Definitions Allergy – Inappropriate immune response to normally harmless allergen. Allergen – Foreign particles which produce an IgE-mediated hypersensitivity reaction in sensitive individuals. Atopy – genetic predisposition to exaggerated immune…
An Atrial septal defect is a congenital heart defect that causes a shunting of blood from the left to the right atria. L-to-R shunt – ACYANOTIC There are two types…
Introduction and Physiology The recognition and assessment of the unwell child is an important clinical skill in both general practice and hospital medicine. Children may clinically change much more quickly than…
Introduction Asthma is a chronic lung condition in which there is chronic inflammation of the airways, and hypersensitivity of the airways. Symptoms include wheeze, cough, chest tightness and SOB (dyspnoea).…
Introduction Benign acute childhood myositis (BACM), sometimes referred to as viral myositis or influenza-associated myositis is a striking cause of childhood immobility, which is typically self-limiting and benign. It often presents in school-age children,…
Introduction Bronchiolitis is the most common serious respiratory infection during infancy. It comes in winter epidemics, during which time, 2-3% of all infants are admitted to hospital each year. The…
Definition The term bronchitis can be confusing. It is poorly defined, and sometimes mis-used. Bronchitis can be acute - typically caused by respiratory tract infections (usually viral), or chronic, typically…
Introduction Cerebral Palsy (CP) is a movement disorder that results from a non-progressive lesion of motor pathways. Although the lesion does not progress, the symptoms appear gradually, as the child…
Introduction Chickenpox is a common, highly infectious, usually self-limiting viral illness caused by the varicella zoster virus. Varicella is a type of herpes virus - and like other herpes viruses…
Chromosomal abnormalities are a very common cause of spontaneous miscarriage. Most commonly a child with a chromosomal abnormality will not survive to birth. However, there are many cases where the…