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Pediatric Quick Notes

High-yield shelf — every topic as a cute toy card.

🌡️ Fever in Children

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Key Points

Fever = ≥38°C (core or oral equivalent)
Most are viral
Age <3 months = high risk

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Red Flags

<3 months with fever
Toxic appearance
Neck stiffness / seizures
Poor perfusion

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Important Causes

Viral URTI (most common)
UTI
Sepsis (neonates)
Meningitis

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First-line Management

Paracetamol / ibuprofen
Hydration
Treat cause (antibiotics if bacterial suspected)

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Exam Tips

“Fever without source” in <3 months = sepsis workup

💧 Dehydration

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Key Points

Most due to gastroenteritis
Classified: mild / moderate / severe

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Red Flags

Lethargy
Sunken eyes, no tears
Delayed capillary refill >3 sec
Shock signs

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Important Causes

Gastroenteritis
Vomiting
Poor intake

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First-line Management

ORS (mild/moderate)
IV fluids (severe/shock → NS bolus)
Correct electrolytes

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Exam Tips

“No tears + sunken fontanelle = dehydration”

🫁 Asthma

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Key Points

Chronic airway inflammation
Episodic wheeze + reversible obstruction

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Red Flags

Silent chest
Cyanosis
Inability to speak full sentences

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Important Causes

Allergens
Viral infections
Exercise

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First-line Management

SABA (salbutamol)
Inhaled corticosteroids (controller)
Oxygen if needed

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Exam Tips

Night cough = classic asthma clue

👶 Bronchiolitis

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Key Points

<2 years, RSV most common
Small airway inflammation

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Red Flags

Apnea in infants
Severe chest recession
Poor feeding

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Important Causes

RSV (most)
Other respiratory viruses

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First-line Management

Supportive: oxygen + fluids
Suction nasal secretions
No routine antibiotics

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Exam Tips

Wheeze + crackles in infant = bronchiolitis until proven otherwise

🫧 Pneumonia

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Key Points

Infection of lung parenchyma
Viral > bacterial in young children

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Red Flags

Hypoxia
Grunting
Chest indrawing

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Important Causes

Streptococcus pneumoniae
RSV / viruses
Mycoplasma (older children)

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First-line Management

Amoxicillin (community acquired)
Oxygen if hypoxic
IV antibiotics if severe

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Exam Tips

Focal crackles + fever = bacterial pneumonia

🤢 Gastroenteritis

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Key Points

Diarrhea ± vomiting
Viral most common (rotavirus)

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Red Flags

Blood in stool
Severe dehydration
Persistent vomiting

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Important Causes

Rotavirus
Norovirus
E. coli / Salmonella

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First-line Management

ORS
Zinc supplementation
IV fluids if severe

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Exam Tips

Antibiotics NOT routine

🟡 Neonatal Jaundice

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Key Points

Physiological after 24h
Unconjugated most common

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Red Flags

Jaundice <24h of life
Very high bilirubin
Poor feeding + lethargy

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Important Causes

Physiological jaundice
Hemolysis (ABO/Rh)
Breast milk jaundice

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First-line Management

Phototherapy
Exchange transfusion if severe
Treat cause

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Exam Tips

“Day 1 jaundice = pathological until proven otherwise”

🦠 Sepsis Basics

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Key Points

Life-threatening infection + organ dysfunction
Neonates high risk

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Red Flags

Hypothermia or fever
Poor perfusion
Lethargy / floppy baby

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Important Causes

Group B Strep (neonates)
E. coli
Staph aureus

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First-line Management

Immediate IV antibiotics
Fluid resuscitation
Blood cultures first (if no delay)

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Exam Tips

“Toxic-looking child = sepsis until proven otherwise”

📉 Failure to Thrive

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Key Points

Weight <5th percentile or falling growth curve
Most common = inadequate intake

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Red Flags

Developmental delay
Neglect signs
Chronic illness symptoms

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Important Causes

Poor feeding
Malabsorption (celiac)
Chronic disease (heart, renal)

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First-line Management

Nutritional rehabilitation
Treat underlying cause
Multidisciplinary support

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Exam Tips

Weight drops first before height