chapter 6 fever case i. case study: baby jone baby jone is a 6 month old boy, brought to hospital...
TRANSCRIPT
Chapter 6FeverCase I
Case study: Baby Jone
Baby Jone is a 6 month old boy, brought to hospital with a two day history of fever, lethargy and decreased
feeding
What are the stages in the management of Jone?
Stages in the management of a sick child (Ref. Chart 1, p. xxii)
1. Triage
• Emergency treatment, if required
2. History and examination
• Laboratory investigations, if required
3. Differential diagnoses
• Main diagnosis
4. Treatment
5. Supportive care
6. Monitoring
7. Plan discharge
• Follow-up, if required
What emergency (danger) and priority (important) signs do you notice from the
picture?
Temperature: 39.7ºC, pulse: 170/min, RR: 30/min, capillary refill 4 seconds. Cold hands and feet
Triage
Emergency signs (Ref. p. 2, 6)
• Obstructed breathing• Severe respiratory distress• Central cyanosis• Signs of shock• Coma• Convulsions• Severe dehydration
Priority signs (Ref. p. 6)• Tiny baby• Temperature• Trauma• Pallor• Poisoning• Pain (severe)• Respiratory distress• Restless, irritable, lethargic• Referral• Malnutrition• Oedema of both feet• Burns
What emergency treatment does Jone need?
Emergency treatment
• Airway management?
• Oxygen?
• Intravenous fluids?
• Anticonvulsants?
• Immediate investigations?
□ Blood sugar
(Ref. Chart 2 p. 5-6)
Emergency treatment (continued)
Because of tachycardia, poor perfusion and cold extremities insert intravenous drip and give 20 ml/kg
– Ringer’s lactate or normal saline solution
(Ref. Chart 7, p. 13)
Give emergency treatment until the patient is stable
History
Baby Jone is a 6 month old boy, who was brought to the hospital with a two day history of fever, lethargy and decreased feeding. He had not been drinking well for about 2 days. He had vomited several times each day. His mother had taken his temperature and this registered 39.70C axillary. On arrival in the hospital he was lethargic.
Jone was lying with his eyes closed, but was rousable.
Vital signs: temperature: 39.7ºC, pulse: 170/min, RR: 30/min, capillary refill: 4 seconds; cold hands and feetWeight: 7.0 kgChest: normal air entry both sidesCardiovascular: both heart sounds were audible and there was no murmurAbdominal examination: soft, bowel sounds were present; liver was palpable 1 cm below the right costal marginNeurology: lethargic, no neck stiffness, fontanelle normalMouth: slightly dry, no oral thrushEars: clear, no dischargeSkin: fine rash on trunk, arms and face
Examination
Differential diagnoses
• List possible causes of the illness
• Main diagnosis
• Secondary diagnoses
• Use references to confirm (Ref. p. 151)
Additional questions on history
• Duration of fever
• Feeding pattern / vomiting
• Conscious state – irritable / lethargic
• Immunization history
• Infectious contacts
• Malaria endemic area
Further examination based on differential diagnoses
• Look for signs of serious bacterial infection:
– Chest indrawing
– Rash / skin sepsis
– Stiff neck / fontanelle normal or bulging
– Ear-Nose-Throat examination
What investigations would you like to do to make your
diagnosis ?
Investigations• Blood glucose
• Urine microscopy (and culture if available) (Ref. p. 185)
– “Clean catch” technique
– Supra-Pubic Aspirate (Ref. p. 350)
• Malaria microscopy of rapid diagnostic test (RDT)
• Lumbar puncture if signs suggest meningitis
• Blood culture if possible
□ Discuss expected findings from investigations
Haemoglobin: 119 gm/l (125 – 205)
Platelets: 45 x 109/l (150 – 400)
WCC: 23.4 x 109/l (5.0 – 19.5)
Neutrophils: 12.78 x 109/l (1.0 – 9.0)
Lymphocytes: 6.06 x 109/l (2.5 – 9.0)
Monocytes: 4.81 x 109/l (0.2 – 1.2)
Blood sugar: 3.9 mmol/l (3.0 – 8.0)
Malaria RDT: negative
Full Blood examination
Suprapubic aspirate
Protein / Glucose : nil
Nitrate / Leucocyte esterase : 3+
Blood: 1+
Microscopy:
Red Blood Cells: 20 x 106/l n(<13)
Leucocytes: 500 x 106/l
Urine
Diagnosis
Summary of findings:• Urine examination abnormal• Blood examination shows mild
anaemia, mild neutrophilia with significant left shift, thrombocytopenia
• No other signs of focal infections
Urinary tract infection/Urosepsis
How would you treat Jone?
Treatment
(Ref. p. 184)
• Ampicillin and gentamicin IV/ IM initially or a third generation cephalosporin, such as ceftriaxone. Consider complications such as pyelonephritis or septicaemia
• Give parenteral treatment until fever subsides and/or urine culture results improve; switch then to an appropriate oral antibiotic
• Depending on local sensitivity patterns different drug regime may be chosen
What supportive care and monitoring are required?
Supportive Care
• Fever management (Ref. p. 305)
• Nutritional management (Ref. 298-299)
• Fluid management (Ref. p. 304)
– Give initially IV fluids because of signs of shock, but then reduce the rate
• Encourage regular breastfeeding
Monitoring
• The infant should be checked by nurses frequently (at least every 3 hours) and by doctors at least twice a day
• Use a Monitoring chart (Ref. p. 320, 413)
Follow up
• Investigate for renal abnormality
– Renal ultrasound if possible
• Recheck platelet count to see if thrombocytopenia resolves
• Watch for progression or resolution of petechial rash
Summary
• Infant with systemic infection due to urinary tract infection
• Symptoms and signs often non-specific
• Importance of good history and examination, screening investigations
• Management of early shock, antibiotics, ongoing fluids
• Frequent monitoring
• Follow-up