated with hypercholesterolemia and severe pruritus. Progression to end-stage liver disease is uncommon. Liver transplantation sometimes is performed electively to relieve severe and uncontrollable pruritus.
The laboratory approach to diagnosis of a neonate with cholestatic jaundice is presented in Table 130-1. Noninvasive studies may aid a rapid diagnosis. Early imaging studies are performed to evaluate for biliary obstruction and other anatomic lesions that may be surgically treatable. When necessary to rule out biliary atresia or to obtain prognostic information, liver biopsy is a final option (Fig. 130-2).
Treatment of extrahepatic biliary atresia is the surgical Kasai procedure, in which the fibrotic extrahepatic bile duct remnant
Positive Coombs Negative Coombs Gilbert syndrome Alagille syndrome Hepatitis A, B, C, Progressive familial Total parenteral Idiopathic neonatal Autoimmune test test Physiologic Nonsyndromic D, E, G intrahepatic nutrition hepatitis chronic hepatitisABO and Rh RBC enzyme jaundice of the paucity of Cytomegalovirus cholestasis Acetaminophen Familial benign Sclerosingincompatibility defect (G6PD newborn intrahepatic bile Herpes simplex   Wilson disease Ethanol recurrent cholangitis Autoimmune, deficiency) Breast milk ducts 1, 2, 6 ˜1-Antitrypsin Salicylates cholestasis Graft versus host systemic lupus Hemoglobinopathy jaundice Biliary atresia Epstein-Barr virus deficiency Cholestasis with disease
Figure 130-1 Differential diagnosis of jaundice in childhood. G6PD, Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase; RBC, red blood cell.
AST, ALT Hepatocellular injuryVery long chain fatty acids Zellweger syndrome, peroxisomal disordersAbdominal ultrasound Choledochal cyst, gallstones, mass lesion, Caroli diseasePercutaneous liver biopsy Biliary atresia, idiopathic giant cell hepatitis, α1-antitrypsin deficiency
ALT, Alanine aminotransferase; AST, aspartate aminotransferase; CF, cystic fibrosis; GGT, γ-glutamyltransferase; RBC, red blood cell.
Laboratory studies No diagnosis Specific diagnosis Abdominal ultrasound Biliary cyst or obstruction No biliary lesions seen Hepatobiliary scan Excretion into bowel Liver biopsy Surgery Evidence of biliary atresia No evidence of biliary atresia Specific therapy (if available), or Supportive care No excretion
Figure 130-2 Flow chart for evaluation of neonatal cholestasis.is removed and replaced with a roux-en-Y loop of jejunum.This operation must be performed before 3 months of age tohave the best chance of success. Even so, the success rate is low; many children require liver transplantation. Some metabolic causes of neonatal cholestasis are treatable by dietarymanipulation (galactosemia) or medication (tyrosinemia);all affected patients require supportive care. This includesfat-soluble vitamin supplements (vitamins A, D, E, and K)and formula containing medium-chain triglycerides, whichcan be absorbed without bile salt–induced micelles. Choleretic agents, such as ursodeoxycholic acid, may improve bileflow in some conditions.
SEE CHAPTER 113.Fulminant liver failure is defined as severe liver disease with onset of hepatic encephalopathy within 8 weeks afterinitial symptoms, in the absence of chronic liver disease.Etiology includes viral hepatitis, metabolic disorders, autoimmune hepatitis, ischemia, neoplastic disease, and toxins(Table 130-2).
Available @ StudentConsult.comLiver failure is a multisystem disorder with complex interactions among the liver, kidneys, vascular structures, gut, central nervous system (CNS), and immune function. Hepaticencephalopathy is characterized by varying degrees ofimpairment (Table 130-3). Respiratory compromise occursas severity of the failure increases and requires early institution of ventilatory support. Hypoglycemia resulting fromimpaired glycogenolysis and gluconeogenesis must be prevented. Renal function is impaired, and frank renal failure, or hepatorenal syndrome, may occur. This syndrome ischaracterized by low urine output, azotemia, and low urinesodium content. Ascites develops secondary to hypoalbuminemia and disordered regulation of fluid and electrolytehomeostasis. Increased risk of infection occurs and may cause death. Esophageal varices may cause significant hemorrhage, whereas hypersplenism from portal hypertensionmay produce thrombocytopenia.
Coagulation tests and serum albumin are used to followhepatic synthetic function. These tests are confounded byadministration of blood products and clotting factors. Vitamin K should be administered to maximize the liver’s abilityto synthesize factors II, VII, IX, and X. In addition to monitoring prothrombin time and partial thromboplastin time,many centers measure factor V serially as a sensitive index ofsynthetic function. Renal function tests, electrolytes, serum
Neonatal hemochromatosis Electron chain transport defects Disorders of fatty acid oxidation Galactosemia Tyrosinemia Hereditary fructose intolerance Bile acid synthesis disorders
Shock, hypotension Congestive heart failureHepatitis virus A, B Echovirus Coxsackievirus Adenovirus Parvovirus Cytomegalovirus Sepsis Herpes simplex ammonia, blood counts, and urinalysis also should be followed. In the setting of acute liver failure, liver biopsy maybe indicated to ascertain the nature and degree of injury andestimate the likelihood of recovery. In the presence of coagulopathy, biopsy must be done using a transjugular or surgicalapproach.
Because of the life-threatening and complex nature of this condition, management must be carried out in an intensive care unit at a liver transplant center. Treatment of acute liver failure is supportive; the definitive lifesaving therapy is liver transplantation. Supportive measures are listed in Table 130-4.
Alert and awake Agitated and distractible Infants and young children—irritable and fussy Normal reflexes Tremor, poor handwriting Obeys age-appropriate commands
Confused and lethargic Combative or inappropriate euphoria Hyperactive reflexes Asterixis present Purposeful movements, but may not obey commands
Stuporous but arousable Sleepy Incoherent speech Motor response to pain Hyperreflexic Hyperventilation Asterixis present
Unconscious, not arousable Unresponsive or responds nonpurposefully to pain Reflexes hyperactive Irregular respirations Pupil response sluggish
Efforts are made to treat metabolic derangements, avoid hypoglycemia, support respiration, minimize hepatic encephalopathy, and support renal function.
Chronic liver disease in childhood is characterized by thedevelopment of cirrhosis and its complications, and byprogressive hepatic failure. Causative conditions may becongenital or acquired. Major congenital disorders leading to chronic disease include biliary atresia, tyrosinemia,untreated galactosemia, and α1-antitrypsin deficiency. In older children, hepatitis B or C virus, autoimmune hepatitis, Wilson disease, primary sclerosing cholangitis, cystic encephalopathy Lactulose via nasogastric tube—start with 1-2 mL/kg/day, adjust dose to yield several loose stools per day Rifaximin or neomycin Enemas if constipated Mechanical ventilation if stage III or IV
Coagulopathy Fresh frozen plasma only if active bleeding, monitor coagulation studies frequently Platelet transfusions as required
Hypoglycemia IV glucose supplied with ≥10% dextrose solution, electrolytes as appropriate
Ascites Restrict fluid intake to 50%-60% maintenance Restrict sodium intake to 0.5-1 mEq/kg/day Monitor central venous pressure to maintain adequate intravascular volume (avoid renal failure)
Renal failure Maintain adequate intravascular volume, give albumin if low Diuretics Vasoconstrictors Dialysis or hemofiltration Exchange transfusion Liver transplantation fibrosis, and biliary obstruction secondary to choledochalcyst are leading causes.
Available @ StudentConsult.comChronic liver disease is characterized by the consequences of portal hypertension, impaired hepatocellular function, and cholestasis. Portal hypertension caused by cirrhosis results in risk of gastrointestinal bleeding, ascites, and reduced hepatic blood flow. Blood entering the portal vein from the splenic and mesenteric veins is diverted to collateral circulation that bypasses the liver, enlarging these previously tiny vessels in the esophagus, stomach, and abdomen. Esophageal varices are particularly prone to bleed, but bleeding also can occur from hemorrhoidal veins, engorged gastric mucosa, and gastric var-ices. Ascites develops as a result of weeping of a high-pressure ultrafiltrate from the surfaces of the viscera and is at risk of becoming infected (spontaneous bacterial peritonitis); ascites can often be massive and interfere with patient comfort and respiration. The spleen enlarges secondary to impaired splenic vein outflow, causing excessive scavenging of platelets and white blood cells; this increases the patient’s susceptibility to bleeding and infection.
Impaired hepatocellular function is associated with coagulopathy unresponsive to vitamin K, low serum albumin, elevated ammonia, and hepatic encephalopathy. The diversion
ALT, Alanine aminotransferase; AST, aspartate aminotransferase; CBC, complete blood count; CF, cystic fibrosis; ERCP, endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography; GGT, γ-glutamyltransferase; HBeAg, hepatitis B early antigen; HBsAg, hepatitis B surface antigen.
Serum α1-antitrypsin level α1-Antitrypsin phenotype if low serum level Serum ceruloplasmin Sweat chloride, CF gene tests if CF suspected Testing for other specific conditions as indicated by
HBsAg Hepatitis B viral DNA, HBeAg if HBsAg positive Hepatitis C antibody Hepatitis C antibody confirmatory test if positive Hepatitis C viral RNA, genotype if antibody confirmed
Prothrombin time and partial thromboplastin time Serum ammonia CBC with platelet count *Perform when indicated to obtain specific anatomic information.
of portal blood away from the liver via collateral circulation worsens this process. Malaise develops and contributes to poor nutrition, leading to muscle wasting and other consequences.
Chronic cholestasis causes debilitating pruritus and deepening jaundice. The reduced excretion of bile acids impairs absorption of fat calories and fat-soluble vitamins, which contributes to the poor nutritional state. Deficiency of vitamin K impairs production of clotting factors II, VII, IX, and X and increases the risk of bleeding. Vitamin E deficiency leads to hematologic and neurologic consequences unless corrected.
Laboratory studies include specific tests for diagnosis of the underlying illness and testing to monitor the status of the patient. Children presenting for the first time with evidence of chronic liver disease should have a standard investigation (Table 130-5). Monitoring should include coagulation tests, electrolytes and renal function testing, complete blood count with platelet count, transaminases, alkaline phosphatase, and γ-glutamyltransferase at appropriate intervals. Frequency of testing should be tailored to the pace of the patient’s illness. Ascites fluid can be tested for infection by culture and cell count and generally is found to have an albumin concentration lower than that of serum.
Serum albumin AST, ALT, GGT, alkaline phosphatase Total and direct bilirubin Serum cholylglycine or bile acids Serum cholesterol Ultrasound examination of liver and bile ducts Doppler ultrasound of hepatic vessels* Magnetic resonance cholangiography* Magnetic resonance angiography of hepatic vessels* Percutaneous or endoscopic cholangiography* Liver biopsy*
Ultrasound of liver, pancreas, and biliary treeConsider magnetic resonance cholangiography or ERCP if evidence of biliary process Liver biopsy—as required for diagnosis or prognosis
Height, weight, skinfold thickness 25-Hydroxyvitamin D level Vitamin A level Vitamin E level Prothrombin time and partial thromboplastin time before and after
Treatment of chronic liver disease is complex. Supportive carefor each of the many problems encountered in these patientsis outlined in Table 130-6. Ultimately, survival depends on theavailability of a donor liver and the patient’s candidacy for transplantation. When transplantation is not possible or is delayed,palliative procedures, such as portosystemic shunts, can beconsidered. The transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shuntis an expandable stent placed between the hepatic vein and abranch of the portal vein within the hepatic parenchyma. Thisprocedure is performed using catheters inserted via the jugularvein and is entirely nonsurgical. All portosystemic shunts carryincreased risk of hepatic encephalopathy.
Available @ StudentConsult.comTable 130-6 Management of Chronic Liver Disease PROBLEM CLINICAL MANIFESTATIONS DIAGNOSTIC TESTING TREATMENT Gastrointestinal variceal bleeding* Hematemesis, rectal bleeding, melena, anemia CBC, coagulation tests, Doppler ultrasound, magnetic resonance angiography, endoscopy Somatostatin (octreotide) infusion, variceal band ligation or sclerotherapy, propranolol to reduce portal pressure, acid-blocker therapy, TIPSS or surgical portosystemic shunt if transplant not possible
CBC, Complete blood count; TIPSS, transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt; WBC, white blood cell.
*May also have peptic ulcerations.Wilson disease is characterized by abnormal storage of copper in the liver, leading to hepatocellular injury, CNS dysfunction, and hemolytic anemia. It is an autosomal recessive trait caused by mutations in the ATP7B gene. The encoded protein of this gene functions as an ATP-driven copper pump. The diagnosis is made by identifying depressed serum levels of ceruloplasmin, elevated 24-hour urine copper excretion, the presence of Kayser-Fleischer rings in the iris, evidence of hemolysis, and elevated hepatic copper content. In any single patient, one or more of these measures may be normal. Clinical presentation also varies, but seldom occurs before age 3 years. Neurologic abnormalities may predominate, including tremor, decline in school performance, worsening handwriting, and psychiatric disturbances. Anemia may be the first noted symptom. Hepatic presentations include appearance of jaundice, spider hemangiomas, portal hypertension and its consequences, and fulminant hepatic failure. Treatment consists of administration of copper-chelating drugs (penicillimine or trientine), with monitoring of urine copper excretion at intervals. Zinc salts often replace chelating agents after chelation therapy has successfully reduced excessive body copper stores. Adequate therapy must be continued for life to prevent liver and CNS deterioration.
Immune-mediated liver injury may be primary or occurin association with other autoimmune disorders, such as inflammatory bowel disease or systemic lupus erythematosus.Diagnosis is made on the basis of elevated serum total IgGand the presence of an autoantibody, most commonly antinuclear, anti–smooth muscle, or anti–liver-kidney microsomal antibody. Liver biopsy specimen shows the presence ofa plasma cell–rich portal infiltrate with piecemeal necrosis.Treatment consists of corticosteroids initially, usually withthe addition of an immunosuppressive drug after remissionis achieved. Steroids are tapered gradually as tolerated tominimize glucocorticoid side effects. Many patients require lifelong immunosuppressive therapy, but some may be able tostop medications after several years under careful monitoringfor recurrence.
Steatohepatitis, also known as nonalcoholic fatty liver disease or nonalcoholic fatty hepatitis, is characterized by the presence of macrovesicular fatty change in hepatocytes on biopsy. Varying degrees of inflammation and portal fibrosis may be present. This disorder occurs in obese children, sometimes in association with insulin-resistant (type 2) diabetes and hyperlipidemia. Children with marked obesity, with or without type 2 diabetes, who have elevated liver enzymes and no other identifiable liver disease are likely to have this condition. Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease can progress to significant fibrosis. Treatment is with diet and exercise. Vitamin E may have some benefit. Efforts should be made to control blood glucose and hyperlipidemia and promote weight loss. In general, the rate of progression to end-stage liver disease is slow.
The cause of inadequate pancreatic digestive function in 95%of cases is cystic fibrosis (see Chapter 137). The defect in CFTR chloride channel function results in thick secretions in the lungs, intestines, pancreas, and bile ducts. In the pancreas, there is destruction of pancreatic function, oftenbefore birth. Some mutations result in less severe defects in CFTR function and later onset of lung disease and pancreatic insufficiency. Less common causes of pancreatic insufficiency are Shwachman-Diamond syndrome and Pearsonsyndrome in developed countries and severe malnutrition indeveloping countries.
Available @ StudentConsult.comFailure to ThriveChildren with pancreatic exocrine insufficiency havemany bulky, foul-smelling stools each day, usually withvisible oil or fat. They typically have voracious appetitesbecause of massive malabsorption of calories from fat,complex carbohydrates, and proteins. Failure to thrive isuniformly present if diagnosis and treatment are not accomplished rapidly. It is important to distinguish children withmalabsorption due to pancreatic disease from children withintestinal disorders that interfere with digestion or absorption. Appropriate testing should be performed to rule outconditions such as celiac disease and inflammatory boweldisease if any doubt about the state of pancreatic sufficiencyexists.
Testing of pancreatic function is difficult. Direct measurement of enzyme concentrations in aspirated pancreatic juice is not routine and is technically difficult. Stools can be tested for the presence of maldigested fat, which usually indicates poor fat digestion. Measuring fecal fat can give either a qualitative assessment of fat absorption (fecal Sudan stain) or a semiquantitative measurement (72-hour fecal fat determination) of fat maldigestion. Another way to assess pancreatic function is to test for the presence of pancreatic enzymes in the stool. Of these, measuring fecal elastase-1 by immunoassay seems to be the most accurate method of assessment. Depressed fecal elastase-1 concentration correlates well with the presence of pancreatic insufficiency.
Replacement of missing pancreatic enzymes is the best available therapy. Pancreatic enzymes are available as capsules containing enteric-coated microspheres. The coating on these spheres is designed to protect the enzymes from gastric acid degradation. For children unable to swallow capsules, the contents may be sprinkled on a spoonful of soft food, such as applesauce. Excessive use of enzymes must be avoided because high doses (usually >6000 U/kg/meal) can cause colonic fibrosis. In infants, typical dosing is 2000 to 4000 U of lipase/120 mL of formula. In children younger than 4 years old, 1000 U/kg/meal is given. For older children, 500 U/kg/meal is usual. This dose may be adjusted upward as required to control steatorrhea, but a dose of 2500 U/kg/meal should not be exceeded. Use of H2 receptor antagonists or proton-pump inhibitors can increase the efficacy of pancreatic enzymes by enhancing their release from the microspheres and reducing inactivation by acid.
The exocrine pancreas produces numerous proteolyticenzymes, including trypsin, chymotrypsin, and carboxypeptidase. These are produced as inactive proenzymes to protectthe pancreas from autodigestion. Trypsin is activated after leaving the pancreas by enterokinase, an intestinal brush border enzyme. After activation, trypsin cleaves other proteolytic proenzymes into their active states. Protease inhibitorsfound in pancreatic juice inhibit early activation of trypsin;the presence of self-digestion sites on the trypsin moleculeallows for feedback inactivation. Pancreatitis occurs when digestive enzymes are activated inside the pancreas, causinginjury. Triggers for acute pancreatitis differ between adultsand children. In the adult patient, most episodes are relatedto alcohol abuse or gallstones. In children, most cases areidiopathic or due to medications. Some cases are caused bypancreatic sufficient cystic fibrosis, hypertriglyceridemia,biliary microlithiasis, trauma, or viral infection. Collagenvascular disorders and parasite infestations are responsiblefor the remainder (Table 131-1).
Available @ StudentConsult.comAcute pancreatitis presents with relatively rapid onset of pain, usually in the epigastric region. The pain may radiate to the back and is nearly always aggravated by eating. The patient moves frequently to find a position of comfort. Nausea and vomiting occur in most cases. Pain is typically continuous and quite severe, usually requiring narcotics. Severe pancreatitis can lead to hemorrhage, visible as ecchymoses in the flanks (Grey Turner sign) or periumbilical region (Cullen sign). Rupture of a minor pancreatic duct can lead to development of a pancreatic pseudocyst, characterized by persistent severe pain and tenderness and a palpable mass. With necrosis and fluid collections, patients experiencing severe pancreatitis are prone to infectious complications, and the clinician must be alert for fever and signs of sepsis.
Acute pancreatitis can be difficult to diagnose. Elevations in total serum amylase or lipase support the diagnosis. These pancreatic enzymes are released into the blood during pancreatic injury. Nonspecific elevations of the enzymes are common, however. As acute pancreatitis progresses, the amylase level tends to decline faster than lipase, making the latter a
Cholelithiasis and biliary sludge Choledochal cyst Pancreas divisum Anomalous junction of biliary and pancreatic ducts Annular pancreas Ampullary obstruction (mass, inflammation from Crohn’s disease) Ascaris infection good choice for diagnostic testing late in the course of the disease.
Serial measurement of laboratory studies is importantto monitor for severe complications. At diagnosis, baseline complete blood count, C-reactive protein, electrolytes,blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, glucose, calcium, and phosphorus should be obtained. These should be measured atleast daily, along with amylase and lipase, until the patienthas recovered.
Because enzyme levels are not 100% sensitive or specific,imaging studies are important for the diagnosis of pancreatitis. In acute pancreatitis, edema is present in all but themildest cases. Ultrasound is capable of detecting this edemaand should be performed as part of the overall diagnosticapproach. If overlying bowel gas obscures the pancreas, acomputed tomography (CT) scan allows complete visualization of the gland. CT scans should be done with oral andintravenous (IV) contrast agents to facilitate interpretation.Ultrasound and CT also can be used to monitor for the development of pseudocysts and for evidence of ductal dilation secondary to obstruction. The other important reason toperform imaging studies early in the course of pancreatitis isto rule out gallstones; the liver, gallbladder, and common bileduct all should be visualized. Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography may be used to detect anatomic variantscausing pancreatitis.
There are no proven specific therapies for acute pancreatitis. If a predisposing etiology is found, such as a drug reaction or a gallstone obstructing the sphincter of Oddi, this should be specifically treated. Initially, oral intake is prohibited, an acid-blocking drug is prescribed, and (except in mild cases) nasogastric suction is begun. Fluid resuscitation is necessary because of vomiting and third space losses. Pain relief should be provided. Meperidine, fentanyl, and hydromorphone are most commonly used. Nutritional support should be provided early in the course if the patient will be nothing by mouth (NPO) for extended periods. Feedings can begin once pain subsides or can be administered downstream from the duodenum. If this is not possible, parenteral nutrition is an option. Fewer complications and more rapid recovery occur with jejunal feedings compared with parenteral nutrition. Antibiotics should be considered if the patient is febrile, has extensive pancreatic necrosis, or has laboratory evidence of infection. A broad-spectrum antibiotic, such as imipenem, is considered the best choice.
Chronic pancreatitis is defined as recurrent or persistentattacks of pancreatitis, which have resulted in irreversible morphologic changes in pancreatic structure. Theseinclude scarring of the ducts with irregular areas of narrowing and dilation (beading), fibrosis of parenchyma, andloss of acinar and islet tissue. Pancreatic exocrine insufficiency and diabetes mellitus may result from unremittingchronic pancreatitis. Most patients have discrete attacksof acute symptoms occurring repeatedly, but chronic painmay be present. The causes of chronic pancreatitis include hereditary pancreatitis and milder phenotypes of cysticfibrosis associated with pancreatic sufficiency. Familial disease is caused by one of several known mutations in thetrypsinogen gene. These mutations obliterate autodigestionsites on the trypsin molecule, inhibiting feedback inhibition of trypsin digestion. Genetic testing is readily available for these mutations. Genetic testing for cystic fibrosiscan be performed, but must include screening for the lesscommon mutations associated with pancreatic sufficiency.Sweat chloride testing is less expensive and is abnormalin most. Less commonly, mutations in the SPINK1 gene, which codes for pancreatic trypsin inhibitor, and PRSS1, amutation of cationic trypsinogen, are found.
Children with chronic pancreatitis initially present withrecurring attacks of acute pancreatitis. Injury to the pancreatic ducts predisposes these children to continued attacksowing to scarring of small and large pancreatic ducts, stasisof pancreatic secretions, stone formation, and inflammation. Loss of pancreatic exocrine and endocrine tissue overtime can lead to exocrine and endocrine deficiency. Morethan 90% of the pancreatic mass must be destroyed beforeexocrine deficiency becomes clinically apparent; this is alate complication that does not occur in all cases. Chronicpain is a serious problem in most affected individuals.These patients have many episodes; many do not requirehospitalization.
Laboratory diagnosis of chronic pancreatitis is similar to acute pancreatitis but with more severe loss of pancreatic tissue it becomes less likely that the patient with elevation of amylase or lipase. Monitoring also should include looking for consequences of chronic injury, including diabetes mellitus and compromise of the pancreatic and biliary ducts. Pancreatic and biliary imaging has been accomplished by endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). ERCP offers the possibility of therapeutic intervention to remove gallstones, dilate strictures, and place stents to enhance flow of pancreatic juice. Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography is an alternative to ERCP. Plain abdominal x-rays may show pancreatic calcifications. Diagnostic testing for the etiology of chronic pancreatitis should include genetic testing for hereditary pancreatitis and cystic fibrosis and sweat chloride determination.
Treatment is largely supportive. Potential but unproven therapies include the use of daily pancreatic enzyme supplements, octreotide (somatostatin) to abort early attacks, low-fat diets, and daily antioxidant therapy. Care must be taken that extreme diets do not result in nutritional deprivation. Interventional ERCP to dilate large strictures and remove stones and surgical pancreatic drainage procedures to decompress dilated pancreatic ducts by creating a side-to-side pancreaticojejunostomy may have some value.
The peritoneum consists of a single layer of mesothelial cells that covers all intra-abdominal organs. The portion that covers the abdominal wall is derived from the underlying somatic structures and is innervated by somatic nerves. The portion covering the viscera is derived from visceral mesoderm and is innervated by nonmyelinated visceral afferents. Inflammation of the peritoneum, or peritonitis, usually is caused by infection but may result from exogenous irritants introduced by penetrating injuries or surgical procedures, radiation, and endogenous irritants such as meconium. Infectious peritonitis can be an acute complication of intestinal inflammation and perforation, as in appendicitis, or it can occur secondary to contamination of preexisting ascites associated with renal, cardiac, or hepatic disease. In this setting, when there is no other intra-abdominal source, it is referred to as spontaneous bacterial peritonitis. Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis is usually due to pneumococcus and less often to Escherichia coli.
Available @ StudentConsult.comPeritonitis is characterized on examination by marked abdominal tenderness. Rebound tenderness also generally is quite pronounced. The patient tends to move very little owing to intense peritoneal irritation and pain. Fever is not always present, and absence of fever should not be regarded as contradictory to the diagnosis. Patients who are taking corticosteroids for an underlying condition, such as nephrotic syndrome, are likely to have little fever and reduced tenderness.
Blood tests should focus on identifying the nature of the inflammation and its underlying cause. An elevated white blood cell count, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and C-reactive proteinsuggest infection. In children older than 5 years, appendicitis isthe leading cause. Total serum protein, albumin, and urinalysisshould be ordered to rule out nephrotic syndrome. Liver function tests should be performed to rule out chronic liver diseasecausing ascites. The best way to diagnose suspected peritonitisis to sample the peritoneal fluid with a needle or catheter (paracentesis). Peritoneal fluid in spontaneous bacterial peritonitis has a high neutrophil count of greater than 250 cells/mm3. Other tests that should be run on the peritoneal fluid includeamylase (to rule out pancreatic ascites), culture, albumin, andlactate dehydrogenase concentration. For culture, a large sampleof fluid should be placed into aerobic and anaerobic blood culture bottles immediately on obtaining the sample.
Appendicitis may be identified by ultrasound or computed tomography (CT) scan. When other intra-abdominal emergencies are suspected, such as midgut volvulus, meconium ileus, peptic disease, or any other condition predisposing to intestinal perforation, specific testing should be performed.
Peritonitis caused by an intra-abdominal surgical process, such as appendicitis or a penetrating wound, must be managed surgically. Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis should be treated with a broad-spectrum antibiotic with good coverage of resistant pneumococcus and enteric bacteria. Cefotaxime is generally effective as initial therapy while awaiting culture and sensitivity results. Anaerobic coverage with metronidazole should be added whenever a perforated viscus is suspected.
Bishop W, editor: Pediatric Practice: Gastroenterology, New York, 2010,Feldman M, Friedman LS, Brandt LJ, editors: Gastrointestinal and Liver
Disease: Pathophysiology/Diagnosis/Management, Philadelphia, 2010,Kleinman R, Goulet OJ, Mieli-Vergani G, et al: Walker’s Pediatric
Gastrointestinal Disease, Hamilton, Ontario, 2008, BC DeckerKliegman RM, Stanton BF, St. Jeme JW, et al: Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics, ed 19, Philadelphia, 2011, Saunders
Wyllie R, Hyams JS, Kay M, editors: Pediatric Gastrointestinal and Liver
Disease, Philadelphia, 2011, SaundersThe Respiratory SystemThida Ong, Amanda Striegl, and Susan G. Marshall 18Acute and chronic respiratory diseases are common in pediatrics. Children with respiratory problems typically present with symptoms, although abnormal imaging may sometimes precede physical findings. The underlying etiology of childhood respiratory diseases includes the following: genetic (e.g., cystic fibrosis); anatomic (e.g., laryngomalacia); incomplete maturation (e.g., premature birth); iatrogenic (e.g., oxygen toxicity); immunologic (e.g., immune deficiency); infectious (e.g., croup or pneumonia); environmental (e.g., toxins or pollutants); and extrapulmonary (e.g., congenital heart disease). The optimal functioning of the entire respiratory tract allows children not only to survive, but thrive.
Air enters the nose and passes over the large surface area of the nasal turbinates, which warm, humidify, and filter the inspired air. Secretions draining from the paranasal sinuses are carried to the pharynx by the mucociliary action of the ciliated respiratory epithelium. Lymphoid tissue can obstruct airflow through the nasopharynx (adenoids) or the posterior pharynx (tonsils).
The epiglottis protects the larynx during swallowing by deflecting material toward the esophagus. The arytenoid cartilages, which assist in opening and closing the glottis, are less prominent in children than in adults. The opening formed by the vocal cords (the glottis) is V-shaped, with the apex of the V being anterior. Below the vocal cords, the walls of the subglottic space converge toward the cricoid portion of the trachea. In children under 3 years of age, the cricoid ring is the narrowest portion of the airway, whereas in older children and adults it is the glottis. C-shaped cartilage, extending approximately 320° around the airway circumference, supports the trachea and mainstem bronchi. The posterior wall of the trachea is membranous. Beyond the lobar bronchi, the cartilaginous support for the airways becomes discontinuous.
The right lung has three lobes (upper, middle, lower) andcomprises approximately 55% of the total lung volume. The leftlung has two lobes (upper, lower). The inferior division of theleft upper lobe, the lingula, is analogous to the right middle lobe.
The pediatric lung has tremendous capacity for growth. A full-term infant has approximately 25 million alveoli; an adult nearly 300 million alveoli. The growth of new alveoli occurs during the first 2 years of life and is complete by 8 years of age. After this time, lung volume increases primarily by increase in alveolar dimensions, with new alveoli rarely formed.
The major function of the lungs is to exchange oxygen (O2)and carbon dioxide (CO2) between the atmosphere and the blood. The anatomy of the airways, mechanics of the respiratory muscles and rib cage, nature of the alveolar-capillary interface, pulmonary circulation, tissue metabolism, and neuromuscular control of ventilation all influence gas exchange.
Air enters the lungs when intrathoracic pressure is less than atmospheric pressure. During inspiration, negative intrathoracic pressure is generated by contraction and lowering of the diaphragm. The accessory muscles of inspiration (external intercostal, scalene, and sternocleidomastoid muscles)are not used during quiet breathing but are recruited during exercise or in disease states to raise and enlarge the rib cage. Exhalation is normally passive, but with active exhalation, the abdominal and internal intercostal muscles are recruited.
During normal breathing at rest, lung volumes are usually inthe mid-range of inflation (Fig. 133-1). Tidal volume (TV) is the amount of air inspired with each relaxed breath. The volume of gas retained in the lung at the end of a relaxed exhalation is
Figure 133-1 Lung volumes and capacities. Vital capacity and its subdivisions can be measured by spirometry, but calculation of residual volume requires measurement of functional residual capacity by body plethysmography, helium dilution, or nitrogen washout. (From Andreoli TE, Bennett JC, Carpenter CJ, et al, editors: Cecil Essentials of Medicine, ed 4, Philadelphia, 1997, WB Saunders, p 127.)
Ventilation-perfusion Asthma ↓ Normal, ↓, or ↑ YesFIO2, Fraction of inspired oxygen; PaCO2, arterial partial pressure of carbon dioxide; PaO2, arterial partial pressure of oxygen.
the functional residual capacity (FRC). This gas volume maintains exchange of O2 during exhalation. Total lung capacity (TLC) is the volume of gas in the lungs at the end of maximal inhalation and residual volume (RV) is the volume of gas left in the lungs at the end of a maximal exhalation. Vital capacity (VC) is the maximal amount of air that can be expelled fromthe lungs and is the difference between TLC and RV.
Airway resistance is influenced by the diameter and length of the conducting airways, the viscosity of gas, and the nature of the airflow. During quiet breathing, airflow in the smaller airways may be laminar (streamlined), and resistance is inversely proportional to the fourth power of the radius of the airway. At higher flow rates, turbulent flow, especially in the larger airways, increases resistance. Relatively small changes in airway diameter can result in large changes in airway resistance. Excessive airway secretions, bronchospasm, mucosal edema and inflammation, airway stenosis, foreign bodies, loss of airway wall integrity (as with bronchiectasis), and airway compression may all produce symptomatic increases in airway resistance. In pediatrics, laryngomalacia and croup are very common causes of increased upper airway resistance; whereas asthma, bronchiolitis and cystic fibrosis (CF) are among the most common causes of increased lower airway resistance.
Lung compliance (change in volume for a given change in pressure) is a measure of the ease with which the lung can be inflated. Processes that decrease lung compliance (surfactant deficiency, pulmonary fibrosis, pulmonary edema) may lead to decreases in measured lung volumes. Restrictive lung diseases are characterized by normal to low FRC and RV, low TLC and VC, decreased lung compliance, and relatively normal flow rates. Restrictive lung disease can result from neuromuscular weakness, an alveolar filling process (lobar pneumonia, pulmonary edema), pleural disease (pleural effusion, inflammation, or mass), thoracic narrowing/stiffness (scoliosis, severe pectus excavatum), and abdominal distention.
Alveolar ventilation is defined as the exchange of carbon dioxide between the alveoli and external environment.
Normally, about 30% of each tidal breath fills the conducting (non–gas-exchanging) airways (anatomic dead space).Because the anatomic dead space is relatively constant, increasing the tidal volume may increase the efficacy of ventilation. Conversely, if tidal volume decreases, then the dead space/tidal volume ratio increases, and alveolar ventilation decreases.
Gas exchange depends on alveolar ventilation, pulmonary capillary blood flow, and the diffusion of gases across the alveolar-capillary membrane. Exchange of CO2 is determined by alveolar ventilation, whereas the exchange of O2 is influenced primarily by the regional matching of ventilation (V) with pulmonary blood flow (Q) (V/Q matching). V/Q matching is maintained, in part, by hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction (local constriction of the pulmonary vessels in areas that are hypoventilated). There are five causes of hypoxemia (Table 133-1). Disorders resulting in V/Q mismatching (such as pneumonia and atelectasis) are the most common causes of hypoxemia.
Available @ StudentConsult.comThe lungs are constantly exposed to particles and infectious agents. The nose is the primary filter for large particles. The ciliated epithelium of the paranasal sinuses and nasal turbinates move filtered particles toward the pharynx. Particles less than 10 μm in diameter may reach the trachea and bronchi and deposit on the mucosa. Particles less than 1 μm may reach the alveoli. Ciliated cells lining the airways from the larynx to the bronchioles continuously propel a thin layer of mucus toward the mouth. Alveolar macrophages and polymorphonuclear cells engulf particles and pathogens that have been opsonized by locally secreted IgA antibodies or transudated serum antibodies.
Cough, important in protecting the lungs, is a forcefulexpiration that can clear the airways of debris and secretions.Cough may be voluntary or generated by reflex irritation ofthe nose, sinus, pharynx, larynx, trachea, bronchi, or bronchioles. Effective cough requires the ability to (1) inhale to near total lung capacity, (2) close and open the glottis, and (3) contract abdominal muscles to forcibly exhale. Loss of theability to cough, as with neuromuscular weakness, results in poor secretion clearance and predisposes to atelectasis andpneumonia.
Available @ StudentConsult.comThe complete respiratory history includes onset, duration, and frequency of respiratory symptoms (cough, noisy breathing, work of breathing/exercise tolerance, nasal congestion, sputum production), swallowing function (especially in infants), and exposure to others with respiratory illness. It is important to obtain information concerning the severity (hospitalizations, emergency department visits, missed school days) and pattern (acute, chronic, or intermittent) of symptoms. For infants, a feeding history should be obtained, including questions of coughing or choking with feeds. Family history should include questions about asthma and atopy, immune deficiencies, and CF. The environmental historyqueries exposure to smoke, pets, and pollutants. Travel history may also be relevant.
Available @ StudentConsult.comClothing should be removed from the upper half of the child’s body so that the thorax may be inspected, although maintaining modesty for adolescents should be respected. It is optimal to observe the respiratory pattern, rate, and work of breathing while the child is quiet, noting the shape and symmetry of the chest wall and the anteroposterior (AP) diameter.
Any factor that impairs respiratory mechanics is likely to increase the respiratory rate. However, nonrespiratory causes of tachypnea include fever, pain, and anxiety. Respiratory rates vary with age and activity (Table 133-2).
It is important to observe the respiratory pattern and degree of effort (work of breathing). Hyperpnea (increased depth of respiration) may be observed with fever, metabolic acidosis, pulmonary and cardiac disease, or extreme anxiety. Hyperpnea without signs of respiratory distress suggests an extrapulmonary etiology (metabolic acidosis, fever, pain). Increased work of breathing can be described as inspiratory (intercostal, supraclavicular, or substernal retractions) or
CNS, Central nervous system.expiratory (use of abdominal muscles to actively exhale). In children, increased inspiratory effort is also manifested by nasal flaring. Grunting (forced expiration against a partially closed glottis) suggests respiratory distress, but it may also be a manifestation of pain.
Causes of increased work of breathing during inspiration include extrathoracic airway obstruction (laryngomalacia, croup, subglottic stenosis) and/or decreased pulmonary compliance (pneumonia, pulmonary edema). Increased expiratory work of breathing usually indicates intrathoracic airway obstruction (see Table 133-2).
Stridor is a harsh sound caused by a partially obstructedextrathoracic airway, more commonly heard on inspiration.Wheezing is produced by partial obstruction of the lower airways, more commonly heard during exhalation. Wheezes canbe monophonic and low-pitched (usually from large, centralairways) or high-pitched and musical (from small peripheralairways). Secretions in the intrathoracic airways may producewheezing but more commonly result in irregular sounds calledrhonchi. Fluid or secretions in small airways may produce sounds characteristic of crumpling cellophane (crackles or rales). Having the child take a deep breath and exhale forcefullywill accentuate many abnormal lung sounds. Decreased breathsounds may be due to atelectasis, lobar consolidation (pneumonia), thoracic mass, or a pleural effusion. Observation of respiratory rate, work of breathing, tracheal and cardiac deviation,and chest wall motion, combined with percussion and auscultation, helps to identify intrathoracic disease (Table 133-3).
Digital clubbing is seen in CF and in other, less common chronic pulmonary diseases (such as interstitial lung disease). It is generally not seen in asthma, so its presence should heighten concern for other diagnoses. Clubbing may also be present in nonpulmonary chronic diseases (cardiac, gastrointestinal, or hematologic) or, rarely, as a familial trait.
Pleural effusion Deviation to Reduced over None or Dull None Egophony Muffled opposite side area reduced
Interstitial No Reduced Normal to Normal Normal Inspiratory None process
Adapted from Andreoli TE, Bennett JC, Carpenter CJ, et al, editors: Cecil Essentials of Medicine, ed 4, Philadelphia, 1997, WB Saunders, p 115. PMI, Point of maximum impulse. *In egophony, e sounds like a (may be a sign of consolidation but also is associated with moderate-sized pleural effusions).
†In pectoriloquy, words/voice sounds clearer over the affected site (associated with consolidation and cavitary lesions).
Cough results from stimulation of irritant receptors in the airway mucosa. Acute cough generally is associated with respiratory infections or irritant exposure (smoke) and subsides as the infection resolves or the exposure is eliminated. The characteristics of the cough and the circumstances under which the cough occurs help in determining the cause. Sudden onset after a choking episode suggests foreign body aspiration. Morning cough may be due to the accumulation of excessive secretions during the night from sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, or bronchial infection. Nighttime coughing is a hallmark of asthma and can also be caused by gastroesophageal reflux disease. Cough exacerbated by lying flat may be due to postnasal drip, sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, or reflux. Recurrent coughing with exercise is suggestive of exercise-induced asthma/bronchospasm. Paroxysmal cough suggests pertussis or foreign body aspiration. A repetitive, staccato cough occurs in chlamydial infections in infants. A harsh, brassy, seal-like cough suggests croup, tracheomalacia, or psychogenic (habit) cough. The last, which is most common in teenagers, disappears during sleep. Younger children can develop a throat-clearing habit cough, which also disappears during sleep.
Chronic cough is defined as a daily cough lasting longer than 3 weeks. Common causes of chronic cough are asthma, postnasal drip (allergic rhinitis, sinusitis), and postinfectious tussive syndromes. It can also be caused by gastroesophageal reflux disease, swallowing dysfunction (infants), anatomic abnormalities (tracheoesophageal fistula, tracheomalacia), and chronic infection. Persistent cough may also be caused by exposure to irritants (tobacco and wood stove smoke) or foreign body aspiration, or it may be psychogenic in origin.
During the first several years of life, children experience frequent viral respiratory infections, especially if they have multiple older siblings or attend day care or preschool. Cough that resolves promptly and is clearly associated with a viral infection does not require further diagnostic workup. However, cough persisting longer than 3 weeks warrants further evaluation.
Chest radiographs are useful in assessing respiratory disease in children. In addition to determining lung abnormalities, they provide information about the bony thorax (rib or vertebral abnormalities), the heart (cardiomegaly, pericardial effusion), and the great vessels (right aortic arch/vascular rings, rib notching). Chest radiographs should be obtained in both the posteroanterior (PA) and lateral projections and, if possible, following a full inspiration. Estimation of lung hyperinflation based on a single PA view is unreliable; flattened diaphragms and an increased AP diameter on lateral projection is a better indicator of hyperinflation. Crowding of the blood vessels with poor inspiration can be misinterpreted as increased markings or infiltrates. External skin folds, rotation, and motion may produce distorted or unclear images. Expiratory views and fluoroscopy may detect partial bronchial obstruction due to an aspirated foreign body that results in regional hyperinflation, because the affected lung or lobe does not deflate on exhalation. Fluoroscopy can also be used to evaluate diaphragm movement.
A barium esophagram may be valuable in diagnosing disorders of swallowing (dysphagia) and esophageal motility, vascular rings (esophageal compression), tracheoesophageal fistulas, and, to a lesser extent, gastroesophageal reflux. When evaluating for a tracheoesophageal fistula, contrast material must be instilled under pressure via a catheter with the distal tip situated in the esophagus (see Chapter 128).
A computed tomography (CT) scan of the chest is the imaging test of choice for evaluating pleural masses, bronchiectasis, and mediastinal lesions as well as delineating pleural from parenchymal lesions. CT scans with intravenous contrast provide excellent information about the pulmonary vasculature and great vessels and can detect pulmonary embolism. High-resolution CT scans are used to assess lung parenchyma (congenital pulmonary malformations, interstitial lung disease) and the airways (bronchiectasis). The speed of current
CT scanners makes it possible to scan most children without sedating them. However, sedation may be required in infants and toddlers to decrease motion artifact. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), useful in visualizing cardiac and great vessel anatomy, is less useful for evaluation of pulmonary parenchymal lesions.
Ultrasonography can be used to delineate some intra-thoracic masses and is the imaging procedure of choice for assessing parapneumonic effusion/empyema. It is useful for assessing diaphragmatic motion in small children.
Measures of Respiratory Gas ExchangeA properly performed arterial blood gas analysis provides information about the effectiveness of both oxygenation and ventilation. However, arterial samples are more difficult to obtain, so capillary and venous blood samples are more commonly used. The Pco2 from a capillary sample is similar to that from arterial blood. The Pco2 in venous samples is approximately 6 mm Hg higher than arterial Pco2. The ratio of the serum bicarbonate concentration to Pco2 determines the pH. Capillary or venous samples should not be used to assess oxygenation.
There are both respiratory and metabolic causes of acidosis (see Chapter 37). In the presence of an alkalosis or acidosis, respiratory compensation (altering Pco2 to maintain a normal pH) can occur within minutes, but renal compensation (altering the serum bicarbonate level) may not be complete for several days. Recall that both the respiratory and metabolic compensation are incomplete, so pH will remain on the side of the primary insult (whether acidosis or alkalosis).
Pulse oximetry measures the O2 saturation of hemoglobin by measuring the blood absorption of two or more wavelengths of light. It is noninvasive, easy to use, and reliable. Because of the shape of the oxyhemoglobin dissociation curve, O2 saturation does not decrease much until the Po2 reaches approximately 60 mm Hg. Pulse oximetry may not accurately reflect true O2 saturation when abnormal hemoglobin is present (carboxyhemoglobin, methemoglobin), when perfusion is poor, or if no light passes through to the photodetector (nail polish).
The measurement of Pco2 is accomplished most reliably by blood gas analysis. However, there are noninvasive monitors that record exhaled Pco2 (end-tidal CO2), which is representative of alveolar Pco2. End-tidal Pco2 measurements are most commonly used in intubated and mechanically ventilated patients, but some devices can measure Pco2 at the nares. Transcutaneous electrodes can be used to monitor Pco2 and Po2 at the skin surface, but are less accurate. Noninvasive techniques of CO2 measurement are best suited for detecting trends rather than for providing absolute values.
Measurement of lung volumes and airflow rates using spirometry are important in assessing pulmonary disease. The patient inhales to TLC and then forcibly exhales until no more air can be expelled. During the forced expiratory maneuver, forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expired volume in the first second (FEV1), and forced expiratory flow (FEF) rates are measured. These are compared to predicted values based on patient age, gender, and race, but rely mostly on height. Most children above 6 years of age can perform spirometry. Infant pulmonary function testing is possible, using sedation and sophisticated equipment.
Airway resistance, FRC, and RV cannot be measured with spirometry and require other techniques, such as body plethysmography. Helium dilution can also measure TLC and RV by determining the magnitude of dilution of inhaled helium in the air within the lung, but may underestimate air trapping.
Abnormal results on pulmonary function testing can beused to categorize obstructive airway disease (low flow rates and increased RV or FRC) or a restrictive defect (low FVCand TLC, with relative preservation of flow rates and FRC).When the FEV1 and flow rates are decreased to a greaterextent than the FVC, then airway obstruction is likely; however, a proportional decrease in FVC, FEV1, and flow rates suggests a restrictive lung defect. The mean midexpiratoryflow rate (FEF25–75%) is a more sensitive measure of small airways disease than the FEV1, but is also more variable. Pulmonary function testing can detect reversible airway obstruction characteristic of asthma with a significant improvementin FEV1 (>12%-15%) or in FEF25–75% (>25%) followinginhalation of a bronchodilator. Spirometry is also useful forlongitudinal patient management. The peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) can be obtained with a simple handheld deviceand may be useful for home monitoring of older childrenwith asthma. However, it is highly dependent on patienteffort, and values must be interpreted with caution. Inhalation challenge tests using methacholine, histamine, or cold, dry air are used to assess airway hyperreactivity, but require sophisticated equipment and special expertise and should be performed only in a pulmonary function laboratory with experienced technicians.
Endoscopic Evaluation of the AirwaysEndoscopic evaluation of the upper airways (nasopharyngoscopy) is performed with a flexible fiberoptic nasopharyngoscope to assess adenoid size, patency of the nasal passages, and abnormalities of the glottis. It is especially useful in evaluating stridor and assessing vocal cord motion/function, and it does not require sedation. Endoscopic evaluation of the subglottic space and intrathoracic airways can be done with either a flexible or rigid bronchoscope under anesthesia. Bronchoscopy is useful in identifying airway abnormalities (stenosis, malacia, endobronchial lesions, excessive secretions) and in obtaining airway samples for culture (bronchoalveolar lavage), especially in immunocompromised patients. Rigid bronchoscopy is the method of choice for removing foreign bodies from the airways and performing other interventions, and flexible bronchoscopy is most useful as a diagnostic tool and for obtaining lower airway cultures. Transbronchial biopsies are rarely performed in children. There are few absolute contraindications to bronchoscopy. Relative contraindications include bleeding diatheses, thrombocytopenia (<50,000/cm3), and clinical conditions when the patient is too unstable to tolerate the procedure.
Examination of SputumSputum specimens may be useful in evaluating lower respiratory tract infections, but they are difficult to obtain in young children. In addition, an expectorated specimen may not provide a representative sample of lower airway secretions. Specimens containing large numbers of squamous epithelial cells either are not from the lower airways or are heavily contaminated with upper airway secretions and may yield misleading results. Sputum in patients with lower respiratory tract bacterial infections often contains polymorphonucleated leukocytes and one predominant organism on culture. If sputum cannot be obtained, then bronchoalveolar lavage specimens may be used for microbiologic diagnosis in selected situations. In patients with CF who cannot produce sputum, specially processed throat cultures are often used as surrogates for lower airway cultures.
When less invasive methods fail to provide diagnoses in patients with pulmonary disease, a lung biopsy may be required. Concern for childhood interstitial lung disease, atypical infection (especially in an immunocompromised host), and evaluation of a mass/malformation are the most common indications for biopsy. CT-guided needle biopsy performed by an interventional radiologist is an option if limited histology is needed and the lesion is amenable to percutaneous approach (e.g., fungal nodules). Either a thoracoscopic procedure or a thoracotomy is preferred if thorough histologic evaluation is desired. Thoracotomy allows the surgeon to inspect and palpate the lung, which aids in choosing the best site for biopsy, but it is more invasive than thoracoscopy. In most cases, infants and children tolerate lung biopsy well.
Any child in respiratory distress should be treated with supplemental O2 to maintain normal O2 saturation levels. For long-term administration of O2, a nasal cannula is the most widely used device, as it enables patients to eat and speak unhindered by the O2 delivery system. Though nasal cannula is the easiest way to provide supplemental O2, the actual fraction of inspired oxygen (FIO2) delivered to the patient can be quite variable and affected by the child’s size and respiratory pattern. Humidified high flow nasal cannula (HFNC) allows the provider to more comfortably deliver higher flow rates while controlling the FIO2 and is now widely used in neonates as an alternative to noninvasive positive pressure. Supplemental O2 may also be delivered by a variety of face-mask systems ranging from a simple face mask, which can provide 30% to 40% O2, to a nonrebreather mask with reservoir that can provide nearly 100% O2.
The concentration of administered O2 should be high enough to relieve hypoxemia. The acceptable O2 saturation depends on the patient and clinical situation. Generally, supplemental O2 should be administered to achieve a goal saturation level above 90%. Normal oxygen saturation is greater than 95%. It is unnecessary to achieve 100% saturation, especially if this requires potentially toxic levels of inspired O2 for extended periods of time.
Inspired O2 concentrations less than 40% are usually safe for long-term use. Patients requiring supplemental O2 should be monitored with pulse oximetry, either intermittently or continuously, or with arterial blood gas measurements of Po2 to allow titration to the lowest possible O2 concentration.
Delivering therapeutic agents to the lower respiratory tract can be accomplished by inhalation of aerosol forms of the agents via dry powder inhaler (DPI), metered dose inhaler (MDI), or nebulizer. All of these devices are designed to generate relatively small particles that can bypass the filtering action of the upper airway and deposit in the lower airways. Many factors influence drug deposition, including patient technique, device used, age of the child, and breathing pattern. Nebulizers should be used with a face mask (infants) or mouthpiece (children and teens) to minimize loss of drug to ambient air. Plastic holding chambers (spacers) are available for all ages and should always be used with MDIs. Dry powder inhalers require a single rapid deep inhalation for optimal drug delivery, which is difficult for children under 6 years of age. MDIs and nebulizers are equally effective in delivering medications only if the technique is correct, so it is important to review this frequently and carefully with families.
When disease processes impair clearance of pulmonary secretions, airway clearance techniques may help maintain airway patency. One method is chest percussion, which moves secretions toward the central airways, from which they can be expectorated. Chest physiotherapy can also be performed effectively with handheld devices that generate expiratory back-pressure and vibration (TheraPEP, Flutter, and Acapella) and pneumatic vests. Chest physiotherapy is most beneficial in children with chronic airway secretions, especially those with CF. Children who are too weak to generate an effective cough benefit from the use of a mechanical cough assist device, used in conjunction with chest physiotherapy. Chest physiotherapy is not generally beneficial for patients with asthma or pneumonia, and its effectiveness in patients with atelectasis has not been clearly established.
If the upper airway is obstructed or mechanical ventilation is needed, it may be necessary to provide the patient with an artificial airway. This is best done by placing an endotracheal tube via the mouth or nose into the trachea (intubation).Intubation alters the physiology of the respiratory tract in many ways, not all of which are beneficial. It interferes with the humidification, warming, and filtration of inspired air and prevents phonation. Intubation also stimulates secretion production. However, in acute/impending respiratory failure, intubation with an endotracheal tube is lifesaving.
Endotracheal tubes can damage the larynx and the airways if the tubes are of improper size and are not carefully maintained. The cricoid ring is the narrowest segment of a child’s airway and is completely surrounded by cartilage, which makes it vulnerable to damage, and may lead to subglottic stenosis. If the pressure created by the tube against the airway mucosa exceeds capillary filling pressure (roughly 35 cm H2O), mucosal ischemia develops, leading to necrosis. Therefore, a small air leak should be maintained around the endotracheal tube to minimize the risk of mucosal damage.
Artificial airways must be kept clear of secretions asobstruction with mucous plugs can be fatal. Providing adequate humidification of inspired air and appropriate suctioning of the tube reduce the probability of occlusion by secretions. In addition to endotracheal tubes, the laryngeal mask airway (LMA) can be used to provide mechanical ventilation. This device consists of a tube with a soft mask at the distal end that is placed over the larynx, creating a seal without the trachea being instrumented. Although less invasive,the LMA is less secure, so it is generally limited to proceduralanesthesia.
Tracheostomy is the surgical placement of an artificial airway into the trachea below the larynx. If prolonged intubation is anticipated, elective tracheostomy may be used to prevent laryngeal trauma, obviate the danger of accidental extubation, increase patient comfort, and facilitate nursing care. No clear guidelines are available as to how long patients can be intubated without sustaining airway damage or when a tracheostomy is indicated.
Children with severe chronic upper airway obstruction or those requiring long-term mechanical ventilation may benefit from tracheostomies. Because the tracheostomy tube hampers the ability to phonate and communicate, the child must be monitored carefully at all times. As with endotracheal tubes, tracheostomy tubes must be kept clear of secretions. Occlusion of the tube or accidental dislodgment of the tube can be fatal. Many children with tracheostomy tubes can be cared for at home provided the caregivers are well trained and adequately equipped.
Patients who are unable to maintain adequate gas exchange may require mechanical ventilation. Most modes of mechanical ventilation involve inflation of the lungs with gas using positive pressure. The inspiratory phase is active (air is pushed in) and exhalation is passive.
Positive-pressure ventilation often requires an artificialairway, though it can be provided noninvasively via tight-fitting nasal or full face masks. Noninvasive ventilation is particularly useful in patients with obstructive sleep apneaand neuromuscular disease who require support only part ofthe day, but it can also be used to assist ventilation continuously for patients in acute respiratory failure from a varietyof causes.
No method of mechanical ventilation truly simulates natural breathing. All methods have their drawbacks and complications. Positive pressure is transmitted to the entire thoraxand may impede venous return to the heart during inspiration. The airways and lung parenchyma may be damaged byinflation pressures and high concentrations of inspired O2. In general, inflation pressures should be limited to those necessary to provide sufficient lung expansion for adequate ventilation and the prevention of atelectasis. Pressure-cycled and volume-cycled ventilators (conventional ventilation) are themost widely used modalities in pediatrics; however, high-frequency jet ventilation and high-frequency oscillatory ventilation are used often in neonatology and may be used inpatients with severe lung disease who are failing conventionalmechanical ventilation.
Chapter 134 u Control of Breathing 461Ventilation is controlled primarily by central chemoreceptors located in the medulla that respond to intracellular pH and Pco2 levels (Fig. 134-1). To a lesser extent, ventilation is modulated by peripheral receptors located in the carotid and aortic bodies, which respond predominantly to Po2. The central receptors are quite sensitive. Small acute changes in Paco2 normally result in significant changes in minute ventilation. When the Pco2 is chronically elevated, the intracellular pH returns to normal levels because of compensatory increases in the bicarbonate level, and ventilatory drive is not increased. The peripheral receptors do not stimulate ventilation until the Pao2 decreases to approximately 60 mm Hg. These receptors become important in patients with chronic Paco2 elevation who may have a blunted ventilatory response to CO2.
The output of the central respiratory center also is modulated by reflex mechanisms. Full lung inflation temporarily inhibits inspiratory effort in infants (Hering-Breuer reflex)through vagal afferent fibers. Other reflexes from the airways and intercostal muscles may influence the depth and frequency of respiratory efforts (see Fig. 134-1).
An acute life-threatening event (ALTE) is defined as any unexpected and frightening change in condition characterized by
PCO2, chemoreceptors sensory receptors (mechanoreceptors, +PO2 stretch, irritant and +PaO2, PaCO2Figure 134-1 Schematic representation of the respiratory control system. The respiratory neurons in the brainstem receive information from the chemoreceptors, peripheral sensory receptors, and cerebral cortex. This information is integrated, and the resulting neural output is transmitted to the diaphragms and lungs. The sign denotes stimulation of the receptor. (From Andreoli TE, Bennett JC, Carpenter CJ, et al, editors: Cecil Essentials of Medicine, ed 4, Philadelphia, 1997, WB Saunders, p 171.) apnea, color change (usually blue or pale), sudden limpness, choking, or gagging. The incidence of such events is 0.05% to 1%. Specific causes can be identified in more than 50% of the cases. Gastroesophageal reflux and laryngospasm are the most common causes of ALTE, and they are associated with emesis, choking, or gagging. Central nervous system (CNS) causes (e.g., seizures, breath-holding spells, intracranial bleeding from accidental or nonaccidental trauma) account for approximately 15% of cases, and cardiovascular events and metabolic derangements account for smaller percentages. Acute infection with respiratory viruses (respiratory syncytial virus [RSV] and others), pertussis, and serious bacterial infections (sepsis, meningitis) can also cause apnea in infants.
In most cases, a careful history can lead to a correct diagnosis. Questions should include history of premature birth, prior apnea, level of consciousness at the time of the event, presence or absence of respiratory effort, limpness or stiffness, jerking movements (seizure), feeding history, intercurrent illnesses, any trauma, and the social situation of the family. The physical examination should focus on bruising and injury, the general and neurologic condition of the infant, nutritional status, respiratory pattern, and cardiac status. The laboratory evaluation may include serum electrolytes, serum glucose, blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, hemoglobin, hematocrit, white blood cell count, a chest radiograph, and blood gas analysis. Testing for respiratory viruses and pertussis in patients with evidence of respiratory infection should occur. If gastroesophageal reflux is suspected, a barium swallow or pH probe study may be useful. Cardiorespiratory monitoring for 12 to 24 hours in the hospital can provide information on respiratory and cardiac patterns and feeding difficulties (choking, gagging, emesis); provide time to get more history and assess the home situation; and alleviate parental anxiety. Useful tests to determine CNS causes include a head computed tomography (CT) scan, magnetic resonance imaging of the brain, and an electroencephalogram (EEG) (for seizures).
There are no standard recommendations for when home monitoring should be prescribed. Polysomnography is not useful in predicting which children with ALTEs are likely to progress to sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). The key to prevention of future events is to identify the underlying cause and treat it. Teaching parents infant cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and attempting to alleviate anxiety surrounding the event are recommended.
SIDS is defined as the unexpected death of an infant younger than 1 year of age in which the cause remains unexplained after an autopsy, death scene investigation, and review of clinical history. The risk of SIDS is higher in premature and low birth weight infants, infants of young impoverished mothers who smoke cigarettes, African American and Native American infants, and in infants whose mothers have abused drugs. The risk of SIDS is increased threeto fivefold in siblings of infants who have died of SIDS and is highest during the winter. SIDS is rare before 4 weeks or after 6 months of age and is most common between 2 and 4 months of age. The incidence of SIDS has decreased dramatically since the 1980s.
A variety of unproven mechanisms have been proposed to explain SIDS. SIDS is associated with prone position during sleep, especially on soft bedding. The widely advocated supine sleeping position explains, in part, the decreased incidence of SIDS during the past two decades. Current theories for a predisposition to SIDS include cellular brainstem abnormalities and maturational delay related to neural or cardiorespiratory control. A portion of SIDS deaths may be due to prolongation of the Q-T interval, abnormal CNS control of respiration, and CO2 rebreathing from sleeping face down (especially in softbedding).
See Table 134-1 for the differential diagnosis of SIDS.There has been a significant decline in SIDS with the backto-sleep program and avoiding soft bedding. Thus, all parents should be instructed to place their infants in the supine position unless there are medical contraindications. All soft
Fulminant infection*,† Infant botulism*Seizure disorder† Brain tumor* Intracranial hemorrhage due to accidental or non-accidental trauma*,‡
Hypoglycemia† Medium-chain acyl-coenzyme A dehydrogenase deficiency‡ Carnitine deficiency*,‡Gastroesophageal reflux*,‡ Midgut volvulus/shock* *Obvious or suspected at autopsy.†Relatively common.‡Diagnostic test required.Chapter 134 u Control of Breathing 463 bedding should be avoided, and parents who share beds with their infants should be counseled on the risks. Decreasing maternal cigarette smoking, both during and after pregnancy, is recommended.
Available @ StudentConsult.comApnea is defined as the cessation of airflow due to either lack of respiratory effort (central apnea) or upper airway obstruction (obstructive apnea). Central apnea lasting less than 10 seconds is common in healthy infants and can be present in normal children during sleep, especially after a sigh breath. Central pauses lasting longer than 15 to 20 seconds are considered abnormal. Central apnea is more common in infants, and obstructive apnea, especially during sleep, is more common in older children.
Premature infants can have apnea of prematurity, which consists of recurrent apneic episodes that are often of central origin, though they can be mixed central/obstructive. Apnea of prematurity should resolve by 44 weeks postconceptional age. Older infants and children with apnea warrant thorough investigation (Table 134-2).
Central apnea outside of infancy is a rare occurrence and may be primary or secondary. Secondary causes of central hypoventilation, which are more common, include medications impairing central respiratory drive (narcotics), increased intracranial pressure, CNS tumors, myelomeningocele and/or Arnold-Chiari malformation, and mitochondrial/metabolic disorders. Genetic syndromes associated with abnormal central respiratory control and developmental delays include Rett, Joubert, and Prader-Willi syndromes and tuberous sclerosis.
Congenital central hypoventilation syndrome (CCHS) is a rare genetic disorder in which there is profound loss of respiratory control during sleep leading to central apnea, hypercarbia, and hypoxemia. Most patients with CCHS have a defect in the PHOX2B gene, which is necessary for autonomic nervous system development. Most infants with CCHS have respiratory difficulties within the first several weeks of life, although it can also present later in childhood. CCHS is associated with an increased risk of Hirschsprung disease and neural crest tumors (neuroblastoma).
Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSA), which affects 2% to 3% of young children with peak prevalence at 2 to 8 years, is caused by complete or partial upper airway obstruction during sleep. It presents as episodes of respiratory pauses, gasping, and restless sleep that can result in hypoxia and hypercarbia. Children may have difficulty awakening in the morning, daytime somnolence, behavioral changes, poor school performance, and poor somatic growth as a result of poor sleep quality. Nighttime hypoxia or hypercarbia can lead to morning headaches and, in severe cases, to pulmonary hypertension and cor pulmonale. Adenotonsillar hypertrophy is the most common cause of OSA in young children, but other risk factors for OSA include obesity, craniofacial malformations (Pierre Robin sequence, trisomy 21), glossoptosis, and neuromuscular diseases. Not all children who snore have OSA, and not all children who have OSA snore. Many young children with OSA do not have the classic findings of daytime somnolence and gasping respirations; restless sleep, behavioral problems, and inattention/hyperactivity are much more common. Thus, when the diagnosis is in question, it should be confirmed with a polysomnogram.
Polysomnogram (PSG) is the only definitive test for evaluation of obstructive and central sleep apnea. It involves continuous recording of EEG and electro-oculogram for sleep staging, oronasal airflow and pressure, audible snore, chest and abdominal wall excursion, leg and chin electromyogram, electrocardiogram, pulse oximetry, and capnography. The measured score from a PSG is the apnea-hypopnea index(AHI) or number of times in an hour of sleep that the child has cessation or reduction of airflow of a significant magnitude to negatively affect ventilation or sleep stage. An AHI less than 1 is the generally accepted norm for pediatric patients, although the decision to treat often hinges on the severity of daytime impairment. Measured AHI is typically worse in rapid eye movement (REM) sleep and when the child is supine, so an ideal study captures all sleep stages and positions.
Treatment of OSA starts with determining whether the child will benefit from an adenoidectomy, with or without a tonsillectomy. If surgical intervention is not indicated or fails
Table 134-2 Categories of Apnea DISEASE EXAMPLE(S) MECHANISM SIGNS TREATMENT Apnea of prematurity Premature (<36 wk) Central control, upper airway obstruction Apnea, bradycardia Caffeine, HFNC, CPAP, intubation
Central apnea/ CCHS, Arnold-Chiari Abnormal central control Apnea Mechanical ventilation hypoventilation malformation
BiPAP, Bi-level positive airway pressure; CCHS, congenital central hypoventilation syndrome; CPAP, continuous positive airway pressure; HFNC, high flow nasal cannula.
to alleviate the problem, then the use of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) or bi-level positive airway pressure (BiPAP) via nasal interfaces can be used to distend the upper airway during sleep. This requires a tight-fitting nasal mask, which may not be well tolerated in young children. Supplemental oxygen can blunt hypoxemia in milder cases of OSA but does not alter obstruction and sleep fragmentation. In extreme cases, especially those associated with craniofacial abnormalities or hypotonia, tracheostomy may be indicated.
Upper airway obstruction (UAO), which is defined as blockage of any part of the airway located above the thoracic inlet, ranges from nasal obstruction due to the common cold to life-threatening obstruction of the larynx orupper trachea (subglottic space). In children, nasal obstruction is usually more of a nuisance than a danger becausethe mouth can serve as an airway, but it may be a serious problem for neonates, who breathe predominantly throughtheir noses. The differential diagnosis of airway obstruction varies with patient age and can also be subdivided intosupraglottic, glottic, and subglottic causes (Tables 135-1, 135-2, and 135-3).
Available @ StudentConsult.comUAO is more pronounced during inspiration because the negative pressure generated collapses the upper airway, increasing resistance to airflow and leading to inspiratory noise.The respiratory noise most commonly associated with UAOis stridor, a harsh sound caused by the vibration of the airway structures. Stridor often decreases during sleep, becauseof lower inspiratory flow rates, and increases during feeding,excitement, and agitation, because of higher flow rates. Occasionally stridor may also be present on exhalation. Laryngomalacia (floppy larynx) is the most common cause ofinspiratory stridor in infants and may be aggravated by swallowing problems and gastroesophageal reflux. Hoarseness suggests vocal cord involvement. Children with UAO mayhave increased inspiratory work of breathing manifested bysuprasternal retractions.
Choanal atresia Micrognathia (Pierre Robin syndrome, Treacher Collins syndrome, DiGeorge syndrome) Macroglossia (Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome, hypothyroidism, Pompe disease, trisomy 21, hemangioma) Pharyngeal collapse Laryngeal web, cleft, atresia Vocal cord paralysis/paresis (weak cry; unilateral or bilateral, with or without increased intracranial pressure from Arnold-Chiari malformation or other central nervous system pathology) Congenital subglottic stenosis Nasal encephalocele
Laryngomalacia (most common non-infectious etiology) Viral croup (most common infectious etiology) Subglottic stenosis (congenital or acquired, e.g., after intubation) Laryngeal web or cyst Laryngeal papillomatosis Vascular rings/slings Airway hemangioma Rhinitis
Viral croup (most common etiology in children 6 mo to 4 yr of age) Spasmodic/recurrent croup Bacterial tracheitis (toxic, high fever) Foreign body (airway or esophageal) Laryngeal papillomatosis Retropharyngeal abscess Hypertrophied tonsils and adenoids
Epiglottitis (infection, uncommon) Inhalation injury (burns, toxic gas, hydrocarbons) Foreign bodies Angioedema (familial history, cutaneous angioedema) Anaphylaxis (allergic history, wheezing, hypotension) Trauma (tracheal or laryngeal fracture) Peritonsillar abscess (adolescents) Mononucleosis Ludwig angina
Although radiographic evaluation of a child with stridor may not be helpful, lateral views of the neck and nasopharynx may provide information about adenoidal hypertrophyand airway swelling. On anteroposterior (AP) views of theneck taken with the head in extension, the subglottic spaceshould be symmetrical and the lateral walls of the airwayshould fall away steeply. Asymmetry suggests subglottic stenosis or a mass lesion, whereas tapering suggests subglotticedema. However, these findings may be subtle. Computedtomography (CT) scans of the upper airway can help delineate the site of the obstruction but may require sedationin younger children. Flexible nasopharyngoscopy/laryngoscopy, which can be done without sedation, is extremelyuseful in assessing airway patency, the presence of adenoidtissue, vocal cord and other airway lesions, and laryngomalacia. Bronchoscopy can be useful in assessing the subglottic space and intrathoracic large airways, but this procedurerequires sedation.
Appearance Normal to anxious Normal Anxious Agitated; toxic Anxious; toxic
Prevention None None None H. influenzae type None b conjugated vaccine
Prodrome/onset Insidious or sudden Sudden Sudden Biphasic Chronic with sudden worsening
Appearance Drooling Variable, usually normal Normal Drooling, trismus Normal CLINICAL/ HISTORICAL FEATURE RETROPHARYNGEAL ABSCESS FOREIGN BODY ANGIOEDEMA PERITONSILLAR ABSCESS LARYNGEAL PAPILLOMATOSIS
Fever Body temperature usually >38.5°C None None Body temperature None usually >38.5°C
Modified from Arnold JE: Airway obstruction in children. In Kliegman RM, Nieder ML, Super DM, editors: Practical Strategies in Pediatric Diagnosis and Therapy, Philadelphia, 1996, WB Saunders, p 126. FFP, Fresh frozen plasma; HPV, human papillomavirus; RSV, respiratory syncytial virus; URI, upper respiratory tract infection (with coryza, sneezing); WBC, white blood cell.
Table 135-3 Differentiating Supraglottic from Subglottic Causes of Airway Obstruction FEATURE SUPRAGLOTTIC OBSTRUCTION SUBGLOTTIC OBSTRUCTION Common clinical syndromes Epiglottitis, peritonsillar and retropharyngeal abscess Croup, angioedema, foreign body, tracheitis
Toxic Yes No, unless tracheitis is presentFacial edema No No, unless angioedema is presentAdapted from Davis H, Gartner JC, Galvis AG, et al: Acute upper airway obstruction: croup and epiglottitis, Pediatr Clin North Am 28:859–880, 1981.
The most common cause of chronic UAO in children is hypertrophy of the adenoids and tonsils. Adenoidal and tonsillar hyperplasia may be aggravated by recurrent infection, allergy, and inhaled irritants.
The signs of adenoidal and tonsillar hypertrophy are mouth breathing, snoring, and, in some patients, obstructive sleep apnea (see Chapter 134). The eustachian tubes enter the nasopharynx at the choanae and can be obstructed by enlarged adenoids, predisposing to recurrent or persistent otitis media.
Adenoidal hypertrophy is assessed by a lateral radiograph of the nasopharynx or by flexible nasopharyngoscopy.
If the adenoids or tonsils are large and thought to be significantly contributing to UAO, then the most effective treatment is removal. Because the adenoids are not a discrete organ but rather consist of lymphoid tissue, regrowth is possible, especially in preschool children. If the tonsils are large and the obstruction is severe, then removing the tonsils in addition to the adenoids may be necessary.
Choanal stenosis/atresia is a congenital problem presenting inthe neonatal period. It may be bilateral or unilateral and is relatively rare. Neonates are generally obligate nose breathers, soobstruction of nasal passages can cause significant respiratorydistress, especially when feeding. Crying bypasses the obstruction because crying infants breathe though their mouths. Inability to easily pass a small catheter through the nostrils shouldraise the suspicion of choanal atresia. The diagnosis is confirmed by CT scan and by inspecting the area directly with aflexible nasopharyngoscope. An oral airway may be useful inthe short term, but the definitive treatment is surgery.
Available @ StudentConsult.comSEE CHAPTER 107.Available @ StudentConsult.comSEE CHAPTER 107.SEE CHAPTER 107.Available @ StudentConsult.comLaryngomalacia is due to exaggerated collapse of the glottic structures, especially the epiglottis and arytenoid cartilages, during inspiration. It may be due to decreased muscular tone of the larynx and surrounding structures or to immature cartilaginous structures. Inspiratory stridor beginning at or shortly after birth should raise the suspicion of laryngomalacia (see Table 135-1). This is the most common cause of stridor in infants. It usually does not result in significant respiratory distress, but occasionally it is severe enough to cause hypoventilation, with hypercarbia, hypoxemia, and difficulty with feeding.
The primary sign of laryngomalacia is inspiratory stridorwith little or no expiratory component. The stridor is typically loudest when the infant is feeding or active and decreases when the infant is relaxed or placed prone, or when the neck is flexed. Any condition that increases upper airway inflammation will exacerbate laryngomalacia, including viral respiratory infections, dysphagia (swallowing dysfunction), and gastroesophageal reflux. Laryngomalacia normally peaks by 3 to 5 months of age and resolves between 6 and 12 months of age. However, occasionally it can persist in otherwise normal children up until 24 months of age and even longer in children with underlying conditions, especially those with neurologic diseases affecting control of upper airway muscles (such as cerebral palsy).
In many infants with presumed laryngomalacia, the diagnosis can be tentatively established by history and physical examination. If the patient follows the typical course for laryngomalacia, then no further workup is necessary. However, to firmly establish the diagnosis, which is important in more severe or atypical cases, the patient should undergo flexible nasopharyngoscopy to assess the patency and dynamic movement (collapse) of the larynx and surrounding structures. This procedure can also identify vocal cord abnormalities and airway lesions above the vocal cords.
In most cases, no therapy is required for laryngomalacia. The infant should be observed closely during times of respiratory infection for evidence of respiratory compromise. Infants with severe laryngomalacia resulting in hypoventilation, hypoxia, or growth failure may benefit from a surgical procedure (aryepiglottoplasty) or, in extreme cases, a tracheostomy to bypass the upper airway.
Available @ StudentConsult.comSubglottic stenosis is the narrowing of the portion of the trachea immediately below the vocal cords. It may be congenital but more often is acquired. Endotracheal intubation, especially prolonged or repeated intubation required in some premature infants, can lead to inflammation and scarring of the subglottic space.
Subglottic stenosis can present as stridor that is frequently biphasic (on both inspiration and expiration). However, the stridor is usually more prominent on inspiration. With increasing respiratory effort, the stridor becomes louder. Very small infants may not be able to breathe with enough force to generate a sound. Subglottic stenosis may also be associated with a barky cough similar to that noted with croup. Respiratory infections can cause subglottic edema, exacerbating the clinical manifestations of subglottic stenosis.
Definitive diagnosis requires endoscopic evaluation, either by flexible or rigid bronchoscopy.
Mild subglottic stenosis can be managed conservatively and may improve sufficiently with airway growth alone. More severe cases require surgical intervention. Depending on the nature of the lesion, endoscopic laser treatment may be effective. Other surgical options include tracheoplasty and cricoid split procedures. A tracheostomy tube may be required to bypass the subglottic space until the airway is patent enough to allow adequate airflow.
Upper airway mass lesions are relatively uncommon. The most common laryngeal tumor in childhood is the hemangioma, which usually presents before 6 months of age. (See Chapter 194.) Subglottic lesions produce asymmetrical narrowing of the subglottic space on AP radiographs of the larynx, but definitive diagnosis requires endoscopy. If the obstruction is severe, then a tracheostomy tube may be needed until the lesion spontaneously involutes or improves with therapy.
Laryngeal webs are the result of failed recanalization of the glottic airway in utero, whereas laryngeal cysts typically occur as a consequence of airway trauma (intubation). Both can produce biphasic stridor and are best identified by bronchoscopy. Foreign body should be considered in any infant or child capable of ingesting small objects who develops acute onset of stridor.
Juvenile laryngeal papillomatosis is a rare condition of benign tumors caused by human papillomavirus (HPV-6 and HPV-11) acquired at birth from maternal genital warts. Clinical manifestations usually start in infancy and include biphasic stridor and hoarse voice/cry. The lesions are most commonly located in the larynx, but they can spread distally into the trachea, large bronchi, and even to the lung parenchyma. Treatment options, which are limited and rarely curative, include laser therapy and interferon. Tracheostomy may be required to ensure an adequate airway, but should be avoided if possible as reports suggest a related seeding of the distal airways with tumor.
Available @ StudentConsult.comVocal cord paralysis is an important cause of laryngeal dysfunction. Paralysis may be unilateral or bilateral and is more often caused by damage to the recurrent laryngeal nerve than by a central lesion. The left recurrent laryngeal nerve passes around the aortic arch and is more susceptible to damage than the right laryngeal nerve. Peripheral nerve injury may be caused by trauma (neck traction during delivery of infants or thoracic surgical procedures) and mediastinal lesions. Central causes include Arnold-Chiari malformation (meningomyelocele), hydrocephalus, and intracranial hemorrhage.
Vocal cord paralysis presents as biphasic stridor and alterations in voice and cry, including a weak cry (in infants), hoarseness, and aphonia. Children with vocal cord paralysis are at risk for aspiration, often manifested as coughing/choking with drinking and coarse airway sounds audibly and by auscultation.
Patients with traumatic injury to the recurrent laryngeal nerve often have spontaneous improvement over time, usually within 3 to 6 months. If the paralyzed vocal cord has not recovered within 1 year of the injury, then it is likely to be permanently damaged. In some cases, Gelfoam injection of a paralyzed vocal cord can reposition the cord to improve phonation and airway protection. Patients with vocal cord paralysis resulting in severe airway obstruction and aspiration may require tracheostomy tube placement.
Chapter 136 u Lower Airway, Parenchymal, and Pulmonary Vascular Diseases 469
LOWER AIRWAY, PARENCHYMAL, AND PULMONARY VASCULAR DISEASESThere are many causes of lower airway diseases (Table 136-1).Lower airway diseases often result in airway obstruction. The most common lower airway disease in children is asthma, which results in diffuse bronchial obstruction from airway inflammation, constriction of bronchial smooth muscle, and excessive secretions. Virus-induced wheezing episodes are common, especially in children under 3 years of age. Wheezing that begins in the first weeks or months of life or that persists despite aggressive asthma therapy is likely not due to asthma, and further diagnostic evaluation may be warranted. Wheezing that is localized to one area of the chest suggests focal airway narrowing (foreign body aspiration or extrinsic compression by masses or lymph nodes).
Available @ StudentConsult.comIn contrast to upper airway obstruction, obstruction below the thoracic inlet causes more wheezing on expiration than on inspiration. A wheeze is a continuous sound that is produced by vibration of airway walls and generally has a more musical quality than does stridor. Intrathoracic pressure is increased relative to atmospheric pressure during exhalation, which tends to collapse the intrathoracic airways and accentuates airway narrowing on expiration. This manifests as expiratory wheeze, prolonged expiratory phase, and increased expiratory work of breathing. In patients with chronic airway infection (e.g., cystic fibrosis), the bronchi become permanently damaged and dilated (bronchiectasis). Patients with bronchiectasis have episodes of cough, often productive of purulent sputum, and may have inspiratory crackles.
When asthma is suspected, empiric trials of therapy (bronchodilators, short courses of oral corticosteroids, long-term use of inhaled corticosteroids) are useful in arriving at a diagnosis. In children older than 6 years, pulmonary function tests (spirometry) can assess airflow obstruction and response to bronchodilators. Radiographic evaluation is not needed with each episode of wheezing, but those with significant respiratory distress, fever, history consistent with foreign body
Bronchial edema Infection (e.g., bronchiolitis) Inhalation of irritant gases or particulates Increased pulmonary venous pressure
Bronchial hypersecretion Infection Inhalation of irritant gases or particulates Cholinergic drugs
Aspiration Foreign body Aspiration of gastric contentsHypersensitivity reactions, allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (seen only in children with either asthma or cystic fibrosis) Dynamic airway collapse
Airway compression by mass or blood vessel Vascular ring/sling Anomalous innominate artery Pulmonary artery dilatation (absent pulmonary valve) Bronchial or pulmonary cysts Lymph nodes (tuberculosis, lymphoma)
Bronchial hypersecretion or failure to clear secretions Bronchitis, bronchiectasis Cystic fibrosis Primary ciliary dyskinesia aspiration, or focal auscultatory findings should have posteroanterior (PA) and lateral chest radiographs obtained. Generalized hyperinflation, indicated by flattening of the diaphragms and an increased anteroposterior (AP) chest diameter, suggests diffuse obstruction of the small airways. Hyperinflation in association with patchy densities due to atelectasis is often seen in asthma and mistaken for pneumonia. Localized hyperinflation, especially on expiratory views, suggests localized bronchial obstruction (foreign body or an anatomic anomaly). Dysphagia leading to aspiration and airway inflammation can present with persistent wheezing. This is best assessed with a videofluoroscopic swallowing study. Gastroesophageal reflux may aggravate asthma and may lead to wheezing in very young children, especially if it is associated with aspiration.
Available @ StudentConsult.comSEE CHAPTER 78.Tracheomalacia is a floppy trachea due to lack of structural integrity of the tracheal wall. The tracheal cartilaginousrings normally extend through an arc of approximately320°, maintaining rigidity of the trachea during changesin intrathoracic pressure. With tracheomalacia, the cartilaginous rings may not extend as far around the circumference (leaving the membranous posterior trachea widerthan usual), may be completely absent, or may be presentbut damaged. These abnormalities can result in excessivecollapse of the trachea, most pronounced during expiration.Tracheomalacia may be congenital (tracheoesophageal fistula or bony dysplasia syndromes) or acquired (long-termmechanical ventilation). Tracheomalacia must be differentiated from extrinsic tracheal compression by masses or vascular structures. Localized tracheomalacia may persist afterthe trachea has been relieved of extrinsic compression. Viralinfections may exacerbate tracheomalacia, leading to coarseexpiratory wheezing and barky cough. The expiratory noisesof tracheomalacia are often mistakenly ascribed to asthmaor bronchiolitis, and the barky cough is often misdiagnosed as croup.
With tracheomalacia, the tracheal collapse may only be apparent during forced exhalation or with cough. It is commonly aggravated by respiratory infections. The airway collapse may cause recurrent coarse expiratory wheeze and a prolonged expiratory phase. Secretions may be retained behind the segment of malacia, predisposing to infection. Infants with severe tracheomalacia may completely collapse their tracheas during agitation, resulting in cyanotic episodes that resemble breath-holding spells. The voice is normal, as is inspiratory effort. In older children, the hallmark sign is a brassy, barky cough due to the vibration of the tracheal walls. This cough can be loud and persistent and is often misdiagnosed as croup.
Infants with mild to moderate tracheomalacia usually require no intervention. Tracheomalacia improves with airway growth as the lumen increases in diameter and the tracheal wall becomes more firm. The treatment of older symptomatic children is geared toward treating any precipitating cause for cough and providing supportive care. Antibiotics may be necessary to treat concurrent infection. Children, especially infants, with severe tracheomalacia may require tracheostomy tubes to administer continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), which serves to stent open the airway. Custom-length tracheostomy tubes have been used to stent open the airway when CPAP fails. Surgically placed airway stents are problematic in children because the stents cannot grow and thus serve as a source of fixed stenosis and obstruction.
SEE CHAPTER 128.Compression of the trachea by vascular structures or masses can cause significant respiratory compromise. Tracheal compression by aberrant great vessels (aorta, innominate artery) may cause wheezing, stridor, cough, and dyspnea. The most common cause of tracheal compression is anterior compression from an anomalous innominate artery that arises more distally than normal from the aortic arch. This usually results in mild respiratory symptoms, and surgical correction is rarely necessary. Complete vascular rings, which compress the esophagus posteriorly and the trachea anteriorly, include the double aortic arch and a right aortic arch with a persistent ligamentum arteriosum (most common). Both lesions have right-sided aortic arches, which may be visible on chest radio-graph. In addition to respiratory symptoms, complete vascular rings may cause dysphagia as a result of esophageal compression. The diagnosis of vascular anomalies can often be made by a barium swallow, which identifies the esophageal compression. Bronchoscopy will identify a pulsatile compression of the airway, but the diagnostic procedure of choice is a computed tomography (CT) angiogram of the chest and great vessels. Complete vascular rings almost always require surgical repair. Other causes of extrinsic tracheal compression include enlarged mediastinal lymph nodes (tuberculosis), mediastinal masses (teratoma, lymphoma, thymoma, germ cell tumors), and, rarely, cystic hygromas.
Aspiration of foreign bodies into the trachea and bronchi is relatively common. The majority of children who aspirate foreign bodies are under 4 years of age. Most deaths secondary to foreign body aspiration occur in this age group. Because the right mainstem bronchus takes off at a less acute angle than the left mainstem bronchus, foreign bodies tend to lodge in right-sided airways. Some foreign bodies, especially nuts, can
Chapter 136 u Lower Airway, Parenchymal, and Pulmonary Vascular Diseases 471 also lodge more proximally in the larynx or subglottic space, totally occluding the airway. Many foreign bodies are not radiopaque, which makes them difficult to detect radiographically. The most common foreign bodies aspirated by young children are food (especially nuts) and small toys. Coins more often lodge in the esophagus than in the airways. Older children have been known to aspirate rubber balloons, which can be life-threatening.
Available @ StudentConsult.comMany children who aspirate foreign bodies have clear histories of choking, witnessed aspiration, or physical or radiographic evidence of foreign body aspiration. However, a small percentage of patients have a negative history because the aspiration went unrecognized. Physical findings observed with acute foreign body aspiration may include cough, localized wheezing, unilateral absence of breath sounds, stridor, and, rarely, bloody sputum.
Most foreign bodies are small and quickly expelled, butsome may remain in the lung for long periods of time andmay come to medical attention because of persistent cough,sputum production, or recurrent unilateral pneumonia. Foreign body aspiration should be in the differential diagnosis ofpatients with persistent wheezing unresponsive to bronchodilator therapy, persistent atelectasis, recurrent or persistentpneumonia, or chronic cough without another explanation.Foreign bodies may also lodge in the esophagus and compress the trachea, thus producing respiratory symptoms.Therefore, esophageal foreign bodies should be included inthe differential diagnosis of infants or young children withpersistent stridor or wheezing, particularly if dysphagia is present.
Radiographic studies will reveal the presence of radiopaque objects and can also identify focal air trapping, especially on expiratory views. Thus, when foreign body aspiration is suspected, expiratory or lateral decubitus chest radiographs should be ordered. In addition, fluoroscopy may be helpful, especially in children who cannot perform expiratory views. If there is strong evidence (or history) of foreign body aspiration, the patient should undergo rigid bronchoscopy. Flexible bronchoscopy can be used to locate an aspirated foreign body and may be useful when the presentation is not straightforward, but foreign body removal is best performed via rigid bronchoscopy.
The best approach to preventing foreign body aspiration is to educate parents and caregivers. Before molar teeth have erupted, infants and children should not be given nuts, uncooked carrots, or other foods that may be easily broken into small pieces and aspirated. Sound parental judgment is required to determine at what age and stage of development small objects should be accessible to children.
Available @ StudentConsult.comSEE CHAPTER 109.SEE CHAPTER 61.Endobronchial mass lesions are relatively uncommon in children. The most common lesion is granulation tissue, which usually results from local inflammation. Tuberculosis can cause endobronchial granulomas. Primary tumors of the lung are extremely rare in children. The most common airway malignancy is the nonsecreting carcinoid tumor. Endobronchial lesions that partially obstruct an airway present with wheezing or obstructive emphysema and occasionally with hemoptysis. If the lesion completely occludes the airway, then atelectasis may result. Radiographs and CT scans of the chest aid in making the diagnosis. Bronchoscopy is often used to confirm the diagnosis.
Congenital lobar overdistention (formerly referred to as congenital lobar emphysema) consists of overinflation of onelobe of a lung. This overdistention may cause severe respiratory distress in the neonatal period due to compression ofsurrounding normal lung tissue, but it can also be asymptomatic and remain undiagnosed for years. Radiographically,it may be mistaken for a pneumothorax. Lobectomy may berequired if respiratory distress is severe or progressive, but ifthe patient is asymptomatic, then surgical resection may notbe indicated.
Pulmonary hypoplasia, or a relative decrease in amount of alveoli, may be the result of a number of congenital insults, such as congenital diaphragmatic hernia (see Chapter 61) or unilateral congenital absence of a pulmonary artery. Alveolar growth occurs after birth predominantly up to 3 years, but has been documented up to 8 years.
Emphysema is a condition due to disruption or destruction of alveolar septa. In pediatrics, the term emphysema often refers to hyperinflation or to leakage of air into the pulmonary interstitial spaces (interstitial emphysema, which may be seen in mechanically ventilated premature infants) or the subcutaneous tissue (subcutaneous emphysema). Although emphysema is common in adults, it is rare in children. However, generalized or localized hyperinflation, which can be caused by airway obstruction from a variety of causes, is common. Emphysema is commonly observed in the disease α1-antitrypsin deficiency, but it rarely appears before the second decade of life.
Primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD, immotile cilia syndrome)is an inherited disorder in which ultrastructural abnormalities in the cilia result in absent or disordered movement of the cilia. This disorder affects approximately 1 in 19,000persons. There are many reported abnormalities in ciliarystructure, but the most common are due to defects in the dynein arms, ultrastructural features that provide energy viaadenosine triphosphatase (ATPase), which is necessary forciliary motility.
The classic presentation is recurrent otitis media, chronic sinusitis, and bronchiectasis. Kartagener syndrome, the triad of situs inversus, pansinusitis, and bronchiectasis, accounts for approximately 50% of cases. Males are infertile as a result of immotile sperm. Because the cilia fail to beat normally, secretions accumulate in the airways, and endobronchial infection results. Chronic infection, if untreated, leads to bronchiectasis by early adulthood. Primary ciliary dyskinesia should be suspected in patients with early-onset chronic bronchitis or bronchiectasis associated with recurrent/persistent sinusitis and/or frequent otitis media.
PCD is confirmed by electron microscopy of respiratorycilia, obtained from scrapings/biopsy of nasal or airwayepithelium. Results may be difficult to interpret as chronic infection and inflammation may lead to ultrastructuralabnormalities in nasal cilia. The measurement of nasal nitric oxide has been used as a screening tool for PCD. Low nasalnitric oxide values (<200 parts per billion) are consistentwith PCD, whereas values greater than 400 parts per billionmake the diagnosis less likely. However, the validity of nasalnitric oxide assays as a diagnostic test for PCD has not beenfully substantiated.
Treatment is geared toward treating infections and improving clearance of respiratory secretions. High resolution chestCT scans are useful to confirm and monitor bronchiectasis. Surveillance cultures help identify organisms involved and guide antibiotic therapy. Sinus surgical procedures are often done to manage chronic sinusitis, but their benefit is questionable. Most children require placement of pressure equalization (PE) tubes for management of recurrent otitis media.Chest physiotherapy and prompt treatment of bacterialinfections are helpful, but the course of the disease tends tobe slowly progressive. Preventive antibiotics, such as thrice-weekly macrolides, may reduce the number of exacerbations per year.
Available @ StudentConsult.comSEE CHAPTER 110.Pulmonary edema is the seepage of fluid into the alveolar and interstitial spaces. Capillary hydrostatic forces and interstitial osmotic pressures tend to push fluid into the airspaces, whereas plasma osmotic pressures and tissue mechanical forces tend to move fluid away from the airspaces. Under normal circumstances, the sum of these forces favors absorption, so the alveolar and interstitial spaces remain dry. Fluid entering the alveoli is normally removed by pulmonary lymphatics. Pulmonary edema forms when transcapillary fluid flux exceeds lymphatic drainage. Reduced left ventricular function leads to pulmonary venous hypertension and increased capillary hydrostatic pressure, and fluid moves into the interstitial space and alveoli. Fluid initially enters the interstitial space around the terminal bronchioles, alveoli, and arterioles (interstitial edema), causing increased lung stiffness and premature closure of bronchioles on expiration. If the process continues, fluid then enters the alveoli, further reducing compliance and resulting in intrapulmonary shunting (alveolar units that are perfused but not ventilated). Decreased ventilation (hypercarbia) is a late finding.
Pulmonary edema is most commonly due to heart failure from left ventricular or biventricular dysfunction. Pulmonary hypertension and associated cor pulmonale (rightventricular dysfunction) do not usually cause pulmonaryedema as the increased vascular resistance is proximal tothe capillary bed. Increased capillary permeability, seen indisease states such as sepsis and acute respiratory distresssyndrome, can lead to pulmonary edema. Pulmonary edemamay also occur with excessive swings in intrathoracic pressure, as seen after tracheal foreign body aspiration or severeobstruction from hypertrophied tonsils and adenoids (postobstructive pulmonary edema). Pulmonary edema mayalso be present in conditions with decreased serum oncotic pressure (hypoalbuminemia); after administration of largevolumes of intravenous (IV) fluids, especially if there iscapillary injury; with ascent to high altitude (high altitude pulmonary edema); and after central nervous system injury (neurogenic pulmonary edema).
Available @ StudentConsult.comChapter 136 u Lower Airway, Parenchymal, and Pulmonary Vascular Diseases 473
The clinical manifestations of pulmonary edema are dyspnea, tachypnea, and cough (often with frothy, pink-tinged sputum). As the edema worsens, there is increased work of breathing and hypoxemia; diffuse inspiratory crackles can be heard on auscultation.
Chest radiographs may reveal diffuse hazy infiltrates, classically in a perihilar pattern, but these findings may be obscured by underlying lung disease. Interstitial edema (Kerley B lines)may be seen, especially at the lung bases.
Treatment and prognosis depend on the cause of the pulmonary edema and response to therapy. Patients should be positioned in an upright posture and given supplemental O2. Diuretic therapy and rapidly acting IV inotropic agents may be helpful in cardiogenic pulmonary edema. Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) or intubation with positive pressure ventilation using high positive end-expiratory pressures (PEEP) may be required.
SEE CHAPTER 39.Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is classified in five groups basedon mechanism. Group 1 is pulmonary arterial hypertension(PAH) due to diseases within veins and small pulmonary muscular arteries such as persistent pulmonary hypertension of thenewborn, congenital heart disease (including those with excessive pulmonary blood flow due to left-to-right cardiac shunting), exposure to various drugs (e.g., cocaine, amphetamines),and idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (previouslycalled primary pulmonary hypertension). Hereditary IPAH isalso in this group and has been linked with the bone morphogenetic receptor-2 (BMPR2) gene. Group 2 is caused by dysfunction of the left heart such as valvular disease. Group 3 issecondary to lung disease or chronic hypoxia, including upperairway obstruction resulting in obstructive sleep apnea and hypoxemia. In Group 4, PH is secondary to chronic pulmonarythromboembolism. Group 5 includes PH of unclear but multifactorial diseases, including some autoimmune diseases andmetabolic diseases. With prolonged PAH, irreversible changesmay occur in the intima and media of the pulmonary arterioles.
Pulmonary arterial hypertension strains the right side of theheart, which leads to hypertrophy and dilation of the right ventricle. This may result in cor pulmonale, a condition in which right-sided heart failure leads to hepatic congestion, fluid retention, and tricuspid insufficiency. In severe cor pulmonale, theventricular septum may be displaced toward the left ventricle,hindering left ventricular function. The most common causesof cor pulmonale in children are chronic lung diseases, especially severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia and scleroderma, andsevere untreated obstructive sleep apnea (with chronic hypoxia).
Pulmonary arterial hypertension should be suspected wheneverthere is prolonged hypoxemia or hemodynamically significantleft-to-right cardiac shunting. In addition to the other physicalfindings associated with pulmonary and cardiac diseases, anaccentuated pulmonary component of the second heart soundmay be heard. Definitive diagnosis is made by cardiac catheterization, but echocardiography may confirm the presence ofright ventricular hypertrophy, ventricular dysfunction, inter-ventricular septal flattening, and tricuspid insufficiency, whichcan be used to estimate the pulmonary artery pressures.
For those with pulmonary hypertension in groups 2 through 5, treatment should focus on the underlying condition. In all conditions of PH and PAH, the relief of hypoxemia with supplemental O2 therapy is essential. Heart failure may require treatment with diuretics and restrictions of salt and fluid intake. Vasodilator therapy (sildenafil) is helpful in some patients, and inhaled nitric oxide can be used short term. Continuous infusions of prostacyclin may be helpful both acutely and chronically and is available in inhaled, subcutaneous, and intravenous forms. Endothelium antagonists may be beneficial. Unfortunately, many patients with the idiopathic form of PAH have progressive courses, and lung or heart-lung transplantation may be the only treatment option.
Pulmonary hemorrhage is a rare but potentially life-threatening condition in children. It can be due to bleeding fromthe airways (hemangiomas, bronchial vessel bleeds) or fromdiffuse capillary bleeding (alveolar hemorrhage). Alveolarhemorrhage is usually due to diffuse capillary disruption/inflammation caused by autoimmune disorders and after bonemarrow transplantation. Airway bleeding can be due to airway hemangiomas, pulmonary arteriovenous malformations(as with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia), and bronchial artery collaterals, which develop in some patients withchronic lung infections, especially cystic fibrosis. Idiopathic pulmonary hemosiderosis is a rare disorder characterized byrecurrent alveolar bleeding, iron deficiency anemia, and hemosiderin-laden macrophages in the lung, which can be identifiedmicroscopically with the use of special iron-staining techniquesin bronchoalveolar lavage or lung biopsy specimens. Althoughthe term hemosiderosis is sometimes used interchangeablywith pulmonary hemorrhage, it is a pathologic finding thatresults from bleeding anywhere in the lung, airway, pharynx,nasopharynx, or mouth leading to hemosiderin accumulationin the lung. Pulmonary hemorrhage is a preferable term for bleeding from an intrathoracic source.
Available @ StudentConsult.comMost children with pulmonary hemorrhage present with hemoptysis. It is important to rule out extrapulmonary sources of bleeding, including hematemesis and bleeding from the nasopharynx or mouth, as these are more common than true pulmonary hemorrhage. In addition to hemoptysis, the presenting signs and symptoms of pulmonary hemorrhage include cough, wheeze, shortness of breath, pallor, fatigue, cyanosis, and fever. Episodic pulmonary hemorrhage frequently manifests as recurrent respiratory symptoms associated with pulmonary infiltrates on chest radiographs. Symptomatic airway hemorrhage may result in significant hemoptysis with few radiographic changes, whereas alveolar bleeding often causes profound respiratory symptoms, hypoxemia, diffuse infiltrates on radiographs, and minimal hemoptysis. Some patients experience a localized bubbling sensation in the chest, which may be helpful in differentiating local from diffuse sources of pulmonary bleeding. Physical examination findings may include locally or diffusely decreased breath sounds, cyanosis, and crackles on auscultation.
The differential diagnosis of pulmonary hemorrhage includes alveolar and airway bleeding. The causes of alveolar (capillary) bleeding include: idiopathic pulmonary hemosiderosis; diffuse alveolitis (capillaritis) secondary to autoimmune disease; clotting disorders; venoocclusive disease; diffuse alveolar injury; and cardiac conditions associated with elevated pulmonary venous and capillary pressures (Table 136-2).Rarely, a previously well infant will present with life-threatening acute alveolar hemorrhage. Often no cause is found, and, once the acute episode resolves, the infant returns to normal. Most of these infants never have a second bleeding episode. Hemoptysis can have cardiovascular, pulmonary, or immunologic causes (see Table 136-2).
It is important to perform a thorough upper airway examination to rule out epistaxis. Sometimes this requires nasopharyngoscopy. If extrapulmonary sources of bleeding havebeen excluded, then a chest radiograph, CT angiogram ofthe chest, bronchoscopy, echocardiogram, and evaluationfor rheumatologic/autoimmune diseases, especially Good-pasture disease, granulomatosis with polyangiitis, Henoch-Schönlein purpura, and systemic lupus erythematosus, should be considered.
The management of acute episodes of pulmonary bleeding includes the administration of supplemental O2, blood transfusions, and, often with acute alveolar hemorrhages, mechanical ventilation with PEEP to tamponade the bleeding. Attempts should be made to identify the cause of the bleeding. Treatment is directed toward the underlying disorders and providing supportive care. In bronchial arterial bleeding, arteriography with vessel embolization has been shown to be successful.
Pulmonary embolism is rare in children. When it occurs, it is often associated with indwelling central venous catheters,
Respiratory distress syndrome Bronchogenic cyst Sequestration Pneumonia (bacterial, mycobacterial, fungal, or parasitic) Cystic fibrosis Tracheobronchitis Bronchiectasis Lung abscess Tumor (adenoma, carcinoid, hemangioma, metastasis) Foreign body retention Contusion—trauma oral contraceptives, or hypercoagulable states. In adolescents, trauma, obesity, abortion, and malignancy may lead to deep vein thromboses (DVTs) and pulmonary embolism.
Because the pulmonary vascular bed is distensible, small emboli, even if multiple, may be asymptomatic unless they are infected (septic emboli) and cause pulmonary infection. Large emboli may cause acute dyspnea, pleuritic chest pain, cough, and hemoptysis. Hypoxia is common, as are nonspecific ST-segment and T-wave changes on the electrocardiogram (ECG). The P2 heart sound may be increased, and an S4 sound may be present.
Although the chest x-ray is usually normal, atelectasis or cardiomegaly may be seen. The measurement of D-dimers can be used as a screening test, but it must be interpreted in light of the probability of a pulmonary embolism. If the D-dimer is normal and the probability for embolism is low, then no further workup may be necessary. However, if the D-dimer is elevated, or if it is normal but the probability of embolism is moderate or high, then the diagnostic test of choice is a CT angiogram of the chest. Ventilation-perfusion scans may revealing defects in perfusion without matching ventilation defects, but they are difficult to perform in young children. Doppler or compression ultrasonography can be useful in assessing patients for lower extremity DVTs. For definitive diagnosis of pulmonary embolism, the gold standard is still pulmonary angiography, though with the improvement in CT angiography, angiograms are now rarely necessary. Children with pulmonary embolism without an obvious cause should be evaluated for hypercoagulable states, the most common of which is factor V Leiden.
Once a pulmonary embolism is suspected, the patient should be anticoagulated, usually with low-molecular-weight heparin. All patients should receive supplemental O2, and it is important to treat the predisposing factors. Thrombolytic therapy and surgical resection of emboli are rarely indicated. Occasionally an inferior vena caval filter needs to be placed to prevent recurrent emboli.
Cystic fibrosis (CF) is an autosomal recessive disorder that is the most common life-limiting genetic disease in whites. In the United States, the incidence of CF is approximately 1 in 3200 whites, 1 in 15,000 African Americans, and 1 in 31,000 persons of Asian heritage. The gene for CF, located on the long arm of chromosome 7, encodes for a polypeptide, the cystic fibrosis transmembrane regulator (CFTR), a chloride channel located on the apical surface of epithelial cells. CFTR is important for the proper movement of salt and water across cell membranes and maintaining the appropriate composition of various secretions, especially in the airways, liver, and pancreas. The most common mutation is a deletion of three base pairs resulting in the absence of phenylalanine at the 508 position (ΔF508). More than 1500 mutations of the CFTR gene have been identified.
The secretory and absorptive characteristics of epithelial cells are affected by abnormal CFTR, resulting in the clinical manifestations of CF. The altered chloride ion conductance in the sweat gland results in excessively high sweat sodium and chloride levels. This is the basis of the sweat chloride test, which is still the standard diagnostic test for this disorder. It is positive (elevated sweat chloride > 60 mEq/L) in 99% of patients with CF. Abnormal airway secretions make the airway more prone to colonization with bacteria. Defects in CFTR may also reduce the function of airway defenses and promote bacterial adhesion to the airway epithelium. This all leads to chronic airway infections and eventually to bronchial damage (bronchiectasis).
Available @ StudentConsult.comNeck Masses Hoarseness Hemoptysis Chest Pain Diarrhea Constipation Hepatomegaly Eosinophilia Polyuria Failure to Thrive Alkalemia Hyponatremia
CF is a chronic progressive disease that can present with protein and fat malabsorption (failure to thrive, hypoalbuminemia, steatorrhea), liver disease (cholestatic jaundice), or chronic respiratory infection (Table 137-1). Many infants currently are diagnosed based on newborn screening, which has been available in all 50 states and the District of Columbia since 2010. Older children commonly present with pulmonary manifestations such as poorly controlled asthma and chronic respiratory infections. The respiratory epithelium of patients with CF exhibits marked impermeability to chloride and an excessive reabsorption of sodium. This leads to a relative dehydration of airway secretions, which results in airway obstruction and impaired mucociliary transport. This, in turn, leads to endobronchial colonization with bacteria, especially Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Chronic bronchial infection results in persistent or recurrent cough that is often productive of sputum, especially in older children. Chronic airway infection leads to airway obstruction and bronchiectasis and, eventually, to pulmonary insufficiency and premature death. The median age of survival (years) is currently in the mid-30s. Digital clubbing is common in patients with CF, even in those without significant lung disease. Chronic sinusitis and nasal polyposis are common.
Pulmonary infections with virulent strains of Burkholderia cepacia are difficult to treat and may be associated with accelerated clinical deterioration. Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) is a hypersensitivity reaction to Aspergillus in the CF airways. It causes airway inflammation/obstruction and aggravates CF lung disease. The treatment for ABPA is systemic corticosteroids (prednisone) and anti-fungal agents (itraconazole). Minor hemoptysis is usually due to airway infection, but major hemoptysis is often caused by bleeding from bronchial artery collateral vessels in damaged/chronically infected portions of the lung. Pneumothoraces can occur in patients with advanced lung disease.
Bronchiectasis, bronchitis, bronchiolitis, pneumonia Atelectasis Hemoptysis Pneumothorax Nasal polyps Sinusitis Airway reactivity Cor pulmonale (associated with chronic hypoxemia) Respiratory failure Mucoid impaction of the bronchi Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis
Meconium ileus (infants) Meconium peritonitis (infants) Volvulus (infants) Intestinal atresia (infants) Distal intestinal obstruction syndrome (non-neonatal obstruction) Rectal prolapse Intussusception Fibrosing colonopathy (strictures) Appendicitis Pancreatitis Hepatic cirrhosis (portal hypertension: esophageal varices, hypersplenism) Neonatal obstructive jaundice Hepatic steatosis Gastroesophageal reflux Cholelithiasis Growth failure (malabsorption) Fat soluble vitamin deficiency states (vitamins A, K, E, D) Insulin deficiency, symptomatic hyperglycemia, diabetes Malignancy (rare)
Infertility Delayed puberty Edema-hypoproteinemia (due to protein malabsorption) Dehydration–heat exhaustion Electrolyte disturbances (hyponatremia, hypokalemia, hypochloremia, and metabolic alkalosis) Hypertrophic osteoarthropathy–arthritis Digital clubbing
Ninety percent of patients with CF are born with exocrine pancreatic insufficiency. The inspissation of mucus and subsequent destruction of the pancreatic ducts result in the inability toexcrete pancreatic enzymes into the intestine. This leads to malabsorption of proteins, sugars (to a lesser extent), and especially fat. Fat malabsorption manifests clinically as steatorrhea (largefoul-smelling stools), deficiencies of fat-soluble vitamins (A, D,E, and K), and failure to thrive. Protein malabsorption can present early in infancy as hypoproteinemia and peripheral edema.Approximately 10% of patients with CF are born with intestinal obstruction caused by inspissated meconium (meconium ileus). In older patients, intestinal obstruction may result fromthick inspissated mucus in the intestinal lumen (distal intestinal obstruction syndrome). In adolescent or adult patients,progressive pancreatic damage can lead to enough islet celldestruction to cause insulin deficiency. This initially presentsas glucose intolerance, but true diabetes that requires insulintherapy (CF-related diabetes) may develop. The failure of thesweat ducts to conserve sodium and chloride may lead to hyponatremia and hypochloremic metabolic alkalosis, especially ininfants. Inspissation of mucus in the reproductive tract leads toreproductive dysfunction in both males and females. In males,congenital absence of the vas deferens and azoospermia arenearly universal. In females, secondary amenorrhea is oftenpresent as a result of chronic illness and reduced body weight.Fertility is also diminished by abnormal secretions in the fallopian tubes and cervix, but women with CF can conceive.
