Fussy eating is one of the most common things that parents present with to both primary and secondary care. My colleague, Ann Duthie, has kindly allowed me to paraphrase a recent talk she gave to the department on this subject. I hope you find the structure as sensible, helpful and reassuring as we did. FEEDING … Continue reading Feeding disorders
My ED consultant colleagues requested that we run a series on “feeding issues” in Paediatric Pearls as it forms a part of the ED trainees curriculum and is a common subject to come up in conversation with parents in the ED. It seems appropriate to begin the series with an article on breastfeeding problems put … Continue reading Common breastfeeding problems
I was encouraging a mother to breastfeed the other day when she asked if I was sure that was OK with her condition. Her baby is asymptomatic on a 10 day iv course of penicillin for presumed inadequately treated maternal syphilis. I wobbled momentarily and the junior doctor and I went away to look it up. It is OK apparently as long … Continue reading Contraindications to breastfeeding
While doing the weekend ward round I came across this list of local breastfeeding support groups pinned up on the back of the neonatal unit door. In the August GP Paediatric Pearls we wrote about tongue tie and feeding issues. The volunteers listed here are the lactation counsellors that Mr Patel at Kings likes to … Continue reading Local breastfeeding support
With thanks to Dr Ed Dallas, paediatric registrar, for putting together a succinct guide to eating disorders and the management of re-feeding syndrome. Re-introduction of nutrition to severely malnourished individuals can precipitate refeeding syndrome which may result in cardiac failure and death. The key biochemical abnormality is hypophosphataemia, due to total body phosphate depletion and a shift … Continue reading Eating disorders in young people
The 2nd Paediatric and Neonatal Cardiac Emergencies Course is being run at Homerton University Hospital in London again this April. The expert faculty come from Great Ormond Street Hospital, Evelina, Homerton and Barts Health. Paediatric cardiologists, simulation trainers, neonatologists and paediatricians with expertise in cardiology and life support instructors. Do come along for a fun … Continue reading April 27th and 28th 2020 Homerton/GOSH cardiac emergencies course
We welcome back Dr Marilyn Emedo for a series on pooing and constipation throughout infancy. First Installment: What is Normal? BREASTFED newborn babies stool anywhere between 7 times a day and once every 7-10 days. Stool is commonly “loose” in consistency and yellow in colour resembling “mustard seeds”. A reduction in frequency is typically seen … Continue reading Pooing and Constipation Throughout Infancy: Part One: What is Normal?
Part 2 of “Decoding the full blood count” with thanks to Dr Alexandra Briscoe, paediatric registrar at Whipps Cross University Hospital, and Professor Irene Roberts, professor of paediatric haematology at Oxford. Haematocrit/packed cell volume Haematocrit/ packed cell volume- the proportion of blood that is made up of cells (not plasma); it is measured as … Continue reading Decoding the full blood count (haematocrit)
With thanks to Dr Alexandra Briscoe and Professor Irene Roberts for their collaborative work. The red cell count and haemoglobin (see February 2017 newsletter for normal ranges) The red cell count is the actual number of red cells per mL of blood, and the haemoglobin (Hb) is the concentration of the Hb protein itself- the … Continue reading Paediatric Haematology: Decoding the full blood count (Hb and RBC)
Vitamin D deficiency in children with thanks to Dr Jini Haldar, paediatric registrar at Whipps Cross University Hospital. Introduction Vitamin D is an essential nutrient needed for healthy bones, and to control the amount of calcium in our blood. There is recent evidence that it may prevent many other diseases. There are many different recommendations … Continue reading Potted background, assessment and management of vitamin D deficiency