Tag Archives: jaundice

GP version of February 2011’s Paediatric Pearls

GP February 2011 reminds us all of the NICE guideline on Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder. We continue our 6-8 week baby check series with information on the absent red reflex and go back to our “from the literature” box to discuss snoring and obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA). We have relaunched our prolonged jaundice guideline. Please leave comments and questions below.

Let’s try and keep prolonged jaundice out of A and E!!

Most babies who are still jaundiced at 2-3 weeks of age are well.  It is important not to miss biliary atresia  which presents as CONJUGATED hyperbilirubinaemia.  The baby will usually, though unfortunately not always, have pale, putty-coloured stools and it is important to pick them up early as the treatment is surgical and has a better outcome if carried out around the age of 6 weeks.  The community midwives in Waltham Forest do the first line investigations for prolonged jaundice.  The following documents are downloadable here:

1)  Prolonged jaundice guideline for midwives

2)  Investigation sheet for prolonged jaundice

We try very hard to keep these babies out of the Emergency Department as they run the risk of coming in well and going out with something they’ve caught while waiting to see us.  They also have to be put in a cubicle and then there is no room for A and E to see all the other children in the department.

July PDF digest for General Practitioners

This month’s Paediatric Pearls digest PDF for General Practitioners is available here.  Topics include: febrile convulsions, neonatal jaundice and enuresis

Please use the suggestions page to give us ideas for new Pearls that might be of use to you.