All infants with a positive newborn screen and/or with meconium ileus should be evaluated for CF. The diagnosis of CF should be seriously considered in any infant presenting with failure to thrive, cholestatic jaundice, chronic respiratory symptoms, or electrolyte abnormalities (hyponatremia, hypochloremia, metabolic alkalosis). CF should be in the differential diagnosis of children with chronic respiratory or gastrointestinal symptoms, especially if there is digital clubbing. Any child with nasal polyps, especially those younger than 12 years, should be evaluated for CF. All siblings of patients with CF should also be evaluated.
Readily available commercial DNA tests detect many CF mutations, but because there are more than 1500 identified mutations (and others yet to be identified), DNA analysis will not detect all cases of CF. All U.S. states have newborn screening for CF, based either on elevated immunoreactive trypsinogen (IRT) levels or DNA tests, identifying the majority of infants with CF, but there are both false-positive and false-negative results. Therefore, the diagnostic test of choice is still the sweat test. Indications for performing a sweat test are listed in Table 137-2. The following criteria should be met to establish the diagnosis of CF:The presence of one or more typical clinical features of CF (chronic pulmonary disease, characteristic gastrointestinal and nutritional abnormalities, salt loss syndromes, or 1.
Two elevated sweat chloride tests performed at an accredited CF Foundation certified laboratory (positive if the value is >60 mEq/L, borderline if 40 to 60 mEq/L, and negative if <40mEq/L, with adequate sweat collection) 2.
Two mutations known to cause CF identified by DNA analysis or 3.
because a sibling has CF, positive sweat chloride testing or the
Recurrent wheezing/difficult to control asthma Recurrent or persistent atelectasis Hemoptysis Pseudomonas aeruginosa in the respiratory tract (if not explained by other factors, e.g., tracheostomy or prolonged intubation)
Meconium ileus Neonatal intestinal obstruction (meconium plug, atresia) Steatorrhea, malabsorption Hepatic cirrhosis in childhood (including any manifestations such as esophageal varices or portal hypertension) Cholestatic jaundice in infancy Pancreatitis Rectal prolapse Fat-soluble vitamin deficiency states (A, D, E, K) Hypoproteinemia, hypoalbuminemia, peripheral edema
Prolonged, direct-reacting neonatal jaundice MISCELLANEOUSDigital clubbing Failure to thrive Family history of cystic fibrosis (e.g., in sibling or cousin) Salty taste of skin (typically noted by parent on kissing affected child—from salt crystals formed after evaporation of sweat) Hyponatremic hypochloremic alkalosis in infants Nasal polyps Recurrent sinusitis Aspermia Absent vas deferens presence of known disease-causing DNA mutations are the only criteria required for diagnosis, as clinical symptoms may not be manifested early in life.
Although the sweat test is both specific and sensitive for CF, it is subject to technical problems, and there are false-positiveand false-negative results (Table 137-3). Cutoff diagnostic measurements for infants less than 6 months may be lower. Other supportive tests include the measurement of bioelectrical potential differences across nasal epithelium (not widely available) and measurement of fecal elastase levels. Low fecal elastase levels indicate exocrine pancreatic insufficiency. CF genotyping done by commercial laboratories identifies approximately 95% of patients with CF, but there are mutations that are not identified by standard testing. Not all mutations in CFTR are considered disease-causing and have uncertain prognostic consequences. Some infants identified by newborn screening with borderline sweat tests and mutations of uncertain consequence are considered to have CFTR-related metabolic syndrome (CRMS). Older children that present with atypical clinical features and borderline sweat tests may be considered non-classical CF or mild variant CF.
Identification of carriers (heterozygotes) and prenatal diagnosis of children with the ΔF508 and other common mutations is offered at most medical centers. Present testing techniques can identify more than 90% of carriers. Prenatal detection of a known CF genotype may be accomplished by amniocentesis or chorionic villus sampling.
The treatment of CF is multifactorial, but it is primarily directed toward the gastrointestinal and pulmonary complications. Presently, there is no effective single cure for cystic fibrosis. Therapies targeted at correcting the underlying CFTR defect are under investigation. Recently, a landmark medication known as small-molecule potentiators targeted to improve function of defective CFTR has been approved for a small subset of CF patients who have an abnormal gating mechanism of their CFTR protein. Management of pulmonary complications is directed toward facilitating clearance of secretions from the airways and minimizing the effects of chronic bronchial infection. Airway secretion clearance techniques (chest physiotherapy) help remove mucus from the airways, and aerosolized DNAse and 7% hypertonic saline, both delivered by nebulizer, decrease the viscosity of mucus. Antibiotic therapy is important in controlling chronic infection. Monitoring pulmonary bacterial flora via airway cultures and providing aggressive therapy with appropriate antibiotics (oral, aerosolized, and IV) help to slow the progression of lung disease. Patients often require 2to 3-week courses of high-dose intravenous antibiotics and aggressive chest physiotherapy to treat pulmonary exacerbations. Antibiotics are selected based on organisms identified by sputum culture. If patients are unable to provide sputum, then a throat culture for CF pathogens can be used to direct therapy. Common infecting organisms are Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus.
Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency is treated with enteric-coated pancreatic enzyme capsules, which contain lipase and proteases. Patients with CF are encouraged to follow high-calorie diets, often with the addition of nutritional supplements. Even with optimal pancreatic enzyme replacement, stool losses of fat and protein may be high. Fat should not be withheld from the diet, even when significant steatorrhea exists. Rather, pancreatic enzyme doses should be titrated to optimize fat absorption, although there is a limit to the doses that should be used. Lipase dosages exceeding 2500 U/kg/meal are contraindicated because they have been associated with fibrosing colonopathy. Fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, and K) are recommended, preferably in a water-miscible form.
Newborns with meconium ileus may require surgical intervention, but some can be managed with contrast (Gastrografin) enemas. Intestinal obstruction in CF patients beyond the neonatal period is often due to distal intestinal obstruction syndrome (DIOS), which may need to be treated with courses of oral laxatives (polyethylene glycol) or, in more refractory cases, with balanced intestinal lavage solutions. Pancreatic enzyme dosage adjustment, adequate hydration, and dietary fiber may help prevent recurrent episodes. Patients with CF-related diabetes are treated with insulin, primarily to improve nutrition and prevent dehydration, as ketoacidosis is rare. Although transaminase elevation is common in patients with CF, only 1% to 3% of patients have progressive cirrhosis resulting in portal hypertension. Cholestasis is treated with the bile salt ursodeoxycholic acid. Portal hypertension and esophageal varices due to cirrhosis of the liver are managed, when necessary, with portal vein shunting procedures or liver transplantation. Patients with symptomatic sinus disease and nasal polyps may require sinus surgical procedures.
The management of CF is complex and is best coordinated by personnel at accredited CF centers. As with other severe chronic diseases, management of CF patients requires a multidisciplinary team working with patients and their families to maintain an optimistic, comprehensive, and aggressive approach to treatment.
Thoracic scoliosis, when it is severe (curve >60°), can be associated with chest wall deformity and limitation of chest wall movement. This, in turn, can lead to decreased lung volumes (restrictive lung disease), ventilation/perfusion mismatching, hypoventilation, and even respiratory failure (see Chapter 202).Surgical correction of scoliosis may prevent further loss oflung function, but it rarely improves pulmonary function above presurgical levels.
Sternal concavity (pectus excavatum), a common chest wall deformity in children, is usually not associated with significant pulmonary compromise. However, occasionally, if severe, it may result in restrictive lung disease, obstructive defects, and/or decreased cardiac function. Often it comes to medical attention because of concerns over the appearance of the chest. Adolescents with pectus excavatum may complain of exercise intolerance. Routine spirometry is often normal but may show decreased vital capacity consistent with restrictive lung disease. The main reason for surgical correction is generally to improve appearance (cosmetic reasons), although in some cases surgical repair is justified to improve cardiac function and exercise tolerance.
Pectus carinatum is an abnormality of chest wall shape in which the sternum bows out. It is not associated with abnormal pulmonary function. Underlying pulmonary disease may contribute to the deformity. It can be observed after cardiac surgery performed via midsternal approach. Surgical correction of this condition is rarely indicated, but occasionally is done for cosmetic purposes.
Pneumothorax, which is the accumulation of air in the pleural space, may result from external trauma or from leakage of air from the lungs or airways. Spontaneous primary pneumothorax (no underlying cause) occurs in teenagers and young adults, more commonly in tall, thin males and smokers. Factors predisposing to secondary pneumothorax (underlying cause identified) include barotrauma from mechanical ventilation, asthma, cystic fibrosis, trauma to the chest, and severe necrotizing pneumonia.
Available @ StudentConsult.comThe most common signs and symptoms of pneumothorax are chest and shoulder pain and dyspnea. If the pneumothorax is large and compresses functional lung (tension pneumothorax), severe respiratory distress and cyanosis may be present. Subcutaneous emphysema may result when the air leak communicates with the mediastinum. Physical findings associated with pneumothorax include decreased breath sounds on the affected side, a tympanitic percussion note, and evidence of mediastinal shift (deviation of the point of maximal impact [PMI] and trachea away from the side of the pneumothorax). If the pneumothorax is small, there may be few or no clinical findings. However, the patient’s clinical condition can deteriorate rapidly if the pneumothorax expands, especially if the air in the pleural space is under pressure (tension pneumothorax). This is a life-threatening condition that can result in death if the pleural space is not decompressed by evacuation of the pleural air.
The presence of a pneumothorax can usually be confirmed by upright chest radiographs. Computed tomography (CT) scans of the chest are useful in quantifying the size of pneumothoraces and differentiating air within the lung parenchyma (cystic lung disease) from air in the pleural space and for identifying subpleural blebs that may be present in spontaneous recurrent pneumothoraces. In infants, transillumination of the chest wall may be of some use in making a rapid diagnosis of pneumothorax.
The type of intervention depends on the size of the pneumothorax and the nature of the underlying disease. Small pneumothoraces (<20% of thorax occupied with pleural air) may notrequire intervention as they often resolve spontaneously. Inhaling high concentrations of supplemental O2 may enhance reabsorption of pleural air by washing out nitrogen from the blood.Larger pneumothoraces and any tension pneumothorax requireimmediate drainage of the air, preferably via chest tube. In anemergency situation, a simple needle aspiration may suffice,although placement of a chest tube is often required for resolution. In patients with recurrent or persistent pneumothoraces,sclerosing the pleural surfaces to obliterate the pleural space(pleurodesis) may be necessary. This can be done either chemically, by instilling talc or sclerosis agents (doxycycline) throughthe chest tube, or mechanically, by surgical abradement. Surgical approaches, open thoracotomy and video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS), enable visualization of the pleural spaceand resection of pleural blebs, when indicated.
Pneumomediastinum results from the dissection of air from the pulmonary parenchyma into the mediastinum. It is usually a mild, self-limited process that does not require aggressive intervention. The most common causes in children are severe forceful coughing and acute asthma exacerbations. Common symptoms are chest pain and dyspnea. There are often no physical findings, although a crunching noise over the sternum can sometimes be appreciated on auscultation, and subcutaneous emphysema may be detected about the neck. The diagnosis is confirmed by chest radiograph, and treatment is directed toward the underlying lung disease.
Fluid accumulates in the pleural space when the local hydrostatic forces that are pushing fluid out of the vascular space exceed the oncotic forces that are drawing fluid back into thevascular space. Pleural effusions can be transudates (intactmembrane but abnormal hydrostatic or oncotic forces)or exudates (decreased integrity of the membrane due toinflammatory processes or impaired lymphatic drainage).There are relatively few causes of transudates, the primaryones being congestive heart failure and hypoproteinemiastates, whereas the causes of exudates are legion. Almost anypulmonary inflammatory process can result in pleural fluidaccumulation. Among the most common causes of exudatesare infection (tuberculosis, bacterial pneumonia), collagen vascular diseases (systemic lupus erythematosus), andmalignancy. Chylous pleural effusions (elevated triglyceridelevels) are seen with thoracic duct injury and abnormalitiesof lymphatic drainage (lymphangiomyomatosis, lymphangiectasia). Bacterial pneumonia can lead to an accumulation ofpleural fluid (parapneumonic effusion). When this fluid is purulent or infected, then it is called an empyema, although often the terms parapneumonic effusion and empyema areused interchangeably. Parapneumonic effusion/empyemais the most common effusion in children. Most parapneumonic effusions are due to pneumonia caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae, group A streptococci, or Staphylococcus aureus.
Available @ StudentConsult.comSmall pleural effusions may be asymptomatic, but if they are large enough to compress lung tissue, then they can cause dyspnea, tachypnea, and occasionally chest pain. Effusions due to infection are usually associated with fever, malaise, poor appetite, pleuritic chest pain, and splinting. Physical findings include tachypnea, decreased breath sounds, dullness to percussion, and decreased tactile fremitus. Large effusions may occupy more than half the hemithorax and cause a mediastinal shift away from the affected side, compromising respiratory status, particularly in young children.
The presence of pleural fluid can often be confirmed by chest radiograph. In addition to anteroposterior and lateral projections, a decubitus view should be done to assess for layering of fluid. Chest ultrasonography is useful for confirming the presence of the effusion and quantifying its size. CT scans of the chest can help differentiate pleural fluid from parenchymal lesions and pleural masses. Both ultrasonography and CT scans can determine whether parapneumonic effusions contain loculations (fibrous strands that compartmentalize the effusion).
The analysis of pleural fluid is useful in differentiating a transudate from an exudate. Routine tests on pleural fluid such as cell count, pH, protein, lactose dehydrogenase, and glucose characterize the effusions. Triglyceride levels, cytology, hematocrit, gram and acid fast bacilli stain, culture, and adenosine deaminase levels can be useful in diagnosing
Pleural fluid protein/serum protein ratio greater than 0.5 OR Pleural fluid LDH/serum LDH ratio greater than 0.6 OR Pleural fluid LDH greater than two-thirds the upper limits of
Positive acid fast bacilli stain, culture Pleural fluid protein greater than 4 g/dL Pleural fluid adenosine deaminase level greater than 35-50 U/L Pleural fluid glucose 30-50 mg/dL
Pleural fluid hematocrit/serum hematocrit greater than 0.5LDH, Lactate dehydrogenase.chylous, malignant, and tuberculous effusions (Table 138-1).However, the yield of pleural fluid cultures is low. Transudative pleural effusions have a low specific gravity (<1.015) and protein content (<2.5 g/dL), low lactate dehydrogenase activity (<200 IU/L), and a low white blood cell (WBC) count with few polymorphonuclear cells. In contrast, exudates are characterized by high specific gravity and high protein (>3 g/dL) and lactate dehydrogenase (>250 IU/L) levels. They may also have a low pH (<7.2); low glucose level (<40 mg/dL); and a high WBC count with many lymphocytes or polymorphonuclear leukocytes.
Therapy is directed at the underlying condition causing the effusion and at relief of the mechanical consequences of the fluid collection. For small effusions, especially if they are transudates, no pleural drainage is required. Large effusions that are causing respiratory compromise should be drained. Transudates and most exudates other than parapneumonic effusions can be drained with a chest tube. With parapneumonic effusions/empyema, a chest tube alone is often not sufficient because the fluid may be thick and loculated. In such cases, pleural drainage is best achieved with either the administration of fibrinolytic agents via chest tubes or video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS). Both fibrinolytic therapy via chest tubes and VATS can reduce morbidity and length of hospital stay, but many patients with small to moderate-sized parapneumonic effusions can be managed conservatively with intravenous antibiotics alone.
Levitzky MG: Pulmonary Physiology, ed 7, New York, 2007, McGraw-Hill
Kliegman RM, Stanton BF, St. Geme JW, et al: Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics, ed 19, Philadelphia, 2011, Saunders
Taussig LN, Landau LI, et al: Pediatric Respiratory Medicine, ed 2, Philadel phia, 2008, Mosby
Wilmott RW, Boat TF, Bush A, et al: Kendig and Chernick’s Disorders of the
Respiratory Tract in Children, ed 8, Philadelphia, 2012, SaundersThe Cardiovascular SystemDaniel S. Schneider 19A maternal history of medication, drug, or alcohol use or excessive smoking may contribute to cardiac and other systemic findings. The prenatal history may reveal a maternal infection early in pregnancy (possibly teratogenic) or later in pregnancy (causing myocarditis or myocardial dysfunction in infants). Infants with heart failure exhibit poor growth, with weight being more significantly affected than height and head circumference.
Heart failure may present with fatigue or diaphoresis with feeds or fussiness. Tachypnea without significant dyspnea may be present. Older children with heart failure may have easy fatigability, shortness of breath on exertion, and sometimes orthopnea. Not keeping up with other children during play or exercise is a sign of exercise intolerance. Heart failure may be misdiagnosed as recurrent pneumonia, bronchitis, wheezing, or asthma.
A history of a heart murmur is important, but many wellchildren have an innocent murmur at some time in their lives. Other cardiac symptoms include cyanosis, palpitations, chest pain, syncope, and near-syncope. A review ofsystems assesses for possible systemic diseases or congenitalmalformation syndromes that may cause cardiac abnormalities (Tables 139-1 and 139-2). Current and past medication use as well as history of drug use, is important. Family history should be reviewed for hereditary diseases, early atherosclerotic heart disease, congenital heart disease, suddenunexplained deaths, thrombophilia, rheumatic fever, hypertension, and hypercholesterolemia.
A complete cardiovascular examination starts in the supine position and includes evaluation in sitting and standing positions when possible. Inspection is supplemented by palpation and auscultation to provide a complete examination.
The examination starts with vital signs. The normal heart rate varies with age and activity. Newborn resting heart rates are approximately 120 beats/minute, slightly higher in infants 3 to 6 months of age and then gradually declining through adolescence to near 80 beats/minute. The range of normal for any given age is approximately 30 beats/minute above or below the average. Tachycardia may be a manifestation of anemia, dehydration, shock, heart failure, or dysrhythmia. Bradycardia can be a normal finding in patients with high vagal tone (athletes), but may be a manifestation of atrioventricular block. The respiratory rate of infants is best assessed while the infant is quiet. Respiratory rate may be increased when there is a left-to-right shunt or pulmonary venous congestion.
Normal blood pressure also varies with age. A properly sized cuff should have a bladder width that is at least 90% and a length that is 80% to 100% of the arm circumference. Initially, blood pressure in the right arm is measured. If elevated, measurements in the left arm and legs are indicated to evaluate for possible coarctation of the aorta. The pulse pressure is determined by subtracting the diastolic pressure from the systolic pressure. It is normally below 50 mm Hg or half the systolic pressure, whichever is less. A wide pulse pressure
Hunter-Hurler syndrome Valvular insufficiency, heart failure, hypertension Duchenne dystrophy Cardiomyopathy, heart failure Pompe disease Short PR interval, cardiomegaly, heart failure, arrhythmias Kawasaki disease Coronary artery aneurysm, thrombosis, myocardial infarction, myocarditis Marfan syndrome Aortic and mitral insufficiency,
Systemic lupus Pericarditis, Libman-Sacks erythematosus endocarditis, congenital AV blockLyme disease Arrhythmias, myocarditis, heart failure Graves disease Tachycardia, arrhythmias, heart failure (hyperthyroidism)
Tuberous sclerosis Cardiac rhabdomyoma Neurofibromatosis Pulmonic stenosis, coarctation of aorta
AV, atrioventricular.Trisomy 21 (Down syndrome) Endocardial cushion defect, VSD, ASD, PDA
Trisomy 18 VSD, ASD, PDA, PSTrisomy 13 VSD, ASD, PDA, dextrocardiaXO (Turner syndrome) Coarctation of aorta, aortic stenosisCHARGE association TOF, aortic arch and conotruncal (coloboma, heart, atresia anomalies* choanae, retardation, genital and ear anomalies) 22q11 (DiGeorge) syndrome Aortic arch anomalies, conotruncal anomalies*
VACTERL association† VSD (vertebral, anal, cardiac, tracheoesophageal, radial, renal, limb anomalies)
Marfan syndrome Dilated and dissecting aorta, aortic valve regurgitation, mitral valve prolapse
William syndrome Supravalvular aortic stenosis, peripheral pulmonary stenosisInfant of diabetic mother Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, VSD, conotruncal anomaliesAsplenia syndrome Complex cyanotic heart lesions, anomalous pulmonary venous return, dextrocardia, single ventricle, single AV valve
Polysplenia syndrome Azygos continuation of inferior vena cava, pulmonary atresia, dextrocardia, single ventricle
Fetal alcohol syndrome VSD, ASDFetal hydantoin syndrome TGA, VSD, TOFASD, Atrial septal defect; AV, atrioventricular; PDA, patent ductus arteriosus;
PS, pulmonic stenosis; TGA, transposition of great arteries; TOF, tetralogy of
Fallot; VSD, ventricular septal defect. *Conotruncal—tetralogy of Fallot, pulmonary atresia, truncus arteriosus, transposition of great arteries.
†VACTERL association is also known as VATER association, in which the limb anomalies are not included.
may be seen with aortopulmonary connections (patent ductus arteriosus [PDA], truncus arteriosus, arteriovenous malformations), aortic insufficiency, or relative intravascular volume depletion (anemia, vasodilation with fever or sepsis). A narrow pulse pressure is seen with pericardial tamponade, aortic stenosis, and heart failure.
Inspection includes general appearance, nutritional status, circulation, and respiratory effort. Many chromosomal abnormalities and syndromes associated with cardiac defects have dysmorphic features or failure to thrive (see Table 139-2).Skin color must be assessed for cyanosis and pallor. Central cyanosis (tongue, lips) is associated with arterial desaturation; isolated peripheral cyanosis (hands, feet) is associated with normal arterial saturation and increased peripheral extraction of oxygen. Perioral cyanosis is a common finding, especially in pale infants or when infants and toddlers become cold. Chronic arterial desaturation results in clubbing of the fingernails and toenails. Inspection of the chest may reveal asymmetry or a prominent left precordium suggesting chronic cardiac enlargement.
After inspection, palpation of pulses in all four extremities, the precordial activity, and the abdomen is performed. Pulses are assessed for rate, regularity, intensity, symmetry, and timing between upper and lower extremities. A good pedal pulse with normal right arm blood pressure effectively rules out coarctation of the aorta. The precordium should be assessed for apical impulse, point of maximum impulse, hyperactivity, and presence of a thrill. Abdominal palpation assesses liver and spleen size. The liver size provides an assessment of intra-vascular volume and is enlarged with systemic venous congestion. The spleen may be enlarged with infective endocarditis.
Auscultation is the most important part of the cardiovascular examination, but should supplement what already has been found by inspection and palpation. Systematic listening in a quiet room allows assessment of each portion of the cardiac cycle. In addition to heart rate and regularity, the heart sounds, clicks, and murmurs need to be timed and characterized.
S1 is associated with closure of the mitral and tricuspid valves, is usually single, and is best heard at the lower left sternal border (LLSB) or apex (Fig. 139-1). Although it can normally be split, if a split S1 is heard, the possibility of an ejection click or, much less commonly, an S4 should be considered. S2 is associated with closure of the aortic and pulmonary valves. It should normally split with inspiration and be single with exhalation. Abnormalities of splitting and intensity of the pulmonary component are associated with significant anatomic and physiologic abnormalities (Table 139-3). S3 is heard in early diastole and is related to rapid ventricular filling. It is best heard at the LLSB or apex and may be a normal sound, but a loud S3 is abnormal and heard in conditions with dilated ventricles. S4 occurs late in diastole just before S1, is best heard at the LLSB/apex, and is associated with decreased ventricular compliance. It is rare and is always abnormal.
A click implies a valvular abnormality or dilated great artery. It may be ejection or midsystolic in timing and may or may not be associated with a murmur. A midsystolic click is associated with mitral valve prolapse. Ejection clicks occur early in systole. Pulmonary ejection clicks are best heard at the left upper sternal border and vary in intensity with respiration. Aortic clicks are often louder at the apex, left midsternal border, or right upper sternal border and do not vary with respiration.
Available @ StudentConsult.comMurmur evaluation should determine timing, duration, location, intensity, radiation, and frequency or pitch of the murmur. The timing determines a murmur’s significance and can be used to develop a differential diagnosis (see Fig. 139-1).
0 20 40 60 80 100 120Pressure (mmHg)AV valve closes Aortic valve opens S1 A2 a c Aortic pressure Ventricular pressure Atrial pressure Aortic stenosis, pulmonic stenosis,   atrial septal defect Ventricular septal defect, mitral   regurgitation, tricuspid stenosis Mitral valve prolapse Aortic regurgitation, pulmonic regurgitation Mitral stenosis, tricuspid stenosis Patent ductus arteriosus Systolic ejection Holosystolic Pansystolic Regurgitant Late systolic Early diastolic Mid-diastolic Continuous AV valve opens Aortic valve closes v Isovolumic contraction
Figure 139-1 Timing of heart murmurs. AV, Atrioventricular.One semilunar valve (aortic atresia, pulmonary atresia, truncus arteriosus) Malposed great arteries (d-TGA, l-TGA) Severe aortic stenosis
Increased flow across valve (ASD, PAPVR) Prolonged flow across valve (pulmonary stenosis) Electrical delay (right bundle branch block) Early aortic closure (severe mitral regurgitation)
Increased in pulmonary hypertension Decreased in severe pulmonary stenosis, tetralogy of Fallot
ASD, Atrial septal defect; d-TGA, dextro-transposition of the great arteries; l-TGA, levo-transposition of the great arteries; PAPVR, partial anomalous pulmonary venous return.
Murmurs should be classified as systolic, diastolic, or continuous. Most murmurs are systolic and can be divided further into systolic ejection murmurs or holosystolic (also called pansystolic or regurgitant) murmurs. Ejection murmurs are crescendo-decrescendo with a short time between S1 and the onset of the murmur (isovolumic contraction). Systolic ejection murmurs require the ejection of blood from the ventricle and may occur with aortic stenosis, pulmonary stenosis, atrial
Grade I Very soft, heard in quiet room with cooperative patient
Grade IV Loud with palpable thrillGrade V Loud with thrill, audible with stethoscope at 45° angle
Grade VI Loud with thrill, audible with stethoscope off chest 1 cm septal defects (ASDs), and coarctation of the aorta. Holosystolic murmurs have their onset with S1. The murmur has a plateau quality and may be heard with ventricular septal defects (VSDs) and mitral or tricuspid regurgitation. A late regurgitant murmur may be heard after a midsystolic click in mitral valve prolapse.
Murmurs are often heard along the path of blood flow. Ejection murmurs usually are best heard at the base of the heart, whereas holosystolic murmurs are louder at the LLSB and apex. Pulmonary ejection murmurs radiate to the back and axilla. Aortic ejection murmurs radiate to the neck. The intensity or loudness of a heart murmur is assessed as grade I through VI (Table 139-4). The frequency or pitch of a murmur provides information regarding the pressure gradient. The higher the pressure gradient across a narrowed area (valve, vessel, or defect), the faster the flow and higher the frequency of the murmur. Low-frequency murmurs imply low pressure gradients and mild obstruction or less restriction to flow.
vibratory murmur LLSB or between LLSB and apex Grades I-III/VI Vibratory, musical quality Intensity decreases in upright position
Venous hum Continuous murmur 3–6 yr Infraclavicular region (right > left) Grades I-III/VI Louder with patient in upright position Changes with compression of jugular vein or turning head
Carotid bruit Systolic ejection murmur Any age Neck, over carotid artery Grade I-III/VI ejection murmur LUSB Grade I-III/VI Usually softer in upright position Does not radiate to back
Peripheral Systolic ejection murmur Newborn to 6 mo pulmonary Axilla and back, LUSB/ stenosis RUSB
Grade I-III/VI Harsh, short, high-frequencyLLSB, Left lower scapular border; LUSB, left upper scapular border; RUSB, right upper scapular border.
Diastolic murmurs are much less common than systolic murmurs, and should be considered abnormal. Early diastolic murmurs occur when there is regurgitation through the aortic or pulmonary valve. Mid-diastolic murmurs are caused by increased flow (ASD, VSD) or anatomic stenosis across the mitral or tricuspid valves.
Continuous murmurs are heard when there is flow through the entire cardiac cycle and are abnormal with one common exception, the venous hum. A PDA is the most common abnormal continuous murmur. Continuous murmurs can also be heard with coarctation of the aorta when collateral vessels are present.
Normal physiologic or innocent murmurs are common, occurring in at least 80% of normal infants and children, heard most often during the first 6 months of life, from 3 to 6 years of age, and in early adolescence. They have also been called benign, functional, vibratory, and flow murmurs. Characteristic findings of innocent murmurs include the quality of the sound, lack of significant radiation, and significant alteration in the intensity of the murmur with positional changes (Table 139-5). Most important, the cardiovascular history and examination are otherwise normal. The presence of symptoms, including failure to thrive or dysmorphic features, should make one more cautious about diagnosing a normal murmur. Diastolic, holosystolic, late systolic, and continuous (except for the venous hum) murmurs and the presence of a thrill are not normal.
Mild desaturation that is not clinically apparent may be the onlyearly finding in complex congenital heart defects. Comparingpulse oximetry between the right arm and a lower extremity mayallow diagnosis of a ductal dependent lesion in which desaturatedblood flows right to left across a PDA to perfuse the lower body.This is now becoming a routine screening test in newborn infantsto rule out congenital heart disease.
The 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) provides information about the rate, rhythm, depolarization, and repolarizationof the cardiac cells and the size and wall thickness of the chambers. It should be assessed for rate, rhythm, axis (P wave, QRS, and T wave), intervals (PR, QRS, QTc) (Fig. 139-2), and voltages (left atrial, right atrial, left ventricular, right ventricular) adjusted for the child’s age.
The P wave represents atrial depolarization. A criterion for right atrial enlargement is an increase of the amplitude of the P wave, reflected best in lead II. The diagnosis of left atrial enlargement is made by prolongation of the second portion of the P wave, exhibited best in the chest leads.
The PR interval, measured from the beginning of the P wave to the beginning of the QRS complex, increases with age. Conduction time is shortened when the conduction velocity is increased (glycogen storage disease) or when the atrioventricular node is bypassed (Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome). A prolonged PR interval usually indicates slow conduction through the atrioventricular node. Diseases in the atrial myocardium, bundle of His, or Purkinje system may also contribute to prolonged PR intervals.
The QRS complex represents ventricular depolarization. A greater ventricular volume or mass causes a greater magnitude of the complex. The proximity of the right ventricle to the chest surface accentuates that ventricle’s contribution to the complex. Changes in the normal ECG occur with age. Normative data for each age group must be known to make a diagnosis from the ECG.
The QT interval is measured from the beginning of the QRS complex to the end of the T wave. The corrected QT interval (corrected for rate) should be less than 0.45 second (QTc = QT/ precedingR to R interval). The interval may be prolonged in children with hypocalcemia or severe hypokalemia. It is also prolonged in a group of children at risk for severe ventricular arrhythmias and sudden death (prolonged QT syndrome). Drugs such as quinidine and erythromycin may prolong the QT interval.
A systematic approach to reading a chest radiograph includes assessment of extracardiac structures, the shape and size of the heart, and the size and position of the pulmonary artery and aorta (Fig. 139-3). Assessment of the location and size of the heart and cardiac silhouette may suggest a cardiac defect. On a good inspiratory film, the cardiothoracic ratio should be
Figure 139-2 Nomenclature of electrocardiogram (ECG) waves and intervals.SVCAoPARARVLVLAABFigure 139-3 A, Parts of the heart whose outlines can be identified on a routine chest x-ray. B, Routine posteroanterior x-ray of the normal cardiac silhouette. Ao, Aorta; LA, left atrium; LV, left ventricle; PA, pulmonary artery; RA, right atrium; RV, right ventricle; SVC, superior vena cava. (From Andreoli TE, Carpenter CCJ, Plum F, et al, editors: Cecil Essentials of Medicine, ed 2, Philadelphia, 1990, WB Saunders.) less than 55% in infants under 1 year of age and less than 50% in older children and adolescents. An enlarged heart may be due to an increased volume load (left-right shunt) or due to myocardial dysfunction (dilated cardiomyopathy). The shape of the heart may suggest specific congenital heart defects. The most common examples are the boot-shaped heart seen with tetralogy of Fallot, the egg-on-a-string seen with dextroposed transposition of the great arteries, and the “snowman” seen with supracardiac total anomalous pulmonary venous return. The chest x-ray can aid in the assessment of pulmonary blood flow. Defects associated with left-to-right shunting have increased pulmonary blood flow (shunt vascularity) on x-ray. Right-to-left shunts have decreased pulmonary blood flow.
Echocardiography has become the most important noninvasive tool in the diagnosis and management of cardiac disease,providing a full anatomic evaluation in most congenital heartdefects (Fig. 139-4). Physiologic data on the direction of bloodflow can be obtained with the use of pulsed, continuous wave,and color flow Doppler. Imaging from multiple views providesan assessment of spatial relationships. Three-dimensional (3D)and four-dimensional (4D) imaging now allows reconstruction of the heart and manipulation of the images to providemore detail, especially with regard to valve structure and function. Prenatal or fetal echocardiography can diagnose congenital heart disease by 18 weeks of gestation and allows for delivery of the infant at a tertiary care hospital, improving thetimeliness of therapy. Many congenital heart defects now aresurgically repaired based on the echocardiogram without needfor cardiac catheterization.
Figure 139-4 Four-chamber echocardiogram of an atrial septal defect. The defect margins are identified by the two arrows. LA, Left atrium; LV, left ventricle; RA, right atrium; RV, right ventricle.
Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) provides better imaging when transthoracic imaging is inadequate. It is used intraoperatively to assess results and cardiac function after surgery. TEE and intracardiac echocardiography are used to guide interventional catheterization and radiofrequency ablation of dysrhythmias.
Cardiac catheterization is performed in patients who needadditional anatomic information or precise hemodynamicinformation before operating or establishing a managementplan. Pressures, oxygen saturations, and oxygen content aremeasured in each chamber and blood vessel entered (Fig. 139-5). This information is used to calculate systemic andpulmonary blood flow and resistance. Angiography is performed by injecting contrast material into selected sites to define anatomy and supplement noninvasive information.An increasing percentage of cardiac catheterizations are doneto perform an intervention, including balloon dilation of stenotic valves and vessels, ballooning and stenting of stenoticlesions, closure of collateral vessels by coil embolization, anddevice closure of PDAs, secundum ASDs, patent foramen ovales, and muscular VSDs. Catheterization with electro-physiologic studies allows for precise mapping of the electrical activity, can assess the risk of abnormal heart rhythms,and often is done in anticipation of radiofrequency ablationof the site of a dysrhythmia.
Figure 139-5 The normal heart. AO, Aorta; LA, left atrium; LV, left ventricle; PA, pulmonary artery; RA, right atrium; RV, right ventricle. Circled values are oxygen saturations.
Available @ StudentConsult.comSyncope is the transient loss of consciousness and muscle tone that, by history, does not suggest other altered states of consciousness. Presyncope or near-syncope has many or all of the prodromal symptoms without loss of consciousness. Syncope is relatively common (Table 140-1). The frequency of episodes, amount of stress, and functional impairment caused by syncope vary. Most syncopal events are relatively benign, but can represent a serious cardiac condition that may lead to death (Table 140-1). The differential diagnosis for typical syncope includes seizure, metabolic cause (hypoglycemia), hyperventilation, atypical migraine, and breath holding.
Typical syncopal events usually occur in the upright position or are related to changing position. Syncope may be associated with anxiety, pain, blood drawing or the sight of blood, fasting, a hot environment, or crowded places. The patient often appears pale. A prodrome, consisting of dizziness, lightheadedness, nausea, diaphoresis, visual changes (blacking out), or possibly palpitations, warns the patient and often prevents
Table 140-1 Syncope and Dizziness: Etiology DIAGNOSIS HISTORY SIGNS/ SYMPTOMS DESCRIPTION HEART RATE/ BLOOD PRESSURE DURATION POSTSYNCOPE RECURRENCE Neurocardiogenic (vasodepressor) At rest Pallor, nausea, visual changes Brief ± convulsion ↓/↓<1 min Residual pallor, sweaty, hot; recurs Common
Micturition Postvoiding Pallor, nausea Brief; ↓/↓ < 1 minCarotid sinus Tight collar, Vague, visual Sudden onset, Usually ↓/↓ <5 min Fatigue or (+) turned head changes pallor
Tumor or mass Recumbent, SOB ± chest Pallor ↑/↓ Any duration Baseline (+) paroxysmal pain
Coronary artery Exercise SOB ± chest Pallor ↑/↓ Any duration Fatigue, chest (+) disease
From Lewis DA: Syncope and dizziness. In Kliegman RM, editor: Practical Strategies in Pediatric Diagnosis and Therapy, Philadelphia, 1996, WB Saunders. LVOT, Left ventricular outflow tract; SOB, shortness of breath; ±, with or without; (+), yes but not consistent or predictable.
injury. Unconsciousness lasts for less than 1 minute. A return to normal consciousness occurs relatively quickly. Most of these syncopal episodes are vasovagal or neurocardiogenic in origin. The physical examination is normal.
Syncopal episodes may require no more than reassurance to the patient and family. If the episodes have a significant impact on daily activities, further evaluation may be indicated. An electrocardiogram (ECG) should be obtained with attention to the QTc and PR intervals (see Chapter 139). Although reassurance and increasing fluid and salt intake may be adequate to treat most cases of syncope, medical management is sometimes indicated.
Available @ StudentConsult.comChest pain in the pediatric patient often generates a significant amount of patient and parental concern. Although chest pain is rarely cardiac in origin in children, common knowledge about atherosclerotic heart disease raises concerns about a child experiencing chest pain. Most diagnosable chest pain in childhood is musculoskeletal in origin. A significant amount
Anxiety, hyperventilationIschemia (coronary artery abnormalities, severe AS or PS, HOCM, cocaine) Infection/inflammation (myocarditis, pericarditis, Kawasaki disease) Dysrhythmia
Abnormalities of rib cage/thoracic spine Tietze syndrome Slipping rib Tumor
Pleurisy Pneumothorax, pneumomediastinum Pleural effusion Pulmonary embolismAS, Aortic stenosis; HOCM, hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy; PS, pulmonary stenosis.
remains idiopathic, however. Knowledge of the complete differential diagnosis is necessary to make an accurate assessment (Table 141-1).
Assessment of a patient with chest pain includes a thorough history to determine activity at the onset; the location, radiation, quality, and duration of the pain; what makes the pain better and worse during the time that it is present; and any associated symptoms. A family history and assessment of how much anxiety the symptom is causing are important and often revealing. A careful general physical examination should focus on the chest wall, heart, lungs, and abdomen. A history of chest pain associated with exertion, syncope, or palpitations or acute onset associated with fever suggests a cardiac etiology. Cardiac causes of chest pain are generally ischemic, inflammatory, or arrhythmic in origin.
Tests rarely are indicated based on the history. A chest x-ray, electrocardiogram (ECG), 24-hour Holter monitoring, echo-cardiogram, and exercise stress testing may be obtained based on history and examination. Referral to a pediatric cardiologist is based on the history, physical examination findings, family history, and, frequently, the level of anxiety in the patient or family members regarding the pain.
Available @ StudentConsult.comCardiac dysrhythmias or abnormal heart rhythms are uncommon in pediatrics but may be caused by infection and inflammation, structural lesions, metabolic abnormalities, and intrinsic conduction abnormalities (Table 142-1). Many pediatric dysrhythmias are normal variants that do not require treatment or even further evaluation.
Sinus rhythm originates in the sinus node and has a normal axis P wave (upright in leads I and AVF) preceding each QRS complex. Because normal rates vary with age, sinus bradycardia and sinus tachycardia are defined based on age. Sinus arrhythmia is a common finding in children and represents a normal variation in the heart rate associated with breathing. The heart rate increases with inspiration and decreases with expiration, producing a recurring pattern on the electrocardiogram (ECG) tracing. Sinus arrhythmia is normal and does not require further evaluation or treatment.
Intoxication (cocaine, tricyclic antidepressants, and others) Antiarrhythmic agents (proarrhythmic agents [quinidine]) Sympathomimetic agents (caffeine, theophylline, ephedrine, and
Electrolyte disturbances (↓↑K+, ↓↑Ca2+, ↓Mg2+) Cardiomyopathy Thyrotoxicosis Uremia Pheochromocytoma Porphyria Mitochondrial myopathies
A wandering atrial pacemaker is a change in the morphology of the P waves with variable PR interval and normal QRS complex. This is a benign finding, requiring no further evaluation or treatment.
Premature atrial contractions are relatively common prenatally and in infants. A premature P wave, usually with an abnormal axis consistent with its ectopic origin, is present. The premature atrial activity may be blocked (no QRS following it), conducted normally (normal QRS present), or conducted aberrantly (a widened, altered QRS complex). Premature atrial contractions are usually benign and, if present around the time of delivery, usually disappear during the first few weeks of life.
Atrial flutter and atrial fibrillation are uncommon dysrhythmias in pediatrics and usually present after surgical repairof complex congenital heart disease. They may also be seen inpatients with myocarditis or in association with drug toxicity.
Supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) is the most common symptomatic dysrhythmia in pediatric patients. The rhythm has a rapid, regular rate with a narrow QRS complex. SVT in infants is often 280 to 300 beats/minute with slower rates for older children and adolescents. The tachycardia has an abrupt onset and termination. In a child with a structurally normal heart, most episodes are relatively asymptomatic other than a pounding heartbeat. If there is structural heart disease or the episode is prolonged (>12 hours), there may be alteration in the cardiac output and development of symptoms of heart failure. Although most patients with SVT have structurally normal hearts and normal baseline ECGs, some children have Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome or preexcitation as the cause of the dysrhythmia.
Premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) are less common than premature atrial contractions in infancy but more common in older children and adolescents (Table 142-2). The premature beat is not preceded by a P wave and the QRS complex is wide and bizarre. If the heart is structurally normal, and the PVCs are singleton, uniform in focus, and disappear with increased heart rate. The PVCs are usually benign and require no treatment. Any deviation from the presentation (history of syncope or a family history of sudden death) requires further investigation and possibly treatment with antiarrhythmic medications.
Ventricular tachycardia, defined as three or more consecutive PVCs, is also relatively rare in pediatric patients. Although there are multiple causes of ventricular tachycardia, it usually is a sign of serious cardiac dysfunction or disease. Rapid-rate ventricular tachycardia results in decreased cardiac output and cardiovascular instability. Treatment in symptomatic patients is synchronized cardioversion. Medical management with lidocaine or amiodarone may be appropriate in a conscious asymptomatic patient. Complete evaluation of the etiologic picture is necessary, including electrophysiologic study.
Firstdegree heart block is the presence of a prolonged PRinterval. It is asymptomatic and, when present in otherwisenormal children, requires no evaluation or treatment. Seconddegree heart block is when some, but not all, of the P waves are followed by a QRS complex. Mobitz type I (also known asWenckebach) is characterized by a progressive prolongationof the PR interval until a QRS complex is dropped. It is oftenseen during sleep, usually does not progress to other forms ofheart block, and does not require further evaluation or treatment in otherwise normal children. Mobitz type II is presentwhen the PR interval does not change, but a QRS is intermittently dropped. This form may progress to complete heart blockand may require pacemaker placement. Thirddegree heart block, whether congenital or acquired, is present when thereis no relationship between atrial and ventricular activity. Theventricular rate is much slower than the atrial rate. Congenital complete heart block is associated with maternal collagen vascular disease (such as systemic lupus erythematosus or Sjögrensyndrome) or congenital heart disease. The acquired form mostoften occurs after cardiac surgery but may be secondary toinfection, inflammation, or drugs.
Supraventricular tachycardia Rate usually >220 beats/min (range, 180–320 beats/min); Increase vagal tone (bag of ice water to face, abnormal atrial rate for age; P waves may be present Valsalva maneuver); adenosine; digoxin; and are related to QRS complex; normal, narrow QRS sotalol; electrical cardioversion if acutely ill; complexes unless aberrant conduction is present catheter ablation
Atrial flutter Atrial rate usually 300 beats/min, with varying degrees of Digoxin, sotalol, cardioversion block; sawtooth flutter waves
Ventricular fibrillation No distinct QRS complex or T waves; irregular Nonsynchronized cardioversion undulations with varied amplitude and contour, no conducted pulse
First-degree heart block Prolonged PR interval for age Observe, obtain digoxin level if on therapy
Mobitz type I (Wenckebach) Progressive lengthening of PR interval until P wave is not Observe, correct underlying electrolyte or second-degree heart block followed by conducted QRS complex other abnormalities
Mobitz type II second-degree Sudden nonconduction of P wave with loss of QRS Consider pacemaker heart block complex without progressive PR interval lengthening
Sinus tachycardia Rate <240 beats/min Treat cause (fever), remove sympathomimetic drugs
AV, Atrioventricular; ECG, electrocardiogram.Ia Prolongation of QRS complex and QT interval Quinidine, procainamide, disopyramide
Ib Significant effect on abnormal conduction Lidocaine, mexiletine, phenytoin, tocainide
Ic Prolongation of QRS complex and PR interval Flecainide, propafenone, moricizine?
β blockade; slowing of sinus rate; prolongation of PR interval Propranolol, atenolol, acebutolol
Prolongation of action potential; prolongation of PR, QT intervals, QRS Bretylium, amiodarone, sotalol complex; sodium and calcium channel blockade
Calcium channel blockade; reduction in sinus and AV node pacemaker activity Verapamil and other calcium channel blocking and conduction; prolongation of PR interval agents
AV, Atrioventricular.Most atrial dysrhythmias require no intervention. Treatment of SVT depends on presentation and symptoms.Acute treatment of SVT in infants usually consists of vagal maneuvers, such as application of cold (ice bag) to the face.Intravenous (IV) adenosine usually converts the dysrhythmia because the atrioventricular node forms a part of thereentry circuit in most patients with SVT. In patients withcardiovascular compromise at the time of presentation, synchronized cardioversion is indicated using 1 to 2 J/kg. Inpatients with palpitations, it is important to document heartrate and rhythm during their symptoms before consideringtherapeutic options. The frequency, length, and associatedsymptoms during the episodes, as well as what is required to convert the rhythm, determine the need for treatment.Some patients require only education regarding the dysrhythmia and follow-up. Ongoing pharmacologic management with either digoxin or a β-blocker is usually the firstchoice. However, digoxin is contraindicated in patientswith Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome. Additional antiarrhythmic medications are rarely needed. In patients who aresymptomatic or those not wanting to take daily medications,radiofrequency ablation may be performed.
A variety of antiarrhythmic agents are used to treat ventricular dysrhythmias that require intervention (Table 142-3).Management of third-degree heart block depends on the ventricular rate and presence of symptoms. Treatment, if needed, often requires placement of a pacemaker.
Available @ StudentConsult.comCongenital heart disease occurs in 8 per 1000 births. The spectrum of lesions ranges from asymptomatic to fatal. Although most cases of congenital heart disease are multifactorial, some lesions are associated with chromosomal disorders, single gene defects, teratogens, or maternal metabolic disease (see Table 139-2).
Congenital heart defects can be divided into three pathophysiologic groups (Table 143-1).
Obstructive, stenotic lesions Acyanotic congenital heart disease includes left-to-right shunts resulting in an increase in pulmonary blood flow (patent ductus arteriosus [PDA], ventricular septal defect [VSD], atrial septal defect [ASD]) and obstructive lesions (aortic stenosis, pulmonary stenosis, coarctation of the aorta), which usually have normal pulmonary blood flow.
The ventricular septum is a complex structure that can be divided into four components. The largest component is the muscular septum. The inlet or posterior septum comprises endocardial cushion tissue. The subarterial or supracristal septum comprises conotruncal tissue. The membranous septum is below the aortic valve and is relatively small. VSDs occur when any of these components fails to develop normally (Fig. 143-1). VSD, the most common congenital heart defect, accounts for 25% of all congenital heart disease. Perimembranous VSDs are the most common of all VSDs (67%).
Although the location of the VSD is important prognostically and in approach to repair, the amount of flow crossing a VSD depends on the size of the defect and the pulmonary vascular resistance. Large VSDs are not symptomatic at birth because the pulmonary vascular resistance is normally elevated at this time. As the pulmonary vascular resistance decreases over the first 6 to 8 weeks of life, the amount of shunt increases, and symptoms may develop.
Small VSDs with little shunt are often asymptomatic but have a loud murmur. Moderate to large VSDs result in pulmonary
Coarctation of Tricuspid Atrial septal HLH the aorta atresia defect
HLH, Hypoplastic left heart syndrome; TAPVR, total anomalous pulmonary venous return.
Figure 143-1 Ventricular septal defect. AO, Aorta; LA, left atrium; LV, left ventricle; PA, pulmonary artery; RA, right atrium; RV, right ventricle.
overcirculation and heart failure. The typical physical finding with a VSD is a pansystolic murmur, usually heard best at the lower left sternal border. There may be a thrill. Large shunts increase flow across the mitral valve causing a middiastolic murmur at the apex. The splitting of S2 and intensity of P2 depend on the pulmonary artery pressure.
Electrocardiogram (ECG) and chest x-ray findings depend on the size of the VSD. Small VSDs usually have normal studies. Larger VSDs cause volume overload to the left side of the heart, resulting in ECG findings of left atrial and ventricular enlargement and hypertrophy. A chest x-ray may reveal cardiomegaly, enlargement of the left ventricle, an increase in the pulmonary artery silhouette, and increased pulmonary blood flow. Pulmonary hypertension due to either increased flow or increased pulmonary vascular resistance may lead to right ventricular enlargement and hypertrophy.
Approximately one third of all VSDs close spontaneously. Small VSDs usually close spontaneously and, if they do not close, surgical closure may not be required. Initial treatment for moderate to large VSDs includes diuretics (± digoxin) and afterload reduction. Continued poor growth or pulmonary hypertension despite therapy requires closure of the defect. Most VSDs are closed surgically, but some VSDs, especially muscular defects, can be closed with devices placed at cardiac catheterization.
Figure 143-2 Atrial septal defect. AO, Aorta; LA, left atrium; LV, left ventricle; PA, pulmonary artery; RA, right atrium; RV, right ventricle.
During the embryologic development of the heart, a septum grows toward the endocardial cushions to divide the atria. Failure of septal growth or excessive reabsorption of tissue leads to ASDs (Fig. 143-2). ASDs represent approximately 10% of all congenital heart defects. A secundum defect, with the hole in the region of the foramen ovale, is the most common ASD. A primum ASD, located near the endocardial cushions, may be part of a complete atrioventricular canal defect or may be present with an intact ventricular septum. The least common ASD is the sinus venosus defect, which may be associated with anomalous pulmonary venous return.
The pathophysiology and amount of shunting depend on thesize of the defect and the relative compliance of the both ventricles. Even with large ASDs and significant shunts, infants andchildren are rarely symptomatic. A prominent right ventricular impulse at the left lower sternal border (LLSB) often can bepalpated. A soft (grade I or II) systolic ejection murmur in the region of the right ventricular outflow tract and a fixed split S2 (due to overload of the right ventricle with prolonged ejectioninto the pulmonary circuit) are often audible. A larger shuntmay result in a mid-diastolic murmur at the LLSB as a result ofthe increased volume passing across the tricuspid valve.
ECG and chest x-ray findings reflect the increased blood flow through the right atrium, right ventricle, pulmonary arteries,
Figure 143-3 Patent ductus arteriosus. AO, Aorta; LA, left atrium; LV, left ventricle; PA, pulmonary artery; RA, right atrium; RV, right ventricle.
and lungs. The ECG may show right axis deviation and right ventricular enlargement. A chest radiograph may show cardiomegaly, right atrial enlargement, and a prominent pulmonary artery.
Medical management is rarely indicated. If a significant shunt is still present at around 3 years of age, closure is usually recommended. Many secundum ASDs can be closed with an ASD closure device in the catheterization laboratory. Primum and sinus venosus defects require surgical closure.
The ductus arteriosus allows blood to flow from the pulmonary artery to the aorta during fetal life. Failure of the normal closure of this vessel results in a PDA (Fig. 143-3). With a falling pulmonary vascular resistance after birth, left-to-right shunting of blood and increased pulmonary blood flow occur. Excluding premature infants, PDAs represent approximately 5% to 10% of congenital heart disease.
Symptoms depend on the amount of pulmonary blood flow. The magnitude of the shunt depends on the size of the PDA (diameter, length, and tortuosity) and the pulmonary vascular resistance. Small PDAs are asymptomatic; moderate to large shunts can produce the symptoms of heart failure as the pulmonary vascular resistance decreases.
The physical examination findings depend on the size of the shunt. A widened pulse pressure is often present as a result of the runoff of blood into the pulmonary circulation during diastole. A continuous, machinelike murmur can be heard at the left infraclavicular area, radiating along the pulmonary arteries and often well heard over the left side of the back. Larger shunts with increased flow across the mitral valve may result in a mid-diastolic murmur at the apex and a hyperdynamic precordium. Splitting of S2 and intensity of P2 depend on the pulmonary artery pressure. A thrill may be palpable.
Figure 143-4 Atrioventricular canal defects. AO, Aorta; LA, left atrium; LV, left ventricle; PA, pulmonary artery; RA, right atrium; RV, right ventricle.
ECG and chest x-ray findings are normal with small PDAs. Moderate to large shunts may result in a full pulmonary artery silhouette and increased pulmonary vascularity. ECG findings vary from normal to evidence of left ventricular hypertrophy. If pulmonary hypertension is present, there is also right ventricular hypertrophy.
Spontaneous closure of a PDA after a few weeks of age is uncommon in full-term infants. Moderate and large PDAs may be managed initially with diuretics, but eventually require closure. Elective closure of small, hemodynamically insignificant PDAs is controversial. Most PDAs can be closed in the catheterization laboratory by either coil embolization or a PDA closure device.
Endocardial cushion defects, also referred to as atrioventricular canal defects, may be complete or partial (Fig. 143-4).Failure of the septum to fuse with the endocardial cushion results in abnormal atrioventricular valves as well. The complete defect results in a primum ASD, a posterior or inlet VSD, and clefts in the anterior leaflet of the mitral and septal leaflet of the tricuspid valves. In addition to left-to-right shunting at both levels, there may be atrioventricular valve insufficiency.
The symptoms of heart failure usually develop as the pulmonary vascular resistance decreases over the first 6 to 8 weeks of life. Symptoms may be earlier and more severe with significant atrioventricular valve insufficiency. Pulmonary hypertension resulting from increased pulmonary circulation often develops early. The presence of murmurs varies depending on the amount of shunting at both atrial and ventricular levels. If there is a large VSD component, S2 will be single. Growth is usually poor. Complete endocardial cushion defects are most commonly seen in children with Down syndrome.
The diagnosis usually is made with echocardiography. A chest radiograph reveals cardiomegaly with enlargement of all chambers and the presence of increased vascularity. An ECG reveals left axis deviation and combined ventricular hypertrophy and may show combined atrial enlargement.
Initial management includes diuretics (± digoxin) and after-load reduction for treatment of heart failure. Surgical repair of the defect ultimately is required.
Pulmonary stenosis accounts for approximately 10% of all congenital heart disease and can be valvular, subvalvular, or supravalvular in nature. Pulmonary stenosis results from the failure of the development, in early gestation, of the three leaflets of the valve, insufficient resorption of infundibular tissue, or insufficient canalization of the peripheral pulmonary arteries.
Symptoms depend on the degree of obstruction present. Mild pulmonary stenosis is asymptomatic. Moderate to severe stenosis results in exertional dyspnea and easy fatigability. Newborns with severe stenosis may be more symptomatic and even cyanotic because of right-to-left shunting at the atrial level.
Pulmonary stenosis causes a systolic ejection murmur at the second left intercostal space which radiates to the back. A thrill may be present. S2 may be widely split with a quiet pulmonary component. With more severe pulmonary stenosis, an impulse at the lower left sternal border results from right ventricular hypertrophy. Valvular stenosis may result in a click that varies with respiration. Worsening stenosis causes an increase in the duration of the murmur and a higher frequency of the sound. The systolic ejection murmurs of peripheral pulmonary stenosis are heard distal to the site of obstruction in the pulmonary circulation, including radiation to the back.
ECG and chest x-ray findings are normal in mild stenosis. Moderate to severe stenosis results in right axis deviation and right ventricular hypertrophy. The heart size is usually normal on chest x-ray, although dilation of the main pulmonary artery may be seen. Echocardiography provides assessment of the site of stenosis, degree of hypertrophy, and valve morphology, as well as an estimate of the pressure gradient.
Valvular pulmonary stenosis usually does not progress, especially if it is mild. Balloon valvuloplasty is usually successful in reducing the gradient to acceptable levels for more significant or symptomatic stenosis. Surgical repair is required if balloon valvuloplasty is unsuccessful or when subvalvular (muscular) stenosis is present.
Valvular, subvalvular, or supravalvular aortic stenosis represents approximately 5% of all congenital heart disease. Lesions result from failure of development of the three leaflets or failure of resorption of tissue around the valve.
Mild to moderate obstructions cause no symptoms. More severe stenosis results in easy fatigability, exertional chest pain, and syncope. Infants with critical aortic stenosis may present with symptoms of heart failure.
A systolic ejection murmur is heard at the right second intercostal space along the sternum and radiating into the neck. The murmur increases in length and becomes higher in frequency as the degree of stenosis increases. With valvular stenosis, a systolic ejection click often is heard, and a thrill may be present at the right upper sternal border or in the suprasternal notch. The aortic component of S2 may be decreased in intensity.
ECG and chest x-ray findings are normal with mild degrees of stenosis. Left ventricular hypertrophy develops with moderate to severe stenosis and is detected on the ECG and chest x-ray. Dilation of the ascending aorta or aortic knob due to an intrinsic aortopathy may be seen on chest radiographs. Echocardiography shows the site of stenosis, valve morphology, and the presence of left ventricular hypertrophy, and it allows an estimate of the pressure gradient.
The degree of aortic stenosis frequently progresses with growth and age. Aortic insufficiency often develops or progresses. Serial follow-up with echocardiography is indicated. Balloon valvuloplasty is usually the first interventional procedure for significant stenosis. It is not as successful as pulmonary balloon valvuloplasty and has a higher risk of significant valvular insufficiency. Surgical management is necessary when balloon valvuloplasty is unsuccessful or significant valve insufficiency develops.
Coarctation of the aorta occurs in approximately 10% of all congenital heart defects. It is almost always juxtaductal in position. During development of the aortic arch, the area near the insertion of the ductus arteriosus fails to develop correctly, resulting in a narrowing of the aortic lumen.
Timing of presentation depends on the severity of obstruction and associated cardiac defects. Infants presenting withcoarctation of the aorta frequently have hypoplastic aortic arches, abnormal aortic valves, and VSDs. They may bedependent on a patent ductus arteriosus to provide descending aortic flow. Symptoms develop when the aortic ampullaof the ductus closes. Less severe obstruction causes no symptoms.
Symptoms, including poor feeding, respiratory distress, and shock, may develop before 2 weeks of age. Classically thefemoral pulses are weaker and delayed compared with theright radial pulse. The blood pressure in the lower extremities is lower than that in the upper extremities. If cardiac function is poor, however, these differences may not be asapparent until appropriate resuscitation is accomplished. Inthis situation, there may be no murmur, but an S3 is often present.
Older children presenting with coarctation of the aorta are usually asymptomatic. There may be a history of leg discomfort with exercise, headache, or epistaxis. Decreasedor absent lower extremity pulses, hypertension (upperextremity), or a murmur may be present. The murmur istypically best heard in the left interscapular area of the back.If significant collaterals have developed, continuous murmurs may be heard throughout the chest. An abnormal aortic valve is present approximately 50% of the time, causing asystolic ejection click and systolic ejection murmur of aorticstenosis.
The ECG and chest x-ray show evidence of right ventricular enlargement and hypertrophy in infantile coarctation with marked cardiomegaly and pulmonary edema. Echocardiography shows the site of coarctation and associated lesions. In older children, the ECG and chest x-ray usually show left ventricular hypertrophy and a mildly enlarged heart. Rib notching may also be seen in older children (>8 years of age) with large collaterals. Echocardiography shows the site and degree of coarctation, presence of left ventricular hypertrophy, and aortic valve morphology and function.
Management of an infant presenting with cardiac decompensation includes intravenous infusion of prostaglandin E1 (chemically opens the ductus arteriosus), inotropic agents, diuretics, and other supportive care. Balloon angioplastyhas been done, especially in critically ill infants, but surgical repair of the coarctation is most commonly performed. Ballooning and stenting of older patients with coarctation has become more accepted as primary therapy, but surgical repair remains a common form of management.
Available @ StudentConsult.comCyanotic congenital heart disease occurs when some of the systemic venous return crosses from the right side of the heart to the left and returns to the body without going through the lungs (righttoleft shunt). Cyanosis, the visible sign of this shunt, occurs when approximately 5 g/100 mL of reduced hemoglobin is present in systemic blood. Thus, a polycythemic patient appears cyanotic with a lower percentage of reduced hemoglobin. A patient with anemia requires a higher percentage of reduced hemoglobin for the recognition of cyanosis.
The most common cyanotic congenital heart defects are the five Ts: Tetralogy of FallotTransposition of the great arteriesTricuspid atresiaTruncus arteriosus Total anomalous pulmonary venous return
Other congenital heart defects that allow complete mixing of systemic and pulmonary venous return can present with cyanosis depending on the amount of pulmonary blood flow that is present. Many cyanotic heart lesions present in the neonatal period (Table 144-1).
Tetralogy of Fallot is the most common cyanotic congenital heart defect, representing about 10% of all congenital heart defects (Fig. 144-1). There are four structural defects: ventricular septal defect (VSD), pulmonary stenosis, overriding aorta, and right ventricular hypertrophy. Tetralogy of Fallot is due to abnormal septation of the truncus arteriosus into the aorta and pulmonary artery that occurs early in gestation (3to 4 weeks). The VSD is large and the pulmonary stenosis is most commonly subvalvular or infundibular. It may also be valvular, supravalvular, or, frequently, a combination of levels of obstruction.
Infants initially may be acyanotic. A pulmonary stenosis murmur is the usual initial abnormal finding. The amount of right-to-left shunting at the VSD (and the degree of cyanosis) increases as the degree of pulmonary stenosis increases. With increasing severity of pulmonary stenosis, the murmur becomes shorter and softer. In addition to varying degrees of cyanosis and a murmur, a single S2 and right ventricular impulse at the left sternal border are typical findings.
When hypoxic (Tet) spells occur, they are usually progressive. During a spell, the child typically becomes restless and agitated and may cry inconsolably. An ambulatory toddler may
ASD, Atrial septal defect; AV, atrioventricular; AVM, arteriovenous malformation; PDA, patent ductus arteriosus; VSD, ventricular septal defect.
Figure 144-1 Tetralogy of Fallot. AO, Aorta; LA, left atrium; LV, left ventricle; PA, pulmonary artery; RA, right atrium; RV, right ventricle.
squat. Hyperpnea occurs with gradually increasing cyanosis and loss of the murmur. In severe spells, prolonged unconsciousness and convulsions, hemiparesis, or death may occur. Independent of hypoxic spells, patients with unrepaired tetralogy of Fallot are at increased risk for cerebral thromboembolism and cerebral abscesses resulting, in part, from their right-to-left intracardiac shunt.
The electrocardiogram (ECG) usually has right axis deviation and right ventricular hypertrophy. The classic chest x-ray finding is a bootshaped heart created by the small main pulmonaryartery and upturned apex secondary to right ventricular hypertrophy. Echocardiography shows the anatomic features, including the anatomic level and quantification of pulmonary stenosis.Coronary anomalies, most commonly a left anterior descendingcoronary artery arising from the right coronary artery and crossing the anterior surface of the right ventricular outflow tract, arepresent in 5% of patients with tetralogy of Fallot.
The natural history of tetralogy of Fallot is progression of pulmonary stenosis and cyanosis. Treatment of hypoxic spells consists of oxygen administration and placing the child in the knee-chest position (to increase venous return). Traditionally, morphine sulfate is given (to relax the pulmonary infundibulum and for sedation). If necessary, the systemic vascular resistance can be increased acutely through the administration of an α-adrenergic agonist (phenylephrine). The occurrence of a cyanotic spell is an indication to proceed with surgical repair.
Complete surgical repair with VSD closure and removal or patching of the pulmonary stenosis can be performed in infancy. Occasionally, palliative shunt surgery between the subclavian artery and pulmonary artery is performed for complex forms of tetralogy of Fallot and more complete repair is done at a later time. Subacute bacterial endocarditis prophylaxis is indicated until 6 months after complete repair unless there is a residual VSD. Prophylaxis is then continued as long as there is a residual VSD.
Figure 144-2 Transposition of the great vessels. AO, Aorta; LA, left atrium; LV, left ventricle; PA, pulmonary artery; RA, right atrium; RV, right ventricle.
Although dextroposed transposition of the great arteries represents only about 5% of congenital heart defects, it is the mostcommon cyanotic lesion to present in the newborn period(Fig. 144-2). Transposition of the great arteries is ventriculoarterial discordance secondary to abnormalities of septationof the truncus arteriosus. In dextroposed transposition, theaorta arises from the right ventricle, anterior and to the rightof the pulmonary artery, which arises from the left ventricle.This results in desaturated blood returning to the right sideof the heart and being pumped back out to the body, whilewell-oxygenated blood returning from the lungs enters the leftside of the heart and is pumped back to the lungs. Withoutmixing of the two circulations, death occurs quickly. Mixing can occur at the atrial (patent foramen ovale/atrial septal defect [ASD]), ventricular [VSD], or great vessel (patentductus arteriosus [PDA]) level.
A history of cyanosis is always present, although it depends on the amount of mixing. Quiet tachypnea and a single S2 are typically present. If the ventricular septum is intact, there may be no murmur.
Children with transposition and a large VSD have improved intracardiac mixing and less cyanosis. They may present with signs of heart failure. The heart is hyperdynamic, with palpable left and right ventricular impulses. A loud VSD murmur is heard. S2 is single.
ECG findings typically include right axis deviation and right ventricular hypertrophy. The chest x-ray reveals increased pulmonary vascularity, and the cardiac shadow is classically an egg on a string created by the narrow superior mediastinum. Echocardiography shows the transposition of the great arteries, the sites and amount of mixing, and any associated lesions.
Figure 144-3 Tricuspid atresia with ventricular septal defect. AO, Aorta; LA, left atrium; LV, left ventricle; PA, pulmonary artery; RA, right atrium.
Initial medical management includes prostaglandin E1 to maintain ductal patency. If significant hypoxia persists on prostaglandin therapy, a balloon atrial septostomy improves mixing between the two circulations. Complete surgical repair is most often an arterial switch. The arterial switch usually is performed within the first 2 weeks of life, when the left ventricle can still maintain systemic pressure.
Tricuspid atresia accounts for approximately 2% of all congenital heart defects (Fig. 144-3). The absence of the tricuspid valve results in a hypoplastic right ventricle. All systemic venous return must cross the atrial septum into the left atrium. A PDA or VSD is necessary for pulmonary blood flow and survival.
Infants with tricuspid atresia are usually severely cyanotic and have a single S2. If a VSD is present, there may be a murmur. A diastolic murmur across the mitral valve may be audible. Frequently there is no significant murmur.
The ECG shows left ventricular hypertrophy and a superior QRS axis (between 0° and –90°). The chest x-ray reveals a normal or mildly enlarged cardiac silhouette with decreased pulmonary blood flow. Echocardiography shows the anatomy, associated lesions, and source of pulmonary blood flow.
Management initially depends on the presence of a VSD and the amount of antegrade blood flow to the lungs. If there is no VSD, or it is small, prostaglandin E1 maintains pulmonary
Figure 144-4 Truncus arteriosus. AO, Aorta; LA, left atrium; LV, left ventricle; PA, pulmonary artery; RA, right atrium; RV, right ventricle.
blood flow until surgery. Surgery is staged with an initial subclavian artery-to-pulmonary shunt (BlalockTaussig procedure)typically followed by a two-stage procedure: bidirectional cavopulmonary shunt (bidirectional Glenn) and Fontan procedure. These surgeries direct systemic venous return directly to the pulmonary arteries.
Truncus arteriosus occurs in less than 1% of all cases of congenital heart disease (Fig. 144-4). It results from the failure of septation of the truncus during the first 3 to 4 weeks of gestation. A single arterial trunk arises from the heart with a large VSD immediately below the truncal valve. The pulmonary arteries arise from the single arterial trunk either as a single vessel that divides or individually from the arterial trunk to the lungs.
Varying degrees of cyanosis depend on the amount of pulmonary blood flow. If not diagnosed at birth, the infantmay develop signs of heart failure as pulmonary vascularresistance decreases. The signs then include tachypnea andcough. Peripheral pulses are usually bounding as a result ofthe diastolic runoff into the pulmonary arteries. A single S2 is due to the single valve. There may be a systolic ejection click, and there is often a systolic murmur at the left sternal border.
ECG findings include combined ventricular hypertrophy and cardiomegaly. A chest x-ray usually reveals increased pulmonary blood and may show displaced pulmonary arteries. Echocardiography defines the anatomy, including theVSD, truncal valve function, and origin of the pulmonaryarteries.
Figure 144-5 Total anomalous pulmonary venous return. AO, Aorta; IVC, inferior vena cava; LA, left atrium; LV, left ventricle; PA, pulmonary artery; PV, pulmonary vein; RA, right atrium; RV, right ventricle; SVC, superior vena cava.
Medical management is usually needed and includes anticongestive medications. Surgical repair includes VSD closure and placement of a conduit between the right ventricle and pulmonary arteries.
Total anomalous pulmonary venous return accounts for about 1% of congenital heart disease (Fig. 144-5). Disruption of the development of normal pulmonary venous drainage during the third week of gestation results in one of four abnormalities. All of the pulmonary veins fail to connect to the left atrium and return abnormally via the right side of the heart. They may have supracardiac, infracardiac, cardiac, or mixed drainage. An atrial-level communication is required for systemic cardiac output and survival.
The most important determinant of presentation is the presenceor absence of obstruction to the pulmonary venous drainage.Infants without obstruction have minimal cyanosis and may beasymptomatic. There is a hyperactive right ventricular impulse with a widely split S2 (owing to increased right ventricular volume) and a systolic ejection murmur at the left upper sternalborder. There is usually a mid-diastolic murmur at the lowerleft sternal border from the increased flow across the tricuspidvalve. Growth is relatively poor. Infants with obstruction present with cyanosis, marked tachypnea and dyspnea, and signs ofright-sided heart failure including hepatomegaly. The obstruction results in little, if any, increase in right ventricular volume,so there may be no murmur or changes in S2.
For infants without obstruction, the ECG is consistent with right ventricular volume overload. Cardiomegaly with
Figure 144-6 Hypoplastic left side of the heart. AO, Aorta; LA, left atrium; LV, left ventricle; PA, pulmonary artery; PDA, patent ductus arteriosus; RA, right atrium; RV, right ventricle.
increased pulmonary blood flow is seen on chest x-ray. Infants with obstructed veins have right axis deviation and right ventricular hypertrophy on ECG. On chest x-ray, the heart is normal or mildly enlarged with varying degrees of pulmonary edema that can appear similar to hyaline membrane disease or pneumonia. Echocardiography shows the volume-overloaded right side of the heart, right-to-left atrial level shunting, and common pulmonary vein site of drainage and degree of obstruction.
At surgery, the common pulmonary vein is opened into the left atrium, and there is ligation of any vein or channel that had been draining the common vein.
Hypoplastic left heart syndrome accounts for 1% of all congenital heart defects (Fig. 144-6) but is the most common cause of death from cardiac defects in the first month of life. Hypoplastic left heart syndrome occurs when there is failure of development of the mitral or aortic valve or the aortic arch. A small left ventricle that is unable to support normal systemic circulation is a central finding, regardless of etiology. Associated degrees of hypoplasia of the ascending aorta and aortic arch are present. Left-to-right shunting occurs at the atrial level.
The newborn is dependent on right-to-left shunting at the ductus arteriosus for systemic blood flow. As the ductus arteriosus constricts, the infant becomes critically ill with signs and symptoms of heart failure from excessive pulmonary blood flow and obstruction of systemic blood flow. Pulses are diffusely weak or absent. S2 is single and loud. There is usually no heart murmur. Cyanosis may be minimal, but low cardiac output gives a grayish color to the cool, mottled skin.
CNS abscess Right-to-left shunting Antibiotics, drainageGingival disease Polycythemia, gingivitis, bleeding Dental hygieneGout Polycythemia, diuretic agents AllopurinolArthritis, clubbing Hypoxic arthropathy NonePregnancy Poor placental perfusion, poor ability to increase cardiac output Bed rest
Infectious disease Associated asplenia, DiGeorge syndrome AntibioticsFatal RSV pneumonia with pulmonary hypertension Ribavirin, RSV immune globulin
Growth Failure to thrive, increased oxygen consumption, decreased Treat heart failure; correct defect early nutrient intake
Psychosocial adjustment Limited activity, peer pressure; chronic disease, multiple Counseling hospitalizations, cardiac surgical techniques
CNS, Central nervous system; RSV, respiratory syncytial virus.ECG findings include right ventricular hypertrophy with decreased left ventricular forces. The chest x-ray reveals car
Figure 145-1 Ventricular function curve illustrating the effect of inotropic agents or arterial vasodilators. In contrast to diuretics, the effect of digitalis or arterial vasodilator therapy in a patient with heart failure is movement onto another ventricular function curve intermediate between the normal and the depressed curves. When the patient’s ventricular function moves from A to B by the administration of one of these agents, the left ventricular end-diastolic pressure may also decrease because of improved cardiac function; further administration of diuretics or venodilators may shift the function further to the left along the same curve from B to C and eliminate the risk of pulmonary edema. A vasodilating agent that has arteriolar and venous dilating properties (e.g., nitroprusside) would shift this function directly from A to C. If this agent shifts the function from A to D because of excessive venodilation or administration of diuretics, the cardiac output may decrease too much, even though the left ventricular end-diastolic pressure would be normal (10 mm Hg) for a normal heart. Left ventricular end-diastolic pressures of 15 to 18 mm Hg are usually optimal in the failing heart to maximize cardiac output, but to avoid pulmonary edema. (From Andreoli TE, Carpenter CCJ, Griggs RC, Loscalzo J, editors: Cecil essentials of medicine, ed 5, Philadelphia, Saunders, 2001.) pulmonary edema. Echocardiographyshows the small left side of the heart, the degree of stenosis of theaortic and mitral valves, the hypoplastic ascending aorta, and the adequacy of left-to-right atrial flow and right-to-left ductal flow.
Medical management includes prostaglandin E1 to open the ductus arteriosus, correction of acidosis, and ventilatory and blood pressure support as needed. Surgical repair is stagedwith the first surgery (Norwood procedure) done in the newborn period. Subsequent procedures create a systemic source for the pulmonary circulation (bidirectional Glenn and Fontan procedures), leaving the right ventricle to supply systemic circulation. There have been many modifications to all three stages of the repair. Prognosis for survival has improved significantly over the past two decades.
Extracardiac complications are summarized in Table 144-2.The force generated by the cardiac muscle fiber depends onits contractile status and basal length, which is equivalent to the preload. As the preload (fiber length, left ventricular filling pressure, or volume) increases, myocardial performance(stroke volume and wall tension) increases up to a point (thenormal Starling curve). The relationship is the ventricular function curve (Fig. 145-1). Alterations in the contractilestate of the muscle lower the relative position of the curve,but retain the relationship of fiber length to muscle work.Heart rate is another important determinant of cardiac work because the cardiac output equals stroke volume times theheart rate. Additional factors also affect cardiac performance(Table 145-1).
Heart failure occurs when the heart is unable to pump blood at a rate commensurate with metabolic needs (oxygen delivery). It may be due to a change in myocardial contractility that results in low cardiac output or to abnormal loading conditions being placed on the myocardium. The abnormal loading conditions may be afterload (pressure overload, such as with aortic stenosis, pulmonary stenosis, or coarctation of the aorta) or preload (volume overload, such as in ventricular septal defect (VSD), patent ductus arteriosus (PDA), or valvular insufficiency. Volume overload is the most common cause of heart failure in children.
The age of presentation is helpful in creating the differential diagnosis (Table 145-2). In the first weeks of life, excessive afterload being placed on the myocardium is most common. Heart failure presenting around 2 months of age is usually due to increasing left-to-right shunts that become apparent as the pulmonary vascular resistance decreases. Acquired heart disease, such as myocarditis and cardiomyopathy, can present at any age.
Total blood volume Venous tone (sympathetic tone) Body position Intrathoracic and intrapericardial pressure Atrial contraction Pumping action of skeletal muscle
Peripheral vascular resistance Left ventricular volume (preload, wall tension) Physical characteristics of the arterial tree (elasticity of vessels or presence of outflow obstruction)
Sympathetic nerve impulses* Circulating catecholamines* Digitalis, calcium, other inotropic agents* Increased heart rate or postextrasystolic augmentation* Anoxia, acidosis† Pharmacologic depression† Loss of myocardium† Intrinsic depression†
Autonomic nervous system Temperature, metabolic rateFrom Andreoli TE, Carpenter CCJ, Griggs RC, Loscalzo J: Cecil Essentials of Medicine, ed 5, Philadelphia, 2001, Saunders.
*Increases contractility.†Decreases contractility.Severe anemia (hemolysis, fetal-maternal transfusion, hypoplastic anemia) Supraventricular tachycardia Ventricular tachycardia Complete heart block Atrioventricular valve insufficiency High-output cardiac failure (arteriovenous malformation, teratoma)
Asphyxial cardiomyopathy Arteriovenous malformation (vein of Galen, hepatic) Left-sided obstructive lesions (coarctation of aorta, hypoplastic left heart, critical aortic stenosis) Transposition of great arteries Large mixing cardiac defects (single ventricle, truncus arteriosus) Viral myocarditis Anemia Supraventricular tachycardia Complete heart block
Left-to-right cardiac shunts (VSD) Hemangioma (arteriovenous malformation) Anomalous left coronary artery Metabolic cardiomyopathy Acute hypertension (hemolytic uremic syndrome) Supraventricular tachycardia Kawasaki disease Postoperative repair of congenital heart disease
Rheumatic fever Acute hypertension (glomerulonephritis) Viral myocarditis Thyrotoxicosis Hemochromatosis/hemosiderosis Cancer therapy (radiation, doxorubicin) Sickle cell anemia Endocarditis Cor pulmonale (cystic fibrosis) Arrhythmias Chronic upper airway obstruction (cor pulmonale) Unrepaired or palliated congenital heart disease Cardiomyopathy
BPD, Bronchopulmonary dysplasia; PDA, patent ductus arteriosus; VSD, ventricular septal defect.
Available @ StudentConsult.comHeart failure presents in infants as poor feeding, failure to thrive, tachypnea, and diaphoresis with feeding. Older children may present with shortness of breath, easy fatigability, and edema. The physical examination findings depend on whether pulmonary venous congestion, systemic venous congestion, or both are present. Tachycardia, a gallop rhythm, and thready pulses may be present with either cause. If left-sided
Oxygen Improves oxygenation in presence of pulmonary edemaSodium, fluid Decreases vascular congestion; decreases restrictions preloadFurosemide Salt excretion by way of ascending loop of Henle; reduces preload; afterload reduced with control of hypertension; may also cause venodilation
Combination of Greater sodium excretion distal tubule and loop diuretics
Digitalis Inhibits membrane Na+, K+-ATPase and increases intracellular Ca2+, improves cardiac contractility, increases myocardial oxygen consumption
Dopamine Releases myocardial norepinephrine plus direct effect on β-receptor, may increase systemic blood pressure; at low infusion rates, dilates renal artery, facilitating diuresis
Dobutamine β1-Receptor agent; often combined with dopamineAmrinone/ Nonsympathomimetic, noncardiac glycosides milrinone with inotropic effects; may cause vasodilation
Captopril/enalapril Inhibition of angiotensin-converting enzyme; reduces angiotensin II productionMechanical Improves coronary flow, afterload counterpulsation failure is predominant, tachypnea, orthopnea, wheezing, and pulmonary edema are seen. Hepatomegaly, edema, and distended neck veins are signs of right-sided failure.
The absence of cardiomegaly on a chest x-ray usually rules out the diagnosis of heart failure. An echocardiogram assesses the heart chamber sizes, measures myocardial function, and diagnoses congenital heart defects when present.
Initial treatment is directed at improving myocardial function and optimizing preload and afterload. Diuretics, inotropic support, and, often, afterload reduction are employed (Table 145-3). Long-term therapy usually consists of diuretics and afterload reduction is added. Long-term therapy withβblockers also may be beneficial, although this remainssomewhat controversial in pediatric patients. Spironolactoneis usually added to the medical regimen because of its effecton cardiac remodeling.
Although uncommon in the United States, acute rheumatic fever remains an important preventable cause of cardiac disease. It is most common in children 6 to 15 years of age. It is due to an immunologic reaction that is a delayed sequela of group A beta-hemolytic streptococcal infections of the pharynx. A family history of rheumatic fever and lower socioeconomic status are additional factors.
Available @ StudentConsult.comAcute rheumatic fever is diagnosed using the clinical and laboratory findings of the revised Jones criteria (Table 146-1).The presence of either two major criteria or one major and two minor criteria, along with evidence of an antecedent streptococcal infection, confirm a diagnosis of acute rheumatic fever. The infection often precedes the presentation of rheumatic fever by 2 to 6 weeks. Streptococcal antibody tests, such as the antistreptolysin O titer, are the most reliable laboratory evidence of prior infection.
Table 146-1 Major Jones Criteria for Diagnosis of Acute Rheumatic Fever*,†
Polyarthritis Common; swelling, limited motion, tender, erythema Migratory; involves large joints but rarely small or unusual joints, such as vertebrae
Carditis Common; pancarditis, valves, pericardium, myocardiumTachycardia greater than explained by fever; new murmur of mitral or aortic insufficiency; Carey-Coombs mid-diastolic murmur; heart failure marginatum proximal extremities, evolving to serpiginous border with central clearing; evanescent, elicited by application of local heat; nonpruritic
Subcutaneous Uncommon; associated with repeated nodules episodes and severe carditis; located over extensor surface of elbows, knees, knuckles, and ankles or scalp and spine; firm, nontender *Minor criteria include fever (temperatures of 101°–102°F [38.2°–38.9°C]), arthralgias, previous rheumatic fever, leukocytosis, elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate/C-reactive protein, and prolonged PR interval.
†One major and two minor, or two major, criteria with evidence of recent group A streptococcal disease (e.g., scarlet fever, positive throat culture, or elevated antistreptolysin O or other antistreptococcal antibodies) strongly suggest the diagnosis of acute rheumatic fever.
Arthritis is the most common major manifestation. It usually involves the large joints and is migratory. Arthralgia cannot be used as a minor manifestation if arthritis is used as a major manifestation. Carditis occurs in about 50% of patients. Tachycardia, a new murmur (mitral or aortic regurgitation), pericarditis, cardiomegaly, and signs of heart failure are evidence of carditis. Erythema marginatum, a serpiginous, nonpruritic, and evanescent rash, is uncommon, occurs on the trunk, and is brought out by warmth. Subcutaneous nodules are seen predominantly with chronic or recurrent disease. They are firm, painless, nonpruritic, mobile nodules found on the extensor surfaces of the large and small joints, the scalp, and the spine. Chorea (Sydenham chorea or St. Vitus dance) consists of neurologic and psychiatric signs. It also is uncommon and often presents long after the infection.
Management of acute rheumatic fever consists of benzathine penicillin to eradicate the beta-hemolytic streptococcus, anti-inflammatory therapy with salicylates, and bed rest. Additional supportive therapy for heart failure or chorea may be necessary. Longterm penicillin prophylaxis, preferably with intramuscular benzathine penicillin G, 1.2 million U every 28 days, is required. Oral regimens for prophylaxis generally are not as effective. The prognosis of acute rheumatic fever depends on the degree of permanent cardiac damage. Cardiac involvement may resolve completely, especially if it is the first episode and the prophylactic regimen is followed. The severity of cardiac involvement worsens with each recurrence of rheumatic fever.
A cardiomyopathy is an intrinsic disease of the heart muscle and is not associated with other forms of heart disease (Table 147-1). There are three types of cardiomyopathy based on anatomic and functional features: 1.
Dilated cardiomyopathies are the most common. They are often idiopathic, but may be due to infection (echovirus or Coxsackie B virus) or be postinfectious, familial, or secondary to systemic disease or to cardiotoxic drugs. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathies are usually familial with autosomal dominant inheritance, but may occur sporadically. Restrictive cardiomyopathies are rare; they may be idiopathic or associated with systemic disease (Table 147-2).
Available @ StudentConsult.comDilated cardiomyopathies result in enlargement of the leftventricle only or of both ventricles. Myocardial contractility is variably decreased. Children with dilated cardiomyopathy present with signs and symptoms of inadequate cardiac output and heart failure. Tachypnea and tachycardia are present on examination. Peripheral pulses are often weak because of a narrow pulse pressure. Rales may be audible on auscultation. The heart sounds may be muffled, and an S3 is often present. Concurrent infectious illness may result in circulatory collapse and shock in children with dilated cardiomyopathies.
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is initially difficult to diagnose. Infants, but not older children, frequently present withsigns of heart failure. Sudden death may be the initial presentation in older children. Dyspnea, fatigue, chest pain,syncope or near-syncope, and palpitations may be present.A murmur is heard in more than 50% of children referred after identification of an affected family member. Restrictive cardiomyopathies are relatively rare in pediatrics. Presentingsymptoms usually include dyspnea exacerbated by a respiratory illness, syncope, hepatomegaly, and an S4 heart sound on examination.
Duchenne muscular dystrophy Other muscular dystrophies (Becker, limb-girdle) Myotonic dystrophy Kearns-Sayre syndrome (progressive external ophthalmoplegia) Carnitine deficiency syndromes Endocardial fibroelastosis Mitochondrial myopathy syndromes Familial dilated cardiomyopathy (dominant, recessive, X-linked) Familial hypertrophic cardiomyopathy Familial restrictive cardiomyopathy Pompe disease (glycogen storage)
Viral (e.g., coxsackievirus infection, mumps, Epstein-Barr virus infection, influenza, parainfluenza infection, measles, varicella, HIV infection)
Rickettsial (e.g., psittacosis, Coxiella infection, Rocky Mountain spotted fever)Bacterial (e.g., diphtheria, Mycoplasma infection, meningococcal disease, leptospirosis, Lyme disease)
Parasitic (e.g., Chagas disease, toxoplasmosis)Hypothyroidism Hyperthyroidism Pheochromocytoma Mitochondrial myopathies and oxidative respiratory chain defects Type II, X-linked 3-methylglutaconic aciduria
HIV, Human immunodeficiency virus.Etiology Infectious Sporadic Infiltrative (amyloidosis, sarcoidosis) Metabolic Inherited (autosomal dominant) Noninfiltrative (idiopathic, familial) Toxic
Storage disease (hemochromatosis, Fabry IdiopathicAvailable @ StudentConsult.comCardiomegaly usually is seen on chest radiographs for all three types of cardiomyopathies. The electrocardiogram (ECG) in dilated cardiomyopathy may have nonspecific ST-T wave changes and left ventricular hypertrophy. ECG evidence of right ventricular hypertrophy is present in 25% of children with cardiomyopathy. The ECG with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is universally abnormal, but changes are nonspecific. Primary hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is associated with a prolonged QT interval. Children with restrictive cardiomyopathies may show atrial enlargement on the ECG. Echocardiography features vary by type of cardiomyopathy.
Dilated cardiomyopathies result in left atrial and ventricular dilation, a decreased shortening fraction, and globally depressed contractility. Asymmetrical septal hypertrophy and left ventricular outflow tract obstruction are seen in hyper-trophic cardiomyopathies. Massive atrial dilation is seen in restrictive cardiomyopathies. Endomyocardial biopsy specimens, obtained while the patient is hemodynamically stable, identify histologic type and allow tests for mitochondrial or infiltrative diseases.
Supportive therapy, including diuretics, inotropic medications, and afterload reduction, is provided for all three types of cardiomyopathy. If a specific etiology can be identified, treatment is directed at the etiology. Symptomatic therapy with close monitoring and follow-up is crucial. Because of the high mortality rate associated with all forms of cardiomyopathy, cardiac transplantation must be considered.
Pericarditis is inflammation of the parietal and visceral surfaces of the pericardium. It is most often viral in origin, with many viruses identified as causative agents. A bacterial etiology is rare but causes a much more serious and symptomatic pericarditis. Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pneumoniae are the most likely bacterial causes. Pericarditis is associated with collagen vascular diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, and is seen with uremia (Table 148-1). Postpericardiotomy syndrome is a relatively common form of pericarditis that follows heart surgery.
Pneumococcus, meningococcus*Coxsackievirus (group A, B) Echovirus Mumps Influenza Epstein-Barr CytomegalovirusFrom Sigman G: Chest pain. In Kliegman RM, Nieder ML, Super DM. editors: Practical Strategies in Pediatric Diagnosis and Therapy, Philadelphia, 1996, WB Saunders.
*Infectious or immune complex.†Common (viral pericarditis or myopericarditis is probably the most common cause of acute pericarditis in a previously normal host).
Chest pain (worsened if lying down or with inspiration) Dyspnea Malaise Patient assumes sitting position
Fever Tachycardia Friction rub (accentuated by inspiration, body position) Enlarged heart by percussion and x-ray examination Distant heart sounds
As above, plus:Distended neck veins Hepatomegaly Pulsus paradoxus (>10 mm Hg with inspiration) Narrow pulse pressure Weak pulse, poor peripheral perfusion
Available @ StudentConsult.comThe symptoms of pericarditis (Table 148-2) depend on the amount of fluid in the pericardial space and how fast it accumulates. A small effusion usually is well tolerated. A large effusion may be well tolerated if it accumulates slowly. The faster the fluid accumulates, the sooner the patient is hemodynamically compromised and develops symptoms.
Echocardiography is the most specific and useful diagnostictest for detection of pericardial effusions. A chest x-ray mayreveal cardiomegaly. A large effusion creates a rounded, globular cardiac silhouette. The electrocardiogram (ECG) may showtachycardia, elevated ST segments, reduced QRS voltage orelectrical alternans (variable QRS amplitude). The causative organism may be identified through viral titers, antistreptolysin O (ASO) titers, or diagnostic testing of the pericardial fluid.
Pericardiocentesis is indicated for treatment of hemodynamically significant effusions and to determine the etiology of the pericarditis. Additional treatment is directed at the specific etiology. There is no specific treatment for viral pericarditis other than antiinflammatory medications.
Kliegman RM, Behrman RE, Jenson HB, et al: Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics, ed 19, Philadelphia, 2011, Saunders
Lai WW, Mertens LL, Cohen MS, Geva T: Echocardiography in Pediatric and
Congenital Heart Disease: from Fetus to Adult, Oxford, UK, 2009, Blackwell
Moller JH, Hoffman JI, Benson DW, Van Hare GF, Wren C: Pediatric Cardio vascular Medicine, ed 2, West Sussex, UK, 2012, Wiley-Blackwell
Shaddy RE: Heart Failure in Congenital Heart Disease, London, 2011, Springer
Wren C: Concise Guide to Pediatric Arrhythmias, West Sussex, UK, 2012,
Julie A. Panepinto, Rowena C. Punzalan, and J. Paul Scott 20
A detailed history of the onset, severity, progression, associated symptoms, presence of systemic complaints, and exacerbating factors is crucial to the diagnosis of a blood disorder. In many blood disorders, a detailed pedigree identifying a pattern of inheritance can point to the diagnosis.
Available @ StudentConsult.comJaundice Anemia Bleeding Petechiae/Purpura Pancytopenia Failure to ThriveThe physical examination of patients with blood disordersfirst focuses on hemodynamic stability. Acute episodes ofanemia may be life-threatening, presenting with impairment of perfusion and cognitive status. The two mostcommon findings of anemia include pallor and jaundice. The presence of petechiae, purpura, or deeper sites of bleeding, including generalized hemorrhage, indicatesabnormalities of platelets, coagulation factors, or both.Growth parameters point to whether anemia is an acuteor chronic process. Severe types of anemia, thrombocytopenia, and pancytopenia often are associated with congenital anomalies and a pattern of growth delay. Organsystem involvement (especially hepatosplenomegaly and lymphadenopathy) or systemic illness point to a generalized illness as the cause for hematologic abnormalities(Table 149-1).
Diagnosis of pediatric blood disorders requires a detailed knowledge of normal hematologic values and varies according to ageand, after puberty, according to sex (Table 149-2). Directed bythe history, physical examination, and screening laboratorystudies, specific diagnostic testing can confirm the diagnosis.
Hematopoiesis begins by 3 weeks of gestation with erythropoiesis in the yolk sac. By 2 months’ gestation, the primary site of hematopoiesis migrates to the liver. By 5 to 6 months’ gestation, the process shifts from the liver to the bone marrow. An extremely premature infant may have significant extramedullary hematopoiesis due to limited bone marrow hematopoiesis. During infancy, virtually all marrow cavities are actively hematopoietic and the proportion of hematopoietic to stromal elements is quite high. As the child grows, hematopoiesis moves to the central bones of the body (vertebrae, sternum, ribs, and pelvis), and the marrow is gradually replaced with fat. Hemolysis or marrow damage may lead to marrow repopulation of cavities where hematopoiesis previously had ceased or may delay the shift of hematopoiesis. Hepatosplenomegaly in patients with chronic hemolysis may signify extramedullary hematopoiesis. When a patient with cytopenia is being evaluated, a bone marrow examination provides valuable information about processes that lead to underproduction of circulating cells. In addition, bone marrow infiltration by neoplastic elements or storage cells often occurs in concert with infiltration in the spleen, liver, and lymph nodes.
The hematopoietic cells consist of the following: 1.Small compartment of pluripotential progenitor stem cells that resemble small lymphocytes and are capable of forming all myeloid elements 2.
Large compartment of committed, proliferating cells of myeloid, erythroid, and megakaryocytic lineage 3.
Large compartment of postmitotic maturing cells(Fig. 149-1)The bone marrow is the major storage organ for mature neutrophils and contains about seven times the intravascular pool of neutrophils. It contains 2.5 to 5 times as many cells of myeloid lineage as cells of erythroid lineage. Smaller numbers of megakaryocytes, plasma cells, histiocytes, lymphocytes, and stromal cells are also stored in the marrow.
Erythropoiesis (red blood cell [RBC] production) iscontrolled by erythropoietin, a glycoprotein that stimulatesprimitive pluripotential stem cells to differentiate along the
Figure 149-1 Major cytokine sources and actions to promote hematopoiesis. Cells of the bone marrow microenvironment, such as macrophages, endothelial cells, and reticular fibroblasts, produce macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF), granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) after stimulation. For all lineages, optimal development requires a combination of early and late acting factors. BFU, Burst-forming unit; CFU, colony-forming unit; EPO, erythropoietin; IL, interleukin; MSC, myeloid stem cell; PSC, pluripotent stem cell; TNF, tumor necrosis factor; TPO, thrombopoietin. (From Sieff CA, Nathan DG, Clark SC: The anatomy and physiology of hematopoiesis. In Orkin SH, Nathan DG, editors: Hematology of Infancy and Childhood, ed 5, Philadelphia, 1998, WB Saunders, p 168.)
Table 149-1 Presentation of Hematologic Disorders CONDITION SYMPTOMS AND SIGNS COMMON EXAMPLES Anemia Pallor, fatigue, heart failure, jaundice Iron deficiency, hemolytic anemia Polycythemia Irritability, cyanosis, seizures, jaundice, stroke, headache Cyanotic heart disease, infant of diabetic mother, cystic fibrosis
Neutropenia Fever, pharyngitis, oral ulceration, cellulitis, Congenital or drug-induced agranulocytosis, leukemia lymphadenopathy, bacteremia, gingivitis
Thrombocytopenia Petechiae, ecchymosis, gastrointestinal hemorrhage, ITP, leukemia epistaxisCoagulopathy Bruising, hemarthrosis, mucosal bleeding von Willebrand disease, hemophilia, DIC
Thrombosis Pulmonary embolism, deep vein thrombosis Lupus anticoagulant; protein C, protein S, or antithrombin III deficiency; factor V Leiden, prothrombin 20210
DIC, Disseminated intravascular coagulation; ITP, idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura.Cord 16.8 13.7–20.1 55 45–65 5 18,000 9000–30,000 61 40–80 31 2 6 7 blood 2 wk 16.5 13–20 50 42–66 1 12,000 5000–21,000 40 3 mo 12.0 9.5–14.5 36 31–41 1 12,000 6000–18,000 30 6 mo–6 12.0 10.5–14 37 33–42 1 10,000 6000–15,000 45 7–12 yr 13.0 11–16 38 34–40 1 8000 4500–13,500 55
Female 14.0 12–16 42 37–47 1.6 7500 5000–10,000 55 35–70 35 3 7 0
Male 16.0 14–18 47 42–52From Behrman RE, editor: Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics, ed 14, Philadelphia, 1992, WB Saunders. WBCs, White blood cells.
erythroid line and is made by the juxtaglomerular apparatus of the kidney in response to local tissue hypoxia. Thenormally high hemoglobin level of the fetus is a result of fetal erythropoietin production in the liver in response tolow Po2 in utero. Erythropoietin leads to production of theerythroid colony-forming unit. The earliest recognizableerythroid cell is the erythroblast, which forms eight or moredaughter cells. The RBC nucleus becomes gradually pyknotic and eventually is extruded. The cell is then releasedfrom the marrow as a reticulocyte that maintains residual mitochondrial and protein synthetic capacity. Thesehighly specialized RBC precursors are engaged primarily inthe production of globin chains, glycolytic enzymes, and heme. Iron is taken up via transferrin receptors and incorporated into the heme ring, which combines with globinchains synthesized within the immature RBC. When themessenger RNA and mitochondria are gone from the RBC,heme or protein synthesis is no longer possible; however,the RBC continues to function for its normal life span of about 120 days.
Embryonic hemoglobins are produced during yolk sacerythropoiesis, then replaced by fetal hemoglobin (hemoglobin F, α2γ2) during the hepatic phase. During the thirdtrimester, gamma chain production gradually diminishes,replaced by beta chains, resulting in hemoglobin A (a2β2). Some fetal factors (e.g., infant of a diabetic mother) delayonset of beta chain production, but premature birth doesnot. Just after birth, with rapid increases in oxygen saturation, erythropoietin production stops and, thus, erythropoiesis ceases. Fetal RBCs have a shorter survival time (60days).
During the first few months of postnatal life, rapid growth, shortened RBC survival, and cessation of erythropoiesis cause a gradual decline in hemoglobin levels, with a nadir at 8 to 10 weeks of life. This so-called physiologic nadir is accentuated in premature infants. Erythropoietin is produced in response to the decline in hemoglobin and decreased oxygen delivery. Erythropoiesis subsequently resumes with an increase in the reticulocyte count. The hemoglobin level gradually increases, accompanied by synthesis of increasing amounts of hemoglobin A. By 6 months of age in healthy infants, only trace gamma chain synthesis occurs.
Production of neutrophil precursors is controlled predominantly by two different colony-stimulating factors (seeFig. 149-1). The most immature neutrophil precursors arecontrolled by granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), produced by monocytes and lymphocytes. GM-CSF increases the entry of primitive precursorcells into the myeloid line of differentiation. Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) augments the production of more mature granulocyte precursors. GM-CSF and G-CSF, working in concert, can augment production of neutrophils, shorten the usual 10to 14-day production timefrom stem cell to mature neutrophil, and stimulate functional activity. The rapid increase in neutrophil count thatoccurs with infection is caused by release of stored neutrophils from the bone marrow, under the control of GM-CSF.During maturation, a mitotic pool of neutrophil precursorsexists—myeloblasts, promyelocytes, and myelocytes possessing primary granules. The postmitotic pool consists ofmetamyelocytes, bands, and mature polymorphonuclear leukocytes containing secondary or specific granules thatdefine the cell type. Only bands and mature neutrophils arefully functional with regard to phagocytosis, chemotaxis,and bacterial killing. Neutrophils migrate from the bonemarrow, circulate for 6 to 7 hours, and enter the tissues, where they become end-stage cells that do not recirculate.Eosinophil production is under the control of a related glycoprotein hormone, interleukin 3. Eosinophils, which playa role in host defense against parasites, also are capable ofliving in tissues for prolonged periods.
Megakaryocytes are giant, multinucleated cells derivedfrom the primitive stem cell and are polyploid (16 to 32 timesthe normal DNA content) because of nuclear but not cytoplasmic cell division. Platelets form by invagination of themegakaryocytic cell membrane and bud off from the periphery. Thrombopoietin is the primary regulator of plateletproduction. Platelets adhere to damaged endothelium andsubendothelial surfaces via specific receptors for the adhesive proteins, von Willebrand factor (vWF), and fibrinogen.Platelets also have specific granules that readily release theircontents after stimulation and trigger the process of plateletaggregation. Platelets circulate for 7 to 10 days and have nonucleus.
Lymphocytes are particularly abundant in the bone marrow of young children. These are primarily B lymphocytes arising in the spleen and lymph nodes, but T lymphocytes also are present.
The diagnosis of anemia is determined by comparison of thepatient’s hemoglobin level with age-specific and sex-specific normal values (see Table 149-2). The production ofandrogens at the onset of puberty in boys causes males tomaintain a normal hemoglobin value about 1.5 to 2 g/dLhigher than girls. The easiest quantitative definition of anemia is any hemoglobin or hematocrit value that is 2 standard deviations (SDs) (95% confidence limits) below themean for age and gender. However, in certain pathologicstates, anemia may be present with a normal hemoglobinlevel (e.g., cyanotic cardiac or pulmonary disease or abnormally high hemoglobin affinity for oxygen). This is a physiologic definition of anemia. Anemia is often a manifestationof some other primary process and may accentuate otherorgan dysfunction.
Anemias are classified based on the size and hemoglobincontent of the cells (Fig. 150-1). Hypochromic, microcytic anemia is caused by an inadequate production of hemoglobin. The most common causes of this type of anemia are iron deficiency and thalassemia. Most normocytic anemias are associated with a systemic illness that impairs
Hypochromic, Microcytic ° major, minor disease Copper deficiency Sideroblastic anemia Aluminum, (?) lead
Normochromic, Normocytic • Hemoglobin SS, S-C, S-° thalassemiaDIC, HUS, TTPFigure 150-1 Use of the complete blood count, reticulocyte count, and blood smear in the diagnosis of anemia. DIC, Disseminated intra-vascular coagulation; G6PD, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase; HUS, hemolytic uremic syndrome; R/O, rule out; RPI, reticulocyte production index; TTP, thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura.
adequate marrow synthesis of red blood cells (RBCs).Vitamin B12 and folic acid deficiencies lead to macrocytic anemia. Hemolytic diseases are mediated either by disorders intrinsic or extrinsic to the RBC that increase cell destruction. The most common RBC membrane disorders are hereditary spherocytosis and hereditary elliptocytosis. In both of these disorders, abnormalities of proteins within the cytoskeleton lead to abnormal RBC shapeand function. Numerous RBC enzyme deficiencies maylead to hemolysis, but only two are common: glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency and pyruvate kinase deficiency. Immune-mediated hemolysismay be extravascular when RBCs coated with antibodiesor complement are phagocytosed by the reticuloendothelialsystem. The hemolysis may be intravascular when antibodybinding leads to complement fixation and lysis of RBCs.
Available @ StudentConsult.comAcute onset of anemia can result in a poorly compensated state, manifested as an elevated heart rate, a flow murmur, poor exercise tolerance, headache, excessive sleeping (especially in infants) or fatigue, irritability, poor feeding, and syncope. In contrast, chronic anemia often is exceptionally well
Age Iron deficiency rare in the absence of blood loss before 6 mo or in term infants or before doubling of birth weight in preterm infants Neonatal anemia with reticulocytosis suggests hemolysis or blood loss; with reticulocytopenia, suggests bone marrow failure Sickle cell anemia and β-thalassemia appear as fetal hemoglobin disappears (4–8 mo of age)
Family history X-linked: G6PD deficiency and genetic Autosomal dominant: spherocytosis considerations Autosomal recessive: sickle cell anemia, Fanconi anemia Family member with history of cholecystectomy (for bilirubin stones) or splenectomy at an early age Ethnicity (thalassemia in persons of Mediterranean origin; G6PD deficiency in blacks, Greeks, and people of Middle Eastern origin) Race (β-thalassemia in persons of Mediterranean, African, or Asian descent; α-thalassemia in those of African and Asian descent; SC and SS in African descent)
Nutrition Cow’s milk diet: iron deficiency Strict vegetarian: vitamin B12 deficiency Goat’s milk diet: folate deficiency Pica: plumbism, iron deficiency Cholestasis, malabsorption: vitamin E deficiency
Drugs G6PD: oxidants (e.g., nitrofurantoin, antimalarials) Immune-mediated hemolysis (e.g., penicillin) Bone marrow suppression (e.g., chemotherapy) Phenytoin, increasing folate requirements
Diarrhea Malabsorption of vitamin B12 or E or iron Inflammatory bowel disease and anemia of inflammation (chronic disease) with or without blood loss Milk protein intolerance–induced blood loss Intestinal resection: vitamin B12 deficiency
Infection Giardia lamblia infection: iron malabsorption Intestinal bacterial overgrowth (blind loop): vitamin B12 deficiency Fish tapeworm: vitamin B12 deficiency Epstein-Barr virus, cytomegalovirus infection: bone marrow suppression, hemophagocytic syndromes Mycoplasma infection: hemolysis Parvovirus infection: bone marrow suppression HIV infection Chronic infection Endocarditis Malaria: hemolysis Hepatitis: aplastic anemia
G6PD, Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase.tolerated in children because of their cardiovascular reserve. Usually, children with chronic anemia will have minimal tachycardia and a flow murmur on examination. The urgency of diagnostic and therapeutic intervention, especially the use of packed RBC transfusion, should be dictated by the extent of cardiovascular or functional impairment more than the absolute level of hemoglobin.
The causes of anemia often can be suspected from a careful history adjusted for the patient’s age (Tables 150-1 and 150-2). Anemia at any age demands a search for blood loss.
A history of jaundice, pallor, previously affected siblings,drug ingestion by the mother, or excessive blood loss at thetime of birth provides important clues to the diagnosis innewborns. A careful dietary history is crucial. The key findings in patients with hemolytic anemias are jaundice, pallor, and splenomegaly. Because of increased bilirubin production, gallstones (bilirubinate), a result of chronic hemolysis,are a common complication. Systemic complaints suggestacute or chronic illnesses as probable causes of anemia. Inlater childhood and adolescence, the presence of constitutional symptoms, unusual diets, drug ingestion, or bloodloss, especially from menstrual bleeding, often points to adiagnosis. Congenital hemolytic disorders (enzyme deficiencies and membrane problems) often present in the first6 months of life and frequently are associated with neonatal jaundice, although these disorders often go undiagnosed. A careful drug history is essential for detecting problemsthat may be drug induced. Pure dietary iron deficiency israre except in infancy, when cow’s milk protein intolerancecauses gastrointestinal blood loss and further complicates analready inadequate iron intake.
The physical examination may point to the potential causes (see Table 150-2). The physiologic stability of the patient may be abnormal with acute blood loss and acute hemolysis, manifesting as tachycardia, blood pressure changes, and, most ominously, an altered state of consciousness. The presence of jaundice suggests hemolysis. Petechiae and purpura indicate a coagulopathy. Hepatosplenomegaly and adenopathy suggest infiltrative disorders. Growth failure or poor weight gain suggests an anemia of chronic disease. An essential element of the physical examination is the investigation of the stool for the presence of occult blood.
A hemoglobin or hematocrit test indicates the severity of the anemia. Once anemia has been substantiated, the workup should include a complete blood count with differential, platelet count, indices, and reticulocyte count. Examination of the peripheral blood smear assesses the morphology of RBCs (Fig. 150-2), white blood cells (WBCs), and platelets. All cell lines should be scrutinized to determine whether anemia is the result of a process limited to the erythroid line or a process that affects other marrow elements. Using data obtained from the indices and reticulocyte count, the workup can be organized on the basis of whether RBC production is adequate or inadequate and whether the cells are microcytic, normocytic, or macrocytic (see Fig. 150-1).
