Clinical Guide to Paediatrics

Clinical Guide to Paediatrics enables rapid reference to the common paediatric conditions, symptoms, and practical concerns seen in day-to-day practice. Focused on making differential diagnoses in acute settings, this comprehensive resource offers step-by-step guidance on clinical decision-making, investigations, and interventions. Junior doctors and medical students are provided with a clear and up-to-date evidence base supported by numerous diagnostic algorithms, diagrams, tables and bullet points throughout.

Organised into systems-based sections, the guide covers paediatric history taking, examination techniques, pharmacology, safeguarding, and a range of different diagnoses for presenting complaints in cardiology, infection and immunology, neurology, gastroenterology, accidents, poisoning, and more. Succinct chapters are logically structured to allow easy access to important concepts, key clinical details, and plans of investigation. Designed to complement the doctor-patient interaction in clinical practice, this valuable guide:

• Covers the most common presenting complaints encountered in acute paediatrics
• Provides evidence-based information on symptoms, disorders, and issues faced in paediatric medicine
• Addresses topics from the perspective of presenting complaints to provide a unique, highly practical approach to the subject
• Includes access to a companion website containing images and clinical photos, audio podcasts, clinical case studies, and self-assessment exercises

Clinical Guide to Paediatrics is essential reading for junior doctors, medical students, nurses and specialist trainees working on paediatric wards or emergency departments.

List of Contributors vii

Acronyms and Abbreviations ix

About the Companion Website xiii

How to Use This Book xv

1.1 Wheeze 1

1.2 Stridor 15

1.3 Difficulty in Breathing 27

2.1 Cyanosis 37

2.2 Circulatory Collapse 53

2.3 Syncope 67

2.4 Chest Pain 79

2.5 Palpitations 93

3.1 Fever 107

3.2 Fever in the Returning Traveller 131

3.3 Lymphadenopathy 151

4.1 Bruising 165

4.2 Pallor 181

5.1 Abdominal Pain 203

5.2 Abdominal Mass 221

5.3 Vomiting 239

5.4 Diarrhoea 253

5.5 Jaundice 265

5.6 Faltering Growth 279

6.1 Haematuria 293

6.2 Oedema 303

6.3 Scrotal Swelling 317

7.1 Hypoglycaemia 329

7.2 Hyperglycaemia 343

8.1 Headache 353

8.2 Suspected Seizures 371

8.3 Acute Hemiparesis 387

8.4 Acute Lower‐Limb Weakness 403

8.5 Delirium and Agitation 415

8.6 Decreased Level of Consciousness 427

8.7 Dizziness 441

9.1 Urticaria 451

9.2 Non‐blanching Rash 461

9.3 Other Childhood Rashes 473

10.1 Limp 489

10.2 Swollen Joint 503

11.1 Neonatal Jaundice 513

11.2 The Unsettled Baby 527

11.3 Breastfeeding Advice 537

12.1 The A to E Assessment 543

12.2 Assessment of Consciousness 549

12.3 Tips for Fluid Prescribing 551

12.4 Childhood Immunisations 557

12.5 Safeguarding 561

13.1 Sepsis Management 569

13.2 Anaphylaxis Management 571

13.3 Acute Asthma Management 575

13.4 Prolonged Seizure Management 577

13.5 Raised Intracranial Pressure Management 579

Guidelines 581

Index 591

Rachel Varughese, Specialist Registrar in Paediatrics, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, UK.

Anna Mathew, Consultant Paediatrician, Chair of MRCPCH Clinical Examinations, Western Sussex Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, UK.

Series editor: Christian Fielder Camm is a Cardiology Specialist Registrar, Royal Berkshire Hospital, Reading, UK.

The Clinical Guides are a brand new resource for junior doctors and medical students. They provide practical and concise information on symptoms, common conditions and day-to-day problems faced in the clinical environment. They are easy to navigate and allow swift access to information as it is needed, with step-by-step guidance on investigations, decision-making and interventions, and how to survive and thrive on clinical rotations and attachments.

Clinical Guide to Paediatrics enables rapid reference to the common paediatric conditions, symptoms and practical concerns seen in day-to-day practice. Focused on making differential diagnoses in acute settings, this comprehensive resource offers step-by-step guidance on clinical decision making, investigations and interventions. Junior doctors and medical students are provided with a clear and up-to-date evidence base supported by numerous diagnostic algorithms, diagrams, tables and bullet points throughout.

Organised into systems-based sections, the guide covers paediatric history taking, examination techniques, pharmacology, safeguarding and a range of different diagnoses for presenting complaints in cardiology, infection and immunology, neurology, accidents, poisoning and more. Succinct chapters are logically structured to allow easy access to important concepts, relevant trials and key guidelines. Designed to complement the doctor-patient interaction in clinical practice, this valuable guide:

• Covers all the most common presenting complaints encountered in acute paediatrics
• Provides evidence-based information on symptoms, disorders and issues faced in paediatric medicine
• Addresses topics from the perspective of presenting complaints to provide a unique, highly practical approach to the subject
• Includes access to a companion website containing a ‘diagnosis to consider’ list for nearly all chapters, additional references, and guidelines

Clinical Guide to Paediatrics is essential reading for junior doctors, medical students, nurses and specialist trainees working on paediatric wards or emergency departments.