LNN ACADEMY 🦠🩺💊

🦠 PEDIATRIC INFECTIOUS DISEASES – DETAILED NOTES (NORCET LEVEL PDF) 📌 **INTRODUCTION Children are more susceptible to infections due to: * Immature immune system * Poor hygiene practices * Incomplete vaccination * Close contact in schools/daycare Pediatric infectious diseases are a major cause of morbidity & mortality in children, especially under 5 years. 🛡 IMMUNITY IN CHILDREN (IMPORTANT BASE) * Passive immunity: From mother (IgG via placenta, IgA via breast milk) * Active immunity: Through vaccination & infections * Neonates have low IgM & IgA * Full immune maturity achieved by 5–7 years 🦠 CLASSIFICATION OF PEDIATRIC INFECTIONS 1️⃣ Bacterial infections 2️⃣ Viral infections 3️⃣ Parasitic infections 4️⃣ Fungal infections 🧬 1️⃣ BACTERIAL INFECTIOUS DISEASES 🔴 A. TUBERCULOSIS (TB) Causative agent: *Mycobacterium tuberculosis* Spread: Airborne droplets Clinical Features: * Chronic cough * Weight loss * Fever (evening rise) * Failure to thrive * Lymphadenopathy Diagnosis: * Mantoux test * Chest X-ray * CBNAAT / GeneXpert Management: * Anti-tubercular therapy (ATT) * Nutrition support * DOTS therapy 📌 *MCQ:* Most common extra-pulmonary TB in children → Lymph node TB 🔴 B. DIPHTHERIA Causative agent: *Corynebacterium diphtheriae* Spread: Droplets Key Features: * Grayish pseudomembrane in throat * Fever, sore throat * Bull neck * Difficulty breathing ⚠️ DO NOT REMOVE membrane → causes bleeding Prevention: * DPT vaccination 📌 *MCQ:* Toxin causes → Myocarditis & nerve damage 🔴 C. PERTUSSIS (WHOOPING COUGH) Causative agent: *Bordetella pertussis* Stages: 1. Catarrhal – runny nose, mild cough 2. Paroxysmal – severe coughing fits + whoop 3. Convalescent – recovery phase Complications: * Pneumonia * Seizures * Apnea 📌 *Vaccine:* DPT 🦠 2️⃣ VIRAL INFECTIOUS DISEASES 🔵 A. MEASLES (RUBEOLA) Spread: Droplet Highly contagious Features: * Fever * Cough, cold, conjunctivitis * Koplik spots (inside mouth) * Maculopapular rash (starts from face) Complications: * Pneumonia * Encephalitis * Malnutrition 📌 *Prevention:* Measles/MMR vaccine 📌 *Vitamin A supplementation is essential* 🔵 B. MUMPS Features: * Painful swelling of parotid glands * Fever * Ear pain Complications: * Orchitis * Meningitis 📌 *Vaccine:* MMR 🔵 C. RUBELLA (GERMAN MEASLES) Features: * Mild fever * Rash * Lymphadenopathy ⚠️ *Dangerous in pregnancy → Congenital Rubella Syndrome* 🔵 D. CHICKENPOX (VARICELLA) Features: * Fever * Vesicular rash (dew drop on rose petal) * Lesions in different stages Complications: * Secondary bacterial infection * Pneumonia 📌 *Vaccine:* Varicella 🪱 3️⃣ PARASITIC INFECTIONS 🟢 A. ASCARIASIS Cause: *Ascaris lumbricoides* Spread: Feco-oral Features: * Abdominal pain * Malnutrition * Intestinal obstruction Management: * Albendazole * Deworming programs 🟢 B. MALARIA Cause: *Plasmodium species* Vector: Female Anopheles mosquito Features: * Fever with chills * Anemia * Splenomegaly 📌 *MCQ:* Most severe malaria → P. falciparum 🍄 4️⃣ FUNGAL INFECTIONS 🟣 CANDIDIASIS Common in infants Features: * Oral thrush * Diaper rash Management: * Antifungal agents * Maintain hygiene 🌡 COMMON SYMPTOMS OF PEDIATRIC INFECTIONS * Fever * Poor feeding * Irritability * Lethargy * Vomiting / diarrhea * Failure to thrive 🧪 COMMON DIAGNOSTIC TESTS * CBC * Blood culture * Stool examination * Serology * X-ray / imaging 💉 ROLE OF VACCINATION (VERY IMPORTANT) Vaccines prevent: * Measles * Diphtheria * Pertussis * TB * Polio * Hepatitis B