An appropriate bone marrow response to anemia would be an elevated absolute reticulocyte number, suggestingincreased production and implying either hemolysis orblood loss. Anemia with a normal reticulocyte number suggests decreased or ineffective production for the degree ofanemia. Reticulocytopenia signifies an acute onset so thatthe marrow has not had adequate time to respond, thatreticulocytes are being destroyed in the marrow (antibodymediated), or that intrinsic bone marrow disease is present.The best indicators of the severity of hemolysis are the hemoglobin level and the elevation of the reticulocyte count. Biochemical evidence of hemolysis includes an increase inlevels of bilirubin and lactate dehydrogenase and a decreasein haptoglobin.
Head Frontal bossing Thalassemia major, severe iron deficiency, chronic subdural hematoma Microcephaly Fanconi anemia
General Small stature Fanconi anemia, HIV infection, malnutritionHIV, Human immunodeficiency virus; SLE, systemic lupus erythematosus.Figure 150-2 Morphologic abnormalities of the red blood cell. A, Normal. B, Hypochromic microcytes (iron deficiency). C, Schistocytes (hemolytic uremic syndrome. D, Blister cells (glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency). E, Sickle cells (hemoglobin SS disease). F, Spherocytes (autoimmune hemolytic anemia). (Courtesy B. Trost and
J. P. Scott.)Hypochromic, Microcytic AnemiaAvailable @ StudentConsult.comEtiology. Infants fed cow’s milk when younger than 1 year of age, toddlers fed large volumes of cow’s milk, and menstruating teenage girls who are not receiving supplemental iron are at high risk for iron deficiency. Dietary iron deficiency anemia is most common in bottle-fed toddlers who are receiving large volumes of cow’s milk and eat minimal amounts of food high in iron content. (See Chapters 28 and 31.) Iron deficiency anemia also may be found in children with chronic inflammatory diseases, even without chronic blood loss.
Epidemiology. The prevalence of iron deficiency, the most common cause of anemia in the world, is about 9% in toddlers, 9% to 11% in adolescent girls, and less than 1% in teenage boys. Iron deficiency anemia occurs in about one third of children who are iron deficient (Table 150-3). Some underprivileged minority populations in the United States may be at increased risk for iron deficiency because of poor dietary intake (see Chapter 31). Breastfed infants are less likely to have iron deficiency than bottle-fed infants because, although there is less iron in breast milk, this iron is more efficiently absorbed.
Clinical Manifestations. In addition to cardiovascular manifestations of anemia, central nervous system (CNS) abnormalities (apathy, irritability, poor concentration)have been linked to iron deficiency, presumably resulting from alterations of iron-containing enzymes (monoamine oxidase) and cytochromes. Poor muscle endurance, gastrointestinal dysfunction, and impaired WBC and T-cell function have been associated with iron deficiency. Iron deficiency in infancy may be associated with later cognitive deficits and poor school performance.
Treatment. In an otherwise healthy child, a therapeutic trial of iron is the best diagnostic study for iron deficiency as long as the child is re-examined and a response is documented. The response to oral iron includes rapid subjective improvement, especially in neurologic function (within 24 to 48 hours) and reticulocytosis (48 to 72 hours); increase in hemoglobin levels (4 to 30 days); and repletion of iron stores (in 1 to 3 months). The usual therapeutic dose of 4 to 6 mg/day 10–12 nc/nc ↓ Fe2+ absent, erythroid hyperplasia <12 8–10 hypo/nc ↓ Fe2+ absent, erythroid hyperplasia <12 <8 hypo/micro* ↓ Fe2+ absent, erythroid hyperplasia <12
From Andreoli TE, Bennett JC, Carpenter CC, et al: Cecil Essentials of Medicine, ed 4, Philadelphia, 1997, WB Saunders. hypo/micro, Hypochromic, microcytic; hypo/nc, hypochromic, normocytic; nc/nc, normochromic, normocytic. *Microcytosis, determined by a mean corpuscular volume (in fL) <2 SD below the mean, must be adjusted for age (e.g., –2 SD at 3–6 mo = 74; at 0.5–2 yr = 70; at 2–6 yr = 75; at 6–12 yr = 77; and at 12–18 yr = 78).
*See Table 150-3 for definition of microcytosis.†α-Thalassemia minor can be diagnosed by the presence of Bart hemoglobin on newborn screening.
‡Usually normochromic; 25% of cases are microcytic. §Red blood cell distribution width quantitates the degree of anisocytosis (different sizes) of red blood cells.
of elemental iron induces an increase in hemoglobin of 0.25 to 0.4 g/dL/day (a 1%/day increase in hematocrit). If the hemoglobin level fails to increase within 2 weeks after institution of iron treatment, careful re-evaluation for ongoing blood loss, development of infection, poor compliance, or other causes of microcytic anemia is required (Table 150-4; see Fig. 150-1).
Prevention. Bottle-fed infants should receive an iron-containing formula until 12 months of age, and breastfed infants older than 6 months of age should receive an iron supplement. The introduction of iron-enriched solid foods at 6 months of age, followed by a transition to a limited amount of cow’s milk and increased solid foods at 1 year, can help prevent iron deficiency anemia. Teenage girls who are menstruating should have a diet enriched with iron-containing foods. A vitamin with iron may also be used.
Etiology and Epidemiology. α-Thalassemia and β-thalassemia minor are common causes of microcytosis, either with or without a mild hypochromic, microcytic anemia. They are prevalent in certain ethnic groups (Mediterranean, Southeast Asian, African Americans). Individuals of Asian descent are at risk of having three or four α genes deleted, resulting in hemoglobin H disease (γ4) or hydrops fetalis with only Bart (α4) hemoglobin (Table 150-5 and Fig. 150-3).
Laboratory Testing. The thalassemia minor syndromes are characterized by a mild hypochromic, microcytic anemia with a low absolute reticulocyte count (see Table 150-5). The RBC count is usually elevated. As a result, if the mean corpuscular volume (MCV) divided by the RBC count is less than 12.5 (Mentzer index), the diagnosis is suggestive of thalassemia trait. The blood smear reveals only microcytosis with α-thalassemia trait. Outside the neonatal period, when Bart hemoglobin is detectable, hemoglobin electrophoresis usually is normal in α-thalassemia minor (see Fig. 150-3). Blood smears of patients with β-thalassemia minor show microcytic RBCs. Target cells and basophilic stippled RBCs, caused by precipitation of alpha chain tetramers, also may be present. The diagnosis is based on an elevation of hemoglobin A2 and F levels in β-thalassemia. Molecular testing is indicated for identification of more severe or unusual variants.
Treatment. No treatment is required for children with thalassemia minor. However, children with hemoglobin H disease (γ4), especially the Constant Spring variant or hydrops fetalis with only Bart (α4) hemoglobin, are likely to require chronic transfusion therapy.
Lead poisoning may be associated with a hypochromic, microcytic anemia. Most patients have concomitant iron deficiency. The history of living in an older home (built before 1980) with chipped paint or lead dust should raise suspicion of lead poisoning, especially in a child with pica. Basophilic stippling on the blood smear is common. Lead intoxication
Table 150-5 Thalassemia Syndromes DISORDER GENOTYPIC ABNORMALITY CLINICAL PHENOTYPE β-THALASSEMIA Thalassemia major (Cooley’s anemia) Homozygous β0-thalassemia Severe hemolysis, ineffective erythropoiesis, transfusion dependency, hepatosplenomegaly, iron overload
Thalassemia intermedia Compound heterozygous β0and β+-thalassemia Moderate hemolysis, splenomegaly, moderately severe anemia, but not transfusion-dependent; main life-threatening complication is iron overload
Thalassemia minor Heterozygous β0and β+-thalassemia Microcytosis, mild anemiaHydrops fetalis -/-Severe anemia, intrauterine anasarca from congestive heart failure; death in utero or at birth
From Andreoli T, Carpenter C, Griggs R, et al: Cecil Essentials of Medicine, ed 7, Philadelphia, 2007, Saunders.
*The Constant Spring variant may require chronic transfusion.Figure 150-3 Genetic origins of the classic α-thalassemia syndromes due to gene deletions in the α-globin gene cluster. Hb Constant Spring (Hb CS) is an α-globin chain variant synthesized in such small amounts (1%–2% of normal) that it has the phenotypic impact of a severe non-deletion α-thalassemia allele; however, the αCS allele is always linked to a functioning α-globin gene, so it has never been associated with hydrops fetalis. (From Hoffman R, Benz EJ, Shattil SS, et al, editors: Hematology: Basic Principles and Practice, ed 5, Philadelphia, 2008, Churchill Livingstone.) ˜+-Thal trait (”Mild” trait, silent carrier) rarely causes hemolytic anemia. Detection by routine screening, removal from exposure, chelation therapy, and correction of iron deficiency are crucial to the potential development of affected children.
Etiology and Treatment. Anemia is a common component of chronic inflammatory disease. Hepcidin, a protein made in the liver, plays a key role in iron homeostasis. Inflammation causes an increase in the production of hepcidin, interrupting the process of iron release by macrophages and the absorption
Normal ˜-Thalassemia with Hb constant spring of iron from the intestines leading to anemia. The anemia of inflammation may be normocytic or, less often, microcytic. This may pose a clinical challenge, when children with inflammatory disorders associated with blood loss (inflammatory bowel disease) exhibit a microcytic anemia. In these circumstances, only a bone marrow aspiration with staining of the sample for iron can differentiate the two entities clearly (see Table 150-4). Low ferritin levels indicate concurrent iron deficiency. A trial of iron therapy is not indicated without a specific diagnosis in children who appear to be systemically ill.
Bone marrow infiltration by malignant cells commonly leads to a normochromic, normocytic anemia. The mechanism
Table 150-6 Differentiation of Red Blood Cell Aplasias and Aplastic Anemias DISORDER AGE AT ONSET CHARACTERISTICS TREATMENT CONGENITAL Diamond-Blackfan syndrome (congenital Newborn–1 mo; 90% of patients are <1 yr Pure red blood cell aplasia, autosomal recessive trait, elevated fetal hemoglobin, fetal i antigen Prednisone, transfusion, hematopoietic stem cell hypoplastic anemia) of age present, macrocytic, short stature, webbed neck, transplant cleft lip, triphalangeal thumb; late-onset leukemia, mutation analysis
Parvovirus Any age Any chronic hemolytic anemia, typically sickle cell; Transfusion new-onset reticulocytopenia
Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) Any age; usually <5 yr X-linked immunodeficiency syndrome, Transfusion, bone marrow of age pancytopenia transplantation
CMV, Cytomegalovirus; CSF, cerebrospinal fluid; HHV-6, human herpesvirus 6; IVIG, intravenous immune globulin; MCV, mean corpuscular volume; VP-16, etoposide.
by which neoplastic cells interfere with RBC and other marrow cell synthesis is multifactorial. The reticulocyte count is often low. Immature myeloid elements may be released into the peripheral blood because of the presence of the offending tumor cells. An examination of the peripheral blood may reveal lymphoblasts; when solid tumors metastasize to the marrow, these cells are seldom seen in the peripheral blood. Teardrop cells may be seen in the peripheral blood. A bone marrow examination is frequently necessary in the face of normochromic, normocytic anemia.
Congenital pure RBC aplasia (Diamond-Blackfan syndrome), a lifelong disorder, usually presents in the first few months of life or at birth with severe anemia and mild macrocytosis or a normocytic anemia. It is due to a deficiency of bone marrow red blood cell precursors (Table 150-6). More than a third of patients have short stature. Many patients (50% to 66%) respond to corticosteroid treatment, but must receive therapy indefinitely. Patients who do not respond to corticosteroid treatment are transfusion dependent and are at risk of the multiple complications of long-term transfusion therapy, especially iron overload. These patients have a higher rate of developing leukemia or other hematologic malignancies than the general population.
In contrast to the congenital hypoplastic anemias, transient erythroblastopenia of childhood, a normocytic anemia causedby suppression of RBC synthesis, usually appears after 6 monthsof age in an otherwise normal infant. Viral infections are thoughtto be the trigger, although the mechanism leading to RBC aplasia is poorly understood. The onset is gradual, but anemia maybecome severe. Recovery usually is spontaneous. Differentiationfrom Diamond-Blackfan syndrome, in which erythroid precursors also are absent or diminished in the bone marrow, may bechallenging. Transfusion of packed RBCs may be necessary ifthe anemia becomes symptomatic before recovery.
Aplastic crises may complicate any chronic hemolytic anemia. These periods of severe reticulocytopenia, leading to an acute exacerbation of the anemia, may precipitate cardiovascular decompensation. Human parvovirus B19 (the cause of fifth disease) infects erythroid precursors and shuts down erythropoiesis. Transient erythroid aplasia is without consequence in individuals with normal RBC survival. Recovery from parvovirus infection in hemolytic disease is spontaneous, but patients may need transfusion if the anemia is severe.
SEE FIGURE 150-1.Available @ StudentConsult.comEtiology. Pancytopenia is a quantitative decrease in formed elements of the blood—erythrocytes, leukocytes, and platelets. Patients more often exhibit symptoms of infection or bleeding than anemia because of the relatively short life span of WBCs and platelets compared with the life span of RBCs. Causes of pancytopenia include failure of production (implying intrinsic bone marrow disease), sequestration (hypersplenism), and increased peripheral destruction.
Differential Diagnosis. Features that suggest bone marrow failure and mandate an examination of bone marrow include a low reticulocyte count, teardrop forms of RBCs(implying marrow replacement, not just failure), presenceof abnormal forms of leukocytes or myeloid elements lessmature than band forms, small platelets, and an elevatedmean corpuscular volume in the face of a low reticulocytecount. Pancytopenia resulting from bone marrow failure isusually a gradual process, starting with one or two cell lines, but later involving all three cell lines. Features suggestingincreased destruction include reticulocytosis, jaundice,immature erythroid or myeloid elements on the blood smear,large platelets, and increased serum bilirubin and lactic dehydrogenase.
Available @ StudentConsult.comEtiology and Epidemiology. In a child with aplastic anemia, pancytopenia evolves as the hematopoietic elements of the bone marrow disappear and the marrow is replaced by fat. In developed countries, aplastic anemia is most often idiopathic. The disorder may be induced by drugs such as chloramphenicol and felbamate or by toxins such as benzene. Aplastic anemia also may follow infections, particularly hepatitis and infectious mononucleosis (see Table 150-6). Immunosuppression of hematopoiesis is postulated to be an important mechanism in patients with postinfectious and idiopathic aplastic anemia.
Laboratory Studies. A bone marrow biopsy is crucial to determine cellularity or the extent of depletion of the hematopoietic elements.
Treatment. Survival rate is about 20% in severe aplastic anemia with supportive care alone, although the duration of survival may be years when vigorous blood product and antibiotic support is provided. For children with severe aplastic anemia—defined by an absolute reticulocyte count less than 50,000/μL, absolute neutrophil count less than 500/mm3, platelet count less than 20,000/mm3, and bone marrow cellularity on biopsy specimen less than 25% of normal—the treatment of choice is hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) from a sibling with identical HLA and compatible mixed lymphocytes. When HSCT occurs before the recipient is sensitized to blood products, survival rate is greater than 80%. The treatment of aplastic anemia without an HLA-matched donor for HSCT is evolving, with two major options: potent immunosuppressive therapy or unrelated or partially matched HSCT. Results of trials using immunosuppressive therapy with antithymocyte globulin, cyclosporine, and corticosteroids in combination with hematopoietic growth factors have been encouraging. Such therapy is often toxic, and relapses often occur when therapy is stopped.
Available @ StudentConsult.comEtiology and Epidemiology. Fanconi anemia is a constitutional form of aplastic anemia that usually presents in the latter half of the first decade of life and may evolve over years. A group of genetic defects in proteins involved in DNA repairhave been identified in Fanconi anemia, which is inherited in an autosomal recessive manner. The diagnosis is based on demonstration of increased chromosomal breakage after exposure to agents that damage DNA. The repair mechanism for DNA damage is abnormal in all cells in Fanconi anemia, which may contribute to the increased risk of malignancies. Terminal acute leukemia develops in 10% of cases. Other malignancies include solid tumors of the head and neck, gastrointestinal tumors, and gynecologic tumors.
Clinical Manifestations. Patients with Fanconi anemia have numerous characteristic clinical findings (see Table 150-6).
Treatment. Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation can cure the pancytopenia caused by bone marrow aplasia. Many patients with Fanconi anemia and about 20% of children with aplastic anemia seem to respond for a time to androgenic therapy, which induces masculinization and may cause liver injury and liver tumors. Androgenic therapy increases RBC synthesis and may diminish transfusion requirements. The effect on granulocytes, and especially the platelet count, is less impressive.
Marrow Replacement. Marrow replacement may occur as a result of leukemia, solid tumors (especially neuroblastoma), storage diseases, osteopetrosis in infants, and myelofibrosis, which is rare in childhood. The mechanisms by which malignant cells impair marrow synthesis of normal hematopoietic elements are complex and incompletely understood. Bone marrow aspirate and biopsy are needed for precise diagnosis of the etiology of marrow synthetic failure.
Pancytopenia Resulting from Destruction of Cells. Pancytopenia resulting from destruction of cells may be caused by intramedullary destruction of hematopoietic elements (myeloproliferative disorders, deficiencies of folic acid and vitamin B12) or by the peripheral destruction of mature cells. The usual site of peripheral destruction of blood cells is the spleen, although the liver and other parts of the reticuloendothelial system may participate. Hypersplenism maybe the result of anatomic causes (portal hypertension or splenic hypertrophy from thalassemia); infections (including malaria); or storage diseases (Gaucher disease, lymphomas, or histiocytosis). Splenectomy is indicated only when the pancytopenia is of clinical significance.
Available @ StudentConsult.comEtiology. Because alpha chains are needed for fetal erythropoiesis and production of hemoglobin F (α2γ2), alpha chain hemoglobinopathies are present in utero. Four alpha genes are present on the two number 16 chromosomes (see Fig. 150-3 and Table 150-5). Single gene deletions produce no disorder (silent carrier state), but can be detected by measuring the rates of α and β synthesis or by using molecular biologic techniques. Deletion of two genes produces α-thalassemia minor with mild or no anemia and microcytosis. In individuals of African origin, the gene deletions occur on different chromosomes (trans), and the disorder is benign. In the Asian population, deletions may occur on the same chromosome (cis),and infants may inherit two number 16 chromosomes lacking three or even four genes. Deletion of all four genes leads to hydrops fetalis, severe intrauterine anemia, and death, unless intrauterine transfusions are administered. Deletion of three genes produces moderate hemolytic anemia with γ4 tetramers (Bart hemoglobin) in the fetus and β4 tetramers (hemoglobin
H) in older children and adults (see Table 150-5).Beta chain hemoglobinopathies in the United States are more prevalent than alpha chain disorders, possibly because these abnormalities are not symptomatic in utero. The major beta hemoglobinopathies include those that alter hemoglobin function, including hemoglobins S, C, E, and D, and those that alter beta chain production, the β-thalassemias. Because each RBC has two copies of chromosome 11 and they express both β-globin genes, most disorders of beta chains are not clinically severe, unless both beta chains are abnormal. By convention, when describing β-thalassemia genes, β0 indicates a thalassemic gene resulting in absent beta chain synthesis, whereas β+ indicates a thalassemic gene that permits reduced but not absent synthesis of normal β chains. Disorders of the beta chain usually manifest themselves clinically between 4 and 12 months of age, unless they have been detected prenatally or by cord blood screening.
β-Thalassemia Major (Cooley Anemia) Etiology and Epidemiology. β-Thalassemia major is caused by mutations that impair beta chain synthesis. Because of unbalanced synthesis of alpha and beta chains, alpha chains precipitate within the cells, resulting in RBC destruction either in the bone marrow or in the spleen. β-Thalassemia major is seen most commonly in individuals of Mediterranean or Asian descent. The clinical severity of the illness varies on the basis of the molecular defect.
Clinical Manifestations. Signs and symptoms of βthalassemia major result from the combination of chronic hemolytic disease, decreased or absent production of normal hemoglobin A, and ineffective erythropoiesis. The anemia is severe and leads to growth failure and high-output heart failure. Ineffective erythropoiesis causes increased expenditure of energy and expansion of the bone marrow cavities of all bones, leading to osteopenia, pathologic fractures, extramedullary erythropoiesis with resultant hepatosplenomegaly, and an increase in the rate of iron absorption.
Treatment. Treatment of β-thalassemia major is based on a hypertransfusion program that corrects the anemia and suppresses the patient’s own ineffective erythropoiesis, limiting the stimulus for increased iron absorption. This suppression permits the bones to heal, decreases metabolic expenditures, increases growth, and limits dietary iron absorption. Splenectomy may reduce the transfusion volume, but it adds to the risk of serious infection. Chelation therapy with deferoxamine or deferasirox should start when laboratory evidence of iron overload (hemochromatosis) is present and before there are clinical signs of iron overload (nonimmune diabetes mellitus, cirrhosis, heart failure, bronzing of the skin, and multiple endocrine abnormalities). Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in childhood, before organ dysfunction induced by iron overload, has had a high success rate in β-thalassemia major and is the treatment of choice.
Available @ StudentConsult.comEtiology and Epidemiology. The common sickle cell syndromes are hemoglobin SS disease, hemoglobin S-C disease, hemoglobin S-β thalassemia, and rare variants (Table 150-7). The specific hemoglobin phenotype must be identified because the clinical complications differ in frequency, type, and severity. As a result of a single amino acid substitution smear: hypochromic, microcytic anemia
S-HPFH Sickle-0 70–80 1–2 20–30 – Often asymptomatic; Hb F is uniformly distributed hereditary persistence of Hb F
From Andreoli T, Carpenter C, Griggs R, et al: Cecil Essentials of Medicine, ed 7, Philadelphia, 2007, Saunders.
(valine for glutamic acid at the β6 position), sickle hemoglobin crystallizes and forms a gel in the deoxygenated state. When reoxygenated, the sickle hemoglobin is normally soluble. The so-called reversible sickle cell is capable of entering the microcirculation. As the oxygen is extracted and saturation declines, sickling may occur, occluding the microvasculature. The surrounding tissue undergoes infarction, inducing pain and dysfunction. This sickling phenomenon is exacerbated by hypoxia, acidosis, fever, hypothermia, and dehydration.
Clinical Manifestations and Treatment. A child with sickle cell anemia is vulnerable to life-threatening infection by 4 months of age. By that time, splenic dysfunction is caused by sickling of the RBCs within the spleen, resulting in an inability to filter microorganisms from the bloodstream in most patients. Splenic dysfunction is followed, eventually, by splenic infarction, usually by 2 to 4 years of age. The loss of normal splenic function makes the patient susceptible to overwhelming infection by encapsulated organisms, especially Streptococcus pneumoniae and other pathogens (Table 150-8).The hallmark of infection is fever. A febrile patient with a sickle cell syndrome (temperature >38.5°C) must be evaluated immediately (see Chapter 96). Current precautions to prevent infections include prophylactic daily oral penicillin begun at diagnosis and vaccinations against pneumococcus, Haemophilus influenzae type b, hepatitis B virus, and influenza virus.
The anemia of hemoglobin SS disease is usually a chronic, moderately severe, hemolytic anemia that is not routinely transfusion dependent. The severity depends in part on the patient’s phenotype. Manifestations of chronic anemia include jaundice, pallor, variable splenomegaly in infancy, a cardiac flow murmur, and delayed growth and sexual maturation. Decisions about transfusion should be made on the basis of the patient’s clinical condition, the hemoglobin level, and the reticulocyte count.
Sickle cell disease is complicated by sudden, occasionally severe and life-threatening events caused by the acute intra-vascular sickling of the RBCs, with resultant pain or organ dysfunction (so-called crisis). In two different clinical situations, an acute, potentially life-threatening decline in the hemoglobin level may be superimposed on the chronic compensated anemia. Splenic sequestration crisis is a life-threatening, hyperacute drop in the hemoglobin level (blood volume) secondary to splenic pooling of the patient’s RBCs and sickling within the spleen. The spleen is moderately to markedly enlarged, and the reticulocyte count is elevated. In an aplastic crisis, parvovirus B19 infects RBC precursors in the bone marrow and induces transient RBC aplasia with reticulocytopenia and a rapid worsening of anemia because of the very short life span of sickle RBCs. Simple transfusion therapy is indicated for sequestration and aplastic crises when the anemia is symptomatic.
Vasoocclusive painful events may occur in any organ of the body and are manifested by pain and/or significant dysfunction (see Table 150-8). The acute chest syndrome is a vasoocclusive crisis within the lungs with evidence of a new infiltrate on chest radiograph. It is often associated with infection and infarction. The patient may first complain of chest pain but within a few hours develops cough, increasing respiratory and heart rates, hypoxia, and progressive respiratory distress. Physical examination reveals areas of decreased breath sounds and dullness on chest percussion. Treatment involves early recognition and prevention of arterial hypoxemia. Oxygen, fluids, judicious use of analgesic medications, antibiotics, bronchodilators, and RBC transfusion (rarely exchange transfusion) are indicated in therapy for acute chest syndrome. Incentive spirometry may help reduce the incidence of acute chest crisis in patients presenting with pain in the chest or abdomen.
Pain crisis is the most common type of vasoocclusive event.The pain usually localizes to the long bones of the arms or legsbut may occur in smaller bones of the hands or feet in infancy(dactylitis) or in the abdomen. Painful crises usually last 2 to7 days. Vasoocclusive crises within the femur may lead to avascular necrosis of the femoral head and chronic hip disease.Treatment of pain crises includes administration of fluids, analgesia (usually narcotics and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatorydrugs), and oxygen if the patient is hypoxic. Although pain isoften impossible to quantitate, the risk for drug dependency ishighly overrated, and appropriate use of analgesics is necessary.
Priapism occurs in boys usually between 6 and 20 years old. The child experiences a sudden, painful onset of a
Anemia Chronic, onset 3–4 mo of age; may require folate therapy for chronic hemolysis; hemoglobin usually 6-10 g/dL
Aplastic crisis Parvovirus infection, reticulocytopenia; acute and reversible; may need transfusion
Sequestration Massive splenomegaly (may involve liver), crisis shock; treat with transfusion
Hemolytic crisis May be associated with G6PD deficiencyPainful crisis Microvascular painful vasoocclusive infarcts of muscle, bone, bone marrow, lung, intestines
Acute chest Infection, asthma, atelectasis, infarction, fat syndrome emboli, severe hypoxemia, infiltrate, dyspnea, absent breath sounds
Chronic lung Pulmonary fibrosis, restrictive lung disease, disease cor pulmonale, pulmonary hypertension
Priapism Causes eventual impotence; treated with transfusion, oxygen, or corpora cavernosa-tospongiosa shunt
Renal Hematuria, papillary necrosis, renal concentrating defect; nephropathySkeletal Osteonecrosis (avascular) of femoral or humeral headInfections Functional asplenia, defects in properdin system; pneumococcal bacteremia, meningitis, and arthritis; deafness from meningitis; Salmonella and Staphylococcus aureus osteomyelitis; severe Mycoplasma pneumonia
Growth failure, May respond to nutritional supplements delayed pubertyPsychological Narcotic addiction (rare), dependence problems unusual; chronic illness, chronic pain syndrome
G6PD, Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase.*Clinical manifestations with sickle cell trait are unusual but include renal papillary necrosis (hematuria), sudden death on exertion, intraocular hyphema extension, and sickling in unpressurized airplanes.
tumescent penis that will not relax. Therapeutic steps for priapism include the administration of oxygen, fluids, analgesia, and transfusion when appropriate to achieve a hemoglobin S less than 30% (often by partial exchange transfusion). Fluid management requires recognition that renal medullary infarction results in loss of the ability to concentrate urine.
Overt stroke occurs in approximately 8% to 10% of patients with SS disease. These events may present as the sudden onset of an altered state of consciousness, seizures, or focal paralysis. Silent stroke, which is defined as evidence of cerebral infarction on imaging studies but a normal neurologic examination, is more common and occurs in approximately 20% of patients with SS disease. A significant change in school performance or behavior has been associated with silent stroke. Children with Hg SS disease over 3 years of age should be screened for increased risk of stroke using transcranial Doppler (TCD).
Laboratory Diagnosis. The diagnosis of hemoglobinopathies is made by identifying the precise amount and type of hemoglobin using hemoglobin electrophoresis, isoelectric focusing, or high-performance liquid chromatography. Every member of an at-risk population should have a precise hemoglobin phenotype performed at birth (preferably) or during early infancy. Most states perform newborn screening for sickle cell disease.
Treatment. Direct therapy of sickle cell anemia is evolving. The mainstay of care is supportive measures. The use of chronic RBC transfusions to treat patients who have had a stroke has been very successful. Chronic RBC transfusions have also been used successfully for short time periods to prevent recurrent vasoocclusive painful events, including acute chest syndrome and priapism. Hydroxyurea, which increases hemoglobin F, decreases the number and severity of vasoocclusive events and frequency of acute chest syndrome in children as early as1 year of age. Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, using a haploidentical sibling match, has cured many children with sickle cell disease. HSCT using alternative donors for children, without a suitable sibling match, is being studied.
Available @ StudentConsult.comEtiology. Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency is an abnormality in the hexose monophosphate shunt pathway of glycolysis that results in the depletion of reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) and the inability to regenerate reduced glutathione. When a patient with G6PD is exposed to significant oxidant stress, hemoglobin is oxidized, forming precipitates of sulfhemoglobin (Heinz bodies), which are visible on specially stained preparations. The gene for G6PD deficiency is on the X chromosome.
The severity of hemolysis depends on the enzyme variant. In many G6PD variants, the enzymes become unstable with aging of the RBC and cannot be replaced because the cell is anucleated. Older cells are most susceptible to oxidant-induced hemolysis. In other variants, the enzyme is kinetically abnormal.
Epidemiology. The most common variants of G6PD deficiency have been found in areas where malaria is endemic. G6PD deficiency protects against parasitism ofthe erythrocyte. The most common variant with normalactivity is termed type B and is defined by its electrophoretic mobility. The approximate gene frequencies in AfricanAmericans are 70% type B, 20% type A, and 10% type A–. Only the A– variant, termed the African variant, is unstable. Ten percent of black males are affected. A group of variants found in Sardinians, Sicilians, Greeks, Sephardic and Oriental Jews, and Arabs is termed the Mediterranean variant and is associated with chronic hemolysis andpotentially life-threatening hemolytic disease. Because thegene for G6PD deficiency is carried on the X chromosome, clinical hemolysis is most common in males. Heterozygousfemales who have randomly inactivated a higher percentage of the normal gene may become symptomatic, as mayhomozygous females with the A– variant (0.5% to 1% offemales of African descent).
Clinical Manifestations. G6PD deficiency has two common presentations. Individuals with the A– variant havenormal hemoglobin values when well, but develop an acute episode of hemolysis triggered by serious (bacterial) infection or ingestion of an oxidant drug. The RBC morphologyduring episodes of acute hemolysis is striking, appearing to have “bites” taken out of them (cookie cells). These areareas of absent hemoglobin that are produced by phagocytosis of Heinz bodies by splenic macrophages; as a result,the RBCs appear blistered. Clinically evident jaundice, darkurine resulting from bilirubin pigments, hemoglobinuriawhen hemolysis is intravascular, and decreased haptoglobinlevels are common during hemolytic episodes. Early on, thehemolysis usually exceeds the ability of the bone marrowto compensate, so the reticulocyte count may be low for 3to 4 days.
Laboratory Studies. The diagnosis of G6PD deficiency is based on decreased NADPH formation. G6PD levels during an acute, severe hemolytic episode may be normal, however, because the most deficient cells have been destroyed and reticulocytes are enriched with G6PD. Repeating the test at a later time when the patient is in a steady-state condition, testing the mothers of boys with suspected G6PD deficiency, or performing electrophoresis to identify the precise variant present aids in diagnosis.
Treatment and Prevention. The treatment of G6PD deficiency is supportive. Transfusions are indicated whensignificant cardiovascular compromise is present. Maintaining hydration and urine alkalization protects the kidneysagainst damage from precipitated free hemoglobin. Hemolysis is prevented by avoidance of known oxidants, particularly long-acting sulfonamides, nitrofurantoin, primaquine,dimercaprol, and moth balls (naphthalene). Fava beans(favism) have triggered hemolysis, particularly in patientswith the Mediterranean variant. Serious infection also is a potential precipitant of hemolysis in G6PD-deficient youngchildren.
Pyruvate kinase deficiency is much less common than G6PD deficiency and represents a clinical spectrum of disorders caused by the functional deficiency of pyruvate kinase.Some individuals have a true deficiency state, and others haveabnormal enzyme kinetics. The metabolic consequence ofpyruvate kinase deficiency is adenosine triphosphate (ATP)depletion, impairing RBC survival. Pyruvate kinase deficiency is usually an autosomal disorder, and most childrenwho are affected (and are not products of consanguinity) aredouble heterozygotes for two abnormal enzymes. Hemolysisis not aggravated by oxidant stress due to the profound reticulocytosis in this condition. Aplastic crises are potentiallylife-threatening. The spleen is the site for RBC removal inpyruvate kinase deficiency. Most patients have amelioration ofthe anemia and a reduction of transfusion requirements aftersplenectomy.
Available @ StudentConsult.comEtiology. The biochemical basis of hereditary spherocytosis and hereditary elliptocytosis are similar. Both conditions appear to have a defect in the protein lattice (spectrin, ankyrin, protein 4.2, band 3) that underlies the RBC lipid bilayer and provides stability of the membrane shape. In hereditary spherocytosis, pieces of membrane bud off as microvesicles because of abnormal vertical interaction of the cytoskeletal proteins and uncoupling of the lipid bilayer from the cytoskeleton. When the RBC loses membrane, cell shape changes from a biconcave disk to a spherocyte. The RBC is less deformable when passing through narrow passages in the spleen. Hereditary elliptocytosis is a disorder of spectrin dimer interactions that occurs primarily in individuals of African descent. The transmission of the two variants is usually autosomal dominant, but spontaneous mutations causing hereditary spherocytosis are common. Hereditary pyropoikilocytosis (unusual instability of the erythrocytes when they are exposed to heat at 45°C) is the result of a structural abnormality of spectrin.
Clinical Manifestations. Hereditary spherocytosis varies greatly in clinical severity, ranging from an asymptomatic, well-compensated, mild hemolytic anemia that may be discovered incidentally to a severe hemolytic anemia with growth failure, splenomegaly, and chronic transfusion requirements in infancy necessitating early splenectomy. The most common variant of hereditary elliptocytosis is a clinically insignificant morphologic abnormality without shortened RBC survival. The less common variant is associated with spherocytes, ovalocytes, and elliptocytes with a moderate, usually compensated, hemolysis. Far more significant hemolysis occurs in hereditary pyropoikilocytosis. The peripheral blood smear in hereditary pyropoikilocytosis often includes elliptocytes, spherocytes, fragmented RBCs, and striking microcytosis. Such patients may have bizarre blood smears in the newborn period with small, fragmented RBCs.
Laboratory Diagnosis. The clinical diagnosis of hereditaryspherocytosis should be suspected in patients with even a fewspherocytes found on the blood smear because the spleenpreferentially removes spherocytes. An incubated osmotic fragility test confirms the presence of spherocytes andincreases the likelihood of the diagnosis. The osmotic fragility test result is abnormal in any hemolytic disease in whichspherocytes are present—for example, in antibody-mediatedhemolysis.
Treatment. Splenectomy corrects the anemia and normalizes the RBC survival in patients with hereditaryspherocytosis, but the morphologic abnormalities persist.Splenectomy should be considered for any child with symptoms referable to anemia or growth failure, but should bedeferred until age 5 years, if possible, to minimize the risk ofoverwhelming postsplenectomy sepsis and to maximize theantibody response to the polyvalent pneumococcal vaccine.In several reports, partial splenectomy seems to improvethe hemolytic anemia and maintain splenic function in hostdefense.
Figure 150-4 Coombs or direct antiglobulin test (DAT). In the DAT, so-called Coombs serum that recognizes human immunoglobulin (Ig) or complement (C) is used to detect the presence of antibody or C on the surface of the red blood cells (RBCs) by agglutination. A, An IgM antibody can bind two RBCs simultaneously because of its multiple antigen-binding sites. The great size of the IgM allows it to bridge the surface repulsive forces (zeta potential) between RBCs and cause agglutination. B, An IgG antibody is too small to bridge the zeta potential and cause agglutination. C, On the addition of Coombs serum, the zeta potential is bridged successfully, and RBCs agglutinate. (Modified from Ware RE, Rosse WF: Autoimmune hemolytic anemia. In Orkin SH, Nathan DG, Look AT, Ginsburg D, editors: Hematology of Infancy and Childhood, ed 6,
Philadelphia, 2003, Saunders, p 530.)Hemolytic Anemia Caused by Disorders Extrinsic to the Red Blood Cell Etiology and Clinical Manifestations
Available @ StudentConsult.comIsoimmune hemolysis is caused by active maternal immunization against fetal antigens that the mother’s erythrocytes do not express (see Chapter 62). Examples are antibodies to the A, B, and Rh D antigens; other Rh antigens; and the Kell, Duffy, and other blood groups. Anti-A and anti-B hemolysis is caused by the placental transfer of naturally occurring maternal antibodies from mothers who lack A or B antigen (usually blood type O). Positive results of the direct antiglobulin (Coombs) test on the infant’s RBCs (Fig. 150-4), the indirect antiglobulin test on the mother’s serum, and the presence of spherocytes and immature erythroid precursors (erythroblastosis) on the infant’s blood smear confirm this diagnosis. Isoimmune hemolytic disease varies in clinical severity. There may be no clinical manifestations, or the infant may exhibit jaundice, severe anemia, and hydrops fetalis.
Autoimmune hemolytic anemia is usually an acute, self-limited process that develops after an infection (Mycoplasma,Epstein-Barr, or other viral infections). Autoimmune hemolyticanemia may also be the presenting symptom of a chronic autoimmune disease (systemic lupus erythematosus, lymphoproliferative disorders, or immunodeficiency). Drugs may induce aCoombs-positive hemolytic anemia by forming a hapten on theRBC membrane (penicillin) or by forming immune complexes(quinidine) that attach to the RBC membrane. Antibodies thenactivate complement-induced intravascular hemolysis. Thethird type of drug-induced immune hemolysis occurs duringtreatment with α-methyldopa and a few other drugs. In this type,prolonged drug exposure alters the RBC membrane, inducingneoantigen formation. Antibodies are produced that bind to theneoantigen; this produces a positive antiglobulin test result farmore commonly than it actually induces hemolysis. In each ofthese conditions, the erythrocyte is an innocent bystander.
A second form of acquired hemolytic disease is caused by mechanical damage to the RBC membrane during circulation. In thrombotic microangiopathy, the RBCs are trapped by fibrin strands in the circulation and physically broken by shear stress as they pass through these strands. Hemolytic uremic syndrome, disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura, malignant hypertension, toxemia, and hyperacute renal graft rejection can produce thrombotic microangiopathy. The platelets are usually large, indicating that they are young, but have a decreased survival even if the numbers are normal. Consumption of clotting factors is more prominent in DIC than in the other forms of thrombotic microangiopathy. The smear shows RBC fragments (schistocytes), microspherocytes, teardrop forms, and polychromasia. Other examples of mechanical injury to RBCs include damage by exposure to nonendothelialized surfaces (as in artificial heart valves) or as a result of high flow and shear rates in giant hemangiomas (Kasabach-Merritt syndrome).
Alterations in the plasma lipids, especially cholesterol, may lead to damage to the RBC membrane and shorten RBC survival. Lipids in the plasma are in equilibrium with lipids in the RBC membrane. High cholesterol levels increase the membrane cholesterol and the total membrane surface without affecting the volume of the cell. This condition produces spur cells that may be seen in abetalipoproteinemia and liver diseases. Hemolysis occurs in the spleen, where poor RBC deformability results in erythrocyte destruction. Circulating toxins (e.g., snake venoms and heavy metals) that bind sulfhydryl groups may damage the RBC membrane and induce hemolysis. Irregularly spiculated RBCs (burr cells) are seen in renal failure. Vitamin E deficiency can also cause an acquired hemolytic anemia as a result of abnormal sensitivity of membrane lipids to oxidant stress. Vitamin E deficiency may occur in premature infants who are not being supplemented with vitamin E or who have insufficient nutrition, in infants with severe malabsorption syndromes (including cystic fibrosis), and in infants with transfusional iron overload, which can lead to severe oxidant exposure.
Laboratory Diagnosis. The peripheral blood smear in autoimmune hemolytic anemia usually reveals spherocytes and occasionally nucleated RBCs. The reticulocyte count varies because some patients have relatively low reticulocyte counts as a result of autoantibodies that cross-react with RBC precursors.
Treatment and Prognosis. Transfusion for the treatment of autoimmune hemolysis is challenging because crossmatching is difficult, as the autoantibodies react with virtually all RBCs. In addition to transfusion, which may be lifesaving, management of autoimmune hemolytic anemia depends on antibody type. Management may involve administration of corticosteroids and, at times, intravenous immunoglobulin. Corticosteroids reduce the clearance of sensitized RBCs in the spleen. In drug-induced hemolysis, withdrawal of the drug usually leads to resolution of the hemolytic process. More than 80% of children with autoimmune hemolytic anemia recover spontaneously.
Hemostasis is the dynamic process of coagulation as it occurs in areas of vascular injury, involving the carefullymodulated interaction of platelets, vascular wall, and pro-coagulant and anticoagulant proteins. After an injury tothe vascular endothelium, subendothelial collagen inducesa conformational change in von Willebrand factor (vWF), an adhesive protein to which platelets bind via their glycoprotein Ib receptor. After adhesion, platelets undergo activation and release numerous intracellular contents, includingadenosine diphosphate (ADP). These activated plateletssubsequently induce aggregation of additional platelets.Simultaneously, tissue factor, collagen, and other matrix proteins in tissue activate the coagulation cascade, leading to theformation of the enzyme thrombin (Fig. 151-1). Thrombincauses further aggregation of platelets, a positive feedbackactivation of factors 5 and 8, the conversion of fibrinogen tofibrin, and the activation of factor 11. A platelet plug forms, and bleeding ceases, usually within 3 to 7 minutes. The generation of thrombin leads to formation of a permanent clot bythe activation of factor 13, which cross-links fibrin, forminga stable thrombus. Finally, contractile elements within theplatelet mediate clot retraction. Thrombin also contributes to the eventual limitation of clot size by binding to the protein thrombomodulin on intact endothelial cells, convertingprotein C into activated protein C. Thrombin contributes to the eventual lysis of the thrombus by activating plasminogento plasmin. All of the hemostatic processes are closely interwoven and occur on biologic surfaces that mediate coagulation by bringing the critical players—platelets, endothelialcells, and subendothelium—into close proximity with pro-and anticoagulant proteins.
Many think of coagulation as having intrinsic and extrinsic pathways, but the reality is that these pathways are closely interactive and do not react independently (Fig. 151-2). For ease of use, all coagulation factors are denoted using Arabic rather than Roman numerals to prevent misreading factor VII (7) as factor VIII (8). In vivo, factor 7 autocatalyzes to form small amounts of factor 7a. When tissue is injured, tissue factor is released and causes a burst of factor 7a generation. Tissue factor, in combination with calcium and factor 7a, activates factor 9 and factor 10. The activation of factor 9 by factor 7a results in eventual generation of thrombin, which feeds back on factor 11, generating factor 11a and accelerating thrombin formation. This process explains why deficiency of factor 8 or factor 9 leads to severe bleeding disorders, whereas deficiency of factor 11 is usually mild, and deficiency of factor 12 is asymptomatic.
A series of inhibitory factors serve to tightly regulate theactivation of coagulation. Antithrombin III inactivates thrombin and factors 10a, 9a, and 11a. The protein C and protein S system inactivates activated factors 5 and 8, whichare cofactors localized in the “tenase” and “prothrombinase” complexes. The tissue factor pathway inhibitor, an anticoagulant protein, limits activation of the coagulation cascade by factor 7a and factor 10a. Fibrinolysis is initiated by the action of tissue plasminogen activator on plasminogen, producing plasmin, the active enzyme thatdegrades fibrin into split products. Fibrinolysis eventually dissolves the clot and allows normal flow to resume.Deficiencies of anticoagulant proteins may predispose tothrombosis.
In the fetus, fibrinogen, factor 5, factor 8, and platelets approach normal levels during the second trimester. Levels of other clotting factors and anticoagulant proteins increase gradually throughout gestation. The premature infant issimultaneously at increased risk of bleeding or clottingcomplications that are exacerbated by many of the medical interventions needed for care and monitoring, especiallyindwelling arterial or venous catheters. Most children attainnormal levels of procoagulant and anticoagulant proteins by1 year of age, although levels of protein C lag and normalize inadolescence.
A detailed family history is crucial for diagnosis of bleeding and thrombotic disorders. Hemophilia is X-linked, and almost all affected children are boys. von Willebrand disease usually is inherited in an autosomal dominant fashion. In the investigation of thrombotic disorders, a personal or family history of blood clots in the legs or lungs, early-onset stroke, or heart attack suggests a hereditary predisposition to thrombosis. The causes of bleeding may be hematologic in origin or due to vascular, nonhematologic causes (Fig. 151-3). Thrombotic disorders can be congenital or acquired (Table 151-1) and frequently present after an initial event (central catheter, trauma, malignancy, infection, pregnancy, treatment with estrogens) provides a nidus for clot formation or a procoagulant stimulus.
Figure 151-1 Diagram of the multiple interactions of the hemostatic mechanism. Solid lines indicate reactions that favor coagulation, and dashed lines indicate reactions that inhibit clotting. Epi, Epinephrine; GAGs, glycosaminoglycans; NO, nitric oxide; PAI, plasminogen activator inhibitor; PGI2, prostaglandin I2 (prostacyclin); TAFI, thrombin-activated fibrinolytic inhibitor; TXA2, thromboxane A2; vWF, von Willebrand factor. (Modified from Scott JP, Montgomery RR: Hemorrhagic and thrombotic diseases. In Kliegman RM, Behrman RE, Jenson HB, Stanton BF, editors: Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics, ed 18, Philadelphia, 2007, Saunders, p 2062.)
Available @ StudentConsult.comPatients with hemostatic disorders may have complaints ofeither bleeding or clotting. Age at onset of bleeding indicateswhether the problem is congenital or acquired. The sites of bleeding (mucocutaneous or deep) and degree of trauma(spontaneous or significant) required to induce injury suggest the type and severity of the disorder. Certain medications (aspirin and valproic acid) are known to exacerbatepreexisting bleeding disorders by interfering with plateletfunction.
The physical examination should characterize the presence of skin or mucous membrane bleeding and deepersites of hemorrhage into the muscles and joints or internalbleeding sites. The term petechia refers to a non-blanching lesion less than 2 mm in size. Purpura is a group of adjoining petechiae, ecchymoses (bruises) are isolated lesions larger than petechiae, and hematomas are raised, palpable ecchymoses.
The physical examination should also search for manifestations of an underlying disease, lymphadenopathy,hepatosplenomegaly, vasculitic rash, or chronic hepatic orrenal disease. Deep venous thrombi may cause warm, swollen (distended), tender, purplish discolored extremities ororgans or no findings. Arterial clots cause acute, painful,pale, and poorly perfused extremities. Arterial thrombi ofthe internal organs present with signs and symptoms ofinfarction.
Screening laboratory studies for bleeding patients include a platelet count, prothrombin time, partial thromboplastin time, fibrinogen, and bleeding time or other screening test of platelet function. Many laboratories have adopted the platelet function analyzer (PFA) to replace the bleeding time as a screening test for platelet function abnormalities and
Figure 151-2 Simplified pathways of blood coagulation. The area inside the solid black line is the intrinsic pathway measured by the activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT). The area inside the green line is the extrinsic pathway, measured by the prothrombin time (PT). The area encompassed by both lines is the common pathway. AT-III, Antithrombin III; F, factor; HMWK, high-molecular-weight kininogen; P-C/S, protein C/S; PL, phospholipid; TFPI, tissue factor pathway inhibitor. (Modified from Scott JP, Montgomery RR: Hemorrhagic and thrombotic diseases. In Kliegman RM, Behrman RE, Jenson HB, Stanton BF, editors: Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics, ed 18, Philadelphia, 2007, Saunders, p 2061.)
Prothrombin time Extrinsic and common pathway <12 sec beyond neonate; Defect in vitamin K–dependent factors; 12–18 sec in term neonate hemorrhagic disease of newborn, malabsorption, liver disease, DIC, oral anticoagulants, ingestion of rat poison
Thrombin time Fibrinogen to fibrin conversion 10–15 sec beyond neonate; Fibrin split products, DIC, 12–17 sec in term neonate hypofibrinogenemia, heparin, uremia
Bleeding time Hemostasis, capillary and platelet 3–7 min beyond neonate Platelet dysfunction, thrombocytopenia, von function
Willebrand disease, aspirinPlatelet count Platelet number 150,000–450,000/mL Thrombocytopenia differential diagnosis (see Fig. 151-4) von Willebrand disease. The PFA has variable sensitivity and specificity for common bleeding disorders. No single laboratory test can screen for all bleeding disorders. The findings on screening tests for bleeding vary with the specific disorder (Table 151-2).
From Scott JP: Bleeding and thrombosis. In Kliegman RM, editor: Practical Strategies in Pediatric Diagnosis and Therapy, Philadelphia, 1996, WB Saunders.
Disorders of PlateletsAvailable @ StudentConsult.comPlatelet counts less than 150,000/mm3 constitute thrombocytopenia. Mucocutaneous bleeding is the hallmark of platelet disorders, including thrombocytopenia. The risk of bleeding correlates imperfectly with the platelet count. Children with platelet counts greater than 80,000/mm3 are able to withstand all but the most extreme hemostatic challenges, such as surgery or major trauma. Children with platelet counts less than 20,000/mm3 are at risk for spontaneous bleeding. These generalizations are modified by factors such as the age of the platelets (young, large platelets usually function better than old ones) and the presence of inhibitors of platelet function, such as antibodies, drugs (especially aspirin), fibrin degradation products, and toxins formed in the presence of hepatic or renal disease. The size of platelets is routinely measured as the mean platelet volume (MPV). The etiology of thrombocytopenia (Fig. 151-4) may be organized into three mechanisms: 1.
Primary disorders of megakaryopoiesis (platelet production)are rare in childhood, other than as part of an aplastic syndrome. Thrombocytopenia with absent radii syndromeis characterized by severe thrombocytopenia in association with orthopedic abnormalities, especially of the upper
DIC, Disseminated intravascular coagulation; PFA, platelet function analyzer-100; RBC, red blood cell.
extremity. The thrombocytopenia usually improves over time.Amegakaryocytic thrombocytopenia presents at birth or shortly thereafter with findings of severe thrombocytopenia,but no other congenital anomalies. The marrow is devoid ofmegakaryocytes and usually progresses to aplasia of all hematopoietic cell lines.
Acquired thrombocytopenia as a result of decreased production is rarely an isolated finding. It is seen more often inthe context of pancytopenia resulting from bone marrow failure caused by infiltrative or aplastic processes. Certain chemotherapeutic agents may affect megakaryocytes selectively
ITP 2 to SLE, HIV Drug-inducedFigure 151-4 Differential diagnosis of childhood thrombocytopenic syndromes. The syndromes initially are separated by their clinical appearances. Clues leading to the diagnosis are presented in italics. The mechanisms and common disorders leading to these findings are shown in the lower part of the figure. Disorders that commonly affect neonates are listed in the shaded boxes. HSM, Hepatosplenomegaly; ITP, idiopathic immune thrombocytopenic purpura; NATP, neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenic purpura; SLE, systemic lupus erythematosus; TAR, thrombocytopenia with absence of radius (syndrome); TTP, thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura; UAC, umbilical artery catheter; WBC, white blood cell. (From Scott JP: Bleeding and thrombosis. In Kliegman RM, Greenbaum LA, Lye PS, editors: Practical Strategies in Pediatric Diagnosis and Therapy, Philadelphia, 2004, Saunders, p 920.) more than other marrow elements. Cyanotic congenital heart disease with polycythemia often is associated with thrombocytopenia, but this is rarely severe or associated with significant clinical bleeding. Congenital (TORCH [toxoplasmosis,other agents, rubella, cytomegalovirus, herpes simplex]) andacquired viral infections (human immunodeficiency virus[HIV], Epstein-Barr virus, and measles) and some drugs (anticonvulsants, antibiotics, cytotoxic agents, heparin, and quinidine) may induce thrombocytopenia. Postnatal infections anddrug reactions usually cause transient thrombocytopenia,whereas congenital infections may produce prolonged suppression of bone marrow function.
Etiology. In a child who appears well, immune-mediated mechanisms are the most common cause of thrombocytopeniaresulting from rapid peripheral destruction of antibody-coatedplatelets by reticuloendothelial cells. Neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenic purpura (NATP) occurs as a result of sensitization of the mother to antigens present on fetal platelets. Antibodies cross the placenta and attack the fetal platelet (see Chapter 59). Many platelet alloantigens have been identified and sequenced, permitting prenatal diagnosis of the condition in an at-risk fetus. Mothers with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (maternal ITP) or with a history of ITP may have passive transfer of antiplatelet antibodies, with resultant neonatal thrombocytopenia (see Chapter 59). The maternal platelet count is sometimes a useful indicator of the probability that the infant will be affected.
Clinical Manifestations. The infant with NATP is at risk for intracranial hemorrhage in utero and during the immediate delivery process. In ITP, the greatest risk seems to be present during passage through the birth canal, during which molding of the head may induce intracranial hemorrhage. Fetal scalp sampling or percutaneous umbilical blood sampling may be performed to measure the fetal platelet count.
Treatment. Administration of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) before delivery increases fetal platelet counts and may alleviate thrombocytopenia in infants with NATP and ITP. Delivery by cesarean section is recommended to prevent central nervous system (CNS) bleeding (see Chapter 59). Neonates with severe thrombocytopenia (platelet counts <20,000/mm3) may be treated with IVIG or corticosteroids or both until thrombocytopenia remits. If necessary, infants with NATP may receive washed maternal platelets.
Etiology. Autoimmune thrombocytopenic purpura of childhood (childhood ITP) is a common disorder that usually follows an acute viral infection. Childhood ITP is caused by an antibody (IgG or IgM) that binds to the platelet membrane. The condition results in Fc receptor–mediated splenic destruction of antibody-coated platelets. Rarely, ITP may be the presenting symptom of an autoimmune disease, such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).
Clinical Manifestations. Young children typically exhibit ITP 1 to 4 weeks after viral illness, with abrupt onset of petechiae, purpura, and epistaxis. The thrombocytopenia usually is severe. Significant adenopathy or hepatosplenomegaly is unusual, and the red blood cell (RBC) and white blood cell (WBC) counts are normal.
Diagnosis. The diagnosis of ITP usually is based on clinical presentation and the platelet count and does not often require a bone marrow examination. If atypical findings are noted, however, marrow examination is indicated to rule out an infiltrative disorder (leukemia) or an aplastic process (aplastic anemia). In ITP, an examination of the bone marrow reveals increased megakaryocytes and normal erythroid and myeloid elements.
Treatment and Prognosis. Therapy is seldom indicated for platelet counts greater than 30,000/mm3. Therapy does not affect the long-term outcome of ITP but is intended to increase the platelet count acutely. For moderate and severe clinical bleeding with severe thrombocytopenia (platelet count <10,000/mm3), therapeutic options include prednisone, 2 to 4 mg/kg/24 hours for 2 weeks or IVIG, 1 g/kg/24 hours for 1 to 2 days. All of these approaches seem to decrease the rate of clearance of sensitized platelets, rather than decreasing production of antibody. The optimal choice for therapy (if any) is controversial. Splenectomy is indicated in acute ITP only for life-threatening bleeding. Approximately 80% of children have a spontaneous resolution of ITP within 6 months after diagnosis. Serious bleeding, especially intracranial bleeding, occurs in fewer than 1% of patients with ITP. There is no evidence that early treatment prevents intracranial bleeding.
ITP that persists for 6 to 12 months is classified as chronic ITP. Repeated treatments with IVIG, IV anti-D, or high-dose pulse steroids are effective in delaying the need for splenectomy. Secondary causes of chronic ITP, especially SLE and HIV infection, should be ruled out. Splenectomy induces a remission in 70% to 80% of childhood chronic ITP cases. The risks of splenectomy (surgery, sepsis from encapsulated bacteria, pulmonary hypertension) must be weighed against the risk of severe bleeding.
Available @ StudentConsult.comWiskott-Aldrich syndrome is an X-linked disorder characterized by hypogammaglobinemia, eczema, and thrombocytopenia caused by a molecular defect in a cytoskeletal proteincommon to lymphocytes and platelets (see Chapter 74). Smallplatelets are seen on a peripheral blood smear. Nevertheless,thrombocytopenia often is improved by splenectomy. Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation cures the immunodeficiencyand thrombocytopenia. Familial X-linked thrombocytopeniacan be seen as a variant of Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome or amutation in the GATA1 gene. Autosomal macrothrombocytopenia is due to deletions in chromosomes 22q11 or mutationsin 22q12.
Thrombotic microangiopathy causes thrombocytopenia, anemia secondary to intravascular RBC destruction, and, in some cases, depletion of clotting factors. Children with thrombotic microangiopathy usually are quite ill. In a child with disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), the deposition of fibrin strands within the vasculature and activation of thrombin and plasmin result in a wide-ranging hemostatic disorder with activation and clearance of platelets. Hemolytic uremic syndrome occurs as a result of exposure to a toxin that induces endothelial injury, fibrin deposition, and platelet activation and clearance (see Chapter 164). In thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura, platelet consumption, precipitated by a congenital or acquired deficiency of a metalloproteinase that cleaves von Willebrand factor, seems to be the primary process, with a modest deposition of fibrin and RBC destruction.
Disorders of Platelet FunctionEtiology. Primary disorders of platelet function may involvereceptors on platelet membranes for adhesive proteins. Deficiency of glycoprotein Ib complex (vWF receptor) causesBernard-Soulier syndrome. A deficiency of glycoprotein IIb-IIIa (the fibrinogen receptor) causes Glanzmann thrombasthenia. Mild abnormalities of platelet aggregation and release,detectable by platelet aggregometry, are far more common.Secondary disorders caused by toxins and drugs (uremia, valproic acid, aspirin, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, andinfections) may cause a broad spectrum of platelet dysfunction.
Clinical Manifestations. Disorders of platelet function present with mucocutaneous bleeding and a prolonged bleeding time or long PFA closure time and may be primary or secondary. The bleeding time is an insensitive screen for mild and moderate platelet function disorders but is usually prolonged in severe platelet function disorders, such as Bernard-Soulier syndrome or Glanzmann thrombasthenia.
Disorders of Clotting FactorsAvailable @ StudentConsult.comEtiology. Hereditary deficiencies of most procoagulant proteins lead to bleeding. The genes for factor 8 and factor 9are on the X chromosome, whereas virtually all the otherclotting factors are coded on autosomal chromosomes. Factor 8 and factor 9 deficiencies are the most common severe inherited bleeding disorders. von Willebrand disease is the most common congenital bleeding disorder. Of the procoagulant proteins, low levels of the so-called contact factors(prekallikrein, high-molecular-weight kininogen, and Hageman factor [factor 12]) cause a prolonged activated partialthromboplastin time but are not associated with a predisposition to bleeding.
Etiology. Hemophilia A (factor 8 deficiency) occurs in 1 in 5000 males. Hemophilia B (factor 9 deficiency) occurs in approximately 1 in 25,000. Clinically the two disorders are indistinguishable other than by their therapy (Table 151-3).The lack of factor 8 or factor 9 delays the generation of thrombin, which is crucial to forming a normal, functional fibrin clot and solidifying the platelet plug that has formed in areas of vascular injury. The severity of the disorder is determined by the degree of clotting factor deficiency.
Table 151-3 Comparison of Hemophilia A, Hemophilia B, and von Willebrand Disease FEATURE HEMOPHILIA A HEMOPHILIA B VON WILLEBRAND DISEASE Inheritance X-linked X-linked Autosomal dominant Factor deficiency Factor 8 Factor 9 vWF, factor 8
Bleeding site(s) Muscle, joint, Muscle, joint, Mucous membranes, skin, surgical surgical surgical, menstrual
Ristocetin-induced platelet Normal Normal Normal, low, or increased at agglutination
PFA, Platelet function analyzer-100; vWF, von Willebrand factor. *Desmopressin (DDAVP) for mild to moderate hemophilia A or type 1 von Willebrand disease.
Clinical Manifestations. Patients with less than 1% (severehemophilia) factor 8 or factor 9 may have spontaneous bleeding or bleeding with minor trauma. Patients with 1% to 5% (moderate hemophilia) factor 8 or factor 9 usually require moderatetrauma to induce bleeding episodes. In mild hemophilia (>5%factor 8 or factor 9), significant trauma is necessary to inducebleeding; spontaneous bleeding does not occur. Mild hemophiliamay go undiagnosed for many years, whereas severe hemophiliamanifests in infancy when the child reaches the toddler stage. Insevere hemophilia, spontaneous bleeding occurs, usually in themuscles or joints (hemarthroses).
Laboratory Studies. The diagnosis of hemophilia is based on a prolonged activated partial thromboplastin time(aPTT). In the aPTT, a surface-active agent activates the intrinsic system of coagulation, of which factors 8 and 9 are crucial components. In factor 8 or factor 9 deficiency, the aPTT is quite prolonged but should correct to normal when the patient’s plasma is mixed 1:1 with normal plasma. When an abnormal aPTT is obtained, specific factor assays are needed to make a precise diagnosis (see Table 151-2) to determine the appropriate factor replacement therapy. Prenatal diagnosis and carrier diagnosis are possible using molecular techniques.
Treatment. Early, appropriate replacement therapy is the hallmark of excellent hemophilia care. Acute bleeding episodes are best treated in the home when the patient has attained the appropriate age and the parents have learned home treatment. Bleeding associated with surgery, trauma, or dental extraction often can be anticipated, and excessive bleeding can be prevented with appropriate replacement therapy. Prophylactic therapy starting in infancy has greatly diminished the likelihood of chronic arthropathy in children with hemophilia. For life-threatening bleeding, levels of 80% to 100% of normal factor 8 or factor 9 are necessary. For mild to moderate bleeding episodes (hemarthroses), a 40% level for factor 8 or a 30% to 40% level for factor 9 is appropriate. The dose can be calculated using the knowledge that 1 U/kg body weight of factor 8 increases the plasma level 2%, whereas 1.5 U/kg of recombinant factor 9 increases the plasma level 1%:
Dose for factor 8=desired level (%)× weight (kg)× 0.5Dose for recombinant factor 9=desired level (%) × weight (kg) ×1.5
Desmopressin acetate is a synthetic vasopressin analog with minimal vasopressor effect. Desmopressin triples or quadruples the initial factor 8 level of a patient with mild or moderate (not severe) hemophilia A, but has no effect on factor 9 levels. When adequate hemostatic levels can be attained, desmopressin is the treatment of choice for individuals with mild and moderate hemophilia A. Aminocaproic acid is an inhibitor of fibrinolysis that may be useful for oral bleeding.
Patients treated with older factor 8 or 9 concentrates derived from large pools of plasma donors were at high risk for hepatitis B, C, and D and HIV. Recombinant factor 8 and factor 9 concentrates are safe from virally transmitted illnesses. Acquiredimmunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is the most common causeof death in older hemophilia patients (who received plasma-derived factors). Many older patients also have chronic hepatitis C.
Inhibitors are IgG antibodies directed against transfusedfactor 8 or factor 9 in congenitally deficient patients. Inhibitorsarise in 15% of severe factor 8 hemophiliacs but are less common in factor 9 hemophiliacs. They may be high or low titerand show an anamnestic response to treatment. The treatmentof bleeding patients with an inhibitor is difficult. For low titerinhibitors, options include continuous factor 8 infusions. Forhigh titer inhibitors, it is usually necessary to administer a product that bypasses the inhibitor, preferably recombinant factor 7a.Activated prothrombin complex concentrates, used in the pastto treat inhibitor patients, paradoxically increased the risks ofthrombosis, resulting in fatal complications, such as myocardial infarction. For long-term treatment of inhibitor patients, induction of immune tolerance by repeated infusion of the deficientfactor with or without immunosuppression may be beneficial.
Early institution of factor replacement and continuous prophylaxis beginning in early childhood should prevent the chronic joint disease associated with hemophilia.
Etiology. Von Willebrand disease is a common disorder (1% ofthe population) caused by a deficiency of vWF, an adhesive protein that serves two functions: acting as a bridge between sub-endothelial collagen and platelets and binding and protectingcirculating factor 8 from rapid clearance from circulation. Von Willebrand disease usually is inherited as an autosomal dominanttrait and rarely as an autosomal recessive trait. vWF may be eitherquantitatively deficient (partial = type 1 or absolute = type 3) orqualitatively abnormal (type 2 = dysproteinemia). Approximately80% of patients with von Willebrand disease have classic (type 1)disease (i.e., a mild to moderate deficiency of vWF). Several othersubtypes are clinically important, each requiring different therapy.
Clinical Manifestations. Mucocutaneous bleeding, epistaxis, gingival bleeding, cutaneous bruising, and menorrhagia occur in patients with von Willebrand disease. In severe disease, factor 8 deficiency may be profound, and the patient may also have manifestations similar to hemophilia A (hemarthrosis). Findings in classic von Willebrand disease differ from findings in hemophilia A and B (see Table 151-3).
Laboratory Testing. vWF testing involves measurement ofthe amount of protein, usually measured immunologically as thevWF antigen (vWF:Ag). vWF activity (vWF:Act) is measuredfunctionally in the ristocetin cofactor assay (vWFR:Co), whichuses the antibiotic ristocetin to induce vWF to bind to platelets.
Treatment. The treatment of von Willebrand disease depends on the severity of bleeding. Desmopressin is the treatment of choice for most bleeding episodes in patients with type 1 disease and some patients with type 2 disease. When high levels of vWF are needed but cannot be achieved satisfactorily with desmopressin, treatment with a virally attenuated, vWF-containing concentrate (Humate P) may be appropriate. The dosage can be calculated as for factor 8 in hemophilia. Cryoprecipitate should not be used because it is not virally attenuated. Hepatitis B vaccine should be given before the patient is exposed to plasma-derived products. As in all bleeding disorders, aspirin should be avoided.
For discussion of vitamin K deficiency, see Chapters 27 and 31.
Available @ StudentConsult.comEtiology. Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) is a disorder in which widespread activation of the coagulation mechanism is usually associated with shock. Normal hemostasis is a balance between hemorrhage and thrombosis. In DIC,
Meningococcemia (purpura fulminans) Other gram-negative bacteria (Haemophilus, Salmonella, Escherichia coli)
Rickettsiae (Rocky Mountain spotted fever) Virus (cytomegalovirus, herpes, hemorrhagic fevers) Malaria Fungus
Central nervous system trauma (massive head injury) Multiple fractures with fat emboli Crush injury Profound shock or asphyxia Hypothermia or hyperthermia Massive burns
Maternal toxemia Group B streptococcal infections Abruptio placentae Severe respiratory distress syndrome Necrotizing enterocolitis Congenital viral disease (e.g., cytomegalovirus infection or herpes) Erythroblastosis fetalis
Severe acute graft rejection Acute hemolytic transfusion reaction Severe collagen vascular disease Kawasaki disease Heparin-induced thrombosis Infusion of “activated” prothrombin complex concentrates Hyperpyrexia/encephalopathy, hemorrhagic shock syndrome
From Scott JP: Bleeding and thrombosis. In Kliegman RM, editor: Practical Strategies in Pediatric Diagnosis and Therapy, Philadelphia, 1996, WB Saunders.
this balance is altered by the severe illness, so the patient has activation of coagulation (thrombosis) mediated by thrombin and fibrinolysis mediated by plasmin (bleeding). Coagulation factors—especially platelets, fibrinogen, and factors 2, 5, and 8—are consumed, as are the anticoagulant proteins, especially antithrombin, protein C, and plasminogen. Endothelial injury, tissue release of thromboplastic procoagulant factors, or, rarely, exogenous factors (snake venoms) directly activate the coagulation mechanism (Table 151-4).
Differential Diagnosis of Coagulopathies That Can Be Confused with Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation
Vitamin K deficiency ↑↑ Normal Normal Normal Malabsorption, liver disease
From Scott JP: Bleeding and thrombosis. In Kliegman RM, editor: Practical Strategies in Pediatric Diagnosis and Therapy, Philadelphia, 1996, WB Saunders. DIC, Disseminated intravascular coagulation.
Clinical Manifestations. The diagnosis of DIC usually is suspected clinically and is confirmed by laboratory findings of Thrombomodulin a decline in platelets and fibrinogen associated with elevated Thrombin prothrombin time, partial thromboplastin time, and elevated levels of D-dimer, formed when fibrinogen is clotted and then Protein Ca degraded by plasmin (Table 151-5). In some patients, DIC may evolve more slowly and there may be a degree of compensation. S
In a severely ill patient, the sudden occurrence of bleeding from a venipuncture or incision site, gastrointestinal or pulmonary hemorrhage, petechiae, or ecchymosis or evidence of periph-V
T: AT III Fibrin eral gangrene or thrombosis suggests the diagnosis of DIC.
Treatment. The treatment of DIC is challenging. General guidelines include the following: treat the disorder inducing the DIC first; support the patient by correcting hypoxia, acidosis, and poor perfusion; and replace depleted blood-clotting factors, platelets, and anticoagulant proteins by transfusion.
Heparin may be used to treat significant arterial or venous thrombotic disease unless sites of life-threatening bleeding coexist.
Etiology. A hereditary predisposition to thrombosis (see Table 151-1) may be caused by a deficiency of an anticoagulant protein (protein C or S, antithrombin, or plasminogen) (Fig. 151-5), by an abnormality of a procoagulant protein making it resistant to proteolysis by its respective inhibitor (factor 5 Leiden), by a mutation resulting in an increased level of a procoagulant protein (prothrombin 20210), or by damage to endothelial cells (homocysteinemia). Neonates with deficiency syndromes may be particularly vulnerable to thrombosis. Neonates with homozygous protein C deficiency present with purpura fulminans or thrombosis of the major arteries and veins or both. Many individuals with an inherited predisposition to thrombosis exhibit symptoms in adolescence or early adulthood. Protein C deficiency presenting in adulthood usually is inherited as an autosomal dominant trait, whereas the homozygous form usually is autosomal recessive. Protein S and antithrombin III deficiencies are inherited as autosomal dominant traits. Factor 5 Leiden is the most common hereditary cause of a predisposition to thrombosis, appearing in 3% to 5% of whites. Acquired antiphospholipid antibodies (anticardiolipin and lupus anticoagulant) also predispose to thrombosis.
Clinical Manifestations. Neonates and adolescents are the most likely pediatric patients to present with thromboembolic disease. Indwelling catheters, vasculitis, sepsis, immobilization, nephrotic syndrome, coagulopathy, trauma, infection, surgery, inflammatory bowel disease, oral contraceptive agents, pregnancy, and abortion all predispose to thrombosis.
Figure 151-5 Formation of the hemostatic plug at the site of vascular injury. Three major physiologic anticoagulant mechanisms— antithrombin III (AT III), protein C, and the fibrinolytic system—are activated to limit clot formation to the site of damage and to prevent generalized thrombosis. T, Thrombin. (From Schafer A: The hypercoagulable state, Ann Intern Med 102:814–828, 1985.)
The manifestations of pulmonary emboli vary from no findings to chest pain, diminished breath sounds, a loud S2, cyanosis, tachypnea, and hypoxemia.
Diagnostic and Imaging Studies. Venous thrombosis can be detected noninvasively by ultrasound Doppler flow compression studies. The gold standard for diagnosis is the venogram. An abnormal (high probability) ventilation-perfusion scan or detection of an intravascular thrombus on helical computed tomography (CT) is diagnostic of pulmonary emboli. There are no appropriate screening studies for thrombotic disorders. Diagnosis of a congenital or acquired predisposition to thrombosis requires a battery of specific assays.
Treatment. Therapy of thrombotic disorders depends on the underlying condition and usually involves standard or low-molecular-weight heparin and then longer term anticoagulation with warfarin. Major vessel thrombosis or life-threatening thrombosis may necessitate treatment with fibrinolytic agents (recombinant tissue plasminogen activator). In newborns, inherited deficiency syndromes may present as emergencies and necessitate replacement with plasma, antithrombin III concentrates, or protein C concentrates.
Transfusion of red blood cells (RBCs), platelets, plasma,cryoprecipitate, and granulocytes can be life-saving orlife-maintaining (Table 152-1). Whole blood is rarely indicated and is most useful to provide both oxygen-carryingcapacity and functional procoagulant and anticoagulant factors. Otherwise, packed RBCs are used to treat anemia to increase oxygen-carrying capacity. RBC transfusions shouldnot be used to treat asymptomatic nutritional deficienciesthat can be corrected by administering the appropriate deficient nutrient (iron or folic acid).
Blood component therapy requires proper anticoagulation of the component unit, screening for infectious agents and blood group compatibility testing before administration. Typical transfusion reactions are listed in Table 152-2. Transfusion may also result in circulatory overload, especially in the presence of cardiopulmonary deficiency. Filtering of blood products to remove white blood cells (WBCs) may prevent febrile reactions. Long-term complications of transfusions bleeding 50,000/μL 30,000-50,000/μL
Cryoprecipitate Fibrinogen, factor 8, Hypofibrinogenemia, factor 1 unit/5-10 kg ↑ Fibrinogen by 50–100 mg/dL vWF, factor 13 13 deficiency
Recombinant factor Units as labeled Hemophilic bleeding or F8: 20–50 units/kg F8: ↑ 2%/unit/kg concentrates prophylaxis F9: 40–120 units/kg F9: ↑ 0.7 unit/kg
Hgb, Hemoglobin; RBCs, red blood cells; vWF, von Willebrand factor.
Acute hemolytic transfusion Acute shock, back pain, flushing, early fever, 1. Stop transfusion; return blood to bank with reaction (incidence of 1:250,000 to intravascular hemolysis, hemoglobinemia, fresh sample of patient’s blood 1:1,000,000) hemoglobinuria (may be delayed 5–10 days and 2. Hydrate intravenously*; support blood less severe if anamnestic response is present) pressure, maintain high urine flow, alkalinize urine 3. Check for and correct electrolyte abnormalities (hyperkalemia)
Allergic transfusion reaction (incidence of 1:100)Urticaria, pruritus, maculopapular rash, edema, respiratory distress, hypotension during or within 4 hours of transfusion; often because recipient has preformed antibodies against donor antigens, occasionally from passive infusion of antibodies from atopic donor Diphenhydramine ± hydrocortisone for acute management For future transfusions consider: 1.
Pretreatment with diphenhydramine ± hydrocortisone 2.Volume reduction to reduce donor plasma 3.Washing cellular products to remove all donor plasma (for severe reactions)
Adapted from Andreoli TE, Bennett JC, Carpenter CC, Plum F, et al: Cecil Essentials of Medicine, ed 4, Philadelphia, 1997, WB Saunders. HLA, Human leukocyte antigen; RBCs, red blood cells; WBC, white blood cell. *Normal saline is the compatible intravenous fluid.
include graft-versus-host disease and infectious diseases such as hepatitis B (<1:250,000 units) and C (1:1,600,000units), human immunodeficiency virus (<1:1,800,000 units), malaria, syphilis, babesiosis, brucellosis, and Chagas disease. Patients who are chronically transfused are more prone to iron overload and alloimmunization to RBCs and platelets.
Key NS, Negrier C, Klein HG, et al: Transfusion medicine 1, 2, 3, Lancet 370(9585):415–426, 2007, 427–438, 439–448
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Tolar J, Mehta PA, Walters MC: Hematopoietic cell transplantation for nonmalignant disorders, Biol Blood Marrow Transplant 18(Suppl 1):
S166–S171, 2012Thomas W. McLean and Marcia M. Wofford 21Childhood cancer is rare; only about 1% of new cancer cases in the United States occur among children younger than 19 years of age. Hematopoietic tumors (leukemia, lymphoma) are the most common childhood cancers, followed by brain/central nervous system (CNS) tumors and sarcomas of soft tissue and bone (Fig. 153-1). There is wide variability in the age-specific incidence of childhood cancers. Embryonal tumors, such as neuroblastoma and retinoblastoma, peak during the first 2 years of life; acute lymphoblastic leukemia peaks during early childhood (ages 2 to 5 years); osteosarcoma peaks during adolescence; and Hodgkin disease peaks during late adolescence (Fig. 153-2). The overall incidence of cancer among white children is higher than that among other ethnic groups and is twice that of African American children in the United States.
Many signs and symptoms of childhood cancer are nonspecific. Although most children with fever, fatigue, weight loss, or limp do not have cancer, each of these symptoms may be a manifestation of an underlying malignancy. Uncommonly a child with cancer will have no symptoms at all. An abdominal mass may be palpated on routine examination, or a complete blood count (CBC) may be unexpectedly abnormal. Some children have a genetic susceptibility to cancer and should be screened appropriately (Table 153-1).
It is important to explore quality, duration, location, severity,and precipitating events of the chief complaint. A prominentlymph node that does not resolve (with or without antibiotics)may warrant a biopsy. A limp that does not improve within weeksshould prompt a CBC and a radiograph or a bone scan. Persistent headaches or morning vomiting should prompt a computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)scan of the head. Fever, night sweats, or weight loss should raisethe concern for lymphoma. In addition it is important to obtainthe birth history, medical and surgical history, growth history,developmental history, family history, and social history.
Growth parameters and vital signs are important to obtain in all patients. Pulse oximetry should be obtained if respiratory symptoms are present. The overall appearance of the patient should be noted, particularly general appearance, pain, cachexia, pallor, and respiratory distress. Palpable masses should be measured. Lymphadenopathy and organomegaly should be quantified, if present. A thorough examination of the skin may reveal rashes, bruises, and petechiae. Careful neurologic and ophthalmologic examinations are crucial if headache or vomiting is present, because the vast majority of patients with CNS tumors have abnormal neurologic examinations.
Available @ StudentConsult.comVisual Impairment and Leukocoria Vomiting Hepatomegaly Splenomegaly Headaches Lymphadenopathy Anemia Petechiae/Purpura Pancytopenia Fever of Unknown Origin
The most common manifestations of childhood cancer are fatigue, anorexia, malaise, pain, fever, abnormal lump ormass, pallor, bruising, petechiae, bleeding, headache, vomiting, visual changes, weight loss, and night sweats (Table 153-2). Lymphadenopathy and organomegaly are commonin leukemia, particularly with T-cell acute lymphoblasticleukemia (ALL) or non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Patients withsolid tumors usually have a palpable or measurable mass.Other signs and symptoms may include limp, cough, dyspnea, cranial nerve palsies, and papilledema. In generalmalignant masses are firm, fixed, and nontender, whereas masses that are infectious or inflammatory in nature are relatively softer, mobile, and tender to palpation.
Neuroblastoma IV Retinoblastoma V Renal VI Hepatic VII Bone VIII Soft tissue IX Germ cell X Other malig. epithelial neo. XI Other XII
Retinoblastoma Primitive   neuroectodermal tumor (PNET) Sarcomas Osteosarcoma Ewing sarcoma Soft-tissue sarcoma Hodgkin disease Testicular cancer Ovarian cancer Acute lymphoid   leukemia Non-Hodgkin lymphoma Glioma Birth 5 10 18 Age (yr) Figure 153-2 Incidence of the most common types of cancer in children by age. The cumulative incidence is shown as a dashed line. (Courtesy of Archie Bleyer, MD).
Distinguishing a malignant process from another diseasecan be difficult. Ultimately a tissue diagnosis (from bonemarrow or solid tumor biopsy) with pathologic confirmation is required to confirm a diagnosis of cancer. Infection 7.8 3.1 6.3 2.2 9.2 12.4 11.9 16.9 0.5 47.1 43.1 25.1 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 Rate per 1,000,000
Figure 153-1 Childhood Cancer: SEER Incidence Rates 2005–2009 by ICCC Group (includes myelodysplastic syndromes and Group III benign brain). Under 20 years of age, both sexes, all races. Source: SEER 18 areas (San Francisco, Connecticut, Detroit, Hawaii, Iowa, New Mexico, Seattle, Utah, Atlanta, San Jose-Monterey, Los Angeles, Alaska Native Registry, Rural Georgia, California excluding SF/SJM/LA, Kentucky, Louisiana, New Jersey, and Georgia, excluding ATL/RG). Rates are age-adjusted to the 2000 U.S. Std Population (19 age groups Census P25-1130).
International Classification of Childhood Cancer is based on ICD-O-3. (Steliarova-Foucher E, Stiller C, Lacour B, et al:
International Classification of Childhood Cancer, ed 3. Cancer 103(7):1457−1467, 2005.) *Rate for Group III (Brain/CNS) includes benign brain tumors.
commonly masquerades as a potential malignancy. In particular Epstein-Barr virus, cytomegalovirus, and mycobacterial infections can mimic leukemia or lymphoma by causingfever, lymphadenopathy, organomegaly, weight loss, andabnormal blood counts. Trauma may produce swelling thatcan mimic solid tumors. Idiopathic thrombocytic purpuraand iron deficiency can produce thrombocytopenia and anemia, respectively. Immune deficiencies or irregularities (autoimmune hemolytic anemia or neutropenia) can also producecytopenias. Juvenile idiopathic arthritis and other collagenvascular disease can cause musculoskeletal pain and anemia,mimicking leukemia. Benign tumors are relatively commonin children, including mature germ cell tumors/hamartomas,hemangiomas or other vascular tumors, mesoblastic nephromas, and bone cysts.
A CBC with differential and review of the peripheral blood smear is the best screening test for many pediatric malignancies. Leukopenia (with or without neutropenia), anemia, or thrombocytopenia may be present in leukemia or any cancer that invades the bone marrow (e.g., neuroblastoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, and Ewing sarcoma). Leukemia may also produce leukocytosis, usually with blasts present on the peripheral blood smear. An isolated cytopenia (neutropenia, anemia, or thrombocytopenia) widens the differential diagnosis but still could be the only abnormal laboratory finding. Of note, a
Table 153-1 Known Risk Factors for Selected Childhood Cancers CANCER TYPE RISK FACTOR COMMENTS Acute lymphoid leukemia Ionizing radiation Prenatal diagnostic x-ray exposure increases risk. Therapeutic irradiation for cancer treatment also increases risk.
Genetic conditions Down syndrome is associated with an estimated 10to 20-fold increased risk. Neurofibromatosis 1, Bloom syndrome, and ataxia-telangiectasia, among others, are associated with an elevated risk.
Acute myeloid leukemias Chemotherapeutic agents Alkylating agents and epipodophyllotoxins increase risk.
Genetic factors Down syndrome and neurofibromatosis 1 are strongly associated. Familial monosomy 7 and several other genetic syndromes are also associated with increased risk. Patients treated with radiation therapy for other cancers.
Brain cancers Therapeutic ionizing radiation to the headGenetic factors Neurofibromatosis 1 is strongly associated with optic gliomas and, to a lesser extent, with other central nervous system tumors. Tuberous sclerosis and several other genetic syndromes are associated with increased risk.
Hodgkin disease Family history Monozygotic twins and siblings are at increased risk.
Infections Epstein-Barr virus is associated with increased risk.Non-Hodgkin lymphoma Immunodeficiency Acquired and congenital immunodeficiency disorders and immunosuppressive therapy increase risk.
Infections Epstein-Barr virus is associated with increased risk.Osteosarcoma Ionizing radiation Cancer radiation therapy and high radium exposure increase risk.
Genetic factors Increased risk is apparent with Li-Fraumeni syndrome and hereditary retinoblastoma.
Ewing sarcoma Race Incidence is about nine times higher in white children than in black children in the United States.
Neuroblastoma Genetic factors Chromosome 6p22 variants and mutations in the ALK and PHOX genes are associated with increased risk.
Retinoblastoma Genetic factors Mutations in the Rb gene on chromosome 14
Wilms tumor Congenital anomalies Aniridia, Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome, and other congenital and genetic conditions are associated with increased risk.
Renal medullary carcinoma Sickle cell trait Etiology is unknown.Rhabdomyosarcoma Congenital anomalies and Li-Fraumeni syndrome and neurofibromatosis 1 are associated with increased genetic conditions risk.
Hepatocellular carcinoma Infections Hepatitis B virus infection increases risk.Malignant germ cell tumors Cryptorchidism Cryptorchidism is a risk factor for testicular germ cell tumors.
Modified from Kliegman RM, Stanton BF, St. Geme JW III, editors: Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics, ed 19, Philadelphia, 2011, Saunders.
patient with leukemia may also have a normal CBC. Lactate dehydrogenase and uric acid are often elevated in fast-growing tumors (leukemia or lymphoma) and occasionally in sarcomas or neuroblastoma. In many cases, it is appropriate to assess electrolytes and renal and hepatic function in the screening process. Elevated blood pressure, if confirmed by repeat measurements, should prompt a urine analysis, as should the palpation of an abdominal mass.
A chest x-ray (CXR) (posteroanterior and lateral) is the bestscreening radiographic study for a patient with suspiciouscervical lymphadenopathy, fever, and weight loss. Mediastinalmasses and pleural effusions can often be detected on CXR.
Abdominal signs or symptoms warrant an ultrasound or CT.Persistent headache, vomiting, or abnormal neurologic findings should lead to a head CT or MRI. For suspected bonetumors, plain radiographs are indicated and will usuallyreveal the lesion(s), if present. Radiographs may be normalwhen a bony pelvic lesion is suspected; a CT or MRI shouldbe obtained. Other imaging studies to delineate a mass and tosearch for suspected metastases are often indicated, but thesedecisions are usually best left to the pediatric oncology team.Table 153-3 shows the general use of diagnostic imaging following confirmation of a diagnosis of cancer, assessing the primary tumor and for metastases. Positron emission tomography(PET) has proved useful for staging and assessing response forsome pediatric cancers, especially lymphomas. Metaiodobenzylguanidine (mIBG) scans are useful for neuroblastoma.
Table 153-2 Common Manifestations of Childhood Malignancies SIGN/SYMPTOM SIGNIFICANCE EXAMPLE Hematologic Pallor, anemia Bone marrow infiltration Leukemia, neuroblastoma
Petechiae, thrombocytopenia Bone marrow infiltration Leukemia, neuroblastomaFever, neutropenia Bone marrow infiltration Leukemia, neuroblastoma SystemicBone pain, limp, arthralgia Primary bone tumor, metastasis Osteosarcoma, Ewing sarcoma, leukemia, to bone neuroblastoma
Fever of unknown origin, weight loss, Lymphoreticular malignancy Hodgkin disease, non-Hodgkin lymphoma night sweats
Painless lymphadenopathy Lymphoreticular malignancy, Leukemia, Hodgkin disease, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, metastatic solid tumor Burkitt lymphoma, thyroid carcinoma
Cutaneous lesion Primary or metastatic disease Neuroblastoma, leukemia, Langerhans cell histiocytosis, melanoma
Abdominal mass Abdominal/pelvic organ Neuroblastoma, Wilms tumor, lymphoma, hepatoblastoma, germ cell tumor
Hypertension Sympathetic nervous system tumor Neuroblastoma, pheochromocytoma, Wilms tumorSoft tissue mass Local or metastatic tumor Ewing sarcoma, osteosarcoma, neuroblastoma, thyroid carcinoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, germ cell tumor
Diabetes insipidus, galactorrhea, poor Neuroendocrine involvement of Adenoma, craniopharyngioma, prolactinoma, growth hypothalamus or pituitary gland Langerhans cell histiocytosis
Emesis, visual disturbances, ataxia, Increased intrathecal pressure Primary brain tumor; metastasis headache, papilledema, cranial nerve palsies
Miosis, ptosis, heterochromia Horner syndrome: Neuroblastoma compression of cervicalOpsomyoclonus, ataxia Neurotransmitters (?) NeuroblastomaAutoimmunity (?)Exophthalmos, proptosis Orbital tumor Rhabdomyosarcoma, lymphoma ThoracicAnterior mediastinal mass Cough, stridor, pneumonia, Germ cell tumor, T-cell lymphoma, Hodgkin disease, tracheal-bronchial compression primary mediastinal large B-cell lymphoma
Posterior mediastinal mass Vertebral or nerve root compression; Neuroblastoma, ganglioneuroblastoma, dysphagia ganglioneuroma
VMA, HVA mIBG scanRhabdomyosarcoma Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes, for parameningeal tumors only
Germ cell tumors Yes Yes AFP, β-hCG Consider brain MRI
Yes, if MRI Yes (brain) ± YesAFP, Alpha-fetoprotein; BMA/bx, bone marrow aspirate/biopsy; CNS, central nervous system; CSF, cerebrospinal fluid; CT, computed tomography; CXR, chest x-ray; β-hCG, beta-human chorionic gonadotropin; HVA, homovanillic acid; mIBG, metaiodobenzylguanidine; MRI, magnetic resonance imaging; PET, positron emission tomography; Rb, retinoblastoma; VMA, vanillylmandelic acid. *Individual cases may require additional studies.
The overall goal of pediatric oncology is to cure all patientswith minimal toxicity. Treatment for children with cancer isoften multimodal and may involve surgery, radiation therapy,and chemotherapy. Surgery and radiation are generally localtreatment modalities (an exception is total body irradiation as part of a bone marrow or stem cell transplant), whereas chemotherapy has both local and systemic effects.
Primary prevention strategies for most pediatric malignancies are unknown. Two exceptions are the use of hepatitis Bvaccine to lower the rates of hepatocellular carcinoma and theuse of human papillomavirus vaccine to reduce the risk of cervical, vulvar, and vaginal cancers. Childhood malignancies arenot associated with tobacco or alcohol use, dietary factors, orsun exposure. Treatment with certain chemotherapy agents andradiation therapy increases the rate of second malignancies.Secondary prevention may be accomplished by screening the at-risk child (e.g., a child with Beckwith-Wiedemann syndromeor twin of a leukemia patient), but these opportunities are rare.
Adverse effects of tumors and treatments may result in oncologic emergencies in children and adolescents (Table 154-1).
Mediastinal masses from lymphoma can cause life-threatening airway obstruction. Tumors with a large tumor burden (e.g., lymphoma, leukemia) may affect renal function adversely from tubular deposition of uric acid crystals. Allopurinol or rasburicase can be administered before chemotherapy to minimize this effect.
A common metabolic emergency is tumor lysis syndrome,often seen in treatment of leukemia and lymphoma. Large amounts of phosphate, potassium, and uric acid are released into the circulation from lysed cells. Overwhelming infection and spinal cord compression with neurologic compromise are other oncologic emergencies.
Appropriate imaging (usually with computed tomography [CT] or magnetic resonance imaging [MRI]) for solidtumors presenting as a palpable mass or mass-relatedsymptoms (pain, respiratory distress, intestinal obstruction) should be obtained and followed by resection (whenpossible) or biopsy (if complete resection is not feasible).An exception to this is a suspected lymphoma, for which a biopsy may be needed. However, almost all pediatric lymphomas are chemosensitive and do not require surgicalresection.
It is crucial to determine the amount of tissue required and the appropriate distribution of the tissue for testing so that all necessary studies are performed. A general oncologic surgery principle is to resect not just the tumor, but also, in most cases, a surrounding margin of normal tissue to ensure the entire tumor has been resected.
Hyperuricemia Uric acid nephropathy; Tumor lysis syndrome Lymphoma, leukemia Allopurinol, hydration, gout
Hyperkalemia Arrhythmias, cardiac arrest Tumor lysis syndrome Lymphoma, leukemia Kayexalate; sodium bicarbonate, glucose, and insulin
Anemia Pallor, weakness, heart Bone marrow suppression Any with chemotherapy Packed red blood cell failure or infiltration; blood loss
Thrombocytopenia Petechiae, hemorrhage Bone marrow suppression Any with chemotherapy Platelet transfusion or infiltration
Disseminated Shock, hemorrhage Sepsis, hypotension, Promyelocytic leukemia, Fresh frozen plasma; intravascular coagulation tumor factors others platelets, treat infection
Tracheal compression Respiratory distress Mediastinal mass Lymphoma Radiation therapy, compressing trachea
CNS, Central nervous system; CT, computed tomography; G-CSF, granulocyte colony-stimulating factor; MRI, magnetic resonance imaging.
CHEMOTHERAPY tumors. For patients with localized solid tumors, chemo-Because most pediatric solid tumors have a high risk for therapy administered after removal of the primary tumor is micrometastatic disease at the time of diagnosis, chemo-referred to as adjuvant therapy. Chemotherapy administered therapy is used in almost all cases (Table 154-2). Exceptions while the primary tumor is still present is referred to as neoinclude low-stage neuroblastoma and Wilms tumor (particu-adjuvant chemotherapy. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy has larly in infants) and low-grade central nervous system (CNS) a number of potential benefits, including an early attack on
Methotrexate Folic acid Hepatic Renal, 50%–90% ALL, lymphoma, Myelosuppression (nadir 7–10 antagonist; inhibits excreted medulloblastoma, days), mucositis, dermatitis, dihydrofolate unchanged; biliary osteosarcoma hepatitis, renal and CNS reductase effects with high-dose administration; prevent with hydration and leucovorin, monitor levels 6-Mercaptopurine Purine analog Hepatic Renal ALL Myelosuppression; hepatitis; mucositis; allopurinol increases toxicity myopathy, osteoporosis, infection, peptic ulceration, irritability, psychosis, hunger, fluid retention
Chapter 154 u Principles of Cancer Treatment 541Table 154-2 Cancer Chemotherapy—cont’d DRUG* ACTION METABOLISM EXCRETION INDICATION ACUTE TOXICITY Antimetabolites Hormones Prednisone Direct lymphocyte cytotoxicity Hepatic Renal ALL; Hodgkin disease, lymphoma Cushing syndrome, cataracts, diabetes, hypertension,
Carboplatin Inhibits DNA — Renal Same as for cisplatin Myelosuppression synthesis
Etoposide (VP-16) Topoisomerase-— Renal ALL, lymphoma, germ Myelosuppression, secondary inhibitor cell tumor, sarcoma leukemia, allergic reaction
ADH, Antidiuretic hormone; ALL, acute lymphoblastic leukemia; AML, acute myeloid leukemia; CNS, central nervous system. *Many drugs produce nausea and vomiting during administration, and many cause alopecia with repeated doses.
presumed micrometastatic disease, shrinkage of the primary tumor to facilitate local control, and additional time to plan for definitive surgery.
Resistance to a particular chemotherapeutic agent can develop in a number of ways: decreased influx into or increased efflux of the chemotherapeutic agent from the malignant cell; mutation in the target tissue so that it cannot be inhibited by the drug; amplification of a drug target to overcome inhibition; and blockade of normal cellular processes leading to programmed cell death or apoptosis. Because mutation is an ongoing process in malignant tumors, it follows that certain subpopulations of tumor cells within a tumor may be more or less sensitive to any particular chemotherapy drug. Given this fact, combinations of chemotherapy drugs are used, as opposed to sequential single agents, to treat the various forms of childhood cancer.
The blood-brain barrier prevents the penetration of chemotherapeutic drugs into the CNS; instillation of the chemotherapeutic agent directly into the cerebrospinal fluid (by lumbar puncture) may be necessary. Radiation therapy also circumvents the blood-brain barrier.
Radiation therapy is the process of delivering ionizing radiationto malignant cells in order to kill them directly or, more commonly, prevent them from dividing by interfering with DNAreplication. Conventional radiation therapy uses photons, butatomic particles such as electrons, protons, and neutrons canalso be used. Not all tumors are radiosensitive, and radiation therapy is not necessary in all tumors that are radiosensitive.
Certain cancers have been treated with cytokines, biologic response modifiers, or monoclonal antibodies in addition to standard treatments. Targeted therapies specifically target the tumor cells, sparing normal host cells. Imatinib mesylate is a protein kinase inhibitor that targets the effects of the t(9;22) translocation of chronic myeloid leukemia and acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Rituximab is a monoclonal antibody directed against the cell surface antigen CD20 expressed in some lymphomas. Ch14.18 is an anti-GD2 monoclonal antibody used for neuroblastoma.
Supportive care also plays an important role in pediatric oncology, including the use of appropriate antimicrobial agents, blood products, nutritional support, intensive care, and integrative therapies.
Because chemotherapy agents are cellular toxins, numerous adverse effects are associated with their use. Bone marrow suppression, immunosuppression, nausea, vomiting, and alopecia are general adverse effects of commonly used chemotherapy drugs. Each chemotherapy drug also has specific toxicities. Doxorubicin can cause cardiac damage; cisplatin can cause renal damage and ototoxicity; cyclophosphamide and ifosfamide can cause hemorrhagic cystitis; and vincristine can cause peripheral neuropathy. Radiation therapy produces many adverse effects such as mucositis, growth retardation, organ dysfunction, and the later development of secondary cancers. Significant therapy-related late effects may develop in pediatric cancer patients (Table 154-3).
Alkylating agents; radiation Second cancers Genetic predisposition; radiation; alkylating agents, etoposide, topoisomerase II inhibitors Sepsis Splenectomy Hepatotoxicity Methotrexate, 6-mercaptopurine; radiation Hepatic venoocclusive High-dose, intensive chemotherapy disease (busulfan, cyclophosphamide) ± bone marrow transplant Scoliosis Radiation Pulmonary (fibrosis) Radiation; bleomycin, busulfan Cardiomyopathy Doxorubicin, daunorubicin; radiation Leukoencephalopathy Cranial radiation ± methotrexate Cognition/intelligence Cranial radiation ± methotrexate Pituitary dysfunction Cranial radiation (growth hormone deficiency, panhypopituitarism)
Psychosocial Stress, anxiety, death of peers; conditioned responses to chemotherapy
The etiology of childhood leukemia is unknown and is probably multifactorial. Genetics and environmental factors play important roles. There are many recurrent nonrandom chromosomal translocations in leukemia cells. A translocation may lead to the formation of a new gene, whose expression may lead to a novel protein with transforming capabilities. In chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) and some cases of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), a translocation between chromosomes 9 and 22 results in a fusion gene incorporating parts of two genes, BCR and ABL. The protein formed by this novel gene plays an important role in the development of the leukemias. In addition, certain constitutional genotypes can predispose a child to the development of acute leukemia. Patients with Down syndrome, Fanconi anemia, Bloom syndrome, ataxia-telangiectasia, Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome, and neurofibromatosis 1 all have an increased risk of acute leukemia. Siblings of children with leukemia are at increased risk of developing leukemia (approximately twofold to fourfold above the childhood population). This risk increases for twin siblings (up to 25% for monozygotic twins). In certain patients with leukemia, the unique antigen receptor gene rearrangement or the specific chromosomal translocation characterizing the patient’s leukemic clone can be demonstrated in cord blood cells and neonatal blood spots used for screening for metabolic diseases, suggesting a possible in utero etiology. There are reports of familial leukemia. Environmental factors that may increase the risk of leukemia include ionizing radiation and exposure to certain chemotherapy agents, particularly the topoisomerase II inhibitors.
Each year 2500 to 3500 new cases of childhood leukemia occur in the United States. The disease affects about 40 per 1 million children under the age of 15 years. ALL accounts for approximately 75% of cases. Acute myelogenous leukemia (AML)accounts for 15% to 20%, and CML accounts for less than 5% of cases. Other chronic leukemias, including juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia, chronic myelomonocytic leukemia, and chronic lymphocytic leukemia, are rare in childhood.
ALL and AML are classified according to the World Health Organization system (Table 155-1), although many clinicians and pathologists still use the French-American-British system for AML. ALL is classified according to cell lineage as either B-lineage or T-lineage. The incidence of ALL peaks at 2 to 5 years of age and is higher in boys than in girls. T-cell ALL, in particular, is associated with male predominance as well as an older age of peak incidence. In the United States, ALL is more common in white than in African American children.The incidence of AML is relatively high in the neonatal period then drops and stabilizes until adolescence when there is a slight increase, which continues into adulthood, especially beyond 55 years of age. Males and females are equally affected by AML. Hispanic and African American children have slightly higher incidence rates than white children.
Available @ StudentConsult.comSigns and symptoms of acute leukemias are related to the infiltration of leukemic cells into normal tissues, resulting in either bone marrow failure (anemia, neutropenia, thrombocytopenia) or specific tissue infiltration (lymph nodes, liver, spleen, brain, bone, skin, gingiva, testes). Common presenting symptoms are fever, pallor, petechiae or ecchymoses, lethargy, malaise, anorexia, and bone or joint pain. Physical examination frequently reveals lymphadenopathy and hepatosplenomegaly. The testes and central nervous system (CNS) are common extramedullary sites for ALL; neurologic symptoms or a painless enlargement of one or both testes may be seen. Patients with T-cell ALL often have high white blood cell (WBC) counts, anterior mediastinal masses, bulky disease
ALL, B cell—L3 morphology (i.e., Burkitt leukemia)AMLs with recurrent cytogenetic translocations AML with t(8;21)(q22; q22), AML1(CBF-alpha)/ETO Acute promyelocytic leukemia—AML with t(15;17)(q22; q11–12) and variants, PML/RAR-alpha) (i.e., M3*)
AML with abnormal bone marrow eosinophils—inv(16) (p13q22) or t(16;16)(p13; q11), CBFb/MYH11 AML with 11q23/MLL abnormalities
AML with multilineage dysplasia With prior myelodysplastic syndrome Without prior myelodysplastic syndrome
AML and myelodysplastic syndromes, therapy-related Alkylating agent-related Epipodophyllotoxin-related (some may be lymphoid) Other types
AML not otherwise categorized AML minimally differentiated (M1) AML without maturation (M0) AML with maturation (M2) Acute myelomonocytic leukemia (M4) Acute monocytic leukemia (M5) Acute erythroid leukemia (M6) Acute megakaryocytic leukemia (M7) Acute basophilic leukemia Acute panmyelosis with myelofibrosis
Modified from World Health Organization Classification. MLL, Mixed lineage leukemia. *The designations M0 to M7 are those of the French-AmericanBritish classification system for AML, which predated the World Health Organization system and is still used by many clinicians and pathologists.
with cervical lymphadenopathy, hepatosplenomegaly, and CNS involvement. In patients with AML, extramedullary softtissue tumors may be found in various sites.
The diagnosis of acute leukemia is confirmed by findings of immature blast cells on either the peripheral blood smear, bone marrow aspirate, or both. Most patients have abnormal blood counts; anemia and thrombocytopenia are common. The WBC count may be low, normal, or high; 15% to 20% of patients have a WBC count greater than 50,000/mm3. Definitive diagnosis requires the evaluation of cell surface markers (immunophenotype) by flow cytometry and evaluation of cytochemical staining patterns. Cytogenetic analysis should be undertaken in all cases of acute leukemia. Certain types of both lymphoid and myeloid leukemias have specific chromosomal abnormalities. In ALL, the t(12;21) translocation is most common (approximately 20% of all cases) and is associated with a favorable prognosis. The t(9;22) translocation occurs in less than 5% of cases and is associated with a poor prognosis. The t(4;11) translocation (and other translocations involving the MLL gene on chromosome 11) often occurs in infants and patients with secondary AML and is generally associated with a poor prognosis. Fluorescent in situ hybridization or polymerase chain reaction techniques are now used in most cases of leukemia because many chromosomal abnormalities may not be apparent on routine karyotypes. DNA microarray techniques are gaining relevance and will likely become standard in the future. A lumbar puncture should always be performed at the time of diagnosis to evaluate the possibility of CNS involvement. A chest x-ray should be obtained in all patients to exclude an anterior mediastinal mass, which is commonly seen in T-cell ALL. Electrolytes, calcium, phosphorus, uric acid, and renal and hepatic function should be monitored in all patients.
The differential diagnosis of acute leukemia includes nonmalignant and malignant diseases. Infection is probably the most common mimicker of acute leukemia, particularly the Epstein-Barr virus infection. Other infections (cytomegalovirus, pertussis, mycobacteria) also can produce signs and symptoms common to leukemia. Noninfectious diagnostic considerations include aplastic anemia, histiocytosis, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, immune thrombocytopenic purpura, and congenital or acquired conditions that lead to neutropenia or anemia. Several malignant diagnoses also can mimic leukemia, including neuroblastoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, and Ewing sarcoma. Newborns with trisomy 21 may have a condition known as transient myeloproliferative disorder, which produces elevated WBC counts with peripheral blasts, anemia, and thrombocytopenia. It usually resolves with supportive care only, but these children have a significantly increased risk (30%) of developing true acute leukemia (ALL or AML)within the next few months and years of life.
Patients with ALL generally receive threeor four-agent induction chemotherapy based on their initial risk group assignment. Lowand standard-risk patients receive vincristine, prednisone, and L-asparaginase for 4 weeks; high-risk patients also receive an anthracycline (daunorubicin or doxorubicin). During induction, intrathecal instillation of some combination of methotrexate, cytarabine, and hydro-cortisone is given to treat existing CNS leukemia or prevent its development. Following induction of successful remission, which is achieved in nearly all patients with ALL, the remission is consolidated along with CNS-directed therapy. The intensity of therapy depends on risk factors with higher risk patients receiving more intensive chemotherapy. For patients with CNS disease detected at diagnosis and those with T-cell ALL, cranial radiation therapy is usually provided, although the omission of radiation therapy for all pediatric leukemia patients holds great promise. All patients receive continuation therapy for a total duration of therapy of 2 to 3 years. Continuation therapy generally consists of intermittent vincristine and short courses (5 to 7 days) of oral corticosteroid therapy, plus daily oral 6-mercaptopurine, and weekly methotrexate (orally or intramuscularly).
The treatment of AML is quite different from that of ALL because nonmyelosuppressive drugs (vincristine, prednisone, and asparaginase) are not effective. Several cycles of extremely intensive myelosuppressive chemotherapy are necessary to cure childhood AML; there is little evidence that low-dose continuation therapy is helpful in AML (with the exception of acute promyelocytic leukemia).
Induction therapy for AML usually consists of cytarabine, daunomycin, and etoposide (or 6-thioguanine). If a patient has an HLA-matched sibling donor, most experts recommend a stem cell transplantation in the first remission, except in patients with Down syndrome and those with relatively favorable cytogenetics such as inv(16), t(15;17), and t(8;21). Bortezomib, sorafenib and haploidentical natural killer cell transplantation are being studied as an adjuvant therapy for newly diagnosed childhood AML.
Major short-term complications associated with the treatment of leukemia result from bone marrow suppressioncaused by chemotherapy. Patients may have bleeding andsignificant anemia that necessitates transfusion of plateletsor blood. Neutropenia with fewer than 500 neutrophils/mm3, and especially fewer than 100 neutrophils/mm3, greatly predispose the patient to significant bacterial and fungal infection. Cell-mediated immunosuppression increases the risk ofPneumocystis jiroveci (carinii) pneumonia. Prophylaxis withoral trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole or aerosolized pentamidine is recommended. Prophylaxis with antibiotics andantifungal agents is under investigation. Long-term sequelaeof therapy are less common than in previous treatment erasbut are prevalent in long-term survivors treated in the 1980sand earlier. These sequelae include neurocognitive impairment, short stature, obesity, cardiac dysfunction, infertility,second malignant neoplasms, and psychosocial problems(see Table 154-3).
Patients with ALL are classified into four prognostic risk groups (low, standard, high, and very high) based on age, initial WBC count, genetic characteristics, and response to induction therapy. Classification systems are complex and evolving (Table 155-2). In general low-risk patients are 1 to 9 years old with an initial WBC count less than 50,000/mm3 and favorable cytogenetic findings such as t(12;21). High-risk patients are younger than 1 year of age or 10 years of age and older, have an initial WBC count greater than 50,000/mm3, have CNS or testicular disease at diagnosis, or have unfavorable cytogenetics such as t(4;11). Very high-risk patients have a hypodiploid DNA index, a t(9;22) translocation, or fail to achieve remission after 4 weeks of therapy. All other patients are considered to have standard-risk ALL. Immunophenotype, minimal residual disease, and early response to therapy are other factors that influence risk stratification. Infants with ALL generally have a highly undifferentiated immunophenotype, often have a 1–9.99 years <1 or >10 years Initial WBC count <50,000/mm3 >50,000/mm3 CNS disease at Absent Present diagnosis DNA index >1.16 <1.16 Cytogenetics t(12;21) t(4;11), t(9;22) Response to therapy Rapid Slow
CNS, Central nervous system; WBC, white blood cell.translocation involving the mixed lineage leukemia gene (e.g., t(4;11)), and have a poor prognosis.
