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Continuity Clinic Notebook:

Chapter II. The Evaluation of the Sick Child

Chapter 2 Index

A. Evaluation by system

B. Other categories of illnesses:

1. Metabolic and Endocrine

2. Collagen-Vascular Illnesses

3. Chromosomal Abnormalities

 

Most Frequently Recognized Trisomies

(Ref: Smith’s Textbook – 5th edition)

  Down Syndrome Trisomy 18 Trisomy 13
Found in > 50% Hypotonia
Flat facies
Slanted palpebral fissures
Small ears

Mental deficiency
Brachycephaly
Speckled iris
Lens opacities
Refractive errors
Hearing loss
Serous Otitis
Hypoplasia mid phalanx of 5th finger
Gap between toes
Poor fetal activity
Weak cry
Single umbil. Artery
1/3 premature birth weight: 2340 g
prominent occuput
low set ears
clenched hand: overlapped index fin
short sternum
hernias
cyrptorchid
hypertonicity
redundant skin
VSD/ASD/PDA
Holoprosencephaly
Defects of eye, nose,lip and forebrain.
Polydactyly
Narrow fingernails

Skin defects scalp
Deafness
Microphthalmia
Coloboma
Cleft lip and palate
80%: Cardiac: VSD, PDA, ASD, dextroposition.
Cryptorchidism
Single umbilical artery

10-50% of cases Cardiac Anomalies
Simian crease
Cutis marmorata
Small penis with gonadal deficiency.
Microcephaly with wide fontanels
Hypoplastic thumb
Other congen ht dis
Meckels
Renal anomalies
Hypertonia
Corpus callosum agenesis
Absent philtrum
Cleft tongue
Syndactyly
Polycystic kidney
Natural History Mean IQ for older patients is 24
Social: average is 3.3 years.
Slow growth
Heart disease: cause of death: live to 30:
Heart dis: 53%
No heart dis: 87%
50% die first week
5-10 % die first year
All severely retarded
2.5 day median survival – 5% survive the first 6 months
Etiology Older maternal age
94% - full trisomy
2.4% - 21 mixture Trisomy/mosaic
3.3% Translocations
Older maternal age
Most: trisomy
A few translocations
Older maternal age
Can be mosaic or partial trisomy as well as trisomy
Recurrence rate About 1% Less than 1% No figure identified

Down Syndrome: Anticipatory Guidance
(Pediatrics 1994;93:855-858; Health Supervision Guidelines – AAP:1994)

Genetics: 95% nonfamilial trisomy 21; 3-4% translocation, ¾ of which are de novo; 1-2% mosaics: one normal cell line mixed with one trisomy cell line.

PE findings: Hypotonia, small brachycephalic head, epicanthal folds, flat nasal bridge, upward slanting palpebral fissures, Brushfield spots, small mouth and ears, palmar crease, clinidactyly.

Common problems associated with Down Syndrome: 

1. General: Mental retardation: Variable: mild, moderate and occasionally severe. Premature development of Alzheimer’s disease (starting age 20’s)

2. HEENT:

  • Ears: deafness (75%); serous otitis media (50-70%).
  • Eyes: cataracts (15%) and severe refractive error (50%). Sinuses: recurrent sinusitis, obstructive breathing.
  • Atlantoaxial Instability (10-20%): X-rays are often not accurate; however, Special Olympics require them. Consider doing if symptoms such as neck pain, torticollis, lower tract signs occur. Sports such as gymnastics, diving, soccer should be discouraged.
  • Thyroid disease (15%): T4 and TSH should be drawn 3,6,9,12,18, 24 mos. It can develop after being normal earlier in Down children.

3. Cardiopulmonary: congenital heart disease: AV canal, PDA: 50% incidence: Recent recommendation is that every newborn with Down Syndrome have Echocardiogram

4. Gastrointestinal: GI Atresias (12%); duodenal atresia most common; Hirshsprungs<1%

5. Hips: acquired hip dislocation (6%)

6. Blood disorders: Leukemia (<1%) - more ALL than AML (60%-40%), but children with Down Syndrome also can get transient leukemia of the newborn.

7. Skin problems: very dry skin. Most children have this problem; hard to treat.

Screening for Down Syndrome children:

Age of Child

 Evaluation and Anticipatory Guidance for
Specific Ages

Neonatal Refer to Early Intervention Services (mention at prenatal exam)
Echocardiogram: neonatal period (mention at prenatal exam)
Infancy 1. Thyroid Screening: do at periodic intervals through first several years; then do each year thereafter.
2. Hearing Screening: by a standardized method - do annually
3. Vision Screening: subjective testing and standardized method- 1x/yr
4. Growth: be aware of normal growth and development;
Childhood 1  Review preschool program, discuss school placement
2. Assess behavior; consider behavior modification if necessary
3. Some consider plastic surgery at this age
Older children and teenagers

1.  Annual hearing, vision, thyroid
2. School, workshop settings, community involvement
3. Discuss sexuality and socialization. Consider contraceptives
4. Consider X-ray to rule out atlantoaxial instability

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Department of Pediatrics  |  Medical College of Georgia
Please email comments, suggestions or questions to:
John T.  Benjamin M.D., 
jbenj@mcg.edu

February 27, 2004