Pediatrics Exam 1: Growth, Development, and Systemic Disorders

Vocabulary flashcards covering core growth and development principles, pediatric milestones, clinical assessment methods, vital sign ranges, medication administration, and pediatric cardiology and hematology/oncology conditions based on lecture notes.

Growth

An increase in size and physical cell number.

Differentiation

The developmental progression from simple structures to more complex and specialized forms.

Maturation

The qualitative refinement of physical functions and developmental skills over time.

Developmental Screening

A procedure that examines growth, motor skills, language, social development, and behavior to detect developmental delays, serving to prompt further evaluation rather than diagnose.

Object Permanence

The cognitive realization acquired around 9 to 10 months of age during the sensorimotor stage that objects continue to exist even when hidden from view.

Centration

A cognitive tendency in the preoperational stage to focus exclusively on a single aspect of a complex situation.

Magical Thinking

A preoperational belief where a child thinks their own thoughts or wishes can directly cause real-world events.

Animism

A characteristic of preoperational thought in which inanimate objects are perceived as having lifelike qualities and feelings.

Moro Reflex

A normal primitive newborn startle response reflex.

Babinski Reflex

A normal newborn reflex involving upward dorsiflexion of the great toe when the sole of the foot is stimulated.

Acrocyanosis

A benign, normal newborn finding presenting as localized cyanotic discoloration of the hands and feet.

Milia

Tiny white newborn spots or baby acne on the skin that spontaneously resolves without intervention.

Colic

Persistent unexplained crying lasting greater than $3$ to $4$ hours per day for more than $3$ days per week over more than $3$ weeks, typically resolving by $12$ to $16$ weeks.

Safe Sleep Protocol

The practice of placing an infant ALONE, on their BACK, on a designated SAFE infant sleep surface to prevent suffocation and SUID.

Posterior Fontanelle

The small triangular skull opening that normally closes by approximately $2$ months of age.

Anterior Fontanelle

The diamond-shaped skull space that should remain flat and firm, normally closing between $12$ and $18$ months of age.

Trust vs. Mistrust

Erikson's infant psychosocial stage where consistent caregiver responses establish feelings of safety and reliability.

Autonomy vs. Shame/Doubt

Erikson's toddler stage characterized by the pursuit of personal independence and self-directed actions.

Negativism

A normal developmental behavior in toddlers where autonomy is expressed by refusing directions or doing the opposite of instructions.

Initiative vs. Guilt

Erikson's preschool stage where children take initiative to plan, explore, and attempt tasks within appropriate boundaries.

Industry vs. Inferiority

Erikson's school-age stage focused on task accomplishment, skill mastery, peer cooperation, and developing competency.

Identity vs. Role Confusion

Erikson's adolescent stage centered on resolving personal identity and answering 'Who am I?' under strong peer influence.

FLACC Scale

A validated pediatric pain assessment tool evaluating Face, Legs, Activity, Cry, and Consolability, particularly indicated for children under $3$ years old.

Wong-Baker FACES Scale

A visual pain rating scale utilized for children over $3$ years of age who are capable of selecting a facial illustration corresponding to their pain level.

Stridor

A high-pitched, harsh upper airway respiratory sound often audible without a stethoscope, indicating upper airway obstruction.

Wheezing

A whistling breath sound originating from restricted airflow in the lower airways and lungs.

Crackles

Discontinuous adventitious lung sounds that resemble the peeling apart of Velcro, produced by alveoli popping open.

Rhonchi

Coarse, low-pitched adventitious breath sounds generated by secretions traversing larger airways.

Pharmacodynamics

The biochemical and physiological effects that a medication exerts upon the body at a cellular level.

Pharmacokinetics

The physiological processing and movement of a drug through the body, comprising Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, and Excretion (ADME).

Vastus Lateralis

The anterolateral thigh muscle recommended as the preferred intramuscular injection site in infants and toddlers.

Pediatric Ear Drop Technique

The anatomical method of instilling otic medications by pulling the pinna down and back for patients under $3$ years of age, and up and back for patients over $3$ years of age.

Tracheotomy

A surgical incision made through the neck directly into the trachea to establish an airway.

Tracheostomy

The artificial stoma opening in the trachea resulting from a tracheotomy incision.

Foramen Ovale

A fetal cardiac opening directing oxygenated blood from the right atrium directly into the left atrium to bypass the nonfunctional fetal lungs.

Ductus Arteriosus

A fetal vascular shunt connecting the pulmonary artery directly to the aorta to redirect systemic blood flow away from the lungs.

Digoxin

A cardiac medication requiring baseline apical heart rate assessment, held if heart rate is below $90\text{ bpm}$ in infants or below $60\text{ bpm}$ in children and adolescents.

Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD)

An abnormal opening in the septum between the right and left ventricles resulting in a left-to-right shunt and pulmonary vascular congestion.

Tetralogy of Fallot

A cyanotic right-to-left congenital heart defect consisting of pulmonary stenosis, ventricular septal defect, an overriding aorta, and right ventricular hypertrophy.

Tet Spell

An acute hypercyanotic episode in patients with Tetralogy of Fallot, treated by placing the patient into a knee-to-chest position.

Coarctation of the Aorta

Localized narrowing of the aorta resulting in elevated blood pressure and bounding pulses in upper extremities with weak or absent femoral pulses and lower pressures in lower extremities.

Infective Endocarditis

An infection of the endocardial surface and heart valves, characterized by manifestations such as Roth spots, Janeway lesions, and Osler nodes.

Rheumatic Fever

An inflammatory systemic disorder following an untreated group A beta-hemolytic streptococcal pharyngeal infection, associated with carditis and elevated ESR, CRP, and ASO titers.

Kawasaki Disease

An acute systemic vasculitis marked by prolonged high fever, strawberry tongue, dry chapped lips, erythema and peeling of extremities, and risk of coronary artery aneurysms; managed with IVIG and aspirin.

Iron-Deficiency Anemia

The most common pediatric anemia, strongly correlated with excessive cow's milk consumption exceeding $24\text{ oz/day}$, presenting with pallor, fatigue, pica, and koilonychia.

Vaso-occlusive Crisis

A severe painful complication of sickle cell disease caused by deformed, rigid erythrocytes obstructing microvascular beds and inducing tissue ischemia.

Thalassemia Major

A severe hereditary disorder of defective hemoglobin synthesis presenting with microcytic anemia, frontal bossing, and requiring lifelong transfusions and iron chelation.

Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP)

An acquired immune-mediated destruction of circulating platelets, frequently following a viral illness, presenting with petechiae, purpura, and bleeding.

Henoch-Schönlein Purpura (HSP)

A post-infectious pediatric vasculitis characterized by non-thrombocytopenic dependent palpable purpura localized to the buttocks, legs, and feet, along with abdominal and joint pain.

Hemophilia A

A congenital X-linked bleeding disorder caused by a deficiency of clotting factor VIII.

Hemophilia B

An inherited bleeding disorder caused by a deficiency of clotting factor IX.

Leukocoria

An abnormal white pupillary light reflex replacing the normal red reflex, representing an urgent diagnostic indicator for conditions such as retinoblastoma.

Wilms Tumor

A pediatric renal neoplasm carrying a strict contraindication against abdominal palpation to prevent capsule rupture and tumor seeding.