The overall cure rate for childhood ALL with current therapy approximates 80%. Relapse of ALL occurs most commonly in the bone marrow but also may occur in the CNS, testes, or other extramedullary sites. If relapse occurs while the patient is still receiving treatment, the prognosis is worse than if relapse occurs after discontinuation of therapy. Stem cell transplant from a matched sibling donor, matched unrelated donor, or cord blood currently is recommended for patients who have a relapse while receiving initial chemotherapy. The current overall cure rate for childhood AML is approximately 50%. It is slightly higher for patients who receive a matched sibling stem cell transplant in first remission than for patients treated with chemotherapy alone. The prognosis for relapsed AML is poor.
Lymphomas, or malignancies of lymphoid tissues, are the third most common malignancy in childhood, behind leukemias and central nervous system (CNS) tumors. There are two major types of lymphoma: Hodgkin disease and non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). The etiologies are unknown, but evidence in many cases suggests that the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) plays a causal role in both conditions.
Almost all cases of NHL in childhood are diffuse, highly malignant, and show little differentiation. NHL has three histologic subtypes: small noncleaved cell (Burkitt lymphoma), lymphoblastic, and large cell. For simplicity, these may be regarded as B cell, T cell, and large cell (which may be of either B-cell or T-cell origin) (Table 156-1).
Chromosomal translocation may move an oncogene from its normal site to a new, unregulated site, leading to increased expression. In Burkitt lymphoma, translocation occurs
Large cell T-cell, B-cell, or indeterminate Lymph nodes, skin, soft tissue, bone t(2;5)(p23;q35) between chromosome 8 (c-myc oncogene) and the immunoglobulin gene locus on chromosome 2, 14, or 22, such that the c-myc oncogene comes to reside next to an immunoglobulin gene. The c-myc gene turns on the immunoglobulin gene, leading to a malignant B-cell lymphoma.
The incidence of Hodgkin disease has a bimodal distribution with peaks in the adolescent/young adult years and again after age 50; it is rarely seen in children younger than 5 years of age. In children, boys are affected more commonly than girls; in adolescents, the gender ratio is approximately equal. The incidence of NHL increases with age. It is more common in whites than in African Americans and in males than in females. NHL has been described in association with congenital or acquired immunodeficiency states and after organ or stem cell transplantation. Burkitt lymphoma commonly is divided into two forms: a sporadic form commonly seen in North America and an endemic form commonly seen in Africa, which has a strong association to EBV.
Available @ StudentConsult.comThe most common clinical presentation of Hodgkin disease is painless, firm lymphadenopathy often confined to one or two lymph node areas, usually the supraclavicular and cervical nodes. Mediastinal lymphadenopathy producing cough or shortness of breath is another frequent initial presentation. The presence of one of three B symptoms has prognostic value: fever (>38° C for 3 consecutive days), drenching night sweats, and unintentional weight loss of 10% or more within 6 months of diagnosis.
The sporadic (North American) form of Burkitt lymphoma more commonly has an abdominal presentation (typically with pain), whereas the endemic (African) form frequently presents with tumors of the jaw. The anterior mediastinum and cervical nodes are the usual primary sites for T-cell lymphomas. These lymphomas may cause airway or superior vena cava obstruction, pleural effusion, or both.
The diagnosis of lymphoma is established by tissue biopsy orexamination of pleural or peritoneal fluid. Systemic symptoms,such as fever and weight loss, may be present and are particularly prominent in patients with anaplastic large cell lymphoma,which can be insidious in onset. If the bone marrow contains 25% or greater blasts, the disease is classified as acute leukemia (either B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia [ALL] or T-cellALL). This distinction makes little prognostic or therapeuticdifference because both require aggressive, systemic therapy inaddition to CNS-directed therapy.
Patients suspected to have lymphoma should have a complete blood count, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and measurement of serum electrolytes, calcium, phosphorus, lactate dehydrogenase, and uric acid. A chest x-ray assesses for a mediastinal mass (Fig. 156-1). The diagnosis ultimately requires a pathologic confirmation from tissue or fluid sampling. For staging purposes, a bone marrow aspirate, bone scan, and positron emission tomography or gallium scan also are indicated. The pathologic hallmark of Hodgkin disease is the identification of Reed-Sternberg cells. Histopathologic subtypes in childhood Hodgkin disease are similar to those in adults; 10% to 15% have lymphocyte predominant, 50% to 60% have nodular sclerosis, 30% have mixed cellularity, and less than 5% have lymphocyte depletion. All subtypes are responsive to treatment. Staging of Hodgkin disease is according to the Ann Arbor system. Staging laparotomy is no longer used in children because computed tomography scans often identify abdominal (lymph nodes, liver, spleen) involvement.
The differential diagnosis for lymphomas in children includes leukemia, rhabdomyosarcoma, nasopharyngeal carcinoma, germ cell tumors, and thymomas. Nonmalignant diagnoses include infectious mononucleosis (EBV infection), branchial cleft and thyroglossal duct cysts, cat scratch disease (Bartonella henselae), bacterial or viral lymphadenitis, mycobacterial infection, toxoplasmosis, and even tinea capitis, all of which can produce significant lymphadenopathy that can mimic lymphoma. Patients with acute abdominal pain from Burkitt lymphoma may be misdiagnosed as having appendicitis.
The generally accepted treatment for childhood Hodgkin disease is a combination of chemotherapy and low-dose, involved-field radiation therapy. Chemotherapy usually consists of some combination of cyclophosphamide, vincristine, procarbazine, doxorubicin, bleomycin, vinblastine, prednisone, and etoposide. In general four to six courses of combination chemotherapy are given. Selected low-risk patients may be cured with chemotherapy alone, without radiation therapy.
Figure 156-1 Chest x-ray of a 15-year-old boy demonstrating a large superior anterior mediastinal mass (large arrows) compressing the trachea and deviating it rightward (arrowheads). Biopsy revealed non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
Distant, noncontiguous metastases are common in childhood NHL. Systemic chemotherapy is mandatory and should be administered to all children with NHL, even those with clinically localized disease at diagnosis.
T-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma and anaplastic large cell lymphoma generally are treated with aggressive multidrug regimens similar to the regimens used in ALL. The main drugs used in the treatment of mature B-cell NHL are cyclophosphamide, moderateto high-dose methotrexate, cytarabine, doxorubicin, ifosfamide, and etoposide. Surgery and radiation therapy rarely are used because the disease is rarely localized and is highly sensitive to chemotherapy.
The short-term complications from the treatment of lymphoma are similar to other pediatric malignancies and commonly include immunosuppression, related sequelae from myelosuppression, nausea, vomiting, and alopecia. Late adverse effects include second malignant neoplasms (acute myeloid leukemia or myelodysplasia, thyroid malignancies, and breast cancer), hypothyroidism, impaired soft tissue and bone growth, cardiac dysfunction, and pulmonary fibrosis.
Children and adolescents with Hodgkin disease are classified as low, intermediate, or high risk according to stage andnodal bulk. The prognosis is generally excellent. There is an approximately 90% 5-year overall survival rate, approaching 100% for low-risk patients and 70% to 90% for high-riskpatients. For NHL prognosis also is related to stage. The overall3-year survival rates for B-cell, T-cell, and large cell NHL are70% to 90%.
Most central nervous system (CNS) tumors in children and adolescents are primary tumors that originate in the CNS and include low-grade astrocytomas or embryonic neoplasms (medulloblastoma, ependymoma, germ cell tumor). In contrast CNS tumors in adults are high-grade astrocytomas or secondary tumors that are metastatic from other carcinomas. CNS tumors also may arise in patients previously treated with radiation therapy. CNS tumors are likely multifactorial in etiology. The classification of CNS tumors is complex and evolving, with the World Health Organization classification being the most complete and accurate system.
CNS tumors are the most common solid tumors in children and are second to leukemia in overall incidence during childhood. About 1700 new cases occur each year in the United States; the rate is approximately 33 cases per 1 million children under 15 years of age. The incidence peaks before age 10 years and then decreases until a second peak after age 70. For medulloblastoma and ependymoma, males are more affected than females; for other tumor types, no gender differences exist. In the first 2 to 3 years of life, whites are affected more than multiracial children; otherwise incidence rates are essentially equal for whites and multiracial children.
Children with certain inherited syndromes, including neurofibromatosis (types 1 and 2), Li-Fraumeni syndrome, tuberous sclerosis, Turcot syndrome, and von Hippel-Lindau syndrome, have an increased risk for developing a CNS tumor. Most CNS tumors arise in children with no known underlying disorder or risk factor.
Available @ StudentConsult.comAbnormal Head Size, Shape, and Fontanels Visual Impairment and Leukocoria Vomiting Headaches
Brain tumors can cause symptoms by impingement on normal tissue (usually cranial nerves) or by an increase in intracranial pressure caused either by obstruction of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) flow or by a direct mass effect. Tumors that obstruct the flow of CSF become quickly symptomatic. Symptoms of increased intracranial pressure are lethargy, headache, and vomiting (particularly in the morning on awakening). Irritability, anorexia, poor school performance, and loss of developmental milestones all may be signs of slow-growing CNS tumors. In young children with open cranial sutures, an increase in head circumference may occur. Optic pathway tumors may lead to loss of visual acuity or visual field defects. Inability to abduct the eye as the result of sixth cranial nerve palsy is a common sign of increased intracranial pressure. Cranial nerve deficits other than sixth nerve palsy suggest involvement of the brainstem. Seizures occur in 20% to 50% of patients with supratentorial tumors; focal weakness or sensory changes also may be seen. Pituitary involvement produces neuroendocrine effects (galactorrhea with prolactinoma, excessive growth with growth hormone secretory tumors, precocious puberty). Cerebellar tumors are associated with ataxia and diminished coordination. A history and physical examination are fundamental for evaluation, which should include a careful neurologic assessment, including visual fields and a funduscopic examination.
If an intracranial lesion is suspected, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is currently the examination of choice (Fig. 157-1). Examination of CSF by cytocentrifuge histologic testing is essential to determine the presence of metastatic disease in primitive neuroectodermal tumors, germ cell tumors, and pineal region tumors. A lumbar puncture should not be performed before imaging has been obtained to evaluate for evidence of increased intracranial pressure. If a tumor is
Figure 157-1 Magnetic resonance imaging scan of a 9-year-old boy showing a heterogeneously enhancing fourth ventricular mass (arrow). It was resected, and pathology revealed medulloblastoma.
suspected to have metastatic potential (medulloblastoma), MRI of the entire spine should be obtained before surgery to assess for neuraxial dissemination. A postoperative MRI study of the brain should be obtained within 24 to 48 hours of surgery to assess the extent of resection. During follow-up, magnetic resonance spectroscopy can help distinguish recurrent tumor from radiation necrosis.
The differential diagnosis of a CNS mass lesion includes malignant tumor, benign tumor, arteriovenous malformation, aneurysm, brain abscess, cysticercosis, granulomatous disease (tuberculosis, sarcoid), intracranial hemorrhage, pseudotumor cerebri, vasculitis, and, rarely, metastatic tumor.
The therapy for children with CNS tumors is individualized and depends on the tumor type, location, size, and associatedsymptoms. High-dose dexamethasone often is administered immediately to reduce tumor-associated edema. Surgical objectives are complete excision, if possible, and maximal debulkingif a complete excision is not possible. In children, radiationtherapy often is combined with chemotherapy; in young children, radiation therapy may be delayed or avoided altogether.Primitive neuroectodermal tumors (including medulloblastoma) and germ cell tumors are sensitive to chemotherapy; gliomas are less sensitive to chemotherapy. Chemotherapy playsan especially important role, particularly in infants in whomthe effects of high-dose CNS radiation may have devastatingeffects on growth and neurocognitive development.
Short-term adverse effects of therapy include nausea, vomiting, anorexia, fatigue, immunosuppression, and cushingoid features. Long-term adverse effects include neurocognitive deficits, endocrinologic sequelae, decreased bone growth, ototoxicity, renal insufficiency, cataracts, infertility, and second malignant neoplasms (including myelodysplasia). The neurocognitive deficits can be significant, particularly in infants and young children, and are the primary reason for the continued search for the lowest efficacious radiation therapy dose and the most conformal delivery methods for the radiation therapy boosts. Cerebellar mutism syndrome occurs in 25% of patients after resection of a posterior fossa tumor and is characterized by an acute decrease in speech (often mutism), behavioral changes (e.g., irritability, apathy, or both), diffuse cerebellar dysfunction, and other neurologic abnormalities. It may begin within hours to days of surgery and is usually self-resolving within weeks to months; cerebellar ataxia and dysmetria often persist. Somnolence syndrome, which is characterized by excessive fatigue and sleepiness, may occur in the months after completion of radiation therapy and is self-limited. Posterior fossa syndrome manifests as headache and aseptic meningitis days to weeks after surgery in this area.
Improvements in neurodiagnosis, neurosurgical techniques, chemotherapy regimens, and radiation therapy techniques
Table 157-1 Location, Incidence, and Prognosis of CNS Tumors in Children LOCATION INCIDENCE (%) 5-YEAR SURVIVAL (%)
Infratentorial (posterior fossa) 55–60 Astrocytoma (cerebellum) 20 90 Medulloblastoma 20 50–80 Glioma (brainstem) 15 High grade: 0–5; low grade: 30 Ependymoma 5 50–60 Supratentorial (cerebral 40–55 hemispheres) Astrocytoma 15 50–75 Glioblastoma multiforme 10 0–5 Ependymoma 2.5 50–75 Choroid plexus papilloma 1.5 95 Midline Craniopharyngioma 6 70–90 Pineal (germinoma) 1 65–75 Optic nerve glioma 3 90 have improved overall outcome. The 5-year overall survival rate associated with all childhood CNS tumors is approximately 50% to 60%, resulting in large measure from the high curability of cerebellar astrocytomas and the increasing cure rate for patients with medulloblastoma (Table 157-1). Intrinsic brainstem gliomas and glioblastoma multiforme have extremely poor prognoses.
Neuroblastoma is derived from neural crest cells that form the adrenal medulla and the sympathetic nervous system. The cause is unknown. Most cases occur in young children, thus it is likely that neuroblastoma results from prenatal and perinatal events. Neuroblastoma may rarely (1% to 2% of cases) be hereditary. Mutations in the ALK and PHOX2B genes are associated with most familial cases. In sporadic cases, several genetic mutations have been identified.
Neuroblastoma is the most common extracranial solid tumor of childhood and the most common malignancy in infancy. The median age at diagnosis is 20 months. There are approximately 650 new cases of neuroblastoma in the United States each year. The incidence is estimated to be 1 in 7000 live births. The tumor usually occurs sporadically, but, in 1% to 2% of cases, there is a family history of neuroblastoma.
Available @ StudentConsult.comNeuroblastoma is remarkable for its broad spectrum of clinical prognosis ranging from spontaneous regression to rapidprogression and metastasis resulting in death. Childrenwith localized disease are often asymptomatic at diagnosis,whereas children with metastases often appear ill and havesystemic complaints, such as fever, weight loss, and pain.The most common presentation is abdominal pain or mass.The mass is often palpated in the flank and is hard, smooth,and nontender. In the abdomen, 45% of tumors arise in the adrenal gland, and 25% arise in the retroperitoneal sympathetic ganglia. Other sites of origin are the paravertebralganglia of the chest and neck. Paraspinal tumors may invadethrough the neural foramina and cause spinal cord compression. Horner syndrome sometimes is seen with neck orapical masses. Several paraneoplastic syndromes, including secretory diarrhea, profuse sweating, and opsomyoclonus (dancing eyes and dancing feet), are associated with neuroblastoma.
Neuroblastoma may metastasize to multiple organs, including the liver, bone, bone marrow, and lymph nodes. Periorbital ecchymoses is a sign of orbital bone involvement. A unique category of neuroblastoma, stage 4S, is defined in infants (<1 year old) with a small primary tumor and metastasis limited to skin, liver, or bone marrow. It is associated with a favorable outcome.
A complete blood count and plain films may help identify patients with neuroblastoma. Calcification within abdominal neuroblastoma tumors is often observed on plain films of the abdomen.About 90% of neuroblastomas produce catecholamines (Vanillylmandelic acid; Homovanillic acid) that can be detected in the urine. Definitive diagnosis of neuroblastoma requires tissuefor light microscopic, electron microscopic, and immunohistologic examination. A computed tomography (CT) scan of thechest, abdomen, and pelvis; a bone scan and/or metaiodobenzylguanidine scan; bilateral bone marrow aspiration and biopsies;and urinary catecholamines complete the evaluation.
The abdominal presentation of neuroblastoma must be differentiated from Wilms tumor, which also presents as an abdominal flank mass. Ultrasound or CT examination usually differentiates the tumors. Periorbital ecchymoses from orbital metastases sometimes are mistaken for child abuse. Because children with bone marrow involvement may have anemia, thrombocytopenia, or neutropenia, leukemia is often considered in the differential.
Treatment of neuroblastoma is based on surgical staging and biologic features (Table 158-1). Complete surgical excision is the initial treatment of choice for localized neuroblastoma. Children with favorable biology who undergo a gross total resection require no further therapy. In patients with advanced disease, combination chemotherapy usually is given after confirmation of the diagnosis. The most commonly used agents are vincristine, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, cisplatin, and etoposide. Delayed resection of the primary tumor is undertaken after numerous courses of chemotherapy. Radiation therapy often is administered to the primary tumor bed and areas of metastatic disease. High-dose chemotherapy with autologous stem cell rescue has improved the outcome for patients with high-risk neuroblastoma. Survival has also improved with the addition of cis-retinoic acid (isotretinoin) and anti-GD2 monoclonal antibody therapy after maximal reduction of tumor burden with chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation therapy.
Spinal cord compression from neuroblastoma may cause an irreversible neurologic deficit and is an oncologic emergency. Children with the opsomyoclonus syndrome may suffer from developmental delay or mental retardation. The aggressive chemotherapy and radiation therapies currently used to treat high-risk neuroblastoma may result in complications such as ototoxicity, nephrotoxicity, growth problems, and second malignancies.
The prognosis for survival is affected by age at diagnosis, stage, primary site, presence or absence of metastasis, cytogenetics, DNA ploidy, MYCN status, and histopathology. Currently children with neuroblastoma can be divided into three groups: low, average, and high risk. Unfavorable biologic factors include lack of cell differentiation, amplification (>10 copies/cell) of the MYCN oncogene, lack of hyperdiploidy, and mutations of chromosome 1p, 11q, or 6p22. Patients with favorable biology tend to be younger and often have localized disease. Patients under 1 year of age generally have a better prognosis than older patients. Older patients with stage 4 disease most commonly have unfavorable biology, and more than 50% will relapse due to drug-resistant residual disease. Although neuroblastoma represents only 8% of cases of childhood cancer, it is responsible for 15% of cancer deaths in children.
Table 158-1 Proposed Children’s Oncology Group Neuroblastoma Risk Stratification Schema, by Stage STAGE AGE MYCN PLOIDY HISTOLOGY OTHER RISK GROUP 1 Low 2A/2B Not amplified >50% resection Low
From Maris JM, Hogarty MD, Bagatell R, et al: Neuroblastoma, Lancet 369:2106–2120, 2007. DI, DNA index.
Wilms tumor is thought to arise from primitive, metanephric blastema, the precursor of a normal kidney. Nephrogenic rests are foci of embryonal cells that may be rarely (<1%) found in normal infant kidneys and are commonly (25% to 40%) found in Wilms tumor-bearing kidneys. They may be perilobar, intralobar, or both, and are widely considered to be precursors to Wilms tumors. Although the cause of Wilms tumor is unknown, children with certain congenital anomalies or genetic conditions are at increased risk of developing the disease.
Multiple Wilms tumor or WT genes have been identified. The WT1 gene at chromosomal band 11p13 is important in a minority of tumors, and other genes at 11p15, 16q, and 1p are also involved. The identification of several genes involved in the etiology or progression of Wilms tumor and the loss of heterozygosity (LOH) in normal tissues of some patients demonstrate that the genetic predisposition to Wilms tumor is heterogeneous.
Wilms tumor is the most common malignant renal tumor of childhood, with approximately 500 new cases per year in the United States. The mean age at diagnosis is 3 to 3.5 years of age, and no gender predilection is apparent. A hereditary form of Wilms tumor may be associated with bilateral presentation and younger age at onset. Many congenital anomalies are associated with Wilms tumor, including sporadic aniridia, hemihypertrophy, and genitourinary abnormalities. Patients with the WAGR (Wilms tumor, aniridia, genitourinary malformation, mental retardation) syndrome have Wilms tumor as a manifestation of the syndrome itself, resulting from a germline deletion at chromosome 11p. Patients with Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome and some other overgrowth syndromes are at increased risk for developing Wilms tumor and should be screened with periodic renal imaging.
Available @ StudentConsult.comMost children with Wilms tumor are brought to medical attention because they have an abdominal mass that is discovered by their parents. Although many children do not have complaints at the time that the mass is first noted, associated symptoms may include abdominal pain, fever, hypertension, and hematuria.
An abdominal ultrasound or computed tomography (CT) scan can usually distinguish an intrarenal mass from a mass in the adrenal gland or other surrounding structures. Evaluation of the inferior vena cava is crucial because the tumor may extend from the kidney into the vena cava. A complete blood count, urinalysis, liver and renal function studies, and a chest radio-graph (to identify pulmonary metastases) should be obtained. In most cases, a CT scan of the chest, abdomen, and pelvis is obtained. The diagnosis is confirmed by histologic examination of the tumor. Although most cases of Wilms tumor are classified as favorable histology, the presence of anaplasia is predictive of a worse prognosis and is considered unfavorable.
The differential diagnosis of Wilms tumor includes hydronephrosis and polycystic disease of the kidney; benign renal tumors, such as mesoblastic nephroma and hamartoma; and other malignant tumors, such as renal cell carcinoma, neuroblastoma, lymphoma, and retroperitoneal rhabdomyosarcoma.
The timing of nephrectomy for unilateral, resectable Wilms tumor remains controversial. The North American approach is for immediate nephrectomy followed by adjuvant chemotherapy, whereas the European approach is to make a diagnosis by imaging and sometimes a biopsy, give neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by surgery and then adjuvant chemotherapy (plus radiation therapy, as indicated). The overall survival is comparable regardless of the approach. The Children’s Oncology Group protocols for Wilms tumor with favorable histologic findings generally include vincristine and actinomycin, with or without doxorubicin. Radiation therapy is reserved for a minority of patients depending on stage, presence of metastases, response to therapy, and LOH status.
Bilateral Wilms tumor is present in about 5% of children on initial presentation, whereas recurrent disease affects the opposite kidney in 4% to 5% of patients. Treatment for patients with bilateral Wilms tumor should be individualized to retain as much normal kidney as possible.
Survivors of Wilms tumor are at risk for several late effects, including cardiomyopathy, scoliosis, hypertension and prehypertension, renal and bladder insufficiency, pulmonary dysfunction, hepatic dysfunction, infertility, and second malignancies. Patients with bilateral Wilms tumor are sometimes left with renal insufficiency or failure. Female survivors may have complicated pregnancies and deliveries.
In general the prognosis for patients with Wilms tumor isvery good. Prognostic factors include stage and histologic features. Anaplastic variants of Wilms tumor have a significantlyworse outcome than classic Wilms tumor. In addition LOH at chromosomes 1p or 16q confers an increased risk of relapseand death compared to tumors without LOH at either site.
The 4-year relapse-free survival of patients with tumors of favorable histologic picture is directly related to stage. Curerates for patients with localized Wilms tumor at diagnosis aregreater than 85%, whereas patients with pulmonary metastases have event-free survival rates of approximately 70% to 80%.
Sarcomas are divided into soft tissue sarcomas and bone cancers. Soft tissue sarcomas arise primarily from the connective tissues of the body, such as muscle tissue, fibrous tissue, and adipose tissue. Rhabdomyosarcoma, the most common soft tissue sarcoma in children, is derived from mesenchymal cells that are committed to skeletal muscle lineage. Less common soft tissue sarcomas include fibrosarcoma, synovial sarcoma, and extraosseous Ewing sarcoma. The most common malignant bone cancers in children are osteosarcoma and Ewing sarcoma. Osteosarcomas derive from primitive bone-forming mesenchymal stem cells. Ewing sarcomas are thought to be of neural crest cell origin.
The cause is unknown for most children diagnosed with sarcoma, although a few observations have been made regarding risks. Individuals with Li-Fraumeni syndrome (associated with a germline p53 mutation) and neurofibromatosis (associated with NF1 mutations) have an increased risk of softtissue sarcomas. There is a 500-fold increased risk for osteosarcoma for individuals with hereditary retinoblastoma. Prior treatment for childhood cancer with radiation therapy or chemotherapy, specifically alkylating agents, or both, increases the risk for osteosarcoma as a second malignancy.
In the United States, 850 to 900 children and adolescents under 20 years of age are diagnosed with soft tissue sarcomas each year; approximately 350 are rhabdomyosarcoma. The incidence of rhabdomyosarcoma peaks in children 2 to 6 years old and in adolescents. The early peak is associated with tumors in the genitourinary region, head, and neck; the later peak is associated with tumors in the extremities, trunk, and male genitourinary tract. Boys are affected 1.5 times more often than girls.
Of the 650 to 700 U.S. children and adolescents under 20 years of age diagnosed with bone tumors each year, approximately two thirds have osteosarcoma and one third have Ewing sarcoma. Osteosarcoma most commonly affects adolescents; the peak incidence occurs during the period of maximum growth velocity. The incidence of Ewing sarcoma peaks between ages 10 and 20 years but may occur at any age. Ewing sarcoma affects primarily whites; it rarely occurs in African American children or Asian children.
Available @ StudentConsult.comThe clinical presentation of rhabdomyosarcoma varies, depending on the site of origin, subsequent mass effect, and presence of metastatic disease. Periorbital swelling, proptosis, and limitation of extraocular motion may be seen with an orbital tumor. Nasal mass, chronic otitis media, ear discharge, dysphagia, neck mass, and cranial nerve involvement may be noted with tumors in other head and neck sites. Urethral or vaginal masses, paratesticular swelling, hematuria, and urinary frequency or retention may be noted with tumors in the genitourinary tract. Trunk or extremity lesions tend to present as rapidly growing masses that may or may not be painful. If there is metastatic disease to bone or bone marrow, limb pain and evidence of marrow failure may be present.
Osteosarcoma often is located at the epiphysis or metaphysis of anatomic sites that are associated with maximum growth velocity (distal femur, proximal tibia, proximal humerus), but any bone may be involved. It presents with pain and may be associated with a palpable mass. Because the pain and swelling often are initially thought to be related to trauma, radio-graphs of the affected region frequently are obtained, which usually reveal a lytic lesion, often associated with calcification in the soft tissue surrounding the lesion. While 75% to 80% of patients with osteosarcoma have apparently localized disease at diagnosis, the majority of patients are believed to have micrometastatic disease as well.
Although Ewing sarcoma can occur in almost any bone in the body, the femur and pelvis are the most common sites. In addition to local pain and swelling, clinical manifestations may include systemic symptoms, such as fever and weight loss.
Tissue biopsy is needed for a definitive diagnosis of sarcomas. Selection of the biopsy site is important and has implications for future surgical resection and radiation therapy. Under light microscopy, rhabdomyosarcoma and Ewing sarcoma appear as small, round, blue cell tumors. Osteosarcomas are distinguishable by the presence of osteoid substance.
Immunohistochemical staining for muscle-specific proteins, such as actin and myosin, helps confirm the diagnosis of rhabdomyosarcoma. Two major histologic variants exist for rhabdomyosarcoma: embryonal and alveolar. Embryonal histologic variant is most common in younger children with head, neck, and genitourinary primary tumors. Alveolar histologic variant occurs in older patients and is seen most commonly in trunk and extremity tumors. Alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma often is characterized by specific translocations: t(2;13) or t(1;13). Metastatic evaluation for patients with rhabdomyosarcoma should include a computed tomography (CT) scan of the chest, abdomen, and pelvis; a bone scan; and bone marrow aspiration and biopsy. A lumbar puncture is required in patients with a parameningeal primary site.
Definitive diagnosis of osteosarcoma often is establishedby carefully placed needle biopsy. The presence of osteoidand immunohistochemical analysis confirms the diagnosisof osteosarcoma. The extent of the primary tumor shouldbe delineated carefully with magnetic resonance imaging(MRI) before starting chemotherapy. Osteosarcoma tends tometastasize to the lung, most commonly, and rarely to otherbones. Metastatic evaluation includes a chest CT scan and a bone scan.
The diagnosis of Ewing sarcoma is established with immunohistochemical analysis and cytogenetic and molecular diagnostic studies of the biopsy material. Ewing sarcoma is characterized by a specific chromosomal translocation, t(11;22), which is seen in 95% of tumors. MRI of the primary lesion should be performed to delineate extent of the lesion and any associated soft tissue mass. Metastatic evaluation involves a bone scan, chest CT scan, and bone marrow aspiration and biopsy.
Patients with Ewing sarcoma may be misdiagnosed as having osteomyelitis; children with osteogenic sarcoma often are thought initially to have pain and swelling related to trauma. The differential diagnosis for rhabdomyosarcoma depends on the location of the tumor. Tumors of the trunk and extremities often present as a painless mass and may be initially thought to be benign tumors. Periorbital rhabdomyosarcoma may be misdiagnosed as orbital cellulitis, and other head and neck rhabdomyosarcoma may be confused with chronic infection of ears or sinuses. The differential diagnosis for intra-abdominal rhabdomyosarcoma includes other abdominal malignancies, such as Wilms tumor or neuroblastoma.
Treatment of rhabdomyosarcoma is currently based on a staging system that incorporates both the primary site and histologic picture. The staging system also involves a local tumor group assessment based on the extent of disease and surgical result. In the intergroup rhabdomyosarcoma studies, the most common chemotherapy agents used are cyclophosphamide, vincristine, and actinomycin. Doxorubicin, etoposide, ifosfamide, topotecan, and irinotecan are also active against rhabdomyosarcoma. Radiation is administered to patients who have residual disease after initial surgery or who have only had a primary biopsy of the tumor.
The current treatment of osteosarcoma involves neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by surgery and adjuvant chemotherapy. Agents effective against osteosarcoma are doxorubicin, cisplatin, high-dose methotrexate, ifosfamide, and etoposide. The treatment for Ewing sarcoma is similar to that for osteosarcoma; preoperative chemotherapy is given, followed by local control measures, and then further chemotherapy. In contrast to osteosarcoma, Ewing sarcoma is radiation sensitive. Chemotherapy includes vincristine, cyclophosphamide, ifosfamide, etoposide, and doxorubicin.
In addition to the risk of late effects from the chemotherapy, children with sarcomas have potential complications related to local control of the tumor. If the local disease is controlled with surgery, the long-term sequelae may include loss of limb or limitation of function. If local control is accomplished with radiation therapy, the late effects depend on the dose of radiation given, the extent of the site radiated, and the development of the child at the time of radiation therapy. Irradiating tissues interfere with growth and development, so significant adverse consequences may occur in young children.
For all children with sarcoma, presence or absence of metastatic disease at presentation is the most important prognostic factor. The outlook remains poor for patients who have distant metastasis from Ewing sarcoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, or osteosarcoma at diagnosis. Patients with localized rhabdomyosarcomas in favorable sites have an excellent prognosis when treated with surgery followed by vincristine and actinomycin. In patients with osteosarcoma and Ewing sarcoma, another important prognostic factor is the degree of tumor necrosis after preoperative chemotherapy. In general, patients whose tumor specimens show a high degree (>90%) of necrosis following preoperative chemotherapy have an event-free survival rate greater than 80%. Patients who still have large amounts of viable tumor after presurgical chemotherapy have a much worse prognosis. The cure rate for patients with localized osteosarcoma and Ewing sarcoma is approximately 60% to 70%. Patients who have lung metastasis at diagnosis have a cure rate of approximately 30% to 35%. Patients with metastases to other bones have a poor prognosis.
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John D. Mahan and Hiren P. Patel 22The kidneys preserve homeostasis through multiple mechanisms: maintain fluid and electrolyte balance, excrete metabolic waste products through glomerular filtration and tubular secretion, generate energy (gluconeogenesis), and produce important endocrine hormones (renin, vitamin D metabolites, erythropoietin). Renal disorders, by disturbing homeostasis, can affect growth and development and result in a variety of clinical manifestations (Table 161-1). Renal disorders in children may represent intrinsic renal diseases or derive from systemic conditions (Table 161-2).
Fetal urine production contributes to amniotic fluid volume, lung maturation, and somatic development. Congenital renal disorders may be associated with reduced (oligohydramnios) or increased amniotic fluid volume (polyhydramnios). Pulmonary hypoplasia and fetal maldevelopment of the face and extremities may result from insufficient amniotic fluid (Potter syndrome) (see Chapters 58 and 60).
Risk factors for renal disease (e.g., perinatal hypoxia-ischemia, acute tubular necrosis, renal vein thrombosis) can be detected by a careful history. A detailed family history may identify hereditary renal conditions. Poor growth and/or feeding, abnormal fluid intake and/or output may indicate underlying renal dysfunction. Other common manifestations of renal and/or urinary tract disorders are listed in Table 161-1.
Renal diseases in children may be initially asymptomatic and detected during routine visits. Abnormal growth, hypertension (HTN), dehydration, or edema may suggest occult renal disease (see Chapter 33). Abnormal facial features may suggest syndromes associated with renal disorders (fetal alcohol syndrome, Down syndrome). Preauricular tags, deformities of the external ear, or ophthalmologic abnormalities (keratoconus, aniridia, iridocyclitis, cataracts) can be associated with congenital renal defects. Abdominal examination may reveal renal masses. Bladder distention may suggest a urine-concentrating defect or urinary tract obstruction.
Normal renal function depends on intact glomerular filtration and tubular function (proximal tubule [PT], loop of Henle, and distal tubule [DT]) that results in urine formation (Fig. 161-1). The net glomerular pressure favors movement of fluid out of the capillaries into Bowman’s space. Intraglomerular pressure is regulated by afferent and, particularly, efferent arteriolar tone. Renin is generated by cells in the juxtaglomerular apparatus, located at the base of each glomerulus in proximity to the afferent/efferent arterioles and DT of that nephron and released in response to glomerular flow and perfusion.
The PT conducts isosmotic reabsorption (see Fig. 161-1)to reabsorb two thirds of the filtered volume, sodium, and chloride. Glucose, amino acids, potassium, and phosphate are almost completely reabsorbed. Approximately 75% of filtered bicarbonate is reabsorbed in the PT. When filtered bicarbonate exceeds the PT threshold, bicarbonate is spilled into the urine. The PT also secretes compounds such as organic acids, penicillins, and other drugs. The most potent vitamin D analog—1,25(OH)2-cholecalciferol (calcitriol)—is produced by PT cells in response to parathyroid hormone and intracellular calcium/phosphorus concentrations.
The loop of Henle is the site of reabsorption of 25% of sodium chloride filtered in the glomerulus (see Fig. 161-1).Active chloride transport drives the countercurrent multiplier and composes the medullary interstitial hypertonic gradient required for urinary concentration.
The DT is composed of the distal convoluted tubule (DCT) and collecting ducts (CD). The DCT is water impermeable and contributes to urine dilution by active sodium chloride absorption. The CD is the primary site of antidiuretic hormone (vasopressin) response, which leads to urine concentration. Sodium-potassium and sodium-hydrogen exchange in the CD is regulated by aldosterone. Active hydrogen ion secretion, which is responsible for the final acidification of the urine, also occurs in the CD.
Renal ammonia production and intraluminal generation of ammonium (NH4+) facilitate urine hydrogen ion excretion. Urinary NH4+ is not measured easily but can be inferred by calculation of the urinary anion gap. The gap between measured anions and cations largely consists of NH4+. Problems with renal acid excretion or ammonia production decrease the
Table 161-1 Common Manifestations of Renal Disease by Age FINDING SIGNIFICANCE NEONATE Flank mass Multicystic dysplasia, urinary tract obstruction (hydronephrosis), polycystic disease, tumor
Hematuria Acute tubular/cortical necrosis, urinary tract malformation, trauma, renal vein thrombosis
Anuria and oliguria Renal agenesis, obstruction, acute tubular necrosis, vascular thrombosis CHILD/ADOLESCENT
Cola red-colored urine Hemoglobinuria (hemolysis); myoglobinuria (rhabdomyolysis); pigmenturia (porphyria, urate, beets, drugs); hematuria (infection, glomerulonephritis, Henoch-Schönlein purpura, hypercalciuria, stones)
Gross hematuria Infection, glomerulonephritis, trauma, benign hematuria, nephrolithiasis, tumorEdema Nephrotic syndrome, glomerulonephritis, acute/chronic renal failure, cardiac/liver diseaseHypertension Acute glomerulonephritis, acute/chronic renal failure, obstruction, cysts, dysplasia, coarctation of the aorta, renal artery stenosis
Polyuria Diabetes mellitus, central and nephrogenic diabetes insipidus, obstruction, dysplasia, hypokalemia, hypercalcemia, psychogenic polydipsia, sickle disease/trait, polyuric renal failure, diuretic abuse
Oliguria Dehydration, acute tubular necrosis, acute glomerulonephritis, interstitial nephritis, hemolytic uremic syndrome
Dysfunctional voiding/urgency Neurogenic bladder, urinary tract infection, vaginitis, hypercalciuria, foreign body
Polycystic kidney disease Cystinosis, oxalosisRenal/urinary tract tumor Galactosemia, hereditary fructose intoleranceExtrarenal malignancy (leukemia, lymphoma) urinary anion gap. A urinary gap of approximately 1 mEq/kg body weight is reasonable in normal children.
The maximum urinary concentrating capacity in a preterm newborn (∼400 mOsm/L) is less than that in afull-term newborn (600 to 800 mOsm/L), which is less thanthat in older children and adults (∼1200 mOsm/L). Neonates can dilute urine similar to adults (75 to 90 mOsm/L),but, because the glomerular filtration rate (GFR) is lower,the capacity to excrete a water load is less in infants. GFRreaches adult levels by 1 to 2 years of age. Tubular reabsorption of sodium, potassium, bicarbonate, and phosphateand excretion of hydrogen are all reduced in infants relative to adults. These functions mature independently andat different ages, so a neonate rapidly develops the abilityto reabsorb sodium efficiently, but it takes 2 years for bicarbonate reabsorption to mature. Erythropoietin is secreted by interstitial cells in the renal medulla in response to lowoxygen delivery and helps regulate bone marrow red bloodcell production.
Available @ StudentConsult.comRenal disorders can be classified as primary or secondary (due to systemic illnesses) (see Table 161-2). Renal diseases may present with obvious signs, such as hematuria oredema, or with subtle signs detected on screening examinations (abdominal or flank mass, HTN, proteinuria). Fever, irritability, and vomiting may be presenting symptoms inneonates and infants with urinary tract infections (UTIs),whereas frequency and dysuria suggest UTI in older children.Chronic kidney disease often is associated with poor growthand feeding but may be first detected on screening examinations (HTN, hematuria). An abnormal urine stream mayindicate posterior urethral valves, other bladder disorders, orobstructive lesions.
The GFR is measured most accurately by infusion of a substance that is freely filtered by the glomerulus but is not metabolized, reabsorbed, or secreted in or by the tubules. The GFR is calculated as follows: where [U] is urine concentration, [P] is serum concentration of a substance (mg/dL) used to measure clearance, and V is urine flow rate (mL/min).
By convention, GFR is corrected to a body surface area of 1.73 m2 to allow comparison between different sized individuals. In a full-term newborn, an uncorrected GFR of 4 to 5 mL/min corrects to approximately 40 mL/min/1.73 m2. GFR increases rapidly during the first 2 years of life when it achieves adult values (100 to 120 mL/min/1.73 m2). After that, GFR and body size increase proportionately, and GFR remains stable.
Plasma creatinine reflects muscle mass, increases with age, and is used to approximate GFR. Creatinine is also secreted by PT, resulting in a less accurate measurement of GFR with immature kidneys or with decreased renal function. Blood
Figure 161-1 Major transport functions of each nephron segment, including representative osmolalities in vasa recta, interstitium, and tubule at different levels within the kidney. ADH, Antidiuretic hormone; Glu, glucose; OA, organic acid. (From Andreoli TE, Carpenter CCJ, Plum F, et al, editors: Cecil Essentials of Medicine, Philadelphia, 1986, WB Saunders.) urea nitrogen is affected by renal function but is greatly altered by hydration, nutrition, catabolism, and tissue breakdown. The correlation between creatinine and GFR can be used to estimate GFR. The revised Schwartz formula is the following: 0.413×Ht
Height is measured in centimeters. Serum creatinine is measured in milligram per deciliter. This formula is most useful when body habitus and muscle mass are reasonably normal andwhen renal function is relatively stable. This formula may bemost accurate in the range of 15 to 75 mL/min per 1.73 m2. Values greater than 75 should be reported as such rather than as aspecific number. Creatinine clearance ([UCr]V/[PCr]) estimatesGFR but overestimates GFR when renal function is decreased.
Urinalysis is a useful screen for renal abnormalities. In addition to urine color and turbidity, macroscopic urinalysis uses a urine dipstick for pH and the presence of protein, glucose, ketones, blood, and leukocytes. Dilute urine may result in a false-negative result for protein; false-positive results may occur with extremely alkaline or concentrated urine or if there is a delay in reading the test. Dipsticks are exquisitely sensitive to the presence of hemoglobin (or myoglobin); there are few false-negative test results but many false-positive results. Glucose is detected via a glucose oxidase-peroxidase reaction, and leukocytes are detected via a leukocyte esterase reaction. The nitrite test may detect bacteriuria if the bacteria reduce nitrate to nitrite and have long contact time with the urine. False-negative results occur with frequent voiding, low urine bacterial count, urinary tract obstruction, and infection with bacteria unable to generate nitrite. Gross hematuria or prolonged contact (uncircumcised boys) may result in a false-positive nitrite test. Microscopic urinalysis is used to confirm pyuria and hematuria and detect casts and crystals.
Proteinuria can be further defined by determination of a spot urine protein/creatinine (UPr/Cr) in a single urine specimen.This unit-less value correlates very well with 24-hour urine protein excretion: spot UPr/Cr approximates 24-hour urine protein/ m2/day (normal <0.20; nephrotic range >2.0 in children).
Ultrasound reliably assesses kidney size, determines degree of dilation, and differentiates cortex and medulla. The bladder also can be visualized. Pulsed Doppler studies assess arterial and venous blood flow and can be used to calculate the kidneys’ resistive index.
A voiding cystourethrogram involves repeated filling of the bladder to detect vesicoureteral reflux and to evaluate the urethra. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging have mostly replaced the intravenous pyelogram to evaluate kidney structure and function. Radionuclide studies can define renal size, scars, and renal function/excretion.
Small amounts of protein are found in the urine of healthy children (<4 mg/m2/hour or UPr/Cr <0.2). Nephrotic proteinuria in children is defined as protein greater than 40 mg/m2/hour or U Pr/Cr >2.0. Proteinuria between these levels is mildly to moderately elevated but not nephrotic.
Proteinuria may be transient or persistent, asymptomatic or symptomatic, and orthostatic (present in the upright position but not in the recumbent position) or fixed (present in all positions). Proteinuria may be glomerular (disruptions of the normal glomerular barrier to protein filtration) or tubular (increased filtration, impaired reabsorption, or secretion of proteins).
Nephrotic syndrome (NS) is characterized by persistent heavy proteinuria (mainly albuminuria) (>2 g/m2/24 h);hypoproteinemia (serum albumin <3.0 g/dL); hypercholesterolemia (>250 mg/dL); and edema. Age, race, and geography affect the incidence of NS. Certain HLA types (HLA-DR7, HLA-B8, and HLA-B12) are associated with an increased incidence of NS. Increased glomerular permeability is due to alterations in the normal glomerular cellular and basement membrane barrier that restrict filtration of serum proteins. The resultant massive proteinuria leads to decreased serum proteins, especially albumin. Plasma oncotic pressure is diminished, leading to fluid shifts from vascular to interstitial compartments and plasma volume contraction. Renal syndrome Primary focal Henoch-Schönlein purpura, glomerulosclerosis Wegener and other vasculitides
Membranoproliferative Chronic infections (hepatitis B, glomerulonephritis hepatitis C, malaria, human
Congestive heart failure, constrictive blood flow and the glomerular filtration rate are not usually diminished. Edema results from reduction in effective circulating blood volume and increase in tubular sodium chloride reabsorption secondary to activation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system. Hypoproteinemia stimulates hepatic lipoprotein synthesis and diminishes lipoprotein metabolism, leading to elevated serum lipids (cholesterol, triglycerides) and lipoproteins.
NS may be primary or secondary (Table 162-1). A child with apparent primary NS, prior to renal biopsy, is considered to have idiopathic nephrotic syndrome. Minimal change nephrotic syndrome (MCNS) is the most common histologic form of primary NS in children. More than 80% of children less than 7 years of age with NS have MCNS. Children 7 to 16 years old with NS have a 50% chance of having MCNS. Males are affected more frequently than females (2:1).
Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) accounts for approximately 10% to 20% of children with primary NS. It may present like MCNS or with less impressive proteinuria. FSGS may develop from MCNS or represent a separate entity. A circulating factor that increases glomerular permeability is found in some patients with FSGS. More than 35% of children with FSGS progress to renal failure.
Membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (MPGN) is characterized by hypocomplementemia with signs of glomerular renal disease. MPGN represents 5% to 15% of children with primary NS, is typically persistent, and has a high likelihood of progression to renal failure over time.
Membranous nephropathy represents less than 5% of children with primary NS. It is seen most commonly in adolescents and children with systemic infections, such as hepatitis B, syphilis, malaria, and toxoplasmosis, or on specific medications (gold, penicillamine).
Congenital NS presents during the first 2 months of life. There are two common types. The Finnish type is an autosomal recessive disorder most common in persons of Scandinavian descent and is due to a mutation in the nephrin protein component in the glomerular filtration slit. The second type is a heterogeneous group of abnormalities, including diffuse mesangial sclerosis and conditions associated with drugs or infections. Prenatal onset is supported by elevated levels of maternal alpha-fetoprotein.
Secondary NS may result from many different causes in children and are listed in Table 162-1.
Available @ StudentConsult.comThe sudden onset of dependent pitting edema or ascites is the most common presentation for children with NS. Anorexia, malaise, and abdominal pain are often present. Blood pressure may be elevated in up to 25% of children on presentation; acute tubular necrosis and significant hypotension may occur with sudden decline in serum albumin and significant volume depletion. Diarrhea (intestinal edema) and respiratory distress (pulmonary edema or pleural effusion) may be present. Typical MCNS is characterized by the absence of gross hematuria, renal insufficiency, hypertension (HTN), and hypocomplementemia.
Proteinuria of 1+ or higher on 2 to 3 random urine specimens suggests persistent proteinuria that should be further quantified. A UPr/Cr >0.2 on a first morning specimen excludes orthostatic proteinuria. UPr/Cr >2.0 indicates nephrotic range proteinuria.
In addition to a demonstration of proteinuria, hypercholesterolemia, and hypoalbuminemia, routine testing typically includes a serum C3 complement. A low serum C3implies a lesion other than MCNS, and a renal biopsy isindicated before trial of steroid therapy. Microscopic hematuria may be present in up to 25% of cases of MCNS butdoes not predict response to steroids. Additional laboratorytests, including electrolytes, blood urea nitrogen, creatinine,total protein, and serum albumin level, are performed basedon history and physical examination features. Renal ultrasound is often useful. Biopsy is performed when MCNS isnot suspected.
Transient proteinuria can be seen after vigorous exercise, fever, dehydration, seizures, and adrenergic agonist therapy. Proteinuria usually is mild (UPr/Cr<1), glomerular in origin, and always resolves within a few days. It does not indicate renal disease.
Postural (orthostatic) proteinuria is a benign condition defined by normal protein excretion while recumbent but significant proteinuria when upright. It is glomerular in nature, more common in adolescents and tall, thin individuals, and not associated with progressive renal disease. Many children with orthostatic proteinuria continue this process into adulthood.
Tubular proteinuria is characterized by preponderance of low-molecular-weight proteins in the urine and is suspected with acute tubular necrosis, pyelonephritis, structural renal disorders, polycystic kidney disease, and tubular toxins such as antibiotics or chemotherapeutic agents. The combination of tubular proteinuria with evidence of tubular electrolyte wasting and glycosuria is termed Fanconi syndrome.
Glomerular proteinuria is characterized by a combination of largeand small-molecular-weight proteins in the urine, variable levels of proteinuria, and often evidence of glomerular disease (hematuria, red blood cell casts, HTN, and renal insufficiency). Causes of glomerular proteinuria include glomerular capillary disruption (hemolytic uremic syndrome, crescentic glomerulonephritis); glomerular capillary immune complex deposition (poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis and lupus nephritis); and altered glomerular capillary permeability (MCNS, congenital NS).
Because greater than 80% of children less than 13 years of age with primary NS have steroid-responsive forms (chiefly MCNS), steroid therapy may be initiated without a renal biopsy if a child has typical features of NS. Typical therapy for MCNS is prednisone, 2 mg/kg/day (60 mg/m2/24 h, maximum 60 mg/day), provided once a day or split into multiple doses. Over 90% of children who respond to steroids do so within 4 weeks. Responders should receive steroids for 12 weeks. A renal biopsy is indicated for nonresponders because steroid resistance decreases the chance that MCNS is the underlying disease. Frequent relapses or steroid resistance may necessitate additional immunosuppressive therapy.
No clearly effective therapy for FSGS has been identified. Approximately 35% respond to steroid therapy; others may respond to immunosuppressive therapy. MPGN and membranous glomerulonephritis may improve with chronic steroid or immunosuppressive therapy but do not reliably remit with standard NS steroid therapy. Aggressive medical therapy of familial congenital NS, with early nephrectomy, dialysis, and transplantation, is the only effective approach to this syndrome.
NS edema is treated by restricting salt intake. Severe edema may require the use of loop diuretics. When these therapies do not alleviate severe edema, cautious parenteral administration of 25% albumin (0.5 to 1.0 g/kg intravenously over 1 to 2 hours) with an intravenous loop diuretic usually results in diuresis. The administered albumin is excreted rapidly, and, thus, salt restriction and diuretics must be continued. Significant pleural effusions may require drainage. Acute HTN is treated with β-blockers or calcium channel blockers. Persistent HTN usually responds to angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors.
An increased incidence of serious infections, particularly bacteremia and peritonitis (particularly Streptococcus pneumoniae, Escherichia coli, or Klebsiella), is due to urinary loss of immunoglobulins and complement. Side effects of steroids are most common in steroid-dependent and frequently relapsing patients. Hypovolemia may result from diarrhea or diuretic use. The loss of coagulation factors, antithrombin, and plasminogen may lead to a hypercoagulable state with a risk of thromboembolism (TE). Warfarin, Lovenox, low-dose aspirin, or dipyridamole may minimize the risk of clots in NS patients with a history of TE or high risk for TE. Hyperlipidemia promotes increased atherosclerotic vascular disease.
Most children with NS eventually go into remission. Nearly 80% of children with MCNS experience NS relapse, defined as heavy proteinuria that persists for 3 or more consecutive days. Transient (up to 3 days) proteinuria may occur with intercurrent infection in children with MCNS and is not considered a relapse. Steroid therapy is typically effective for true relapse. Steroid-responsive patients have little risk of chronic renal failure. Patients with FSGS may initially respond to steroids but later develop resistance. Many children with FSGS progress to end-stage kidney failure (see Chapter 165). Recurrence of FSGS occurs in 30% of children who undergo renal transplantation.
A child with gross hematuria may have a serious disease and requires prompt evaluation. Microscopic hematuria, defined as more than 3 to 5 red blood cells (RBCs) per high-power field on freshly voided and centrifuged urine, is often benign. Isolated asymptomatic microscopic hematuria is found in up to 4% of healthy children. In most cases this is a transient finding. Hematuria may originate from glomerular disease, tubulointerstitial processes, and lower urinary tract disorders (Table 163-1).
Immune-mediated inflammation is the mechanism of glomerulonephritis (GN). Poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis (PSGN) is the most common form of acute GN, and IgA nephropathy is the most common chronic GN, but many other types of GN can occur. The most common identifiable lower urinary tract causes of hematuria include urinary tract infection (UTI), kidney stones, and hypercalciuria.
Available @ StudentConsult.comNonpathologic (urate crystals in infants, ingested foods, medications, dyes) Pathologic (hemoglobinuria from hemolytic anemia, myoglobinuria from rhabdomyolysis)
Immunologic injury (GN—e.g., PSGN, IgA nephropathy, MPGN, systemic diseases) Structural disorder (Alport syndrome, thin basement membrane disease) Toxin-mediated injury (HUS)
Inflammation (interstitial nephritis, pyelonephritis) Vascular (sickle cell trait/disease, Nutcracker syndrome) Structural (cyst rupture, Wilms tumor, urinary tract obstruction, renal trauma)
Inflammation (cystitis, hemorrhagic cystitis, urethritis) Injury (trauma, kidney stone) Hypercalciuria
GN, Glomerulonephritis; HUS, hemolytic uremic syndrome; MPGN, membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis; PSGN, poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis.
Children with acute GN commonly present with hematuria (gross or microscopic) along with other cardinal features of glomerular injury (proteinuria, hypertension, edema, oliguria, renal insufficiency). PSGN occurs most frequently in children 2 to 12 years of age and is more common in boys. Manifestations of PSGN are typical of acute GN listed previously and develop 5 to 21 days (average 10 days) after streptococcal pharyngitis infections and 4 to 6 weeks after impetigo. Acute postinfectious GN presents in the same manner as PSGN and can occur following infections with other bacterial and viral pathogens. PSGN can develop regardless of whether the child was treated with antibiotics at the time of infection. Special attention must be paid to the blood pressure because hypertension may be severe enough to lead to complications such as heart failure, seizures, and encephalopathy.
The presentation of IgA nephropathy is more variable and may take the form of acute GN, asymptomatic microscopic hematuria, or recurrent gross hematuria concurrent with an upper respiratory infection as opposed to several days later, as with PSGN. Children with hematuria secondary to systemic disorders such as Henoch-Schönlein purpura nephritis, lupus nephritis, and vasculitis-associated GN will present with other systemic features typical of the respective disease.
A special form of GN is rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis (RPGN) that presents with typical features of acute GN, but the renal insufficiency progresses more quickly and severely. Renal biopsy shows glomerular epithelial cell proliferation with crescents. RPGN may be idiopathic or secondary to any of the known types of GN. Early recognition of RPGN is crucial to prevent the progression to end-stage renal disease (ESRD) that occurs without prompt treatment.
Alport syndrome is typically caused by X-chromosome mutations in type IV collagen leading to an abnormal glomerular basement membrane (GBM) and may present with either asymptomatic microscopic or gross hematuria. Males typically
History and Physical Urinalysis to confirm RBCs Directed evaluation studies based on suspected cause Cause apparent on H&P e.g. UTI, trauma, kidney stone, GN Urinalysis Cause not apparent on H&P Urine microscopy Negative for blood Positive for blood Hemolytic anemia Rhabdomyolysis Minimal RBCs RBCs confirmed Isolated microscopic hematuria Urine culture Urine calcium to creatinine ratio Urine protein to creatinine ratio Serum chemistries Serum albumin C3 and C4 complement Complete blood count Renal ultrasound Renal biopsy in selected cases RBCs confirmed Symptomatic microscopic hematuria or gross hematuria
Urate crystals in infants Medications, foods, dyesTests to consider if hematuria persistent: Urine calcium to creatinine ratio Test first degree relatives for hematuria Hgb electrophoresis to rule out sickle cell Serum chemistries Renal ultrasound
Figure 163-1 Suggested algorithm for evaluation of red urine/hematuria. GN, Glomerulonephritis; H&P, history and physical; Hgb, hemoglobin; RBCs, red blood cells; UTI, urinary tract infection.
develop progressive renal failure and sensorineural hearing loss during adolescence and young adulthood. Females typically have a more benign course but usually have at least microscopic hematuria. Thin basement membrane disease (benign familial hematuria) is caused by more benign mutations leading to a thinning of the GBM. The mutation is often autosomal dominant, and therefore hematuria is often noted in first-degree relatives. As opposed to Alport syndrome, thin basement membrane disease is typically not progressive and usually has an excellent prognosis.
The presentation of nonglomerular causes of hematuria is more variable and related to the underlying etiology. Hematuria due to tubular disorders is usually only microscopic and may be associated with proteinuria, glycosuria, and polyuria. These children typically do not have hypertension and only develop renal insufficiency with more severe disease. Painless gross hematuria may be seen with sickle cell trait/disease, Wilms tumor, and strenuous exercise. Hematuria may or may not be associated with pain when due to cystic bleeding and Nutcracker syndrome. Gross hematuria following trauma may signify more severe renal or lower urinary tract injury. UTI is associated with typical symptoms such as dysuria and urinary frequency. Urolithiasis may be associated with asymptomatic hematuria or with flank or abdominal pain. Hypercalciuria can cause both gross and microscopic hematuria and may be associated with urinary tract symptoms such as dysuria and urinary frequency or may be asymptomatic.
All patients with hematuria should have a careful history and physical (including blood pressure) along with a urinalysis, including microscopic examination to identifyRBCs. Glomerular hematuria is suggested by a brownish (teaor cola-colored) appearance of the urine and the presence ofRBC casts and/or dysmorphic RBCs on urine microscopy.A urine color that is more bright red in appearance withoutRBC casts or dysmorphic RBCs is more suggestive of a lowerurinary tract source. However there may be overlap of thesefindings.
A suggested algorithm for the evaluation of hematuria is given in Figure 163-1. Gross hematuria and microscopic hematuria with associated concerning findings should have additional laboratory evaluation. The presence of low C3 complement narrows the differential diagnosis to PSGN, membranoproliferative GN, and lupus nephritis. Children with isolated asymptomatic microscopic hematuria may be observed with repeat urinalyses. If the hematuria is persistent, additional evaluation may be appropriate.
Therapy for PSGN is supportive and involves dietary sodiumrestriction, diuretics, and antihypertensive agents as needed.Although treating the streptococcal infection does not prevent PSGN, antibiotic treatment is still warranted with active streptococcal infection. Therapies for children with otherforms of GN depend on the underlying cause and severity.In some cases, anti-inflammatory therapy involving corticosteroids and/or other immunosuppressive agents may beused. Treatment with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors may reduce proteinuria and glomerular hyperperfusion but should be used with caution in the setting of acutekidney injury.
PSGN usually has a benign outcome. In typical cases, the gross hematuria, proteinuria, and edema decline quickly (in 5 to 10 days). Microscopic hematuria may persist for months or even years; over 95% of children recover completely with no longterm sequelae.
Children with IgA nephropathy and other forms of chronic GN have a greater risk of progression to ESRD. The prognosis for renal recovery in chronic GN and in RPGN is variable and related to the underlying disorder and disease severity. The presence of persistent, heavy proteinuria, hypertension, decreased kidney function, and severe glomerular lesions on biopsy is associated with poor outcomes.
Children with idiopathic isolated asymptomatic microscopichematuria or suspected thin basement membrane disease typically have an excellent renal prognosis. Long-term follow-up,including yearly urinalysis (to rule out proteinuria) and bloodpressure, is required to exclude progressive forms of renal disease.
Hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) is characterized by the triad of microangiopathic hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia, and renal injury and is an important cause of acute kidney injury in children. HUS typically occurs in children less than 5 years of age but can occur in older children. The most common type of HUS is associated with a prodromal diarrheal illness (D+HUS). Contamination of meat, fruit, vegetables, or water with verotoxin (VT)-producing Escherichia coli (most commonly E. coli O157:H7) is responsible for many outbreaks. VT may be produced by other E. coli strains as well as other bacteria such as Shigella. VT causes hemorrhagic enterocolitis of variable severity and results in HUS in 5% to 15% of affected children.
HUS presenting without a prodrome of diarrhea (atypical HUS) may occur at any age. The clinical course is usually more severe than that of D+HUS. Atypical HUS can be secondary to infection (Streptococcus pneumonia, human immunodeficiency virus), genetic and acquired defects in complement regulation, medications, malignancy, systemic lupus erythematosus, and pregnancy.
Available @ StudentConsult.comClassic D+HUS begins with enterocolitis, often with bloody stools, followed in 7 to 10 days by weakness, lethargy, and
Anemia Thrombocytopenia Presence of schistocytes, helmet cells, and burr cells on peripheral blood smear Increased LDH Decreased haptoglobin Increased indirect bilirubin Increased AST Elevated reticulocyte count
Elevated creatinine Presence of hematuria, proteinuria, pyuria, casts on urinalysis
Leukocytosis Positive stool culture for E. coli O157:H7 Positive stool test for shiga-toxin Elevated amylase/lipase
AST, Aspartate aminotransferase; LDH, lactate dehydrogenase.oliguria/anuria. Physical examination reveals irritability, pallor, and petechiae. Dehydration is often present; however some children have volume overload. Hypertension may be due to volume overload and/or renal injury. Central nervous system (CNS) involvement, including seizures, occurs in up to 25% of cases. Other potential organ involvement includes pancreatitis, cardiac dysfunction, and colonic perforation.
Children without evidence of a diarrheal prodrome mayhave a similar microangiopathic syndrome, identified asthrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP). Childrenwith TTP typically have predominant CNS symptoms butmay also have significant renal disease. Recurrent episodes are common. Because CNS involvement is also seen in HUS, TTP can be difficult to distinguish from HUS in some cases. Deficiencies of ADAMTS13, a von Willebrand factor-cleaving protease, have been identified in childrenaffected with TTP.
Common laboratory findings in HUS are listed in Table 164-1. Peripheral blood smear reveals evidence of microangiopathic hemolysis. Coombs test is negative. The diarrhea and presence of toxin-producing E. coli may have resolved by the time HUS is diagnosed.
Therapy for HUS is supportive and includes volume repletion, control of hypertension, and managing complications of renal insufficiency, including dialysis when indicated. Red blood cell transfusions are provided as needed. Platelet transfusions should be avoided because they may add to the thrombotic microangiopathy and are indicated only by active hemorrhage or in anticipation of a procedure. Antibiotics and antidiarrheal agents may increase the risk of developing HUS. Early hydration during the diarrheal phase may lessen the severity of renal insufficiency. Most children (>95%) with D+HUS survive the acute phase and recover normal renal function, although some may have evidence of long-term morbidity.
Acute kidney injury (AKI), formerly termed acute renal failure, refers to an abrupt decrease in glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and tubular function. This may lead to decreased excretion of waste products (e.g., urea) and a disturbance in fluid and electrolyte homeostasis. Early recognition and management of AKI are crucial.
AKI may be oliguric (<1 mL/kg/h in neonates and infants, <0.5 mL/kg/h in children) or nonoliguric, which is more difficult to recognize. Although urine output in nonoliguric AKI is normal or polyuric, electrolyte disturbances and uremia may become significant. The major causes of AKI may be divided into prerenal (renal hypoperfusion), intrinsic renal (tubular, glomerular, or vascular injury), and postrenal (urinary tract obstruction) categories (Table 165-1). In many cases the cause of AKI is multifactorial.
Prerenal azotemia is most commonly due to dehydration but may be secondary to other mechanisms of glomerular hypoperfusion. Tubular injury encompasses the most common causes of intrinsic AKI in children. Tubular injury may occur fromhypoxia-ischemia (acute tubular necrosis), infection (sepsis),nephrotoxic agents (medications, contrast, myoglobin) and inflammation (interstitial nephritis). Postrenal AKI may be due to either structural or functional urinary tract obstruction.
Available @ StudentConsult.comHistory, physical examination, and basic studies usually allow proper classification of the child with AKI (Table 1652). Prerenal azotemia is characterized by precipitating factors and oliguria. Intrinsic tubular injury is associated with precipitating factors but urine output may be low, normal, or high, depending on the severity of the injury. Glomerular and vascular disorders may present with hematuria, edema, hypertension, and oliguria. The urine output with postrenal AKI may be low or normal and may be associated with flank masses or a distended bladder on examination. Depending on the underlying cause and severity of illness, AKI can be associated with signs of dehydration or volume overload.
A urinalysis (UA) should be obtained in all children with AKI.In prerenal azotemia, the UA is unremarkable with a high specific gravity reflecting appropriate renal retention of water in thesetting of renal hypoperfusion. However neonates are not able
Urethral obstruction (stricture, posterior urethral valves) Ureteral obstruction Ureterocele Extrinsic tumor compressing bladder outlet Neurogenic bladder (myelomeningocele, spinal cord injury)
Acute tubular necrosis Nephrotoxins (medications, contrast, myoglobin) Infection (sepsis) Interstitial nephritis Glomerular injury (primary glomerulonephritis, vasculitis, hemolytic uremic syndrome) Vascular (renal vein thrombosis, arterial emboli, malignant hypertension) to concentrate urine as well. With intrinsic tubular injury andpostrenal AKI, the UA may show mild hematuria and/or proteinuria with a specific gravity of 1.015 or less. With glomerularand vascular injury, the amount of hematuria and proteinuriais usually moderate to severe. In oliguric states, differentiationbetween prerenal azotemia and acute tubular necrosis may beaided by determining the urine osmolality and fractional excretionof sodium (see Table 165-2). Renal ultrasound is often helpful in determining the AKI category (see Table 165-2). Renal biopsy is indicated in select cases only.
Common electrolyte abnormalities seen with AKI includehyperkalemia, metabolic acidosis, hypocalcemia, and hyperphosphatemia. These labs may need to be monitored frequently,depending on the initial results and clinical course. A complete blood count should be obtained as anemia is frequentlyobserved. Other studies may be obtained as clinically indicated.
In some cases the underlying disorder can be treated. Examples include volume repletion in dehydration, stopping an offending nephrotoxic medication, and relieving urinary tract obstruction. In all cases efforts should be made to limit additional renal injury (e.g., ensuring adequate renal perfusion and avoiding nephrotoxic medications). Medication dosages should be adjusted for decreased renal function as appropriate.
Fluid therapy depends on the volume status and urine output. If hypovolemia is present, intravascular volume should be expanded by intravenous administration of saline. If hypervolemia is present, 1 to 2 mg/kg of furosemide and fluid restriction may be attempted. If the patient is relatively euvolemic, then the total fluid input should be adjusted to meet the total
Urine output Low Low, normal, or high Low or normal
Urinalysis Normal RBCs, WBCs, protein, casts VariableUrine Na+ (mEq/L) <15 <20–30 >40 >50 Variable, may be >40
FENa* (%) <1 <2.5 >2 >2.5 Variable, may be >2
Urine osmolality >500 >350 ∼300 ∼300 Variable, may be (mOsm/L)
Renal ultrasound Normal Increased echogenicity, decreased Hydronephrosis corticomedullary differentiationFENa, Fractional excretion of sodium; RBCs, red blood cells; WBCs, white blood cells. *FENa (%) = [(urine sodium/plasma sodium) ÷ (urine creatinine/plasma creatinine)] × 100.
output, which may be higher or lower than normal, depending on the urine output. Assessment of intake and output should be augmented with serial measurements of body weight.
A large part of AKI treatment involves management of itscomplications. Electrolyte disorders are treated as appropriate. Potassium intake and medications that increase potassiumshould be restricted. Intravenous calcium will lower risk of arrhythmia while measures are initiated to shift potassium intocells (bicarbonate, beta-agonists, insulin/dextrose) and hastenremoval (diuretics, sodium-potassium exchange resins, dialysis).Preferred treatment of hypocalcemia involves oral supplementation and calcitriol, and IV supplementation is reserved for severecases. Hypertension may be treated with diuretics, calcium channel blockers, and vasodilators. Angiotensin-converting enzyme(ACE) inhibitors are usually avoided in the setting of AKI.
Major indications for acute dialysis are listed in Table 165-3. Medical therapy may be attempted before initiating renalreplacement therapy. There is no set blood urea nitrogen orcreatinine level at which dialysis is started for uremia. Renal replacement options in children include peritoneal dialysis,hemodialysis, and continuous renal replacement therapy. Themode used is chosen on an individual basis.
Recovery from AKI depends on the etiology, severity, availability of specific treatments, and other aspects of the patient’s course. Nonoliguric AKI usually recovers well, whereas the outcome with oliguric AKI is more variable. Even with a seemingly good recovery, history of AKI may place the child at increased risk for future renal complications, including chronic kidney disease (CKD).
Congenital anomalies of the kidney and urinary tract (CAKUT) are the most common causes of CKD that present between birth and 10 years of age. After age 10 acquired diseases, such as focal segmental glomerulosclerosis and glomerulonephritis (GN), are more common causes of incident CKD. The risk of progression to end-stage renal disease (ESRD) is related to the underlying cause and severity of CKD. During puberty, renal function may deteriorate if the damaged kidneys are not able to grow and adapt to increased demands. CKD is staged to facilitate appropriate evaluation and monitoring (Table 165-4). The GFR can be estimated in children using the Schwartz formula (see Chapter 161). Most complications of CKD do not manifest until at least stage 3 CKD. In stage 4 CKD, the complications become more numerous and severe. Children with stage 5 CKD (ESRD) are typically treated with either dialysis or renal transplantation.
The clinical presentation of a child with CKD may be related to both the underlying diagnosis and complications of CKD. A child with CAKUT may have polyuria, polydipsia, and recurrent urinary tract infections. A child with glomerular disease may have hematuria, proteinuria, edema, and hypertension. Common complications of CKD in children are listed in Table 165-5. Most of these complications are multifactorial in etiology. For example, factors associated with growth failure include poor nutrition, renal osteodystrophy (ROD), metabolic acidosis, hormonal abnormalities, and resistance to growth hormone. Anemia results primarily from a failure to produce adequate erythropoietin and iron deficiency. ROD is usually due to secondary hyperparathyroidism as a result of diminished 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D production in the kidney, hypocalcemia, and hyperphosphatemia (from decreased renal excretion). If prolonged and/or severe, ROD may eventually lead to rickets and bone deformities. Hypertension and
Table 165-4 Classification of the Stages of Chronic Kidney Disease STAGE GFR (ml/min/ 1.73 m2)* DESCRIPTION >90 Minimal kidney damage 2 60–89 Kidney damage with mild reduction of GFR 3 30–59 Moderate reduction of GFR 4 15–29 Severe reduction of GFR 5 <15 (or dialysis) End-stage renal disease
From National Kidney Foundation Kidney Disease Outcomes Quality Initiative. GFR, Glomerular filtration rate. *GFR ranges apply for children 2 years of age and older.
1. Poor growth Increased caloric intake, treat acidosis, treat renal osteodystrophy, recombinant GH 2. Anemia Erythropoietin, iron supplementation 3.
Renal 1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D osteodystrophy/ supplementation, calcium secondary supplementation, dietary phosphorous hyperparathyroidism restriction, phosphate binders 4.
Cardiovascular 4a. Hypertension Antihypertensive medications 4b. Left ventricular Volume control hypertrophy 5.
Electrolyte abnormalities Low K diet, furosemide, sodium 5a. Hyperkalemia polystyrene sulfonate 5b. Hyponatremia Sodium supplementation 5c. Metabolic acidosis Alkali replacement
CKD, Chronic kidney disease; GH, growth hormone; K, potassium.left ventricular hypertrophy are commonly seen cardiovascular complications. Delayed puberty results from altered gonadotropin secretion and feedback patterns. Learning and school performance may also be impaired in CKD.
The management of children with advanced CKD requires a multidisciplinary team of pediatric practitioners. Adequate nutrition should be provided even if this requires dietary supplements and tube feedings. In infants a low-solute formula may be indicated. Unless a child is oliguric, fluid restriction is not necessary. Many children with CAKUT require supplemental salt due to urine sodium wasting. Conversely children with GN tend to retain sodium and may become hypertensive or edematous if given excess salt. Common treatment considerations for other CKD complications are given in Table 165-5.
Measures can be taken to preserve kidney function or slow down the progression of CKD. Hypertension and proteinuria can be treated with ACE inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers. Potentially nephrotoxic medications should be avoided when feasible, and medication adjustment for reduced kidney function should be made as appropriate. Protein intake is typically not restricted in pediatric CKD.
The optimal treatment of ESRD is renal transplantation.Both deceased and living donors can be used for renal transplantation, but living donors are preferred when available. Maintenance dialysis is effective for a child awaiting renal transplantation or for whom renal transplantation is not possible. Indications for chronic dialysis are given in Table 165-3. Peritoneal dialysis is done at home by the family. Hemodialysis is typically done three times a week at a dialysis facility.
Children with mild CKD (stages 1 and 2) may do well but needto be monitored for progressive loss of kidney function. Childrenwith stages 3 and 4 CKD have a high likelihood of progressing toESRD at some point, although the timing can vary. Children withkidney transplants generally do well but have to take immunosuppressive medications associated with a variety of side effects,including infections, nephrotoxicity, cardiovascular complications, and increased risk for certain malignancies. Unfortunatelymost transplanted kidneys fail over time but can last for severalyears. Children on maintenance dialysis have the highest morbidity and mortality, especially with longer time spent on dialysis. Thus, their primary goal is to receive a kidney transplant.
In children, hypertension (HTN) is defined as blood pressure (BP) greater than the 95th percentile for age, gender, and height on at least three different occasions. The context of the BP measurement (e.g., cuff size, pain, anxiety) is important. The staging of HTN is given in Table 166-1. Hypertensive emergency is defined as severe elevation in BP associated with target organ damage (encephalopathy, heart failure).
Pediatric HTN has many causes (Table 166-2) that are either primary (essential) or secondary. Essential HTN is the most common cause of HTN in adolescents. Obese children are more likelyto develop essential HTN. Secondary HTN should be suspectedwith younger age and more severely elevated BP. Renal disease is the most common cause of secondary HTN in children.
Available @ StudentConsult.com <90th Prehypertension *90th to 95th Stage 1 hypertension 95th to (99th + 5 mm Hg) Stage 2 hypertension >99th + 5 mm Hg *If 90th % is >120/80, use 120/80 as the lower limit.
Congenital anomalies (renal dysplasia, obstructive uropathy) Structural disorders (Wilms tumor, polycystic kidney disease) Glomerulonephritis Acquired injury (renal scarring, acute tubular necrosis)
Catecholamine-secreting tumors (pheochromocytoma, neuroblastoma) Hypercortisolism (Cushing syndrome) Hyperaldosteronism HyperthyroidismIncreased sympathetic activity (stress, anxiety, pain) Dysautonomia Increased intracranial pressure
Coarctation of the aorta Renal artery embolism (from umbilical artery catheter) Renal vein thrombosis Renal artery stenosis Vasculitis
Obstructive sleep apnea Medications, illicit drugsMost children with HTN have no symptoms. Signs and symptoms associated with severe HTN include encephalopathy (headache, vomiting, seizures), heart failure, stroke, and retinopathy (blurred vision, flame hemorrhage, and cotton wool spots on retinal exam). Neonatal history (low birth weight or use of umbilical artery catheter); family history of HTN, stroke, or heart disease; and dietary history (excessive salt or caffeine, drugs) are important. Additional findings that may suggest specific causes include abdominal bruit; diminished leg pressure and weak femoral pulse (coarctation of aorta); cafe-au-lait spots (neurofibromatosis associated renal artery stenosis); flank mass (hydronephrosis, Wilms tumor); tachycardia with flushing and diaphoresis (pheochromocytoma); and truncal obesity, acne, striae, and buffalo hump (Cushing syndrome). Signs of underlying kidney disease may be present.
In addition to history and physical examination, the evaluation of children with confirmed HTN includes the following: 1.
Baseline etiologic assessment (urinalysis, electrolytes, blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, and renal ultrasound) 2.
Focused studies based on clinical suspicion (e.g., plasma metanephrines, thyroid studies, vascular imaging) 3.
Assessment of other cardiovascular risk factors (lipids, fasting glucose, uric acid)
Therapeutic lifestyle changes (diet, exercise) should be initiated for asymptomatic stage 1 HTN without target organ damage or systemic disease. Medication should be started for stage 2 or symptomatic HTN and stage 1 HTN, which fails to respond to lifestyle changes. Calcium channel blockers or angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors are the most frequently chosen first-line options in children. Angiotensin receptor blockers, β-blockers, or diuretics are also recommended as first-line antihypertensive agents. More than one agent may be needed. Hypertensive emergency requires prompt hospitalization and may require parenteral antihypertensive treatment with nicardipine, labetalol, esmolol, or sodium nitroprusside.
Prognosis depends on the underlying etiology and BP control. Essential HTN, when present in adolescents, is usually not associated with morbidity at presentation. Left untreated, however, even asymptomatic stage 1 HTN may increase risk for cardiovascular, central nervous system, and renal morbidity in adults.
Vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) is the retrograde flow of urine from the bladder up to the ureter or even up to the kidney. Most VUR results from congenital incompetence of the ureterovesical (UV) junction, a structure that matures through early childhood. In a significant minority of children, structural UV abnormalities exist that never resolve. VUR may be familial; 30% to 40% of siblings of a child with VUR also have VUR. VUR may also be secondary to distal bladder obstruction or other urinary tract anomalies.
VUR exposes the kidney to increased hydrodynamic pressure during voiding and increases the likelihood of renal infection due to incomplete emptying of the ureter and bladder (see Chapter 114). Reflux nephropathy refers to development and progression of renal scarring. This is a particular risk if VUR is associated with a urinary tract infection (UTI) or obstruction. Although a single UTI may result in renal scarring, the incidence is higher in children with recurrent UTIs. Renal dysplasia is associated with congenital VUR. Because of increasing use of maternal-fetal ultrasonography, a number of newborns are now identified with VUR before UTI has occurred, creating opportunities for early intervention and prevention strategies. Duplication of the ureters, with or without an associated ureterocele, may obstruct the upper collecting system. Often the ureter draining the lower pole of a duplicated renal unit has VUR. Neurogenic bladder is accompanied by VUR in up to 50% of affected children. VUR may also be due to increased intravesicular pressure when the bladder outlet is obstructed from inflammation of the bladder (cystitis) or by acquired bladder obstruction.
VUR is most often identified during radiologic evaluation following a UTI (see Chapter 114). The younger the patient with UTI, the more likely VUR is present. No clinical signs reliably differentiate children with UTI with and without VUR.
An imaging study can be performed after initiation of UTI treatment with no need to wait days or weeks before performing the test. Renal ultrasound (RUS) is the best study to evaluate the urinary tract in children. A voiding cystourethrogram (VCUG) or radionuclide cystogram (NCG) is performed to detect urethral/bladder abnormalities and/or VUR. Recent American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines for infants with a first UTI between 2 and 24 months of age recommend a VCUG if an RUS reveals hydronephrosis, scarring, or other findings suggestive of either high grade VUR or obstructive uropathy and in other atypical or complex clinical circumstances. VCUG should also be performed if there is a recurrence of a febrile UTI. Although the VCUG provides additional anatomic detail, the NCG may detect more children with mild VUR and involves less radiation. An international grading system has been used to describe reflux (Fig. 167-1).The incidence of renal scarring in patients with low-grade VUR is low (15%) and increases with grade IV or V reflux (65%). Grade I or II VUR is likely to resolve without surgical intervention, but VUR resolves in less than 50% grade IV or V. Nuclear renal scanning best identifies renal scars.
Controversy remains about whether long-term prophylactic antibiotic therapy (trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole ornitrofurantoin) is indicated in mild to moderate VUR. It isoptional in this population and may be particularly useful inchildren with high-grade VUR and/or recurrent symptomatic
Figure 167-1 International classification of vesicoureteral reflux.Grade I: into a nondilated ureter; grade II: into the pelvis and calyces without dilation; grade III: mild to moderate dilation of the ureter, renal pelvis, and calyces with minimal blunting of the fornices; grade
IV: moderate ureteral tortuosity and dilation of the pelvis and calyces; grade V: gross dilation of the ureter, pelvis, and calyces; loss of papillary impressions; and ureteral tortuosity. (From Wein A, Kavoussi L, Novick A, et al: Campbell-Walsh Urology, ed 9, Philadelphia, 2007, Saunders.)
UTI. Pivotal studies are under way. Complications of reflux nephropathy are hypertension and chronic kidney disease(CKD). CKD is typically heralded by mild proteinuria andinvolves the development of focal and segmental glomerulosclerosis as well as interstitial scarring. Indications for surgical repair of VUR are controversial and have been mademore complex by the development of dextranomer/hyaluronic acid copolymer (Deflux procedure), which appears tobe a very successful minimally invasive correction of mild tomoderate VUR.
Anomalies of the urinary tract (UT) occur in up to 4% ofinfants. Bilateral renal agenesis occurs in 1 in 4000 births. Renal agenesis is a component of Potter syndrome (flatfacies, clubfoot, and pulmonary hypoplasia). Any intrauterine UT disorder that results in little fetal urine and, therefore, little amniotic fluid can lead to Potter syndrome.Unilateral renal agenesis occurs in 1 in 3000 births and is more common in infants of diabetic mothers and African Americans. It is accompanied by normal or minimallyreduced renal function. This condition can also be found with vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) and other anomalies of thegenital tract, ear, skeletal system, and cardiovascular system.Unilateral renal agenesis can be a component of the Turner syndrome, Poland syndrome, or VACTERL association (vertebral abnormalities, anal atresia, cardiac abnormalities, tracheoesophageal fistula, renal agenesis and dysplasia, andlimb defects).
Renal hypoplasia/dysplasia refers to kidneys that are congenitally small, malformed, or both. Over time many affected children progress to chronic kidney disease (CKD) because of reduced nephron number. The kidneys are often unable to fully reabsorb sodium and water, and these children require salt and water supplementation to optimize growth.
Multicystic renal dysplasia (MCD) is due to abnormalnephron development that occurs in 1 in 4000 births. Thereis minimal or no functioning renal tissue in the affected kidney; bilateral disease is lethal. There is an association withVUR in the contralateral kidney. MCD often spontaneouslyinvolutes over the first few years of life and is rarely associated with hypertension (HTN) or recurrent urinary tractinfection (UTI).
Polycystic kidney diseases (PKDs) are a group of genetic diseases affecting the kidneys and other tissues. PKD may be primary (autosomal recessive or autosomal dominant) or associated with other syndromes. Autosomal recessive PKD occurs in 1 in 10,000 to 40,000 children and is due to genetic defects in fibrocystin. Autosomal dominant PKD, due to defects in polycystin 1 or 2, occurs in 1 in 1000 individuals, making it the most common inherited kidney disease. Although there is some overlap clinically, the two conditions differ morphologically. Both may appear in infancy or in older children. Renal cysts also are observed in other inherited disorders, such as von Hippel–Lindau syndrome, tuberous sclerosis, and Bardet-Biedl syndrome.
Urinary tract obstruction can occur at any anatomiclevel of the genitourinary system (Table 168-1). Early in gestation, severe obstruction results in renal dysplasia. Ureteralobstruction later in fetal life or after birth results in dilation of the ureter and collecting system, often with subsequentrenal parenchymal alterations. An obstructed UT is susceptible to infections, which may worsen renal injury. Posterior urethral valves are the most common cause of bladder
Infundibula/pelvis Congenital, calculi, infection, trauma/ hemorrhage, tumor Ureteropelvic Congenital stenosis,* calculi, trauma/ junction hemorrhage
Ureter Obstructive megaureter,* ectopic ureter, ureterocele, calculi,* inflammatory bowel disease
Retroperitoneal tumor (lymphoma), retroperitoneal fibrosis, chronic granulomatous diseaseBladder Neurogenic dysfunction,* tumor (rhabdomyosarcoma), diverticula, ectopic ureterUrethra Posterior valves,* diverticula, strictures, atresia, ectopic ureter, foreign body, phimosis,* priapism *Relatively common.
outlet obstruction in males, present in 1 in 50,000 boys.Parents may note a poor urine stream in affected children.The valves are sail-shaped membranes that arise from the verumontanum and attach to the urethral wall. The prostaticurethra becomes dilated, VUR may be present, and hypertrophied detrusor muscle develops. Renal dilation variesin severity. Some degree of renal dysplasia is often present.Severe obstruction may be associated with oligohydramnios, resulting in lethal pulmonary hypoplasia. Intrauterinerupture of the renal pelvis produces urinary ascites, which is the most common cause of ascites in the newborn period.
Available @ StudentConsult.comBilateral renal agenesis results in insufficient lung development and Potter syndrome. Respiratory distress is severe, pneumothoraces can occur, and severe pulmonary hypoplasia is fatal. Unilateral renal agenesis may be asymptomatic because the nonaffected kidney undergoes compensatory growth and provides normal renal function.
Autosomal recessive PKD is characterized by marked bilateral renal enlargement. Interstitial fibrosis and tubular atrophy progress over time. Kidney failure usually occurs in early childhood. Hepatic fibrosis is present and may lead to portal HTN. Bile duct ectasia and biliary dysgenesis occur. Many affected infants display flank masses, hepatomegaly, pneumothorax, proteinuria, and/or hematuria.
Autosomal dominant PKD typically presents in middle adulthood but may present in infancy or childhood. Infants may have a clinical picture similar to autosomal recessive PKD, but older children show a pattern similar to that of adults, with large isolated cysts developing over time. The defect may occur anywhere along the nephron unit. Hepatic cysts are often present, and pancreatic, splenic, and ovarian cysts can also develop. Cerebral aneurysms may develop, and the risk of hemorrhage depends on size, blood pressure, and family history of intracranial hemorrhage.
UT obstruction may be silent but usually is discovered during prenatal ultrasound or with UTI or flank mass in early childhood. In a newborn, the most common type of abdominal mass is renal (most commonly ureteropelvic junction obstruction).
Renal ultrasound (RUS) and radionuclide renography(usually with a diuretic administered) are the standard testsfor diagnosis of UT obstruction. RUS allows identificationof renal agenesis, hypoplasia, dysplasia, cysts, and UT dilation. Obstruction may be suggested but a dilated UT mayalso result from VUR, ureteral hypoplasia, or neurogenicbladder. A voiding cystourethrogram (VCUG) is also apart of the evaluation. Many boys with posterior urethralvalves are identified by prenatal ultrasound. Postnatally the diagnosis and extent of renal damage are established by RUSand VCUG.
Infants and children with bilateral dysplasia often require additional sodium and water due to renal wasting. With MCD surgical removal of the kidney is rarely indicated unless severe HTN or recurrent UTI occurs.
Treatment of HTN can prolong maintenance of renal function. General therapy of CKD (see Chapter 165) can improve growth and development.
UT obstruction often requires drainage or surgical correction. Treatment of posterior urethral valve consists of either primary valve ablation or diversion (usually via vesicostomy) if ablation is not possible. Ectopic ureters are frequently obstructed; when this happens, surgical intervention is required.
Children with neurogenic bladder are prone to UTI and renal impairment from poor urine emptying. Clean intermittent catheterization or a urinary diversion is used to help minimize these complications.
Urinary tract calculi are called nephrolithiasis or urolithiasis. Primary bladder stones can be seen with recurrent urinarytract infections (UTIs), neurogenic bladder or bladder surgery(sutures serve as a nidus), and intestinal bladder augmentation.Renal stones can result from obstructive abnormalities or an underlying metabolic predisposition. In industrialized societies,most stones (>90%) in children arise in the urinary tract (UT)and become symptomatic with passage or if lodged (commonlyat the ureteropelvic junction or the ureterovesical junction).Metabolic causes include idiopathic familial hypercalciuria(IHC), hyperoxaluria, uric acid disorders, distal renal tubularacidosis, cystinuria, hypercalcemic hypercalciuria, and primaryhyperparathyroidism. Some children with UT abnormalitiesand stones have a concomitant metabolic predisposition.
Acute obstruction of urine flow is the cause of renal colic, a severe sharp intermittent pain in the flank or lower abdomen often radiating to the groin. Vomiting, distress, and inability to relieve pain with position changes are characteristic. In younger children, classic symptoms may not be apparent; fussiness and vomiting may be the only symptoms. Hematuria may be gross or microscopic and typically clears rapidly with passage of gravel or stone material.
Renal ultrasound may identify kidney stones in the kidney but can easily miss UT stones. Computed tomography (CT), particularly a helical CT, can identify stones throughout the UT, but stones can be obscured by oral or intravenous contrast material. Etiologic diagnosis is facilitated when stone material can be obtained and sent for analysis. Spot or 24-hour urine studies for mineral and electrolyte determinations, obtained on a typical diet for the child, are important to characterize any underlying metabolic predisposition and are valuable even when a stone is available for analysis.
Acute treatment of urinary calculi consists of hydration and analgesia. Chronic treatment for all types of metabolic stonesinvolves vigorous fluid intake, usually twice maintenance rates.Infection-related stones require treatment of infection and oftenremoval of the stone as well as correction of any predisposinganatomic abnormality. Specific metabolic conditions require specific treatments; for IHC, normal calcium intake with low sodium and low oxalate intake is prescribed. For some children with IHC,potassium citrate or thiazides are required to minimize stonerecurrence. Lithotripsy or surgery by a pediatric urologist may berequired for children with large, infected, or obstructing stones.
Voiding difficulties are frequent in preschool age children due todelay in maturation of bladder and micturition pathways. Normal micturition and continence rely on structural UT integrity,neurologic maturation, and coordination between somatic andautonomic nervous system units, including the central nervoussystem, spinal cord pathways, nerves innervating the bladder/urinary sphincter, and the autonomic system. Daytime continence is usually achieved before nighttime continence. Mostchildren are dry, day and night, by 4 to 5 years of age. Nocturnalenuresis is the involuntary loss of urine during sleep. Childrenwith primary enuresis have never had a prolonged (usually >3months) span of nighttime continence. Up to 10% of 5-year-oldchildren have primary enuresis with 15% spontaneous resolution per year. Boys are affected more than girls with increasedincidence in families (40% at 6 years of age if one affected parent, 70% if two affected parents). Secondary enuresis involvesloss of nighttime control after an extended period of drynessand generally requires evaluation to uncover the cause.
Decision-Making Algorithm Available @ StudentConsult.com Clinical ManifestationsDysfunctional voiding (DV) may manifest as incontinence, fre- quency, urgency, hesitancy, dysuria, lower abdominal pain, or recurrent UTI. Symptoms may vary over time and be associatedwith obvious neurologic problems (spinal cord injury, encephalitis), constipation, and/or behavioral problems. DV symptomsmay vary, depending on recent UTI or changes in family orschool life/stressors. The majority of children with DV are anatomically, neurologically, and psychologically normal.
Evaluation for DV may be performed at any age, but isolatedurinary incontinence in an otherwise normal child is notusually evaluated until 5 years of age. A urinalysis and urineculture should be done to exclude occult infection and renal disease. Children with daytime incontinence should undergorenal/bladder ultrasound to exclude structural abnormalities. Urodynamic evaluation is typically reserved for childrenwith a suspicion of neurogenic bladder or known neurologicetiology.
For children with recurrent UTI, prophylactic antibiotics may be useful. Timed voiding and anticholinergic medications are used to treat bladder hyperactivity and sensory defects. More complicated treatment regimens include biofeedback, α-blockers, and intermittent catheterization. For children with simple primary enuresis, the bed wetting alarm provides safe and effective resolution of the problem for greater than 70% of affected children; medical therapy with anticholinergics, imipramine, or DDAVP may also be used in selected children.
Hypospadias occurs in approximately 1 in 500 newborn infants. In this condition the urethral folds fail to fuse completely over the urethral groove leaving the urethral meatus located ventrally and proximally to its normal position. The ventral foreskin is also lacking, and the dorsal portion gives the appearance of a hood. Severe hypospadias with undescended testes is a form of ambiguous genitalia. Etiologies include congenital adrenal hyperplasia with masculinization of females or androgen insensitivity. UT anomalies are uncommon in association with hypospadias. Hypospadias may occur alone, but in severe cases can be associated with a chordee (a fixed ventral curvature of the penile shaft). Rarely when the urethra opens onto the perineum, the chordee is extreme, and the scrotum is bifid and sometimes extends to the dorsal base of the penis.
In 90% of uncircumcised males, the foreskin should be retractable by adolescence. Before this age, the prepuce may normally be tight and not need treatment. After this age, the inability to retract the prepuce is termed phimosis. The condition may be congenital or the result of inflammation. Paraphimosis occurs when the prepuce has been retracted behind the coronal sulcus, cannot resume its normal position, and causes swelling of the glans or pain.
The meatal opening in hypospadias may be located anteriorly (on the glans, coronal, or distal third of the shaft); on the middle third of the shaft; or posteriorly (near the scrotum). Testes are undescended in 10% of boys with hypospadias. Inguinal hernias are common. Males with hypospadias should not be circumcised, particularly if the meatus is proximal to the glans, because the foreskin may be necessary for later repair. Most pediatric urologists repair hypospadias before the patient is 18 months old.
Phimosis is rarely symptomatic. Parents should be reassured that loosening of the prepuce usually occurs during puberty. Treatment, if needed, is topical steroids. If the narrowing is severe, gentle stretching may be useful. Circumcision is reserved for the most severe cases. Paraphimosis with venous stasis and edema leads to severe pain. When paraphimosis is discovered early, reduction of the foreskin may be possible with lubrication. In some cases, emergent circumcision is needed.
Undescended testes (cryptorchidism) are found in about 1% of boys after 1 year of age. It is more common in full-term newborns (3.4%) than in older children. In neonates, cryptorchidism is more common with shorter gestation (20% in 2000to 2500-g infants and 100% in <900-g infants). Cryptorchidism is bilateral in 30% of cases. Spontaneous testicular descent does not tend to occur after 1 year of age, but failure to find one or both testes in the scrotum does not indicate undescended testicles. Retractile testes, absent testes, and ectopic testes may resemble cryptorchidism in presentation.
Available @ StudentConsult.comA history of maternal drug use (steroids) and family history are important in the evaluation of a child for apparent cryptorchidism. Whether the testis was ever noted in the scrotum should be asked. The true undescended testis is found along the normal embryologic path of descent, usually in the presence of a patent processus vaginalis. An undescended testis is often associated with an inguinal hernia; it is also subject to torsion. There is a high incidence of infertility in adulthood. When bilateral and untreated, infertility is uniform. There is an increased malignancy risk (five times the normal rate) with undescended testis, usually presenting between the ages of 20 and 30. The risk is greater in untreated males or those with surgical correction during or after puberty.
Retractile testes are normal testes that retract into the inguinal canal from an exaggerated cremasteric reflex. The diagnosis of retractile testes is likely if testes are palpable inthe newborn period but not at later examination. Frequentlyparents describe seeing their son’s testes in his scrotum whenhe is in the bath and seeing one or both “disappear” when hegets cold.
Available @ StudentConsult.comTorsion of the testis is an emergency requiring prompt diagnosis and treatment to save the affected testis. Torsion accounts for 40% of cases of acute scrotal pain and swelling and is the major cause of the acute scrotum in boys less than 6 years of age. It is thought to arise from abnormal fixation of the testis to the scrotum. On examination the testicle is swollen and tender, and the cremasteric reflex is absent. The absence of blood flow on nuclear scan or Doppler ultrasound is consistent with torsion.
The differential diagnosis of testicular pain includes trauma, an incarcerated hernia, and torsion of the testicular epididymal appendix. Torsion of the appendix testis is associated with point tenderness over the lesion and minimal swelling. In adolescents, the differential diagnosis of testicular torsion also must include epididymitis, the most common cause of acute scrotal pain and swelling in older adolescents. Diagnosis is aided by an antecedent history of sexual activity or UTI. Testicular torsion must be considered as the principal diagnosis when severe acute testicular pain is present.
The undescended testis is usually histologically normal at birth. Atrophy and dysplasia are found after the first year of life. Some boys have congenital dysplasia in the contralateral descended testis. Surgical correction at an early age results in greater chance of adult fertility. Administration of human chorionic gonadotropin causes testosterone release from functioning testes and may result in descent of retractile testes.
Orchidopexy is usually done in the second year of life. Most extra-abdominal testes can be brought into the scrotum with correction of the associated hernia. If the testis is not palpable, ultrasound or magnetic resonance imaging may determine its location. The closer the testis is to the internal inguinal ring, the better the chance of successful orchidopexy.
Surgical correction of testicular torsion is called detorsion and fixation of the testis. If performed within 6 hours of torsion, there is greater than a 90% chance of testicular salvage. The contralateral testis usually is fixed to the scrotum to prevent possible torsion. If torsion of the appendix is found, the necrotic tissue is removed.
We gratefully acknowledge the invaluable contributions of Rama Jayanthi, MD, Pediatric Urology, Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, Ohio.
Brady TM: Hypertension, Pediatr Rev 33:541–552, 2012Gipson DS, Massengil SF, Yao L, et al: Management of childhood onset nephrotic syndrome, Pediatrics 124:747–757, 2009
Massengill SF: Hematuria, Pediatr Rev 29:342–348, 2008McKay CP: Renal stone disease, Pediatr Rev 31:179–188, 2010Schwartz GJ, Munoz A, Schneider MF, et al: New equation to estimate GFR in children with CKD, J Am Soc Nephrol 20:629–637, 2009
Urinary tract infection: clinical practice guideline for the diagnosis and man agement of the initial UTI in febrile infants and children 2 to 24 months.
Subcommittee on Urinary Tract Infection, Steering Committee on QualityImprovement and Management, Pediatrics 128:595–610, 2011Whyte DA, Fine RN: Acute renal failure in children, Pediatr Rev 29:299–307,
Whyte DA, Fine RN: Chronic kidney disease in children, Pediatr Rev 29:335–341, 2008
Paola A. Palma Sisto and MaryKathleen Heneghan 23The endocrine system regulates vital body functions by means of hormonal messengers. Hormones are defined as circulating messengers, with action at a distance from the organ (gland)of origin of the hormone. Hormones can be regulated by nerve cells; endocrine agents can serve as neural messengers. There is also a relationship between the endocrine system and the immune system; autoantibodies may cause an organ to produce an excess or deficiency of a hormone. Manifestations of an endocrine disorder are related to the response of the peripheral tissue to a hormone excess or deficiency.
Hormone action also may be paracrine (acting on adjacent neighboring cells to the cell of origin of the hormone) or autocrine (acting on the cell of origin of the hormone itself); agents acting in these ways are called factors rather than hormones (Fig. 170-1). Hormones generally are regulated in a feedback loop so that the production of a hormone is linked to its effect or its circulating concentration. Endocrine disorders generally manifest from one of four ways: 1.
By excess hormone: In Cushing syndrome, there is an excess of glucocorticoid present; if the excess is secondary to autonomous glucocorticoid secretion by the adrenal gland, the trophic hormone adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) is suppressed.
By deficient hormone: In glucocorticoid deficiency, the level of cortisol is inadequate; if the deficiency is at the adrenal gland, the trophic hormone is elevated (ACTH).
By an abnormal response of end organ to hormone: In pseudohypoparathyroidism, defects in the gene (GNAS1) encoding the alpha subunit of the stimulatory G protein (Gsa) is manifested by elevated PTH levels in the face of deficient PTH function (PTH resistance).
By gland enlargement that may have effects as a result of size rather than function: With a large nonfunctioning pituitary adenoma, abnormal visual fields and other neurologic signs and symptoms result even though no hormone is produced by the tumor.
Peptide hormones act through specific cell membrane receptors; when the hormone is attached to the receptor, the complextriggers various intracellular second messengers that cause the biologic effects. Peptide hormone receptor number and aviditymay be regulated by hormones. Steroid hormones exert their effects by attachment to intranuclear receptors, and the hormone-receptor complex translocates to the nucleus, where itbinds with DNA, and leads to further gene activation.
The interpretation of serum hormone levels must be related totheir controlling factors. For example, a given value of parathyroidhormone may be normal in a eucalcemic patient but inadequatein a hypocalcemic patient with partial hypoparathyroidism orexcessive in a hypercalcemic patient with hyperparathyroidism.
The hypothalamus controls many endocrine systems either directly or through the pituitary gland. Higher central nervoussystem (CNS) centers control the hypothalamus. Hypothalamicreleasing or inhibiting factors travel through capillaries of the pituitary portal system to control the anterior pituitary gland,regulating the hormones specific for the factor (Fig. 170-2).The pituitary hormones enter the peripheral circulation andexert their effects on target glands, which produce other hormones that feed back to suppress their controlling hypothalamicand pituitary hormones. Insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1),growth hormone (GH), cortisol, sex steroids, and thyroxine (T4)all feed back on the hypothalamic-pituitary system. Prolactin isthe only pituitary hormone that is suppressed by a hypothalamicfactor, dopamine. The hypothalamus is also the location of vasopressin-secreting axons that either terminate in the posteriorpituitary gland and exert their effect via vasopressin secretion
Figure 170-1 Schematic representation of mechanisms of action of hormones and growth factors. Although traditional hormones are formed in endocrine glands and transported to distant sites of action through the bloodstream (endocrine mechanism), peptide growth factors may be produced locally by the target cells themselves (autocrine modality of action) or by neighboring cells (paracrine action). (From Wilson JD, Foster DW, editors: Williams Textbook of Endocrinology, ed 8, Philadelphia, 1992, WB Saunders, p 1007.)
HYPOTHALAMUSPITUITARYSRIF (somatostatin) GHRH CRH GH ACTH Prolactin FSH, LH TSH Dopamine GnRH TRH Growth Cortisol Lactation T4, T3 Sex steroids Insulin-like growth factors (and binding proteins)
Figure 170-2 Hormonal influences of the hypothalamus and pituitary gland. Solid line represents stimulatory influence; dotted line represents inhibitory influence. ACTH, Adrenocorticotropic hormone; CRH, corticotropin-releasing hormone or CRF; FSH, follicle-stimulating hormone; GH, growth hormone; GHRH, GH-releasing hormone or GRF; GnRH, gonadotropin-releasing hormone or luteinizing hormone releasing factor, LRF or LHRH; LH, luteinizing hormone; SRIF, somatotropin release-inhibiting factor, somatostatin or SS; Inhibin TRH, thyrotropin-releasing hormone or TRF; TSH, thyroid-stimulating hormone; T3, triiodothyronine;
T4, thyroxine.Table 170-1 Diagnostic Evaluation for Hypopituitarism MANIFESTATION CAUSE TESTS* Growth failure, hypothyroidism, or both GH deficiency, TRH/TSH deficiency, or both Provocative GH tests, free T4, bone age, IGF-1, IGFBP3
Hypoglycemia GH deficiency, ACTH insufficiency, or both Provocative GH tests, test of ACTH secretion, IGF1, IGFBP3
Polyuria, polydipsia ADH deficiency Urine analysis (specific gravity), serum electrolytes, urine and serum osmolality, water deprivation test
ADH, Antidiuretic hormone; CNS, central nervous system; E2, estradiol; FSH, follicle-stimulating hormone; GH, growth hormone; GnRH, gonadotropin-releasing hormone; IGF-1, insulin-like growth factor; IGFBP3, insulin-like growth factor-binding protein 3; LH, luteinizing hormone; MRI, magnetic resonance imaging; TRH, thyrotropin-releasing hormone; TSH, thyroid-stimulating hormone; T4, thyroxine.
*Each patient with hypopituitarism should have CNS MRI as part of evaluation to determine the etiology of the condition.
from this area or terminate in the mediobasal hypothalamus, DISORDERS OF THE from which they can exert effects on water balance, even in the HYPOTHALAMIC-PITUITARY AXIS absence of the posterior pituitary gland.
The assessment of pituitary function may be determinedDecision-Making Algorithms by measuring some of the specific pituitary hormone in the Available @ StudentConsult.com basal state; other assessments require the measurement after stimulation. Indirect assessment of pituitary function can be obtained by measuring serum concentrations of the target gland hormones (Table 170-1). Several tests of pituitary func- tion are listed in Table 170-2.
Table 170-2 Anterior Pituitary Hormone Function Testing RANDOM HORMONE MEASUREMENTS PROVOCATIVE OR OTHER TESTS TARGET HORMONE MEASUREMENT GH (not useful as a random determination except in newborns, and in GH resistance or in pituitary gigantism) Arginine (a weak stimulus) L-Dopa (useful clinically) Insulin-induced hypoglycemia (a dangerous but accurate test) IGF-1, IGFBP3 (affected by malnutrition as well as GH excess)
TSH* TRH FT4 LH, FSH* GnRH (difficult to interpret in prepubertal subjects) Testosterone/estradiol
ACTH, Adrenocorticotropic hormone; CRH, corticotropin-releasing hormone; FSH, follicle-stimulating hormone; FT4, free thyroxine; GH, growth hormone; GnRH, gonadotropin-releasing hormone; GRH, growth hormone-releasing hormone; IGF-1, insulin-like growth factor-1; IGF-BP3, insulin-like growth factor-binding protein 3; L-dopa, L-dihydroxyphenylalanine; LH, luteinizing hormone; TRH, thyrotropin-releasing hormone; TSH, thyroid-stimulating hormone.
*New supersensitive assays allow determination of abnormally low values found in hypopituitarism.
Hypothalamic deficiency leads to a decrease in most pituitary hormone secretions but may lead to an increase in prolactin secretion. Destructive lesions of the pituitary glandor hypothalamus are more common in childhood thanincreased pituitary secretion of various hormones. A craniopharyngioma, a tumor of the Rathke pouch, may descendinto the sella turcica, causing erosion of the bone anddestruction of pituitary and hypothalamic tissue. Acquired hypopituitarism also may result from pituitary infections;from infiltration (Langerhans cell histiocytosis [histiocytosisX], lymphoma, and sarcoidosis); after radiation therapy or trauma to the CNS; and as a consequence of autoimmunity against the pituitary gland.
Congenital hypopituitarism can be caused by the absenceof hypothalamic releasing factors. Without hypothalamicstimulation, the pituitary gland does not release its hormones.Congenital defects associated with hypopituitarism range from holoprosencephaly (cyclopia, cebocephaly, orbital hypotelorism), to cleft palate (6% of cases of cleft palate are associated with GH deficiency). Septo-optic dysplasia (optic nerve hypoplasia, absent septum pellucidum, or variations of both)may result in significant visual impairment with pendular(“roving”) nystagmus (inability to focus on a target) in addition to varying degrees of hypopituitarism. The magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings of congenital hypopituitarismmay include an ectopic posterior pituitary gland bright spot, the appearance of a pituitary stalk transection, and/or small pituitary gland.
Diabetes mellitus (DM) is characterized by hyperglycemia andglycosuria and is an end point of a few disease processes (Table 171-1). The most common type occurring in childhood is type1 DM (DM1), which is caused by autoimmune destruction of the insulin-producing beta cells (islets) of the pancreas leadingto permanent insulin deficiency. Type 2 DM (DM2) resultsfrom insulin resistance and relative insulin deficiency, usuallyin the context of exogenous obesity. The incidence of DM1 andDM2 in the United States is increasing. Less common types ofdiabetes result from genetic defects of the insulin receptor orinherited abnormalities in sensing of ambient glucose concentration by pancreatic beta cells (see Table 171-1).
A diagnosis of DM is made based on four glucose abnormalities that may need to be confirmed by repeat testing: (1) Fasting serum glucose concentration ≥126 mg/dL, (2) a random venous plasma glucose ≥200 mg/dL with symptoms of hyperglycemia, (3) an abnormal oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) with a 2-hour postprandial serum glucose concentration ≥200 mg/dL, and (4) a HgbA1c ≥6.5%.
A patient is considered to have impaired fasting glucoseif fasting serum glucose concentration is 100 to 125 mg/dL or impaired glucose tolerance if 2-hour plasma glucose following an OGTT is 140 to 199 mg/dL. Sporadic hyperglycemia can occur in children, usually in the setting of an intercurrent illness. When the hyperglycemic episode is clearly related to
Classic type 1 Glycosuria, ketonuria, hyperglycemia, islet cell positive; genetic component
Secondary Cystic fibrosis, hemochromatosis, drugs (L-asparaginase, tacrolimus)Adult type (classic) Associated with obesity, insulin resistance; genetic component diabetes pregnancy only, which reverts to normal postpartum; increased risk for later onset of diabetes
Maturity-onset Autosomal dominant, onset before age diabetes of youth of 25 years; not associated with obesity or autoimmunity Mitochondrial Single-gene mutations include hepatocyte diabetes nuclear factors 1β,1α, 4α; glucokinase; insulin promoter factor 1 Associated with deafness and other neurologic defects, maternal transmission— mtDNA point mutations an illness or other physiologic stress, the probability of incipient diabetes is small (<5%).
DM1 results from the autoimmune destruction of insulin-producing beta cells (islets) of the pancreas. In addition to the presence of diabetes susceptibility genes, an unknown environmental insult presumably triggers the autoimmune process. A variety of studies has produced conflicting data regarding a host of environmental factors. These include cow’s milk feeding at an early age, viral infectious agents (Coxsackie virus, cytomegalovirus, mumps, rubella), vitamin D deficiency, and perinatal factors. DM1 is thought to be primarily a T cell–mediated disease.
Antibodies to islet cell antigens may be seen months to years before the onset of beta cell dysfunction (Fig. 171-1). These include islet cell antibodies, insulin autoantibodies, antibodies to tyrosine phosphatase IA-2, antibodies to glutamic acid decarboxylase, and others. The risk for diabetes increases with the number of antibodies detected in the serum. In individuals with one detectable antibody only, the risk is only 10% to 15%; in individuals with three or more antibodies, the risk is 55% to 90%. When 80% to 90% of the beta cell mass have been destroyed, the remaining beta cell mass is insufficient to maintain euglycemia and clinical manifestations of diabetes result (see Fig. 171-1).
The annual incidence of DM1 is increasing steadily but with significant geographic differences. In the United States, the annual incidence is approximately 20 in 100,000. The annual incidence in children ranges from a high of 40 in 100,000 among Scandinavian populations to less than 1 in 100,000 in China. The prevalence of DM1 in the United States is highest in non-Hispanic whites followed by African Americans, Hispanic, and American Indians.
Genetic determinants play a role in the susceptibility to DM1, although the mode of inheritance is complex and multigenic. Siblings or offspring of patients with diabetes have a risk of 2% to 8% for the development of diabetes; an identical twin has a 30% to 50% risk. The human leukocyte antigen (HLA) region on chromosome 6 provides the strongest determinant of susceptibility, accounting for approximately 40% of familial inheritance of DM1. Specific class II DR and DQ HLA alleles (HLA DR3 and HLA DR4) increase the risk of developing DM1, whereas other specific HLA alleles exert a protective effect. More than 90% of children with DM1 possess HLA DR3 alleles, HLA DR4 alleles, or both. The insulin gene region variable number tandem repeat on chromosome 11 is also linked to DM1 susceptibility. There is evidence for association, beyond HLA, of more than 100 other loci with DM1. Genetic factors do not fully account for susceptibility to DM1; environmental factors also play a role.
Available @ StudentConsult.comPolyuria Failure to ThriveHyperglycemia results when insulin secretory capacity becomesinadequate to enhance peripheral glucose uptake and to suppress hepatic and renal glucose production. Insulin deficiencyusually first causes postprandial hyperglycemia and then fastinghyperglycemia. Ketogenesis is a sign of more complete insulin deficiency. Lack of suppression of gluconeogenesis and glycogenolysis further exacerbates hyperglycemia while fatty acidoxidation generates the ketone bodies: β-hydroxybutyrate, acetoacetate, and acetone. Protein stores in muscle and fat stores in adipose tissue are metabolized to provide substrates for gluconeogenesis and fatty acid oxidation.
Glycosuria occurs when the serum glucose concentrationexceeds the renal threshold for glucose reabsorption (from 160to 190 mg/dL). Glycosuria causes an osmotic diuresis (includingobligate loss of sodium, potassium, and other electrolytes), leading to dehydration. Polydipsia occurs as the patient attempts tocompensate for the excess fluid losses. Weight loss results fromthe persistent catabolic state and the loss of calories through glycosuria and ketonuria. The classic presentation of DM1 includespolyuria, polydipsia, polyphagia, and weight loss.
If the clinical features of new-onset DM1 are not detected, diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) will occur. DKA may also occur in patients with known DM1 if insulin injections are omitted 0 50 100 Beta cell mass (% of max) 0 Time (y) Progressive Impairment In Insulin Release Overt Diabetes “Honeymoon” Period Release Birth Figure 171-1 Schematic representation of the autoimmune evolution of diabetes in genetically predisposed individuals.
or during an intercurrent illness when greater insulin requirements are unmet in the presence of elevated concentrations of the counter-regulatory and stress hormones (glucagon, growth hormone [GH], cortisol, and catecholamines). DKA can be considered to be present if (1) the arterial pH is below 7.3, (2) the serum bicarbonate level is below 15 mEq/L, and (3) ketones are elevated in serum or urine.
In the absence of adequate insulin secretion, persistent partialhepatic oxidation of fatty acids to ketone bodies occurs. Twoof these three ketone bodies are organic acids and lead to metabolic acidosis with an elevated anion gap. Lactic acid maycontribute to the acidosis when severe dehydration results indecreased tissue perfusion. Hyperglycemia causes an osmoticdiuresis that is initially compensated for by increased fluidintake. As the hyperglycemia and diuresis worsen, most patients are unable to maintain the large fluid intake, anddehydration occurs. Vomiting, as a result of increasing acidosis, and increased insensible water losses caused by tachypneacan worsen the dehydration. Electrolyte abnormalities occurthrough a loss of electrolytes in the urine and transmembrane alterations resulting from acidosis. As hydrogen ionsaccumulate as a result of ketoacidosis, intracellular potassium is exchanged for hydrogen ions. Serum concentrationsof potassium increase initially with acidosis then decrease asserum potassium is cleared by the kidney. Depending on theduration of ketoacidosis, serum potassium concentrations at diagnosis may be increased, normal, or decreased, but intracellular potassium concentrations are depleted. A decreasedserum potassium concentration is an ominous sign of totalbody potassium depletion. Phosphate depletion also can occur as a result of the increased renal phosphate excretion required for elimination of excess hydrogen ions. Sodiumdepletion is also common ketoacidosis, resulting from renallosses of sodium caused by osmotic diuresis and from gastrointestinal losses from vomiting (Fig. 171-2).
Available @ StudentConsult.comPatients with DKA present initially with polyuria, polydipsia, nausea, and vomiting. Abdominal pain occurs frequently and can mimic an acute abdomen. The abdomen may be tender from vomiting or distended secondary to a paralytic ileus. The presence of polyuria, despite a state of clinical dehydration, indicates osmotic diuresis and differentiates patients with DKA from patients with gastroenteritis or other gastrointestinal disorders. Respiratory compensation for acidosis results in tachypnea with deep (Küssmaul) respirations. The fruity odor of acetone frequently can be detected on the patient’s breath. An altered mental status can occur, ranging from disorientation to coma.
Laboratory studies reveal hyperglycemia (serum glucose concentrations ranging from 200 mg/dL to >1000 mg/dL).Arterial pH is below 7.30, and the serum bicarbonate concentration is less than 15 mEq/L. Serum sodium concentrationsmay be elevated, normal, or low, depending on the balance ofsodium and free water losses. The measured serum sodium concentration is artificially low, however, because of hyperglycemia. Hyperlipidemia also contributes to the decrease inmeasured serum sodium. The level of blood urea nitrogen(BUN) can be elevated with prerenal azotemia secondary todehydration. The white blood cell count is usually elevatedand can be left-shifted without implying the presence ofinfection. Fever is unusual and should prompt a search forinfectious sources that may have triggered the episode ofDKA.
Available @ StudentConsult.comTherapy for patients with DKA involves careful replacement of fluid deficits, correction of acidosis and hyperglycemia via insulin administration, correction of electrolyte imbalances, and monitoring for complications of treatment. The optimal approach to management of DKA must strike a balance between adequate correction of fluid losses and avoidance of rapid shifts in osmolality and fluid balance. The most serious complication of DKA and its treatment is cerebral edema and cerebral herniation.
A patient with severe DKA is assumed to be approximately 10% dehydrated. If a recent weight measurement is available, the precise extent of dehydration can be calculated. An initial intravenous (IV) fluid bolus of a glucose-free isotonic solution (normal saline, lactated Ringer solution) at 10 to 20 mL/kg should be given to restore intravascular volume and renal perfusion. The remaining fluid deficit after the initial bolus should be added to maintenance fluid requirements, and the total should be replaced slowly over 36 to 48 hours. Ongoing losses resulting from osmotic diuresis usually do not need to be replaced unless urine output is large or signs of poor perfusion are present. Osmotic diuresis is usually minimal when the serum glucose concentration decreases to less than 300 mg/dL. To avoid rapid shifts in serum osmolality, 0.9% sodium chloride can be used as the replacement fluid for the initial 4 to 6 hours, followed by 0.45% sodium chloride.
Hyperglycemia. Fast-acting soluble insulin should be administered as a continuous IV infusion (0.1 U/kg/hour). Serum glucose concentrations should decrease at a rate no
Figure 171-2 Pathophysiology of diabetic ketoacidosis.faster than 100 mg/dL/hour. When serum glucose concentrations decrease to less than 250 to 300 mg/dL, glucose should be added to the IV fluids. If serum glucose concentrations decrease to less than 200 mg/dL before correction of acidosis, the glucose concentration of the IV fluids should be increased, but the insulin infusion should not be decreased by more than half, and it should never be discontinued before resolution of acidosis.
Acidosis. Insulin therapy decreases the production of free fatty acids and protein catabolism and enhances glucose usage in target tissues. These processes correct acidosis. Bicarbonate therapy should be avoided. Potential adverse effects of bicarbonate administration include paradoxical increases in central nervous system (CNS) acidosis caused by increased diffusion of carbon dioxide across the blood-brain barrier, potential tissue hypoxia caused by shifts in the oxyhemoglobin dissociation curve, abrupt osmotic changes, and increased risk of the development of cerebral edema.
As acidosis is corrected, urine ketone concentrations may appear to rise. β-Hydroxybutyrate, which is not detected in urine ketone assays, is converted with treatment to what the assay most detects, acetoacetate. Hence minute-to-minute urine ketone concentrations are not a required index of the adequacy of therapy.
Electrolyte imbalances. Regardless of the serum potassium concentration at presentation, total body potassium depletion is likely. Serum potassium concentrations can decrease rapidly as insulin and then glucose therapy improves acidosis, and potassium is exchanged for intracellular hydrogen ions. When adequate urine output is shown, potassium should be added to the IV fluids. Potassium replacement should be given as 50% potassium chloride and 50% potassium phosphate at a concentration of 20 to 40 mEq/L. This combination provides phosphate for replacement of deficits but avoids excess phosphate administration, which may precipitate hypocalcemia. If the serum potassium level is greater than 6 mEq/L, potassium should not be added to IV fluids until the potassium level decreases.
Monitoring. Initial laboratory measurements should include serum glucose, sodium, potassium, chloride, bicarbonate, BUN, creatinine, calcium, phosphate and magnesium concentrations; arterial or venous pH; and a urinalysis. Serum glucose measurement should be repeated every hour during therapy; electrolyte concentrations should be repeated every 2 to 3 hours. Calcium, phosphate, and magnesium concentrations should be measured every 4 to 6 hours during therapy. Neurologic and mental status should be assessed at frequent intervals. Any complaints of headache or deterioration of mental status should prompt rapid evaluation for possible cerebral edema. Indicative symptoms include a decreased sensorium, sudden severe headache, vomiting, change in vital signs (bradycardia, hypertension, apnea), a dilated pupil, ophthalmoplegia, or seizure.
Clinically apparent cerebral edema occurs in 1% to 5% of cases of DKA. Cerebral edema is the most serious complication of DKA, with a mortality rate of 20% to 80%. The pathogenesis of cerebral edema likely involves osmolar shift resulting in fluid accumulation in the intracellular compartment and cell swelling. Subclinical cerebral edema is common in patients with DKA, but the factors that exacerbate this process leading to symptomatic brain swelling and possible cerebral herniation are not clearly defined. Cerebral edema typically occurs 6 to 12 hours after therapy for DKA is begun, often following a period of apparent clinical improvement. Factors that correlate with increased risk for cerebral edema include higher initial BUN concentration, lower initial Pco2, failure of the serum sodium concentration to increase as glucose concentration decreases during treatment, and treatment with bicarbonate.
Signs of advanced cerebral edema include obtundation, papilledema, pupillary dilation or inequality, hypertension, bradycardia, and apnea. Treatment involves the rapid use of IV mannitol, endotracheal intubation, and ventilation and may require the use of a subdural bolt. Other complications of DKA are intracranial thrombosis or infarction, acute tubular necrosis with acute renal failure caused by severe dehydration, pancreatitis, arrhythmias caused by electrolyte abnormalities, pulmonary edema, and bowel ischemia. Peripheral edema occurs commonly 24 to 48 hours after therapy is initiated and may be related to residual elevations in antidiuretic hormone and aldosterone.
Transition to Outpatient ManagementWhen the acidosis has been corrected and the patient tolerates oral feedings, the IV insulin infusion can be discontinued, and a regimen of subcutaneous (SC) insulin injections can be initiated. The first SC insulin dose should be given 30 to 45 minutes before discontinuation of the IV insulin infusion. Further adjustment of the insulin dose should be made over the following 2 to 3 days. A patient already diagnosed with DM1 may be restarted on the prior doses if they were adequate. For a patient with new-onset DM1, typical starting total daily doses are approximately 0.5 to 0.7 U/kg/24 hours for prepubertal patients and approximately 0.7 to 1 U/kg/24 hours for adolescents, using any number of the available insulin combinations. The best and most common choice for making the transition to SC insulin is to begin by giving injections of fast-acting (bolus) insulin (lispro, aspart, or glulisine insulin) with each meal and long-acting (basal) insulin (glargine or detemir) at bedtime. This regimen of multiple daily injections provides the most flexibility but requires the patient to administer many injections per day and to count carbohydrates in food. An alternative is a fixed mixed split dosing regimen (neutral protamine Hagedorn [NPH] and fasting-acting insulin) with two daily injections.
Externally worn pumps that provide a continuous SC infusion of fast-acting insulin are available, although not usually used at the very onset of DM1. Insulin pumps provide fast-acting insulin in small basal amounts continuously every hour and will provide bolus insulin when instructed. Insulin pumps may be used by all age groups who are highly motivated to achieve tight control. The absence of SC depot insulin (glargine or detemir) can increase the risk of DKA.
Serum glucose concentrations should be assessed before each meal, at bedtime, and periodically at 2 to 3 am to provide information for adjustment of the regimen. Patients and their families should begin learning the principles of diabetes care as soon as possible. Demonstration of the ability to administer insulin injections and test glucose concentrations using a glucose meter is necessary before discharge, as is knowledge of hypoglycemia management. Meal planning is crucial to control glucose in DM1. Nutrition services must be part of the care delivered to the families from diagnosis.
In some patients with new onset of DM1, the beta cell mass has not been completely destroyed. The remaining functionalbeta cells seem to recover function with insulin treatment. When this occurs, exogenous insulin requirements decrease.This is a period of stable blood glucose control, often with nearly normal glucose concentrations. This phase of the disease, known as the honeymoon period, usually starts in thefirst weeks of therapy, often continues for 3 to 6 months, andcan last 2 years.
Management of DM1 in children requires a comprehensive approach with attention to medical, nutritional, and psychosocial issues. Therapeutic strategies should be flexible with the individual needs of each patient and the family taken into account. Optimal care involves a team of diabetes professionals, including a physician, a diabetes nurse educator, a dietitian, and a social worker or psychologist.
The Diabetes Control and Complications Trial established that intensive insulin therapy, with the goal of maintaining blood glucose concentrations as close to normal as possible, can delay the onset and slow the progression of complications of diabetes (retinopathy, nephropathy, neuropathy). Attaining this goal using intensive insulin therapy can increase the risk of hypoglycemia. The adverse effects of hypoglycemia in young children may be significant because the immature CNS may be more susceptible to glycopenia. Although the risk for diabetic complications increases with duration of diabetes, there is controversy as to whether the increase of risk is slower in the prepubertal years than in adolescence and adulthood.
The goals of therapy differ, depending on the age of thepatient. For children younger than 5 years old, an appropriate goal is maintenance of blood glucose concentrationsbetween 80 and 180 mg/dL. For school-age children, 80 to 150 mg/dL is a reasonable target range. For adolescents, thegoal is 70 to 130 mg/dL. Goals of therapy also should takeinto account other individual characteristics, such as a pasthistory of severe hypoglycemia and the abilities of the patientand family.
Many types of insulin differ in duration of action and time to peak effect (Table 171-2). These insulins can be used in various combinations, depending on the needs and goals of the individual patient. The most commonly used regimen is that of multiple injections of fast-acting insulin given with meals in combination with long-acting basal insulin given at bedtime. This regimen provides flexibility but requires administration of many injections per day and will require assistance for young children. After the total daily dose of insulin is determined, 30% to 50% are given as long-acting insulin, and the remainder is given as fast-acting insulin, divided according to the need for corrections of high glucose levels and for meals. To correct for hyperglycemia, one can determine the insulin sensitivity using the 1800 rule; dividing 1800 by the total daily dose of insulin to determine how many milligrams per deciliter of glucose will decrease with one unit of insulin. The insulin:carbohydrate ratio is used to calculate insulin for the carbohydrate content of food; 450 divided by the total daily dose determines the number of grams of carbohydrate that requires one unit of insulin.
Pumps that provide a continuous SC infusion of short-acting insulin also are available and are being used by children and adolescents who are highly motivated to achieve tight control.
Lispro, aspart, and glulisine insulin are synthetic human insulin analogs in which amino acid alterations result in fast absorption and onset of action (see Table 171-2). Because of the short duration of action, these are used in combination with long-acting insulin. Glargine and detemir are insulin analogs with increased solubility at acidic pH and decreased solubility at physiologic pH. They have a duration of greater than 24 hours and act as a basal insulin.
Newly diagnosed patients in the honeymoon period may require 0.4 to 0.6 U/kg/24 hours. Prepubertal patients with diabetes longer than 1 to 2 years typically require 0.5 to 1 U/kg/24 hours. During middle adolescence when elevated GH concentrations produce relative insulin resistance, insulin requirements increase by 40% to 50%, and doses of 1 to 2 U/kg/24 hours are typical.
Balancing the daily meal plan with the dosages of insulin is crucial for maintaining serum glucose concentrations within the target range and avoiding hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia. The content and schedule of meals vary according to the type of insulin regimen used. It is recommended that carbohydrates contribute 50% to 65% of the total calories, protein 12% to 20%, and fat <30%. Saturated fat should contribute <10% of the total caloric intake, and cholesterol intake should be less than 300 mg/24 hours. High fiber content is recommended.
Patients using multiple daily injections or the insulin pump can maintain a more flexible meal schedule with regard to the timing of meals and the carbohydrate content. These patients give an injection of insulin before or immediately after each meal with the total dose calculated according to the carbohydrate content of the meal. Further adjustments in the dose can be made based on the measured serum glucose concentration and plans for activity during the day. Children using a twice-aday combination of intermediate-acting and fast-acting insulins need to maintain a relatively consistent meal schedule so that carbohydrate absorption and insulin action peaks correspond. A typical meal schedule for a patient using this type of regimen involves three meals and three snacks daily. The total carbohydrate content of the meals and snacks should be kept constant.
Blood glucose should be routinely monitored before each meal and at bedtime. Hypoglycemia during the night or excessive variability in the morning glucose concentrations should prompt additional testing at 2 or 3 am to ensure that there is no consistent hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia. During periods of illness or when blood glucose concentrations are higher than 300 mg/dL, urine ketones also should be tested. Continuous glucose monitors, which provide minute-to-minute blood glucose concentration information, can be useful in following
Table 171-2 Representative Profiles of Insulin INSULIN ONSET PEAK ACTION DURATION Very Short Acting Lispro, aspart, glulisine 5−15 minutes 30−90 minutes 3−5 hours
Data from Wolfsdorf JI, editor: Intensive Diabetes Management, ed 4, Alexandria, VA, 2009, American Diabetes Associations.
trends of blood glucose concentrations but should not be used in calculations of mealtime insulin doses.
Measurements of glycohemoglobin or hemoglobin A1c (HgbA1c) reflect the average blood glucose concentration over the preceding 3 months and provide a means for assessing long-term glycemic control. HgbA1c should be measured four times a year, and the results should be used for counseling of patients. The American Diabetes Association has set HgbA1c targets based on age with children less than 6 years having an HgbA1c target of 7.5% to 8.5%, ages 6 to 13 years HgbA1c target of less than 8%, and ages 13 to 18 years HgbA1c target of less than 7.5%. Measurements of HgbA1c are inaccurate in patients with hemoglobinopathies. Glycosylated albumin or fructosamine can be used in these cases.
Patients with DM1 for more than 3 to 5 years should receive an annual ophthalmologic examination for retinopathy. Urine should be collected annually for assessment of microalbuminuria, which suggests early renal dysfunction and indicates a high risk of progression to nephropathy. Treatment with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors may halt the progression of microalbuminuria. In children with DM1, annual cholesterol measurements and periodic assessment of blood pressure are recommended. Early detection of hypertension and hypercholesterolemia with appropriate intervention can help limit future risk of coronary disease.
Chronic autoimmune lymphocytic thyroiditis is particularly common and can result in hypothyroidism. Because symptoms can be subtle, thyroid function tests should be performed annually. Other disorders that occur with increased frequency in children with DM1 include celiac disease, IgA deficiency, Addison disease, and peptic ulcer disease.
Special Problems: HypoglycemiaHypoglycemia occurs commonly in patients with DM1. For patients in adequate or better control, it is expected to occur on average once or twice a week. Severe episodes of hypoglycemia, resulting in seizures or coma or requiring assistance from another person, occur in 10% to 25% of these patients per year.
Hypoglycemia in patients with DM1 results from a relative excess of insulin in relation to the serum glucose concentration. This excess can be caused by alterations in the dose, timing, or absorption of insulin; alterations of carbohydrate intake; or changes in insulin sensitivity resulting from activity. Defective counterregulatory responses also contribute to hypoglycemia. Abnormal glucagon responses to falling serum glucose concentrations develop within the first few years of the disease, and abnormalities in epinephrine release occur after a longer duration.
Lack of awareness of hypoglycemia occurs in approximately 25% of patients with diabetes. Recent episodes ofhypoglycemia may play a role in the pathophysiology ofhypoglycemia unawareness; after an episode of hypoglycemia, autonomic responses to subsequent episodes are reduced. Areturn of symptoms of hypoglycemia can be exhibited in thesepatients after 2 to 3 weeks of strict avoidance of hypoglycemicepisodes.
Symptoms of hypoglycemia include symptoms resultingfrom neuroglycopenia (headache, visual changes, confusion, irritability, or seizures) and symptoms resulting fromthe catecholamine response (tremors, tachycardia, diaphoresis, or anxiety). Mild episodes can be treated with administration of rapidly absorbed oral glucose (glucose gel ortablets or fruit juices). More severe episodes that result in seizures or loss of consciousness at home should be treated with glucagon injections. IV glucose should be given in hospital settings.
Long-term complications of DM1 include retinopathy, nephropathy, neuropathy, and macrovascular disease. Evidence of organ damage caused by hyperglycemia is rare in patients with diabetes of less than 5 to 10 years’ duration; clinically apparent disease rarely occurs before 10 to 15 years’ duration. Diabetic retinopathy is the leading cause of blindness in the United States. Nephropathy eventually occurs in 30% to 40% and accounts for approximately 30% of all new adult cases of end-stage renal disease. Neuropathy occurs in 30% to 40% of postpubertal patients with DM1 and leads to sensory, motor, or autonomic deficits. Macrovascular disease results in an increased risk of myocardial infarction and stroke among individuals with diabetes.
Intensive control of diabetes, using frequent blood glucose testing and multiple daily injections of insulin or an insulin pump, can reduce the development or progression of diabetic complications, including a 76% reduction of risk for retinopathy, a 39% reduction in microalbuminuria, and a 60% reduction in clinical neuropathy. For pubertal and adult patients, the benefits of intensive therapy likely outweigh the increased risk for hypoglycemia. For younger patients, in whom the risks for hypoglycemia are greater and the benefits of tight glucose control may be lower, a less intensive regimen may be appropriate.
DM2 can occur as the result of various pathophysiologic processes; however the most common form results from peripheral insulin resistance and compensatory hyperinsulinemia, followed by failure of the pancreas to maintain adequate insulin secretion (see Table 171-1).
The prevalence of DM2 in children is increasing in parallel with childhood obesity and is highest in children of ethnic groups with a high prevalence of DM2 in adults, including Native Americans, Hispanic Americans, and African Americans. Obesity, the metabolic syndrome, ethnicity, and a family history of DM2 are risk factors. Auto-antibodies to the pancreas are present among some clinically assumed to have DM2, compounding the difficulty in differentiating DM1 from DM2 at the time of diagnosis.
Fasting and postprandial glucose levels for diagnosis of DM2 are the same as those for DM1. The diagnosis of DM2 may be suspected on the basis of polyuria and polydipsia in a background of the metabolic syndrome. Differentiating DM2 from DM1 in children on only clinical grounds can be challenging. The possibility of DM2 should be considered in patients who are obese, have a strong family history of DM2, have other characteristics of the metabolic syndrome, or have absence of antibodies to beta cell antigens at the time of diagnosis of diabetes. Acanthosis nigricans, a dermatologic manifestation of hyperinsulinism and insulin resistance, presents as hyperkeratotic pigmentation in the nape of the neck and in flexural areas and is noted as a sign in the metabolic syndrome. Although ketoacidosis occurs far more commonly in DM1, it also can occur in patients with DM2 under conditions of physiologic stress and cannot be used as an absolute differentiating factor. DM2 can be confirmed by the evaluation of insulin orC-peptide responses to stimulation with oral carbohydrateand in the absence of islet cell autoreactivity.
DM2 is the result of a combination of insulin resistance, relative insulin deficiency, and a secretory beta cell defect. Asymptomatic patients with mildly elevated glucose values (slightly >126 mg/dL for fasting or slightly >200 mg/dL for random glucose) may be managed initially with lifestyle modifications, including nutrition therapy (dietary adjustments) and increased exercise. Exercise has been shown to decrease insulin resistance. In most children with new-onset, uncomplicated DM2, oral agents are usually the first line of therapy. Only metformin, an insulin secretagogue, is approved by the
U.S. Food and Drug Administration for use in children. A rare side effect of metformin is lactic acidosis, occurring mainly in patients with compromised renal function. The most common side effect is gastrointestinal upset. If ketonuria or ketoacidosis occurs, insulin treatment is necessary to first achieve adequate glycemic control but may be discontinued within weeks with continuation of oral medications. Insulin therapy may be required if adequate glycemic control is not achieved with lifestyle modifications and metformin.
Because DM2 may have a long preclinical course, early diagnosis is possible in subjects at risk who have the metabolic syndrome. Significant lifestyle modifications, such as improved eating habits and increased exercise, have a role in preventing or decreasing the morbidity of DM2. Finally it is critical to monitor and manage the other components of metabolic syndrome, such as advanced pubertal development, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and polycystic ovary syndrome in females.
MODY comprises a group of dominantly inherited forms of relatively mild diabetes. Insulin resistance does not occur in these patients; instead the primary abnormality is an insufficient insulin secretory response to glycemic stimulation. Treatment depends on the type and can include the use of sulfonylureas.
Hypoglycemia in infancy and childhood can result from a largevariety of hormonal and metabolic defects (Table 172-1). Hypoglycemia occurs most frequently in the early neonatal period,often as a result of transient neonatal hyperinsulinemia ininfants of diabetic mothers or as a result of inadequate energy stores to meet the disproportionately large metabolic needs of premature or small for gestational age newborns. Hypoglycemiaduring the first few days of life in an otherwise normal newbornis less frequent and warrants concern (see Chapter 6). After theinitial 2 to 3 days of life, hypoglycemia is far less common and ismore frequently the result of endocrine or metabolic disorders(although sepsis must always be ruled out).
The diagnosis of hypoglycemia should be made on the basis of a low serum glucose concentration, symptoms compatible with hypoglycemia, and resolution of the symptoms after administration of glucose.
Serum glucose concentrations less than 45 mg/dL are considered to be abnormal and necessitate treatment. Serum glucose concentrations greater than 55 mg/dL occasionally can occur in normal individuals, especially with prolonged fasting, but should be considered suspect, particularly if there are concurrent symptoms of hypoglycemia (Table 172-2).
Available @ StudentConsult.comThe symptoms and signs of hypoglycemia result from direct depression of the central nervous system owing to lack of energy substrate and the counterregulatory adrenergic response to low glucose via catecholamine secretion designed to correct hypoglycemia (see Table 172-2). Compared with older children, infants do not usually show adrenergic symptoms. The signs and symptoms of hypoglycemia in infants are relatively nonspecific and include jitteriness, feeding difficulties, pallor, hypotonia, hypothermia, episodes of apnea and bradycardia, depressed levels of consciousness, and seizures. In older children, signs and symptoms include confusion, irritability, headaches, visual changes, tremors, pallor, sweating, tachycardia, weakness, seizures, and coma.
Failure to recognize and treat severe, prolonged hypoglycemia can result in serious long-term morbidity, including mental retardation and nonhypoglycemic seizures. Younger infants and patients with more severe or prolonged hypoglycemia are at greatest risk for adverse outcomes.
Normal regulation of serum glucose concentrations requires appropriate interaction of a number of hormonal signals and metabolic pathways (Figure 172-1). In a normal individual, a decrease in serum glucose concentrations leads to a suppression of insulin secretion and increased secretion of the counterregulatory hormones (growth hormone [GH], cortisol, glucagon, and epinephrine) (see Fig. 172-1). This hormonal signal promotes the release of amino acids (particularly alanine) from muscle to fuel gluconeogenesis and the release of triglyceride from adipose tissue stores to provide free fatty acids (FFAs) for hepatic ketogenesis. FFAs and ketones serve as alternate fuels for muscle. This hormonal signal also stimulates the breakdown of hepatic glycogen and promotes gluconeogenesis. Failure of any of the components of this hormonal signal can lead to hypoglycemia.
Available @ StudentConsult.comA lack of suppression of insulin secretion in response to low serum glucose concentrations can occur in infants but is uncommon beyond the neonatal period. This situation arises most frequently in infants of diabetic mothers who were exposed to high concentrations of maternally derived glucose in utero, resulting in fetal islet cell hyperplasia. The hyperinsulinemic state is transient, usually lasting hours to days.
Hyperinsulinism that persists beyond a few days of agecan result from distinct genetic disorders affecting glucose-regulated insulin release. These were previously referred to
Infant of a diabetic mother Infant with erythroblastosis fetalis Persistent hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia
Glucose-6-phosphatase deficiency Amylo-1,6-glucosidase deficiency Liver phosphorylase deficiency Glycogen synthase deficiency
Fructose-1,6-diphosphatase deficiency Pyruvate carboxylase deficiency Phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase deficiencyLong-, medium-, or short-chain fatty acid acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency Carnitine deficiency (primary or secondary) Carnitine palmitoyltransferase deficiency
Global hepatic dysfunction Reye syndrome Hepatitis Heart failure Sepsis, shock
ACTH, Adrenocorticotropic hormone; acyl-CoA, acyl coenzyme A; IGF-2, insulin-like growth factor-2.
as nesidioblastosis, or persistent hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia of the newborn. In these infants, hyperplasia ofthe pancreatic islet cells develops in the absence of excessstimulation by maternal diabetes. Some of these patients havegenetic abnormalities of the islet cell sulfonylurea receptoror other genetic defects that alter the function of the adenosine triphosphate−sensitive potassium channel that regulatesinsulin secretion. Hyperinsulinism also can occur in Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome, a condition characterized by neonatal somatic gigantism: macrosomia, macroglossia,omphalocele, visceromegaly, and earlobe creases.
Regardless of the cause, neonates with hyperinsulinism arecharacteristically large for gestational age (see Chapter 60). Hypoglycemia is severe and frequently occurs within 1 to 3 hours of a feeding. Glucose requirements are increased, oftentwo to three times the normal basal glucose requirement of 6to 8 mg/kg/min. The diagnosis of hyperinsulinism is confirmedby the detection of serum insulin concentrations greater than
Headache Palpitation (tachycardia) Mental confusion Pallor Somnolence Paresthesia Dysarthria Trembling Personality changes Anxiety Inability to concentrate Weakness Staring Nausea Hunger Vomiting Convulsions *These features and perceptions of the features may be blunted if the patient is receiving β-blocking agents.
5 μU/mL during an episode of hypoglycemia. The absence ofserum and urine ketones at the time of hypoglycemia is animportant diagnostic feature, distinguishing hyperinsulinismfrom defects in counterregulatory hormone secretion.
Treatment initially involves the infusion of intravenous (IV) glucose at high rates and of diazoxide to suppress insulin secretion. If diazoxide therapy is unsuccessful, long-acting somatostatin analogs can be tried. Often medical therapy for persistent hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia of the newborn is unsuccessful, and subtotal (90%) pancreatectomy is required to prevent long-term neurologic sequelae of hypoglycemia.
In children hyperinsulinemia is a rare condition characterized by a voracious appetite, obesity, and accelerated linear growth and usually results from an islet cell adenoma. Computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, or radioisotope imaging of the pancreas should be attempted, but visualization of an adenoma is usually difficult. Surgical removal of the adenoma is curative.
In rare cases insulin or a hypoglycemic medication is administered by a parent or caregiver to a child as a form of child abuse, which is a condition referred to as Munchausen syndrome by proxy. This diagnosis should be suspected if extremely high insulin concentrations are detected (>100 μU/mL). C-peptide concentrations are low or undetectable, which confirms that the insulin is from an exogenous source.
Abnormalities in the secretion of counterregulatory hormonesthat produce hypoglycemia usually involve GH, cortisol, orboth. Deficiencies in glucagon and epinephrine secretion arerare. GH and cortisol deficiency occur as a result of hypopituitarism. Hypopituitarism results from congenital hypoplasiaor aplasia of the pituitary or, more commonly, from deficiencyof hypothalamic releasing factors (see Chapter 173). Clues tothis diagnosis in infants include the presence of hypoglycemia in association with midline facial or neurologic defects(e.g., cleft lip and palate or absence of the corpus callosum), pendular (roving) nystagmus (indicating visual impairment frompossible abnormalities in the development of the optic nerves,
Heart, kidney, muscle, brainBrain, blood cellsFigure 172-1 Regulation of serum glucose.represents inhibitions. EPI, Epinephrine; FFA, free fatty acid; GH, growth hormone; TG, triglyceride.
which can occur in septo-optic dysplasia), and the presence ofmicrophallus and cryptorchidism in boys (indicating abnormalities in gonadotropin secretion). Jaundice and hepatomegaly alsocan occur, simulating neonatal hepatitis. Despite the presence ofGH deficiency, these infants are usually of normal size at birth.
Deficient cortisol secretion also can occur in primary adrenal insufficiency, resulting from a variety of causes. In infants it often results from congenital adrenal hyperplasia, most frequently as a result of 21-hydroxylase deficiency (see Chapters 177 and 178). In older children, primary adrenal insufficiency is seen most frequently in Addison disease and other disorders (see Chapter 178).
Confirmation of GH or cortisol deficiency as the cause of hypoglycemia requires the detection of low serum GH and cortisol concentrations during an episode of hypoglycemia or after other stimulatory testing. In contrast to hyperinsulinism, serum and urine ketones are positive at the time of hypoglycemia and FFAs are elevated. Treatment involves supplementation of the deficient hormones in physiologic doses.
Sufficient energy stores in the form of glycogen, adipose tissue, and muscle are necessary to respond appropriately to hypoglycemia. Deficiencies in these stores are a common cause of hypoglycemia in neonates who are small for gestational age or premature (see Chapter 60). Beyond the early neonatal period, energy stores are usually sufficient to meet the metabolic requirements except in malnourished children.
A common cause of new-onset hypoglycemia is idiopathicketotic hypoglycemia, usually seen in children between 18months and 5 years of age. Patients have symptoms of hypoglycemia after a period of prolonged fasting, often in the settingof an intercurrent illness with decreased feeding. Children withthis disorder are often thin and small and may have a history ofbeing small for gestational age. Defective mobilization of alanine from muscle to fuel gluconeogenesis is thought to be the cause, although the condition may derive mostly from havinglower fuel reserves. Because there are no specific diagnostic testsfor this disorder, ketotic hypoglycemia is a diagnosis of exclusion.
Treatment involves avoidance of fasting and frequent feedings of a high-protein, high-carbohydrate diet. Patients may require hospitalization for IV glucose infusion if they cannot maintain adequate oral intake during a period of illness. The disorder usually resolves spontaneously by 7 to 8 years of age.
Maintenance of normal serum glucose concentrations in thefasting state requires glucose production via glycogenolysisand gluconeogenesis and the production of alternative energysources (FFAs and ketones) via lipolysis and fatty acid oxidation.
Glycogen storage diseases occur in a variety of subtypes that differ in severity (see Chapter 52). Among the subtypes that result in hypoglycemia, the most severe form is glucose-6-phosphatase deficiency, which is characterized by severe hypoglycemia, massive hepatomegaly, growth retardation, and lactic acidosis. In contrast, deficiencies in the glycogen phosphorylase enzymes may cause isolated hepatomegaly with or without hypoglycemia.
The diagnosis of glycogen storage disease is suggested by a finding of hepatomegaly without splenomegaly. Confirmation of the diagnosis requires specific biochemical studies of leukocytes or liver biopsy specimens. Treatment involves frequent high-carbohydrate feedings during the day and continuous feedings at night via nasogastric tube. Feedings of uncooked cornstarch overnight are sufficient to maintain serum glucose concentrations in some patients.
Defects in gluconeogenesis are uncommon and include fructose-1,6-diphosphatase deficiency and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase deficiency. Affected patients exhibit fasting hypoglycemia, hepatomegaly, lactic acidosis, and hyperuricemia. Ketosis occurs, and FFA and alanine concentrations are high. Treatment involves frequent high-carbohydrate, low-protein feedings (see Chapter 52).
Fatty acid oxidation disorders of ketogenesis include the fatty acid acyl-coenzyme A (CoA) dehydrogenase deficiencies; long-chain, medium-chain, and short-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiencies; and hereditary carnitine deficiency (see Chapter 55). Of these disorders, medium-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency is the most common; it occurs in 1 in 9000 to 15,000 live births. Patients often are well in infancy and have the first episode of hypoglycemia at 2 years of age or older. Episodes of hypoglycemia usually occur with prolonged fasting or during episodes of intercurrent illness.
Mild hepatomegaly may be present along with mild hyperammonemia, hyperuricemia, and mild elevations in hepatic transaminases. Ketone concentrations are low or undetected. The diagnosis is confirmed by the finding of elevated concentrations of dicarboxylic acids in the urine. Treatment involves avoidance of fasting.
Many metabolic disorders can lead to hypoglycemia, including galactosemia, hereditary fructose intolerance, and disorders of organic acid metabolism (see Table 172-1). Hypoglycemia in these disorders is usually a reflection of global hepatic dysfunction secondary to the buildup of hepatotoxic intermediates. Many of these disorders present with low concentrations of ketone bodies because ketogenesis also is affected. The finding of non–glucose-reducing substances in the urine suggests a diagnosis of galactosemia or hereditary fructose intolerance. Occurrence of symptoms after ingestion of fructose or sucrose suggests hereditary fructose intolerance. Treatment requires dietary restriction of the specific offending substances.
Hypoglycemia can occur as an adverse effect of numerousmedications (see Table 172-1). Valproate toxicity can cause a disorder similar to that seen in the fatty acid oxidationdefects. Ethanol ingestion also can cause hypoglycemia,especially in younger children, because the metabolism ofethanol results in the depletion of cofactors necessary forgluconeogenesis.
Although the list of causes of hypoglycemia is long and complex, establishing the etiology in a particular patient is important. Frequently it is difficult to make an accurate diagnosis until one can obtain a critical sample of blood and urine at the time of the hypoglycemic episode. In a child with unexplained hypoglycemia, a serum sample should be obtained before treatment for the measurement of glucose and insulin, GH, cortisol, FFAs, and β-hydroxybutyrate and acetoacetate. Measurement of serum lactate levels also should be considered. A urine specimen should be obtained for measuring ketones and reducing substances. Hypoglycemia without ketonuria suggests hyperinsulinism or a defect in fatty acid oxidation. The results of this initial testing can establish whether endocrine causes are responsible and, if not, provide initial information regarding which types of metabolic disorders are most likely. Whenever possible, additional samples of blood and urine should be frozen for further analysis, if necessary.
Acute care of a patient with hypoglycemia consists of rapid administration of IV glucose (2 mL/kg of 10% dextrose in water). After the initial bolus, an infusion of IV glucose should provide approximately 1.5 times the normal hepatic glucose production rate (8 to 12 mg/kg/min in infants, 6 to 8 mg/kg/min in children). This infusion allows for suppression of the catabolic state and prevents further decompensation in patients with certain metabolic disorders. If adrenal insufficiency is suspected, stress doses of glucocorticoids should be administered.
Normal growth is the final common pathway of many factors,including endocrine, environmental, nutritional, and geneticinfluences (see Chapter 5). A normal linear growth patternis good evidence of overall health and can be considered abioassay for the well-being of the whole child. The effects ofcertain hormones on growth and ultimate height are listed inTable 173-1. Just as various factors influence stature, stature itself influences psychological, social, and potentially economic well-being. Parental concern about the psychosocial consequences of abnormal stature often causes a family to seek medical attention.
Growth hormone (GH) secretion is pulsatile, stimulated by hypothalamic GH-releasing factor (GRF) and inhibited by GH release inhibitory factor (somatostatin, somatotropin release-inhibiting factor [SRIF]), which interact with their individual receptors on the somatotrope in a noncompetitive manner. GH is also stimulated by ghrelin, produced in the stomach. GH circulates bound to a GH-binding protein (GHBP); GHBP abundance reflects the abundance of GH receptors. GH has direct effects on tissue and also causes production and secretion of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) in many tissues. GH stimulates IGF-1 production in liver along with production of the acid-labile subunit and the IGF-binding protein (IGF-BP3); this forms the complex that delivers IGF-1 to tissue.
IGF-1 acts primarily as a paracrine and autocrine agent and is most closely associated with postnatal growth. When IGF-1 attaches to its membrane-bound receptor, second messengers are stimulated to change the physiology of the cell and produce growth effects. IGF-1 production is influenced by disease states such as malnutrition, chronic renal and liver disease, hypothyroidism, or obesity.
IGF-BP3 is measurable in clinical assays and is less influenced by nutrition and age than is IGF-1; measuring IGF-1 and IGF-BP3 is useful in evaluating GH adequacy, particularly in infancy and early childhood.
Measurement of GrowthThe correct measurement of an infant’s length requires one adult to hold the infant’s head still and another adult to extend the feet with the soles perpendicular to the lower legs. A caliper-likedevice, such as an infantometer, or the movable plates on an infant scale are used so that the exact distance between the two calipers or plates can be determined. Marking the position of the head and feet of an infant lying on a sheet of paper on the examining table leads to inaccuracies and may miss true disorders of growth or create false concerns about a disorder of growth in a normal child. Accurate measurements of height (standing), or length (lying down), and weight should be plotted on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention growth charts for the timely diagnosis of growth disorders ( http:// www.cdc.gov/growthcharts/
After 2 years of age, the height of a child should be measured in the standing position. Children measured in the standing position should be barefoot against a hard surface. A Harpenden stadiometer or equivalent device is optimal for the measurement of stature. A decrease of roughly 1.25 cm in height measurement may occur when the child is measured in the standing position rather than in the lying position, leading to the inappropriate referral of many children who appear to be not growing to a subspecialist.
Measurement of the arm span is essential when the diagnoses of Marfan or Klinefelter syndrome, short-limbed dwarfism, or other dysmorphic conditions are considered. Arm span is measured as the distance between the tips of the fingers when the patient holds both arms outstretched horizontally while standing against a solid surface. The upper-to-lower segment ratio is the ratio of the upper segment (determined by subtraction of the measurement from the symphysis pubis to the floor [known as the lower segment] from the total height) to the lower segment. This ratio changes with age. A normal term
Adapted from Underwood LE, Van Wyk JJ: Normal and aberrant growth. In Wilson JD, Foster DW, editors: Textbook of Endocrinology, ed 8, Philadelphia, 1992, WB
Saunders. *Effect in most patients with treatment.infant has an upper-to-lower ratio of 1.7:1, a 1-year-old has a ratio of 1.4:1, and a 10-year-old has a ratio of 1:1. Conditions of hypogonadism, not commonly discerned or suspected until after the normal age for onset of puberty, lead to greatly decreased upper-to-lower ratio in an adult, whereas long-lasting and untreated hypothyroidism leads to a high upper-tolower ratio in the child.
Endocrine Evaluation of Growth Hormone SecretionAvailable @ StudentConsult.comGH is a 191–amino acid protein secreted by the pituitary gland under the control of GRF and SRIF (see Fig. 170-2). GH secretion is enhanced by α-adrenergic stimulation, hypoglycemia, starvation, exercise, early stages of sleep, and stress and inhibited by β-adrenergic stimulation and hyperglycemia. Because concentrations of GH are low throughout the day, except for brief secretory peaks in the middle of the night or early morning, the daytime ascertainment of GH deficiency or sufficiency on the basis of a single determination of a random GH concentration is impossible. Adequacy of GH secretion may be determined by a stimulation test to measure peak GH secretion. A normal response is a vigorous secretory peak after stimulation; the lack of such a peak is consistent with GH deficiency. However there is a high false-positive rate (on any day, about 10% or more of normal children may not reach the normal GH peak after even two stimulatory tests). Indirect measurements of GH secretion, such as serum concentrations of IGF-1 and IGF-BP3, are considered better screens for GH deficiency.
The factors responsible for postnatal growth are not the same as the factors that mediate fetal growth. Thyroid hormone is essential for normal postnatal growth, although a thyroid hormone–deficient fetus achieves a normal birth length; similarly a GH-deficient fetus has a normal birth length, although in IGF-1 deficiency resulting from GH resistance (Laron dwarfism), fetuses are shorter than control subjects. Adequate thyroid hormone is necessary to allow the secretion of GH. Hypothyroid patients may appear falsely to be GH deficient; with thyroid hormone repletion, GH secretion normalizes. Gonadal steroids are important in the pubertal growth spurt. The effects of other hormones on growth are noted in Table 173-1.
Short Stature of Nonendocrine CausesAvailable @ StudentConsult.comShort stature is defined as subnormal height relative to otherchildren of the same gender and age, taking family heightsinto consideration. It can be caused by numerous conditions(Table 173-2). The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention growth charts use the 3rd percentile of the growth curve as the demarcation of the lower limit. Growth failure denotes a slow growth rate regardless of stature. Ultimately aslow growth rate leads to short stature, but a disease processis detected sooner if the decreased growth rate is noted beforethe stature becomes short. Plotted on a growth chart, growthfailure appears as a curve that crosses percentiles downwardand is associated with a height velocity below the 5th percentile of height velocity for age (Fig. 173-1). A corrected mid-parental, or genetic target, height helps determine whetherthe child is growing well for the family (see Chapter 6). Todetermine a range of normal height for the family under consideration, the corrected midparental height is bracketed by2 standard deviations (SDs), which, for the United States, isapproximately 10 cm (4 in.). The presence of a height 3.5 SDsbelow the mean, a height velocity below the 5th percentilefor age, or a height below the target height corrected for mid-parental height requires a diagnostic evaluation.
Nutrition is the most important factor affecting growth on a worldwide basis (see Chapter 28). Failure to thrive may develop in the infant as a result of maternal deprivation(nutritional deficiency or aberrant psychosocial interaction) or as a result of organic illness (anorexia, nutrient losses through a form of malabsorption, or hypermetabolism caused
Exogenous Diabetes mellitus under poor control Diabetes insipidus (untreated) Hypophosphatemic vitamin D-resistant rickets Virilizing congenital adrenal hyperplasia (tall child, short adult)
P-450c21, P-450c11 deficienciesTurner syndrome (syndrome of gonadal dysgenesis) Noonan syndrome (pseudo-Turner syndrome) Autosomal trisomy 13, 18, 21 Laurence-Moon-Bardet-Biedl syndrome Prader-Willi syndrome Autosomal abnormalities Dysmorphic syndromes (e.g., Russell-Silver or Cornelia
Gastrointestinal disorders Malabsorption (e.g., celiac disease) Disorders of swallowing Inflammatory bowel disease
Hereditary fructose intolerance Malnutrition Kwashiorkor, marasmus Iron deficiency Zinc deficiency Anorexia caused by chemotherapy for neoplasms Cerebral palsy
Modified from Styne DM: Growth disorder. In Fitzgerald PA, editor: Handbook of Clinical Endocrinology, Norwalk, CT, 1986, Appleton & Lange. AIDS, Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome; CNS, central nervous system; GH, growth hormone; IGF, insulin-like growth factor. *Only if caloric intake is severely diminished.
by hyperthyroidism or other causes) (see Chapter 21). Psycho-psychosocial environment, GH physiology normalizes, and logical difficulties also can affect growth, as in psychosocial growth occurs. or deprivation dwarfism, in which the child develops func-The common condition known as constitutional delay in tional temporary GH deficiency and poor growth as a result growth or puberty or both is considered a variation of normal of psychological abuse; when placed in a different, healthier growth, caused by a reduced tempo, or cadence, of physiologic
Figure 173-1 Patterns of linear growth. Normal growth percentiles (5th, 50th, and 95th) are shown along with typical growth curves for A, Constitutional delay of growth and adolescence (short stature with normal growth rate for bone age, delayed pubertal growth spurt, and eventual achievement of normal adult stature). B, Familial short stature (short stature in childhood and as an adult). C, Acquired pathologic growth failure (e.g., acquired untreated primary hypothyroidism) (see Chapter 5).
development (see Fig. 173-1). Usually a family member had delayed growth or puberty but achieved a normal final height. The bone age is delayed, but the growth rate remains mostly within the lower limits of normal. Constitutional delay usually leads to a delay in secondary sexual development. Genetic or familial short stature (Table 173-3) refers to the stature of a child of short parents, who is expected to reach a lower than average height and yet normal for these parents. If the parents were malnourished as children, grew up in a zone of war, or suffered famine, the heights of the parents are less predictive. Although there are differences in height associated with ethnicity, the most significant difference in stature between ethnic groups is the result of nutrition.
Phenotypic features suggesting an underlying chromosomaldisorder can occur in many syndromes. These syndromes can besuspected by attending to arm spans and upper-to-lower segmentratios. Genetic syndromes often combine obesity and decreasedheight, whereas otherwise normal obese children are usuallytaller than average and have advanced skeletal development andphysical maturation (see Table 173-2). The Prader-Willi syndrome includes fetal and infantile hypotonia, small hands and feet (acromicria), postnatal acquired obesity with an insatiableappetite, developmental delay, hypogonadism, almond-shapedeyes, and abnormalities of the snRNP (small nuclear ribonucleicparticle) portion of the 15th chromosome at 15q11-q13. Mostcases have deletion of the paternal sequence, but about 20% to25% have uniparental disomy, in which both chromosomes 15derive from the mother. Laurence-Moon-Bardet-Biedl syndrome is characterized by retinitis pigmentosa, hypogonadism, and developmental delay with an autosomal dominant inheritance pattern. Laurence-Moon syndrome is associated with spastic paraplegia; Bardet-Biedl syndrome is associatedwith obesity and polydactyly. Pseudohypoparathyroidismleads to short stature and developmental delay with short fourthand fifth digits (Albright hereditary osteodystrophy phenotype),resistance to parathyroid hormone and resultant hypocalcemia,and elevated levels of serum phosphorus. Turner syndrome is characterized by a karyotype of 45XO or by a mosaic karyotypeand clinically presents with short stature, shield chest, wide-spaced nipples, wide-carrying angle of the upper extremities,high-arched palate, gonadal failure, kidney dysplasias with normal function, and aortic arch abnormalities. Affected girlsare often susceptible to autoimmune disorders.
Available @ StudentConsult.comAvailable @ StudentConsult.comClassic congenital or idiopathic GH deficiency occurs in about 1 in 4000 to 1 in 10,000 children. Idiopathic GH deficiency, of unidentified specific etiology, is the most common cause of both congenital and acquired GH deficiency. Less often GH deficiency is caused by anatomic defects of the pituitary gland, such as pituitary aplasia or other midline defects, with variable degrees of deficiency of other pituitary functions. Hereditary forms of GH deficiency that affect pituitary differentiation are the result of heterogeneous defects of the gene for GH, GRF, or GH receptor. Classic GH deficiencyrefers to very reduced to absent secretion of GH; numerous short children may have intermediate forms of decreased GH secretion. Acquired GH deficiency causing late-onset growth failure suggests the possibility of a tumor of the hypothalamus or pituitary causing compression of the area (see Tables 173-2 and 173-3).
Infants with congenital GH deficiency achieve a normal or near-normal birth length and weight at term, but the growth rate slows after birth, most noticeably after age 2 to 3 years. These children become progressively shorter for age and tend to have an elevated weight-to-height ratio, appearing chubby and short. Careful measurements in the first year of life may suggest the diagnosis, but most patients elude diagnosis until several years of age. A patient with classic GH deficiency has the appearance of a cherub (a chubby, immature appearance), with a high-pitched voice resulting from an immature
Karyotype Normal Normal Normal Normal 45,X or partial Normal Normal deletion of X chromosome or mosaic
Stimulated GH Low Normal for bone age Normal Possibly low, or Usually normal Low Usually normal high if patient malnourished
ACTH, Adrenocorticotropic hormone; CRH, corticotropin-releasing hormone; GH, growth hormone; GnRH, gonadotropin-releasing hormone; TRH, thyrotropin-releasing hormone; T4, thyroxine. *Possibly with GnRH, CRH, or TRH deficiency.
CBC Anemia: nutritional, chronic disease, malignancyLeukopenia: bone marrow failure syndromesThrombocytopenia: malignancy, infectionESR, CRP Inflammation of infection, inflammatory diseases, malignancyMetabolic panel Signs of acute or chronic hepatic, renal, (electrolytes, liver adrenal dysfunction; hydration and enzymes, BUN) acid-base status
Carotene, folate, and Assess malabsorption; detect celiac prothrombin time; disease celiac antibody panel
Urinalysis with pH Signs of renal dysfunction, hydration, water and salt homeostasis; renal tubular acidosis
Cranial imaging (MRI) Assesses hypothalamic-pituitary tumors (craniopharyngioma, glioma, germinoma) or congenital midline defects
Bone age Compare with height age and evaluate height potential
IGF-1, IGF-BP3 Reflects growth hormone status or nutritionProlactin Elevated in hypothalamic dysfunction or destruction, suppressed in pituitary disease
BUN, Blood urea nitrogen; CBC, complete blood count; CRP, C-reactive protein; ESR, erythrocyte sedimentation rate; IGF-1, insulin-like growth factor-1; IGF-BP3, insulin-like growth factor-binding protein 3; MRI, magnetic resonance imaging.
larynx. Unless severe hypoglycemia occurs or dysraphism (midline defects) of the head includes a central nervous system (CNS) defect that affects mentation, the patient has normal intellectual growth and age-appropriate speech. Male neonates with isolated GH deficiency with or without gonadotropin deficiency may have a microphallus (a stretched penile length of <2 cm [normal is 3 to 5 cm]) and fasting hypoglycemia. Patients who lack the adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH, stimulates cortisol) in addition to GH may have more profound hypoglycemia because cortisol also stimulates gluconeogenesis.
A very rare cause of growth failure is GH resistance or GH insensitivity, caused by abnormal number or function of GH receptors or by a postreceptor defect. Patients with the autosomal recessive Laron syndrome, involving mutations of the GH receptor, have a prominent forehead, hypoplastic nasal bridge, delayed dentition, sparse hair, blue sclerae, delayed bone maturation and osteoporosis, progressive adiposity, hypercholesterolemia, and low blood glucose. They have elevated serum GH concentrations, although serum IGF-1 and IGF-BP3 concentrations are low. Malnutrition, medications (corticosteroids), or severe liver disease may cause acquired GH resistance because serum GH is elevated and IGF-1 is decreased.
If family or other medical history does not provide a likelydiagnosis, screening tests should include a metabolic panelto evaluate kidney and liver function, a complete bloodcount (CBC) to rule out anemia, a celiac panel to rule outceliac disease, and carotene and folate levels to reflect nutrition and rule out malabsorption. A urinalysis aids in theevaluation of renal function. Urinary pH and serum bicarbonate can assess for renal tubular acidosis. In a girl without another explanation for short stature, a karyotype mayrule out Turner syndrome. A bone age will establish skeletal maturation.
If chronic disease or familial short stature are ruled out and routine laboratory testing is normal (Table 173-4), two GH stimulatory tests are commonly performed (see Table 170-2). GH testing should be offered to a patient who is short (<5th percentile and usually >3.5 SDs below the mean), growing poorly (<5th percentile growth rate for age), or whose height projection, based on bone age, is considerably below the target height when corrected for family height.
Classic GH-deficient patients do not show an increase in serum GH levels after stimulation. Some patients release GH in response to secretagogue testing but cannot release GH spontaneously during the day or night. Measuring serum IGF-1 and IGF-BP3 is suggested but not consistently helpful in establishing a diagnosis of GH deficiency. Tests for GH secretion are insensitive, not very specific, and fairly variable. In equivocal cases, an operational definition of GH deficiency might be that patients grow significantly faster when administered a normal dose of GH than before treatment.
GH deficiency is treated with biosynthetic recombinant DNA–derived GH. Dosage is titrated to the growth rate. Treatment with GH carries the risk of an increased incidence of slipped capital femoral epiphysis, especially in rapidly growing adolescents, and of pseudotumor cerebri.
Administration of GH to patients with normal GH responsiveness to secretagogues is controversial, but, as noted earlier, diagnostic tests are imperfect; if the patient is growing extremely slowly without alternative explanation, GH therapy is sometimes used. GH is effective in increasing the growth rate and final height in Turner syndrome and in chronic renal failure; GH also is used for treatment of short stature and muscle weakness of Prader-Willi syndrome. Other indications include children born small for gestational age who have not exhibited catch-up growth by 2 years of age and the long-term treatment of idiopathic short stature with height 2.25 SDs or less below the mean. Psychological support of children with severe short stature is important. Although there is controversy, marital status, satisfaction with life, and vocational achievement may be decreased in children of short stature who are not given supportive measures.
The staging of pubertal changes and the sequence of events are discussed in Chapter 67. The onset of puberty is marked by pubarche and gonadarche. Pubarche results from adrenal maturation or adrenarche and is marked with the appearance of pubic hair; other features include oiliness of hair and skin, acne, axillary hair, and body odor. Gonadarche is characterized by increasing secretion of gonadal sex steroids as a result of the maturation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis. These sex steroids differ by gender, consisting of testosterone from the testes and estradiol and progesterone from the ovaries. In males physical signs are pubic hair, axillary hair, facial hair, increased muscularity, deeper voice, increased penile size, and increased testicular volume. In females the physical signs are breast development, development of the female body habitus, increased size of the uterus, and menarche with regular menstrual cycles. The third component is the growth spurt of puberty.
Hypothalamic gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), produced by cells in the arcuate nucleus, is secreted from the median eminence of the hypothalamus into the pituitary portal system and reaches the membrane receptors on the pituitary gonadotropes to cause the production and release of luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) into the circulation. The hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis is active in the fetus and newborn but is suppressed in the childhood years until activity increases again at the onset of puberty.
In females FSH stimulates the ovarian production of estrogen and, later in puberty, causes the formation and supportof corpus luteum. In males LH stimulates the productionof testosterone from the Leydig cells; later in puberty, FSHstimulates the development and support of the seminiferous tubules. The gonads also produce the protein inhibin.Both sex steroids and inhibin suppress the secretion of gonadotropins. The interplay of the products of the gonadsand GnRH modulates the serum concentrations of gonadotropins. GnRH is released in episodic pulses that vary duringdevelopment and during the menstrual period. These pulsesensure that gonadotropins are released in a pulsatile manner. With the onset of puberty, the amplitude of the pulses ofgonadotropins and, in turn, the sex steroids increases, firstat night and then throughout the day. Adrenarche generallyoccurs several years earlier than gonadarche and is heraldedby increasing circulating dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA)or androstenedione. Serum DHEA increases years before theappearance of its effects.
The normal developmental sequence in girls is thelarche (due to gonadarche) followed closely by pubarche (due to adrenarche) and finally menarche, 2 to 3 years later. In boys the first normal event is scrotal thinning followed by the enlargement of testes and by the appearance of pubic hair (long diameter of the testis greater than 2.5 cm, volume greater than 4 mL). Most of the enlargement of testes during puberty is the result of seminiferous tubule maturation.
Available @ StudentConsult.comPuberty is delayed when there is no sign of pubertal development by age 13 years in girls and 14 years in boys living in the United States (Tables 174-1 and 174-2).
Patients with constitutional delay have delayed onset of pubertal development and significant bone age delay (2 standard deviations below the mean, which is equal to a 1.5to 2-year delay as a teenager). The height of the patient should remain close to the genetic potential, based on the parental heights, when reinterpreted for bone age (see Chapter 173). Usuallyheight gain is below, although fairly parallel to, the normal percentiles on the growth curve. The prepubertal nadir, or deceleration before their pubertal growth spurt, is prolonged or protracted. A family history of delayed puberty in a parent or sibling is reassuring. Spontaneous puberty usually begins in these patients by the time the bone age reaches 12 years in boys and 11 years in girls. Other causes of delayed puberty must be eliminated before a diagnosis of constitutional delay in puberty is made. Observation and reassurance are appropriate. Adult height normal for the genetic potential is generally attained. In some cases, boys may be treated with low-dose testosterone for a few months if the bone age is at least 11 to 12 years. Treatment is not required for longer than 4 to 8 months because endogenous hormone production usually ensues. Boys who do not initiate endogenous hormone production should be evaluated for other causes of hypogonadism. Estrogen treatment has been used in girls with constitutional delay, but there are no clear studies showing the added benefits. Young women with delayed puberty may need to be evaluated for primary amenorrhea.
As a cause of delayed or absent puberty, hypogonadotropic hypogonadism may be difficult to distinguish from constitutional delay (see Tables 174-1 and 174-2). Hypogonadotropic hypogonadism precludes spontaneous entry into gonadarche; adrenarche usually occurs to some degree. Throughout childhood and in early puberty, patients with hypogonadotropic hypogonadism have normal proportions and growth. When these patients reach adulthood, eunuchoid proportions mayensue because their long bones grow for longer than normal, producing an upper-to-lower ratio below the lower limit of normal of 0.9 and an arm span greater than their height. If a patient has concurrent growth hormone (GH) deficiency, however, stature is exceptionally short, and the condition may have been diagnosed in infancy with a microphallus.
Tumors (craniopharyngioma, germinoma, glioma, prolactinoma) Congenital malformations Radiation therapy Other causes
Idiopathic and genetic forms of multiple pituitary hormone deficiencies Miscellaneous disorders Prader-Willi syndrome Laurence-Moon-Bardet-Biedl syndrome Functional gonadotropin deficiency Chronic systemic disease and malnutrition Hypothyroidism Cushing disease Diabetes mellitus Hyperprolactinemia Anorexia nervosa Psychogenic amenorrhea Impaired puberty and delayed menarche in female athletes and ballet dancers (exercise amenorrhea) Hypergonadotropic hypogonadism Klinefelter syndrome (syndrome of seminiferous tubular dysgenesis) and its variants Other forms of primary testicular failure Anorchia and cryptorchidism Syndrome of gonadal dysgenesis and its variants (Turner syndrome) Other forms of primary ovarian failure XX and XY gonadal dysgenesis Familial and sporadic XX gonadal dysgenesis and its variants Familial and sporadic XY gonadal dysgenesis and its variants Noonan syndrome Galactosemia
Modified from Grumbach MM, Styne DM: Puberty. In Wilson JD, Foster DW, editors: Williams Textbook of Endocrinology, ed 9, Philadelphia, 1998, WB Saunders.
CNS, Central nervous system.Disorders that can cause hypogonadism include congenital hypopituitarism, such as midline defects, tumors, infiltrative disease (hemochromatosis), and many syndromes, including Laurence-Moon-Bardet-Biedl, Prader-Willi, and Kallmann syndromes. If there is an inability to release gonadotropins but no other pituitary abnormality, the patient has isolated gonadotropin deficiency (almost universally a result of absent GnRH). Patients grow normally until the time of the pubertal growth spurt, when they fail to experience the accelerated growth characteristic of the normal growth spurt.
Kallmann syndrome combines isolated gonadotropin deficiency with disorders of olfaction. There is genetic heterogeneity; some patients have a decreased sense of smell, othershave abnormal reproduction, and some have both. Most casesare sporadic but a number of patients may have mutations inthe KAL1 gene at Xp 22.3 (X chromosome) or KAL2 gene. The mutation causes the GnRH neurons to remain ineffectuallylocated in the primitive nasal area, rather than migrating to thecorrect location at the medial basal hypothalamus. Olfactorybulbs and olfactory sulci are often absent on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Other symptoms include disorders ofthe hand, with one hand copying the movements of the otherhand, shortened fourth metacarpal bone, and an absent kidney.
Abnormalities of the Central Nervous SystemAvailable @ StudentConsult.comCentral nervous system (CNS) tumors, including pituitary adenoma, glioma, prolactinoma, or craniopharyngioma, are important causes of gonadotropin deficiency. Craniopharyngiomas havea peak incidence in the teenage years and may cause any type ofanterior or posterior hormone deficiency. Craniopharyngiomasusually calcify, eroding the sella turcica when they expand. Theymay impinge on the optic chiasm, leading to bitemporal hemianopsia and optic atrophy. Other tumors that may affect pubertaldevelopment include astrocytomas and gliomas.
Idiopathic hypopituitarism is the congenital absence of various combinations of pituitary hormones. Although this disorder may occur in family constellations, in X-linked or autosomal recessive patterns, sporadic types of congenital idiopathic hypopituitarism are more common. Congenital hypopituitarism may manifest in a male with GH deficiency and associated gonadotropin deficiency with a microphallus or with hypoglycemia with seizures, especially if adrenocorticotropic hormone and GH deficiency occurs as well.
Syndromes of Hypogonadotropic HypogonadismAvailable @ StudentConsult.com Available @ StudentConsult.comShort for Prepubertal, later Prepubertal, Prepubertal, Low for Normal Normal delay in chronologic pubertal later pubertal later normal chronologic growth and age, usually age, adolescence appropriate for
From Grumbach MM, Styne DM: Puberty. In Wilson JD, Foster DW, editors: Williams Textbook of Endocrinology, ed 9, Philadelphia, 1997, WB Saunders. DHEAS, Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate; GnRH, gonadotropin-releasing hormone; LH, luteinizing hormone.
Decreased gonadotropin function occurs when voluntary Hypergonadotropic Hypogonadism dieting, malnutrition, or chronic disease results in weight lossto less than 80% of ideal weight. Anorexia nervosa is charac-
Available @ StudentConsult.com terized by striking weight loss and psychiatric disorders (seeChapter 70). Primary or secondary amenorrhea frequently is found in affected girls, and pubertal development is absent orminimal, depending on the level of weight loss and the age atonset. Regaining weight to the ideal level may not immediately reverse the condition. Increased physical activity, evenwithout weight loss, can lead to decreased menstrual frequency and gonadotropin deficiency in athletic amenorrhea; when physical activity is interrupted, menstrual function mayreturn. Chronic or systemic illness (e.g., cystic fibrosis, diabetes mellitus, inflammatory bowel disease, or hematologicdiseases) can lead to pubertal delay or to amenorrhea fromhypothalamic dysfunction. Hypothyroidism inhibits the onset of puberty and delays menstrual periods. Converselysevere primary hypothyroidism may lead to precociouspuberty.
Hypergonadotropic hypogonadism is characterized by elevated gonadotropins and low sex steroid levels resulting from primary gonadal failure. This permanent condition is almost always diagnosed following the lack of entry into gonadarche and is not suspected throughout childhood. Gonadotropins do not increase to greater than normal until shortly before or around the normal time of puberty.
Ovarian failure is diagnosed by elevated gonadotropins. Turner syndrome, the syndrome of gonadal dysgenesis, is a common cause of ovarian failure and short stature. The karyotype is classically 45,XO, but other abnormalities of the X chromosome or mosaicism are possible. The incidence of Turner syndrome is 1 in 2000 to 1 in 3000 births. The features of a girl with Turner syndrome need not be evident on physical examination or by history. The diagnosis must be considered in any girl who is short without a contributory history. Patients with other types of gonadal dysgenesis and galactosemia as well as patients treated undergoing radiation therapy or chemotherapy for malignancy may develop ovarian failure.
Klinefelter syndrome (seminiferous tubular dysgenesis) isthe most common cause of testicular failure. The karyotype is47,XXY, but variants with more X chromosomes are possible. Theincidence is approximately 1 in 500 to 1 in 1000 in males. Testosterone levels may be close to normal, at least until mid-puberty,because Leydig cell function may be spared; however seminiferous tubular function characteristically is lost, causing infertility.Commonly LH levels may be normal to elevated, whereas FSHlevels are usually more unequivocally elevated. The age of onsetof puberty is usually normal, but secondary sexual changes maynot progress because of inadequate Leydig cell function.
Available @ StudentConsult.comIn addition to other diagnoses mentioned, other conditionsneed to be considered when evaluating girls with lack ofmenses. The Mayer-Rokitansky-Kuster-Hauser syndrome ofcongenital absence of the uterus occurs in 1 in 4000 to 5000female births. Anatomic obstruction by imperforate hymen orvaginal septum also presents with normal secondary sexualdevelopment without menstruation. The complete syndromeof androgen insensitivity includes normal feminization, absence of pubic or axillary hair, and primary amenorrhea.In this syndrome, all müllerian structures, including ovaries, uterus, fallopian tubes, and upper third of the vagina, are lacking; the karyotype is 46,XY, and subjects have intra-abdominal testes.
When no secondary sexual development is present after the upper age limits of normal pubertal development, serum gonadotropin levels should be obtained to determine whether the patient has a hypogonadotropic or hypergonadotropic hypogonadism (see Table 174-2). Based on gonadotropin measurements only, the differentiation between constitutional delay in growth and hypogonadotropic hypogonadism is difficult; the gonadotropin levels are low in both conditions. Sometimes observation for months or years is necessary before the diagnosis is confirmed. Ultrasound of the pelvic structures in females would be helpful in the workup of delayed puberty.
If a permanent condition is apparent, replacement with sexsteroids is indicated. Females are given transdermal estradiol,low-dose ethinyl estradiol (5 to 10 μg) or conjugated estrogens (starting at 0.3 mg daily, increasing to 0.625 mg or 0.9 mg by6 to 12 months later) in low daily doses until breakthroughbleeding occurs, at which time cycling is started with a dosefor 25 days; on days 20 to 25, a progestational agent, such asmedroxyprogesterone acetate (5 mg), is added to mimic thenormal increases in gonadal hormones and to induce a normal menstrual period. Alternatively combined estrogen and progesterone agents (oral contraceptives) may be used after breakthrough bleeding occurs. In males testosterone enanthateor cypionate (50 to 100 mg monthly with a progressive increaseto 100 to 200 mg) is given intramuscularly once every 4 weeks.This starting regimen is appropriate for patients with hypogonadotropic or hypergonadotropic hypogonadism, and doses are increased gradually to adult levels. Oral agents are not usedfor fear of hepatotoxicity. Patients with apparent constitutionaldelay in puberty who have, by definition, passed the upper limits of normal onset of puberty may be given a 3to 6-monthcourse of low-dose, sex-appropriate gonadal steroids to seewhether spontaneous puberty occurs. This course of therapymight be repeated once without undue advancement of boneage. All patients with any form of delayed puberty are at risk fordecreased bone density; adequate calcium intake is essential. Patients with hypogonadotropic hypogonadism may be able toachieve fertility by the administration of gonadotropin therapyor pulsatile hypothalamic-releasing hormone therapy administered by a programmable pump on an appropriate schedule.Subjects with hypergonadotropic hypogonadism have, by definition, a primary gonadal problem and are unlikely to achievespontaneous fertility.
In subjects with Turner syndrome, the goals of therapy include promoting growth with exogenous human GH supplementation and induction of the secondary sexual characteristics and of menses with low-dose cyclic estrogen/progesterone replacement therapy. Patients with Turner syndrome have had successful pregnancies after in vitro fertilization with a donor ovum and endocrine support.
Available @ StudentConsult.comPrecocious Puberty in the Male Precocious Puberty in the Female
Sexual precocity (precocious puberty) is classically defined as secondary sexual development occurring before the age of 9 years in boys or 8 years in girls (Tables 174-3 and 174-4).During the past 15 to 20 years, studies from the United States and Europe reported earlier breast development in girls, as compared to historical data. Studies clearly suggest an earlier age at puberty onset in American girls in the 1980s to 1990s compared to the 1930s and 1940s. However age at menarche occurred at the same time or slightly earlier. Thus the time span from breast development to menarche seemed to have increased. The findings could reflect that exogenous or lifestyle factors may influence the typical sequence of pubertal events.
Central precocious puberty, resulting in gonadarche, emanates from premature activation of the hypothalamic-pituitarygonadal axis (GnRH-dependent). Peripheral precocious
Other CNS disorders True precocious puberty after late treatment of congenital virilizing adrenal hyperplasia
Chorionic gonadotropin-secreting tumors (hCG-dependent sexual precocity) CNS tumors (e.g., germinoma, chorioepithelioma, teratoma) Tumors in locations outside of the CNS (hepatoblastoma) LH-secreting pituitary adenoma
Increased androgen secretion by adrenal or testis Congenital adrenal hyperplasia (21-hydroxylase deficiency, 11-hydroxylase deficiency)
Males (feminization) Adrenal neoplasm Increased extraglandular conversion of circulating steroids to estrogen Females (virilization) (Congenital adrenal hyperplasia, P-450c21 deficiency, P-450c11 deficiency, 3β-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase deficiency) Virilizing adrenal neoplasms Virilizing ovarian neoplasms (e.g., arrhenoblastomas)
From Grumbach MM, Styne DM: Puberty. In Wilson JD, Foster DW, editors: Williams Textbook of Endocrinology, ed 9, Philadelphia, 1998, WB Saunders. CNS, Central nervous system; GnRH, gonadotropin-releasing hormone; hCG, human chorionic gonadotropin; LH, luteinizing hormone.
puberty, gonadarche or adrenarche, does not involve the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis (GnRH-independent).
In central precocious puberty, every endocrine and physical aspect of pubertal development is normal but too early; this includes tall stature, advanced bone age consistent with somatic age, increased sex steroid and pulsatile gonadotropin secretion, and increased response of LH to GnRH. The clinical course of central precocious puberty may wax and wane. Benign precocious puberty is the presumptive diagnosis in individuals who begin puberty early on a constitutional or familial basis. If no cause can be determined, the diagnosis is idiopathic precocious puberty, which occurs much more often in girls than in boys. Obese girls have earlier adrenarche, and sometimes menarche as well, than appropriate-weight girls. Compared with girls, boys with precocious puberty have a higher incidence of CNS disorders, such as tumors and hamartomas, precipitating the precocious puberty.
Almost any condition that affects the CNS, including hydrocephalus, meningitis, encephalitis, suprasellar cysts, head trauma, epilepsy, mental retardation, and irradiation, can precipitate central precocious puberty and must be considered before central precocious puberty is diagnosed. Hamartomas are nonmalignant tumors of the tuber cinereum with a characteristic appearance on computed tomography (CT) or MRI; biopsy is rarely required. The mass of GnRH neurons secrete GnRH and cause precocious puberty. Although hamartomas are not true neoplasms, they may require neurosurgical attention. The resulting precocious puberty is responsive to medical therapy with GnRH agonists, and surgery is rarely indicated.
Other masses that cause precocious puberty are not benign. Germinomas are noncalcifying hypothalamic or pineal tumors that frequently produce human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), which may cause sexual precocity in prepubertal boys (hCG cross-reacts with the LH receptor because of the similarity of structure between LH and hCG). Optic or hypothalamic gliomas (with or without neurofibromatosis), astrocytomas, and ependymomas may cause precocious puberty by disrupting the negative restraint of the areas of the CNS that normally inhibit pubertal development throughout childhood. These tumors may require radiotherapy, which contributes to a significant risk for hypopituitarism.
Available @ StudentConsult.comPrecocious Puberty in the FemaleThe most common cause of GnRH-independent precocious puberty, McCune-Albright syndrome, is more frequent in girls than boys and includes precocious gonadarche, a bone disorder with polyostotic fibrous dysplasia, and hyperpigmented cutaneous macules (café au lait spots). The precocious gonadarche results from ovarian hyperfunction and sometimes cyst formation, leading to episodic estrogen secretion. This disorder results from a post-conception somatic
True precocious Pubertal values Pubertal Pubertal values of Normal pubertal MRI scan of brain to puberty 3 yr of age
Modified from Grumbach MM, Styne DM: Puberty. In Wilson JD, Foster DW, editors: Williams Textbook of Endocrinology, ed 9, Philadelphia, 1997, WB Saunders. CNS, Central nervous system; CT, computed tomography; DHEAS, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate; GnRH, gonadotropin-releasing hormone; hCG, human chorionic gonadotropin; LH, luteinizing hormone; MRI, magnetic resonance imaging. *In supersensitive assays.
mutation in the G protein intracellular signaling system (specifically Gsa, which leads to unregulated constitutive activation of adenylate cyclase, and of cAMP in the absence of trophic hormone stimulation), in the affected cells in ovary, bone, and skin; other endocrine organs may also autonomously hyper-function for the same reason. Hyperthyroidism, hyperadrenalism, or acromegaly may occur. Adrenal carcinomas usually secrete adrenal androgens, such as DHEA; adrenal adenomas may virilize a child as a result of the production of androgen or may feminize a child as a result of the production of estrogen.
Boys may have precocious gonadarche on the basis of a rare entity called familial GnRH-independent sexual precocity with premature Leydig cell maturation. This condition, with germ cell maturation caused by an X-limited dominant defect, produces constitutive activation of the LH receptor that leads to continuous production and secretion of testosterone without requiring LH or hCG.
The hCG-secreting tumors stimulate LH receptors and increase testosterone secretion. These tumors may be found in various places, including the pineal gland (dysgerminomas) or the liver (hepatoblastoma).
Ovarian cysts may occur once or may be recurrent. High serum estrogen values may mimic ovarian tumors. Congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) is a cause of virilization in girls (see Chapter 178).
Evaluation of Sexual PrecocityThe first step in evaluating sexual precocity is to determinewhich characteristics of normal puberty are apparent (seeChapter 67) and whether estrogen effects, androgen effects,or both are present (see Table 174-4). In girls the estrogeneffect manifests as breast development, uterine increase,and, eventually, menarche. Both boys and girls manifest the androgen effect as adult body odor, pubic and axillary hair,and facial skin oiliness and acne. In boys it is also importantto note whether the testes are enlarged more than 2.5 cm inlength (4 mL volume), which implies gonadarche. If the testes are not enlarged but virilization is progressing, the source of the androgens may be the adrenal glands or exogenous sources.
Laboratory evaluation includes determination of sex steroid levels (testosterone, estradiol, DHEAS [dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate], or androstenedione) and baseline gonadotropinconcentrations. The inherent nature of gonadotropin secretionis characterized by low secretory rates throughout childhoodand pulsatile secretion in adolescents and adults. If baselinegonadotropin values are elevated into the normal pubertalrange, central precocious puberty is likely. If baseline gonadotropins are low, however, no immediate conclusion may bedrawn as to GnRH-dependent versus GnRH-independentprecocious puberty. This distinction often requires the assessment of gonadotropin responsiveness to GnRH stimulation. Aprepubertal GnRH response is FSH predominant, whereas a pubertal response is more LH predominant. Thyroid hormonedetermination also is useful because severe primary hypothyroidism can cause incomplete precocious puberty. If there is a suggestion of a CNS anomaly or a tumor (CNS, hepatic, adrenal, ovarian, or testicular), MRI of the appropriate location isindicated. The diagnosis of central precocious puberty mandates that an MRI of the CNS be performed.
Long-acting, superactive analogs of GnRH (leuprolide depot, histrelin depot) are the treatment of choice for central precocious puberty. They suppress gonadotropin secretion by downregulating GnRH receptors in the pituitary gonadotropes (Table 174-5), causing gonadal secretion to revert to the prepubertal state. Boys with GnRH-independent premature Leydig cell and germ cell maturation do not respond to GnRH analogs but require treatment with an inhibitor of testosterone synthesis (e.g., ketoconazole), an antiandrogen (e.g., spironolactone), or an aromatase inhibitor (e.g., testolactone or letrozole). Patients with precocious puberty from a hormone-secreting tumor require surgical removal, if possible. The precocious puberty of the McCune-Albright syndrome is GnRH independent and unresponsive to therapy with GnRH
Autonomous ovarian cysts Medroxyprogesterone acetate Inhibition of ovarian steroidogenesis; regression of cyst (inhibition of FSH release)
McCune-Albright syndrome Medroxyprogesterone acetate* Inhibition of ovarian steroidogenesis; regression of cyst (inhibition of FSH release)
Boys Testolactone* Inhibition of P-450 aromatase; blocks estrogen synthesisModified from Grumbach MM, Kaplan SL: Recent advances in the diagnosis and management of sexual precocity, Acta Paediatr Jpn 30(Suppl):155, 1988. FSH, Follicle-stimulating hormone; GnRH, gonadotropin-releasing hormone. *If true precocious puberty develops, a GnRH agonist can be added.
analog. Therapy is provided with testolactone and antiandrogens or antiestrogen, such as tamoxifen.
Available @ StudentConsult.comPrecocious Puberty in the FemaleBenign premature thelarche is the isolated appearance of unilateral or bilateral breast tissue in girls, usually at ages 6 months to 3 years. There are no other signs of puberty and no evidence of excessive estrogen effect (vaginal bleeding, thickening of the vaginal secretions, increased height velocity, or bone age acceleration). Ingestion or dermal application of estrogen-containing compounds must be excluded. Laboratory investigations are not usually necessary, but a pelvic ultrasound study rarely may be indicated to exclude ovarian disease. Girls with this condition should be re-evaluated at intervals of 6 to 12 months to ensure that apparent premature thelarche is not the beginning of progression into precocious puberty. The prognosis is excellent; if no progression occurs, no treatment other than reassurance is necessary.
Available @ StudentConsult.comIn males breast tissue is termed gynecomastia, and it may occur to some degree in 45% to 75% of normal pubertal boys (see Chapter 67). Androgens normally are converted to estrogen by aromatization; in early puberty, only modest amounts of androgens are produced, and the estrogen effect can overwhelm the androgen effects at this stage. Later in pubertal development, the androgen production is so great that there is little effect from the estrogen produced by aromatization. Gynecomastia also can suggest the possibility of Klinefelter syndrome as puberty progresses. Prepubertal gynecomastia suggests an unusual source of estrogen either from exogenous sources (oral or dermal estrogen administration is possible from contamination of food or ointments) or from endogenous sources (from abnormal function of adrenal gland or ovary or from increased peripheral aromatization).
Available @ StudentConsult.comAmenorrhea Precocious Puberty in the Male Precocious Puberty in the Female
The isolated appearance of pubic hair before age 6 to 7years in girls or before age 9 years in boys is termed premature pubarche, usually resulting from adrenarche. It is relatively common. If the pubic hair is associated with anyother feature of virilization (clitoral or penile enlargement oradvanced bone age) or other signs (acne, rapid growth, orvoice change), a detailed investigation for a pathologic causeof virilization is indicated. Measurements of serum testosterone, 17-hydroxyprogesterone, and DHEAS are indicated toinvestigate the possibility of CAH. Ultrasound studies mayreveal a hyperplastic adrenal gland or a virilizing adrenalor ovarian tumor. Most patients with isolated pubic hair donot have progressive virilization and simply have prematureadrenarche (pubarche) resulting from premature activationof DHEA secretion from the adrenal gland. The skeletal maturation, as assessed by bone age, may be slightly advancedand the height slightly increased, but testosterone concentrations are normal. DHEA levels usually are high for prepubertal age but are consistent with Tanner (sexuality maturityrating) stages II and III.
Thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH), a tripeptide synthesized in the hypothalamus, stimulates the release of pituitarythyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH). Pituitary TSH is a glycoprotein that stimulates the synthesis and release of thyroidhormones by the thyroid gland. Thyroid function developsin three stages. At the end of the first trimester, the glanddescends from the floor of the primitive oral cavity to itsdefinitive position in the anterior lower neck. The hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid axis becomes functional in the secondtrimester. Peripheral metabolism of thyroid hormones maturesin the third trimester.
Thyroxine (T4), triiodothyronine (T3), and TSH do not cross the placenta in significant amounts. Concentrations in fetal serum reflect primarily fetal secretion and metabolism. Maternal thyroid antibodies, iodides (including radioactive iodides), and medications given to mothers to treat hyperthyroidism (methimazole and propylthiouracil) cross the placenta and affect fetal thyroid function. An infant born prematurely or with intrauterine growth restriction may have an interruption of the normal maturational process and appear to have hypothyroidism by standard tests.
The thyroid gland concentrates iodine and binds it to tyrosine molecules to produce either monoiodotyrosine or diiodotyrosine, with subsequent coupling of two tyrosines, T4 or T3. The major fraction of circulating T3 (approximately two thirds) is derived from peripheral deiodination of T4 to T3, but some is produced by the thyroid gland itself. The conversion of T4 to T3 requires the removal of one iodine from the outer ring
Figure 175-1 Interrelationships of the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid axis. Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) from the pituitary gland stimulates the secretion of thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3) from the thyroid gland. These act at the pituitary gland level to control secretion of TSH by a negative feedback mechanism. In addition, T4 is metabolized to the potent T3 within the pituitary gland by a deiodinase. Secretion of TSH is stimulated by thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) from the hypothalamus and inhibited by somatostatin. Thyroid hormone acts at the hypothalamus to stimulate secretion of somatostatin (somatostatin acts as a negative signal to the pituitary secretion of TSH). CRH, Corticotropinreleasing hormone; OB-R, leptin receptor. (From Melmed S, Polonsky K, Kronenberg H, Larsen R, editors: Williams Textbook of Endocrinology, ed 10, Philadelphia, 2003, Saunders, p 101.) of tyrosine; removing an iodine from the inner ring results in Serum TSH increases just after birth but soon decreases reverse T3, which has little biologic effect. Preferential conver-to lower values considered normal for later life. T4 secretion sion of T4 to reverse T3 rather than T3 occurs in utero and in increases after birth as a result of the peak in TSH and because all forms of severe illness, including respiratory distress syn-of maturation of thyroid metabolism. It is important to refer to drome, fevers, anorexia, cachexia, and starvation. Conversion age-adjusted normative data to interpret thyroid function tests from T4 to T3 increases immediately after birth and through-properly, whether relative to making diagnoses of hyperthyout life. T4 and T3 are noncovalently bound to a specific serum roidism or hypothyroidism or when adjusting therapy. Free T4 carrier protein, thyroxine-binding globulin, and, to a lesser is the test of choice because it eliminates the effects of variation extent, albumin. Only small (<0.02%) fractions of T4 and T3 in protein binding, which can be substantial. are not bound; free T4 (as it is converted to free T3) and free Table 175-1 summarizes laboratory test results in various T3 are biologically active. Free T3 exerts metabolic effects and types of thyroid abnormalities. In usual circumstances, plasma negative feedback on TSH release (Fig. 175-1). concentrations of TSH above the normal range indicate ↓, decreased; ↑, increased; N, Normal; T4, thyroxine; TBG, thyroxine-binding globulin; TRH, thyrotropin-releasing hormone; TSH, thyroid-stimulating hormone. *TSH may be slightly elevated.
primary hypothyroidism, and concentrations below the normal range most often indicate the presence of hyperthyroidism. Thyroid scans with 99m-pertechnetate or 123-I-iodine are occasionally indicated in the evaluation of pediatric thyroid disease. They can be useful in identifying thyroid agenesis or ectopic thyroid tissue.
Available @ StudentConsult.comShort Stature Pubertal Delay Precocious Puberty in the Male Precocious Puberty in the Female
Hypothyroidism is diagnosed by a decreased serum free T4 and may be the result of diseases of the thyroid gland (primary hypothyroidism), abnormalities of the pituitary gland (secondary), or abnormalities of the hypothalamus (tertiary). Hypothyroidism is congenital or acquired and may be associated with a goiter (Table 175-2).
Congenital hypothyroidism occurs in approximately 1 in2000 to 4000 live births and is caused by dysgenesis (agenesis, aplasia, ectopia) or, less often, dyshormonogenesis (e.g.,enzyme defects). Thyroid tissue usually is not palpable inthese sporadic nongoitrous conditions. Dyshormonogenesis, disorders of intrathyroid metabolism, or goitrous congenital hypothyroidism occurs in about 1 in 30,000 livebirths. A goiter reflects an inborn error of metabolism inthe pathway of iodide incorporation or thyroid hormonebiosynthesis or reflects the transplacental passage of antithyroid drugs given to the mother. The free T4 concentration is low, and the TSH level is elevated. Routine neonatal screening programs to measure cord blood or, more often,heel-stick TSH values occur in every state in the UnitedStates. An immediate confirmatory serum sample shouldbe obtained from any infant having a positive result on ascreening test. A low free T4 and high TSH confirm the finding.
Newborn No goiter Thyroid gland dysgenesis or ectopic location Exposure to iodides TSH deficiency TRH deficiency +/− Goiter Inborn defect in hormone synthesis* or effect Maternal goitrogen ingestion, including propylthiouracil, methimazole, iodides Severe iodide deficiency (endemic)
Goiter Hashimoto thyroiditis: chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis Inborn defect in hormone synthesis or effect Goitrogenic drugs infiltrative (sarcoid, lymphoma)
TRH, Thyrotropin-releasing hormone; TSH, thyroid-stimulating hormone.*Impaired iodide transport, defective thyroglobulin iodination, defective iodotyrosine dehalogenase, or defective thyroglobulin or its coupling to iodotyrosine.
Isolated secondary or tertiary hypothyroidism occurs in 1 in 100,000 live births; the free T4 is normal to low. When tertiary or secondary hypothyroidism is detected, assessment of other pituitary hormones and investigation of pituitary-hypothalamic anatomy via magnetic resonance imaging are indicated. Although not a hypothyroid condition, congenital thyroxine-binding globulin deficiency occurs in about 1 in 10,000 live births and is associated with low serum total T4 concentration, normal TSH, and normal serum free T4. This is a euthyroid condition and does not require treatment with thyroid hormone because it is merely a binding protein abnormality. It is commonly X-linked dominant.
Clinical manifestations of congenital hypothyroidism in the immediate newborn period usually are subtle but become more evident weeks or months after birth. By then it is too late to ensure that there is not a detriment to the infant’s cognitive development. Newborn screening is crucial to make an early diagnosis and initiate thyroid replacement therapy by younger than 1 month of age. Findings at various stages after birth include hypothermia, acrocyanosis, respiratory distress, large fontanels, abdominal distention, lethargy and poor feeding, prolonged jaundice, edema, umbilical hernia, mottled skin, constipation, large tongue, dry skin, and hoarse cry. Thyroid hormones are crucial for maturation and differentiation of tissues, such as bone and brain (most thyroid-dependent brain maturation occurs 2 to 3 years after birth) (Table 175-3).
When treatment (with levothyroxine) is initiated within 1 month or less after birth, the prognosis for normal intellectual development is excellent; screening programs usually offer therapy within 1 to 2 weeks of birth. If therapy is instituted after 6 months, when the signs of severe hypothyroidism are present, the likelihood of normal intellectual function is markedly decreased. Growth improves after thyroid replacement even in late diagnosed cases. The dose of levothyroxine changes with age; 10 to 15 μg/kg of levothyroxine is used for a newborn, but about 3 μg/kg is used later in childhood. In neonatal hypothyroidism, the goal is to bring the serum free T4 rapidly into the upper half of the range of normal. Suppression of TSH is not seen and not necessary in all cases because such suppression may lead to excessive doses of levothyroxine.
The etiology of acquired hypothyroidism is presented in Table 175-2. The clinical manifestations may be subtle. Hypothyroidism should be suspected in any child who has a decline in growth velocity, especially if not associated with weight loss (see Table 175-3). The most common cause of acquired hypothyroidism in older children in the United States is lymphocytic autoimmune thyroiditis (Hashimoto thyroiditis). In many areas of the world, iodine deficiency is the etiology of endemic goiter (endemic cretinism). The failure of the thyroid gland may be heralded by an increase of TSH before T4 levels decrease. In contrast to untreated congenital hypothyroidism, acquired hypothyroidism is not a cause of permanent developmental delay.
Hashimoto thyroiditis. Also known as autoimmune or lymphocytic thyroiditis, Hashimoto thyroiditis is a common cause of goiter and acquired thyroid disease in older children and adolescents. A family history of thyroid disease is present in 25% to 35% of patients. The etiology is an autoimmune process targeted against the thyroid gland with lymphocytic infiltration and lymphoid follicle and germinal center formation preceding fibrosis and atrophy.
Clinical manifestations include a firm, nontender euthyroid, hypothyroid, or, rarely, hyperthyroid (hashitoxicosis) diffuse goiter with a pebble-like surface. See Table 175-3 for signs and symptoms, which can be diverse. Onset typically occurs after 6 years of age with a peak incidence in adolescence with a female predominance. Associated autoimmune diseases include diabetes mellitus type 1 (DM1), adrenal insufficiency, and hypoparathyroidism. Autoimmune polyglandular syndrome type I consists of hypoparathyroidism, Addison disease, mucocutaneous candidiasis and, often, hypothyroidism. Autoimmune polyglandular syndrome type II consists of Addison disease, DM1, and frequently autoimmune
Dull facies: thick lips, large tongue, depressed nasal bridge,Sinus bradycardia/heart block Cold extremities Cold intolerance Pallor ECG changes: low-voltage QRS complex
Muscle weakness Hypotonia: constipation, potbelly Umbilical hernia Myxedema coma (carbon dioxide narcosis, hypothermia) Pseudohypertrophy of muscles Myalgia Physical and mental lethargy Developmental delay Delayed relaxation of reflexes Paresthesias (nerve entrapment: carpal tunnel syndrome) Cerebellar ataxia
Delayed bone age Epiphyseal dysgenesis, increased upper-to-lower segment ratioMyxedema Serous effusions (pleural, pericardial, ascites) Hoarse voice (cry) Weight gain Menstrual irregularity Arthralgia Elevated CK Macrocytosis (anemia) Hypercholesterolemia Hyperprolactinemia Precocious puberty in severe cases
CK, Creatine kinase; ECG, electrocardiographic.hypothyroidism. Trisomy 21 and Turner syndrome are predisposed to the development of autoimmune thyroiditis.
The diagnosis may be confirmed by serum antithyroid peroxidase (previously antimicrosomal) and antithyroglobulin antibodies. Neither biopsy nor thyroid scan is indicated in Hashimoto thyroiditis, although the thyroid scan with reduced uptake may differentiate hashitoxicosis from Graves disease.
Treatment with thyroid hormone sufficient to normalize TSH and free T4 is indicated for hypothyroidism in Hashimoto thyroiditis. Patients without manifestation of hypothyroidism require thyroid function testing (serum TSH and free T4)every 6 to 12 months to detect the later development of hypothyroidism. Goiter with a normal TSH usually is not an indication for treatment.
Available @ StudentConsult.comMost children with hyperthyroidism have Graves disease, the autonomous functioning of the thyroid caused by autoantibodies [thyroid stimulating immunoglobulins (TSIs)] stimulating the thyroid. The resulting excessive synthesis, release, and peripheral metabolism of thyroid hormones produce the clinical features. Hashimoto thyroiditis and thyrotoxicosis are on a continuum of autoimmune diseases; there is overlap in their immunologic findings. Antithyroid peroxidase and antithyroglobulin antibodies may be present in thyrotoxicosis, although the values are usually lower than in Hashimoto thyroiditis. Exceptionally high titers of antibodies may indicate the thyrotoxic phase of Hashimoto thyroiditis with the subsequent evolution toward permanent hypothyroidism. In Graves disease, serum free T4 or T3 or both levels are elevated, whereas TSH is suppressed. Rare causes of hyperthyroidism include McCune-Albright syndrome, thyroid nodule (often an adenoma), TSH hypersecretion, subacute thyroiditis, and iodine or thyroid hormone ingestion.
Clinical manifestations. Graves disease presents as hyperthyroidism (Table 175-4) and is about five times more common in girls than in boys, with a peak incidence in adolescence. Personality changes, mood instability, and poor school performance are common initial problems. Tremor, anxiety, inability to concentrate, and weight loss may be insidious and confused with a psychological disorder until thyroid function tests reveal the elevated serum free T4 level. In rare cases, serum free T4 may be near-normal whereas serum T3 is selectively elevated (T3 toxicosis). A firm homogeneous goiter is usually present. Many patients complain of neck fullness. Thyroid gland enlargement is best visualized with the neck only slightly extended and with the examiner lateral to the patient. Palpation of the thyroid gland is best performed with the examiner’s hands around the neck from the back. The patient swallows so that the examiner can feel and examine the size, consistency, nodularity and motion of the gland. The examiner should watch the patient swallow to note any discernible enlargement or asymmetry of the thyroid lobes. Auscultation may reveal a bruit over the gland that needs to be differentiated from a carotid bruit.
Treatment. Three treatment choices are available: pharmacologic, radioactive iodine, and surgical.
Drugs. Medical therapy to block thyroid hormone synthesis consists of methimazole (0.4 to 0.6 mg/kg/day once or
Shiny, smooth skinCardiac failure—dyspnea Miscellaneous Proptosis, stare, exophthalmos, lid lag, ophthalmopathyInability to concentrateAcute thyroid storm (hyperpyrexia, tachycardia, coma, high-output heart failure, shock) *Unusual except in subacute thyroiditis with hyperthyroid phase.
twice daily) or propylthiouracil (5 to 7 mg/kg/day dividedevery 8 hours). Both medications are equally effective, however, propylthiouracil is no longer a first-line therapy secondary to concerns of severe liver injury and acute liver failure.A beta blocker, such as propranolol or atenolol, is startedif symptoms are severe to control cardiac manifestations and is tapered as the methimazole takes effect. Antithyroidmedication is usually continued for 1 to 2 years because theremission rate is approximately 25% per year. In patientscomplying with the treatment regimen, the 2-year courseof treatment can be repeated. Medication should suppressthyroid function to normal, without the need to add thyroidhormone replacement to normalize serum free T4. Complications of methimazole are muscle pain, rash, granulocytopenia, and jaundice. The granulocytopenia is an idiosyncraticcomplication of rapid onset, which is observed only in theearly months after institution of antithyroid medication and requires monitoring the complete blood count. If asuppressed white blood cell count is observed, antithyroidtherapy must be discontinued. This potentially lethal rarecomplication affects 3 in 10,000 users a year. After resolution,the other of the two antithyroid medications can be startedbecause there is usually less than a 50% chance of a similarreaction from the other medication. Iodine administration, which may suppress thyroid function but becomes ineffectivein a few weeks, is sometimes used as a preparation for surgery but never for long-term therapy.
Radioiodine. Radioiodine (131I) is slower in exerting therapeutic effects, may require repeated dosing, and is likely to cause permanent hypothyroidism. Hypothyroidism is the desired outcome because it is easier and safer to treat than continued hyperthyroidism. Although studies reveal no longterm consequences, concern remains about possible sequelae in children. This method of treatment is entering the mainstream for children and adolescents. Radioiodine given to a pregnant teenager renders the fetus hypothyroid and is contraindicated.
Surgery. Surgical treatment consists of partial or completethyroidectomy. Risks associated with thyroidectomy includethe use of anesthesia and the possibility that the thyroidremoval will be excessive causing hypothyroidism or that itwill be inadequate resulting in persistent hyperthyroidism.In addition, keloid formation, recurrent laryngeal nervepalsy, and hypoparathyroidism (transient postoperative orpermanent) may occur. Thyroid storm caused by the releaseof large amounts of preformed hormone is a serious but rarecomplication. Even with optimal immediate postoperativeresults, patients may become hypothyroid within 10 years.
Thyroid storm (see Table 175-4) is a rare medical emergency consisting of tachycardia, disorientation, elevated blood pressure, and hyperthermia. Treatment includes reducing the hyperthermia with a cooling blanket and administering a beta blocker to control the tachycardia, hypertension, and autonomic hyperfunction symptoms. Iodine may be given to block thyroid hormone release after an antithyroid medication is started. Hydrocortisone may be indicated for relative adrenal insufficiency, and therapy for heart failure includes diuretics and digoxin.
This disorder results from transplacental passage of maternal TSIs and may be masked for several days until the short-lived effects of transplacental maternal antithyroid medication wear off (assuming the mother was receiving such medication), at which time the effects of TSIs are observed. Irritability, tachycardia (often with signs of cardiac failure simulating cardiomyopathy), polycythemia, craniosynostosis, bone age advancement, poor feeding, and failure to thrive are the clinical hallmarks. This condition may be anticipated if the mother is known to be thyrotoxic in pregnancy. Cure of hyperthyroidism before pregnancy (surgery or radioiodine treatment) limits or curtails T4 production but not the underlying immune disturbance producing TSIs; thus the infant still may be affected, at least transiently.
Treatment for a severely affected neonate includes methimazole and, as needed, a beta blocker to help decrease symptoms. Because the half-life of the immunoglobulin is several weeks, spontaneous resolution of neonatal thyrotoxicosis resulting from transplacental passage of TSIs usually occurs by 2 to 3 months of age. Observation without treatment is indicated in patients who are minimally affected.
About 2% of children develop solitary thyroid nodules, most of which are benign. Evaluation of a nodule includes thyroid function tests, neck ultrasound, and, if needed, fine-needle aspiration (FNA). Ultrasound guidance may be needed for aspiration of small nodules or those not palpable. Nodules found to be benign on FNA may be monitored through clinical exam and ultrasound.
Carcinoma of the thyroid is rare in children (1% of all pediatric cancers in the 5to 9-year-old age group and up to 7% of cancers in the 15to 19-year-old age group). Papillary and follicular carcinomas represent 90% of childhood thyroid cancers. A history of therapeutic head or neck irradiation or radiation exposure from nuclear accidents predisposes a child to thyroid cancer. Carcinoma usually presents as a firm to hard, painless nonfunctional solitary nodule and may spread to adjacent lymph nodes. Rapid growth, hoarseness (recurrent laryngeal nerve involvement), and lung metastasis may be present. If the nodule is solid on ultrasound, is cold on radioiodine scanning, and feels hard, the likelihood of a carcinoma is high. Excisional biopsy usually is performed, but FNA biopsy also may be diagnostic.
Treatment includes total thyroidectomy, selective regional node dissection, and radioablation with 131I for residual or recurrent disease. The prognosis is usually good if the disease is diagnosed early.
Medullary carcinoma of the thyroid may be asymptomatic except for a mass. Diagnosis is based on the presenceof elevated calcitonin levels, either in the basal state or after pentagastrin stimulation (difficult to obtain) and histologicexamination. This tumor most often occurs with multipleendocrine neoplasia 2a or 2b (MEN), possibly in a familial pattern. In some families, the presence of mutations ofthe RET proto-oncogene is predictive of the development of medullary carcinoma of the thyroid. The location of the mutation can help determine when removal of the thyroid iswarranted. Genetic screening of other members of the family is indicated after a proband is recognized. Prophylacticthyroidectomy is indicated for the family members with thesame allele.
Calcium and phosphate are regulated mainly by diet andthree hormones: parathyroid hormone (PTH), vitamin D,and calcitonin. PTH is secreted in response to a decrease inserum ionized calcium level. PTH attaches to its membrane receptor then acts via adenylate cyclase to mobilize calcium from bone into the serum and to enhance fractional reabsorption of calcium by the kidney while inducing phosphateexcretion; all increase the serum calcium concentration and decrease serum phosphate. Lack of PTH effect is heraldedby low serum calcium in the presence of elevated phosphatefor age. PTH stimulates vitamin D secretion by increasing renal 1α-hydroxylase activity and acts indirectly to elevateserum calcium concentration by stimulating the productionof 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D from 25-hydroxyvitamin D.Calcitonin increases the deposition of calcium into bone; innormal states the effect is subtle, but calcitonin may be usedtemporarily to suppress extremely elevated serum calcium values.
1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D enhances calcium absorption from the gastrointestinal tract, increasing serum calcium levels and bone mineralization. Vitamin D is derived from exposure of the skin to ultraviolet rays (usually via the sun) or from oral ingestion. It is modified first to 25-hydroxyvitamin D in the liver and then 1α-hydroxylated to the metabolically active form (1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D) in the kidney. The serum concentration of 25-hydroxyvitamin D is a better reflection of vitamin D sufficiency than the measurement of 1,25-hydroxyvitamin D (see Chapter 31).
Available @ StudentConsult.comThe clinical manifestations of hypocalcemia result fromincreased neuromuscular irritability and include musclecramps, carpopedal spasm (tetany), weakness, paresthesia, laryngospasm, and seizure-like activity. Tetany can bedetected by the Chvostek sign (facial spasms produced bylightly tapping over the facial nerve just in front of the ear) orby the Trousseau sign (carpal spasms exhibited when arterialblood flow to the hand is occluded for 3 to 5 minutes with a blood pressure cuff inflated to 15 mm Hg above systolic blood pressure). Total serum calcium concentration is usually measured, although a determination of serum ionizedcalcium, the biologically active form, is preferable. Albuminis the major reservoir of protein-bound calcium. Disordersthat alter plasma pH or serum albumin concentration mustbe considered when circulating calcium concentrations arebeing evaluated. The fraction of ionized calcium is inverselyrelated to plasma pH; alkalosis can precipitate hypocalcemiaby lowering ionized calcium without changing total serumcalcium. Alkalosis may result from hyperpnea caused by anxiety or from hyperventilation related to physical exertion.Hypoproteinemia may lead to a false suggestion of hypocalcemia because the serum total calcium level is low even though the ionized Ca2+ remains normal. It is best to measure serum ionized calcium if hypocalcemia or hypercalcemia issuspected.
Primary hypoparathyroidism causes hypocalcemia but does not cause rickets. The etiology of primary hypoparathyroidism includes the following: 1.
Congenital malformation (e.g., DiGeorge syndrome or other complex syndromes) resulting from developmental abnormalities of the third and fourth branchial arches (see Chapters 143 and 144) 2.
Surgical procedures, such as thyroidectomy or parathyroidectomy, in which parathyroid tissue is removed either deliberately or as a complication of surgery for another goal 3.
Autoimmunity, which may destroy the parathyroid glandPseudohypoparathyroidism (all with hypocalcemia andhyperphosphatemia) may occur in one of four forms as follows: 1.
Type Ia: an abnormality of the Gsa protein linking the PTH receptor to adenylate cyclase; biologically active PTH is secreted in great quantities but does not stimulate its receptor 2.
Type Ib: normal phenotype, normal Gsa with abnormalities in the production of adenylate cyclase 3.
Type Ic: abnormal phenotype, normal production of adenylate cyclase, but a distal defect eliminates the effects of PTH 4.
Type II: normal phenotype, normal production of adenylatecyclase, with a postreceptor defect, close to type Ib
Pseudohypoparathyroidism is an autosomal dominant condition that may present at birth or later. Pseudohypoparathyroidism is associated with Albright hereditary osteodystrophywhose clinical manifestations include short stature, stockybody habitus, round facies, short fourth and fifth metacarpals,calcification of the basal ganglia, subcutaneous calcification,and developmental delay. Albright hereditary osteodystrophymay be inherited separately so that a patient may have a normal appearance with hypocalcemia or may have the Albrighthereditary osteodystrophy phenotype with normal serum calcium, phosphate, PTH, and response to PTH.
Transient neonatal hypocalcemia. During the first 3 days after birth, serum calcium concentrations normally decline in response to withdrawal of the maternal calcium supply via the placenta. Sluggish PTH response in a neonate may result in a transient hypocalcemia. Hypocalcemia caused by attenuated PTH release is found in infants of mothers with hyperparathyroidism and hypercalcemia; the latter suppresses fetal PTH release, causing transient hypoparathyroidism in the neonatal period.
25(OH)D, 25-Hydroxyvitamin D; Nl, normal; sl, slight; ↑, high; ↓, low.
Normal serum magnesium concentrations are required for normal parathyroid gland function and action. Hypomagnesemia may cause a secondary hypoparathyroidism, which responds poorly to therapies other than magnesium replacement.
The etiology of hypocalcemia usually can be discerned by combining features of the clinical presentation with determinations of serum ionized calcium, phosphate, alkaline phosphatase, PTH (preferably at a time when the calcium is low), magnesium, and albumin. If the PTH concentration is not appropriately elevated in relation to the low serum calcium, hypoparathyroidism (transient, primary, or caused by hypomagnesemia) is present. Vitamin D stores can be estimated by measuring serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D. Renal function is assessed by a serum creatinine measurement or determination of creatinine clearance (Table 176-1).
Treatment of severe tetany or seizures resulting from hypocalcemia consists of intravenous calcium gluconate (1 to 2 mL/kg of a 10% solution) given slowly over 10 minutes while cardiac status is monitored by electrocardiogram for bradycardia, which can be fatal. Long-term treatment of hypoparathyroidism involves administering vitamin D, preferably as 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D and calcium. Therapy is adjusted to keep the serum calcium in the lower half of the normal range to avoid episodes of hypercalcemia that might produce nephrocalcinosis and to avoid pancreatitis.
Available @ StudentConsult.comRickets is defined as decreased or defective bone mineralization in growing children; osteomalacia is the same condition in adults. The proportion of osteoid (the organic portion of bone) is excessive. As a result, the bone becomes soft and the metaphyses of the long bones widen. In older infants, poor linear growth, bowing of the legs on weight bearing (which can be painful), thickening at the wrists and knees, and prominence of the costochondral junctions (rachitic rosary) of the rib cage occur. At this stage, x-ray findings are diagnostic.
In nutritional vitamin D deficiency, calcium is not absorbed adequately from the intestine (see Chapter 31). Poorvitamin D intake or avoidance of sunlight in infants exclusively breastfed may contribute to the development of rickets.Fat malabsorption resulting from hepatobiliary disease (biliary atresia, neonatal hepatitis) or other causes (cystic fibrosis) also may produce vitamin D deficiency because vitaminD is a fat-soluble vitamin. Defects in vitamin D metabolism by the kidney (renal failure, autosomal recessive deficiency of1α-hydroxylation, vitamin D–dependent rickets) or liver (defect in 25-hydroxylation) also can cause rickets.
In familial hypophosphatemic rickets, the major defect in mineral metabolism is failure of the kidney to adequately reabsorb filtered phosphate so that serum phosphate decreases and urinary phosphate is high. The diagnosis of this X-linked disease usually is made within the first few years of life and is typically more severe in males.
The etiology of rickets usually can be determined by an assessment of the mineral and vitamin D status (25-hydroxyvitamin D <8 ng/mL suggests nutritional vitamin D deficiency) (see Table 176-1). Further testing of mineral balance or measurement of other vitamin D metabolites may be required.
Several chemical forms of vitamin D can be used for treatment of the different rachitic conditions, but their potencies vary widely. Required dosages depend on the condition being treated (see Chapter 31). Rickets may also be treated with 1,25-hydroxyvitamin D and supplemental calcium. In hypophosphatemic rickets, phosphate supplementation (not calcium) must accompany vitamin D therapy, which is given to suppress secondary hyperparathyroidism. Adequate therapy restores normal skeletal growth and produces resolution of the radiographic signs of rickets. Nutritional rickets is treated with vitamin D given as one large dose, in weekly larger doses, or multiple smaller replacement doses. Surgery may be required to straighten legs in untreated patients with long-standing disease.
The successive sequence of chromosomal sex, gonadal sex, and phenotypic sex leads to gender identity of the individual. Genes usually determine the morphology of internal organs and of gonads (gonadal sex); this directs the appearance of the external genitalia that form the secondary sex characteristics (phenotypic sex); self-perception of the individual (gender identity) and the perception of the individual by others (gender role) follow last. In most children, these features blend and conform, but, in some patients, one or more features may not follow this sequence, leading to the disorder of sexual development (DSD) (see Chapter 23).
The internal and external genitalia are formed between 6and 13 weeks of gestation. Fetal gonad and external genitalia are bipotential and have the capacity to support development of a normal male or female phenotype (Fig. 177-1). In the presence of a gene called SRY for sex-determining regionon the Y chromosome, the primitive fetal gonad differentiatesinto a testis (Fig. 177-2). The Leydig cells of the testis secretetestosterone, which has direct effects (stimulating development of the wolffian ducts) but also is locally converted todihydrotestosterone (DHT) by the 5α-reductase enzyme.DHT causes enlargement, rugation, and fusion of the labioscrotal folds into a scrotum; fusion of the ventral surface of the penis to enclose a penile urethra; and enlargement of the 16.8 mm 49.0 mm 45.0 mm
Figure 177-1 Differentiation of male andLabia minora female external genitalia as proceeding from a Scrotum common embryonic anlage. Testosterone acts at 9 to 13 weeks of gestation to virilize the bipotential anlage. In the absence of testosterone action, the female phenotype develops. (From Grumbach MM, Conte FA: Disorders of sexual differentiation. In Wilson JD, Foster DW, editors: Textbook of Endocrinology, ed 8, Philadelphia, 1990, WB Saunders, p 873; adapted from
Anus Spaulding MH, Contrib Embryol Instit 13:69−88, 1921.) phallus with ultimate development of male external genitalia.Testicular production and secretion of müllerian-inhibitorysubstance by Sertoli cells cause the regression and disappearance of the müllerian ducts and their derivatives, such as the fallopian tubes and uterus. In the presence of testosterone, the wolffian ducts develop into the vas deferens, seminiferoustubules, and prostate.
The female phenotype develops unless specific male influences alter development. In the absence of SRY, an ovary spontaneously develops from the bipotential, primitive gonad. Inthe absence of fetal testicular secretion of müllerian-inhibitorysubstance, a normal uterus, fallopian tubes, and posterior third of the vagina develop out of the müllerian ducts, and the wolffian ducts degenerate. In the total absence of androgens, the external genitalia appear female.
The terms intersex, hermaphroditism, and pseudohermaphroditism are not useful. DSDs are categorized under three main subgroups according to karyotype (XX, XY, and sex chromosome for mosaic karyotypes).
Figure 177-2 A diagrammatic scheme of male sex determination and differentiation. SRY is the master gene controlling male sex differentiation, but there are many other genes and their products that control male and female sexual differentiation. DHT, Dihydrotestosterone; SRY, the gene for the testis-determining factor. (From Wilson JD, Foster DW, editors: Williams Textbook of Endocrinology, ed 8, Philadelphia, 1992, WB Saunders, p 918.) 46,XX Disorders of Sexual Development
Available @ StudentConsult.comHypertension Amenorrhea Precocious Puberty in the Male Precocious Puberty in the Female Ambiguous Genitalia Alkalemia
Masculinization of the external genitalia of genotypic females (except for isolated enlargement of the clitoris, which can occur from later androgen exposure) is always caused by the presence of excessive androgens during the critical period of development (8 to 13 weeks of gestation) (Table 177-1). The degree of virilization can range from mild clitoral enlargement to the appearance of a male phallus with a penile urethra and fused scrotum with raphe. Congenital virilizing adrenal hyperplasia is the most common cause of female ambiguous genitalia; it is most commonly the result of an enzyme deficiency that impairs synthesis of glucocorticoids but does not affect androgen production. The impaired cortisol secretion leads to adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) hypersecretion, which stimulates hyperplasia of the adrenal cortex and excessive adrenal production of androgens (see Chapter 178).
46,XY Disorders of Sexual DevelopmentAvailable @ StudentConsult.comUnderdevelopment of the male external genitalia occurs because of a relative deficiency of testosterone production or action (Table 177-2). The penis is small, with various degrees of hypospadias (penile or perineal) and associated chordee or ventral binding of the phallus; unilateral, but more often bilateral, cryptorchidism may be present. The testes should be sought carefully in the inguinal canal or labioscrotal folds by palpation or ultrasound. Rarely a palpable gonad in the inguinal canal or labioscrotal fold represents a herniated ovary or an ovotestis. The latter patients have ovarian and testicular tissue and usually ambiguous external genitalia. Production of testosterone by a gonad implies that testicular tissue is present and that at least some cells carry the SRY gene.
Testosterone production can be reduced by specific deficiencies of the enzymes needed for androgen biosynthesis or by dysplasia of the gonads. In the latter, if müllerian-inhibiting substance production also is reduced, a rudimentary uterus and fallopian tubes are present.
The complete form of androgen resistance or androgen insensitivity syndrome is the most dramatic example of resistance to hormone action by defects in the androgen receptor. Affected patients have a 46,XY karyotype, normally formed testes (usually located in the inguinal canal or labia majora), and female external genitalia with a short vagina and no internal müllerian structures. At the time of puberty, testosterone concentrations increase to normal or above normal male range. Because a portion of the testosterone is normally converted to estradiol in peripheral tissues and the estrogen cannot be opposed by the androgen, breast development ensues at the normal age of puberty without growth of pubic, facial, or axillary hair or the occurrence of menstruation.
5α-Reductase deficiency presents at birth with predominantly female phenotype or with ambiguous genitalia, including perineoscrotal hypospadias. The defect is in 5α reduction of testosterone to its metabolite DHT. At puberty spontaneous secondary male sexual development occurs. Gender identity and gender role are significant psychological issues with these patients if diagnosed at puberty.
Isolated P-450c17 deficiency with Adrenal function normal 17,20-desmolase deficiency possible mutations in DAX1,
SOX9, GATA4, WT1Complete androgen insensitivity Female external genitalia, absence of müllerian structures
Partial androgen insensitivity As previous with ambiguous external genitalia 5α-Reductase deficiency Autosomal recessive, virilization at puberty
StAR, Steroid acute regulatory protein.Sex Chromosome and Ovotesticular Disorders of Sexual DevelopmentAvailable @ StudentConsult.comTurner syndrome and Klinefelter syndrome and their mosaic variants are classified as sex chromosome DSD. Mixed gonadal dysgenesis (45,X; 46,XY) often may present with genital ambiguity, asymmetric external genitalia, and inguinal hernias. There may be virilization on one side and none on the other. Similar findings may be seen with ovotesticular DSD, another classification of DSD.
Available @ StudentConsult.comAmbiguous genitalia in a newborn must be attended to with as little delay as possible and with informed sensitivity to the psychosocial context as required. The laboratory evaluations required might take days or weeks to complete, delaying a sex assignment and naming of the infant, such that choice often precedes diagnosis. Beyond infancy and childhood, and to offset any gender uncertainty in the patient and confusion in the parents, health care providers must help families come to an appropriate closure and gender choice.
On physical examination, it is essential to note where the urethral opening lies and whether there is fusion of the anterior portion of the labioscrotal folds. Endogenous excessive production of androgen (as in congenital adrenal hyperplasia [CAH]) in a female fetus between 9 and 13 weeks of gestation leads to ambiguous genitalia. If the vaginal opening is normal, and there is no fusion, but the clitoris is enlarged without ventral fusion of the ventral urethra, the patient had later exposure to androgens. A patient with a fully formed scrotum, even if small, and a normally formed but small penis, termed a microphallus, must have had normal exposure to and action of androgen during 9 to 13 weeks of gestation.
The major goal is a rapid identification of any life-threatening disorders (salt loss and shock caused by the salt-losing form of CAH). Although the classic approach to sex assignment has been based on the feasibility of genital reconstruction and potential fertility rather than on karyotypeor gonadal histology, the effects of prenatal androgen mustbe considered. Yet it may be inappropriate to raise a femaleinfant who is severely virilized from virilizing CAH as amale; nonetheless in most reported cases, sex assignment andadult gender role remain female, and fertility can be retainedbecause the internal organs are female. A 46,XY male withambiguous genitalia and an extremely small phallus that doesnot increase in size with androgen therapy (partial androgen resistance) traditionally has been raised as a female becausesurgical construction of a fully functional phallus is difficult. Some of these patients frequently revert spontaneouslyto a male gender identity. Present management of ambiguous genitalia involves extensive open discussion with parentsinvolving the biology of the infant and the likely prognosis.Treatment should be individualized and managed by a team,including an experienced pediatric endocrinologist, urologistor gynecologist, psychologist, geneticist, and the primary carephysician.
The first step toward diagnosis is to determine whether thedisorder represents virilization of a genetic female (androgen excess) or underdevelopment of a genetic male (androgen deficiency) (see Fig. 177-2). Inguinal gonads that areevident on palpation usually are testes and indicate thatincomplete development of a male phenotype has occurred;this pattern is not consistent, and ovaries and ovotestes mayfeel similar. Similarly absence of female internal genitalia(detected by ultrasound) implies that müllerian-inhibitingsubstance was present and secreted by fetal testes. Karyotype determination is only one of many factors in decidingthe sexual identity for purposes of rearing; the SRY gene may be found on chromosomes other than the Y chromosome, and, conversely, a Y chromosome may lack an SRY gene (it may have been translocated to an X chromosome,leading to the development of a 46,XX maleXX sex reversal, testicular DSD).
Statistically most virilized females have CAH; 90% of these females have 21-hydroxylase deficiency. The diagnosis is established by measuring the plasma concentration of 17-hydroxyprogesterone and androstenedione (see Chapter 178), which typically is hundreds of times above the normal range. Other enzymatic defects also may be diagnosed by quantifying circulating levels of the adrenal steroid precursor proximal to the defective enzyme block.
Establishing an accurate diagnosis is more difficult in underdeveloped males. When certain types of adrenal hyperplasia coexist with defects in androgen production of the testes, excessive ACTH secretion elevates substantially levels of specific adrenal steroid precursors, allowing a diagnosis. If the defect is restricted to testosterone biosynthesis, the measurement of testosterone and its precursors in the basal state and after stimulation by hCG may be required. Patients with normal levels of testosterone either have persistent androgen resistance or have had an interruption of normal morphogenesis of the genitalia. Abnormalities of the sex chromosomes may be associated with dysgenetic gonads, which may be associated with persistence of müllerian structures.
Treatment consists of replacing deficient hormones (cortisolin adrenal hyperplasia or testosterone in a child with androgen biosynthetic defects who will be raised as male), surgical restoration to make the individual look more appropriatefor the gender of rearing, and psychological support of thewhole family. Gonads and internal organs discordant forthe gender of rearing are often removed. Dysgenetic gonadswith Y-genetic material always should be removed because gonadoblastomas or dysgerminomas may develop in theorgan. Reconstructive surgery is usually performed by 2 yearsof age so that genital structure reflects gender of rearing. Thisrecommendation for reconstructive surgery is controversial;some advocate that surgery not be performed in infancy orearly childhood so that the child or young adolescent can be involved in the decision. A decision for gender of rearing isrecommended from birth; however the knowledge that theperson with a DSD may change gender later on is shared withparents from the outset.
The adrenal gland consists of an outer cortex, which is responsible for the synthesis of steroids, and an inner medulla derived from neuroectodermal tissue, which synthesizes catecholamines. The adrenal cortex consists of three zones: an outer glomerulosa (end product is the mineralocorticoid aldosterone, which regulates sodium and potassium balance), a middle fasciculata (end product is cortisol), and an inner reticularis (synthesizes sex steroids). The general scheme of these synthetic steps is shown in Figure 178-1.
Hypothalamic corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH)stimulates the release of pituitary adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH, corticotropin), derived by selective processingfrom pro-opiomelanocortin. ACTH governs the synthesisand release of cortisol and adrenal androgens. Primary adrenal insufficiency or cortisol deficiency from any defect in theadrenal gland results in an oversecretion of ACTH; cortisoldeficiency also may occur from ACTH (secondary) or CRH (tertiary) deficiency, causing low serum ACTH concentrations and low cortisol. Endogenous (or exogenous) glucocorticoids feed back to inhibit ACTH and CRH secretion. The renin-angiotensin system and potassium regulate aldosterone secretion; ACTH has little effect on aldosterone production except in excess, when it may increase aldosteronesecretion.
Steroids that circulate in the free form (not bound to cortisol-binding protein [transcortin]) may cross the placentafrom mother to fetus, but ACTH does not. The placenta plays an important role in steroid biosynthesis in utero, acting as a metabolic mediator between mother and child.Because the fetal CRH-ACTH-adrenal axis is operationalin utero, deficiencies in cortisol synthesis lead to excessiveACTH secretion. If a virilizing adrenal enzyme defect ispresent, such as 21-hydroxylase deficiency, the fetal adrenalgland secretes excess androgens, virilizing the fetus. Normalvariation of serum cortisol and ACTH levels leads to values that are high early in the morning and lower at night. Thisnormal diurnal variation may take months to years to fullydevelop.
Figure 178-1 Diagram of the steroid biosynthetic pathways and the biosynthetic defects that result in congenital hyperplasia. The defect in patients with lipoid adrenal hyperplasia is not (except for one reported case) in the CYP11A1 (cholesterol side-chain cleavage) enzyme, but in StAR, the steroidogenic acute regulatory protein. This protein is involved in the transport of cholesterol from the outer mitochondrial membrane to the inner membrane, where the CYP11A1 enzyme is located. CYP11B1 (11β-hydroxylase) catalyzes 11β-hydroxylation of deoxycorticosterone and 11β-deoxycortisol primarily. CYP17 (17α-hydroxylase/17,20-lyase) catalyzes 17α-hydroxylation and splitting of the 17,20 bond, but for the latter it has preferential D5-17,20-lyase activity. CYP19 (aromatase) catalyzes the conversion of corticosterone to aldosterone. 3β-HSD I and 3β-HSD II, 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase/Δ4,5-isomerase types I and II; CYP21 (P450c21), 21-hydroxylase; 17β-HSD 3, 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 3. In the human, deletion of a homozygous null mutation of CYP11A (P450ccc) is probably lethal in utero, but a heterogeneous mutation caused congenital lipoid adrenal hyperplasia. (From Melmed S, Polonsky K, Kronenberg H, et al, editors: Williams Textbook of Endocrinology, ed 10, Philadelphia, 2003, Saunders, p 917.)
ADRENAL INSUFFICIENCY The dominant clinical features of congenital adrenal min eralocorticoid deficiency are hyponatremia and hyperkaDecision-Making Algorithms lemia, usually developing by 5 to 7 days after birth but not
Available @ StudentConsult.com immediately after birth. Vomiting, dehydration, and acidosis soon follow, as does hypotensive shock from glucocorticoid deficiency. Death may occur if the disorder remains undiag- nosed and untreated. In females the ambiguity of the external genitalia is an obvious clue that salt-losing congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) or simple virilizing CAH must be ruled The clinical manifestations of inadequate adrenal function out. Because these forms cannot be distinguished clinically, all result from inadequate secretion or action of glucocorti-presentations of ambiguous genitalia should involve evaluacoids, mineralocorticoids, or both (Table 178-1). In the case tion for mineralocorticoid deficiency. In males the most com-of enzyme defects that affect the gonad and the adrenal gland, mon form of CAH, 21-hydroxylase deficiency, does not cause overproduction or underproduction of potent androgens can abnormal genitalia. There may be hyperpigmentation of the occur, depending on the site of enzyme blockade (see Fig. 178-scrotal skin, but this is a subtle sign. In all infants, the diagnosis 1). Progressive prenatal virilization of the external genitalia may of adrenal insufficiency may be overlooked or confused with occur in females; incomplete virilization may occur in males. pyloric stenosis. In pyloric stenosis, in contrast to salt-losing Ambiguity of the external genitalia is a common manifestation CAH, vomiting of stomach contents results in hypochloremia, of disordered fetal adrenal enzyme function. Precise diagnosis serum potassium is normal or low, and alkalosis is present. is essential for the prescription of appropriate therapy, long-This distinction may be lifesaving in preventing unnecessary term outlook, and genetic counseling. In patients with enzyme investigations or inappropriate therapy. defects, an elevation in the precursor steroid is present proxi-Not all forms of adrenal hyperplasia present at birth; the mal to the enzyme block and is metabolized through remain-spectrum of disorder ranges from severe (classic) to mild ing normal alternate enzyme pathways, whereas a deficiency of (late-onset) or nonclassic. Milder forms may manifest in steroids is present subsequent to the block. childhood, adolescence, or even young adulthood (not as
Cortisol deficiency Hypoglycemia Inability to withstand stress Vasomotor collapse Hyperpigmentation (in primary adrenal insufficiency with excess of adrenocorticotropic hormone) Apneic spells Muscle weakness, fatigue
Aldosterone deficiency Hyponatremia Hyperkalemia Vomiting Urinary sodium wasting Salt craving Acidosis Failure to thrive Volume depletion Hypotension Dehydration Shock Diarrhea Muscle weakness glucocorticoid or mineralocorticoid deficiencies, but as androgen excess).
In patients with congenital adrenal hypoplasia or adrenal hemorrhage, the secretion of all adrenal steroids is low. In contrast CAH leads to a diagnostic steroid pattern in blood and urine (see Fig. 178-1). Deficiency of 21-hydroxylase is the most common form (95%) and serves as a paradigm for these disorders.
Available @ StudentConsult.comHypertension Precocious Puberty in the Male Precocious Puberty in the Female Ambiguous Genitalia Hirsutism
The incidence of classic 21-hydroxylase deficiency is about 1 in 15,000 among various white populations. Nonclassic CAH may occur with an incidence of 1 in 50 in certain populations. The gene for 21-hydroxylase lies on the short arm of chromosome 6; the genotype may be determined in a proband, permitting prenatal diagnosis in a subsequent pregnancy.
Deficient 21-hydroxylase activity (P-450c21 deficiency) impairs the conversion of 17-hydroxyprogesterone (17-OHP) to 11-deoxycortisol and in the salt-losing form, of progesterone to deoxycorticosterone, a mineralocorticoid proximal in the pathway to the production of aldosterone. The decreased production of cortisol causes hypersecretion of ACTH, which stimulates the synthesis of steroids immediately proximal to the block and shunting of these to overproduction of androgens. The primary clinical manifestation is the virilization of the external genitalia of the affected female fetus; the development of the uterus, ovaries, and fallopian tubes remains unaffected by the androgens. The degree of virilization varies, ranging from mild clitoromegaly to complete fusion of labioscrotal folds, with severe clitoromegaly simulating a phallus (see Chapter 177). A male infant with this defect appears normal at birth, although penile enlargement may be apparent thereafter. The deficiency in aldosterone, found in about 75% of patients, causes salt wasting with shock and dehydration until the diagnosis is established and appropriate treatment is given.
The treatment of 21-hydroxylase deficiency requires hydro-cortisone and fludrocortisone in the case of the salt-losing form. Therapy must be adjusted throughout childhood at regular intervals. Overtreatment will cause growth stunting and weight gain (cushingoid features), whereas undertreatment will cause excessive height gain, skeletal advance, and early appearance puberty, ultimately jeopardizing adult height potential.
Late-onset CAH is typically noted years after birth. Affected subjects have milder manifestations without ambiguous genitalia, but they may have acne, hirsutism, and in girls irregular menstrual cycles or amenorrhea. Late-onset CAH in girls may be confused with polycystic ovarian syndrome.
Biochemical diagnostic studies show elevated levels of serum 17-OHP, the substrate for the defective 21-hydroxylase enzyme activity. In newborns with CAH, the values are elevated a hundredfold to a thousandfold. In late-onset CAH, an ACTH stimulation test is necessary to show an abnormally high response of 17-OHP. Serum cortisol and aldosterone levels (in salt losers) are low, renin levels are high, whereas the testosterone level is elevated because it is derived from 17-OHP.
The goals of treatment are to achieve normal linear growth and bone age advancement. Long-term therapy consists of providing glucocorticoids at a dose of approximately 10 to 15 mg/m2/24 hours in three divided doses of oral hydrocortisone or its equivalent. Mineralocorticoid therapy for salt losers consists of fludrocortisone at a dose of 0.1 to 0.2 mg/24 hours, often with sodium chloride supplementation in infancy and early childhood. Surgical correction of ambiguous external genitalia may be considered. The adequacy of glucocorticoid replacement therapy is monitored by determining serum concentrations of adrenal precursors, including androstenedione and 17-OHP for 21-hydroxylase deficiency. In addition, the assessment of linear growth and skeletal age, by bone age determination, is required as a reflection of appropriate therapy. To avoid adrenal insufficiency, threefold higher doses of glucocorticoids are given during stressful states such as febrile illnesses and surgery. Intramuscular hydrocortisone is used in severe emergencies or with illnesses involving emesis. Mineralocorticoid therapy is monitored with serum sodium, potassium, and plasma renin activity levels. Prenatal treatment with dexamethasone to suppress fetal ACTH-induced
Hemorrhage Moderate to severe No No D D D D D D D D
P-450c21 deficiency Absent to severe Yes No D D I I D D I I
Unresponsiveness to † 17-KS, 17-Ketosteroid; 17-OHCS, 17-hydroxycorticosteroid; ACTH, adrenocorticotropic hormone; D, decrease; HSD, hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase; I, increase; Nl, normal; StAR, steroid acute regulatory protein. *Usually manifested after 5 days of age.
†High normal Na+ and low normal to low K+.androgen production can reduce or eliminate the ambiguity of the external genitalia in affected female fetuses, if begun at approximately 7 weeks of gestation; this remains controversial.
Other enzyme defects are rare in contrast to 21-hydroxylase deficiency. In 11-hydroxylase deficiency, the next most common cause of CAH, virilization occurs with salt retention and hypokalemia, as a result of the buildup of deoxycorticosterone (see Fig. 178-1), a potent mineralocorticoid. Hypertension develops as a result of excessive mineralocorticoid production. Table 178-2 summarizes the clinical and biochemical features of adrenal insufficiency in infancy.
Available @ StudentConsult.comAddison disease is a rare acquired disorder of childhood, usually associated with autoimmune destruction of the adrenal cortex. It is a form of primary adrenal insufficiency with absence of glucocorticoid and mineralocorticoid.
Clinical manifestations are hyperpigmentation, salt craving, postural hypotension, fasting hypoglycemia, anorexia, weakness, and episodes of shock during severe illness. Baseline and ACTH-stimulated cortisol values are subnormal, confirming the diagnosis; hyponatremia, hyperkalemia, and elevated plasma renin activity indicate mineralocorticoid deficiency. Addison disease may occur within the context of autoimmune polyglandular syndromes (APS I and APS II). Other rare causes of adrenal insufficiency include adrenal leukodystrophy and conditions that affect the hypothalamus-pituitary whether acquired, such as in craniopharyngioma, or iatrogenic, such as in irradiation for treatment of malignancy.
Replacement treatment with 10 to 15 mg/m2/24 hours of hydrocortisone is indicated, with supplementation during stress at three times the maintenance dosage or the use of intramuscular hydrocortisone. The dose is titrated to allow a normal growth rate. Mineralocorticoid replacement with fludrocortisone is monitored by plasma renin activity and serum sodium and potassium determinations.
Available @ StudentConsult.comClassic clinical manifestations of Cushing syndrome in children include progressive central or generalized obesity, marked failure of longitudinal growth, hirsutism, weakness, a nuchal fat pad, acne, striae, hypertension, and often hyper-pigmentation when ACTH is elevated. The most frequent cause is exogenous administration in the context of numerous conditions requiring long-term pharmacologic doses of glucocorticoids. Endogenous causes include adrenal adenoma, carcinoma, nodular adrenal hyperplasia, an ACTH-secreting pituitary microadenoma resulting in bilateral adrenal hyperplasia (Cushing disease), or an extremely rare ACTH-secreting tumor. Diagnostic tests include 24-hour urinary cortisol excretion, low-dose dexamethasone suppression test, high-dose dexamethasone suppression test (helps distinguish Cushing syndrome from Cushing disease), and late evening salivary cortisol sampling.
Treatment of Cushing syndrome is directed to the etiology and may include excision of autonomous adrenal, pituitary, or ectopic ACTH-secreting tumors. Rarely adrenalectomy is needed to control the symptoms. Parenteral glucocorticoid therapy is necessary during and immediately after surgical treatment to avoid acute adrenal insufficiency.
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Jocelyn Huang Schiller and Renée A. Shellhaas 24A neurologic evaluation, including history, physical examination, and judicious use of ancillary studies, allows the localization and diagnosis of nervous system pathology. The process andinterpretation of the neurologic examination varies with age; thenewborn is unique with many transient and primitive reflex patterns, whereas the examination of adolescents and adults is similar. Careful evaluation of social, cognitive, language, fine motorand gross motor skills, and their age appropriateness is key.
Gathering neurologic history follows the traditional medical model with two additions: the pace of the process and the localization of the problem. The symptom evolution provides clues to the underlying process as symptoms may evolve in a progressive, static, or episodic fashion. Progressive symptoms may evolve suddenly (seizures, stroke); acutely over minutes or hours (epidural hemorrhage); subacutely over days or weeks (brain tumor); or slowly over years (hereditary neuropathies). Static neurologic abnormalities are observed early in life and do not change in character over time (cerebral palsy). Static lesions are often caused by congenital brain abnormalities or prenatal/perinatal brain injury. Intermittent attacks of recurrent, stereotyped episodes suggest epilepsy or migraine syndromes, among others. Episodic disorders are characterized by periods of symptoms, followed by partial or complete recovery (demyelinating, autoimmune, vascular diseases).
Observation of the child’s appearance, movement, and behavior begins at the start of the encounter. For example, the child may display an unusual posture, abnormal gait, or lack of awareness of the environment.
Because the brain and skin have the same embryonic origin (ectoderm), abnormalities of hair, skin, teeth, and nails areassociated with congenital brain disorders (neurocutaneousdisorders) such as neurofibromatosis (NF type 1) in which café au lait macules (flat, light brown macules) are characteristic.
Adenoma sebaceum, fibrovascular lesions that look like acne on the nose and malar regions, nail fibromas, ash-leaf spots(hypopigmented macules), and Shagreen patches (flesh-coloredsoft plaques with prominent follicular openings) are commonlyseen in older children and adults with tuberous sclerosis.
The head circumference is measured in its largest occipitofrontal circumference and plotted against standard growth curves (Chapter 5). Microcephaly and macrocephaly represent an occipitofrontal circumference 2 standard deviations (SDs) below or above the mean, respectively. Measurements plotted over time may show an accelerating pattern (hydrocephalus) or decelerating pattern (brain injury, degenerative neurologic disorder). The anterior fontanelle is slightly depressed and pulsatile when a calm infant is placed upright. A tense or bulging fontanelle may indicate increased intracranial pressure (ICP) but may also be seen in a crying or febrile infant. Premature closure of one or more sutures (craniosynostosis) results in an unusual shape of the head. Abnormal shape, location, and condition of the face, eyes, nares, philtrum, lips, or ears are found in many genetic syndromes.
A careful ocular examination is essential and should include a search for epicanthal folds, coloboma, conjunctival telangiectasias, and cataracts. Direct ophthalmoscopy assesses the optic disks and macula for abnormalities such as papilledema or a cherry-red spot. A complete examination of the retina involves dilating the pupil and use of indirect ophthalmoscopy, typically requiring ophthalmologic consultation.
Examination of the hands and feet may reveal abnormal creases or digits (Chapters 50, 201). The neck and spine should be examined for obvious (myelomeningocele) or subtle (cutaneous dimples, sinus tracts, hair tufts, subcutaneous lipomas) midline defects. Nervous system abnormalities may result in kyphosis or scoliosis (Chapter 202).
Because of the developmental immaturity of infants, the neonatal neurologic examination primarily assesses the function of the basal ganglia, brainstem, and more caudal structures. The plasticity of the developing nervous system means that examination results should be used cautiously in predicting developmental outcomes.
A healthy newborn infant should have periods of quiet, sustained wakefulness interspersed with active and quiet sleep.
Grasp Placing finger in infant’s palm results in flexing of infant’s fingers Birth 6 mo
Rooting Tactile stimulus about infant’s mouth results in the mouth pursuing the Birth 4–6 mo stimulus
Trunk incurvation Stroking the skin along the edge of vertebrae produces curvature of the Birth 4 mo (Gallant) spine with concavity on the side of the stroke
Placing When dorsum of foot is brought into contact with the edge of a surface, Birth 4–6 mo infant places foot on the surface
Asymmetrical tonic With infant supine, turning of the head results in ipsilateral extension of the Birth 3 mo neck arm and leg with flexion of opposite extremities in a “fencing” posture
Parachute Infant is suspended face down by the chest. When infant is moved toward 8–10 mo Never a table, the arms extend as if to protect self
Babinski Stroking lateral aspect of sole from heel up results in dorsiflexion of the Birth 12–18 mo great toe and fanning of the remaining toes
Irritability, lethargy, or more severely depressed consciousness are nonspecific signs of abnormal brain function.
Examination of the primitive reflexes provides assessment of the functional integrity of the brainstem and basal ganglia (Table 179-1). Many of these stereotyped motor responses are present at birth. They are symmetrical and disappear at 4 to 6 months of age, indicating the normal maturation of descending inhibitory cerebral influences. The grasp and rootingreflexes are inhibited by maturation of frontal lobes but may reappear later in life with acquired frontal lobe lesions. Asymmetry or persistence of the primitive reflexes may indicate focal brain or peripheral nerve lesions.
Posture is the position that a calm infant naturally assumes when placed supine. An infant at 28 weeks of gestation shows an extended posture. By 32 weeks, there is a slight trend toward increase in tone and flexion of the lower extremities. At 34 weeks, the lower extremities are flexed; the upper extremities are extended. The term infant flexes lower and upper extremities. Recoil, the readiness with which an arm or leg springs back to its original position after passive stretching and release, is essentially absent in very premature infants but is brisk at term. Because of the asymmetric tonic neck reflex, it is essential to maintain the infant’s head in a neutral position (not turned to the side) during assessment of posture and tone.
Spontaneous movements of premature infants are slow and writhing; those of term infants are more rapid.
The purpose of the neurologic examination is to localize or identify the region within the neuraxis from which the symptoms arise. The mental status examination assesses the cerebral cortex. The cranial nerve examination evaluates the integrity of the brainstem. The motor examination evaluates upper and lower motor neuron function. The sensory examination assesses the peripheral sensory receptorsand their central reflections. Deep tendon reflexes assess upper and lower motor connections. Gait assessment evaluates the motor system in a dynamic state for better functional assessment.
Alertness is assessed in infants by observing spontaneousactivities, feeding behavior, and visual ability to fix and follow objects. Response to tactile, visual, and auditory stimuliis noted. If consciousness is altered, the response to painful stimuli is noted. Observation of toddlers at play allowsa nonthreatening assessment of developmentally appropriate skills. In addition to language function, older childrencan be tested for reading, writing, numerical skills, fundof knowledge, abstract reasoning, judgment, humor, and memory.
The simplest way to assess intellectual abilities is through language skills. Language function is receptive (understanding speech or gestures) and expressive (speech and use of gestures). Abnormalities of language resulting from cerebral hemisphere disorders are referred to as aphasias. Anterior, expressive, or Broca aphasia is characterized by sparse, non-fluent language. Posterior, receptive, or Wernicke aphasia is characterized by an inability to understand language, with speech that is fluent but nonsensical. Global aphasia refers to impaired expressive and receptive language.
The cranial nerve evaluation assesses brainstem integrity but depends on the stage of brain maturation and the ability to cooperate. A colorful toy may capture a young child’s attention and permit observation of coordination, movement, and cranial nerve function.
Smell can be assessed in verbal, cooperative children older than2 years of age. Aromatic substances (perfumes, vanilla) shouldbe used instead of volatile substances (ammonia), which irritate the nasal mucosa and stimulate the trigeminal nerve.
Full-term newborns in a quiet awake state follow human faces,lights in a dark room, or large, opticokinetic strips. Visual acuity has been estimated to be 20/200 in newborns and 20/20 in6-month-old infants. Standard visual charts displaying picturesinstead of letters can be used to assess visual acuity in toddlers.Peripheral vision is tested by surreptitiously bringing objectsinto the visual field from behind. A reduced pupillary reactionto light suggests anterior visual pathway lesions, including theretina, optic nerves, and chiasm. Unilateral optic nerve lesionsare identified by the swinging flashlight test. With an optic nerveabnormality, both pupils constrict when light is directed into thenormal eye. When light is swung over to the abnormal eye, bothpupils dilate inappropriately; this is called an afferent pupillary defect or Marcus Gunn pupil. Interruption of the sympatheticinnervation to the pupil produces Horner’s syndrome (ptosis,miosis, and unilateral facial anhidrosis). In this instance, anisocoria (unequal pupils) is more pronounced in a dark room,because the affected pupil is unable to dilate appropriately.Lesions of the posterior visual pathway, including the lateralgeniculate, optic radiations, and occipital cortex, have normalpupillary light reactions but are expressed by loss of visual fields.
Cranial Nerves III, IV, and VIThese three cranial nerves control eye movement and are most easily examined with the use of a colorful toy to capture the child’s attention. For infants too young to fix and follow, rotating the infant’s head assesses oculocephalic vestibular reflexes (doll’s eye maneuver). If the brainstem is intact, rotating a newborn or comatose patient’s head to the right causes the eyes to move to the left, and vice versa. In awake, older patients, voluntary eye movements mask the reflex.
Abnormalities of these cranial nerves may cause diplopia (double vision). With unilateral third cranial nerve (oculomotor nerve) palsy, the involved eye deviates down and out (infraducted, abducted), with associated ptosis and a dilated, mydriatic pupil. Injury to cranial nerve IV (trochlear nerve) causes weakness of downward eye movement with consequent vertical diplopia. Cranial nerve VI (abducens nerve) palsy results in the inability to move the eye outward. Because cranial nerve VI has a long intracranial route within the sub-arachnoid space, failure of abduction of one or both eyes is a frequent, but nonspecific, sign of increased ICP.
The muscles of mastication can be observed as an infant sucks and swallows. The corneal reflex can test cranial nerves V ophthalmic division and VII at any age. Facial sensation of light touch and pain can be determined with cotton gauze and pinprick. Facial sensation can be functionally assessed in an infant by gently brushing the cheek, which will produce the rooting reflex (turns head and neck with mouthing movement, as if seeking to nurse).
Facial muscles are assessed by observing the face during rest, crying, and blinking. At older, cooperative ages, children can be asked to smile, blow out their cheeks, blink forcibly, and furrow their foreheads. Weakness of all unilateral muscles of the face, including the forehead, eye, and mouth, indicates a lesion of the ipsilateral peripheral facial nerve (Bell palsy).Because the upper third of the face receives bilateral cortical innervation, if the weakness affects only the lower face and mouth, a contralateral lesion of upper motor neuron in the brain (tumor, stroke, abscess) must be considered.
Lesions of cranial nerve VIII cause deafness, tinnitus, and vertigo. Normally, alert neonates blink in response to a bell or other abrupt, loud sound. Four-month-old infants turn their head and eyes to localize a sound. Hearing can be tested in a verbal child by whispering a word in one ear while covering the opposite ear. If there are any concerns about hearing, formal audiologic assessment is indicated.
Lesions of the vestibular component of cranial nerve VIII produce symptoms of vertigo, nausea, vomiting, diaphoresis, and nystagmus. Nystagmus is an involuntary beating eye movement with a rapid phase in one direction and a slow phase in the opposite direction. By convention, the direction of the nystagmus is defined by the fast phase and may be horizontal, vertical, or rotatory.
The gag reflex is brisk at all ages except the very immature neonate. An absent gag reflex suggests a lower motor neuron lesion of the brainstem, cranial nerves IX or X, neuromuscular junction, or pharyngeal muscles. Weak, breathy, or nasal speech; weak sucking; drooling and inability to handle secretions; gagging and nasal regurgitation of food are additional symptoms of cranial nerve X dysfunction.
Observing the infant’s posture and spontaneous activity assesses the functions of the trapezius and sternocleidomastoid muscles. Head tilt and drooping of the shoulder suggest lesions involving cranial nerve XI. In later childhood, strength in these muscles can be tested directly and individually.
Atrophy and fasciculation of the tongue, usually indicating a lesion of the anterior horn cells (spinal muscular atrophy [SMA]), can be observed at any age and are assessed most reliably when the infant is asleep. The tongue deviates toward the weak side in unilateral lesions.
In infants, power is assessed by observation of spontaneous movements and movements against gravity. Arm and leg movements should be symmetrical, seen best when the infant is held supine with one hand supporting the buttocks and one supporting the shoulders. The limbs should easily lift up. Power is graded as follows: 5 Normal 4 Weak but able to provide resistance 3 Able to move against gravity but not against resistance 2 Unable to move against gravity
Strength in toddlers is assessed by observing functional abilities, such as walking, stooping to pick up an object, and standing up from the floor. An older child should be able to easily reach high above his or her head, wheelbarrow walk, run, hop, go up and down stairs, and arise from the ground. Gower sign (child arises from lying on the floor by using his arms to climb up his legs and body) is a sign of significant proximal weakness. Subtle asymmetry can be detected when the child extends arms out in front with the palms upward and eyes closed. The hand on the weaker side cups and begins to pronate slowly (pronator drift). Cooperative children can undergo individual muscle strength testing. Muscle fasciculations indicate denervation from disease of the anterior horn cell or peripheral nerve.
Tone represents the dynamic resistance of muscles to passivestretch. Lower motor and cerebellar lesions produce decreasedtone (hypotonia). Upper motor lesions produce increased tone (spasticity). In extrapyramidal disease, an increase in resistanceis present throughout passive movement of a joint (rigidity).
Muscle bulk represents the volume of muscle tissue. In many lower motor neuron conditions (neuropathies, SMA), muscle bulk is diminished or atrophic. Excessive muscle bulk is seen in rare conditions, such as myotonia congenita; boys with Duchenne muscular dystrophy have pseudohypertrophy of their calves.
Ataxia is the lack of coordination of movement, which is typically due to a dysfunction of the cerebellar pathways. Observation and functional analysis help assess coordination in infants and toddlers. Watching the child sit or walk assesses truncal stability. Exchanging toys or objects with the child permits assessment of intention tremor and dysmetria (errors in judging distance), signs of cerebellar dysfunction. Cooperative children can do repetitive finger or foot tapping to test rapid alternating movements. Cerebellar and corticospinal tract dysfunction produce slowing and irregularity during tests of rapid alternating movements.
Watching a child creep, crawl, cruise, or walk is the best global assessment for the motor and coordination systems (Chapter 197). Subtle deficits and asymmetries in power, tone, or balance may be observed. The toddler gait is normally wide-based and unsteady. The base of the gait narrows with age. By 6 years, a child is able to walk on toes, walk on heels, and tandem walk (heel to toe). Cerebellar dysfunction results in a broad-based, unsteady gait accompanied by difficulty in executing turns. Corticospinal tract dysfunction produces a stiff, scissoring gait and toe walking. Arm swing is decreased, and the affected arm is flexed across the body. Extrapyramidal dysfunction produces a slow, stiff, shuffling gait with dystonic postures. A waddling gait occurs with hip weakness due to lower motor neuron or neuromuscular disorders. A steppage gait results from weakness of ankle dorsiflexors (common peroneal palsy).
Deep tendon reflexes can be elicited at any age and are reported on a 5-point scale: 2 Normal 3 Exaggerated reflex, with spread to contiguous areas quadriceps response) 4 Clonus (self-limited or sustained)These reflexes are decreased in lower motor neuron diseases and increased in upper motor neuron disease. Babinski response, or extensor plantar reflex, is an upward movement of the great toeand flaring of the toes on stimulation of the lateral foot and is asign of corticospinal tract dysfunction. This reflex is unreliablein neonates except when asymmetrical because the “normal”response at this age varies. By 12 to 18 months of age, the plantarresponse should consistently be flexor (toes flexing down).
The sensory examination of newborns and infants is limited to observing the behavioral response to light touch or gentle sterile pinprick. Stimulation of the limb should produce a facial grimace. A spinal reflex alone may produce withdrawal movement of the limb. In a cooperative child, the senses of pain, touch, temperature, vibration, and joint position can be tested individually. The cortical areas of sensation must be intact to identify an object placed in the hand (stereognosis) or a number written in the hand (graphesthesia) or to distinguish between two sharp objects applied simultaneously and closely on the skin (two-point discrimination).
Analysis of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is essential when central nervous system (CNS) infection is suspected and provides important clues to other diagnoses (Table 179-2). Differentiating hemorrhagic CSF caused by a traumatic lumbar puncture (LP) from a true subarachnoid hemorrhage may be difficult. In most cases of traumatic LP, the fluid clears significantly as the sequence of tubes is collected. If there is clinical evidence of increased ICP (papilledema, depression of consciousness, focal neurologic deficits), caution must be exercised before performing an LP to limit risk of cerebral herniation. A computed tomography (CT) scan should be performed and confirmed to be normal before the LP if increased ICP is suspected. If increased ICP is present, it must be treated before an LP is performed.
Brain or parameningeal abscess Parasitic infection Leak of dermoid contents
Increased CSF protein Infection Guillain-Barré syndrome Inflammatory disease (ADEM, multiple sclerosis) Leukodystrophy Venous thrombosis Hypertension Spinal block (Froin syndrome) Carcinomatous meningitis
Bloody CSF Subarachnoid hemorrhage Subdural hemorrhage Intraparenchymal hemorrhage Hemorrhagic meningoencephalitis (group B streptococci, HSV) CNS trauma Vascular malformation Coagulopathy Traumatic lumbar puncture
ADEM, Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis; CNS, central nervous system;HSV, herpes simplex virus. *In normal children, cells present should be lymphocytes.
The electroencephalogram (EEG) records electrical activity generated by the cerebral cortex. EEG rhythms mature throughout childhood. There are three key features present: background patterns, behavioral state modulation, and presence or absence of epileptiform patterns. The background varies with age, but there should be general symmetry and synchrony between the background of the two hemispheres without any localized area of higher amplitude or slower frequencies (focal slowing). Fixed slow wave foci (1 to 3 Hz) delta rhythms suggest an underlying structural abnormality (brain tumor, abscess, stroke). Bilateral disturbances of brain activity (increased ICP, metabolic encephalopathy) must be suspected when there is diffuse slow wave activity (delta frequency). Spikes, polyspikes, and spike-and-wave abnormalities, either in a localized region (focal) or distributed bihemispherically (generalized), indicate an underlying seizure tendency.
Electromyography and nerve conduction velocities (NCVs) assess for abnormalities of the neuromuscular apparatus, including anterior horn cells, peripheral nerves, neuromuscular junctions, and muscles. Normal muscle is electrically silent at rest. Spontaneous discharge of motor fibers (fibrillations)or groups of muscle fibers (fasciculation) indicates denervation, revealing dysfunction of anterior horn cells or peripheral nerves. Abnormal muscle responses to repetitive nerve stimulation are seen with neuromuscular junction disorders, such as myasthenia gravis and botulism. The amplitude and duration of the muscle compound action potentials are decreased in primary diseases of muscle. NCVs assess the action potential transmission along peripheral nerves. NCVs are slowed in demyelinating neuropathies (Guillain-Barré syndrome). The amplitude of the signal is diminished in axonal neuropathies.
Imaging the brain and spinal cord is accomplished using CT or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). CT is quick and accessible for emergency purposes. MRI provides fine detail and, with different sequences, permits detection of posterior fossa lesions, subtle cerebral abnormalities, vascular anomalies, low-grade tumors, and ischemic changes. For a child with a head injury or sudden headache, cranial CT is the study of choice because it can rapidly reveal intracranial hemorrhage or other large lesions. For a child with new-onset complex partial seizures, MRI is the study of choice, because an area of focal cortical dysplasia or other subtle lesions might not be apparent on CT. MRI also provides excellent views of the spinal cord. Cranial ultrasonography is a noninvasive bedside procedure used to visualize the brain and ventricles of infants and young children with open fontanelles.
Headache is a common symptom among children and adolescents. Headaches can be a primary problem (migraines, tension-type headaches) or secondary to another condition. Secondary headaches are most often associated with minor illnesses such as viral upper respiratory infections or sinusitis, but may be the first symptom of serious conditions (meningitis, brain tumors), so a systematic approach is necessary.
Available @ StudentConsult.comThe temporal pattern of the headache must be clarified. Each pattern (acute, recurrent-episodic, chronic-progressive, chronic-nonprogressive) has its own differential diagnosis (Table 180-1).
Tension-type headaches are the most common recurrent pattern of primary headaches in children and adolescents. They are generally mild and lack associated symptoms, so are not typically disruptive to patients’ lifestyle or activities. The pain is global and squeezing or pressing in character, but can last for hours or days. There is no associated nausea, vomiting, phonophobia, or photophobia. Headaches can be related to environmental stresses or symptomatic of underlying psychiatric illnesses, such as anxiety or depression.
Migraine headaches are another common type of recurrent headaches and frequently begin in childhood. Headaches are stereotyped attacks of frontal, bitemporal, or unilateral, moderate to severe, pounding or throbbing pain that are aggravated by activity and last 1 to 72 hours. Associated symptoms include nausea, vomiting, pallor, photophobia, phonophobia, and an intense desire to seek a quiet dark room for rest. Toddlers may be unable to verbalize the source of their discomfort and exhibit episodes of irritability, sleepiness, pallor, and vomiting. Migraines can be associated with auras that may be typical (visual, sensory, dysphagic) or atypical. Aura can precede or coincide with the headache and typically persists for 15 to 30 minutes. Visual auras consist of spots, flashes, or lines of light that flicker in one or both visual fields. Atypical auras may also consist of brief episodes of unilateral or perioral
Acute: Single episode of pain without a history of such episodes. The “first and worst” headache, which raises concerns for aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage in adults, is commonly due to febrile illness related to upper respiratory tract infection in children. Regardless, more ominous causes of acute headache (hemorrhage, meningitis, tumor) must be considered.
Acute recurrent: Pattern of attacks of pain separated by symptom-free intervals. Primary headache syndromes, such as migraine or tension-type headache, usually cause this pattern. Infrequently recurrent headaches can sometimes also be attributed to certain epilepsy syndromes (benign occipital epilepsy), substance abuse, or recurrent trauma.
Chronic progressive: Most ominous of the temporal patterns— implies a gradually increasing frequency and severity of headache. The pathologic correlate is increasing ICP. Causes of this pattern include pseudotumor cerebri, brain tumor, hydrocephalus, chronic meningitis, brain abscess, and subdural collections.
Chronic nonprogressive or chronic daily: Pattern of frequent or constant headache. Chronic daily headache generally is defined as >4-month history of >15 headaches/month, with headaches lasting >4 hours. Affected patients have normal neurologic examinations; psychological factors and anxiety about possible underlying organic causes are common.
numbness, unilateral weakness, or vertigo that persist for hours, then resolve completely. Complex, atypical symptoms (e.g., hemiparesis, monocular blindness, ophthalmoplegia, or confusion), accompanied by a headache, warrant careful diagnostic investigation, including a combination of neuroimaging, electroencephalogram, and appropriate metabolic studies.
Common causes of secondary headaches include head trauma, intercurrent viral illness, and sinusitis. Medication overuse headaches may complicate primary and secondary headaches. Serious causes of secondary headache include increasedintracranial pressure (ICP) caused by a mass (tumor, vascularmalformation) or intrinsic increase in pressure (pseudotumorcerebri). Increased ICP should be suspected if the headacheand associated vomiting are worse when lying down or on firstawakening; awaken the child from sleep; remit on arising; or areexacerbated by coughing, Valsalva maneuver, or bending over.Papilledema (Figure 180-1) or focal neurological deficits such ascranial nerve VI palsy may be seen on examination.
For most children, a thorough history and physical examination provide an accurate diagnosis and obviate the need for further testing. Neuroimaging is usually not necessary. Imaging is warranted, however, when the neurologic examination is abnormal, there are unusual neurologic features during the headache, or the child has signs or symptoms of increased ICP. Focal neurological deficits, alteration of consciousness, or a chronic progressive headache pattern may warrant imaging. In these cases, brain magnetic resonance imaging, with and without gadolinium contrast, is the study of choice, providing the highest sensitivity for detecting posterior fossa lesions and other, more subtle abnormalities. When the headache has a sudden, severe onset, emergent computed tomography (CT) can quickly evaluate for intracranial bleeding. If the CT is negative, a lumbar puncture should be performed, with measurement of opening pressure and evaluation for red and white blood cells, protein, glucose, or xanthochromia.
Figure 180-1 Papilledema with dilation of the vessels, obliteration of the optic cup, loss of disc margin, and hemorrhages around disc. (From Kliegman RE, Behrman, RM, Jenson HB, editors: Nelson Text-book of Pediatrics, ed 18, Philadelphia, 2007, Saunders, p 2107.)
Treating migraines requires an individually tailored regimen to address the frequency, severity, and disability produced by the headache. Intermittent symptomatic, or abortive, analgesics are the mainstay for treatment of infrequent, intense episodes of migraine. Symptomatic therapy requires early administration of an analgesic, rest, and sleep in a quiet, dark room. Acetaminophen or a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug such as ibuprofen or naproxen sodium is often effective. Hydration and antiemetics are also useful adjunctive therapies. If these first-line medications are insufficient, triptan agents may be considered. Triptans, available in injectable, nasal spray, oral disintegrating, and tablet form, are serotonin receptor agonists that may alleviate migraine symptoms promptly. Triptans are contraindicated for patients with focal neurological deficits associated with their migraines or signs consistent with basilar migraine (syncope) because of the risk of stroke.
Many children suffer with severe and frequent migraines that disrupt their daily lives. Children with more than one disabling headache per week may require daily preventive agents to reduce both attack frequency and severity. Preventative medications include tricyclic antidepressants (amitriptyline, nortriptyline), anticonvulsants (topiramate, valproic acid),antihistamines (cyproheptadine), beta-blockers (propranolol), and calcium channel blockers (flunarizine, verapamil).
Before initiating daily medications, lifestyle modifications must be put into place to regulate sleep, daily routines, and exercise and identify any precipitating or aggravating influences, eliminating as many as possible (caffeine, certain foods, stress, missed meals, dehydration). Other adjunctive treatment options include psychological support, counseling, stress management, and biofeedback.
A seizure is a transient occurrence of signs or symptoms resulting from abnormal excessive or synchronous neuronal activity in the brain.
Available @ StudentConsult.comMigraine and variants Paroxysmal torticollis of infancy Paroxysmal vertigo (benign)
Syncope Vasovagal syncope Breath-holding spells Cardiac syncope (arrhythmias, long QT syndrome) Apnea
Metabolic disorders Hypoglycemia Inborn errors of metabolismSleep disorders Narcolepsy, cataplexy Night terrorsThe differential diagnosis of paroxysmal disorders includes seizures and nonepileptic events (Table 181-1). Nonseizure paroxysmal events are often normal or benign phenomena, although some are clinically significant and consequential. A thorough medical history from the patient and primary witnesses is the most reliable tool for establishing the correct diagnosis.
Acute symptomatic seizures are secondary to an acute problem affecting brain excitability, such as electrolyte imbalance or infection (Table 181-2). Epilepsy is defined as recurrent, unprovoked seizures. Epileptic seizures are generally classified as focal (or partial), arising from one region of the cortex, or generalized seizures, which arise from both hemispheres, simultaneously (Table 181-3). Approximately 4% to 10% of children experience at least one seizure. The incidence of childhood epilepsy is 1% to 2%.
Simple focal (or partial) seizures arise from a specific anatomic focus and may or may not spread to surrounding brain regions. Clinical symptoms include motor (tonic, clonic, myoclonic), sensory, psychic, or autonomic abnormalities, but consciousness is preserved. The location and direction of spread of the seizure focus determine the clinical symptoms.
Complex partial seizures can have similar sensorimotor signsbut also have associated alteration of consciousness. Althoughthe child may not be completely unresponsive, subtle slowing or alteration of mental status (dyscognitive features) may occur.Along with altered responsiveness, patients may have staring
Malformation of cortical development Intrauterine infection Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy* Trauma Hemorrhage*
METABOLIC CONDITIONS Hypoglycemia* GENERALIZED SEIZURES Absence (staring, unresponsiveness) *Common.Simple partial (consciousness not impaired) Motor signs (can be tonic, clonic, myoclonic) Special sensory (visual, auditory, olfactory, gustatory, vertiginous, somatosensory) Autonomic
Complex partial/focal dyscognitive (consciousness impaired) Psychic (déjà vu, fear) Impaired consciousness at onset Development of impaired consciousness
Focal seizures with secondarily generalized convulsions Jacksonian seizuresTonic (sustained contraction) Clonic (rhythmic contractions) Tonic-clonic (tonic phase followed by clonic phase) Atonic (loss of tone) Myoclonic (rapid, shock-like contraction) Spasms (flexion or extension of trunk and extremities for <2
Underlying cause is identifiedExample: Focal epilepsy associated with a remote stroke IdiopathicPresumed to have a genetic etiologyExample: Benign childhood epilepsy with centrotemporal spikes, childhood absence epilepsy, juvenile myoclonic epilepsy Cryptogenic
Epilepsy of uncertain etiologyExample: Infantile spasms with no identifiable cause and automatisms during complex partial seizures. Automatisms are automatic semipurposeful movements of the mouth (lip smacking, chewing) or extremities (rubbing of fingers, shuffling of feet). Focal seizures that manifest only with psychic or autonomic symptoms, such as a feeling of déjà vu during a temporal lobe seizure, can be difficult to recognize. When focal seizures spread to involve the whole brain and produce a generalized seizure, they are said to have secondarily generalized. Such spread is classically described as progression from face to arm to leg (Jacksonian march). It is often difficult to distinguish primary generalized tonic and clonic seizures from secondarily generalized focal seizures on purely clinical grounds. This distinction is important, however, because evaluation and treatment for focal or generalized epilepsy syndromes are quite different.
Tonic, clonic, and biphasic tonic-clonic seizures may occur alone or in association with other seizure types. Typically the seizure begins abruptly but occasionally is preceded by a series of myoclonic jerks. During a tonic-clonic seizure, consciousness and control of posture are lost, followed by tonic stiffening and upward deviation of the eyes. Pooling of secretions,
Provoking Hyperventilation Variable, but often none maneuver Photic stimulationPostictal phase None (return Confusion, sleepiness immediately to baseline)Number of Many per day Infrequent (rarely more seizuresEEG features Interictal: normal Interictal: focal slowing or Ictal: 3-Hz sharp waves generalized spike-Ictal: Focal discharges wave (with or without secondary
Neurological Normal Normal, or focal deficits examinationNeuroimaging Normal* Normal, or focal abnormalities (mesial temporal sclerosis, focal cortical dysplasia, neoplasm, encephalomalacia) *In the proper clinical context, and with an appropriate EEG, a diagnosis of absence epilepsy should be made without neuroimaging.
†Oxcarbazepine and carbamazepine are relatively contraindicated for children with typical absence epilepsy, as their seizures can be exacerbated by these medications.
pupillary dilation, diaphoresis, and hypertension are common. Clonic jerks follow the tonic phase. In the post-ictal phase, the child might be hypotonic. Irritability and headache are common as the child awakens.
Seizures in which the primary clinical feature is staring can beeither absence (generalized) or complex partial seizures. Theclinical hallmark of absence seizures is a brief (less than 15 seconds) loss of environmental awareness accompanied by eye fluttering or simple automatisms, such as fumbling with the fingersand lip smacking. Absence seizures usually begin between 4and 6 years of age. Neurologic examination and brain imagingare normal. The characteristic electroencephalographic (EEG)patterns consist of generalized 3-Hz spike-and-wave activity. A clinical seizure can be provoked by hyperventilation or strobe light stimulation. Differentiating absence from complexpartial seizures can be difficult, but is essential for appropriateevaluation and treatment (Table 181-4).
Atypical Absence, Myoclonic, and Atonic SeizuresAtypical absence seizures manifest as episodes of impaired consciousness with automatisms, autonomic phenomena, and motor manifestations, such as eye opening, eye deviation, and body stiffening. They are associated with slower EEG discharges (2 Hz) and other seizure types. Myoclonus is a sudden jerk of all or part of the body; not all myoclonus is epileptic in nature. Nonepileptic myoclonus may be benign, as in sleep myoclonus, or indicate serious disease. Myoclonic epilepsy usually is associated with multiple seizure types. The underlying disorder producing myoclonic epilepsy may be static (juvenile myoclonic epilepsy) or progressive and associated with neurologic deterioration (neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis). Myoclonic absence refers to the body jerks that commonly accompany absence seizures and atypical absence seizures. Although atonic seizures are typically brief (lasting 1 to 2 seconds), they are quite disabling because of a sudden loss of postural tone, resulting in falls and injuries.
Seizures in the setting of fever may be caused by infections of the nervous system (meningitis, encephalitis, brainabscess), unrecognized epilepsy triggered by fever, or febrile seizures. The latter represents the most common cause ofseizures among children between 6 months and 6 years of age, occurring in about 4% of all children. By definition, a febrile seizure occurs in the presence of fever. Simple febrile seizures are generalized at onset, last less than 15 minutes, and occur only once in a 24-hour period in a neurologicallyand developmentally normal child. If there are focal features,the seizure lasts longer than 15 minutes or recurs within 24hours, or if the child has preexisting neurologic challenges,the seizure is referred to as a complex or atypical febrile seizure.
The prognosis of children with simple febrile convulsionsis excellent. Intellectual achievements are normal. Febrile seizures recur in 30% to 50% of children. The risk of subsequentepilepsy is not substantially greater than that for the generalpopulation (approximately 2%). Factors that increase the riskfor the development of epilepsy include abnormal neurologicexamination or development, family history of epilepsy, andcomplex febrile seizures. Because febrile seizures are briefand the outcome is benign, most children require no treatment. Rectal diazepam can be administered during a seizureto abort a prolonged event and is a reasonable option forchildren with a history of prolonged febrile seizures. Becauseof the potential for side effects, daily administration of anticonvulsant medication is not recommended. Administration of antipyretics during febrile illnesses does not preventfebrile seizures.
PNES (previously termed pseudoseizures) may be the manifestation of conversion disorders or malingering. Additionally, children with genuine epilepsy may, consciously or subconsciously, exhibit concurrent nonepileptic spells. Although the clinical differentiation can be difficult, PNES often differ from epileptic seizures in that the patient’s eyes are often closed (typically eyes are open during epileptic seizures) and the movement is tremulousness or thrashing rather than true tonic-clonic activity. Verbalization and pelvic thrusting are seen more commonly in PNES, urinary and fecal continence is usually preserved, and injury does not occur. If the tongue is bitten, more often the tip of the tongue is injured (as opposed to the sides of the tongue in epileptic seizures). PNES can often be initiated or terminated by suggestion. An EEG performed during PNES does not show epileptiform patterns. The diagnosis is critical, because appropriate mental health care, and not anticonvulsant medications, is the crux of treatment.
The epilepsy syndromes represent clinical entities in which age,pattern of clinical events, EEG features, natural history, andprognosis are distinctive (see Table 181-3).
Benign childhood epilepsy with centrotemporal spikes, also known as benign Rolandic epilepsy, is among the most common epilepsy syndromes and usually begins between ages 5 and 10 years. The seizures typically occur only during sleep or on awakening in more than half of patients. Affected children usually have focal motor seizures involving the face and arm (abnormal movement or sensation around the face and mouth, drooling, rhythmic guttural sound). Speech and swallowing may be impaired. Seizures sometimes secondarily generalize. The interictal EEG demonstrates independent bilateral centrotemporal sharp waves but is otherwise normal. With a classic history and EEG, and a normal neurological examination, the diagnosis can be made with confidence and neuroimaging is not required. Seizures usually respond promptly to anticonvulsant therapy. Intellectual outcome is normal, and the epilepsy resolves after puberty. Comorbid learning difficulties and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are common.
Childhood absence epilepsy is another common syndrome. Absence seizures typically begin in the early school years and usually resolve by late childhood or adolescence. If absence does not remit, 44% will go on to develop juvenile myoclonic epilepsy (see later discussion). Ethosuximide is the first-choice therapy. A subset of patients also has generalized tonic-clonic seizures. For these children, valproic acid is the first choice as it can prevent both absence and convulsive seizures. Comorbid learning disabilities and ADHD are common. There is no contraindication to treating these children’s ADHD with stimulant medication.
Juvenile myoclonic epilepsy (of Janz) is the most common generalized epilepsy among adolescents and young adults. Onset is typically in early adolescence with myoclonic jerks (exacerbated in the morning, often causing the patient to drop objects), generalized tonic-clonic seizures, and absence seizures. Seizures usually resolve promptly with anticonvulsant medication (classically valproic acid, but several medications have been shown to be efficacious), but therapy must be maintained for life.
Infantile spasms are brief contractions of the neck, trunk, and arm muscles, followed by a phase of sustained muscle contraction lasting less than 2 seconds. Spasms occur most frequentlywhen the child is awakening from or going to sleep. Each jerkis followed by a brief period of relaxation with repeated spasmsin clusters of variable duration. Many clusters occur each day.West syndrome is the triad of infantile spasms, developmentalregression, and a dramatically abnormal EEG pattern (hypsarrhythmia). Hypsarrhythmia consists of chaotic high-voltageslow waves, spikes, and polyspikes. The peak age at onset is 3to 8 months. When flexion of the thighs and crying are prominent, the syndrome may be mistaken for colic or gastroesophageal reflux. The underlying etiology of the spasms dictates theprognosis. More than 200 different etiologies have been identified, including tuberous sclerosis, malformations of cortical development (lissencephaly), genetic syndromes (trisomy 21),acquired brain injury (stroke, perinatal hypoxic-ischemicencephalopathy), and metabolic disorders (phenylketonuria).Infants for whom an etiology is determined are classified as having symptomatic infantile spasms and are at very high risk for long-term neurodevelopmental difficulties. The etiology is notdetermined for a small subset of children. These patients withcryptogenic spasms have a somewhat better long-term prognosis but remain at high risk for adverse outcomes. First-line treatment options for infantile spasms include adrenocorticotropichormone, high-dose oral corticosteroids, and vigabatrin. Forinfants with underlying tuberous sclerosis, vigabatrin is considered the treatment of choice. For other patients, treatmentdeterminations are made on a case-by-case basis.
Lennox-Gastaut syndrome is a severe epilepsy syndrome with variable age of onset. Most children present before age 5 years. Frequent, multiple seizure types, including atonic, focal, atypical absence, and generalized tonic, clonic, or tonic-clonic varieties, characterize the disorder. Many children have underlying brain injury or malformations. The seizures usually respond poorly to treatment, and most patients have significant intellectual disability.
Benign neonatal convulsions are an autosomal dominant genetic disorder linked to abnormal neuronal potassium channels. Otherwise well newborns present with focal seizures toward the end of the first week of life, leading to the colloquial term fifth-day fits. Response to treatment is generally excellent, and the long-term outcome is typically favorable.
Acquired epileptic aphasia (Landau-Kleffner syndrome)is characterized by the abrupt loss of previously acquired language in young children. The language disability is an acquired cortical auditory deficit (auditory agnosia). The EEG is highly epileptiform in sleep, the peak area of abnormality often being in the dominant perisylvian region (language areas). This diagnosis should be considered for young patients with clear autistic regression, as it is a potentially treatable entity.
Status epilepticus is a neurologic emergency and is defined as ongoing seizure activity or repetitive seizures without return of consciousness for greater than 30 minutes. Status epilepticus carries an approximately 14% risk of new neurologic deficits, most secondary to the underlying pathology. Similarly, the mortality rate of status epilepticus (4% to 5%) is related to the underlying etiology. Etiologies include new-onset epilepsy of any type, drug intoxication, drug withdrawal (especially missed anticonvulsant doses among children with preexisting epilepsy), hypoglycemia, electrolyte imbalance, acute head trauma, infection, ischemic stroke, intracranial hemorrhage, metabolic disorders, and hypoxia.
The first priority of treatment is to ensure an adequateairway, breathing, and circulation (Chapter 38). Vital signsshould be obtained and oxygen administered if needed.If respirations are inadequate, positive-pressure ventilation may be required. Intravenous (IV) access should beobtained. In patients with no history of seizures, laboratory evaluation should be undertaken (see below). Severalpharmacologic options exist for management of status epilepticus (Table 181-5). Initial management is usually witha benzodiazepine. Lorazepam, diazepam, and midazolamall are effective agents. Diazepam distributes rapidly to the brain but has a short duration of action. If IV access is not available, liquid preparations may be administered per rectum. If the seizure does not resolve after two dosesof benzodiazepine, a second-line agent must be administered. Either IV phenytoin or fosphenytoin is effective, butcardiac monitoring is required to evaluate for arrhythmia.If the seizures persist, a loading dose of phenobarbital orvalproic acid is appropriate (see Table 181-5). Alternatively,continuous infusions, such as midazolam or pentobarbital,can be employed as third-line agents (with appropriate airway protection, blood pressure support, and strong consideration of continuous video-EEG monitoring to evaluate for ongoing subclinical seizures). If this approach is ineffective, preparations for general anesthesia are undertaken.When status epilepticus stops, maintenance therapy is initiated with the appropriate anticonvulsant.
For an otherwise healthy child with an unprovoked seizure anda normal physical and neurological examination, no laboratoryevaluation is required. Children with simple febrile seizures who have recovered completely require little or no laboratory evaluation other than studies necessary to evaluate the sourceof the fever. If the clinical presentation does not meet thesecriteria and acute symptomatic seizures are suspected, potentially life-threatening causes such as meningitis, sepsis, headtrauma, and toxins should be pursued. A complete laboratoryevaluation for new onset of seizures includes a complete bloodcount and measurement of glucose, calcium, sodium, potassium, chloride, bicarbonate, urea nitrogen, creatinine, magnesium, and phosphorus, as well as blood or urine toxicology
ABCs (airway, breathing, circulation)Basic metabolic panel—sodium, calcium, magnesiumToxicology studies as appropriateComplete blood counts, platelets, and differentialBenzodiazepine (max rate of administration = 1 mg/min) Lorazepam 0.05–0.1 mg/kg (maximum 2–4mg per dose) Diazepam 0.2–0.5 mg/kg Midazolam 0.1–0.2 mg/kg screening. Children with clinical signs and symptoms of meningitis (neck stiffness, Kernig sign, Brudzinski sign), or historyor physical examination suggestive of intracranial infection,should undergo a lumbar puncture. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)should be analyzed for cell counts, culture, protein, and glucose levels. In children less than 18 months old, particularlyyoung infants, the clinical symptoms of meningitis may besubtle. Neonates also may require testing for inborn errors ofmetabolism; blood ammonia; CSF glycine and lactate, as wellas herpes simplex polymerase chain reaction; urine and stoolculture (cytomegalovirus and enterovirus); and a clinical trial of pyridoxine.
The EEG is the most useful neurodiagnostic test for distinguishing seizures from nonepileptic paroxysmal disorders and for classifying seizures as having focal or generalized onset. The EEG must be interpreted in the context of the clinical history, because some normal children have focal or epileptiform EEG patterns. Children with seizures may have normal interictal EEGs. When the diagnosis is unclear, more sophisticated EEGs with prolonged recordings and simultaneous video monitoring of the patient in an attempt to capture a typical event may be necessary.
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is superior to computed tomography (CT) in showing most brain pathology,but in the emergency department setting, CT can be performed rapidly and often shows acute intracranial hemorrhage more clearly than MRI. MRI is unnecessary inpatients with the primary generalized epilepsies, such astypical absence and juvenile myoclonic epilepsy. Lesions (tumors, arteriovenous malformations, cysts, strokes, gliosis, focal atrophy) may be identified in 25% of patients,even when the clinical examination and EEG do not suggest focal features. Identification of some lesions, such asfocal cortical dysplasia, hamartoma, and mesial temporalsclerosis, can assist in consideration of surgical treatmentof pharmacoresistant epilepsy.
The decision to institute daily seizure medications for a firstunprovoked seizure is based on the likelihood of recurrencebalanced against the risk of long-term drug therapy. Determination of the recurrence risk is based on the clinical historyand neurodiagnostic testing (Table 181-6). If the recurrencerisk is 75% or greater, it is usually suggested that daily medication be prescribed. Absence seizures, infantile spasms,atypical absence seizures, and atonic seizures are universallyrecurrent at the time of diagnosis, indicating the need fortherapy.
Table 181-6 Recurrence Risk after a First Unprovoked Seizure* SEIZURE TYPE EEG NORMAL, EXAM NORMAL EEG EPILEPTIFORM OR EXAM ABNORMAL BOTH EEG AND EXAM ABNORMAL
Special circumstances: 1.For absence epilepsy, ethosuximide is the first line treatment.Adrenocorticotropic hormone, oral corticosteroids, or vigabatrin are used to treat infantile spasms.
Figure 181-1 Treatment for epilepsy.The goal of treatment is to maintain an optimal functional state. Medication toxicity should be weighed againstthe risk of seizure itself. Initial drug selection is based on themechanism of the seizure (Fig. 181-1). A single agent limitstoxicity, contains cost, and improves compliance. Approximately 60% of children obtain satisfactory seizure controland minimal side effects with the initial drug. If seizurecontrol is not achieved, despite good compliance, additionof a second drug is considered. When available, measuring anticonvulsant blood levels can be helpful in adjustingdosing and monitoring compliance. Levels should be interpreted in light of the patient’s clinical state; a patient with a “low” drug level who is seizure free does not necessarilyneed a higher dose. Anticonvulsant drug levels should bedrawn at trough, usually before the morning doses. When hepatic or renal disease is present, drug binding is likely tobe altered. In this instance, free and bound anticonvulsant levels can be helpful.
The duration of anticonvulsant treatment varies according to seizure type and epilepsy syndrome. For most children, anticonvulsant medications can be weaned off after 2 years without seizures. There are some exceptions. Forexample, children with juvenile myoclonic epilepsy, progressive myoclonic epilepsy, atypical absence seizures, and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome usually require treatment for life. Children who have other neurological comorbidities, seizures that were initially difficult to control, orpersistently epileptiform EEGs are at highest risk for recurrence when therapy is discontinued.
Although cognitively normal children with epilepsy havethe same rates of injury as normal healthy children, thereare important safety considerations for people with epilepsy.The risk of drowning is high, so swimming and bathing mustonly occur under direct adult supervision. Children shoulduse appropriate helmets for sports such as bicycling or iceskating. There is no contraindication to participation in contact sports, but scuba diving, hang gliding, and free climbing are not safe for people with epilepsy. Each country andindividual states have specific laws regarding driving for people with epilepsy. Most require a period of seizure freedombefore issuing a driving permit.
Weakness is a decreased ability to voluntarily and actively movemuscles. This may be generalized or localized to one aspectof the body. Hypotonia is a state of low muscle resistance to movement. Hypotonia can be associated with weakness, but insome cases is present with normal motor strength. The differential diagnosis for weakness is extensive (Table 182-1).
Weakness and hypotonia may be due to disorders of upper motor neurons or lower motor neurons. Upper motor neurons originatein the cerebral motor cortex; their axons form the corticospinaltract ending in the spinal cord and control voluntary motor activity. The anterior horn cells, their motor roots, peripheral motornerves, neuromuscular junctions, and muscles represent the lower motor neurons and muscle units. Maintenance of normal strength, tone, and coordination requires integrated communication throughout this complex system, including the cerebral cortex,cerebellum, brainstem, thalamus, basal ganglia, and spinal cord.
Available @ StudentConsult.comWeakness caused by upper motor neuron disease differs fromweakness produced by lower motor units (Table 182-2). Dysfunction of the upper motor neuron causes loss of voluntary
Neuromuscular junction Myasthenia gravis (juvenile, transient neonatal, congenital) BotulismMuscle Muscular dystrophies (Duchenne, Becker, limb-girdle) Myotonic dystrophies Congenital myopathies Metabolic myopathies Dermatomyositis Polymyositis neuron, the final common pathway producing muscle activity, leads to total absence of movement with hypotonia. Function is best tested by measuring the strength of individual muscle groups or, in a young child, by observing the ability to perform tasks requiring particular muscle groups (e.g., walk up or down stairs, arise from the ground, walk on toes or heels, raise the hands above the head, squeeze a ball).
Tumors, trauma, infections, demyelinating syndromes, infarction, metabolic diseases, and degenerative diseases may injure the corticospinal tract, producing an upper motor neuron pattern of weakness coupled with increased deep tendon reflexes, spasticity, and extensor plantar responses (Babinski sign).
The distribution of weakness depends on the location of the lesion. A tumor in the left parietal region may produce a right hemiparesis. A brainstem glioma may produce a slowly progressive quadriparesis. A diffuse disorder of myelin synthesis, such as a leukodystrophy, would produce a progressive symmetrical quadriparesis.
Available @ StudentConsult.comAcute spinal cord lesions, such as infarction or compression, may produce a flaccid, areflexic paralysis that mimics lower motor neuron disease. A child who exhibits an acute or subacute flaccid paraparesis is most likely to have eitheran acute cord syndrome or Guillain-Barré syndrome. Thehallmarks of spinal cord disease are a sensory level, a motorlevel, disturbance of bowel and bladder function, and local spinal pain or tenderness. The acute cord syndrome maybe the result of transverse myelitis, cord tumor, infarction, demyelination, or trauma. Transverse myelitis, an acute postinfectious demyelinating disorder of the spinal cord, istreated with high-dose steroids. Trauma and tumors (neuroblastoma, lymphoma, sarcoma) compressing the spinalcord necessitate immediate neurosurgical management topreserve vital function.
Neuromuscular disease affects any component of the lower motor neuron unit. The distribution of muscle weakness can point toward specific diseases (Table 182-3).
Progressive degeneration of anterior horn cells is the key manifestation of spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), a genetic diseasethat may begin in intrauterine life or any time thereafter. About control, but not total loss of movement because motor nuclei of the basal ganglia, thalamus, and brainstem have tracts that produce simple or complex stereotyped patterns of movement. Thecorticospinal tract permits fine motor activity and is best testedby rapid alternating movements of the distal extremities. Milddysfunction produces slowed, stiff motions. More severe dysfunction produces stiff, abnormal involuntary postures (spasticity) consisting of forearm flexion at the elbow and wrist andadduction close to the chest, with leg extension and adduction.
Damage to the spinal cord leaves residual simple, stereotyped reflex movements coordinated by local spinal reflexes below the level of the lesion. Destruction of the lower motor
Brain tumor Trauma (accidental, nonaccidental) Infection (meningitis, encephalitis, abscess) Ischemia (arterial or venous) Hemorrhage Metabolic disease (leukodystrophy; inborn error of metabolism; mitochondrial encephalomyopathy, lactic acidosis, and stroke-like episodes) Degenerative disease
Botulism Myotonic dystrophy Congenital myotubular myopathy Miller Fisher variant of Guillain-Barré
Botulism Polio Miller Fisher variant of Guillain-Barré 25% of patients have a severe infantile form (SMA type1/Werdnig-Hoffmann disease), 50% have a late infantile and more slowly progressive form (SMA type 2/Kugelberg-Welander syndrome), and 25% have a more chronic,juvenile form (SMA type 3). SMA is one of the most frequentautosomal recessive diseases, with a carrier frequency of 1 in 50.
Available @ StudentConsult.comThe earlier in life the process starts, the more severe the progression. Infants with SMA type 1 present in early infancy with severe hypotonia, generalized weakness, and facial involvement. Infants have normal cognitive, social, and language skills and sensation. Fasciculations (quivering of the lateral aspect of the tongue) are best identified by inspecting the mouth when the child is asleep. Deep tendon reflexes are absent. With progression, breathing becomes rapid, shallow, and predominantly abdominal. In an extremely weak child, respiratory compromise leads to atelectasis, pulmonary infection, and death. Most infants with SMA type 1 die within the first 2 years. Children with SMA type 2 may survive to adulthood. Children with SMA type 3 can appear normal, with slower progression of weakness and a normal life expectancy.
The diagnosis is made by genetic testing. Creatine phosphokinase (CK) may be normal or mildly elevated. The electromyelogram (EMG) shows fasciculations, fibrillations, and other signs of denervation. Muscle biopsy specimens show grouped atrophy.
No specific treatment delays progression of SMA, although a number of promising agents are being studied. Symptomatic therapy is directed toward minimizing contractures, preventing scoliosis, maximizing nutrition, and avoiding infections. Respiratory infections are managed early and aggressively with pulmonary hygiene, oxygen, and antibiotics. The use or nonuse of artificial ventilation and tube feedings must be individualized for each patient in each stage of the illness.
There are many peripheral nerve diseases in childhood, but the most classic presentations are: Guillain-Barré syndrome, chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP), hereditary motor sensory neuropathy (HMSN), and tick paralysis. Peripheral neuropathies produced by diabetes mellitus, alcoholism, chronic renal failure, exposure to toxins, vasculitis, and the effects of neoplasm are common in adults but are rare in children.
Guillain-Barré syndrome (acute inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy) is a postinfectious autoimmune peripheral neuropathy that can occur about 10 days after a respiratory or gastrointestinal infection (classically Mycoplasma pneumonia or Campylobacter jejuni). It occurs in people of all ages and is the most common cause of acute flaccid paralysis in children.
The characteristic symptoms are areflexia, flaccidity, and symmetrical ascending weakness. Progression can occur rapidly, in hours, or more indolently over weeks. Typically symptoms start with numbness or paresthesia in the hands and feet, then a heavy, weak feeling in the legs. Weakness ascends to involve the arms, trunk, and bulbar muscles (tongue, pharynx, larynx). Deep tendon reflexes are absent even when strength is relatively preserved. Objective signs of sensory loss are usually minor compared with the dramatic weakness. Bulbar and respiratory insufficiency may progress rapidly. Dysfunction of autonomic nerves can lead to blood pressure changes, tachycardia and other arrhythmias, urinary retention or incontinence, or stool retention. This polyneuropathy can be difficult to distinguish from an acute spinal cord syndrome. Preservation of bowel and bladder function, loss of arm reflexes, absence of a sensory level, and lack of spinal tenderness point toward Guillain-Barré syndrome. A cranial nerve variant of Guillain-Barré syndrome called the Miller Fisher variant manifests with ataxia, partial ophthalmoplegia, and areflexia.
The cerebrospinal fluid in Guillain-Barré syndrome is sometimes normal early in the illness but classically shows elevated protein levels without significant pleocytosis. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with gadolinium may reveal enhancement of the spinal nerve roots. Electrophysiology studies (EMG, nerve conduction velocity [NCV]) are not always required but can provide corroborative diagnostic evidence and prognostic indicators.
Children in early stages of the disease should be admitted to the hospital. Those with moderate, severe, or rapidly progressive weakness should be cared for in an intensive care unit. Pulmonary and cardiac functions are monitored continuously. Endotracheal intubation should be performed in patients with impending respiratory failure or an inability to clear secretions. Most patients are treated initially with intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG). Plasma exchange and immunosuppressive drugs are alternatives when IVIG treatment is unsuccessful or in rapidly progressive disease. Physical, occupational, and speech therapies are mainstays of treatment.
The illness usually resolves spontaneously, albeit slowly; 80% of patients recover normal function within 1 to 12 months. Twenty percent of patients are left with mild to moderate residual weakness. Some children will suffer acute relapse or chronic symptoms.
CIDP is an immune-mediated peripheral neuropathy and canaffect patients of all ages. Patients present with both proximal and distal weakness (usually in an episodic, relapsing-remitting pattern) affecting the extremities. Patients may alsoexperience sensation changes such as numbness, tingling, or pain. The diagnosis is clinical, although EMG or nerve biopsymay confirm the diagnosis. The mainstays of treatment forCIDP are IVIG, glucocorticoids, and plasmapheresis. Prognosis varies, with some patients undergoing complete remission, whereas others experience partial remission or severedisability.
HMSN (also called Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease [CMT]) is a group of progressive peripheral nerve diseases. Motor components generally dominate the clinical picture, with sensation and autonomic functions affected later. The most common HMSN is CMT type 1A. Other forms may have milder symptoms. Some subtypes present with severe symptoms starting in infancy.
The peroneal and tibial nerves are the earliest and most severely affected. Most often, complaints begin in the preschool to early adolescent years, with weakness of the ankles and frequent tripping. Examination shows pes cavus deformity of the feet (high-arched feet), bilateral weakness of foot dorsiflexors, and normal sensation despite occasional complaints of paresthesia. Peripheral nerves can become markedly enlarged and may be palpable on exam. Progression of HMSN is slow, extending over years and decades. Eventually, patients develop weakness and atrophy of the entire lower legs and hands and mild to moderate sensory loss in the hands and feet. Some patients never have more than a mild foot deformity, loss of ankle reflexes, and electrophysiologic abnormalities. Others in the same family may be confined to a wheelchair and have difficulties performing everyday tasks with their hands.
HMSN can be either demyelinating (CMT1, with severelydecreased NCV and hypertrophic changes on sural nervebiopsy) or axonal (CMT2, with normal NCV but decreased action potential amplitudes and axonal degeneration onbiopsy). Specific genetic testing is available for many subtypes of HMSN. Specific treatment for HMSN is not available,but braces that maintain the feet in dorsiflexion can improvefunction.
Available @ StudentConsult.comTick paralysis produces an acute lower motor neuron pattern of weakness, clinically similar to Guillain-Barré syndrome. An attached female tick releases a toxin, similar to botulism, blocking neuromuscular transmission. Affected patients present with a severe generalized flaccid weakness, including ocular, papillary, and bulbar paralysis. A methodical search for an affixed tick, particularly in hairy areas, must be made in any child with acute weakness. Removal of the tick results in a prompt return of motor function.
Available @ StudentConsult.comMyasthenia gravis is an autoimmune condition. Most commonly, antibodies block the acetylcholine receptors (AChR) at the neuromuscular junction, decreasing the number of effective receptors, which results in rapid fatigability of striated muscle, though other types of auto-antibodies exist. The three childhood varieties are juvenile myasthenia gravis in late infancy and childhood, transient neonatal myasthenia, and congenital myasthenia.
Variable ptosis, diplopia, ophthalmoplegia, and facial weakness are the presenting symptoms. Dysphagia, poor headcontrol, and extremity weakness may occur. Rapid fatigueof muscles distinguishes myasthenia from other neuromuscular disorders, with progressive worsening over theday or with repetitive activity. In some children, the disease never advances beyond ophthalmoplegia and ptosis (ocular myasthenia). Others have a progressive andpotentially life-threatening illness that involves all musculature, including that of respiration and swallowing.Treatment includes pyridostigmine, an inhibitor of acetylcholinesterase, and, depending on severity, various forms ofimmunosuppression.
A transient myasthenic syndrome develops in 10% to 20% of neonates born to mothers with myasthenia gravis, presenting in the first hours to days after birth. Almost all infants born to mothers with myasthenia have maternal anti-AChR antibodies. Signs include ptosis, ophthalmoplegia, weak facial movements, poor feeding, hypotonia, respiratory difficulty, and variable extremity weakness. Neonates with transient myasthenia gravis require cholinesterase inhibitors and supportive care for a few days to weeks until the weakness remits.
A variety of rare disorders of the neuromuscular junction have been reported that are not autoimmune mediated. The congenital myasthenic syndromes (CMS) are due to gene mutations in the components of the neuromuscular junction. They typically present in infancy with hypotonia, ophthalmoparesis, facial diplegia, and extremity weakness, although they can present throughout childhood. Respiratory function and feeding may be compromised. Children with CMS usually have lifelong disability. Some children will respond to pyridostigmine or other drugs that improve neuromuscular junction function.
Autoimmune myasthenia is most commonly diagnosed through the combination of clinical symptoms and antibody testing. The majority of individuals have antibodies to the AChR, although some have antibodies to other components of the neuromuscular junction. Neurophysiology may exhibit the classic feature of electrodecrement with 3-Hz repetitive stimulation during nerve conduction studies. Administration of a cholinesterase inhibitor (edrophonium chloride) can result in transient improvement in strength, particularly of ptosis, and thus can additionally be used for diagnostic verification.
Available @ StudentConsult.comInfant botulism results from intestinal infection by Clostridium botulinum, which produces a neurotoxin that blocks presynaptic cholinergic transmission. Young age and the absence of competitive bowel flora predispose infants to this disease. Infants may ingest dust, soil, or food (honey or poorly canned foods) contaminated with spores. The progressive neuromuscular blockade ranges from mild to severe. Infants often present with constipation and poor feeding. Hypotonia and weakness develop, along with cranial nerve dysfunction manifested by decreased gag reflex, diminished eye movements, decreased pupillary contraction, and ptosis. Heart rate and blood pressure may fluctuate. Affected infants may develop respiratory failure. The diagnosis is made by the presence of C. botulinum spores and toxin in stool samples. Therapy with botulism IVIG should be administered as soon as the diagnosis is suspected.
With prompt treatment and respiratory and supportive care, the prognosis is good.
Muscular dystrophies are a group of genetic muscle diseases characterized by progressive myofiber degeneration and the gradual replacement of muscle by fibrotic tissue. Duchenne muscular dystrophy is the most common muscular dystrophy and one of the most common genetic disorders of childhood.
Duchenne muscular dystrophy is an X-linked disorder (Xp21) affecting approximately 1 in 3500 boys and resulting from a gene mutation of dystrophin. Becker muscular dystrophy is an allelic disorder associated with more mild symptoms; its mutations at least partially preserve the function of the resulting gene product.
Available @ StudentConsult.comInfant boys are only rarely symptomatic in early infancy. At about 2 to 3 years of age, boys develop an awkward gait and an inability to run properly. Some have an antecedent history of mild slowness in attaining motor milestones or poor head control during infancy. Examination shows firm calf hypertrophy and mild to moderate proximal leg weakness with a hyperlordotic, waddling gait. The child typically arises from a lying position on the floor by using his arms to climb up his legs and body (Gower sign). Arm weakness is evident by age 6 years, and most boys are wheelchair dependent by age 12 years. Other manifestations include cardiomyopathy, scoliosis, respiratory decline, and, in some boys, cognitive and behavioral dysfunction. Many boys with Duchenne live into adulthood. Most die in their 20s or early 30s, usually as a result of progressive respiratory decline or cardiac dysfunction.
Serum CK levels are always markedly elevated. Diagnosis is established by genetic testing for the dystrophin gene mutation. Prenatal diagnosis is possible. Approximately one third of cases represent new mutations. Occasionally, the diagnosis is not made until a muscle biopsy shows muscle fiber degeneration and regeneration accompanied by increased intrafascicular connective tissue.
Steroid therapy is now instituted to slow the pace of the disease and delay motor disability. Supportive care includes physical therapy, bracing, proper wheelchairs, and treatment of cardiac dysfunction or pulmonary infections. A multidisciplinary approach is recommended. Through improvements in management, patients are now living significantly longer than in the pre-steroid era.
Myotonic dystrophy (DM) is the second most common muscular dystrophy and the most common form to present in adulthood. An autosomal dominant genetic disease, DM is caused by progressive expansion of a triplet repeat, CTG, in the myotonic dystrophy protein kinase gene. Presentation is roughly correlated with the number of CTG repeats, and the disease is characterized by genetic anticipation, where each generation presents with earlier and more severe symptoms.
Although DM most typically presents in adulthood, it can present at any age. Clinical features of childhood-onset “classic” DM include slowly progressive facial and distal extremity weakness as well as myotonia. Myotonia is a disorder of muscle relaxation after contraction. Patients grasp onto an object and have difficulty releasing their grasp, peeling their fingers away slowly. The facial appearance is characteristic, with hollowing of muscles around temples, jaw, and neck; ptosis; facial weakness; and drooping of the lower lip. The voice is nasal and mildly dysarthric. Not only is the striated muscle affected, but smooth muscle of the alimentary tract, uterus, and cardiac tissue are involved. Patients have variable arrhythmias, endocrinopathies, immunologic deficiencies, cataracts, and intellectual impairment.
A severe congenital form of DM can appear in infants of mothers with myotonic dystrophy because of rapid expansion of the CTG repeat length. Infants are immobile and hypotonic, with ptosis, absence of sucking and Moro reflexes, poor feeding, and respiratory difficulties. Often, weakness and atony of uterine smooth muscle during labor lead to associated hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy and its sequelae, which make the clinical diagnosis more difficult. The presence of congenital contractures, clubfoot, or a history of poor fetal movements indicates intrauterine neuromuscular disease. Those requiring prolonged ventilation have an infant mortality of 25%. Individuals with congenital DM often make significant gains in terms of motor skills, and nearly all children eventually ambulate independently. However, approximately 50% of DM patients have mental retardation. In addition, children with congenital DM experience a second progressive phase of the disease in the teen years, including potentially fatal cardiac arrhythmias.
Diagnosis is established by genetic testing.Other Forms of Childhood Muscle DiseaseCongenital muscular dystrophies (CMDs) refer to a group of genetically determined conditions that present in infancy or early childhood. The most common subtypes include merosin-deficient congenital muscular dystrophy, Ullrich congenital muscular dystrophy, and the dystroglycanopathies. The characteristic clinical features include hypotonia, extremity weakness, delayed motor development, and congenital contractures. Diagnosis is established through the combination of elevated serum CK and dystrophic changes detected on muscle biopsy. In most individuals, the disease course is slow or nonprogressive, although many children with CMD are wheelchair dependent and require some type of respiratory support. Contractures and scoliosis are often progressive and severely worsen; respiratory status diminishes with age.
Emery-Dreifuss muscular dystrophy (EDMD), also known as humeroperoneal muscular dystrophy, can be inherited as an X-linked recessive, autosomal dominant, or autosomal recessive disorder. Symptoms typically begin in childhood, although adult onset has been noted. Patients may experience early contractures, slowly progressive humeroperoneal muscle weakness or wasting, and cardiac disease with conduction defects and arrhythmias. EDMD is associated with mild elevations of serum CK levels, abnormal electrocardiograms (ECG), characteristic changes on muscle imaging, and abnormal but nonspecific muscle biopsies. There are no disease-specific modifying therapies for EDMD, although early placement of defibrillators in patients with abnormal ECGs reduces the incidence of sudden death.
Several forms of limb-girdle muscular dystrophy (LGMD) have been described, which are usually inherited in an autosomal recessive pattern. Depending on the subtype of LGMD, presentation can be throughout childhood. A subset of children will have a Duchenne-like presentation. LGMD primarily affects muscles of the hip and shoulder girdles. Distal muscles may later become weak and atrophic. Many children with LGMD will lose the ability to ambulate. Some may also have progressive cardiac and respiratory failure.
Facioscapulohumeral dystrophy is an autosomal dominant myopathy. Weakness first appears in the facial and shouldergirdle muscles. Shoulder weakness results in the characteristicobservation of scapular winging, which can often be asymmetric. Patients have mild ptosis, a decrease in facial expression,inability to pucker the lips or close eyes during sleep, neckweakness, difficulty in fully elevating the arms, and thinness ofupper arm musculature. Progression is slow, although childrenoften have a more severe presentation and can have significantdisability related to upper extremity weakness and dysfunction.
Congenital myopathies (CM) are a relatively common group (prevalence approximately 1:20,000) of nondystrophic muscle disorders that, like congenital muscular dystrophies, most typically present in infancy with hypotonia and weakness. Additional signs and symptoms include congenital contractures, hip subluxation/dislocation, small/atrophic muscles, thin body habitus, and characteristic facial appearance (the “myopathic facies”). Symptoms are often nonprogressive or only slowly progressive, although children often have severe lifelong disabilities including wheelchair dependence, severe scoliosis, and respiratory failure. Clinical finding may distinguish CMDs and other dystrophies (e.g., involvement of the facial musculature in congenital myopathies). Diagnosis is ultimately established based on laboratory studies, biopsy findings, and genetic test results. Histopathologic subtypes are distinguished by characteristic features on muscle biopsy, the most common being nemaline myopathy, centronuclear myopathy, and core myopathy. More than 15 different genetic causes have been established for CMs. However, nearly 50% of cases are genetically unresolved. Although no specific therapies currently exist for any CM subtype, several promising therapies have shown efficacy in preclinical models of disease.
Glycogen storage disease type II (Pompe disease) and musclecarnitine deficiency are discussed in Chapters 52 and 55. Several mitochondrial myopathies may present with hypotonia, ophthalmoplegia, and progressive weakness, but the phenotype ofthese disorders is broad (Chapter 57). Endocrine myopathies, including hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism, hyperparathyroidism, and Cushing syndrome, are associated with proximalmuscle weakness. Periodic paralysis due to familial forms of hypokalemia or hyperkalemia produces episodic weakness.
The diagnostic evaluation should be guided by the clinical history and physical examination (Chapter 179).
Malignant hyperthermia is a life-threatening syndrome manifested by a rapid increase of body temperature, muscle rigidity, metabolic and respiratory acidosis, hypotension, arrhythmias, and convulsions. Acute episodes are precipitated by exposure to anesthetic agents in patients with a genetic predisposition. Patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy, central core myopathy, and other myopathies are susceptible, although malignant hyperpyrexia can also occur in children without muscle disease as an autosomal dominant genetic disorder. A family history of unexplained death during anesthesia is often noted. Serum CK levels rise and myoglobinuria can result in tubular necrosis and acute renal failure. Diagnosis of idiopathic malignant hyperthermia is possible with genetic testing or an in vitro muscle contraction test that reveals excessive tonic contracture on exposure to halothane and caffeine. Treatment consists of IV dantrolene, sodium bicarbonate, and cooling.
The clinical distinction between upper and lower motor neuron disorders in infants is blurred because incomplete myelinization of the developing nervous system limits expression of many of the cardinal signs, such as spasticity. The two critical clinical points are whether the child is weak and the presence or absence of deep tendon reflexes. Hypotonia and weakness coupled with depressed or absent deep tendon reflexes suggest a neuromuscular disorder. A stronger child with brisk reflexes suggests an upper motor neuron source for the hypotonia. Causes of neonatal weakness are outlined earlier. A diagnostic algorithm for infants with hypotonia or weakness is presented in Figure 182-1.
Available @ StudentConsult.comSome infants who appear to move well when supine in theircribs are floppy when handled or moved. When lifted, their
CK, cDM1, SMA Brain MRIS MRI CK, PWSNo Diagnosis?Figure 182-1 Evaluation of an infant with hypotonia. cDM1, Congenital myotonic dystrophy; CK, creatine kinase; CMS, chromosomal microarray analysis; EMG, electromyelogram; MRI, magnetic resonance imaging; NCV, nerve conduction velocity; PWS, Prader-Willi syndrome; SMA, spinal muscular atrophy. (Courtesy James Dowling, MD.) heads flop, they slip through at the shoulders, do not supportweight on their legs, and form an inverted U in prone suspension (Landau posture). When placed prone as neonates,they may lie flat instead of keeping their arms and legs flexed.Passive tone is decreased, but reflexes are normal. Hypotonia may be associated with significant cerebral disease or maybe a benign phenomenon that is outgrown (Table 182-4). The most common cause of hypotonia is hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy.
Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) presents with severe neonatal hypotonia; severe feeding problems leading to failure to thrive; small hands and feet; and, in boys, a small penis, small testicles, and cryptorchidism. Severe hyperphagia and obesity develop in early childhood. Approximately 60% to 70% of affected individuals have an interstitial deletion of paternalchromosome 15q11q13. PWS and trisomy 21 are the most common genetic causes of neonatal hypotonia.
Infants who have a connective tissue disorder, such as Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, Marfan syndrome, or familial laxity of the ligaments, may exhibit marked passive hypotonia, ligamentous laxity, and increased skin elasticity. They have normal strength and cognition and achieve motor and mental milestones normally. They may have peculiar postures of their feet or unusual gaits.
Infants with benign congenital hypotonia typically exhibit the condition at 6 to 12 months old with delayed gross motor skills. They are unable to sit, creep, or crawl, but have good verbal, social, and manipulative skills. Strength appears normal, and the infants can kick arms and legs briskly and bring their toes to their mouths. The children often display head lag, slip-through in ventral suspension, and floppiness of passive tone. The infant seems floppy from birth. The differential diagnosis includes upper and motor neuron disorders and connective tissue diseases. Extensive laboratory investigation is often unrevealing. Most of these children catch up to peers and
Severe brain illness* Structural (hydrocephalus) Infectious Metabolic (e.g., anoxia or hypoglycemia) Intoxication through mother
Connective tissue disorder Ehlers-Danlos syndrome Marfan syndrome Congenital laxity of ligaments *Common.
appear normal by 3 years of age. Often, other family members have exhibited a similar developmental pattern.
The incidence of pediatric stroke is 2.5 to 10 per 100,000 children and is higher among neonates, approaching that of elderly patients. A wide spectrum of conditions can produce stroke in childhood (Table 182-5). Pediatric strokes may be due to ischemia (arterial ischemic stroke, cerebral sinovenous thrombosis) or hemorrhage. Arterial ischemic stroke (AIS)is focal brain infarction that results from occlusion of the arteries in the brain. The most common causes are vasculitis resulting in abnormal cerebral arteries (either autoimmune or infectious, such as vasculitis associated with meningitis) and cardioembolic infarcts due to congenital heart disease, sickle cell anemia, or coagulation disorders. Coagulation disorders also increase the risk of cerebral sinovenous thrombosis (CSVT), the occlusion of venous structures in the brain, which can result in ischemia as the cerebral venous pressure rises.
CSVT can also be caused by infections or dehydration. Hemorrhagic strokes (HS) may be intraparenchymal (primary, or secondary bleeding after AIS) or associated with intra-ventricular, subarachnoid, subdural, or epidural bleeds. The most common causes of HS are vascular malformations, head trauma, and vasculitis.
The acute onset of focal neurologic deficits in a child is strokeuntil proven otherwise. Symptoms may be subtle and nonspecific, which can lead to a delay in diagnosis. AIS typicallypresents with acute, focal neurologic deficits. Hemiparesis ismost common, but visual, speech, sensory, or balance deficits may be present. Unlike AIS in adults, focal seizures arequite common in childhood presentation of AIS. Similarly,neonatal AIS most often presents with acute symptomatic focal seizures (typically in the first day of life) or withencephalopathy.
Symptoms of CSVT may progress more gradually and be more variable and nonspecific than AIS. In CSVT, acute focal deficits may be present, or the child may have progressive signs of elevated intracranial pressure, including headache, papilledema, diplopia (most often from cranial nerve VI palsy), seizures, lethargy, or confusion.
HS tends to present acutely, with a sudden “thunderclap” headache. HS may also present with loss of consciousness, nuchal rigidity, focal deficits, or seizures and can be rapidly fatal.
Congenital hemiplegia becomes apparent as infants develop, with decreased use of one side of the body, early handedness, or ignoring one side. Neuroimaging reveals an area of encephalomalacia in the contralateral cerebral hemisphere. The details of the child’s intrauterine, labor, delivery, and postnatal history often are unremarkable. The area of encephalomalacia may predispose the child to epilepsy.
There are many conditions that mimic pediatric stroke, most of which are more common than AIS, HS, or CSVT. Some of these mimics are benign (migraine, psychogenic weakness, musculoskeletal abnormalities), but others require specific, prompt diagnosis and/or treatment (e.g., transient postictal weakness, intracranial infection, inflammatory disease of the central nervous system, tumor, or posterior reversible leukoencephalopathy syndrome).
On initial presentation, acute neuroimaging is necessary. A noncontrast head computed tomography (CT) scan is highly sensitive to acute HS and can reveal larger, mature AIS; acute, nonhemorrhagic stroke may not be seen on routine CT. Therefore, MRI with diffusion-weighted imaging is required for most presentations. Angiography by magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) or CT angiography is used to confirm arterial occlusion in AIS and can identify underlying arteriopathy, vascular malformations, and aneurysms. Diagnosis of CSVT requires a high clinical suspicion and purposeful imaging of the cerebral venous system with venography by MRI or CT. If clinical assessment does not reveal the cause of the stroke, a complete laboratory investigation should be undertaken promptly based on suspected etiologies (see Table 182-5). Many children with AIS have more than one predisposing factor, so identifying one risk factor does not obviate the need for a complete evaluation.
Treatment must focus on limiting secondary neuronal injuryand prevention of future strokes. Neuroprotection by maintaining control of temperature, blood pressure, glucose, andseizures is essential. Emergency thrombolysis with medications or catheterization is not yet established for children,but this is an area of active clinical research. Anticoagulants(IV heparin, subcutaneous low-molecular-weight heparin,oral warfarin) and platelet antiaggregants (aspirin) are usedfor secondary stroke prevention in some instances. For thosewith progressive CSVT, anticoagulation is the mainstay oftherapy. Long-term rehabilitation programs are required for most survivors.
Ataxia is the inability to make accurate, smooth and coordinated movements, usually due to a dysfunction of the cerebellar pathways. If either the afferent (joint position senses)or efferent cerebellar connections (cerebellum through thalamus to cerebral cortex) are disturbed, the patient has ataxia.Truncal ataxia reflects disturbances of the midline cerebellar vermis (e.g., medulloblastoma, acute postinfectious cerebellarataxia, or ethanol intoxication). Appendicular ataxia reflects disturbances of the ipsilateral cerebellar hemisphere (e.g., cystic cerebellar astrocytoma). The most common causes of acuteataxia in childhood are postinfectious acute cerebellar ataxiaand drug intoxications. Discrete lesions within the posteriorfossa, tumors (e.g., medulloblastoma, ependymoma, cerebellar astrocytoma), multiple sclerosis, strokes, and hemorrhagesmay cause ataxia. Other causes include benign paroxysmalvertigo, head trauma, seizures, postictal states, migraine,paraneoplastic opsoclonus-myoclonus syndrome associated with neuroblastoma, and inborn errors of metabolism. Congenital disorders also may produce chronic, nonprogressiveataxia. There are a number of inherited ataxia syndromes(Table 183-1).
Available @ StudentConsult.comInhalants Drugs of abuse *Common.The usual symptoms of ataxia are a broad-based, unsteady gait (truncal ataxia) and intention tremor or dysmetria (overor undershooting of the target due to abnormal distance perception). An intention tremor worsens as the arm/hand approaches the target. Classically, these symptoms stem from disorders of the cerebellar pathways, but peripheral nerve lesions causing loss of proprioceptive inputs to the cerebellum (Guillain-Barré syndrome) may present with similar symptoms. In addition, weakness may intensify or mimic ataxia, so strength must be assessed, along with coordination.
Available @ StudentConsult.comDrug intoxication is the most common cause of acute ataxia among children. Overdosage with any sedative-hypnotic agentcan produce acute ataxia and lethargy, but ataxia without lethargyusually results from intoxication with ethanol or anticonvulsantdrugs. It is important to ask about any medications or drugs ofabuse the patient may have access to. Treatment is supportive.
Postinfectious acute cerebellar ataxia may occur 1 to 3 weeks following varicella, infectious mononucleosis, mild respiratory or gastrointestinal viral illnesses, or other infections. The pathogenesis is uncertain and may represent either a direct viral infection of the cerebellum or, more likely, an autoimmune response precipitated by the viral infection and directed at the cerebellar white matter. Symptoms begin abruptly, causing truncal ataxia, staggering, and frequent falling. Dysmetria of the arms, dysarthria, nystagmus, vomiting, irritability, and lethargy may be present. Symptoms, which may be severe enough to prevent standing or sitting, usually peak within 2 days, then stabilize and resolve over several weeks. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) examination sometimes shows a mild lymphocytic pleocytosis or mild elevation of protein content. Brain magnetic resonance imaging may reveal cerebellar enhancement. No specific therapy is available except to prevent injury during the ataxic phase.
Brain tumors are the second most common neoplasm in children. About 50% arise from within the posterior fossa. Tumors that arise in the posterior fossa or brainstem produce progressive ataxia with headache that may be acute or gradual in onset. There is a progressive worsening over days, weeks, or months, typically with associated signs and symptoms of elevated intracranial pressure. The ataxia and dysmetria may result from primary cerebellar invasion or from obstruction of the CSF pathways (aqueduct of Sylvius or fourth ventricle) with resultant hydrocephalus. The most common tumors in this region include medulloblastoma, ependymoma, cerebellar astrocytoma, and brainstem glioma.
Rarely, a neuroblastoma located in the adrenal medulla or anywhere along the paraspinal sympathetic chain in the thorax or abdomen is associated with degeneration of Purkinje cells and the development of severe ataxia, dysmetria, irritability, myoclonus, and opsoclonus. An immunologic reaction directed toward the tumor may be misdirected to attack Purkinje cells and other neuronal elements. The myoclonic movements are irregular, lightning-like movements of a limb or the head. Opsoclonus is a rapid, multidirectional, conjugate movement of the eyes, which suddenly dart in random directions. The presence of opsoclonus-myoclonus in a child should prompt a vigorous search for an occult neuroblastoma.
Several rare inborn errors of metabolism can present with intermittent episodes of ataxia and somnolence. These include Hartnup disorder, maple syrup urine disease, mitochondrial disorders, abetalipoproteinemia, and vitamin E deficiency.
Difficulty walking with a severe staggering gait is one manifestation of acute labrynthitis, but the diagnosis usually is clarified by the associated symptoms of a severe sense of spinning dizziness (vertigo), nausea and vomiting, and associated signs of pallor, sweating, and nystagmus.
Ataxia-telangiectasia, an autosomal recessive genetic disorder, is the most common of the degenerative ataxias. Affected patients present with ataxia around age 2 years, progressing to loss of ambulation by adolescence. In mid-childhood, telangiectasia is evident over the sclerae, nose, ears, and extremities. Abnormalities in immune function and greatly increased risk of lymphoreticular tumors result in early death.
Friedreich ataxia is a relentlessly progressive, autosomalrecessive disorder. Children present in the late elementary yearswith ataxia, dysmetria, dysarthria, diminished proprioceptionand vibration, absent deep tendon reflexes, and nystagmus,and many develop hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and skeletalabnormalities (high-arched feet, hammer toes, kyphoscoliosis).
Available @ StudentConsult.comMovement disorders or dyskinesias are a diverse group of entities associated with abnormal excessive, exaggerated, chaotic, or explosive movements of voluntary muscles. They are generally the result of abnormalities of the extrapyramidal system orthe basal ganglia. Movement disorders in children are typicallyhyperkinetic (increased movement) patterns. The abnormalmovements are activated by stress and fatigue and often disappear in sleep. They are typically diffuse and migratory (chorea)but may be isolated to specific muscle groups (segmental myoclonus, palatal myoclonus) and may not disappear in sleep.
Chorea is a hyperkinetic, rapid, unsustained, irregular, purposeless movement that seems to flow from one body part to another. Affected patients demonstrate difficulty keeping the tongue protruded or maintaining grip (milkmaid grip).Patients often attempt to incorporate the involuntary movements into more purposeful movements, making them appear fidgety. Choreiform movement abnormalities may be autoimmune/parainfectious, infectious, genetic, structural, metabolic or toxic in origin (Table 183-2). The movements may occur
Autoimmune/parainfectious (acute rheumatic fever,* systemic lupus erythematosus) Infectious (human immunodeficiency virus, neurosyphilis, scarlet fever, encephalitis) Genetic (Huntington disease, ataxia-telangiectasia) Structural (stroke, neoplasm) Metabolic/toxic (hepatic/renal failure, hyperthyroidism) Drug induced
Physiologic* Essential tremor* Hereditary, degenerative (Huntington disease, Wilson disease) Stroke Metabolic (hyperthyroidism, hepatic encephalopathy, electrolyte disturbances) Drugs/toxins* (caffeine, bronchodilators, amphetamines, tricyclic antidepressants) Psychogenic tremor alone or as part of a more extensive neurologic disorder (e.g., Sydenham chorea, Huntington chorea, systemic lupus erythematosus, or encephalitis).
Athetosis is a hyperkinetic, slow, coarse, writhing movement that is more pronounced in distal muscles. Athetosis is seen frequently in combination with chorea (choreoathetosis) and usually is present in conjunction with other neurologic signs. It may be seen in virtually all the disorders mentioned for chorea. Many children with mixed forms of cerebral palsy have spasticity and choreoathetosis.
Dystonia is characterized by abnormally sustained muscle contraction, causing twisting motion (torsion spasm) and repetitive movements or abnormal postures. Cerebral palsy is the most common cause of dystonia among children, usually associated with basal ganglia or thalamic lesions. Many genetic mutations have been implicated in primary dystonias. Antipsychotics and antiemetics can produce acute dystonic reactions, typically involving the face and neck with torticollis, retrocollis, tongue protrusions, and oculogyric crises (eye rotation). Tardive dyskinesia usually is associated with chronic antipsychotic drug use and presents with characteristic face involvement (tongue thrusting, chewing).
Tremor is a hyperkinetic, rhythmic, oscillatory movement caused by simultaneous contractions of antagonistic muscles. The amplitude and frequency are regular. Inchildren, tremor is usually due to a physiologic tremor,or essential tremor. Essential tremor is the most common movement disorder in adults, and half report onset inchildhood. Other causes of tremor include thyrotoxicosis,hypoglycemia, or drugs (caffeine, bronchodilators, amphetamines, tricyclic antidepressants).
Myoclonus is a hyperkinetic, brief flexion contraction of a muscle group, resulting in a sudden jerk. Myoclonus may be epileptic or nonepileptic. Nonepileptic myoclonus is distinguished from tremor in that it is a simple contraction of an agonist muscle, whereas tremor is a simultaneous contraction of agonist and antagonist muscles. Myoclonus is seen as a manifestation of various epilepsies and of infectious, toxic, and metabolic encephalopathies. Benign myoclonus is commonly observed during sleep and may be particularly pronounced in neonates.
Tics are rapid, purposeless, involuntary, stereotyped movements and typically involve the face, eyes, shoulder, and arm. Examples of simple motor tics include blinking, nose twitching, and extremity jerking. Complex motor tics are more orchestrated movements, including head shaking, gesturing, or jumping. Phonic tics may be simple (grunting, throat clearing) or complex (uttering words, phrases). Approximately 25% of children have transient tics. Most tic disorders in children are transient and not intrusive into the child’s life, but may be a source of parental anxiety. Occasionally, tics may be unmasked by stimulant agents. Persistent motor tics (>12 months) in association with vocal tics are characteristic of Tourette syndrome, a chronic tic disorder that usually begins before age 7 years. The pathophysiology underlying tics is unknown, but a family history of tics is elicited in more than 50% of cases. Comorbid features, such as obsessive-compulsive disorder and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, may be present in half of children with Tourette disorder (Chapters 13, 19). Tic disorders are clinical diagnoses, and neurodiagnostic studies have limited value. Many children with tic disorders or Tourette syndrome are unperturbed by their tics and require no therapy. Others may benefit from psychological support, including habit reversal training, and pharmacologic therapy with α-adrenergic receptor agonists (clonidine) or neuroleptics (pimozide, haloperidol, risperidone). Chronic tic disorders wax and wane regardless of intervention and most often improve substantially or resolve entirely by late adolescence.
Consciousness represents awareness of self and environment (place and time). Arousal represents the system that initiates and maintains consciousness. Consciousness is mediated by the cerebral cortex; arousal is mediated by the reticular activating system extending from the mid pons through the mid-brain and hypothalamus to the thalamus.
Lethargic patients have difficulty maintaining an arousedstate. Patients who are obtunded have decreased arousal but are responsive to stimuli. Stupor is a state of responsivenessto pain but not to other stimuli. Coma is a state of unresponsive unconsciousness and is caused by dysfunction of the cerebral hemispheres (bilaterally), the brainstem, or bothsimultaneously.
Acute Disorders of ConsciousnessAvailable @ StudentConsult.comAcute changes in consciousness vary in degree from mild lethargy and confusion to deep coma. In childhood, the most common causes of coma are toxins, infections, head trauma, hypoxia-ischemia (cardiac arrest, near-drowning), and seizure (postictal state, subclinical status epilepticus) (Table 184-1).
The most common cause of long-term morbidity in a patient with depressed consciousness is hypoxia; therefore, airway, breathing and circulation are addressed first. Vital signs, including pulse oximetry, must be assessed. A glucose level should also be checked immediately because hypoglycemia is a rapidly treatable cause of altered mental status. Physical examination searches for clues as to the cause of altered consciousness, such as unusual odors, needle tracts, trauma, or signs of dehydration or organ system failure.
Breathing patterns may provide important clues to the depth, neurologic localization, and etiology of the depressed consciousness. In Cheyne-Stokes respiration, a period of
Gastrointestinal (intussusception) Vasculitis (systemic lupus erythematosus) Hepatic failure Hypertensive encephalopathy Reye syndrome Endocrine disorders (adrenal insufficiency, thyroid disorders) Renal disorders (uremia)
Hypoglycemia Hyponatremia or its correction Hypernatremia or its correction Hyperosmolality or its correction Hypercapnia Hyperammonemia Inborn errors of metabolism Diabetes mellitus—ketoacidosis or hypoglycemia
Routine laboratory testing Glucose Sodium, potassium, chloride, bicarbonate, BUN, creatinine, AST, ALT, blood gases, ammonia Blood and urine analyses for toxic substances
CSF analysis including opening pressure, white and red blood cell counts, protein, glucose, and culture (± viral PCR testing) Neuroimaging
Head CT Brain MRI, MRA, MRVSecondary laboratory testing (if cause remains unknown) Lead level, pyruvate, lactate, serum amino acids, urine organic acids, acylcarnitine profile
ALT, Alanine aminotransferase; AST, aspartate aminotransferase; BUN, blood urea nitrogen; CSF, cerebrospinal fluid; CT, computed tomography; EEG, electroencephalogram; MRI/MRA/MRV, magnetic resonance imaging/angiography/venography; PCR, polymerase chain reaction; PT, prothrombin time;
PTT, partial thromboplastin time.hyperventilation with a crescendo-decrescendo pattern alter-The detailed neurologic examination of a comatose patient nates with a shorter period of apnea and is due to the loss of focuses on the integrity of the brainstem which is the location cerebral, thalamic, or hypothalamic modulation of respiration. of the reticular activating system, mediating arousal. Pupillary This pattern also can be seen in patients with metabolic disor-responses assess the midbrain function. Eye movements are ders, heart failure, or primary respiratory disease. A mid-brain observed or elicited with the doll’s eye maneuver (oculocelesion yields central neurogenic hyperventilation, which phalic response) (Chapter 179) or cold caloric stimulation consists of sustained rapid deep breathing. Gasping respira-(oculovestibular response). If the oculocephalic responses tions are irregularly irregular and indicate dysfunction of the are not elicited or unclear, cold water is flushed into the exterlower brainstem (medulla). Gasping is ominous and usually is nal ear canal. In a conscious person, this maneuver elicits followed by terminal apnea. nystagmus to the opposite side and extreme vertigo with vom-
The Glasgow Coma Scale (see Table 42-2) can be used to iting. In a comatose patient, cold water irrigation into the ear assess unresponsive patients regarding their best verbal and canal elicits a tonic eye deviation toward the ear irrigated if motor responses and eye opening to stimulation with a score the brainstem is functioning and the patient is not brain dead. of 3 to 15 points. With complete loss of oculomotor function, the eyes remain in the center of the orbit regardless of any stimulation, indicating brainstem failure.
Body posture at rest and after noxious stimulation can indicate the anatomic level responsible for the alteration of consciousness. Mildly altered mental status may be manifested by a comfortable sleeping posture. Frequent spontaneous readjustments of position, yawns, and sighs are observed. Patients who lie in a flat, extended, unvarying position with eyes half-open exhibit a deeper coma. An asymmetrical posture suggests motor dysfunction of one side. This asymmetry may be subtle, such as mild external rotation of the affected leg.
Posturing in response to noxious stimulation indicates moreserious neurologic conditions. Decorticate posturing consists of rigid extension of the legs and feet, flexion and supinationof the arms, and fisting of the hands. It indicates bilateral cortical or subcortical abnormalities or herniation, with preservedbrainstem function. Decerebrate posturing (rigid extensionand internal rotation of legs and arms) indicates a midbrainabnormality and is classically associated with herniation ortoxic-metabolic abnormalities. These postures may be exhibitedunilaterally or bilaterally. A structural cause is likely when posturing is asymmetric, whereas symmetric posturing may bemore likely with underlying toxic-metabolic etiologies.
The evolution of change in consciousness is an important clue to the etiology. A detailed history and physical examination usually provide sufficient clues to differentiate among the three major diagnostic categories producing coma: metabolic/toxic, infectious, and structural. In most clinical situations, the cause of coma is readily identified.
Metabolic derangements are common causes of altered mental status. Disturbances of blood chemistries (glucose, sodium, calcium, bicarbonate, blood urea nitrogen, ammonia) may produce depressed mental status. Metabolic causes of acute coma are suggested by spontaneous fluctuations in the level of consciousness, tremors, myoclonus, asterixis, visual and tactile hallucinations, and deep coma with preservation of pupillary light reflexes. Acute metabolic or toxic disorders usually produce a hypotonic, limp state, but hypertonia, rigidity, and decorticate and decerebrate posturing are sometimes observed in coma caused by hypoglycemia, hepatic encephalopathy, and short-acting barbiturates. A subacute course of somnolence progressing to difficulty arousing from a deep sleep (stupor) over hours suggests drug intoxication or organ system failure (kidney, liver) producing a metabolic encephalopathy. Care must be taken to investigate background medical conditions that may produce a decline in consciousness (e.g., diabetes mellitus, leukemia, kidney failure, liver disease). Intoxication and ingestion are common causes of acute alteration of consciousness, and a thorough history must be taken to search for the offending agent (Chapter 45). A history of social and emotional difficulties, drug abuse, or depression raises concern for self-inflicted injury or toxic ingestion.
Central nervous system infection, such as meningitis or encephalitis, usually causes abrupt alteration of mental status, althoughviral meningoencephalitis (particularly herpes simplex virus) canpresent with subacute alterations in mental status. The presenceof fever, petechiae, chills, and sweats suggests infection. Prodromal photophobia and pain on movement of the head or eyes aresymptoms of meningeal irritation. Premonitory symptoms, suchas abdominal pain, diarrhea, sore throat, conjunctivitis, cough, orrash, point toward viral encephalitis or a postinfectious syndromeas the cause of the altered consciousness.
Structural processes, such as hemorrhage, infarction, or acute hydrocephalus, can cause sudden depressed consciousness in children. An evolution of headache and morning vomiting suggests increased intracranial pressure (ICP). A gradual fading of alertness or declining school performance over preceding weeks suggests an expanding intracranial mass, subdural hematoma, or chronic infection (e.g., tuberculous meningitis, human immunodeficiency virus). Deprivation of oxygen to the brain, caused by either deficient oxygen in the blood (hypoxemia) or deficient delivery of blood to the brain (ischemia), impairs consciousness.
Papilledema or paralysis of cranial nerves III or VI in a patientwith depressed consciousness is strong evidence of elevatedICP, a medical and neurosurgical emergency. Herniations occur under the falx, through the tentorial notch, or into theforamen magnum (Table 184-2). Recognition of the signsassociated with the major herniation syndromes can be lifesaving, if emergent neuroimaging and treatment are initiated.Uncal herniation implies displacement of the mesial temporal lobe over the tentorial edge, producing a unilateral third
Transtentorial Unilateral Supratentorial mass lesions, Downward displacement of supratentorial Headache (uncal) or bilateral diffuse brain swelling, brain tissue into infratentorial compartment Altered consciousness focal edema, or acute (below tentorium), compressing the cerebral Dilated ipsilateral pupil hydrocephalus peduncles, midbrain, third cranial nerve, and Cranial nerve III palsy posterior circulation Hemiparesis Decerebrate posturing Cushing triad Respiratory arrest nerve palsy (“blown pupil”) and hemiparesis (which can beipsilateral, because of compression of the contralateral cerebralpeduncle, or contralateral if the uncus compresses the ipsilateral peduncle). Transtentorial (or central) herniation occurs with gradual downward pressure from the diencephalonthrough the tentorium, resulting in compression of the brain-stem (first midbrain, then progressing to pons and medulla). Aprogressive loss of consciousness accompanied by a characteristic progression of motor, oculomotor, pupillary, and respiratory signs indicates incipient transtentorial herniation.
Evaluation is guided by the history and physical examination(see Table 184-1). Computed tomography (CT) remains thepreferred imaging technique in emergency situations because itcan be performed rapidly and accurately identifies acute hemorrhages, large space-occupying lesions, edema, and shifts ofthe midline. The initial head CT scan is done without contrast to identify blood and calcifications. Contrast can be administered to identify inflammatory and neoplastic lesions, but is notusually required for identification of major lesions. Several metabolic derangements (hepatic encephalopathy, Reye syndrome,hyponatremia, lead encephalopathy, diabetic ketoacidosis, andhypoxic-ischemic injury) may give rise to severe elevations of ICPwithout producing obvious CT abnormalities. Lumbar puncture (LP) in a patient with elevated ICP can result in transtentorial herniation, so imaging should be performed before LP ifelevated ICP is suspected, especially if there are any focal neurological deficits on exam. If trauma or immersion injuries aresuspected, neck manipulation should be avoided until cervicalspine imaging excludes vertebral fracture or subluxation.
Examination of the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) may establishthe cause of the alteration of consciousness. Appropriate neuroimaging should be performed to ensure that no added injury islikely to be inflicted with LP. The presence of red blood cells inthe CSF may suggest primary subarachnoid hemorrhage, parenchymal hemorrhage, or hemorrhagic infection (herpes simplexvirus), or it may be due to a traumatic procedure. White bloodcells in the CSF usually denote infectious meningitis or meningoencephalitis but may also be associated with vasculitis or parainfectious syndrome. Elevated CSF protein is seen in patientswith meningeal inflammation or tumors, and abnormal CSFglucose levels are also markers of infection and inflammation.
The etiology of altered mental status determines the treatment. Ingestions may necessitate gastric lavage, charcoal administration, forced diuresis, dialysis, or specific antidotes (Chapter 45). Infections are treated with appropriate antibiotics or antiviral agents (Chapter 95). If mental status changes are due to increased ICP, acute medical interventions (osmotic agents, steroids, hyperventilation) must be instituted, emergent neuroimaging performed, and urgent neurosurgical consultation obtained. Structural brain lesions may necessitate medical treatment of increased ICP or surgical excision.
The outcome of altered mental status relates to many variables, including etiology. Intoxication typically carries a good prognosis, whereas hypoxia carries a poor prognosis. Other prognostic factors include the duration of coma and the age of the patient; children have better outcomes than adults. Complete recovery from traumatic coma of several days’ duration is possible in children; however, many survivors of prolonged coma are left in a persistent vegetative state or with severe neuropsychiatric disability.
Transient, Recurrent Depression of ConsciousnessEpisodic alteration or depression of consciousness with full recovery is usually due to seizure, migraine, syncope, or metabolic abnormality (hypoglycemia). Consciousness can be impaired during seizures or in the postictal state. Nonconvulsive (subclinical) status epilepticus (generalized or focal) can directly impair consciousness and is a common complicating factor for patients with acute neurological disorders (head trauma, meningitis, following convulsive status epilepticus). Some patients may have a prolonged postictal state after an unrecognized seizure.
Basilar artery or confusional migraines can last hours and be accompanied by agitation, ataxia, cortical blindness, vertigo, or cranial nerve palsies. Headache may precede or follow the neurologic signs.
Syncope is one of the most common causes of abrupt, episodic loss of consciousness. Neurocardiogenic syncope, cardiac arrhythmia, or an obstructive cardiomyopathy can cause recurrent episodes of loss of consciousness. Two thirds of children with syncope have irregular, myoclonic movements as they lose consciousness (anoxic seizures), which much be distinguished from epilepsy (unprovoked seizures). Children with unexplained syncope require a complete cardiac examination (Chapter 140).
Metabolic derangements, particularly hypoglycemia, give rise to episodes of lethargy, confusion, seizures, or coma. Several other metabolic disorders cause recurrent bouts of hyperammonemia (Chapter 53). Symptoms include nausea, vomiting, lethargy, confusion, ataxia, hyperventilation, and coma.
Following head injury, children may have immediate depression of consciousness and neurologic deficits or may be completely alert without any immediate signs of neurologic injury. Most serious trauma results from motor vehicle crashes, sports, recreation-related injuries, and violence. Head trauma may result in concussion, posttraumatic intracranial hemorrhage, skull fractures, or cranial nerve or cervical spine injuries. Head injury, or other injuries, with associated retinal hemorrhages in infants and young children should raise the suspicion of abusive head trauma.
Concussion is the process in which traumatic forces on the brain result in the rapid onset of short-lived neurologic impairment that typically resolves spontaneously. Patients may have signs or symptoms in one or more domain: somatic (headache), cognitive (slowed reaction times, feeling like they are in a fog, poor attention), emotional (lability, irritability), sleep
Return to play protocol follows a stepwise progress with each step taking 24 hours. The athlete should continue to the next level if asymptomatic at the current level.
No activity, complete physical and mental rest.Light aerobic exercise such as walking or stationary cycling; no resistance training.
Sport-specific exercise (skating in hockey, running in soccer).Noncontact, more progressive training drills; resistance training.Full-contact practice after medical clearance.Game play.Modified from McCrory P, Meeuwisse W, Johnston K, et al: Consensus statement on concussion in sport: the 3rd International Conference on
Concussion in Sport, held in Zurich, November 2008. Br J Sports Med 2009;43:i76-i84.
disturbance (drowsiness), or physical signs (loss of consciousness, amnesia). Acute symptoms usually reflect a functional disturbance rather than structural injury, and no abnormalities are seen on standard imaging. The majority of concussions resolve within 10 days, although the recovery may be slower in children, and in a small percentage of cases, the symptoms are prolonged.
Repeated concussions, especially within a short time frame (days or weeks) carry a significant risk of permanent brain injury (second impact syndrome). Children must not be permitted to resume physical activities until well after the symptoms resolve (Table 184-3).
Head trauma can result in epidural, subdural, parenchymal, and subarachnoid intracranial hemorrhages, as well as brain contusions (Table 184-4). Symptoms include headache, vomiting lethargy, decreased consciousness and seizures. The classic presentation of epidural hemorrhages involves a lucid interval, where, following primary brain injury, a child has a decreased level of consciousness, then returns to normal for several hours before developing rapidly progressive neurologic symptoms. Subdural hemorrhages may result from direct trauma or rotational forces from vigorous shaking (shaken baby syndrome). In neonates and infants with open fontanelles, signs and symptoms may be absent or nonspecific. Occasionally, epidural, subdural, or intracranial hemorrhage or a rapid, life-threatening increase in ICP develops unexpectedly in children due to cerebral edema.
Skull fractures may be linear, diastatic (spreading the suture), depressed (an edge displaced inferiorly), or compound (bone fragments breaking the skin surface). Linear and diastatic fractures necessitate no treatment, but indicate trauma capable of producing an underlying hematoma. Small, depressed fractures have the same significance as linear fractures, but if the depression is more than 0.5 to 1 cm, surgical elevation of bone fragments and repair of associated dural tears are generally recommended. Compound fractures or penetrating injuries necessitate emergent surgical debridement and tetanus
Onset over minutes to hours Lucid interval followed by progressive neurologic deficits Lens-shaped extracerebral hemorrhage compressing brain
Chronic subdural Onset over weeks to months Anemia, macrocephaly Seizures, vomiting Crescentic, low-density mass on CT
Focal neurologic deficits Brain swelling with transtentorial herniation CT findings: multifocal low-density areas with punctate hemorrhages Surgical evacuation or observation Prognosis good with prompt treatment, otherwise poor
Subdural taps or subdural shunt as necessary Prognosis can be good
Medical treatment of elevated intracranial pressure * Prognosis guardedCT, Computed tomography. *Mannitol, elevation of head of bed, diuresis, hyperventilation, steroids.
prophylaxis. The risk of associated brain contusion and early seizures is high in compound fractures.
Skull fractures may present with localized swelling and pain; subcutaneous bleeding over the mastoid process (Battle sign) or around the orbit (raccoon eyes); blood behind the tympanic membrane (hemotympanum); or CSF leak from the nose (rhinorrhea) or ear (otorrhea). Rarely, a few weeks to months after linear skull fractures, a soft, pulsatile scalp mass is palpable; radiographically, the fracture edges are separated by a soft tissue mass that consists of fibrotic tissue and accumulated brain and meningeal tissue and, possibly a leptomeningeal cyst. The recommended treatment of leptomeningeal cysts involves surgical excision of abnormal tissue and dural repair.
CSF leak occurs when a skull fracture tears adjacent dura, creating communications between the subarachnoid space and the nose, paranasal sinuses, mastoid air cells, or ear. Clear fluid that leaks from the nose or ear after head trauma is presumed to be CSF until proved otherwise. The presence of air within the subdural, subarachnoid, or ventricular space also indicates a dural tear and open communication between the nose or paranasal sinuses and brain. In most cases, the dura heals spontaneously when the patient’s head is kept elevated. Patients with CSF leaks are at risk for the development of meningitis or extradural abscesses. If the leak persists or recurs or if meningitis develops, the dura is surgically repaired. Cranial nerve palsies, secondary to a laceration or contusion of the cranial nerves, may result from a skull fracture and may be transitory or permanent. Longitudinal fracture of the petrous bone produces a conductive hearing loss and facial palsy, which begin hours after the injury and usually resolve spontaneously. Transverse petrous fractures produce sensorineural hearing loss and immediate facial palsy with a poor prognosis for spontaneous recovery. Disruption of the ossicular chain can cause hearing loss and may necessitate surgery. Vestibular disturbances, producing prolonged posttraumatic vertigo, are extremely common. Permanent loss of olfaction after a head injury is the result of a rupture of the thin olfactory nerves within the cribriform plate. Disruption of cranial nerves III, IV, and VI produces ophthalmoplegia, diplopia, and head tilt. Even seemingly minor head injuries can produce sixth nerve palsy with medial deviation (or incomplete abduction) of one or both eye(s).
Other Complications of Head TraumaCervical spine injuries must be suspected in any unconscious child, especially if bruises are present on the head, neck, or back. In conscious children, findings of neck or back pain, burning or stabbing pains radiating to the arms, paraplegia, quadriplegia, or asymmetrical motor or sensory responses of arms or legs suggest spinal cord injury. Cervical spine injury (displaced or fractured vertebra) may result in complete transection of the cord with spinal shock, loss of sensation, and flaccid paralysis. A contused cord (without vertebral abnormality) may present in a similar manner. Any patient with a clinical or radiologic abnormality of the spine requires immediate spine and cardiopulmonary stabilization and neurosurgical consultation.
Posttraumatic seizures are divided into one of three patterns: impact seizures, early posttraumatic seizures, and lateposttraumatic seizures. Impact seizures occur within secondsof the injury and are presumed to reflect a direct mechanical stimulation to the cortex. The prognosis is excellent, andlikelihood of later epilepsy is negligible. Early posttraumaticseizures occurring within the first week of the head injury arelikely the result of a localized area of cerebral contusion or edema. The long-term prognosis for these seizures is quitefavorable. Late posttraumatic seizures arise more than a weekafter the trauma and most likely indicate an area of corticalgliosis or scarring that will be a source for long-term epilepsy.These patients often require long-term antiepileptic drugtherapy.
Transient neurologic disturbances may develop a few minutes after head trauma and last for minutes to hours before clearing. The most common symptoms are corticalblindness and confusional states, but hemiparesis, ataxia, orany other neurologic deficit may appear. These symptomsmay represent a trauma-triggered migraine in susceptiblechildren, but care must be exercised to exclude intracranial pathology.
Drowsiness, headache, and vomiting are common after head trauma. They are not, by themselves, of concern if consciousness is preserved, the clinical trend is one of improvement, and results of the neurologic examination are normal. Children are especially susceptible to somnolence after head trauma but should be easily arousable. If symptoms worsen or persist for more than 1 to 2 days, neuroimaging may be indicated to look for subdural hematoma or cerebral edema.
Children who have been unconscious or have amnesia following a head injury should be evaluated in an emergency department. High-risk patients include those with persistent depressed or decreasing level of consciousness, focal neurologic signs, penetrating skull injury, depressed skull fractures, or worsening symptoms. Because patients with intracranial hemorrhage may progressively deteriorate and require immediate neurosurgical care, these patients warrant care in a skilled trauma center.
The Glasgow Coma Scale is a valuable tool for monitoring the course of patients after trauma for signs of deterioration (Chapter 42). Management includes ensuring an appropriate airway, breathing, and circulation. Neuroimaging with CT or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and skull and cervical spine radiographs are obtained emergently. Neuroimaging is not necessary for uncomplicated concussions but should be employed whenever suspicion of structural intracranial lesion exists.
The observation period varies with the severity of the injury and may include hospitalization even for children without neurologic deficits who have sustained a concussion. Any patient demonstrating any features of a concussion should be medically evaluated, and disposition (return to play) must be determined by a health care provider (see Table 184-3). The child should be monitored for deterioration over the initial few hours after injury and not left alone. If the child appears well after several hours and is discharged home, parents should be instructed to call their physician for any change in alertness, orientation, or neurologic functioning. An increase in somnolence, headache, or vomiting is cause for concern and neuroimaging.
Patients with intracranial hemorrhage may require emergent surgical intervention for decompression and drainage of the blood collection. Increased ICP may require monitoring, placement of a ventricular drain, and aggressive medical management, including intubation and ventilation, osmotic therapy, and sedation (see later discussion).
Children with concussion without subsequent neurologic deficits have a favorable long-term prognosis, and late sequelae are rare. Children with moderate contusions usually make good recoveries even when neurologic signs persist for weeks. Longterm sequelae may include poor memory, slowing of motor skills, generalized decrease in cognitive skills, behavioral alterations, or attention deficits. Language function, especially in a young child, frequently makes a good recovery. Rehabilitation programs with physical therapy, behavioral management, and appropriate education may be necessary. Poor prognostic signs include a Glasgow Coma Scale score of less than 4 on admission without improvement in 24 hours, absent pupillary light reflexes, and persistent extensor plantar reflexes.
Children with cerebral contusion who survive acute cerebral swelling may improve gradually or may remain vegetative. Extracranial trauma also contributes to the morbidity of these patients (aspiration pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome, sepsis, emboli). Maximal recovery may take weeks or months. Coma lasting for weeks after head trauma may be compatible with a good outcome, although the risk of late sequelae is significant. Patients who remain in a vegetative state for months after head injury are unlikely to improve.
When the cranial sutures are fused, the skull becomes a rigid container enclosing a fixed volume, including the brain (80% to 85%), CSF (10% to 15%), and blood (5% to 10%). The exponential relationship between the volume within a closed container and pressure results in a massive increase in ICP as intracranial volume increases. The brain accommodates increased ICP initially by expelling CSF and blood from the intracranial compartment into the spinal subarachnoid space. When the limits of this accommodation are reached, the brain itself begins to shift in response to the continuing elevation of ICP. Brain shifts may cause herniations across the dural extensions or skull barriers (see Table 184-2).
The causes of increased ICP include mass lesion, hydrocephalus, cerebral edema due to trauma or infection and idiopathic intracranial hypertension (Tables 184-5, 184-6).
Mass lesions (brain tumor, abscess, hemorrhage) may produce increased ICP not only by virtue of large size, but by blockage of CSF pathways, blockage of venous outflow, or production of vasogenic cerebral edema. Brain abscesses usually present as mass lesions, producing focal neurologic signs and increased ICP. Symptoms of infection, including fever, malaise, anorexia, and stiff neck, may be subtle or absent. Brain edema around an abscess is usually severe and extends into the surrounding white matter. Children with chronic cardiac or pulmonary disease may embolize infected material to their brains, predisposing them to brain abscesses. Brain tumors in children are most often located in the posterior fossa and can result in elevated ICP due to obstruction of CSF flow through the cerebral aqueduct and fourth ventricle.
Hydrocephalus from congenital abnormalities or due to an intracranial mass is typically characterized by a slowly evolving syndrome of increased ICP extending over weeks or months. CSF is continuously produced by the choroid plexus within the lateral, third, and fourth ventricles. CSF flows from the lateral ventricles through the intraventricular foramen of Monro to the third ventricle, then passes through the cerebral aqueduct to the fourth ventricle. CSF exits the fourth ventricle from the foramen of Magendie and foramina of Luschka. Sub-arachnoid flow occurs superiorly to the cisterns of the brain and inferiorly to the spinal subarachnoid space. Absorption of CSF is accomplished predominantly by the arachnoid villi into the large dural sinuses. Hydrocephalus is due to the obstruction of CSF flow anywhere along its course (see Table 1846). Obstructive hydrocephalus is caused by a block before the CSF flows to the subarachnoid space, usually within the fourth ventricle or at the level of the aqueduct. Impairment of CSF flow within the subarachnoid space or impairment of
Hydrocephalus Infarction with edema Hemorrhage Tumor Abscess Cyst Inflammatory mass Arterial ischemic stroke Intracranial venous sinus thrombosis
Hyponatremia Diabetic ketoacidosis Dialysis dysequilibrium syndrome Reye syndrome Fulminant hepatic encephalopathy Pulmonary insufficiency with hypercarbia Lead intoxication
Idiopathic intracranial hypertension (pseudotumor cerebri) Drugs Withdrawal of long-term steroid administration Endocrinologic disturbance Obesity
Obstruction of CSF Intraventricular foramina (Monro) pathways obstruction Parasellar mass (craniopharyngioma, germinoma, pituitary tumor) Intraventricular tumor (ependymoma) Tuberous sclerosis with subependymal giant cell astrocytoma Aqueduct of Sylvius (cerebral aqueduct) obstruction Aqueductal stenosis Midbrain or pineal region tumor Postinfectious or postinflammatory Posthemorrhagic Impaired flow from the fourth ventricle foramina of Luschka and Magendie Basilar impression Platybasia Dandy-Walker malformation Arnold-Chiari malformation Bone lesions of the cranial base (achondroplasia, rickets)
Overproduction of Choroid plexus papilloma CSFDefective Hypoplasia of the arachnoid villi reabsorption of CSF Postinfectious or posthemorrhagic (extraventricular destruction of arachnoid villi or obstruction or subarachnoid fibrosis communicating Extensive cerebral sinovenous thrombosis hydrocephalus)
CSF, Cerebrospinal fluid.absorption is known by the misnomer communicating hydrocephalus, where there is actually extraventricular obstruction of CSF flow (external hydrocephalus). Hydrocephalus caused by overproduction of CSF without true obstruction is seen in choroid plexus papillomas, which account for 2% to 4% of childhood intracranial tumors.
Bacterial meningitis may produce increased ICP by blockage of CSF pathways, toxic cerebral edema, increase in cerebral blood flow, or multifocal cerebral infarctions (Chapter 100). Most children with bacterial meningitis can undergo LP safely because the brain swelling is diffuse and distributed evenly throughout the brain and spinal CSF compartments. A few patients with meningitis, however, develop transtentorial herniation within a few hours of LP. Focal neurologic signs, poorly reactive pupils, and a tense fontanelle are contraindications to LP in a patient with suspected bacterial meningitis.
Idiopathic intracranial hypertension (pseudotumor cerebri) is a cause of increased ICP with normal brain imaging.Patients exhibit a daily debilitating headache associated withdiplopia, abducens palsy, transient visual obscurations, and papilledema. If untreated, permanent visual field loss may develop.The syndrome has been associated with ingestion of medications(tetracycline, vitamin A, oral contraceptive agents) and endocrinedisturbances (thyroid disease, Addison disease). Most commonly,this condition is idiopathic and affects children who are otherwise well except for being overweight, with rapid weight gain being a predisposing factor. Treatment including acetazolamideor other diuretic, topiramate, or corticosteroids, is generally effective. Weight loss and cessation of triggering medications are alsomainstays of treatment. Infrequently, chronic papilledema frompersistent idiopathic intracranial hypertension produces visualimpairment, and more aggressive management is required (opticnerve fenestration) to preserve visual function.
Available @ StudentConsult.comThe symptoms and signs of increased ICP include headache,vomiting, lethargy, irritability, altered consciousness, sixthnerve palsy, strabismus, diplopia, and papilledema. Headaches suggestive of increased ICP are those associated withnocturnal wakening; worse in the morning; with cough, micturition, defecation, or Valsalva maneuver; or progressivelyworsening. Infants who have an open fontanelle usually donot develop papilledema or abducens palsy. Specific signsof increased ICP in infants consist of a bulging fontanelle,suture diastasis, distended scalp veins, a persistent downward deviation of the eyes (sunsetting), and rapid growth ofhead circumference. Specific signs of increased ICP in theinfratentorial compartment (posterior fossa) include stiffneck and head tilt. Focal neurologic deficits reflect the siteof the lesion that is producing the increased ICP and mayinclude hemiparesis from supratentorial lesions, or ataxiaand cranial nerve palsies from infratentorial lesions. Critically increased ICP may result in herniation syndromes, as discussed earlier. In addition, the Cushing triad of elevated blood pressure, bradycardia, and irregular respirations is a late sign of critically elevated ICP.
The clinical manifestations of hydrocephalus are caused byventricular distention and increased ICP. Dilation of the lateral ventricles stretches the corticopontocerebellar and corticospinalpathways, resulting in ataxia and spasticity that initially are mostmarked in the lower extremities because the leg fibers are closestto the ventricles. Distention of the third ventricle may compressthe hypothalamic regions and result in endocrine dysfunction.The optic nerves, chiasm, and tracts also are in proximity to theanterior third ventricle, and visual dysfunction results whenthese structures are compressed. Dilation of the cerebral aqueduct compresses the surrounding periaqueductal vertical gazecenter, causing downward deviation of the eyes. Manifestationsof increased ICP may evolve slowly when obstruction is not complete and there is time for transependymal absorption of CSF intothe veins, or rapidly when obstruction is abrupt and complete(subarachnoid hemorrhage) and compensation cannot occur.
The cause of increased ICP is determined by brain imaging with either head CT or brain MRI. CT is rapid, readilyavailable, and provides clear visualization of an acute hemorrhage or dilated ventricles. Mass lesions, hydrocephalus,and trauma are easily recognized. Diffuse brain swelling produced by hypoxic-ischemic injury, meningitis, encephalitis,metabolic abnormalities, or toxins may be better delineated by MRI. MRI is also superior to CT for visualizing the posterior fossa and cortical contusions. LP is the diagnostic testfor infection and for documentation of elevated ICP (essential for patients with idiopathic intracranial hypertension).However, LP is contraindicated in the setting of an intracranial mass lesion or clear hydrocephalus, because withdrawalof CSF can change pressures between the intracranial compartments and promote brainstem shifts and herniation.Idiopathic intracranial hypertension is diagnosed whendirect measurement of ICP with a manometer during LPreveals elevated ICP in the absence of other CSF or imagingabnormalities.
Treatment of Elevated ICPThe treatment of acute increased ICP should be carried out in an intensive care setting with continuous monitoring and vigilant attention to vital signs. The patient’s response to specific interventions must be carefully assessed. The head is placed at midline and the head of the bed elevated 30°. Immediate endotracheal intubation and hyperventilation (to a Paco2 not lower than 35 mm Hg) produces rapid, but transient, reduction in ICP by cerebral vasoconstriction, leading to decreased cerebral blood volume. Mannitol or 3% saline may be used acutely to produce an osmotic shift of fluid from the brain to the plasma. A ventricular catheter may be used to remove CSF and to monitor the ICP continuously. Pentobarbital-induced coma reduces pressure by severely suppressing cerebral metabolism and cerebral blood flow. Acetazolamide and furosemide may transiently decrease CSF production. Because acute interventions such as hyperventilation, osmotic therapies, and barbiturates can have negative impacts on systemic and cerebral perfusion and have only transient effects on ICP, they must be used judiciously.
The treatment of hydrocephalus may be medical or surgical, depending on the etiology. After subarachnoid hemorrhage or meningitis, the flow or absorption of CSF may be transiently impaired. In this circumstance, the use of medication that decreases CSF production, such as acetazolamide, may be beneficial. Surgical management consists of removing the obstructive lesion, placing a shunt, or both. A shunt consists of polyethylene tubing extending usually from a lateral ventricle to the peritoneal cavity (ventriculoperitoneal shunt). Shunts carry the hazards of infection or sudden occlusion with signs and symptoms of acute hydrocephalus.
Vasopressor drugs may be necessary to maintain adequate arterial pressure and cerebral perfusion pressure. Serum electrolytes and osmolarity should be monitored because of risk of the syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone or cerebral salt wasting. Maintaining normoglycemia may have a positive impact on outcomes. Other supportive measures include controlling agitation, fever, and seizures.
All treatments for increased ICP are temporary measuresintended to prevent herniation until the underlying disease process either is treated or resolves spontaneously. Timely interventioncan reverse cerebral herniation. Complete neurologic recovery ispossible, but rare, after signs of transtentorial or foramen magnumherniation have begun. When these signs are complete, however,with bilaterally dilated, unreactive pupils, absent eye movements,and flaccid quadriplegia, recovery is no longer possible.
Children typically acquire developmental milestones in a variable but predictable sequence (Chapter 7). Rarely, children present with stagnation of development or frank loss of previouslyacquired skills. These neurodegenerative disorders encompassa large heterogenous group of diseases that result from specificgenetic and biochemical defects and varied unknown causes.Neurodegenerative disorders can present at any age. Clinical phenotypes also vary, but neurologic deterioration may bedemonstrated as loss of speech, vision, hearing, and intellectualor motor abilities—sometimes in concert with seizures, feedingdifficulties, and mental retardation. Progression may be slowover many years, or may lead to death in early childhood.
Degenerative diseases may affect gray matter (neuronal degenerative disorders), white matter (leukodystrophies),both gray and white matter, or specific, focal regions of the brain. Early seizures and intellectual impairment mark grey matter disorders, whereas upper motor neuron signs and progressive spasticity are the hallmarks of white matter disorders. Many neurodegenerative illnesses result from enzymatic disorders within subcellular organelles, including lysosomes, mitochondria, and peroxisomes (Table 185-1). Therefore, any
Cognitive regression, hepatosplenomegaly, jaundice, seizures Test: acid sphingomyelinase (ASM) enzyme activity
Hepatosplenomegaly, cytopenia, spasticity, hyperextension, extraocular palsies, trismus, difficulty swallowingTest: glucosylceramidase enzyme activityInfantile form—early feeding difficulties, global retardation, seizures, coarse facial features, hepatosplenomegaly, cherry red spot
Juvenile form—incoordination, weakness, language regression; later, seizures, spasticity, blindnessTest: GM1 ganglioside enzyme activity; GLB1 gene testingTay-Sachs—progressive weakness, marked startle reaction, blindness, convulsions, spasticity, and cherry red spots
Test: β-hexosaminidase A (HEX A) enzymatic activity Sandhoff disease—phenotype similar to Tay-Sachs
Test: hexosaminidase A and B enzyme activity (both deficient)Irritability, hyperpyrexia, vomiting, seizures, hypertonia, blindness Test: galactocerebrosidase (GALC) enzyme activity
Late infantile form—stiffening and ataxia of gait, spasticity, optic atrophy, intellectual deterioration, absent reflexes Juvenile and adult forms
Test: 1. arylsulfatase A (ARSA) enzyme activity 2. If ARSA activity is <10% of controls, exclude ARSA pseudodeficiency with genetic testing of ARSA and/or abnormal urinary sulfatide excretion
Visual loss, progressive dementia, seizures, motor deteriorationTest: Diagnostic algorithm depends on age of symptom onset, and replies on stepwise testing for palmitoyl-protein thioesterase 1 (PPT1) and tripeptidyl-peptidase 1 (TPP-1) enzyme activity
Academic difficulties, behavioral disturbances, hypoadrenalism, seizures, spasticity, ataxia, and swallowing difficulties.
Spastic paraparesis, urinary incontinence, adrenal insufficiency Test: very long chain fatty acids
Short stature, kyphoscoliosis, coarse facies, hepatosplenomegaly, cardiovascular abnormalities, and corneal clouding
Test: 1. lysosomal enzymes 2. urinary glycosaminoglycan excretionMitochondrial myopathy, encephalopathy, lactic acidosis, and stroke-like episodesMyoclonus, epilepsy, and ragged red fibers, dementia, hearing loss, optic nerve atrophy, ataxia, and loss of deep sensation
Neuropathy, ataxia, and retinitis pigmentosaTests: testing for mitochondrial disorders is complex and must be tailored to the individual clinical scenario; screening for blood and serum lactate and pyruvate is reasonable
Hypotonia, feeding difficulties, respiratory irregularity, weakness of extraocular movements, and ataxia
Test: depends on clinical phenotypeLoss of purposeful hand movements and communication skills, social withdrawal, gait apraxia, seizures, spasticity, and kyphoscoliosis
Test: MECP2 gene testingInborn error of copper metabolism resulting in signs of cerebellar and basal ganglia dysfunction
Test: serum ceruloplasmin levels, urinary copper excretion patient with a degenerative neurologic condition of unknown cause should have leukocytes or skin fibroblasts harvested for measurement of a standard battery of lysosomal, peroxisomal, and mitochondrial enzymes (Chapters 56, 57). Neuroimaging, usually with brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), is also typically warranted. The diagnosis of leukodystrophy usually can be made confidently on the basis of extensive cerebral white matter changes on MRI. Histologic and biochemical studies may be normal in gray matter encephalopathy, making the diagnosis much less secure. Acquired lesions (infectious, inflammatory, vascular, toxic) are difficult to exclude completely. Brain biopsy is not likely to be helpful.
The sphingolipidoses are characterized by intracellular storage of lipid substrates resulting from defective catabolism of the sphingolipids comprising cellular membranes. They are inherited in an autosomal recessive pattern. In most cases, there are several forms of these diseases, typically corresponding to the amount of residual activity in the relevant enzyme.
The infantile forms are generally the most severe, usually presenting in the first or second year of life with rapid disease progression; affected individuals have virtually no normal enzyme activity. Juvenile and chronic forms are manifest somewhat later in childhood or even adulthood and have a less fulminant disease course because of some residual enzyme activity.
Classic Niemann-Pick disease is caused by a deficiency of sphingomyelinase and should be suspected in infants who exhibit the combination of hepatosplenomegaly, developmental delay, interstitial lung disease, and retinal cherry-red spots. The ganglion cells of the retina and macula are distended and appear as a large area of white surrounding a small red fovea that is not covered by ganglion cells. Cognitive regression, myoclonic seizures, hypotonia, and jaundice are also noted within the first year of life. Genetic testing for SMPD1 mutations is clinically available.
Although the most common form of Gaucher disease is an indolent illness of adults, there is a rapidly fatal infantile form featuring severe neurologic involvement caused by deficiency of the enzyme glucocerebrosidase. Glucoceramide accumulates in the liver, spleen, and bone marrow. The characteristic neurologic signs are opisthotonos (arching of the trunk), trismus (difficulty opening mouth), eye movement abnormalities, and bulbar signs including difficulty swallowing.
Available @ StudentConsult.comTay-Sachs disease (GM2 gangliosidosis) is caused by deficiency of hexosaminidase A and results in the accumulation of GM2 ganglioside in cerebral gray matter and cerebellum. Infants are typically normal except for a marked startle response until 6 months of age, when they develop listlessness, irritability, hyperacusis, intellectual retardation, and retinal cherry-red spots. Within months, blindness, convulsions, spasticity, and opisthotonos develop.
Metachromatic leukodystrophy (MLD) is a lipidosis causedby deficiency of arylsulfatase that results in demyelination ofthe central nervous system (CNS) and peripheral nervous system. Children with the late-infantile form present between 1and 2 years of age. After a period of normal development, progressive stiffening and ataxia of gait, spasticity, optic atrophy,intellectual deterioration, and absent reflexes occur. Diagnostictesting reveals increased cerebral spinal fluid protein (a sign ofCNS demyelination) and slowing of motor nerve conductionvelocity (a sign of peripheral demyelination). Older school-agechildren with the juvenile form of MLD may present with gradual onset of behavior difficulties and declining academic abilities, succeeded by gait difficulties, clumsiness, slurred speech,and sometimes seizures. Relentless progression is the rule.Bone marrow transplant is a treatment option, particularly if asibling is diagnosed with MLD before symptom onset.
Krabbe disease (globoid cell leukodystrophy) is caused by a deficiency of galactocerebrosidase. Individuals with the infantile form (85% to 90% of cases) appear to be normal during the first months of life. Symptoms begin by 6 months of age and include extreme irritability, hyperpyrexia, vomiting, seizures, hypertonia, and blindness. Demyelination of the CNS and peripheral nervous system results in upper and lower motor neuron signs.
The neuronal ceroid lipofuscinoses are a group of inherited, neurodegenerative lysosomal storage disorders characterized by progressive vision loss, seizures, declining cognitive abilities, motordeterioration, and early death. Ten different types have been characterized, including infantile, late-infantile, and juvenile types.
The adrenoleukodystrophies (ALD) are a group of X-linked neurodegenerative disorders that are often associated with adrenocortical insufficiency. ALD is caused by accumulation of very long chain fatty acids in neuronal and adrenal tissue (Chapter 178) and is diagnosed by abnormal very long chain fatty acid testing. The most common leukodystrophy is classic X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy, caused by a mutation in the ABCD1 gene. Boys present between ages 5 and 15 years with academic difficulties, behavioral disturbances, and gait abnormalities, progressing to seizures, spasticity, ataxia, and swallowing difficulties. Brain MRI demonstrates a classic pattern of symmetric abnormal white matter signal in the parietal-occipital regions, with contrast enhancement at the anterior margin. Symptomatic adrenocortical insufficiency with fatigue, vomiting, and hypotension develops in 20% to 40% of patients with X-linked ALD. ALD should be considered in any male with primary adrenocortical insufficiency, even in the absence of clear-cut neurological abnormalities. Adrenomyeloneuropathy, a chronic disorder of spinal cord and peripheral nerves, presents in the third decade of life. Female carriers of the ABCD1 mutation may also have symptoms similar to adrenomyeloneuropathy, beginning later in life (>35 years of age).
Mucopolysaccharidoses are caused by defective lysosomal hydrolases resulting in the accumulation of mucopolysaccharides within lysosomes (see Chapter 56). The clinical manifestations include coarse facies, short stature, kyphoscoliosis, hepatosplenomegaly, cardiovascular abnormalities, and corneal clouding. Neurologic involvement is seen in mucopolysaccharidosis types I (Hurler syndrome), II (Hunter syndrome),III (Sanfilippo syndrome), and VII (Sly syndrome). Children with Hurler syndrome, the most severe of these illnesses, appear normal during the first 6 months of life, then develop the characteristic skeletal and neurologic features. Intellectual disability, spasticity, deafness, and optic atrophy are progressive. Hydrocephalus frequently occurs because of obstruction to cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) flow by thickened leptomeninges.
Mitochondrial diseases represent a clinically heterogeneous group of disorders that fundamentally share a disturbance in oxidative phosphorylation (adenosine triphosphate synthesis) (Chapter 57). Abrupt symptoms are often manifest concurrent with periods of physiologic stress such as febrile illness or fasting. Specific genetic diagnoses are often difficult to identify because clinical features are pleotropic within individual defects and overlap between different defects, and because analysis of mitochondrial protein function is technically demanding. Specific syndromes include MELAS (mitochondrial myopathy, encephalopathy, lactic acidosis, and stroke-like episodes); MERRF (myoclonus, epilepsy, and ragged red fibers) which can also manifest as combinations of dementia, sensorineural hearing loss, optic nerve atrophy, peripheral neuropathy, and occasionally cardiomyopathy with Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome; and NARP (neuropathy, ataxia, and retinitis pigmentosa).
Rett syndrome is a neurodevelopmental disorder that classically affects girls. Typically, development appears normal during the first 6 to 18 months of life, followed by regression, loss of purposeful hand movements, loss of verbal communication skills, gait apraxia, and stereotypic repetitive hand movements that resemble washing, wringing, or clapping of the hands. Girls also develop acquired microcephaly. Episodic apnea and/or hyperpnea, peripheral vasomotor disturbances, growth retardation, abnormal muscle tone, and prolonged QTc interval often occur. The regression plateaus and stabilizes, but seizures, spasticity, and kyphoscoliosis develop. The etiology is a mutation on an X chromosome gene coding for methyl-CpG-binding protein 2 transcription factor. Boys with MECP2 mutations usually do not survive to delivery, but can present with severe neonatal encephalopathy, seizures, microcephaly, abnormal tone, and respiratory insufficiency.
Degenerative Diseases with Focal ManifestationsSome neurodegenerative disorders have predilections to target specific regions or systems within the neuraxis, producing symptoms referable to the affected region.
Wilson disease is a treatable degenerative condition thatexhibits signs of cerebellar and basal ganglia dysfunction. It is anautosomal recessive inborn error of copper metabolism. Serumceruloplasmin levels are low. Abnormal copper deposition isfound in the liver, producing cirrhosis; in the peripheral cornea, producing a characteristic green-brown (Kayser-Fleischer)ring; and in the CNS, producing neuronal degeneration andprotoplasmic astrocytosis. Neurologic symptoms characteristically begin in the early teenage years with dysarthria, dysphasia,drooling, fixed smile, tremor, dystonia, and emotional lability.MRI shows abnormalities of the basal ganglia. Treatment is witha copper-chelating agent, such as oral penicillamine.
Available @ StudentConsult.comSubacute necrotizing encephalomyelopathy, or Leigh disease, is a neuropathologically defined, degenerative inherited CNS disease primarily involving the periaqueductal region of the brainstem, caudate, and putamen. Symptoms usually begin before 2 years of age and consist of hypotonia, feeding difficulties, respiratory irregularity, weakness of extraocular movements, and ataxia. Blood and CSF lactate and pyruvate levels are elevated. Several alterations of mitochondrial function produce this clinical syndrome.
Children with poorly controlled epilepsy may be continuously in either an ictal or a postictal state and may appearstuporous because of their epileptic encephalopathy. Antiepileptic drugs that are sedating or affect mood, memory,motivation, or attention may contribute to the lack or lossof developmental abilities and school failure. Use of highdoses or multiple anticonvulsants may compound thisproblem.
Chronic drug use or overuse (sedatives, tranquilizers, anticholinergics) can bring about progressive confusion, lethargy, and ataxia. Intoxications with heavy metals, such as lead, may cause chronic learning difficulties or may present acutely with irritability, listlessness, anorexia, and pallor, progressing to fulminant encephalopathy. Vitamin deficiency of thiamine, niacin, vitamin B12, and vitamin E can produce encephalopathy, peripheral neuropathy, and ataxia.
Congenital and acquired hypothyroidism impairs cognition and retards developmental progress. Unrecognized congenital hypothyroidism produces irreversible damage if it is not treated immediately after birth (Chapter 175).
Structural brain diseases, such as hydrocephalus and slowly growing tumors, may mimic dementia. Certain indolent brain infections, such as rubeola (measles, causing subacute sclerosing panencephalitis), rubella (German measles), syphilis, and some fungal infections, cause neurologic deterioration over months and years. Congenital human immunodeficiency virus infection causes failure of normal development and regression of acquired skills.
Psychiatric disorders, such as depression and severe psychosocial deprivation in infancy, can give rise to apathy andfailure to attain developmental milestones (Chapter 21). Children with autism spectrum disorder may go througha phase of developmental stagnation or disintegration atabout 12 to 18 months of age after a period of early normal milestones. Depression in older children can lead toblunting of affect, social withdrawal, and poor school performance, which raise the question of encephalopathy ordementia.
The skin, teeth, hair, nails, and brain are derived embryologically from ectoderm. Abnormalities of these surface structures may indicate abnormal brain development. Not all of the so-called neurocutaneous disorders have characteristic cutaneous lesions, however, and not all are of ectodermal origin. Neurofibromatosis (types 1 and 2), tuberous sclerosis, Sturge-Weber syndrome, von Hippel–Lindau disease, and ataxia-telangiectasia are the most common of the more than 40 neurocutaneous disorders.
Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1), also known as von Recklinghausen disease, is an autosomal-dominant disorder with an incidence of approximately 1 in 3000. It is caused by mutations of the NF1 gene, which codes for a tumor suppressor gene, neurofibromin. Neurofibromin is a major negative regulator of a key signal transduction pathway, the Ras pathway. Mutations results in increased downstream mitogenic signaling. Somatic mosaicism, in which an abnormality in one copy of the NF1 gene is present in some cells but not others, indicates a post-zygotic mutation and is called segmental neurofibromatosis.
Available @ StudentConsult.comThe cardinal features of neurofibromatosis are café au lait spots, axillary or inguinal freckling, cutaneous neurofibromas, and iris hamartomas (Lisch nodules). Café au lait spotsare present in more than 90% of patients who have NF1 (Fig. 186-1). They typically appear in the first few years of life and increase in number and size over time. The presence of six or more café-au-lait spots larger than 5 mm in a prepubescent child suggests the diagnosis. Lisch nodules also increase in frequency with age and are present in more than 90% of adults who have NF1.
FIGURE 186-1 Cafe au lait macules. (From Kliegman RE, Behrman RE, Jenson HB, editors: Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics, ed 19, Phila-delphia, 2007, Saunders, p 2680.)
Neurofibromas are composed of various combinations of Schwann cells, fibroblasts, mast cells, and vascular elements. Dermal neurofibromas are nearly universal and consist of discrete, small, soft lesions that lie within the dermis and epidermis and move passively with the skin. They rarely cause any symptoms, but can cause significant cosmetic concerns. Neurofibromas may also be situated within viscera or along blood vessels and peripheral nerves. Plexiform neurofibromas are large, occasionally nodular, subcutaneous lesions that lie along the major peripheral nerve trunks. They often cause symptoms including pain, weakness, and invasion of adjacent viscera, bone, or spinal cord. Sarcomatous degeneration may occur. Surgical treatment may be attempted, but results are often unsatisfactory.
Common complications are learning disability, scoliosis, seizures, and cerebral vasculature abnormalities. Other tumors that occur in NF1 are optic nerve gliomas, astrocytomas of brain and spinal cord, and malignant peripheral nerve tumors. T2-weighted magnetic resonance images (MRI) reveal hyperintense lesions (hamartomas) in the optic tracts, internal capsule, thalamus, cerebellum, and brainstem that are common and distinctive for the disease. They are benign and disappear in adulthood.
The average life expectancy of patients with NF1 may be reduced by 10 to 15 years. Malignancy is the most common cause of death. Genetic and psychological counseling are important components of care for this chronic disorder. Although it is an autosomal dominant disorder, spontaneous mutations account for 30% to 50% of cases.
Neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2) is an autosomal-dominant disorder with an incidence of 1 in 25,000. Half the cases have no family history. The NF2 gene is a tumor suppressor gene, and disease results in neurologic, eye, and skin lesions. NF2 predisposes patients to multiple intracranial and spinal tumors, including bilateral acoustic schwannomas, schwannomas of other cranial and spinal nerves, meningiomas, and gliomas. Posterior capsular or cortical cataracts are common, and skin lesions include plaque-like lesions, subcutaneous nodules, and cutaneous schwannomas. Lisch nodules, cafe au lait spots, and axillary freckling are not features of NF2.
Tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC), an autosomal dominant disorder, is characterized by hamartomas in many organs, especially the brain, eyes, skin, kidneys, and heart. The incidence is 1 in 10,000 births. Two thirds of cases are sporadic and thought to represent new mutations. Germline mosaicism is uncommon, but explains how parents who apparently do not have the disease can have multiple children with tuberous sclerosis. Mutations affecting either of the presumed tumor suppressor genes, TSC1 or TSC2, cause tuberous sclerosis. The TSC1 and TSC2 genes encode distinct proteins, hamartin and tuberin, which are widely expressed in the brain and result in constitutive activation of the protein kinase mTOR (mammalian target of rapamycin), leading to the formation of numerous benign tumors (hamartomas).
TSC is an extremely heterogeneous disease with variable expression and a wide clinical spectrum varying from normal intelligence without seizures to severe mental retardation with refractory seizures, often within the same family. Tuberous sclerosis is one of the most common causes of infantile spasms. These children often develop intractable epilepsy, mental retardation, autism, and hyperactivity. Patients may have retinal lesions (retinal hamartomas, white depigmented patches) and brain lesions (cortical tubers, subependymal nodules, hydrocephalus). Tubers in the cerebral cortex are areas of dysplasia that, in combination with other microscopic areas of abnormal development, are responsible for the symptoms of mental retardation and epilepsy. Subependymal nodules are hamartomas that may mutate into a growth phase and become subependymal giant cell astrocytomas causing obstruction of cerebrospinal fluid outflow and resultant hydrocephalus.
Extracerebral manifestations include typical skin findings of hypomelanotic macules (ash leaf spots) which are easiest to visualize under a Wood ultraviolet lamp and are apparent in infancy. Facial angiofibromas (adenoma sebaceum) appear as small red nodules over the nose and cheeks that are sometimes confused with acne. Shagreen patches are elevated, rough plaques of skin with a predilection for the lumbar and gluteal regions that develop in late childhood or early adolescence. Cardiac rhabdomyomas are largest during prenatal life and infancy and are rarely symptomatic. Occasionally, they may cause arrhythmias or cardiac outflow obstruction. Renal angiomyolipomas may undergo malignant transformation and are the most common cause of death in adults with TSC. Interstitial pulmonary disease also affects adults with TSC (pulmonary lymphangioleiomyomatosis).
Sturge-Weber syndrome is sporadic (not inherited) and characterized by abnormal blood vessels (angiomas) of the leptomeninges overlying the cerebral cortex in association with an ipsilateral facial port-wine stain involving the ophthalmic division of the trigeminal nerve (forehead and upper eyelid) and, often, glaucoma. The port-wine stain, also known as nevus flammeus, is due to an ectasia of superficial venules and may have a much more extensive and even bilateral distribution. Not all children with a facial port-wine stain have Sturge-Weber syndrome.
MRI with contrast demonstrates leptomeningeal angioma and white matter abnormalities thought to be due to chronic hypoxia and atrophy. Angiomas produce venous engorgement and, presumably, stasis within the involved areas, which are thought to result in hypoxia. Patients present with seizures, hemiparesis, stroke-like episodes, headaches, mental retardation, and learning disabilities. Seizures are the most common associated neurologic abnormality, occurring in 75% of patients, and develop because of ischemic injury to the brain. Many children with Sturge-Weber syndrome are intellectually normal, and seizures are well controlled with standard anticonvulsants. However, progressive ischemia of the underlying brain develops in some children with Sturge-Weber syndrome, resulting in hemiparesis, hemianopia, intractable focal seizures, and cognitive impairment. Hemispherectomy has been proposed for individuals with unilateral disease whose seizures are difficult to control. Intellectual and motor outcome seems improved, compared with ongoing anticonvulsant drug treatment, but the surgical risks and sequelae of the procedure are considerable. Pulse dye laser surgery is the most promising therapeutic option for cosmetic management of the facial nevus flammeus. Expert ophthalmologic management of glaucoma is required. Endocrinology evaluations are also necessary, as these patients often have growth hormone deficiency and/or hypothyroidism.
Central nervous system malformations include disorders of spinal cord and neural tube formation, structure specification (neuronal migration, gray matter), brain growth and size, and skull growth and shape.
The precursor of the nervous system is the neural plate of the embryonic ectoderm, which develops at 18 days of gestation. The neural plate gives rise to the neural tube, which forms the brain and spinal cord, and neural crest cells, which form the peripheral nervous system, meninges, melanocytes, and adrenal medulla. The neural tube begins to form on day 22 of gestation. The rostral end forms the brain, and the caudal region forms the spinal cord. The lumen of the neural tube forms the ventricles of the brain and the central canal of the spinal cord. Most brain malformations are produced by a variety of injuries occurring during a vulnerable period of gestation. Precipitating factors include chromosomal, genetic, and metabolic abnormalities; infections (toxoplasmosis, rubella, cytomegalovirus, herpes); and exposure to irradiation, certain drugs, and maternal illness during pregnancy.
Defective closure of the caudal neural tube at the end of week 4 of gestation results in anomalies of the lumbar and sacral vertebrae or spinal cord called spina bifida. These anomalies range in severity from clinically insignificant defects of the L5 or S1 vertebral arches to major malformations, leaving the spinal cord uncovered by skin or bone on the infant’s back. The latter severe defect, called a myelomeningocele, results in flaccid paralysis and loss of sensation in the legs and incontinence of bowel and bladder, with the extent and degree of neurologic deficit dependent on the location of the myelomeningocele. In addition, affected children usually have an associated Chiari type II malformation (downward displacement of the cerebellar tonsils and medulla), resulting in hydrocephalus and weakness of face and swallowing. In a meningocele, the spinal canal and cystic meninges are exposed on the back, but the underlying spinal cord is anatomically and functionally intact. In spina bifida occulta, the skin of the back is apparently intact, but defects of the underlying bone or spinal canal are present. Meningoceles and spina bifida occulta may be associated with a lipoma, dermoid cyst, or tethering of the cord to a thick filum terminale. A dimple or tuft of hair may be present over the affected area. Patients may also have an associated dermoid sinus, an epithelial tract extending from the skin surface to the meninges; this increases the risk of meningitis. Patients with spina bifida occulta or meningocele may have weakness and numbness in the feet that can result in recurrent ulcerations, or difficulties controlling bowel or bladder function that may result in recurrent urinary tract infections, reflux nephropathy, and renal insufficiency. In diastematomyelia, a bone spicule or fibrous band divides the spinal cord into two longitudinal sections. An associated lipoma that infiltrates the cord and tethers it to the vertebrae may be present. Symptoms include weakness and numbness of the feet and urinary incontinence.
Myelomeningocele in the fetus is suggested by an elevated alpha-fetoprotein in the mother’s blood and confirmed by ultrasound and high concentrations of alpha-fetoprotein and acetylcholinesterase in the amniotic fluid. After birth, screening ultrasound may be used with magnetic resonance imaging to confirm less dramatic underlying spinal abnormalities.
Neonates with myelomeningocele must undergo operative closure of the open spinal defects (fetal or postnatal surgery) and often require treatment of hydrocephalus by placement of a ventriculoperitoneal shunt. Toddlers and children with lower spinal cord dysfunction require physical therapy, bracing of the lower extremities, and intermittent bladder catheterization. In the absence of associated brain anomalies, most survivors have normal intelligence, but learning problems and epilepsy are more common than in the general population.
Spina bifida can be prevented in many cases by folate administration to the pregnant mother. Because the defect occurs so early in gestation, all women of childbearing age are advised to take oral folic acid daily.
Defective closure of the rostral neural tube produces anencephaly or encephaloceles. Neonates with anencephaly have a rudimentary brainstem or midbrain, but no cortex or cranium. This is rapidly fatal after delivery. Patients with encephalocele usually have a skull defect and exposure of meninges alone or meninges and brain. The recurrence risk in subsequent pregnancies for either cranial or spinal neural tube defects is 3% to 4%. Within a family, an anencephalic birth may be followed by the birth of a child affected with a lumbosacral myelomeningocele. The inheritance of neural tube defects is polygenic.
Agenesis of the corpus callosum may be partial or complete and may occur in an isolated fashion or in association with other anomalies of cellular migration. Dandy-Walker malformation is diagnosed on the basis of the classic triad: complete or partial agenesis of the cerebellar vermis, cystic dilation of the fourth ventricle, and enlarged posterior fossa. There may be associated hydrocephalus, absence of the corpus callosum, and neuronal migration abnormalities. Intelligence may be normal or impaired, depending on the degree of associated cerebral dysgenesis.
Holoprosencephaly represents varying degrees of failure of the forebrain (prosencephalon) to divide into two distinct cerebral hemispheres. Holoprosencephaly is often associated with midline facial defects (hypotelorism, cleft lip, cleft palate). This anomaly may be isolated or associated with a chromosomal or genetic disorder. The prognosis for infants with severe (alobar)holoprosencephaly is uniformly poor, but those with milder forms (semilobar, or lobar) may have less severe neurological outcomes. Children with trisomy 13 and trisomy 18 characteristically have varying degrees of holoprosencephaly.
Hydranencephaly is a condition in which the brain presumably develops normally, but then is destroyed by an intrauterine, probably vascular, insult. The result is virtual absence of the cerebrum with an intact skull. The thalamus, brainstem, and some occipital cortex are typically present. Children may have a normal external appearance at the time of birth, but do not achieve developmental milestones.
Macrocephaly represents a head circumference above the 97th percentile and may be the result of macrocrania (increased skull thickness), hydrocephalus (enlargement of the ventricles; see Chapter 184), or megalencephaly (enlargement of the brain). Diseases of bone metabolism or hypertrophy of the bone marrow cause macrocrania. Megalencephaly may be the result of a significant disorder of brain development or an accumulation of abnormal metabolic substances (Table 1871). Most often, however, macrocephaly is a familial trait of no clinical significance. If the child is developmentally normal but has macrocephaly, plotting the parents’ head circumference on a growth chart can provide reassurance and help to avoid unnecessary neurodiagnostic testing.
Microcephaly represents a head circumference below the 3rd percentile. Myriad syndromes and metabolic disorders are associated with microcephaly, some of which are hereditary (Table 187-2). In most instances, a small head circumference is a reflection of a small brain. Brain growth is rapid during the perinatal period, and any insult (infectious, metabolic, toxic, vascular) sustained during this period or during early infancy is likely to impair brain growth and result in microcephaly. Rarely, a small head is the result of premature closure of one or more skull sutures, called craniosynostosis. This diagnosis is readily made by the abnormal shape of the skull. As a rule, macrocephaly and microcephaly raise a concern about cognitive ability, but head circumference alone should never be used to establish a prognosis for intellectual development.
Macrocrania (increased skull thickness) Achondroplasia Hypochondroplasia Fragile X syndrome Osteopetrosis Chronic, severe anemia
Hydrocephalus (enlargement of the ventricles; see Chapter 184) MassesMegalencephaly (enlargement of the brain) Embryologic disorder causing abnormal proliferation of brain
Accumulation of abnormal metabolic substances Alexander disease Canavan disease Gangliosidoses Mucopolysaccharidoses
Benign extracerebral collections of infancy Familial macrocephalyDisorders of Neuronal MigrationMany malformations result from the failure of normal migration of neurons from the periventricular germinal matrix zone to the cortical surface at 1 to 5 months of gestation. Multiple malformations may exist in the same patient. Neurologic development with these anomalies varies and depends on the type and extent of the malformation.
Schizencephaly is characterized by clefts within the cerebral hemispheres that extend from the cortical surface to the ventricular cavity. Unilateral clefts can cause isolated congenital hemiparesis, whereas bilateral schizencephaly causes spastic quadriparesis and associated intellectual disability. Affected individuals are at high risk for focal epilepsy.
A severe defect in cortical migration, lissencephaly results in a smooth brain without sulcation (agyria). The normal six-layered cortex does not develop. Affected children have difficult-to-control seizures and profound developmental retardation. This anomaly most commonly is part of a genetic disorder, which may be x-linked (DCX mutations) or caused by de novo autosomal dominant gene mutations (Lis-1 mutations). In pachygyria, the gyri are few in number and too
Lissencephaly Schizencephaly Pachygyria Micropolygyria Agenesis of the corpus callosum broad. In polymicrogyria, the gyri are too many and too small. Sometimes pachygyria and polymicrogyria affect an entire hemisphere, producing enlargement of that hemisphere and a clinical syndrome of severe, medically intractable seizures that begin in early infancy. Gray matter heterotopiasare abnormal islands within the central white matter of neurons that have never completed the migratory process.
The authors thank Dr. James Dowling for his generous help in preparing Chapter 182 on weakness and hypotonia.
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Kliegman RM, Behrman RE, Jenson HB, et al: Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics, ed 19, Philadelphia, 2011, Saunders
Mink JW, Zinner SH: Movement disorders II: chorea, dystonia, myoclonus and tremor, Pediatr Rev 31:287–295, 2010
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Rev 31:223–233, 2010Yvonne E. Chiu 25Approximately one in three Americans of any age has at leastone recognizable skin disorder at any time. The most commoncutaneous diseases encountered in community settings aredermatophytosis, acne vulgaris, seborrheic dermatitis, atopicdermatitis (eczema), verrucae (warts), tumors, psoriasis, vitiligo, and infections such as herpes simplex and impetigo. Inchildren attending pediatric dermatology clinics, atopic dermatitis, impetigo, tinea capitis, acne vulgaris, verrucae vulgaris,and seborrheic dermatitis are the most common diagnoses.
The age of the patient, onset, duration, progression, associatedcutaneous symptoms (pain, pruritus), and associated systemicsigns or symptoms (fever, malaise, weight loss) are importantclues. Obtaining an accurate description of the original lesionimproves diagnostic accuracy. Over-the-counter remediesmay alter the appearance of a rash dramatically. Patients oftendo not consider a topical antibiotic or anti-itch medication astreatment. Thus it is important to probe deeply with relatedquestions in the history. Other important information includesa history of allergies, environmental exposure, travel history,previous treatment, affected contacts, and family history.
A careful examination of the skin requires a visual and a tactile assessment. Examination of the skin over the entire body must be performed systematically. Mucous membranes, hair, nails, and teeth, all of ectodermal origin, also may be involved in cutaneous disorders and should be assessed.
Available @ StudentConsult.comA descriptive nomenclature of skin lesions helps with generating a differential diagnosis and also with communication between health care providers. Determination of the primary lesion and secondary change is the cornerstone of dermatologic diagnosis. A primary lesion is defined as the basic lesion that arises de novo and is most characteristic of the disease process (Table 188-1 and Fig. 188-1). Primary lesions are rarely seen on a patient at the time of presentation, as most lesions are altered by time or external factors such as
Flat, nonpalpable lesion <1 cm in diameter PatchSimilar to macule, but >1 cm in diameterPapule Elevated, solid lesion <1 cm in diameterPlaque Similar to papule, but >1 cm in diameter; has a flat and broad surface in contrast to a nodule
Nodule Similar to papule, but >1 cm in diameter; has a rounded surface in contrast to a plaque
Tumor Similar to nodule, but implies a neoplastic growth rather than an inflammatory process
Bulla Similar to vesicle, but >1 cm in diameterPustule Pus-filled epidermal lesion, which may have an initial papular phase and often is surrounded by erythema
Purpura Macule or papule resulting from extravasated blood into the skin; does not blanch with pressure
Petechia Similar to purpura, but less than a few millimeters in diameter
Ecchymosis Larger, hemorrhagic patch or plaque resulting from extravasated blood
Wheal (hive) Pink, edematous papules and plaques that vary greatly in size and configuration; characterized by transient nature with individual lesions resolving within 24 hours
Telangiectasia Collection of small superficial red blood vesselsMilia Superficial, white, small epidermal keratin cystsComedo Plug of keratin and sebum within the orifice of a hair follicle, which can be open (whitehead) or closed (blackhead); characteristic lesion of acne vulgaris
Cyst Papule or nodule with an epidermal lining composed of fluid or solid material
Figure 188-1 Morphology of primary skin lesions. A, Flat lesions. B, Palpable lesions. C, Fluid-filled lesions. D, Special primary lesions. (From Swartz MH: Textbook of Physical Diagnosis: History and Examination, Philadelphia, 1989, WB Saunders.) medication applied, secondary infection, or physical manipulation (e.g., scratching). A search for the primary lesion often proves worthwhile and focuses the differential diagnosis to a category of lesion that is specific for the underlying diagnosis. On occasion, two different types of primary lesions may be present. In most cases, secondary lesions are the residue, or result, of the effects of the primary lesion. They may be created by scratching or secondary infection and may be seen in the absence of a primary lesion (Table 188-2).
The color, texture, configuration, location, and distribution of the lesion should be recorded. A localized or grouped eruption may suggest a cutaneous infection, whereas widespread, symmetrical involvement of extensor surfaces may suggest a primary skin disorder, such as psoriasis. Herpesvirus lesions are usually grouped lesions. Annular lesions may suggest Lyme disease, syphilis, and fungal infections. Lesions on mucous membranes are usually short-lived, and lesions in thick-skinned areas, such as the palms and soles, may be particularly difficult to characterize.
A thorough history and physical examination are usuallysufficient for diagnosis because of the visibility of the skin.Adjunctive tests at the time of examination include potassiumhydroxide (KOH) examination for fungi and dermatophytes,skin scrapings for scabies, cytologic examination (Tzancktest) for herpesvirus and varicella-zoster virus infection, andWood light examination for the yellowish gold fluorescence
Crust Dried collection of serum and cellular debrisErosion Shallow depression with loss of the superficial epidermisUlcer Deeper depression with loss of the entire epidermis into dermis; heals with scarring
Atrophy Thinning of epidermis (surface appears shiny and translucent) or dermis (skin is depressed)
Scar Thickened, firm, and discolored collection of connective tissue that results from dermal damage; initially pink, but lightens with time
Sclerosis Circumscribed or diffuse hardening of skinLichenification Accentuated skin lines/markings that result from thickening of the epidermis
Excoriation Superficial linear erosion that is caused by scratchingFissure Linear break within the skin surface that usually is painful of tinea versicolor. A skin biopsy may be performed to helpwith the diagnosis. The biopsy specimen can be accomplishedby either shave or punch biopsy, and both are simple, in-office procedures. Occasionally, laboratory or imaging studies are necessary.
Acne vulgaris (or acne) is a chronic inflammatory disorderthat affects areas with the greatest concentration of sebaceous glands, such as the face, chest, and back. The pathogenesis of acne is multifactorial. Gender, age, genetic factors,and environment are all major contributing factors. Stressmay trigger acne, possibly by affecting hormone levels.There is no evidence linking chocolate, candy, or fried foods to acne.
Acne is caused by chronic inflammation of the pilosebaceous unit (hair follicle with an associated sebaceous gland). The primary event in all acne lesions is the development of the micro-comedo, which results from the obstruction of the hair follicle with keratin, increased sebum production from sebaceous glands, and overgrowth of normal skin flora, leading to pilosebaceous occlusion and enlargement. Androgens are a potent stimulus of the sebaceous gland. The subsequent inflammatory component and pustule formation results from proliferation of Propionibacterium acnes, a commensal organism of the skin. The pathogenesis of acne thus involves three components: increased sebum production, hyperkeratosis, and bacterial proliferation. Effective treatment focuses on minimizing these factors.
Acne is the most common skin disorder in adolescents, occurring in 85% of teenagers. The incidence is similar in both sexes, although boys often are more severely affected. Acne may begin as early as 8 years of age and may continue into adulthood.
Acne primarily affects areas with increased sebaceous glanddensity, such as the face, upper chest, and back. Superficialplugging of the pilosebaceous unit results in noninflammatorysmall (1to 2-mm) open (blackhead) and closed (whitehead) comedones. An open comedo is less likely to become inflammatory than a closed comedo. Rupture of a comedo into adjacent dermis and proliferation of P. acnes induce an inflammatory response and development of inflammatory papules and pustules. Larger, skin-colored or red cysts and nodulesrepresent deeper plugging and cystic acne. Increased and persistent inflammation, especially with rupture of a deep cyst,increases the risk of scarring.
The diagnosis of acne is usually not difficult because of the characteristic and chronic lesions. Laboratory studies and imaging studies are usually not necessary to diagnose acne. Screening tests may be necessary if there are signs of hyperandrogenism due to polycystic ovarian syndrome (irregular menses, hirsutism, insulin resistance) or an underlying androgen-secreting tumor (irregular menses, hirsutism, deepening voice, clitoromegaly).
The mainstays of treatment of acne are topical keratolytic agents and topical antibiotics. Creams, lotions, gels, foams, and solutions are available. Gels and solutions are commonly used because acne skin is generally greasier and these agents tend to be drying, but they have the tendency to be irritating and may not be as well tolerated. Creams and lotions are better tolerated but may not be as effective.
The keratolytic agents (salicylic acid, azelaic acid, tretinoin, adapalene, tazarotene) produce superficial desquamation and, subsequently, relieve follicular obstruction. They are a mainstay of first-line therapy. The topical retinoids (tretinoin, adapalene, tazarotene) are based on the vitamin A molecule. They decrease keratin and sebum production and have some anti-inflammatory and antibacterial activity; thus they can be the most effective when used as monotherapy.
Topical antimicrobials (benzoyl peroxide, dapsone, sulfur-sulfacetamide) and topical antibiotics (erythromycin, clindamycin) are anti-inflammatory and inhibit P. acnes proliferation. Erythromycin efficacy has decreased as P. acnes has become increasingly resistant to this antibiotic; topical antibiotics should be combined with an antimicrobial such as benzoyl peroxide to prevent the development of resistance. Combination therapy of a topical keratolytic agent and a topical antimicrobial is more effective than either agent alone for inflammatory acne.
Oral antibiotics (tetracycline, doxycycline, minocycline) are typically used for deeper cystic lesions but should always be used in combination with a topical regimen. Tetracyclines are the most effective antibiotics because of their significant anti-inflammatory activity. As with topical erythromycin, oral erythromycin is rarely used because of bacterial resistance.
For recalcitrant or severe nodulocystic acne, oral isotretinoinmay be instituted. Isotretinoin, an oral analog of vitamin A,normalizes follicular keratinization, reduces sebum production,and decreases 5α-dihydrotestosterone formation and androgen receptor–binding capacity. A course of isotretinoin (0.5 to1 mg/kg/day to reach a cumulative dose of 120 mg/kg) is theonly medication that can permanently alter the course of acne and induce a durable remission. Because of the high incidenceof adverse effects, it should be used only by physicians familiar with this medication. Isotretinoin therapy requires carefulpatient selection, pretreatment counseling, and monthly laboratory monitoring. It is teratogenic and must not be used immediately before or during pregnancy.
Acne has significant and frequently devastating effects on an adolescent’s body image and self-esteem. There may be little correlation between severity and psychosocial impact. Scarring may result in permanent morbidity.
Classically, acne lasts 3 to 5 years, although some individuals may have disease for 15 to 20 years. Only early treatment with isotretinoin may alter the natural course of acne. Acne lesions often heal with temporary postinflammatory erythema and hyperpigmentation. Depending on the severity, chronicity, and depth of involvement, pitted, atrophic, or hypertrophic scars may develop. Cystic acne has the highest incidence of scarring because rupture of a deep cyst induces the greatest inflammation, though scarring may be caused by milder pustular or even comedonal acne.
Greasy hair and cosmetic preparations should be avoided becausethey exacerbate preexisting acne. There are no effective means forpreventing acne, and there is little evidence that diet is associated with acne. Repetitive cleansing with soap and water or useof astringents or abrasives removes only surface lipids. Their usemakes the skin appear less oily but does not prevent formation ofmicrocomedones and may paradoxically worsen acne.
Atopic dermatitis is a chronic inflammatory disease with no known cure. It is associated with significant psychosocial morbidity and decreased health-related quality of life. For many affected individuals, atopic dermatitis is the skin manifestation of atopy accompanied by asthma and allergic rhinitis.
Atopic dermatitis manifests with a defective skin barrier,reduced innate immune responses, and exaggerated immuneresponses to allergens and microbes. Both genetic predisposition and environmental factors play a role in the development of atopic dermatitis. Genes associated with skin barrier dysfunction and inflammation have been linked with atopicdermatitis. Inflammatory mediators involved include predominantly T helper cells, with the TH2 pathway implicated early in acute lesions and a TH1 predominance found in chroniclesions. Langerhans cells, IgE, and eosinophils play a prominent role, as well as many other inflammatory mediators. Environmental and contact allergens, infections, irritants, extremesof temperature, sweat, and lack of humidity can exacerbate thecondition, as can scratching or rubbing. Triggers are somewhatvariable from individual to individual.
Atopic dermatitis is the most common skin disease in children,with an estimated prevalence of up to 20% of children. Only1% to 2% of adults manifest disease. In addition to genetic factors, an environmental influence contributes. Atopic dermatitisoccurs more frequently in urban areas and in higher socioeconomic classes. Prevalence is lower in areas where industrial pollution is less and where eosinophil-mediated infectionssuch as helminthic infections are endemic.
Patients generally have a family history of atopy. Children with atopic dermatitis are predisposed to the development of allergy and allergic rhinitis, referred to as the atopic march. Asthma develops in up to half of children with atopic dermatitis, and allergic rhinitis even more frequently. Food allergies are commonly associated with atopic dermatitis.
Atopic dermatitis is a chronic, relapsing skin disease characterized by xerosis, pruritus, and characteristic skin findings. Thecondition generally improves with age and remits in adulthood,although some childhood cases will continue into adulthood.
Characteristic lesions of atopic dermatitis are erythematous papules or plaques with ill-defined borders and overlying scale or hyperkeratosis. Lesions can be secondarily excoriated or have an overlying crust that is yellow or hemorrhagic. Weeping may be present in acute stages. Lichenification is found in older lesions. Formation of fissures is common in both acute and chronic lesions. Temporary hypoand hyperpigmentation can be seen after lesions resolve, but atopic dermatitis is not usually scarring unless secondary features become severe (e.g., infection or physical manipulation [scratching]).
Characteristic locations vary with the age of the patient. Infantile atopic dermatitis typically affects the face and extensor surfaces of the extremities and is often generalized. Childhood lesions predominate in flexural surfaces (antecubital and popliteal fossae), wrists, ankles, hands, and feet (Fig. 190-1).The adult phase occurs after puberty and manifests in the flexural areas including the neck, as well as predominant involvement on the face, dorsa of the hands, fingers and toes, and the upper arms and back.
Secondary bacterial infection, most commonly with Staphylococcus aureus or less commonly with Streptococcus pyogenes, is frequently present. Patients are at increased riskfor infections with cutaneous viruses and can develop disseminated skin infections with viruses such as herpes simplexvirus (eczema herpeticum), varicella-zoster virus, smallpoxvirus (eczema vaccinatum), and molluscum contagiosum.Atopic skin is more susceptible to fungal infections as well.
Figure 190-1 Atopic dermatitis (arm).Signs of concomitant infection include acute worsening ofdisease in an otherwise well-controlled patient, resistance tostandard therapy, fever, and presence of pustules, fissures, orexudative or crusted lesions (Fig. 190-2). Eczema herpeticumand eczema vaccinatum can be life threatening if not treated.
Diagnosis of atopic dermatitis is based on clinical signs and symptoms. Skin biopsy findings are generally characteristic but not exclusively diagnostic and can overlap with other skin conditions. Peripheral blood eosinophilia and elevated IgE levels can be found but are not specific. Skin prick testing or measurement of specific IgE antibody levels can detect sensitization to food and environmental allergens, although false-positive findings occur.
The differential diagnosis of atopic dermatitis is extensive, but the history of a relapsing pruritic condition in the setting of atopy and skin lesions in a characteristic distribution is typical.
The lesions of seborrheic dermatitis have circumscribed and well-defined borders. The scale or hyperkeratosis is thicker,greasy, and yellowish. The distribution of seborrheic dermatitisis different from that of atopic dermatitis, typically involvingthe scalp, eyebrows, perinasal region, upper chest, and back.Occasionally the two conditions coexist.
Psoriasis tends to localize on the elbows, knees, lower back, and scalp. The lesions of psoriasis on exposed surfaces are salmon color at the base with an overlying hyperkeratosis that is much thicker with silver coloration. They are generally very well demarcated, oval or round, thick plaques.
Allergic contact dermatitis has a distribution limited to one area of the body corresponding to contact with the allergen.The lesions generally make bizarre, linear, square, or angulatedshapes corresponding to the source. Nickel dermatitis is common and results from contact sensitization to nickel in metals. It occurs in characteristic locations, such as the periumbilicalarea (where metal from pant buttons rub against skin); onthe ear lobule or neck (where earrings contact skin); circumferentially around the neck (necklaces); and under rings or wristbands. Patients with atopic dermatitis can have concomitant contact dermatitis as well.
Figure 190-2 Atopic dermatitis with Staphylococcus superinfection.Ideal therapy for atopic dermatitis includes three main components: frequent liberal use of bland emollients to restorethe skin barrier, avoidance of triggers of inflammation, and use of topical anti-inflammatory medication to affected areas of skin when needed. Control of pruritus and infection should be considered on an individual basis. If topicaltherapy and these measures are inadequate, systemic therapywith immunosuppressive agents or ultraviolet light therapy may be indicated.
A daily short bath with warm but not hot water is generally recommended, although this is controversial and there are some who advocate less frequent bathing. A moisturizing cream or ointment should be applied to the entire body immediately afterward to trap moisture. Application of topical medications is also most effective immediately after bathing. Additional information for patients and families can be found at the website of the National Eczema Association for Science and Education ( http://www.nationaleczema.org
Common triggers of inflammation in atopic dermatitis include rubbing or scratching, contact with saliva or foods that are acidic, soaps and detergents, fabric softeners, wool or other harsh materials, fragranced personal care products, sweat, highly chlorinated pools, low humidity, tobacco smoke, dust mites, animal dander, environmental pollens, and molds. Exposure to these triggers should be limited whenever possible. Infections that are unrelated to skin disease, such as an upper respiratory infection, can also exacerbate atopic dermatitis. Food allergy is commonly seen in patients with atopic dermatitis but typically presents with urticaria or anaphylaxis rather than exacerbation of the atopic dermatitis.
Topical corticosteroids are the mainstay of anti-inflammatory therapy for atopic dermatitis. Hundreds oftopical corticosteroids are available and are classified according to strength from I to VII. Class I is the highest potencyand class VII is the lowest potency. Potency varies accordingto the steroid molecule (active ingredient), and, for a giveningredient, strength can vary according to relative concentration and vehicle base. Enhanced penetration occurs in areasof natural occlusion (flexures such as axillae and groin), withexternal occlusion (diapers or bandages), in areas of openskin (excoriations), and with heat or hydration. Use of wetwraps with topical corticosteroid application takes advantageof this principle of heat and hydration for enhanced penetration for recalcitrant lesions. Class I and II steroids are typically avoided in young children or in areas of thinner skin orenhanced penetration.
Corticosteroids are available in different vehicles. In general, ointments are preferred because of their increased efficacy, occlusive nature, and tolerability. Creams may be slightly less effective for a given steroid ingredient but may be more cosmetically acceptable for older patients or in warmer climates. Lotions may have more preservatives that can cause irritation and are generally less potent. Sprays, foams, solutions, and gels can be especially useful for hair-bearing areas. Creams, lotions, sprays, solutions, and gels can be particularly irritating when applied to atopic skin and should generally be avoided on areas of open skin.
Topical corticosteroids should be used in conjunction with adequate skin care, such as avoiding triggers of inflammation and frequent application of emollients. Twice-daily application of corticosteroids is recommended. The goal is to limit the need for anti-inflammatory medications and thereby avoid potential for adverse effects. Local side effects such as skin atrophy, striae, acne, and hypopigmentation are related to corticosteroid potency, site of application, and duration of application. Systemic side effects of adrenal suppression or Cushing syndrome can result with application of a potent topical corticosteroid to large surface areas or occluded areas at risk of enhanced penetration.
Topical calcineurin inhibitors (also referred to as topicalimmune modulators) such as topical tacrolimus and pimecrolimus may be part of the treatment regimen for atopic dermatitis.These agents selectively inhibit T-cell proliferation by inhibitingcalcineurin and subsequent interleukin 2 production. There isno potential for skin atrophy; thus these agents are particularlyuseful for face or genital lesions. They are currently approvedfor intermittent therapy as second-line treatments for mild tomoderate atopic dermatitis. Long-term studies, combined withother modalities for treatment, are underway.
Sedating antihistamines (e.g., diphenhydramine, hydroxyzine)are useful adjunctive therapy, especially during flares. These may have only mild effect on pruritus but can improve the sleeplessness due to scratching during the night. A dose before bedtime is most effective, and additional daytime doses can be added on an individual basis when needed. Nonsedating antihistamines are of little benefit in controlling the pruritus of atopic dermatitis.
Short-term administration of systemic corticosteroids is rarely indicated for cases of severe disease and may be considered when adequate topical therapy failed or is being instituted.Systemic corticosteroid courses should be adequately taperedand used in conjunction with an appropriate atopic skin careregimen. Rebound flare of atopic dermatitis is common following withdrawal of corticosteroids and should be anticipated toavoid misinterpretation of the natural disease severity. Longterm and frequent repeated courses should be avoided to prevent adverse effects.
Ultraviolet light therapy (UVB, narrow band UVB, UVA, or UVA1) can be an option for moderate to severe cases in older children. Typically, light therapy is administered two to three times weekly until improvement is seen, and then is tapered or discontinued once the acute flare has resolved. More frequent use of light therapy in children is hindered by requirements for frequent office visits, ability to cooperate with standing in a light box while wearing protective goggles, and risk of long-term skin damage, including the potential for skin cancer development with excessive UV light exposure. Systemic cyclosporine (up to 5 mg/kg/day) can be effective therapy for atopic dermatitis in severe cases. It is used for periods of up to 1 year to gain control of severe disease and should be tapered once the atopic dermatitis is controlled.
Available @ StudentConsult.comAn increased tendency toward bacterial, viral, and fungal skin infections is due to an impaired skin barrier and decrease in innate immune proteins in the skin as well as maladaptive secondary immune responses.
Secondary impetigo with S. aureus is the most common secondary skin infection found in atopic dermatitis. Group Astreptococcus infection is also common. Infection manifests with pustules, erythema, crusting, scabbing, flare of disease, orlack of response to adequate anti-inflammatory therapy. Localized lesions can be treated with topical mupirocin. Widespreadand generalized lesions require oral antibiotic therapy, most commonly with a first-generation cephalosporin, such as cephalexin. Methicillin-resistant S. aureus infection is increasinglycommon, and antibiotic therapy should be tailored based onlocal resistance rates and patient factors. Diagnosis of super-infection may be made clinically, but a superficial bacterialculture can confirm the diagnosis and provide antimicrobialsusceptibilities. Treatment should include a concomitant atopicskin care routine including the continued use of topical corticosteroids. Although secondary skin infection with S. aureus is common, progression to cellulitis or septicemia is unusual.Rarely, intravenous antibiotics may nevertheless be required.Children with colonization and frequent infections may benefitfrom dilute bleach baths two to three times weekly; ¼ to ½ cupof household bleach is added to a half-full or full bathtub.
Eczema herpeticum (Kaposi’s varicelliform eruption) is oneof the potentially serious infectious complications in atopic dermatitis. After herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection, an eruption of multiple, pruritic, vesiculopustular lesions occurs in a disseminated pattern, both within plaques of atopic dermatitisand on normal-appearing skin. These characteristically ruptureand form crusted umbilicated papules and punched-out hemorrhagic erosions (Fig. 190-3). Irritability, anorexia, and fever canalso be seen. Systemic and central nervous system disease havebeen reported. Bacterial superinfection of eroded areas of the skin often occurs. Diagnosis can be made rapidly from a scrapingof the skin lesion stained with Giemsa or Wright’s stain (Tzanck test), though these are not highly sensitive. These stains allow microscopic visualization of the presence of multinucleatedgiant cells indicative of herpes simplex virus or varicella-zoster virus infection. Vesicle fluid can also be sent for polymerasechain reaction (PCR) detection of herpes simplex virus DNA, rapid direct fluorescent antibody testing, or viral culture. Laboratory confirmation of infection is important because similar clinical manifestations can occur with bacterial infections.
Figure 190-3 Eczema herpeticum (hand).The psychosocial impact of atopic dermatitis can be significant. There is often disfigurement, lack of sleep from pruritus resulting in irritability and fatigue, and limitations on participation in sports. Significant time, as well as financial strain, is involved in caring for a child with atopic dermatitis. Thus, management should address these potential issues and provide adequate anticipatory guidance.
Atopic dermatitis frequently remits during childhood and is much less common after puberty. The condition is generally most severe and widespread in infancy and early childhood. Relapse of disease in adults can occur and commonly manifests as face or hand dermatitis. Frequently, adults have generalized dry skin and are aware that their skin is sensitive to many over-the-counter preparations. Patients with atopic dermatitis can also develop asthma and allergic rhinitis. Asthma is more commonly associated with more severe skin disease.
Individual flares of atopic dermatitis can be prevented by avoiding triggers of inflammation and can be lessened with frequent emollient application. Some evidence suggests that breastfeeding for at least 4 months prevents or delays the occurrence of atopic dermatitis in early childhood. For infants with a parent or sibling with atopic disease and who are not exclusively breastfed for 4 to 6 months, there is modest evidence that the onset of atopic dermatitis may be delayed or prevented by the use of extensively hydrolyzed casein-based formulas. There is insufficient evidence that soy-based formulas, delaying the introduction of complementary foods beyond 4 to 6 months of age, or other dietary intervention prevents the development of atopic disease. There is no convincing evidence that women who avoid peanuts or other foods during pregnancy or while breastfeeding lower their child’s risk of allergies.
Inflammation in the top layers of the skin, caused by direct contact with a substance, is divided into two subtypes: irritant contact dermatitis and allergic contact dermatitis. Irritant contact dermatitis is observed after the skin surface is exposed to an irritating chemical or substance. Allergic contact dermatitis is a cell-mediated immune reaction, also called typeIV or delayed-type hypersensitivity. The antigens, or haptens,involved in allergic contact dermatitis readily penetrate theepidermis and are bound by Langerhans cells, the antigen-presenting cells of the skin. The hapten is presented to T lymphocytes, and an immune cascade follows. Contact dermatitismay occur in any age, and girls are more frequently affectedthan boys.
Irritant contact dermatitis is characterized by ill-defined, scaly, pink or red patches and plaques (Fig. 191-1). The eruption is localized to skin surfaces that are exposed to the irritant. Irritant contact dermatitis is observed frequently on the dorsal surfaces of the hands in patients, often from repeated hand washing or exposure to irritating chemicals.
Diaper dermatitis is a common problem in infants and most commonly is a form of irritant contact dermatitis. The dermatitis is caused by irritation from urine and feces, typically affecting the perianal region and the buttocks while sparing the protected groin folds and other occluded areas. Secondary infection by Candida albicans or bacterial pathogens may complicate diaper dermatitis as well.
Allergic contact dermatitis may be acute (such as Rhus dermatitis) or chronic (such as nickel dermatitis). Acute lesionsare bright pink, pruritic patches, often in linear or sharplymarginated bizarre configurations. Within the patches areclear vesicles and bullae (Fig. 191-2). Signs and symptomsof the disease may be delayed for 7 to 14 days after exposureif the patient has not been sensitized previously. On reexposure, symptoms begin within hours and are usually moresevere. The eruption may persist for weeks. Chronic lesionsare pink, scaly, pruritic plaques, often mimicking atopic dermatitis. Even intermittent exposure can result in a persistentdermatitis.
The diagnosis is established by clinical presentation andhistory of exposure to a recognized irritant or allergen.Skin-prick testing and serum IgE levels are not helpful indetermining the cause of allergic contact dermatitis. Patchtesting may be used to determine the allergen causing thereaction in difficult cases.
Figure 191-1 Irritant diaper dermatitis.Figure 191-2 Allergic contact dermatitis to tincture of benzoin.The distribution and appearance of the dermatitis and a detailed exposure history are the most useful diagnostic tools. Involvement of the lower legs and distal arms suggests exposure to plants of the Rhus species (poison ivy or poison oak), especially when linear configurations of lesions are present. Dermatitis of the ears (earrings), wrist (bracelet or watch), or periumbilical region (belt buckle or pant buttons) suggests a metal allergy to nickel. Distribution on the dorsal surfaces of the feet indicates a shoe allergy, usually to dyes, rubber, or leather. Topical antibiotics (neomycin) and fragrances (soaps, perfumes, cosmetics) are frequent causes of allergic contact dermatitis.
Diaper rashes caused by Candida are quite common. Irritant contact dermatitis primarily affects the prominent, exposed surfaces, whereas Candida primarily affects intertriginous areas. The two are frequently present simultaneously, as secondary Candida infection may complicate irritant dermatitis.
Psoriasis, seborrheic dermatitis, and Langerhans cell histiocytosis can present with an erythematous rash in the diaperarea. Referral to a dermatologist should be considered for anychild with severe rash or with diaper rash that does not respondto conventional therapy.
Topical corticosteroids are effective in treatment of allergic and irritant contact dermatitis. High-potency corticosteroids, and even short courses of oral corticosteroids, may be necessary for severe reactions of allergic contact dermatitis. Oral antihistamines may be required to control itching.
Treatment of candidal diaper dermatitis consists of topical nystatin or topical azole antifungals. Low-potency topical corticosteroids are frequently used in addition to topical anti-fungal therapy to treat the irritant component of the diaper dermatitis when present concomitantly.
In addition to superinfection of diaper dermatitis by C. albicans, bacterial superinfection may complicate any form of contactdermatitis. This is especially common if the skin barrier is nolonger intact because of blistering or scratching.
Every effort should be made to identify the trigger of allergic or irritant contact dermatitis. With allergic contact dermatitis, reexposure often leads to increasingly severe reactions.
Seborrheic dermatitis is a common, chronic inflammatory disease that has different clinical presentations at different ages. Seborrheic dermatitis classically presents in infants as cradle cap or dermatitis in the intertriginous areas of the axillae, groin, antecubital and popliteal fossae, and umbilicus. It is seen in adolescents as dandruff. The pathogenesis of seborrheic dermatitis is unclear, but it is theorized that there is an abnormal inflammatory response to commensal Malassezia species in sebum-rich areas. Areas prone to seborrheic dermatitis include the scalp, eyebrows, eyelids, nasolabial folds, external auditory canals, and posterior auricular folds.
Seborrheic dermatitis in infants begins during the first month and persists during the first year of life. It is also called cradle cap because of the thick, greasy and waxy, yellow-white scaling and crusting of the scalp (Fig. 192-1). It is usually prominent on the vertex of the scalp, but it may be diffuse. Greasy, scaly, erythematous, nonpruritic patches and plaques may extend to the face and posterior auricular folds, sometimes involving the entire body. Diaper and intertriginous areas can have sharply demarcated, shiny, erythematous patches with yellow, greasy, or waxy-appearing scale. Hypopigmentation may persist after the inflammation has faded. The eruption is usually asymptomatic, which helps differentiate it from infantile atopic dermatitis, which is pruritic.
Classic seborrheic dermatitis during adolescence is typically localized to the scalp. The mild form is commonly known as dandruff, a fine, white, dry scaling of the scalp with minor itching. Additional findings of seborrheic dermatitis vary from diffuse, brawny scaling to focal areas of thick, oily, yellow crusts with underlying erythema. The external auditory canals, eyebrows, eyelids, and intertriginous areas may be involved as well. Pruritus may be minimal or severe.
Figure 192-1 Seborrheic dermatitis (cradle cap).Laboratory studies and imaging studies are not necessary todiagnose seborrheic dermatitis. Fungal cultures and potassiumhydroxide studies may be necessary to help differentiate seborrheic dermatitis of the scalp from tinea capitis (see Chapter 98).
Seborrheic dermatitis in an infant may be difficult to differentiate from atopic dermatitis, and in fact, some cases may represent an overlap. In a teenager, seborrheic dermatitis of the scalpand psoriasis of the scalp may have very similar clinical findings; it may be very difficult to differentiate the two disorders,especially if there are no other cutaneous findings to provideadditional clues. Intractable, severe, generalized seborrheicdermatitis suggests Langerhans cell histiocytosis. Intractableseborrheic dermatitis, accompanied by chronic diarrhea andfailure to thrive, suggests Leiner disease or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).
Seborrheic dermatitis of the scalp is usually asymptomatic andgenerally does not require treatment. Minor amounts of scalecan be removed easily by frequent shampooing. For infantswith cradle cap, oil (such as mineral oil or olive oil) may begently massaged into the scalp and left on for a few minutesbefore gently brushing out the scale and shampooing. Dailyshampooing with ketoconazole, zinc pyrithione, selenium sulfide, or salicylic acid shampoos can treat scalp scale. Seborrheicdermatitis with inflamed lesions responds rapidly to treatmentwith low-potency steroids two times daily.
The response to treatment is usually rapid. Secondary bacterial infection can occur but is uncommon. Intractable disease and other complications warrant further evaluation for other etiologies.
Cradle cap is self-limited and resolves during the first year of life. Seborrheic dermatitis does not cause permanent hair loss.
For teenagers, continued use of an antiseborrheic shampoo is often required for control of dandruff.
Frequent shampooing, especially with early signs of seborrheic dermatitis, may help prevent progression.
Pityriasis rosea is a benign, self-limited eruption that may occur at any age, with peak incidence during adolescence. A solitary, 2to 5-cm, pink, oval patch with central clearing, theso-called herald patch, is the first manifestation of the eruption.The herald patch typically is found on the breast, lower torso, orproximal thigh and is often misdiagnosed as fungal or eczematous in origin. One to 2 weeks later, a generalized eruptionoccurs on the torso and proximal extremities. Multiple 0.5to2-cm, oval to oblong, red or tan macules with a fine, branlikescale are characteristically arranged parallel to skin tensionlines (Christmas tree pattern). Rarely, the eruption may have aninverse distribution involving the axillae and groin or a papularor papulovesicular appearance. Mild prodromal symptoms maybe present with the appearance of the herald patch, and pruritusis present in 25% of cases. The eruption lasts 4 to 14 weeks, withgradual resolution. Residual hyperpigmentation or hypopigmentation can take additional months to clear. Treatment is unnecessary, though pruritus can be managed with oral antihistamines, phototherapy, and low-potency topical corticosteroids.
Psoriasis is a common papulosquamous condition characterized by well-demarcated, erythematous, scaling papules andplaques. Psoriasis occurs at all ages, including infancy, withonset of 30% of cases during childhood. The disease is characterized by a chronic and relapsing course, although spontaneous remissions can occur. Infections (especially Streptococcus pyogenes), stress, trauma, and medications may cause diseaseexacerbations. Various subtypes of psoriasis exist. The mostcommon variety is plaque-type psoriasis (psoriasis vulgaris), which can be localized or generalized. The lesions consist ofround, well-demarcated, red plaques measuring 1 to 7 cm withmicaceous scale, which is distinctive in its thick, silvery appearance with pinpoint bleeding points revealed on removal of thescales (Auspitz sign). The lesions of psoriasis have a distinctivedistribution involving the extensor aspect of the elbows andknees, posterior occipital scalp, periumbilical region, lumbosacral region, and intergluteal cleft. Children often have faciallesions involving the superomedial aspect of the eyelids. Nailplate involvement is common and includes pitting, onycholysis, subungual hyperkeratosis, and oil staining (reddish brownsubungual macular discoloration). Guttate (numerous smallplaques diffusely distributed on the torso), erythrodermic (covering large body surface areas), inverse (moist red patches affecting body folds), and pustular forms may occur.
The foundation of therapy is topical corticosteroids. Treatment of psoriasis with oral corticosteroids can induce pustularpsoriasis and should be avoided. Because of the risk of atrophy,striae, and telangiectases, especially when potent fluorinated corticosteroid preparations are administered long-term, thegoal is to use the least potent corticosteroid necessary. Topical vitamin D analogs, salicylic acid, and tar preparations areuseful adjuvants to topical corticosteroids. Phototherapy withultraviolet B (UVB) light can be useful as secondary therapy inolder children. Extensive plaque or guttate, erythrodermic, andpustular psoriasis may necessitate systemic treatments withimmune suppressive medication (methotrexate, cyclosporine,tumor necrosis factor-α antagonists). Disease triggers such asinfection or medications should be identified and removed.
Birthmark is a term that describes congenital anomalies of the skin. It should not be used as a definitive diagnosis because congenital skin lesions vary greatly in their appearance and prognosis. The differential diagnosis of various birthmarks is listed in Table 193-1.
The most frequently encountered pigmented lesion is dermal melanosis, which occurs in 70% to 90% of African-American, Hispanic, Asian, and Native American infants and in approximately 5% of white infants. This is a congenital lesion caused by entrapment of melanocytes in the dermis during their migration from the neural crest into the epidermis. Although most of these lesions are found in the lumbosacral area (Mongolian spot), they also occur at other sites such as the buttocks, flank, extremities, or, rarely, the face (Fig. 193-1). Single or multiple, poorly demarcated, gray-blue patches up to 10 cm in size may be present. Most lesions gradually disappear during the first few years of life; aberrant lesions in unusual sites are more likely to persist.
Café au lait macules are pigmented macules or patches, whichmay be present in a newborn but tend to develop during childhood (Fig. 193-2). They range in color from very light brownto a chocolate brown. Up to five café au lait macules are foundin 1.8% of newborns and 25% to 40% of normal children, and have no significance. Children with six or more café au laitmacules (0.5 cm in diameter before puberty or greater than 1.5 cm in diameter after puberty), especially when accompaniedby axillary or inguinal freckling, should be evaluated carefully
Brown (<20 cm)/plaque Congenital melanocytic nevus Variable Low risk of melanoma
Brown (>20 cm)/plaque Giant congenital melanocytic Trunk most common Risk of melanoma and nevus
Brown-“flesh-colored”/plaque Epidermal nevus Variable, trunk and neck May enlarge with time
Red/patch Port-wine stain (nevus flammeus) Variable, face most common May be associated with Sturge-Weber syndrome
Red/patch Salmon patch (nevus simplex) Glabella, eyelids, nape of neck Improves or resolves with time
Red/papule or plaque Hemangioma Variable May be associated with liver hemangiomas, airway hemangiomas, and PHACE syndrome
Blue-purple/nodule Cephalohematoma Scalp Resolves with timeBlue-purple/plaque Venous, lymphatic, or mixed Variable Intermittent swelling and pain malformation
Hypertrichosis/tumor Plexiform neurofibroma Trunk most common Associated with neurofibromatosis type 1 for additional stigmata of neurofibromatosis type 1. Other disorders also associated with café au lait macules include the other forms of neurofibromatosis, Legius syndrome, tuberous sclerosis, McCune-Albright syndrome, multiple lentigines/LEOPARDsyndrome, Noonan syndrome, and Russell-Silver syndrome.
Figure 193-1 Dermal hypermelanosis (back).Figure 193-2 Cafe au lait spots (leg).Approximately 1% to 2% of newborns have congenital melanocytic nevi. Smaller lesions (as opposed to giant pigmented nevi) are brown patches or plaques, often with an oval or lancet configuration. Lesions may resemble café au lait macules initially, but darker pigmentation, variegated speckles, textural changes, and elevation develop with time and help to differentiate these lesions (Fig. 193-3). Thick, dark, coarse hair frequently is associated with congenital melanocytic nevi (Fig. 193-4). These lesions vary in site and size but are most often solitary. Congenital melanocytic nevi pose a very slightly increased risk for the development of malignant melanoma, usually developing during adulthood. Surgical removal may be considered to improve the cosmetic appearance of the patient or to reduce the likelihood of malignant transformation, although some patients and physicians elect for observation. Excisional biopsy is indicated when malignant change is suspected.
Giant congenital melanocytic nevi are defined as nevi that would be approximately 20 cm in length in adulthood; in a neonate, this translates to 9 cm on the head and neck and 6 cm on the rest of the body. These lesions appear as color variegated, light brown to black patch or plaques, sometimes with smaller macules and papules (satellite nevi) in addition. The affected skin may be smooth, nodular, or leathery. Prominent, dark hypertrichosis is often present. Neuromelanosis, the presence of melanocytes in the central nervous system, may be associated with giant congenital melanocytic nevi. Affected patients may be asymptomatic or have hydrocephalus and seizures; in symptomatic patients, death often results during early childhood. Malignant melanoma develops in approximately 2% to 10% of patients with giant congenital melanocytic nevi, in either the cutaneous lesion or the neural melanocytes. In contrast to small and medium congenital melanocytic nevi, melanoma is more likely to develop during childhood. Because of the incidence of malignant degeneration and extensive deformity, surgical excision should be considered for resectable lesions. The use of tissue expansion techniques has greatly improved the capability for surgical removal of large lesions.
Figure 193-3 Congenital melanocytic nevus (buttock).Figure 193-4 Hairy congenital nevus.Acquired melanocytic nevi are common skin lesions. Melanocytic nevi may occur at any age; however, the lesions developmost rapidly in prepubertal children and teenagers. Melanocytic nevi are well-delineated, round to oval, brown maculesand papules. Lesions are most common on the face, upper torso,and arms. Family history, fair skin, and sun exposure are considered major risk factors. Irregular pigmentation, rapid growth,bleeding, and a change in configuration or borders suggest signsof malignant degeneration and biopsy should be performed.Malignant melanoma is rare in childhood; however, there isan alarming increase in incidence in adolescence, especially inthose who use indoor tanning. Education of parents and children regarding the risks of sun exposure, appropriate sun protection, and recognition of worrisome lesions is important.
Vascular anomalies can be divided into two major categories:tumors and malformations. Vascular tumors are characterized by hypercellularity, proliferation, and growth. Vascular malformations, however, are developmental defects derived from the capillary, venous, arterial, or lymphatic vessels. In contrast tohemangiomas, vascular malformations remain relatively staticover time. Differentiating between these entities is importantbecause they have different prognoses and clinical implications.
Available @ StudentConsult.comHemangiomas are the most common soft tissue tumors of infancy, occurring in approximately 5% to 10% of 1-year-old infants. In newborns, hemangiomas may originate as a pale white macule with threadlike telangiectasia. When the tumor proliferates, it assumes its most recognizable form as a bright red, lobulated plaque or nodule (superficial component, Fig. 194-1). Hemangiomas that lie deeper in the skin are soft, warm masses with a slightly bluish discoloration (deeper component). Frequently, hemangiomas have both a superficial and a deep component. They range from a few millimeters to several centimeters in diameter and are usually solitary; 20% involve multiple lesions. Hemangiomas occur predominantly in females (3:1) and have an increased incidence in premature infants. Approximately 55% are present at birth; the rest develop in the first weeks of life. Superficial hemangiomas reach their maximal size by 6 to 8 months, but deep hemangiomas may grow for 12 to 14 months. They then undergo slow, spontaneous resolution, which takes 3 to 10 years.
Figure 194-1 Hemangioma (chest).Despite the benign nature of most cutaneous hemangiomas, there may be the risk of functional compromise or permanent disfigurement depending on the location and extent. Ulceration, the most frequent complication, can be painful and increases the risk of infection, hemorrhage, and scarring. Areas frequently associated with complications include the periocular region, lip, nasal tip, beard, face (large lesions), groin, and buttocks.
Periorbital hemangiomas pose considerable risk tovision and should be monitored carefully. Amblyopia canresult from the hemangioma causing obstruction of the visual axis or pressure on the globe, resulting in astigmatism. If there is any concern, the patient should have urgentevaluation by an ophthalmologist. Treatment may be indicated to prevent blindness. Subglottic hemangiomas manifest as hoarseness and stridor; progression to respiratoryfailure may be rapid. Symptomatic airway hemangiomasdevelop in more than 50% of infants with extensive facialhemangiomas on the chin and jaw (beard distribution);any infant with a beard hemangioma should be referredfor laryngoscopy. Multiple cutaneous (diffuse hemangiomatosis) and large facial hemangiomas may be associated with visceral hemangiomas. Extensive cervicofacialhemangiomas may be associated with multiple anomalies,including posterior fossa malformations, hemangiomas,arterial anomalies of the cerebrovasculature, coarctation of aorta and cardiac defects, and eye abnormalities (PHACE syndrome). Lumbosacral hemangiomas suggest an occultspinal dysraphism with or without anorectal and urogenital anomalies. Magnetic resonance imaging of the spine is indicated in all patients with midline cutaneous hemangiomas in the lumbosacral area.
Most hemangiomas do not necessitate medical intervention and involute spontaneously; however, if complicationsarise and treatment is warranted, oral propranolol is themainstay of therapy.
A pyogenic granuloma is an acquired, benign vascular tumor commonly seen in children. Initially, the lesions appear as pink-red papules that often arise after minor trauma, growing rapidly over a period of weeks into a bright red, vascular, often pedunculated papule measuring 2 to 10 mm. The lesions often have the appearance of granulation tissue and are very friable. They may occur anywhere on the body, but the head, neck, and upper extremities are most commonly affected. When traumatized, these lesions may bleed profusely, often requiring emergent medical attention. Surgical excision is the most definitive treatment option, though pulsed dye laser can be useful for very small lesions.
Port-wine stains (nevus flammeus, capillary malformation) aremalformations of the superficial capillaries of the skin. Theselesions are present at birth and should be considered permanent developmental defects. They do not enlarge after birth; any apparent increase in size is caused by growth of the child.A port-wine stain may be localized to any body surface, butfacial lesions are the most common. They are pink-red, sharplydemarcated macules and patches in infancy (Fig. 194-2). With time, they darken to a purple or port-wine color and maydevelop a pebbly or slightly thickened surface. Vascular blebsmay form within the lesions and become symptomatic or bleed.The most successful treatment modality in use is the pulsed dyelaser, which can result in 80% to 90% improvement in theselesions after a series of treatment sessions and can avoid future complications associated with vascular dilation. Treatment ismore effective if undertaken in infancy. Overgrowth of underlying bone can occur and is frequently seen with facial lesions.Affected patients often need maxillofacial intervention frommalalignment that develops.
Most port-wine stains occur as isolated defects and do not indicate systemic malformations. Rarely, they may suggest ocular defects or specific neurocutaneous syndromes. Sturge-Weber syndrome (encephalotrigeminal angiomatosis) may occur with a facial port-wine stain, usually in the cutaneous distribution of the first branch of the trigeminal nerve. Other features include leptomeningeal angiomatosis, mental retardation, seizures, hemiparesis contralateral to the facial lesions, ipsilateral intracortical calcification, and frequent ocular manifestations such as buphthalmos, glaucoma, angioma of the choroid, hemianoptic defects, and optic atrophy. Anticonvulsant therapy and neurosurgical procedures have been of value in some patients. Glaucoma can occur in association with port-wine stains located on the eyelid, even in the absence of Sturge-Weber syndrome, and these patients need lifelong monitoring of ocular pressures. Klippel-Trénaunay-Webersyndrome is characterized by the triad of capillary and venous malformations, venous varicosities, and hyperplasia of the soft tissues—and often bone—of the involved area. The lower limb is most commonly affected. A port-wine stain overlying the spine may rarely be a marker of spinal dysraphism or an intraspinal vascular malformation.
Figure 194-2 Port-wine stain (face).A salmon patch (nevus simplex, stork bite, angel’s kiss) is avariant of nevus flammeus that is present in 70% of normal newborns. They are red, irregular, macular patches resultingfrom dilation of dermal capillaries and are usually found on thenape of the neck, the eyelids, and the glabella. Most of the faciallesions fade by 1 year of age, but lesions on the neck may persistfor life. Surveys of adult populations confirm the persistenceof the nuchal lesions in approximately 25% of the population.
ERYTHEMA MULTIFORME, STEVENS-JOHNSON SYNDROME, AND TOXIC EPIDERMAL NECROLYSISErythema multiforme (EM), Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS),and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) are acute hypersensitivity reactions characterized by cutaneous and mucosal necrosis.These syndromes represent a hypersensitivity reaction to a precipitating cause, usually infectious organisms or drugs. Thesedisorders were historically thought to represent a spectrum of the same disease process, and inconsistent use of these diseasenames led to further confusion. A consensus definition was published in 1993, and current literature favors that EM is distinct from the SJS/TEN spectrum of disease. The differential diagnosis of vesiculobullous eruptions is listed in Table 195-1.
Available @ StudentConsult.comEM is a common, self-limiting, acute hypersensitivity syndrome characterized by the abrupt onset of round, deep red, well-demarcated macules and papules with a dusky gray or bullous center. The size may range from a few millimeters to a few centimeters, but most lesions are approximately 1 cm in diameter. The classic target lesion consists of three concentric rings; the outermost is red, the intermediate is white, and the center is a dusky red or purple. These can progress to edematous plaques or bullae. If blistering occurs, it is circumscribed
Prodrome of fever, headache, malaise, sore throat, cough, vomiting, diarrhea Extensive epidermal necrosis with mucosal involvement Frequently related to drugs (e.g., sulfonamides, anticonvulsants) Nikolsky sign
Generalized, tender erythema Nikolsky sign Occasionally associated with underlying infection such as osteomyelitis, septic arthritis, pneumonia Desquamation and moist erosions observed, especially in intertriginous areas More common in children younger than 5 years of age
Herpes simplex Grouped vesicles on erythematous base May be recurrent at same site— lips, eyes, cheeks, hands Reactivated by fever, sunlight, trauma, stress
Varicella Crops of vesicles on erythematous base (“dewdrops on rose petal”) Highly contagious May see multiple stages of lesions simultaneously Associated with fever
Grouped vesicles on erythematous base limited to one or several adjacent dermatomes Thoracic dermatomes most commonly involved in children Usually unilateral Burning, pruritus
Prodrome of fever, anorexia, sore throat Oval blisters in acral distribution, usually few in number Shallow, oral erosions on erythematous base in oral mucosa Highly infectious Peak incidence in late summer and in fall
Erythema multiforme Target lesions on acral sites May have involvement of mucosal surfaces Associated with herpes simplex virus infection Urticaria pigmentosa Red-brown macules and papules; bullous lesions are rare Darier sign Lesions appear in infancy and spontaneously resolve in childhood
Miliaria crystallina Clean, 1to 2-mm superficial vesicles occurring in crops Rupture spontaneously Intertriginous areas, especially neck and axillae
Hereditary: epidermolysis bullosa, incontinentia pigmenti, epidermolytic hyperkeratosisAutoimmune: linear IgA disease, bullous pemphigoid, dermatitis herpetiformisModified from Nopper AJ, Rabinowotz RG: Rashes and skin lesions. In Kliegman RM, editor: Practical Strategies in Pediatric Diagnosis and Therapy, Philadelphia, 1996, WB Saunders.
and involves less than 10% of the body surface area. Cutaneous lesions are symmetrical and commonly involve acral areas such as the hands, feet, elbows, and knees. Involvement of the ocular, oral, and genital mucosa can be seen in some cases.
Most EM cases in children are precipitated by herpes simplex virus infection, though the infection may no longer be apparent by the time EM develops. Mycoplasma pneumoniaeand other infectious organisms may also trigger EM. Symptomatic treatment is usually sufficient. Oral antihistamines help suppress pruritus, stinging, and burning. The use of systemic corticosteroids is controversial but may be considered for severe mucosal disease. Antiviral medications targeting herpes simplex virus do not alter the course of the EM, though children with recurrent EM may be candidates for prophylactic antivirals. The prognosis is excellent, with most lesions lasting no more than 2 weeks. Healing occurs without scarring.
SJS, TEN, and SJS/TEN overlap are severe, life-threatening disorders thought to represent the same disease continuum. Theyare usually preceded by a prodrome of fever, malaise, and upperrespiratory symptoms 1 to 14 days before the onset of cutaneouslesions. Red macules appear suddenly and tend to coalesce intolarge patches, with a predominant distribution over the face andtrunk. Atypical targets may be present, causing diagnostic confusion initially with EM, although the atypical targets lack thecharacteristic three zones. Skin lesions evolve rapidly into bullaeand areas of necrosis. SJS is defined as epidermal detachment ofless than 10% of the body surface area, whereas SJS/TEN overlap has 10% to 30% and TEN has greater than 30% body surface area involvement. Any mucosal surface may be involved.The upper and lower lips are generally swollen and bright redwith erosions and hemorrhagic crusts, and the remainder of theoral mucosa may also be involved. Early in the disease process,there is bilateral conjunctival injection; however, this usuallyprogresses to conjunctival erosions. There may be erosions ofthe penile, vaginal, or perianal mucosa. Urogenital, esophageal,and tracheal surfaces may be involved in the most severe cases.
Drugs and Mycoplasma pneumoniae infections are the most common causes of SJS/TEN in children. The most common drugs implicated are nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, sulfonamides, anticonvulsants, and antibiotics. Other precipitating factors are viral infections, bacterial infections, syphilis, and deep fungal infections.
SJS/TEN can occur at any age. The diagnosis of SJS/TEN is clinical; there are no diagnostic tests. Confusion with EM, Kawasaki disease, and bacterial toxin-mediated diseases (scarlet fever, toxic shock syndrome, and staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome) may occur. Patients with Kawasaki disease have conjunctival injection and hyperemia of the mucous membranes. Necrosis of the mucosal surfaces does not occur; blistering, erosions, and severe crusting are not observed. The mucosal changes of staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome are minor, and frank erosions are not present. The blistering of the skin is more superficial and favors intertriginous regions.
SJS/TEN is a serious illness with a mortality rate as high as35% for severe cases of TEN. Prompt discontinuation of theoffending agent is key. No controlled clinical trials regardingmedical therapy exist, though early initiation of intravenous immunoglobulin has been proposed. Supportive care is anotheressential component of therapy, and a multidisciplinary careteam is often necessary. Sepsis is the major cause of morbidityand mortality, so meticulous wound care is crucial, with stringent surveillance for cutaneous infections and use of antibiotics as warranted. Parenteral or nasogastric feeding should beinstituted early to accelerate the healing process. Careful fluidmanagement and monitoring of electrolytes are critical. Ocular complications are a major cause of long-term morbidity, soearly involvement of an ophthalmologist is important.
Arthropods are common in the environment. Although many can bite or sting humans, only a few infest humans. Arachnids (mites) are the most common, parasitizing humans and animals by burrowing into the skin and depositing eggs within the skin.
Available @ StudentConsult.comScabies is caused by the mite Sarcoptes scabiei. The female mite burrows into the epidermis and deposits her eggs, which mature in 10 to 14 days. The disease is highly contagious because infested humans do not manifest the typical signs or symptoms for 3 to 4 weeks, facilitating transmission. An immunocompetent person with scabies typically harbors only 10 to 20 mites.
The clinical presentation varies depending on the age of the patient, duration of infestation, and immune status of the patient. Severe and paroxysmal itching is the hallmark, with complaints of itching that is frequently worse than the eruption would suggest. Most children exhibit an eczematous eruption composed of red, excoriated papules and nodules. The classic linear papule or burrow is often difficult to find. Distribution is the most diagnostic finding; the papules are found in the axillae, umbilicus, groin, penis, instep of the foot, and web spaces of the fingers and toes (Fig. 196-1). Infants infested with scabies have diffuse erythema, scaling, and pinpoint papules. Pustules, vesicles, and nodules are much more common in infants and may be more diffusely distributed. The face and scalp usually are spared in adults and older children, but these areas are usually involved in infants. Nodular lesions may represent active infection or prolonged hypersensitivity lesions following resolution of infestation. Immunocompromised or neurologically impaired persons may develop a severe form of the disease known as Norwegian or crusted scabies, with infestation of 2 million live mites at one time.
Figure 196-1 Scabies (hand).The diagnosis of scabies can be confirmed by microscopic visualization of the mite, eggs, larvae, or feces in scrapings of papules or burrows examined under oil immersion. Skin biopsy is rarely necessary but may be useful if lesions have become nodular.
Curative treatment is achieved by a 12-hour (overnight) application of permethrin 5% cream applied to the entire body. Because permethrin is not effective against the eggs, the treatment should be repeated 1 week later to kill any subsequently hatched larvae. All household members and close contacts should be treated simultaneously, even if asymptomatic. Bed linens, towels, and clothes worn for the previous 2 days before treatment should be machine-washed in hot water and machine-dried using high heat; heat is the most effective scabicide. Items that are not washable may be dry-cleaned or placed in a sealed plastic bag for 7 days.
Secondary bacterial infection may occur but is uncommon. In contrast to the pediculoses, scabies is not a vector for infections. Pruritus may persist for 7 to 14 days after successful therapy because of a prolonged hypersensitivity reaction, which does not indicate treatment failure. Inadequate treatment or reinfestation should be suspected if new lesions develop after treatment.
Three species of lice infest humans: Pediculus humanus capitis, the head louse; Pthirus pubis, the pubic louse or crab louse; and Pediculus humanus humanus (also known as Pediculus humanus corporis), the body louse. Lice are wingless insects 2 to 4 mm in length that cannot fly or jump. Transmission usually occurs by direct contact with another infested individual. Indirect spread through contact with fomites or personal belongings, such as hairbrushes, combs, or caps, is much less frequent.
Pediculosis differs from scabies infestation in that the louse resides on the hair or clothing and intermittently feeds on the host by piercing the skin. The bite causes small urticarial papules and itching. Head lice live close to the skin and may live for 30 days, depositing 100 to 400 eggs as nits on hair shafts, usually within 6 mm of the scalp.
Head lice are seen most frequently in early school-agechildren. Head lice infestations are unrelated to hygiene andare not more common among children with long hair orwith dirty hair. It is estimated that 6 to 12 million personsin the United States and 1% to 3% of persons in developedcountries are infested with head lice each year. In the UnitedStates, head lice infestation is rare among African Americansand may be more common in girls, which is attributed totheir tendency to play more closely with one another thanboys do.
Pubic lice are transmitted by sexual contact. Their presence in children may be a sign of child abuse. Body lice are firm evidence of poor hygiene, such as infrequent washing and clothing changes.
Itching, if present, is the primary symptom. Pediculosis capitis usually causes pruritus behind the ears or on the nape of the neck, or a crawling sensation in the scalp. Pediculosis pubis usually causes pruritus in the groin. Eyelash involvement in children may cause crusting and blepharitis. Pediculosis corporis causes pruritus that, because of repeated scratching, may result in lichenification or secondary bacterial infection. Excoriations and crusting, with or without associated regional lymphadenopathy, may be present.
Infestation with the head louse may be asymptomatic and has little morbidity. The diagnosis can be confirmed by visualizing a live louse. A fine-toothed comb to trap lice is more effective than simply looking at the hair. Wet combing is more time-consuming, but dry combing produces static that may propel the lice away from the comb.
Nits represent the outer casing of the louse ova. Viable nits have an intact operculum (cap) on the nonattached end and a developing louse within the egg. Brown nits located on the proximal hair shaft suggest active infestation. White nits located on the hair shaft 4 cm or farther from the scalp indicate previous infestation. Because nonviable nits can remain stuck in the hair for weeks to months after an infestation has resolved, many children with nits do not have active lice infestation.
The treatment of head lice is controversial because of resistance to many established options. Over-the-counter permethrin (1%) and pyrethrin-based products (0.17% to 0.33%)are the first choices of therapy. Because 20% to 30% of eggsmay survive one treatment, a second treatment should beapplied in 7 to 10 days. Drug resistance is on the rise, andmalathion (0.5%) lotion may be used as an alternative forresistant cases.
Everyone in the family should be checked for head lice and treated if live lice are found to reduce the risk of reinfestation. Bed linens, towels, and clothes worn for the previous 2 days before treatment should be machine-washed in hot water and machine-dried using high heat. Items that are not washable may be dry-cleaned or placed in a sealed plastic bag for 2 weeks. Brushes and combs should be soaked in dish detergent or rubbing alcohol for 1 hour. Rugs, furniture, mattresses, and car seats should be vacuumed thoroughly.
Manual removal of nits after treatment is not necessary to prevent spread. Children treated for head lice should return to school immediately after completion of the first effective treatment or first wet combing, regardless of the presence of remaining nits. There is no evidence that no nit or nit-free policies reduce transmission of head lice. If required for return to school, nit removal is best achieved by wetting the hair and combing with a fine-toothed metal comb.
Excoriations can become secondarily infected with skin bacteria, usually Staphylococcus and Streptococcus. The body louse functions as a vector for potentially serious infectious diseases, including epidemic typhus, caused by Rickettsia prowazekii; louse-borne relapsing fever, caused by Borrelia recurrentis; and trench fever, caused by Bartonella quintana.These louse-borne infections are rare in the United States. In contrast to body lice, head lice and pubic lice are not associated with transmission of other infections.
Eichenfield LE, Esterly NB, Frieden IJ: Textbook of Neonatal Dermatology, ed 2, Philadelphia, 2008, Saunders
Holland KE, Drolet BA: Infantile hemangioma, Pediatr Clin North Am 57:1069–1083, 2010
Krakowski AC, Eichenfield LF, Dohil MA: Management of atopic dermatitis in the pediatric population, Pediatrics 122:812–814, 2008
Paller AS, Mancini AJ: Hurwitz Clinical Pediatric Dermatology, ed 4,
Philadelphia, 2011, SaundersSchachner LA, Hansen RC: Pediatric Dermatology, ed 4, Philadelphia, 2011,
Yan AC, Baldwin HE, Eichenfield LF, et al: Approach to pediatric acne treat ment: an update, Semin Cutan Med Surg 30:S16–S21, 2011
Kevin D. Walter and J. Channing Tassone 26To care for the pediatric patient, one must understand the growth and development of the musculoskeletal system as well as common orthopedic terms (Table 197-1). Practitioners
Bone growth center that has a muscular insertion but is not considered a growth plate (example: tibial tubercle)
Arthroscopy Surgical exploration of a joint using an arthroscope Arthroplasty Surgical reconstruction of a joint Arthrotomy Surgical incision into a joint; an “open” procedure Deformation Changes in limb, trunk, or head due to mechanical force Dislocation Displacement of bones at a joint Equinus Plantar flexion of the forefoot, hindfoot, or entire foot Femoral Increased angulation of the femoral head and neck anteversion with respect to the frontal plane Malformation Defect in development that occurs during fetal life (example: syndactyly) Osteotomy Surgical division of a bone Pes cavus High medial arch of the foot Pes planus Flat foot Rotation, Inward rotation (toward midline)
Rotation, Outward rotation (away from midline) external Subluxation Incomplete loss of contact between two joint surfaces Tibial torsion Rotation of the tibia in an internal or external fashion Valgus/ Angulation of a bone or joint in which the apex is valgum toward the midline (example: knock-knee) Varus/varum Angulation of a bone or joint in which the apex is away from the midline (example: bowlegs) should recognize common mechanisms for congenital and acquired orthopedic disorders (Table 197-2).
The ends of the long bones contain a much higher proportion of cartilage in the skeletally immature child than in an adult (Figs. 197-1 and 197-2). The high cartilage content allows for a unique vulnerability to trauma and infection (particularly in the metaphysis).
The physis is responsible for the longitudinal growth of thelong bones. Articular cartilage allows the ends of the bone toenlarge and accounts for growth of smaller bones, such as thetarsals. The periosteum can provide circumferential growth.Trauma, infection, nutritional deficiency (rickets), inborn errors of metabolism (mucopolysaccharidoses), and other metabolic disorders (renal tubular acidosis, hypothyroid) may affecteach of the growth processes and produce distinct aberrations.
Figure 197-1 Schematic of long bone structure.Neurologic maturation, marked by achievement of developmental motor milestones, is important for normal musculoskeletal development (see Section 2). A neurologic disorder may cause a secondary musculoskeletal abnormality (e.g., extremity contractures in Duchenne muscular dystrophy). Thus, normal motor development must be included in the definition of a normal musculoskeletal system.
Available @ StudentConsult.comIn-Toeing, Out-Toeing, and Toe-Walking Bowlegs and Knock-KneesThe in utero position of the fetus can affect the angular and torsional alignment (temporary or permanent) of the skeletal system, especially of the lower extremity (Fig. 197-3). The newborn’s hips are externally rotated. Pes planus and genu varum are common. Infants are usually born with a flexed posture. This position usually decreases to neutral within the first 4 to 6 months. The foot is often flat and tucked under at birth; the ankle will be inverted and the forefoot is adducted when compared with the hindfoot. The lateral border of the foot must straighten out, even with dorsiflexion, to be considered secondary to in utero positioning.
The head and neck may also be distorted by in utero positioning. The spine and upper extremities are less likely to be affected. By the age of 3 to 4 years, the effects of in utero positioning have usually resolved.
Normal gait has a stance phase and swing phase; each legshould have symmetrical timing with each phase. The
Figure 197-2 The ends of long bones at various ages. Lightly stippled areas represent cartilage composition, whereas heavily darkened areas are zones of ossification. (From Tachjidan MO: Congenital Dislocation of the Hip, New York, 1982, Churchill Livingstone, p 105.) stance phase represents 60% of the gait and begins with footcontact (usually the heel strike) and ends with the toe-off.During the swing phase (40%), the foot is off the ground.The gait cycle is the interval between stance phases on thesame limb.
Toddlers will generally walk independently by 18 months of age. Their externally rotated gait is usually inconsistent, is characterized by short, rapid steps, and does not have the reciprocal arm swing. Gait coordination improves over time, with a normal gait usually achieved by the time a child enters elementary school.
Available @ StudentConsult.comLimp In-Toeing, Out-Toeing, and Toe-WalkingThe Limping ChildThe differential diagnosis for a limping child is often categorized by age and presence or absence of a painful limp (Table 197-3). The gluteus medius muscle stabilizes thepelvis during the stance phase, preventing the pelvis fromdropping toward the leg in swing phase. An antalgic gait is a painful limp; the stance phase and stride of the affected limbare shortened to decrease the discomfort of weight bearingon the affected limb. The Trendelenburg gait has a normal stance phase, but excessive swaying of the trunk. Waddling gait refers to a bilateral decrease in function of the gluteusmuscles.
Toe walking is a common complaint in early walkers. A physician should evaluate any child older than 3 years of age whostill toe walks. Although this is most likely habit, a neuromuscular disorder (cerebral palsy, tethered cord), Achilles tendoncontracture (heel cord tightness), or a leg-length discrepancyshould be considered.
Differential Diagnosis of Limping in ChildrenEarly walker: 1 to 3 years of ageChild: 3 to 10 years of ageDevelopmental dysplasia of the hip Neuromuscular disorder Cerebral palsy Lower extremity length inequality
Septic arthritis, osteomyelitis, myositis Transient monarticular synovitis Trauma Rheumatologic disorders
Developmental dysplasia of the hip Legg-Calve-Perthes disease Lower extremity length inequality Neuromuscular disorder
Cerebral palsy Muscular dystrophy (Duchenne) Adolescent: 11 years of age to maturity
Septic arthritis, osteomyelitis, myositis Trauma Rheumatologic disorder Slipped capital femoral epiphysis: acute; unstable Malignancy
Slipped capital femoral epiphysis: chronic; stable Developmental dysplasia of the hip: acetabular dysplasia Lower extremity length inequality Neuromuscular disorder
Fractures account for 10% to 15% of all childhood injuries.The anatomic, biomechanical, and physiologic differencesin children account for unique fracture patterns and management. Fracture terminology helps describe fractures(Table 198-1).
The pediatric skeleton has a higher proportion of cartilage and a thicker, stronger, and more active periosteum, capable of producing a larger callus more rapidly than in an adult. The thick periosteum may decrease the rate of displaced fractures and stabilize fractures after reduction. Because of the higher proportion of cartilage, the skeletally immature patient can withstand more force before deformation or fracture than adult bone. As children mature into adolescence, the rate of healing slows and approaches that of adults.
Buckle or torus fractures occur after compression of the bone; the bony cortex does not truly break. These fractures will typically occur in the metaphysis and are stable fractures that heal in approximately 4 weeks with immobilization. A common example is a fall onto an outstretched arm causing a buckle fracture in the distal radius.
Complete fractures occur when both sides of bony cortex are fractured. This is the most common fracture and may be classified as comminuted, oblique, transverse, or spiral, depending on the direction of the fracture line.
Greenstick fractures occur when a bone is angulated beyond the limits of plastic deformation. The bone fails on the tension side and sustains a bend deformity on the compression side. The force is insufficient to cause a complete fracture (Fig. 198-1).
The bone fragments separate completely IncompleteThe bone fragments are still partially joined LinearReferring to a fracture line that is parallel to the bone’s long axis Transverse Referring to a fracture line that is at a right angle to the bone’s long axis Oblique Referring to a fracture line that is diagonal to the bone’s long axis Spiral Referring to a twisting fracture Comminution A fracture that results in several fragments Compaction The bone fragments are driven into each other Angulation The fragments have angular malalignment Rotation The fragments have rotational malalignment Shortening The fractured ends of the bones overlap Open A fracture in which the bone has pierced the skin
Bowing fractures demonstrate no fracture line evident on radiographs, but the bone is bent beyond its limit of plastic deformation. This is not a true fracture, but will heal with periosteal reaction.
Available @ StudentConsult.comFractures involving the growth plate constitute about 20% of all fractures in the skeletally immature patient. These fractures are more common in males (2:1 male-female ratio). The peak incidence is 13 to 14 years in boys and 11 to 12 years in girls. The distal radius, distal tibia, and distal fibula are the most common locations.
Ligaments frequently insert onto epiphyses. Thus, traumatic forces to an extremity may be transmitted to the physis, which is not as biomechanically strong as the metaphysis; it may fracture with mechanisms of injury that may cause sprains in the adult. The growth plate is most susceptible to torsional and angular forces.
Physeal fractures are described using Salter-Harris classification, which allows for prognostic information regarding premature closure of the growth plate and poor functional outcomes. The higher the type number, the more likely the patient will have complications. There are five main groups (Fig. 198-2):Type I: transverse fracture through the physis; growth disturbance is unusual
Type II: fracture through a portion of the physis and metaphysis; most common type of Salter-Harris fracture (75%)
Type III: fracture through a portion of the physis and epiphysis into the joint that may result in complication because of intra-articular component and because of disruption of the growing or hypertrophic zone of the physis
Figure 198-1 The greenstick fracture is an incomplete fracture.(Modified from White N, Sty R: Radiological evaluation and classification of pediatric fractures, Clin Pediatr Emerg Med 3:94–105, 2002.)
Type IV: fracture through the metaphysis, physis, and epiphysis with a high risk of complicationType V: a crush injury to the physis with a poor functional
Types I and II fractures can often be managed by closed reduction and do not require perfect alignment. A major exception is the type II fracture of the distal femur, which is associated with a poor outcome unless proper anatomic alignment is obtained. Types III and IV fractures require anatomic alignment for successful treatment. Type V fractures are rare and often result in premature closure of the physis.
The majority of pediatric fractures can be managed with closed methods. Some fractures need closed reduction to improve alignment. Approximately 4% of pediatric fractures require internal fixation. Patients with open physes are more likely to require internal fixation if they have one of the following fractures:Displaced epiphyseal fracturesDisplaced intra-articular fracturesFractures in a child with multiple injuriesOpen fracturesUnstable fractures
The goal of internal fixation is to improve and maintain anatomic alignment. This is usually done with Kirschner wires, Steinmann pins, and cortical screws with subsequent external immobilization in a cast until healing is satisfactory. After healing, the hardware is frequently removed to prevent incorporation into the callus and prevent physeal damage.
External fixation without casting may be necessary for pelvic fractures causing hemodynamic instability. Fractures associated with soft tissue loss, burns, and neurovascular damage may benefit from external fixation.
Fracture remodeling occurs because of a combination ofperiosteal resorption and new bone formation. Many pediatric fractures do not need perfect anatomic alignment for proper healing. Younger patients have greater potential for fracture remodeling. Fractures that occur in the meta-physis,near the growth plate, may undergo more remodeling. Fractures angulated in the plane of motion also remodel very well.Intra-articular fractures, angulated or displaced diaphysealfractures, rotated fractures, and fracture deformity not in theplane of motion tend not to remodel as well.
Overgrowth occurs in long bones as the result of increased blood flow associated with fracture healing. Femoral fractures in children younger than 10 years of age will frequently overgrow 1 to 3 cm. This is the reason end-to-end alignment for femur and long-bone fractures may not be indicated. After 10 years of age, overgrowth is less of a problem, so end-to-end alignment is recommended.
Fractures and injuries to the physis can result in premature closure. If it is a partial closure, the consequence may be an angular deformity. If it is a complete closure, limb shortening may occur. The most commonly affected locations are the distal femur and the distal and proximal tibia.
Fractures and dislocations may damage adjacent blood vessels and nerves. The most common location is the distal humerus (supracondylar fracture) and the knee (dislocation and physeal fracture). It is necessary to perform and document a careful neurovascular examination distal to the fracture (pulse, sensory, and motor function).
Compartment syndrome is an orthopedic emergency that results from hemorrhage and soft tissue swelling within the tight fascial compartments of an extremity. This can result in muscle ischemia and neurovascular compromise unless it is surgically decompressed. The most common sites are the lower leg (tibial fracture) and arm (supracondylar fracture).
Affected patients have severe pain and will eventually have decreased sensation in the dermatomes supplied by the nerves located in the compartment. Swollen and tight compartments and pain with passive stretching are present. This can happen underneath a cast and may actually occur when a cast is applied too tightly. It is important to educate all patients with fractures on the signs of compartment syndrome and ensure that they realize it is an emergency.
Figure 198-2 The types of growth plate injury as classified by Salter and Harris. See text for descriptions of types I to V. (From Salter RB, Harris WR: Injuries involving the epiphyseal plate, J Bone Joint Surg Am 45:587–622, 1963.)
This is an oblique fracture of the distal tibia without a fibula fracture. There is often no significant trauma. Patients are usually 1 to 3 years old, but can be as old as 6 and present with limping and pain with weight bearing. There may be minimal swelling and pain. Initial radiographs do not always show the fracture; if symptoms persist, a repeat x-ray in 7 to 10 days may be helpful.
Available @ StudentConsult.comChild abuse must always be considered in the differential diagnosis of a child with fractures, especially in those younger than 3 years (see Chapter 22). Common fracture patterns that should increase the index of suspicion include multiple fractures in different stages of radiographic healing, metaphyseal corner fractures (shaking), fractures too severe for the history, or fractures in nonambulatory infants. Although spiral fractures of long bones were historically considered pathognomic for abuse, they can be seen in nonabuse situations.
When there is concern for child abuse, the child should have a full evaluation, which may include admission to the hospital. A thorough and well-documented physical examination should focus on soft tissue injuries, the cranium, and a funduscopic examination for retinal hemorrhages or detachment. A skeletal survey or a bone scan may be helpful in identifying other fractures.
The hip is a ball (femoral head) and socket (acetabulum) joint that is important for skeletal stability. The femoral head and acetabulum are interdependent for normal growth and development. The femoral neck and head, which contain the capital femoral epiphysis, are intra-articular. The blood supply to this region is unique because the blood vessels are extraosseous and lie on the surface of the femoral neck, entering the epiphysis peripherally. Thus, the blood supply to the femoral head is vulnerable to trauma, infection, and other causes that may increase intra-articular pressure. Damage to the blood supply can lead to avascular necrosis.
In developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH), the hips atbirth may be dislocated or dislocatable. The femoral head andacetabulum develop from the same mesenchymal cells; by11 weeks’ gestation, the hip joint is formed. There are two typesof DDH: teratologic and typical. Teratologic dislocationsoccur early in utero and are usually associated with neuromuscular disorders (spina bifida, arthrogryposis). Typical dislocations occur in the neurologically normal infant and can occurbefore or after birth. The true incidence of DDH is unknown, but it may be as high as 1.5 cases per 1000 infants.
Newborn infants have ligamentous laxity that, if significant enough in the hip, may lead to spontaneous dislocation and reduction of the femoral head. Persistence of this spontaneous pattern can lead to pathologic changes, such asflattening of the acetabulum, muscle contractures that limitmotion, and joint capsule tightening. The left hip is affectedthree times as often as the right hip, possibly because of inutero positioning.
Physiologic risk factors for DDH include a generalized ligamentous laxity, perhaps from maternal hormones that are associated with pelvic ligament relaxation (estrogen and relaxin). Female infants are at higher risk (9:1); family history is positive in 20% of all patients with DDH.
Other risk factors include breech presentation, firstbornchild (60%), oligohydramnios, and postnatal infant positioning. In breech presentations, the fetal pelvis is situated in thematernal pelvis. This can increase hip flexion and limit overall fetal hip motion, causing further stretching of the alreadylax joint capsule and exposing the posterior aspect of thefemoral head. The altered relationship between the acetabulum and femoral head causes abnormal acetabular development. Postnatal positioning of the hips in a tight swaddlewith the hips adducted and extended can displace the hip joint.
Congenital muscular torticollis, metatarsus adductus, and clubfoot are associated with DDH. An infant with any of these three conditions should receive a careful examination of the hips.
Every newborn requires a screening physical examination forDDH; further evaluation through at least the first 18 months of life is part of the physical examination for toddlers. DDHevolves over time, so the examination may change as the patientages. The examination starts with inspection for asymmetricalthigh and gluteal folds with the hips and knees flexed. A relativeshortening of the femur with asymmetrical skin folds is a positive Galeazzi sign and indicates DDH. Range of motion shouldbe assessed with the pelvis stabilized and the child supine onthe examining table, not in the parent’s lap (Fig. 199-1). Hipabduction should easily reach or exceed 75°, and hip adductionshould reach 30°. Limitations may indicate contractures associated with DDH, especially decreased abduction.
Normal at birth to 1 month of age Often normal, 1 to 9 months of age
Figure 199-1 Hip abduction test. Place the infant supine, flex the hips 90°, and fully abduct the hips. Although the normal abduction range is broad, hip disease should be suspected in any patient who lacks more than 30° to 45° of abduction. (From Chung SMK: Hip Disorders in Infants and Children, Philadelphia, 1981, Lea & Febiger, p 69.)
The Barlow test attempts to dislocate an unstable hip (Fig. 199-2). The examiner should stabilize the infant’s pelvis with one hand and grasp the abducted and flexed thigh in the other hand. The hip should be flexed to 90°. Next, begin to adduct the hip, while applying a posterior force to the anterior hip. A hip that can be dislocated in this method is readily felt (clunk feeling) and is a positive test. It may reduce spontaneously once the posterior force is removed, or the examiner may need to perform the Ortolani test.
The Ortolani test may reduce a dislocated hip (Fig. 199-3).The examiner should stabilize the pelvis and hold the leg in the same method as for the Barlow test. The infant’s hip should be in 90° of flexion. Abduct the hip while applying anterior pressure to the posterior thigh. A positive test is the palpable reduction of the dislocation, which may be felt (clunk). After 2 months of age, the hip may develop muscular contractures, preventing positive Ortolani tests.
These tests should be performed with only gentle force and done one hip at a time. The test may need to be repeated multiple times, as they can be difficult to interpret. A click, which is not pathologic, may occur from breaking the surface tension of the hip joint or snapping gluteal tendons.
Bilateral fixed dislocations present a diagnostic dilemma because of the symmetry on exam. The Klisic test is useful in this situation; it is done by placing the third finger over the greater trochanter and the index finger over the anterior superior iliac spine, then drawing an imaginary line between the two. The line should point to the umbilicus in a normal child. However, in a dislocated hip, the greater trochanter is elevated, which causes the line to project lower (between the umbilicus and pubis). This test is helpful identifying bilateral DDH, which can otherwise be difficult to diagnose because of the symmetry found on examination.
Older children with unrecognized DDH may present with limping. A patient with increased lumbar lordosis and a waddling gait may have an unrecognized bilateral DDH.
Figure 199-2 Barlow (dislocation) test. Reverse of Ortolani test. If the femoral head is in the acetabulum at the time of examination, the Barlow test is performed to discover any hip instability. A, The infant’s thigh is grasped as shown and adducted with gentle downward pressure. B, Dislocation is palpable as the femoral head slips out of the acetabulum. Diagnosis is confirmed with the Ortolani test.
Figure 199-3 Ortolani (reduction) test. With the infant relaxed and content on a firm surface, the hips and knees are flexed to 90°. The hips are examined one at a time. The examiner grasps the infant’s thigh with the middle finger over the greater trochanter and lifts the thigh to bring the femoral head from its dislocated posterior position to opposite the acetabulum. Simultaneously the thigh is gently abducted, reducing the femoral head in the acetabulum. In a positive finding, the examiner senses reduction by a palpable, nearly audible clunk.
Ultrasound is used for initial evaluation of infants with DDH. Ultrasonography is necessary for girls with a positive family history or breech presentation in both sexes. This should be obtainedafter 6 weeks of age to avoid confusion with physiologic laxity.Because the femoral head begins to ossify at 4 to 6 months of age,plain radiographs can be misleading until patients are older.
The treatment of DDH is individualized and depends on the child’s age at diagnosis. The goal of treatment is a stable reduction that results in normal growth and development of the hip. If DDH is suspected, the child should be sent to a pediatric orthopedic specialist.
The Pavlik harness is an effective treatment up to 6 months ofage. It provides hip flexion to just over 90° and limits adduction tono more than neutral. This positioning redirects the femoral headtoward the acetabulum. The hip must be reduced within 1 to 2weeks of beginning the Pavlik harness, although the infant willneed more time in the device. The Pavlik harness is successful in treating approximately 95% of dysplastic or subluxated hips, and80% successful for treatment of true dislocations. Persistently dislocated hips should not remain in a Pavlik harness for more than2 weeks for fear of iatrogenic acetabular damage. Patients failingthe Pavlik harness warrant treatment with an abduction orthosis.
Children over 6 months or those who have failed nonoperative treatment should undergo closed reduction using a hip spica cast. This is done under general anesthesia; reduction is evaluated with an intraoperative arthrogram, then confirmed by postoperative computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). If closed reduction fails, open reduction is indicated. Patients over 18 months of age may require a pelvic and femoral osteotomy.
The most important and severe complication of DDH is iatrogenic avascular necrosis of the femoral head. This can occur from excessive flexion or abduction during positioning of the Pavlik harness or hip spica cast. Infants under 6 months of age are at highest risk. Pressure ulcers can occur with prolonged casting. Redislocation or subluxation of the femoral head and residual acetabular dysplasia can occur.
Available @ StudentConsult.comTransient synovitis, also known as toxic synovitis, is a common cause of limping in children. It is a diagnosis of exclusion, because septic arthritis and osteomyelitis of the hip must be excluded (see Chapters 117 and 118).
The etiology of transient synovitis is uncertain, but possible causes are viral illness and hypersensitivity. Approximately 70% of children diagnosed with transient synovitis have an upper respiratory tract viral infection in the preceding 7 to 14 days. Biopsies have revealed nonspecific synovial hypertrophy. Hip joint aspirations, when necessary, are negative for bacterial culture or signs of bacterial infection.
The mean age at onset is 6 years, with a range of 3 to 8 years. It is twice as common in male children.
The patient or family will describe an acute onset of pain in the groin/hip, anterior thigh, or knee. Irritation of the obturator nerve can cause referred pain in the thigh and knee when the pathology is at the hip. Patients with transient synovitis are often afebrile, walk with a painful limp, and have normal to minimally elevated white blood cell count, C-reactive protein, and erythrocyte sedimentation rate compared with bacterial diseases of the hip (Table 199-1). Table 197-3 lists the differential diagnosis of a limping child.
Anteroposterior and frog-leg radiographs of the hip are usually normal. Ultrasonography may reveal a joint effusion. It is mandatory to rule out septic arthritis in the presence of effusion with a joint aspiration and cell count.
The mainstay of treatment is bed rest and minimal weight bearing until the pain resolves. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medication is usually sufficient to decrease pain. Limiting strenuous activity and exercise for 1 to 2 weeks following recovery is helpful. Follow-up will help ensure that there is no deterioration. Lack of improvement necessitates further evaluation for more serious disorders.
Available @ StudentConsult.comElevated joint fluid cell count Afebrile Fever—temperature >38.5° C Leukocytosis Normal WBC count ESR >20 mm/hour Normal ESR and CRP
Refusal to walk Painful limp Hip held in external rotation, Hip held normally abduction, and flexion
CRP, C-reactive protein; ESR, erythrocyte sedimentation rate; WBC, white blood cell.
*Examples: Septic arthritis, osteomyelitis of hip.Legg-Calve-Perthes disease (LCPD) is idiopathic avascular necrosis (osteonecrosis) of the capital epiphysis of the femoral head. The etiology is unclear, but it is likely caused by an interruption of the blood supply to the capital femoral epiphysis. There may be an associated hypercoagulability state (factor V Leiden).
LCPD commonly presents in patients 3 to 12 years of age, with a mean age of 7 years. It is four to five times more common in boys.
Patients may not present for several weeks because of minimaldiscomfort; the classic presentation is a child with an atraumatic, painless limp. There may be mild or intermittent hip/groin, anterior thigh, or knee pain. Decreased internal rotationand abduction with some discomfort, thigh muscle spasm, andanterior thigh muscular atrophy may be present. Patients havedelayed bone age.
Anteroposterior and frog-leg radiographs of both hips are usually adequate for diagnosis and management. It is necessary to document the extent of the disease and follow its progression. MRI and bone scan are helpful to diagnose early LCPD.
LCPD is usually a self-limited disorder that should be followed by a pediatric orthopedist. Initial treatment focuses on pain control and restoration of hip range of motion. The goal of treatment is prevention of complications, such as femoral head deformity and secondary osteoarthritis.
Containment is important in treating LCPD; the femoral head is contained inside the acetabulum, which acts like a mold for the capital femoral epiphysis as it reossifies. Nonsurgical containment uses abduction casts and orthoses, whereas surgical containment is accomplished with osteotomies of the proximal femur and pelvis.
The short-term prognosis is determined by the magnitude of the femoral head deformity after healing has completed. It is improved by early diagnosis, good follow-up, and compliance with the treatment plan. Older children and children with a residual femoral head deformity are more likely to develop osteoarthritis (OA). The incidence of OA in patients who developed LCPD after 10 years of age is close to 100%; it is negligible in children with onset before 5 years of age. Patients between 6 and 9 years of age have a risk of OA of less than 40%.
Available @ StudentConsult.comSlipped capital femoral epiphysis (SCFE) is a common adolescent hip disorder that is an orthopedic emergency. The incidence is 10.8 per 100,000, and it is slightly higher in males. African-American and Hispanic populations are at higher risk. Approximately 20% of patients with SCFE will have bilateral involvement at presentation, and another 20% to 40% may progress to bilateral involvement. The average age is 10 to 16 years, with a mean of 12 years in boys and 11 years in girls. Additional risk factors for SCFE include obesity, trisomy 21, and endocrine disorders (hypothyroid, pituitary tumor, growth hormone deficiency).
SCFE is classified as stable or unstable. Unstable patients refuse to ambulate even with crutches. Stable patients have an antalgic gait. SCFE can also be characterized as acute (symptoms less than 3 weeks) or chronic (symptoms over 3 weeks). Acute-on-chronic SCFE is seen when more than 3 weeks of symptoms are accompanied by an acute exacerbation of pain and difficulty/inability to bear weight.
The presentation is variable, based on severity and type of slip. Patients will often report hip or knee pain, limp or inability to ambulate, and decreased hip range of motion. There may or may not be a traumatic event. Any knee pain mandates an examination of the hip, as hip pathology can cause referred pain to the anterior thigh and knee along the obturator nerve. The patient usually holds the affected extremity in external rotation. As the hip is flexed, it will progressively externally rotate. There is usually a limitation of internal rotation, but there may also be a loss of flexion and abduction. If the patient can bear weight, it is typically an antalgic gait with the affected leg in external rotation. It is important to examine both hips to determine bilateral involvement.
Anteroposterior and frog-leg radiographs are indicated.Patients with known SCFE or with a high index of suspicionshould not undergo frog-leg lateral radiographs. Instead, a crosstable lateral radiograph reduces the risk of iatrogenic progression. The earliest sign of SCFE is widening of the physis withoutslippage (preslip condition). Klein’s line (Fig. 199-4) is helpfulin assessing the anteroposterior radiograph for SCFE. The slippage can be classified radiographically as type I (0% to 33% displacement), type II (34% to 50%), or type III (>50%). The likelihood of complications increases with degree of displacement.
Patients with SCFE should be immediately made non–weight bearing and referred to a pediatric orthopedist. The goal is to prevent further slippage, enhance physeal closure, and minimize complications, which is usually accomplished with internal fixation in situ with a single cannulated screw. More severe cases may require surgical hip dislocation and reduction to realign the epiphysis. There is controversy surrounding the prophylactic fixation of the nonaffected side. Assessment for endocrine disorders is important, particularly in children outside the range of 10 to 16 years of age.
Figure 199-4 Slipped capital femoral epiphysis (SCFE). A, Anteroposterior radiograph reveals a widened physis (small arrows) and decreased height of the epiphysis on the left. In addition, there is loss (large arrow) of the Capener triangle (c) (normal double density of the medial metaphysis superimposed on the posterior acetabular rim on right) and an abnormal lateral femoral neck line (normal on right). B, Frog, lateral view confirms the inferomedial position of the SCFE. (From Blickman H: Pediatric Radiology, the Requisites, ed 2, St Louis, 1998, Mosby, p 244.)
The two most serious complications of SCFE are chondrolysis and avascular necrosis. Chondrolysis is destruction of the articular cartilage. It is associated with more severe slips and with intra-articular penetration of operative hardware. This can lead to severe osteoarthritis (OA) and disability. Avascular necrosis occurs when there is a disruption of the blood supply to the capital femoral epiphysis. This usually happens at the time of injury, but may occur during forced manipulation of an unstable slip. Avascular necrosis may occur in up to 50% of unstable SCFEs and may lead to OA.
Torsional (in-toeing and out-toeing) and angular (physiologic bowlegs and knock knees) variations in the legs are common reasons that parents seek medical attention for their child. Most of these concerns are physiologic and resolve with normal growth. Understanding the natural history allows physicians to reassure the family and to identify nonphysiologic disorders that necessitate further intervention. Physiologic disturbances are referred to as variations; pathologic disturbances are called deformities.
The femur is internally rotated (anteversion) about 30° at birth, decreasing to about 10° at maturity. The tibia begins with up to 30° of internal rotation at birth and can decrease to a mean of 15° at maturity.
Torsional variations should not cause a limp or pain. Unilateral torsion raises the index of suspicion for a neurologic (hemiplegia) or neuromuscular disorder.
Available @ StudentConsult.comIn-Toeing, Out-Toeing, and Toe-WalkingInternal femoral torsion or femoral anteversion is the most common cause of in-toeing in children 2 years or older (Table 200-1). It is at its worst between 4 and 6 years of age, and then resolves. It occurs twice as often in girls. Many cases are associated with generalized ligamentous laxity. The etiology of femoral anteversion is likely congenital and is common in individuals with abnormal sitting habits such as W-sitting.
Clinical Manifestations. The family may give a history of W-sitting, and there may be a family history of similar concerns when the parents were younger. The child may have kissing kneecaps due to increased internal rotation of the femur. While walking, the entire leg will appear internally rotated, and with running the child may appear to have an egg-beatergait where the legs flip laterally. The flexed hip will have internal rotation increased to 80° to 90° (normal 60° to 70°) and external rotation limited to about 10°. Radiographic evaluation is usually not indicated.
Available @ StudentConsult.comIn-Toeing, Out-Toeing, and Toe-WalkingFIGURE 200-1 Thigh-foot angle measurement. The thigh-foot angle is useful for assessment of tibial torsion. The patient lies prone, with knees flexed to 90°. The long axis of the thigh is compared to the long axis of the foot to determine the thigh-foot angle. Negative angles are associated with internal tibial torsion, and positive angles are associated with external tibial torsion.
This is the most common cause of in-toeing in a child younger than 2 years old. When it is the result of in utero positioning, it may be associated with metatarsus adductus.
Clinical Manifestations. The child will present witha history of in-toeing. The degree of tibial torsion may bemeasured using the thigh-foot angle (Fig. 200-1). Thepatient lies prone on a table with the knee flexed to 90°.The long axis of the foot is compared with the long axis of the thigh. An inwardly rotated foot represents a negativeangle and internal tibial torsion. If follow-up is warranted,measurements should be done at each visit to document improvement.
Treatment of In-toeingThe mainstay of management is to identify patients who have pathologic reasons for in-toeing and reassurance and follow-up to document improvement for patients with femoral anteversion and internal tibial torsion. It can take until 7 to 8 years of age for correction, so it is important to inform families of the appropriate timeline. Braces (Denis Browne splint) do not improve these conditions. Fewer than 1% of all patients with in-toeing will need surgical intervention because of functional disability or cosmetic appearance.
Available @ StudentConsult.comIn-Toeing, Out-Toeing, and Toe-WalkingFIGURE 200-2 Bowleg and knock-knee deformities. A, Bowleg deformity. Bowlegs are referred to as varus angulation (genu varum) because the knees are tilted away from the midline of the body. B, Knock-knee or valgus deformity of the knees. The knee is tilted toward the midline. (From Scoles P: Pediatric Orthopedics in Clinical Practice, Chicago, 1982, Year Book Medical Publishers, p 84.)
External tibial torsion is the most common cause of out-toeingand may be associated with a calcaneovalgus foot (see Chapter201). This is often related to in utero positioning. It may improveover time, but because the tibia rotates externally with age, external tibial torsion can worsen. It may be an etiologic factor forpatellofemoral syndrome, especially when combined with femoral anteversion. Treatment is usually observation and reassurance, but patients with dysfunction and cosmetic concerns maybenefit from surgical intervention.
Available @ StudentConsult.comThe majority of patients who present with knock-knees (genu valgum) or bowlegs (genu varum) are normal (Fig. 200-2).Infants are born with maximum genu varum. The lower extremity straightens out around 18 months of age. Children typicallyprogress to maximal genu valgum around 4 years. The legs areusually straight to a slight genu valgum in adulthood.
It is important to inquire about family history and assessoverall height. A child who is 2 standard deviations belownormal with angular deformities may have skeletal dysplasia. Dietary history should be obtained, as rickets (see Chapter 31) may cause angular deformities. For genu valgum,following the intermalleolar distance (distance betweenthe two tibial medial malleoli with the knees touching) isused. Measurement of the intercondylar distance (the distance between the medial femoral condyles with the medialmalleoli touching) is used for genu varum. These measurements track improvement or progression. When obtaining radiographs, it is important to have the patella, not the feet,facing forward. In the child with external tibial torsion,having the feet facing forward gives the false appearance ofbowlegs.
Available @ StudentConsult.comPhysiologic knock-knees are most common in 3to 4-year-oldsand usually resolve between 5 and 8 years of age. Patients withasymmetrical genu valgum or severe deformity may have underlying disease causing their knock-knees (e.g., renal osteodystrophy, skeletal dysplasia). Treatment is based on reassurance ofthe family and patient. Surgical intervention may be indicatedfor severe deformities, gait dysfunction, pain, and cosmesis.
Available @ StudentConsult.comPhysiologic bowlegs are most common in children older than 18 months with symmetrical genu varum. This will generallyimprove as the child approaches 2 years of age. The most important consideration for genu varum is differentiating betweenphysiologic genu varum and Blount disease (tibia vara).
Available @ StudentConsult.comTibia vara is the most common pathologic disorder associated with genu varum. It is characterized by abnormal growth of the medial aspect of the proximal tibial epiphysis, resulting in a progressive varus deformity. Blount disease is classified according to age of onset:Infantile (1 to 3 years)Juvenile (4 to 10 years)Adolescent (>11 years)
Late-onset Blount disease is less common than infantile disease. The cause is unknown, but it is felt to be secondary to growth suppression from increased compressive forces across the medial knee.
Infantile tibia vara is more common in African Americans, females, and obese patients. Many patients were early walkers.
Nearly 80% of patients with infantile Blount disease have bilateral involvement. It is usually painless. The patients will often have significant internal tibial torsion and lower extremity leg-length discrepancy. There may also be a palpable medial tibial metaphyseal beak.
Late-onset Blount disease is more common in African Americans, males, and markedly obese patients. Only 50% have bilateral involvement. The initial presentation is usually painful bowlegs. Late-onset Blount disease is usually not associated with palpable metaphyseal beaking, significant internal tibial torsion, or significant leg-length discrepancy.
Weight-bearing anteroposterior and lateral radiographs of both legs are necessary for the diagnosis of tibia vara. Fragmentation, wedging, and beak deformities of the proximal medial tibia are the major radiologic features of infantile Blount disease. In late-onset Blount disease, the medial deformity may not be as readily noticeable. It can be very difficult to tell the difference between physiologic genu varum and infantile Blount disease on radiographs in patients younger than 2 years of age.
Once the diagnosis of Blount disease is confirmed, treatment should begin immediately. Orthotics to unload the medial compressive forces can be used in children younger than 3 years of age with a mild deformity. Compliance with this regimen can be difficult. Nonoperative management of more severe Blount disease is contraindicated. Any patient older than 4 years should undergo surgical intervention. Patients with moderate to severe deformity and patients who fail orthotic treatment also require surgical intervention. Proximal tibial valgus osteotomy with fibular diaphyseal osteotomy is the usual procedure performed.
Available @ StudentConsult.comIn-Toeing, Out-Toeing, and Toe-WalkingLeg-length discrepancy (LLD) is common and may be due to differences in the femur, tibia, or both bones. The differential diagnosis is extensive, but common causes are listed in Table 200-2. The majority of the lower extremity growth comes from the distal femur (38%) and the proximal tibia (27%).
Clinical measurements using bony landmarks (anterior superior iliac spine to medial malleolus) are inaccurate. The teloradiograph is a single radiograph of both legs that can be done in very young children. The orthoradiograph consists of three slightly overlapping exposures of the hips, knees, and ankles. The scanogram consists of three standard radiographs of the hips, knees, and ankles with a ruler next to the extremities. A
Developmental Developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) Legg-Calve-Perthes disease (LCPD)
Neuromuscular Hemiplegia Disuse secondary to developmental delayInfectious Physeal injury secondary to osteomyelitisTumors Fibrous dysplasia Physeal injury secondary to irradiation or neoplastic infiltration Overgrowth
Trauma Physeal injury with premature closure Malunion (shortening of extremity) Overgrowth of healing fracture computed tomography (CT) scanogram is the most accurate measure of LLD, but also has the highest radiation exposure. Technology such as EOS/slot scanning is an extremely accurate, reduced-radiation alternative to CT scan. The measured discrepancy is followed using Moseley and Green-Anderson graphs.
Treating LLD is complex. The physician must take into account the estimated adult height, discrepancy measurements, skeletal maturity, and the psychological aspects of the patient and family. LLD greater than 2 cm usually requires treatment. Shoe lifts can be used, but they will often cause psychosocial problems for the child and may make the shoes heavier and less stable. Surgical options include shortening of the longer extremity, lengthening of the shorter extremity, or a combination of the two procedures. Discrepancies less than 5 cm are treated by epiphysiodesis (surgical physeal closure) of the affected side, whereas discrepancies greater than 5 cm are treated by lengthening. Current use of removable implants, which permit growth modulation without permanent impact on growth plates, has allowed for early and more accurate treatment.
Available @ StudentConsult.comThe knee joint is constrained by soft tissues rather than the usual geometric fit of articulating bones. The medial and lateral collateral ligaments as well as the anterior and posterior cruciate ligaments maintain knee stability. Weight and force transmission can cross articular cartilage and the meniscus.
Pull of vastus lateralis           vastus intermedialis           rectus femorisFemur Pull of vastus medialis PATELLA Pull of patellar tendon
FIGURE 200-3 Diagram of the knee extensor mechanism. The major force exerted by the quadriceps muscle tends to pull the patella laterally out of the intercondylar sulcus. The vastus medialis muscle pulls medially to keep the patella centralized. (Modified from Smith JB: Knee problems in children, Pediatr Clin North Am 33:1439, 1986.)
The patellofemoral joint is the extensor mechanism of the knee and a common site of injury in the adolescent (Fig. 200-3).
Knee effusion or swelling is a common sign of injury. Whenthe fluid accumulates rapidly after an injury, it is usually ahemarthrosis (blood in the joint) and may indicate a fracture,ligamentous disruption (often of the anterior cruciate ligament[ACL]), or meniscus tear. Unexplained knee effusion mayoccur with arthritis (septic, Lyme disease, viral, postinfectious,juvenile idiopathic arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus).It may also occur as a result of overactivity and hypermobilejoint syndrome (ligamentous laxity). An aspiration and laboratory evaluation of unexplained effusion can help expedite adiagnosis.
Each meniscus is normally semilunar in shape; rarely thelateral meniscus will be disk shaped. A normal meniscus isattached at the periphery and glides anteriorly and posteriorlywith knee motion. The discoid meniscus is less mobile and may tear more easily. When there is inadequate posterolateral attachment, the discoid meniscus can displace anteriorlywith knee flexion, causing an audible click. Most commonly,patients will present in late childhood or early adolescenceafter an injury with knee pain and swelling. The anteroposterior radiographs can show increased joint space and asquared-off appearance of the lateral femoral condyle; magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can confirm the diagnosis.Treatment is usually arthroscopic excision of tears and reshaping of the meniscus.
A popliteal cyst (Baker cyst) is commonly seen in themiddle childhood years. The cause is the distension ofthe gastrocnemius and semimembranous bursa alongthe posteromedial aspect of the knee by synovial fluid. Inadults, Baker cysts are associated with meniscus tears. In childhood, the cysts are usually painless and benign. Theyoften spontaneously resolve, but it may take several years.Knee radiographs are normal. The diagnosis can be confirmed by ultrasound. Treatment is reassurance, becausesurgical excision is indicated only for progressive cysts or cysts that cause disability.
Available @ StudentConsult.comOsteochondritis dissecans (OCD) most commonly involves theknee. It occurs when an area of bone adjacent to the articularcartilage suffers a vascular insult and separates from the adjacentbone. It most commonly affects the lateral aspect of the medialfemoral condyle. Patients may complain of knee pain or swelling.The lesions can be seen on anteroposterior, lateral, and tunnelview radiographs. MRI can be helpful in determining the extentof the injury. In young patients with intact articular cartilage,the lesion will often revascularize and heal with rest from activities. The healing process may take several months and requiresradiographic follow-up to document healing. With increasingage, the risk for articular cartilage damage and separation of thebony fragment increases. Older patients are more likely to needsurgical intervention. Any patient with a fracture of the articularcartilage will not improve without surgical intervention. Patientswith OCD should be referred to a specialist.
Available @ StudentConsult.comOsgood-Schlatter disease is a common cause of knee pain at the insertion of the patellar tendon on the tibial tubercle. The stress from a contracting quadriceps muscle is transmitted through the developing tibial tubercle, which can cause a microfracture or partial avulsion fracture in the ossification center. It usually occurs after a growth spurt and is more common in boys. The age at onset is typically 11 years for girls and 13 to 14 years for boys.
Patients will present with pain during and after activity as well as have tenderness and local swelling over the tibial tubercle. Radiographs may be necessary to rule out infection, tumor, or avulsion fracture.
Rest and activity modification are paramount for treatment. Pain control medications and icing may be helpful. Lower extremity flexibility and strengthening exercise programs are important. Some patients may require immobilization. The course is usually benign, but symptoms frequently last 1 to 2 years. Complications can include bony enlargement of the tibial tubercle and avulsion fracture of the tibial tubercle.
Available @ StudentConsult.comThe patellofemoral joint is a complex joint that dependson a balance between restraining ligaments of the patella,muscular forces around the knee, and alignment for normalfunction. The interior surface of the patella has a V-shapedbottom that moves through a matching groove in the femurcalled the trochlea. When the knee is flexed, the patellarligaments and the majority of the muscular forces pullingthrough the quadriceps tendon move the patella in a lateraldirection. The vastus medialis muscle counteracts the lateral motion, pulling the patella toward the midline. Problemswith function of this joint usually result in anterior kneepain.
Idiopathic anterior knee pain is a common complaint inadolescents. It is particularly prevalent in adolescent femaleathletes. Previously, this was referred to as chondromalaciaof the patella, but this term is incorrect as the joint surfacesof the patella are normal. It is now known as patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS). The patient will present withanterior knee pain that worsens with activity, going up anddown stairs, and soreness after sitting in one position for an extended time. There is usually no associated swelling.The patient may complain of a grinding sensation underthe kneecap. Palpating and compressing the patellofemoral joint with the knee extended elicits pain. Patients oftenhave weak hip musculature or poor flexibility in the lower extremities. Radiographs are rarely helpful but may be indicated to rule out other diagnoses such as osteochondritisdissecans.
Treatment is focused on correcting the biomechanical problems that are causing the pain. This is usually done using an exercise program emphasizing hip girdle and vastus medialis strengthening with lower extremity flexibility. Anti-inflammatory medication, ice, and activity modifications may also be helpful. Persistent cases should be referred to an orthopedic or sports medicine specialist.
One must exclude recurrent patellar subluxation and dislocation when evaluating a patient with PFPS. Acute traumatic dislocation will usually cause significant disability and weight bearing seen in an initial dislocation. Patients with recurrent dislocations often have associated ligamentous laxity, genu valgum, and femoral anteversion. The initial treatment is nonoperative and may involve a brief period of immobilization, followed by an aggressive physical therapy program designed to strengthen the quadriceps and improve function of the patellofemoral joint. Continued subluxation or recurrent dislocation is failure of this treatment plan, and surgical repair is usually necessary.
In newborns and non–weight-bearing infants, the difference between posturing and deformity is important. Posturing is the habitual position in which the infant holds the foot; passive range of motion is normal. Deformity produces an appearance similar to posturing, but passive motion is restricted. Most pediatric foot disorders are painless. Foot pain is more common in older children (Table 201-1).
Available @ StudentConsult.comIn-Toeing, Out-Toeing, and Toe-WalkingA clubfoot deformity involves the entire leg, not just thefoot. It affects 1 in 1000 newborns and is bilateral in one half of cases. The tarsals in the affected foot are hypoplastic;the talus is most affected. The muscles of the limb are hypo-plastic because of the abnormal tarsal interactions, whichleads to a generalized limb hypoplasia, mainly affectingand shortening the foot. There is usually atrophy of the calfmusculature.
Family history is important. Club foot can be congenital, teratologic, or positional. Although congenital clubfoot (75% of all cases) is usually an isolated abnormality, every infant should be assessed for developmental dysplasia of the hip. Teratologic clubfoot is associated with a neuromuscular disorder, such as myelomeningocele, arthrogryposis, or other syndromes. Positional clubfoot is a normal foot that was held in the deformed position in utero.
The diagnosis is seldom confused with other disorders (Fig. 201-1). The presence of clubfoot should prompt a careful search for other abnormalities. The infant will have hindfoot equinus and varus, forefoot adduction, and varying degrees of rigidity. All are secondary to the abnormalities of the talonavicular joint. Calf atrophy and foot shortening are more noticeable in older children.
In infants, radiographs and advanced imaging are rarely necessary for assessment because their tarsals have incomplete ossification. The navicular ossifies at about 3 years of age for girls and 4 years for boys. As children age, radiographs can be used to follow the tibial calcaneal and lateral talocalcaneal angles and to assess navicular positioning.
0 to 6 years Poorly fitting shoes Fracture Puncture wound Foreign body Osteomyelitis Cellulitis Juvenile idiopathic arthritis Hair tourniquet Leukemia 6 to 12 years Poorly fitting shoes Trauma (fracture, sprain) Juvenile idiopathic arthritis Puncture wound Sever disease Accessory tarsal navicular Hypermobile flatfoot Oncologic (Ewing sarcoma, leukemia) 12 to 18 years Poorly fitting shoes Stress fracture Trauma (fracture, sprain) Foreign body Ingrown toenail Metatarsalgia Plantar fasciitis Achilles tendinopathy Accessory ossicles (navicular, os trigonum) Tarsal coalition Avascular necrosis of metatarsal (Freiberg infarction) or navicular (Kohler disease) Plantar warts
FIGURE 201-1 Clinical picture demonstrating clubfoot deformity. (From Kliegman RM, Behrman, RE, Jenson HB, et al: Nelson’s Textbook of Pediatrics, ed 18, Philadelphia, 2007, Saunders, p 2778.)
The goal of treatment is to correct the deformity and preserve mobility. Nonoperative treatment involves the Ponseti method of serial casting. The Ponseti method also relies on a percutaneous tenotomy of the Achilles tendon to help correct the equinus deformity.
FIGURE 201-2 Clinical picture of metatarsus adductus with a nor-mal foot on opposite side. (From Kliegman RM, Behrman, RE, Jenson HB, et al: Nelson’s Textbook of Pediatrics, ed 18, Philadelphia, 2007, Saunders, p 2777.)
About 20% of patients will require an anterior tibialis tendon transfer in early childhood. Rarely, more aggressive surgical procedures may need to be done. Complications of untreated clubfoot include severe disability. Complications of treated clubfoot include recurrence and stiffness.
Available @ StudentConsult.comIn-Toeing, Out-Toeing, and Toe-WalkingMetatarsus adductus is the most common foot disorder in infants. It is characterized by a convexity of the lateral foot (Fig. 201-2) and is caused by in utero positioning. It is bilateral in half of cases. Occurring equally in boys and girls, it is more common in first-born children because of the smaller primigravid uterus. Two percent of infants with metatarsus adductus have developmental dysplasia of the hip.
The forefoot is adducted and sometimes supinated, but the midfoot and hindfoot are normal. The lateral border of the foot is convex, while the medial border is concave. Ankle dorsiflexion and plantar flexion are normal. With the midfoot and hindfoot stabilized, the deformity can be pushed beyond a neutral position (into abduction). Older children may present with an in-toeing gait.
True metatarsus adductus resolves spontaneously over 90% of the time without treatment, so reassurance is all that is needed. Metatarsus adductus that does not improve within 2 years needs evaluation by a pediatric orthopedist. Persistent cases may benefit from serial casting or bracing, and potentially surgery. The deformity is not associated with a disability.
It is important to differentiate among metatarsus adductus, metatarsus varus, and skewfoot. Metatarsus varus looks like metatarsus adductus, but it is an uncommon rigid deformity that will need serial casting. Skewfoot is an uncommon deformity thatis characterized by hindfoot plantar flexion, midfoot abduction,and forefoot adduction, giving the foot a Z or serpentine appearance. This needs to be managed very carefully with serial castingand surgery to help reduce the risk of disability in adulthood.
The calcaneovalgus foot is another common foot disorder innewborns that is secondary to in utero positioning. It is characterized by a hyperdorsiflexed foot with forefoot abduction andheel valgus. It is usually unilateral. The appearance may be quitesevere dorsiflexion, but it is not a rigid deformity like congenital vertical talus. Simulated weight-bearing radiographs may benecessary for questionable diagnoses. The calcaneovalgus footwill appear normal or have minimal hindfoot valgus.
This disorder requires no treatment beyond reassurance. Parents can be taught passive stretching exercises for their infant’s foot. Most affected infants realign by 2 years. A calcaneovalgus foot can be associated with bowing of the tibia, whichresolves spontaneously, but a leg length discrepancy may exist.
Hypermobile or pronated feet are seen in 15% of adults. Thechild with flatfeet is usually asymptomatic and has no activitylimitations. Newborn and toddler flatfoot is the result of ligamentous laxity and fat in the medial longitudinal arch. This iscalled developmental flatfoot and usually improves by 6 yearsof age. In older children, flatfoot is typically the result of generalized ligamentous laxity, and there is often a positive family history. Hypermobile flatfoot can be thought of as a normal variant.
In the non–weight-bearing position, the older child with a flexible flatfoot will have a medial longitudinal arch. When weight bearing, the foot pronates (arch collapse) with varying degrees of hindfoot valgus. Subtalar motion (essentially all ankle motion except plantar and dorsiflexion) is normal. Any loss of subtalar motion may indicate a rigid flatfoot, which can be related to tarsal coalition, neuromuscular disorders (cerebral palsy), and heel cord contractures. Radiographs of hyper-mobile flatfeet are usually not indicated.
Hypermobile pes planus cannot be diagnosed until after 6 years ofage; before that, it is developmental pes planus. Reassurance thatthis is a normal variant is very important. Patients who are symptomatic with activity may require education on proper, supportivefootwear, orthotics/arch supports, and heel cord stretching.
Patients with tarsal coalition will usually present with a rigid flatfoot (loss of inversion and eversion at the subtalar joint). Coalition is produced by a congenital fusion or failure of segmentation of two or more tarsal bones. The attachment may be fibrous, cartilaginous, or osseous. Tarsal coalition can be unilateral or bilateral and will often become symptomatic in early adolescence. The most common forms of tarsal coalition are calcaneonavicular and talocalcaneal.
Available @ StudentConsult.comThe patient will usually present with hindfoot pain, which may radiate laterally because of peroneal muscle spasm. Symptoms are exacerbated by sports, and young athletes can present with frequent ankle sprains. There is a familial component. Pes planus is usually present in both weight bearing and non–weightbearing positions. There is usually a loss of subtalar motion, and passive attempts at joint motion may produce pain.
Anteroposterior, lateral, and oblique radiographs should be obtained, but they may not always clearly identify the disorder. The oblique view often identifies the calcaneonavicular coalition. Computed tomography (CT) is the gold standard for diagnosis of tarsal coalition. Even patients with obvious calcaneonavicular coalition on plain radiographs should have a CT scan to rule out a second coalition.
Coalitions that are asymptomatic (the majority) do not need treatment. Nonoperative treatment for patients with pain consists of cast immobilization for a few weeks and foot orthotics. The symptoms will often return, necessitating surgery. Surgical excision of the coalition and soft tissue interposition to prevent reossification can be very effective.
Cavus foot is characterized by increased height of the medial longitudinal arch (high arch) and frequently hindfoot varus. It can be classified as physiologic or neuromuscular. Most patients with physiologic cavus foot are asymptomatic. A thorough neurologic examination on all patients with a cavus foot is important. Patients with painful high arches have a high risk of neurologic (tethered cord) and neuromuscular disease, and there is a strong association with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, a familial neuropathy. The underlying disorder should be treated first. Nonoperative treatment using orthotics is usually not helpful. Progressive, symptomatic cavus foot will likely need surgical reconstruction.
Available @ StudentConsult.comKohler disease (tarsal navicular) and Freiberg disease (headof the second metatarsal) are uncommon and due to avascular necrosis. Patients will present with pain at the affected sitewith activity and weight bearing. Infection, fracture, and neoplasm should be excluded. Treatment consists of immobilization and activity restriction. The majority of the patients willimprove upon subsequent revascularization and re-formationof bone.
Available @ StudentConsult.comSever disease is a common cause of heel pain among active young people. The mean age of presentation for girls is about 9 years of age and for boys about 11 to 12 years. Approximately 60% of cases are bilateral. Sever disease is caused by the forces of the calf musculature through the Achilles tendon at the calcaneal apophysis, causing microfracture. As the child ages and the apophysis begins to close, the pain disappears.
The common presentation is a young athlete who developsheel pain with activity that decreases with rest. Swelling is rare,but limping may be associated with Sever disease. The childwill have pain to palpation of the posterior calcaneus and oftentight heel cords. Radiographs are rarely indicated, but with persistent pain they should be done to exclude infection or tumor.
Activity modification, icing, and anti-inflammatory medications can be helpful. A program designed to improve heel cord flexibility and overall ankle strength may decrease symptoms. Heel elevation using heel wedges or heel cups can be helpful.
Curly toes are the most common deformity of the lesser toes.The fourth and fifth toes are most commonly affected. Curlytoes are characterized by flexion at the proximal interphalangeal joint with lateral rotation of the toe. It is caused bycontractures of the flexor digitorum brevis and longus tendons. Some curly toes will spontaneously resolve by 3 to 4years of age. Persistent deformity may be treated by surgical tenotomy.
Polydactyly (extra toes) is usually found on the initial newborn physical examination. When the extra toe is adjacent to the fifth toe and attached by only a stalk of soft tissue or skin, simple ligation or amputation is effective. When the deformity involves the great toe or middle toes, or when the extra digit has cartilage or bone, delayed surgical intervention is indicated. Syndactyly (fusion of toes) is more common than polydactyly. It is usually a benign cosmetic problem. Both syndactyly and polydactyly may be associated with malformation syndromes (Table 201-2).
Disorders Associated with Syndactyly and PolydactylyA simplified classification of the common spinal abnormalities, scoliosis and kyphosis, is presented in Table 202-1.
Available @ StudentConsult.comMost patients will present for evaluation of an asymmetrical spine, which is usually pain free. A complete physical examination is necessary for any patient with a spinal deformity, because the deformity can indicate an underlying disease. The back is examined from behind (Fig. 202-1). First, the levelness of the pelvis is assessed. Leg-length discrepancy produces pelvic obliquity, which often results in compensatory scoliosis. When the pelvis is level, the spine is examined for symmetry and spinal curvature with the patient upright. Cutaneous lesions (hemangioma, skin dimple, or hair tuft) should be noted. The spine should be palpated for areas of tenderness.
The patient is then asked to bend forward with the hands directed between the feet (Adams forward bend test). The examiner should inspect for asymmetry in the spine. The presence of the hump in this position is the hallmark for scoliosis. The area opposite the hump is usually depressed because of spinal rotation. Scoliosis is a rotational malalignment of one vertebra on another, resulting in rib elevation in the thoracic spine and paravertebral muscle elevation in the lumbar spine. With the patient still in the forward flexed position, inspection from the side can reveal the degree of roundback. A sharp forward angulation in the thoracolumbar region indicates a kyphotic deformity. It is important to examine the skin for café au lait spots (neurofibromatosis), hairy patches, and nevi (spinal dysraphism). Abnormal extremities may indicate
Failure of formation Wedge vertebrae HemivertebraeFailure of segmentation Unilateral bar Bilateral barAdapted from the Terminology Committee of the Scoliosis Research Society, 1975.
skeletal dysplasia, whereas heart murmurs can be associated with Marfan syndrome. It is essential to do a full neurologic examination to determine whether the scoliosis is idiopathic or secondary to an underlying neuromuscular disease, and to assess whether the scoliosis is producing any neurologic sequelae.
Estimating of rib hump and evaluation of curve unwinding as patient turns from side to side
Measuring of rib hump with straight edgeMeasuring of leg length forMedial malleolus A B iliac spine A determination of pelvic obliquity AB = actual length A B = apparent leg length Figure 202-1 Clinical evaluation of a patient with scoliosis.
Initial radiographs should include a posteroanterior and lateral standing film of the entire spine. The iliac crests should be visible to help determine skeletal maturity. The degree of curvature is measured from the most tilted or end vertebra of the curve superiorly and inferiorly to determine the Cobb angle (Fig. 202-2). Newer imaging modalities such as slot scanning or EOS provide the ability to obtain accurate measurements with much lower radiation than radiographs.
Alterations in normal spinal alignment that occur in the anteroposterior plane are termed scoliosis. Most scoliotic deformities
Figure 202-2 Cobb method of scoliotic curve measurement.Determine the end vertebrae of the curve: They are at the upper and lower limits of the curve and tilt most severely toward the concavity of the curve. Draw two perpendicular lines, one from the bottom of the lower body and one from the top of the upper body. Measure the angle formed. This is the accepted method of curve measurement according to the Scoliosis Research Society. Curves of 0° to 20° are mild; 20° to 40°, moderate; and greater than 40°, severe.
are idiopathic. Scoliosis may also be congenital, neuromuscular, or compensatory from a leg-length discrepancy.
Idiopathic scoliosis is the most common form of scoliosis. It occurs in healthy, neurologically normal children. Approximately 20% of patients have a positive family history. The incidence is slightly higher in girls than boys, and the condition is more likely to progress and require treatment in females. There is some evidence that progressive scoliosis may have a genetic component as well.
Idiopathic scoliosis can be classified in three categories:infantile (birth to 3 years), juvenile (4 to 10 years), and adolescent (>11 years). Idiopathic adolescent scoliosis isthe most common cause (80%) of spinal deformity. The rightthoracic curve is the most common pattern. Juvenile scoliosis is uncommon, but may be underrepresented becausemany patients do not seek treatment until they are adolescents. In any patient younger than 11 years of age, there is agreater likelihood that scoliosis is not idiopathic. The prevalence of an intraspinal abnormality in a child with congenital scoliosis is approximately 40%.
Idiopathic scoliosis is a painless disorder 70% of the time. A patient with pain requires a careful evaluation. Any patient presenting with a left-sided curve has a high incidence of intraspinal pathology (syrinx or tumor). Evaluation of the spine withmagnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is indicated in these cases.
Treatment of idiopathic scoliosis is based on the skeletalmaturity of the patient, the size of the curve, and whether the spinal curvature is progressive or nonprogressive. Initial treatment for scoliosis is likely observation and repeatradiographs to assess for progression. No treatment is indicated for nonprogressive deformities. The risk factors forcurve progression include gender, curve location, and curvemagnitude. Girls are five times more likely to progress thanboys. Younger patients are more likely to progress than olderpatients.
Typically, curves under 25° are observed. Progressive curves between 20° and 50° in a skeletally immature patient are treated with bracing. A radiograph in the orthotic is important to evaluate correction. Curves greater than 50° usually require surgical intervention.
Abnormalities of the vertebral formation during the first trimester may lead to structural deformities of the spine that are evident at birth or early childhood. Congenital scoliosis can be classified as follows (Fig. 202-3):Partial or complete failure of vertebral formation (wedge vertebra or hemivertebra)Partial or complete failure of segmentation (unsegmented bars)Mixed
More than 60% of patients have other associated abnormalities, such as VACTERL association (vertebral defects, imperforate anus, cardiac anomalies, tracheoesophageal fistula, renal anomalies, limb abnormalities such as radial agenesis) or Klippel-Feil syndrome. Renal anomalies occur in 20% of children with congenital scoliosis, with renal agenesis being the most common; 6% of children have a silent, obstructive uropathy suggesting the need for evaluation with ultrasonography. Congenital heart disease occurs in about 12% of patients. Spinal dysraphism (tethered cord, intradural lipoma, syringomyelia, diplomyelia, and diastematomyelia) occurs in approximately 20% of children with congenital scoliosis. These disorders are frequently associated with cutaneous lesions on the back and abnormalities of the legs and feet (e.g., cavus foot, neurologic changes, calf atrophy). MRI is indicated in evaluation of spinal dysraphism.
The risk of spinal deformity progression in congenital scoliosis is variable and depends on the growth potential of the malformed vertebrae. A unilateral unsegmented bar typically progresses, but a block vertebra has little growth potential. About 75% of patients with congenital scoliosis will show some progression that continues until skeletal growth is complete, and about 50% will require some type of treatment. Progression can be expected during periods of rapid growth (before 2 years and after 10 years).
Treatment of congenital scoliosis hinges on early diagnosis and identification of progressive curves. Orthotic treatment is not helpful in congenital scoliosis. Early spinal surgery should be performed once progression has been documented. This can help prevent major deformities. Patients with large curves that cause thoracic insufficiency should undergo surgery immediately.
Progressive spinal deformity is a common and potentially serious problem associated with many neuromuscular disorders, such as cerebral palsy, Duchenne muscular dystrophy, spinal
Figure 202-3 Types of closed vertebral and extravertebral spinal anomalies that result in congenital scoliosis. A, Partial unilateral failure of formation (wedge vertebra). B, Complete unilateral failure of formation (hemivertebra). C, Unilateral failure of segmentation (congenital bar). D, Bilateral failure of segmentation (block vertebra).
muscular atrophy, and spina bifida. Spinal alignment must independent when they can sit in a wheelchair without exterbe part of the routine examination for a patient with neuro-nal support. Progressive curves can impair sitting balance, muscular disease. Once scoliosis begins, progression is usually which affects quality of life. Orthotic treatment is usually inefcontinuous. The magnitude of the deformity depends on the fective in neuromuscular scoliosis. Surgical intervention may severity and pattern of weakness, whether the underlying dis-be necessary with frequent fusion to the pelvis. ease process is progressive, and the amount of remaining musculoskeletal growth. Nonambulatory patients have a higher incidence of spinal deformity than ambulatory patients. Compensatory Scoliosis In nonambulatory patients, the curves tend to be long and Adolescents with a leg-length discrepancy (Chapter 200) may sweeping, produce pelvic obliquity, involve the cervical spine, have a positive screening examination for scoliosis. Before and also produce restrictive lung disease. If the child cannot correction of the pelvic obliquity, the spine curves in the stand, then a supine or seated anteroposterior radiograph of same direction as the obliquity. However, with identification the entire spine, rather than a standing posteroanterior view, and correction of any pelvic obliquity, the curvature should is indicated. resolve, and treatment should be directed at the leg-length dis-
The goal of treatment is to prevent progression and loss of crepancy. Thus, it is important to distinguish between a strucfunction. Nonambulatory patients are more comfortable and tural and compensatory spinal deformity.
Available @ StudentConsult.comKyphosis refers to a roundback deformity or to increased angulation of the thoracic or thoracolumbar spine in the sagittal plane. Kyphosis can be postural, structural (Scheuermann kyphosis), or congenital.
Postural kyphosis is secondary to poor posture. It is voluntarily corrected in the standing and prone positions. The patient may also have increased lumbar lordosis. Radiographs are usually unnecessary if the kyphosis fully corrects. If not, radiographs will reveal no vertebral abnormalities. Treatment, if needed, is aimed at improving the child’s posture.
Scheuermann disease is the second most common cause of pediatric spinal deformity. It occurs equally in males and females. The etiology is unknown, but there may be hereditary factors. Scheuermann kyphosis is differentiated from postural roundback on physical examination and by radiographs.
A patient with Scheuermann disease cannot correct thekyphosis with standing or lying prone. When viewed fromthe side in the forward flexed position, patients with Scheuermann disease will have an abrupt angulation in the mid tolower thoracic region (Fig. 202-4), and patients with posturalroundback show a smooth, symmetrical contour. In bothconditions, lumbar lordosis is increased. However, half of patients with Scheuermann disease will have atypical backpain, especially with thoracolumbar kyphosis. The classic radiologic findings of Scheuermann kyphosis include the following:Narrowing of disk spaceLoss of anterior height of the involved vertebrae producing wedging of 5° or more in at least three consecutive vertebrae Irregularities of the vertebral endplatesSchmorl nodes
Treatment of Scheuermann kyphosis is similar to idiopathic scoliosis. It is dependent on the degree of deformity, skeletal maturity, and the presence or absence of pain. Nonoperative treatment begins with bracing. Surgical fusion is done for patients who have completed growth, have a severe deformity, or have intractable pain.
Congenital kyphosis is a failure of the formation of all or part of the vertebral body (with preservation of posterior elements) or failure of anterior segmentation of the spine, or both. Severe deformities are found at birth and tend to rapidly progress. Progression will not cease until the end of skeletal growth. A progressive spine deformity may result in neurologic deficit. Treatment of congenital kyphosis is often surgical.
Figure 202-4 Note the sharp break in the contour of a child with kyphosis. (From Behrman RE: Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics, ed 14, Philadelphia, 1992, WB Saunders.)
Torticollis is usually first identified in newborns because of a head tilt. Torticollis is usually secondary to a shortened sternocleidomastoid muscle (muscular torticollis). This may result from in utero positioning or birth trauma. Acquired torticollis may be related to upper cervical spine abnormalities or central nervous system pathology (mass lesion). It can also occur in older children during a respiratory infection (potentially secondary to lymphadenitis) or local head or neck infection, and it may herald psychiatric diagnoses.
Available @ StudentConsult.comInfants with muscular torticollis have the ear tilted toward the clavicle on the ipsilateral side. The face will look upward toward the contralateral side. There may be a palpable swelling or fibrosis in the body of the sternocleidomastoid shortly after birth, which is often the precursor of a contracture. Congenital muscular torticollis is associated with skull and facial asymmetry (plagiocephaly) and developmental dysplasia of the hip.
After a thorough neurologic examination, anteroposterior and lateral radiographs should be obtained. The goal isto rule out a nonmuscular etiology. A computed tomography (CT) scan or MRI of the head and neck is necessary forpersistent neck pain, neurologic symptoms, and persistentdeformity.
Treatment of muscular torticollis is aimed at increasing the range of motion of the neck and correcting the cosmetic deformity. Stretching exercises of the neck can be very beneficial for infants. Surgical management is indicated if patients do not improve with adequate stretching exercises in physical therapy. Postoperative physical therapy is needed to decrease the risk of recurrence. Treatment in patients with underlying disorders should target the disorder.
Back pain in the pediatric population should always be approached with concern. In contrast to adults, in whom back pain is frequently mechanical or psychological, back pain in children may be the result of organic causes, especially in preadolescents. Back pain lasting longer than a week requires a detailed investigation. In the pediatric population, approximately 85% of children with back pain for greater than 2 months have a specific lesion: 33% are posttraumatic (spondylolysis, occult fracture), 33% are developmental (kyphosis, scoliosis), and 18% have an infection or tumor. In the remaining 15%, the diagnosis is undetermined.
Available @ StudentConsult.comThe history must include the onset and duration of symptoms. The location, character, and radiation of pain are important. Neurologic symptoms (muscle weakness, sensory changes, and bowel or bladder dysfunction) must be reviewed. Medical history and family history should be obtained, with a focus on back pain, rheumatologic disorders, and neoplastic processes. The review of systems should include detailed questions on overall health, fever, chills, recent weight loss, and recent illnesses. Physical examination should include a complete musculoskeletal and neurologic evaluation. Spinal alignment, range of motion, areas of tenderness, and muscle spasm should be noted. Red flags for childhood back pain include persistent or increasing pain, systemic findings (e.g., fever, weight loss), neurologic deficits, bowel or bladder dysfunction, young age (under 4 is strongly associated with tumor), night waking, pain that restricts activity, and a painful left thoracic spinal curvature.
Anteroposterior and lateral standing films of the entire spine with bilateral oblique views of the affected area should be obtained. Secondary imaging with bone scan, CT scan, or MRI may be necessary for diagnosis. MRI is very useful for suspected intraspinal pathology. Laboratory studies, such as a complete blood count, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP), and specialized testing for juvenile idiopathic arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis, may be indicated.
The differential diagnosis of pediatric back pain is extensive (Table 202-2). Treatment depends on the specific diagnosis. If serious pathology has been ruled out and no definitediagnosis has been established, an initial trial of physicaltherapy with close follow-up for reevaluation is recommended.
Diskitis (most common before the age of 6 years) Vertebral osteomyelitis (pyogenic or tuberculous) Spinal epidural abscess Pyelonephritis Pancreatitis
Hip and pelvic abnormalities (sacroiliac joint dysfunction) Herniated nucleus pulposus (intervertebral disk) Overuse injuries (facet syndrome) Vertebral stress fractures (spondylolysis, spondylolisthesis) Vertebral compression fracture (steroid, sickle cell anemia) Upper cervical spine instability (atlantoaxial instability)
Primary vertebral tumors (osteogenic sarcoma) Metastatic tumor (neuroblastoma) Primary spinal tumor (astrocytoma) Bone marrow malignancy (leukemia, lymphoma) Benign tumors (eosinophilic granuloma, osteoid osteoma)
Spondylolysis is a defect in the pars interarticularis. Spondylolisthesis refers to bilateral defects with anterior slippageof the superior vertebra on the inferior vertebra. The lesions are not present at birth, but about 5% of children will have the lesion by 6 years of age. It is most common in adolescent athletes, especially those involved in sports that involverepetitive back extension. Classically, this was an injury seenin gymnasts and divers. However, with increased intensityand year-round sports, the incidence is increasing. Footballinterior lineman (extension while blocking), soccer players(extension while shooting), and basketball players (extension while rebounding) are examples of athletes at higherrisk. The most common location of spondylolysis is L5, followed by L4.
Spondylolisthesis is classified according to the degree of slippage:Grade 1: less than 25% Grade 2: 25% to 50% Grade 3: 50% to 75% Grade 4: 75% to 99% Grade 5: complete displacement or spondyloptosis
The most common location of spondylolisthesis is L5 on S1.
Available @ StudentConsult.comPatients will often complain of an insidious onset of low back pain persisting over 2 weeks. The pain tends to worsen with activity and with extension of the back and improves with rest. There may be some radiation of pain to the buttocks. A loss of lumbar lordosis may occur due to muscular spasm. Pain is present with extension of lumbar spine and with palpation over the lesion. Patients with spondylolisthesis may have a palpable step off at the lumbosacral area. A detailed neurologic examination should be done, especially because spondylolisthesis can have nerve root involvement.
Anteroposterior, lateral, and oblique radiographs of the spine should be obtained. The oblique views may show the classic Scotty dog findings associated with spondylolysis. The lateral view will allow measurement of spondylolisthesis. Unfortunately, plain radiographs do not regularly reveal spondylolysis, so advanced imaging may be needed. The most helpful form of advanced imaging among CT, bone scan, single-photon emission CT (SPECT), or MRI continues to be debated. MRI may be required in patients with neurologic deficits.
Painful spondylolysis requires activity restriction. Bracing iscontroversial but may help with pain relief. Patients benefit froman aggressive physical therapy plan to improve lower extremityflexibility and increase core strength and spinal stability. It is most beneficial to begin with flexion exercises and progress toextension exercises as tolerated. There is evidence that some patients with an acute spondylolysis can achieve bony unionand that these patients have a decreased incidence of low backpain and degenerative change in the low back as they age whencompared with spondylolysis patients with nonunion. Rarely,surgery is indicated for intractable pain and disability.
Available @ StudentConsult.comPatients with spondylolisthesis require periodic evaluation for progression of their slippage. Treatment of spondylolisthesis is based on grading.
Grade 1: Same treatment as spondylolysis. Failure of nonoperative management may lead to surgical fusion.Grade 2: Reasonable to try nonoperative management, but if the slippage is progressing, surgical intervention may be needed. Any patient with neurologic symptoms requires surgical intervention.Grades 3 to 5: Spinal fusion is usually required to prevent further slippage or damage.
Available @ StudentConsult.comDiskitis is an intervertebral disk space infection that does not cause associated vertebral osteomyelitis (see Chapter 117). The most common organism is Staphylococcus aureus. The infection can occur at any age but is more common in patients under 6 years of age.
Children may present with back pain, abdominal pain, pelvic pain, irritability, and refusal to walk or sit. Fever is an inconsistent symptom. The child typically holds the spine in a straight or stiff position, generally has a loss of lumbar lordosis due to paravertebral muscular spasm, and refuses to flex the lumbar spine. The white blood cell count is normal or elevated, but the ESR and CRP are usually high.
Radiographic findings vary according to the duration of symptoms before diagnosis. Anteroposterior, lateral, and oblique radiographs of the lumbar or thoracic spine will typically show a narrow disk space with irregularity of the adjacent vertebral body end plates. In early cases, bone scan or MRI may be helpful, because they will be positive before findings are noticeable on plain radiographs. MRI can also be used to differentiate between diskitis and the more serious condition of vertebral osteomyelitis.
Intravenous antibiotic therapy is the mainstay of treatment. Blood cultures may occasionally be positive and identify the infectious agent. Aspiration and needle biopsy are reserved for children who are not responding to empirical antibiotic treatment. Symptoms should resolve rapidly with antibiotics, but intravenous antibiotics should be continued for 1 to 2 weeks and be followed by 4 weeks of oral antibiotics. Pain control can be obtained with medications and temporary orthotic immobilization of the back.
The shoulder actually comprises four joints:Glenohumeral joint (commonly referred to as the shoulder
The glenohumeral joint has minimal geometric stability because the relatively small glenoid fossa articulates with the proportionately larger head of the humerus. The low level of intrinsic stability allows for a large range of motion. The rotator cuff muscles help give the glenohumeral joint more stability, but they need normal contact of the glenohumeral joint to be successful. The scapulothoracic movement also expands the range of motion of the shoulder, but like the glenohumeral joint, it requires strong, coordinated musculature to function efficiently.
Sprengel deformity is the congenital elevation of the scapula. There are varying degrees of severity; it is usually unilateral. There is restricted scapulothoracic motion (especially with abduction) so most of the shoulder motion is through the glenohumeral joint. There is usually associated hypoplasia of the parascapular muscles. Webbing of the neck and low posterior hairline can be associated problems. There is an association with congenital syndromes, such as Klippel-Feil anomaly, so a thorough history and examination are necessary. Mild forms with a cosmetic deformity and mild loss of shoulder motion do not need surgical correction. Severe forms may have a bony connection (omovertebral) between the scapula and lower cervical spine. Moderate and severe forms may need surgical repositioning of the scapula in early childhood to improve cosmesis and function.
Obstetric brachial plexus palsy is discussed in Section 11. Brachial plexopathy is an athletic injury, commonly referred to as a stinger or burner. The symptoms are often likened to a dead arm. There is pain (often burning), weakness, and numbness in a single upper extremity. There are three mechanisms of injury:Traction caused by lateral flexion of the neck away from the involved upper extremityDirect impact to the brachial plexus at Erb’s pointCompression caused by neck extension and rotation toward the involved extremity
Symptoms are always unilateral and should resolve within 15 minutes. It is paramount to assess the cervical spine for serious injury. Bilateral symptoms, lower extremity symptoms, persistent symptoms, or recurrent injury are all signs of more serious disease and may need a more extensive workup and cervical spine stabilization. Athletes may return to activity if there are no red flags on history or physical examination and the athlete has full pain-free range of motion and strength in the neck and affected extremity.
Shoulder dislocation is uncommon in childhood but becomes more frequent in adolescence. The younger the patient is at presentation, the more likely it is that the patient will have recurrent dislocation. Anterior dislocation is the most common. If assessment of the neurovascular status of the affected extremity reveals any compromise, urgent reduction is needed to prevent further complications. Patients will need radiographs to assess for fractures of the glenoid (Bankhart lesion) and humeral head (Hill-Sachs lesion). Most patients will require a brief period of protection in a sling or shoulder immobilizer, as well as pain control. As symptoms resolve, a gentle range-of-motion program, followed by an aggressive strengthening program, should be done. Recurrence occurs in nearly 90% of athletes participating in contact sports, so orthopedists consider surgical intervention early rather than awaiting further dislocation.
The incidence of overuse injuries is increasing because of increased opportunities for athletic participation as well as higher levels of intensity during sports. Overuse injuries are inflammatory responses in tendons and bursae that are subjected to repetitive motions and trauma (e.g., rotator cufftendinopathy in swimmers). These injuries are uncommon in children but may be seen in adolescents. Bony injury, such as physeal fractures and apophysitis, must be ruled out before making the diagnosis of a soft tissue overuse injury. Many overuse injuries in the shoulder, such as rotator cuff tendinopathy, are secondary to joint laxity.
The patient will often present with discomfort over the affected area that worsens with activity. Physical examination usually reveals tenderness to palpation and often weakness of the associated muscles due to pain. It is important to assess for glenohumeral stability. Radiographs may be indicated for acute trauma or when symptoms are not improving. Treatment consists of activity modification, icing, anti-inflammatory medication, and a physical therapy program aimed at strengthening, increasing flexibility, and improving posture.
Proximal humeral epiphysiolysis is commonly referred to as Little Leaguer’s shoulder. It most commonly occurs in 9to 14-year-olds who participate in overhead (tennis, volleyball) and throwing sports, particularly baseball pitchers. It is a stress injury that potentially can be a fracture (epiphysiolysis) of the proximal humeral physis. Most patients present with pain during or after throwing. There may be tenderness to palpation over the proximal humerus; if the athlete has been resting for a few days, examination may be normal. Radiographs should include comparison views to assess the physis. There may be widening of the proximal humeral physis in the affected arm, but the films may be normal. Treatment is rest from the offending activity, followed by a rehabilitation program designed to improve strength in the shoulder muscles. Pitchers should also be encouraged to follow youth pitching guidelines published by Little League baseball.
The elbow consists of three articulations: Ulnar-humeral jointRadial-humeral jointProximal radioulnar jointCollectively, these joints produce a hinge-type joint that allows for supination (palm up) and pronation (palm down) positioning of the hand. The elbow has excellent geometric stability, and the musculature around the elbow primarily produces flexion and extension.
Available @ StudentConsult.comRadial head subluxation is more commonly known as nursemaid’s elbow. Because the radial head is not as bulbous in infants and young children, the annular ligament that passes around it can partially slip off the radial head with traction across the elbow (Fig. 203-1). The subluxation is usually caused by a quick pull on the extended elbow when a child is forcefully lifted by the hand or when the child falls while holding hands with an adult. After a subluxation, the child usually holds the hand in a pronated position and will refuse to use the hand or move the elbow. Moving the hand into the supinated position while applying pressure to the radial head will usually reduce the injury. Usually, radiographs are not necessary unless reduction cannot be obtained or there is concern for fracture (swelling and bruising). Once the injury is reduced, the child will begin using the arm again without complaint. Parents should be educated about the mechanism of injury and encouraged to avoid that position. There is a high rate of recurrence for this injury. The problem generally resolves with
Figure 203-1 Nursemaid’s elbow. The annular ligament is torn when the arm is pulled. The radial head moves distally, and when traction is discontinued, the ligament is carried into the joint. (From Rang M: Children’s Fractures, Philadelphia, 1974, JB Lippincott, p 121.) maturation, but some children with high recurrence rates may benefit from casting or, rarely, surgical intervention.
Available @ StudentConsult.comPanner disease is an osteochondritis of the capitellum (lateral portion of distal humeral epiphysis) that occurs spontaneously in late childhood. Clinical features include elbow pain, decreased range of motion, and tenderness to palpation over the capitellum. Radiographs reveal fragmentation of the capitellum. Treatment is activity restriction and follow-up radiographs to demonstrate spontaneous reossification of the capitellum over several months. There is usually no need for further treatment or imaging studies. This is not to be confused with osteochondritis dissecans of the capitellum, which usually will occur in adolescents involved with throwing sports.
The elbow is especially vulnerable to throwing injuries in theskeletally immature athlete. These occur from excessive andrepetitive tension forces across the radial aspect of the elbow andcompression forces across the lateral aspect of the elbow. Theseinjuries are commonly known as Little Leaguer’s elbow.
Available @ StudentConsult.comAlthough this injury is most common in baseball players who throw frequently (pitcher, catcher, third base, and shortstop), it also occurs in football quarterbacks and tennis players. Patients will usually complain of pain over the medial elbow with throwing that may last for a few days afterward. There may be associated swelling and lateral or posterior elbow pain. Radiation of pain may be secondary to ulnar neuropathy. There is often a flexion contracture of the elbow when compared to the opposite side. Palpation of the medial epicondyle, radial head, capitellum, lateral epicondyle, and olecranon process often reveals tenderness. Ulnar (medial) collateral ligament stability should be assessed. Radiographs should include the contralateral elbow for comparison. Radiographic findings in Little Leaguer’s elbow can vary and may include normal anatomy, medial humeral epicondyle apophyseal avulsion fracture, osteochondritis dissecans of the capitellum, radial head abnormalities, and foreign bodies in the elbow. MRI may be helpful.
Treatment depends on the underlying diagnosis but always includes pain control and rest from activity. Classic Little Leaguer’s elbow refers to medial humeral epicondyle apophysitis. These athletes benefit from rest, ice, anti-inflammatory medication, and a physical therapy program aimed at upper body strengthening. Throwing mechanics and the pitching guidelines published by Little League Baseball/Softball should be reviewed with these players. Switching players to a lower throwing position (e.g., first base) after rehabilitation, to avoid pitching for the remainder of the season, is often recommended.
Multiple small joints, a delicately balanced intrinsic muscle system, a powerful extrinsic muscle system, dense sensory innervation, and specialized skin combine to make the hand a highlymobile and sensitive yet powerful anatomic part. The extrinsicmuscles originate in the forearm and the intrinsic muscles arelocated in the hand and coordinate small, delicate movements. The movements of opening the hand, extending and spreading the fingers, and then clenching the hand into a fist requirescoordinated function of the intrinsic and extrinsic muscles. Tenderness of direct palpation of the bones raises the concern for fracture. Scaphoid fracture is the most common carpal bonefracture in the pediatric population. It requires immobilizationin a thumb spica cast, whereas displaced fractures require surgical intervention. Salter-Harris fractures of the distal radius are also very common. In young gymnasts, there is increased riskfor injury at the distal radial physis from repetitive impact andupper extremity weight bearing. This is commonly called gymnast’s wrist and requires absolute rest from impact and weightbearing to prevent premature closure of the growth plate.
Ganglion cysts are synovial fluid-filled cysts about the wrist. The most common location is the dorsum of the wrist near the radiocarpal joint, followed by the volar radial aspect of the wrist. The defect is in the joint capsule, which allows synovial fluid into the soft tissues with wrist use, where it can become walled off with fibrous tissue. Often, in skeletally immature patients, the process is benign and disappears over time. Large ganglion cysts or cysts that are painful and interfere with function may require more aggressive therapy. Aspiration and steroid injection into the cyst may be helpful, but many will recur. Surgical excision will remove the tract that attaches to the wrist joint, so it is usually curative.
Polydactyly (extra digits) occurs in simple and complex varieties (see Table 201-2). Skin tags and digit remnants that occur near the metacarpophalangeal joint of the fifth digit and thumb that do not have palpable bones or possess voluntary motion are simple varieties. These may be excised or ligated in the nursery. Complex deformities should be referred to a pediatric orthopedist for amputation. Syndactyly (fused digits) are concerning because of the possibility of shared structures and the tethering effects on bone growth (see Table 201-2). All patients with syndactyly should be referred for treatment options.
Trigger thumb and trigger finger are secondary to isolated thickening of the flexor tendons. As the thickened nodule enlarges, it may catch in a bent position, then snap or triggerstraight as it passes through the first pulley that anchors the tendon. Ultimately, as it enlarges, it cannot pass through at all and produces a flexion deformity at the interphalangeal joints. The nodule may be palpable near the metacarpophalangeal joint. These children should be referred for surgical correction.
Benign bone tumors and cystic lesions are common in childhood. Some represent fibrous dysplasia. Others are benign bone cysts (unicameral) or benign bone tumors (osteoid osteoma). Subacute osteomyelitis (Brodie abscess) and eosinophilic granulomas are lesions not associated with abnormal bone or cartilage growth. Some of these lesions can produce pain, limp, and pathologic fractures. Others can be incidental findings on radiographs. The prognosis is usually excellent. A brief differential diagnosis of bone tumors and their management is listed in Table 204-1. Malignant bone tumors are discussed in Section 21.
Table 204-1 Benign Bone Tumors and Cysts DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS RADIOGRAPHIC FINDINGS TREATMENT PROGNOSIS Osteochondroma (osteocartilaginous exostosis) Common; distal metaphysis of femur, proximal humerus, proximal tibia; painless, hard, nontender mass Bony outgrowth, sessile or pedunculated Excision, if symptomatic Excellent; malignant transformation rare
Multiple hereditary Osteochondroma of long bones; As above As above Recurrences exostoses bone growth disturbances
Osteoid osteoma Pain relieved by aspirin; femur and Dense sclerosis surrounds small As above Excellent tibia; found predominantly in boys radiolucent nidus, <1cm
Osteoblastoma (giant As above, but more destructive Osteolytic component; size As above Excellent osteoid osteoma)
Table 204-1 Benign Bone Tumors and Cysts—cont’d DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS RADIOGRAPHIC FINDINGS TREATMENT PROGNOSIS Nonossifying fibroma Silent; rare pathologic fracture; late childhood, adolescence Incidental radiographic finding; thin sclerotic border, radiolucent lesion None or curettage with fractures Excellent; heals spontaneously
Aneurysmal bone cyst As above; contains blood, fibrous Expands beyond metaphyseal Curettage, bone Excellent tissue cartilage graft
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