Category Archives: Community

Non-accidental injury – fractures

Community, General paediatrics, Sociology,

Abuse should be considered if:

  • multiple fractures
  • rib fractures (7 in 10 NAI)
  • femoral fracture (see below)
  • Under 3 with humeral fracture (1 in 2 NAI)
  • Mid shaft humeral fracture more frequently NAI, supracondylar less frequently
  • Infant/toddler skull fracture (1 in 3 NAI).  Type and location not helpful

Formerly known as CORE Info, the RCPCH Child Protection Portal hosted on the RCPCH website provides evidence-based guidance for health professionals concerned about non-accidental injury 

  • Fractures in the abuse group occurred predominantly in children less than 1 year of age.
  • Femoral fractures under 1 year of age are significantly associated with abuse.
  • One-third of isolated femoral fractures under 3 years of age were abusive.
  • Abusive femoral fractures occur predominantly in infants (evidence level IIb) [3].
  • Significantly more abusive femoral fractures arise in children who are not yet walking (evidence level IIb) [3].
  • Mid-shaft fractures are the most common fracture in both abuse and non-abuse groups (analysed for all age groups) (evidence level IIa) [3].
  • Under 15 months of age, a spiral fracture is the most common type of abusive femoral fracture p=0.05 (evidence level IIb) 

2014 Systematic review on bites has been withdrawn pending new review – interim advice on RCPCH child protection portal but need to be member.

Rib fractures with callus are at least 2 weeks old.  Other than that, unable to date.

Systematic reviews of various NAI issues at https://childprotection.rcpch.ac.uk/child-protection-evidence/

Dyspraxia, or Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD)

Community, General paediatrics, Neurology, OPD

Developmental Co- ordination Disorder (DCD), as outlined in DSM IV (American Psychiatric Association 1994):

  • Performance in daily living activities that required motor co-ordination is substantially below that expected given the person’s chronological age and measured intelligence. This may be manifested in delays in achieving motor milestones (i.e. walking, crawling, sitting) dropping things, ‘clumsiness’.  Significantly interferes with academic achievement or activities of daily living.
  • The disturbance is not due to a general medical condition (e.g. Cerebral Palsy, Hemiplegia or Muscular Dystrophy), and does not meet the criteria for a pervasive Developmental disorder.
  • If Global Learning Difficulties are present the motor difficulties are in excess of those associated with it.

It is essential that early referral is made in order that children do not develop behavioural difficulties due to their frustration at not being able to carry out the same tasks as their peers.

Clues are:

  • Does the child’s motor skill appear to be behind their cognitive skills?
  • Dose the child appear to move generally in an uncoordinated way i.e. walking, running, manoeuvring around objects?
  • Does the child fall over constantly, bump into things, and /or knock thing over?
  • Has the child developed a dominant hand i.e. does he/she prefer to use one hand for more tasks?
  • Does the child have difficulties with dressing especially organising themselves? Do they find laces, small fastening and cutlery difficult?
  • What is their attention span like? Are they always fidgeting or squirming?
  • Are they having significant difficulties in the classroom in relation to their peer e.g. poor behaviour, avoidance of tasks, poor handwriting, dislikes gym?

N.B  Most children in their early school years will demonstrate one (or more) of these areas of difficulty but this does not mean they all have DCD!  Children with DCD will present with many of the difficulties above for a prolonged period.

Attention Deficit & Hyperactivity Disorder

Community, OPD, Psychology

NICE guideline 2018

ADHD defined as at least 6 months of

  • Inattention,
  • Hyperactivity,
  • Impulsivity.

ICD requires all 3, DSM requires just 1.

Plus,

  • social and/or academic difficulties not explained by anxiety or depression,
  • child should be under 7 yrs.
  • cause at least moderate psychological, social, or educational or occupational impairment based on interview or direct observation in multiple settings and
  • be happening often, occurring in 2 or more important settings including social, familial, educational or occupational settings. [2008, amended 2018]

DSM does not give guidance on assessing severity. UK guidelines do not mention mild ADHD, which of course is harder to define.

Commonly associated with peer rejection, increased risk of injury. Long term, less likely to enter higher education or find employment, more likely to have delinquent/criminal behaviour, more likely to smoke, use alcohol and illegal drugs.

There is high concordance for monozygotic twins, which supports a genetic cause. There are also MRI/PET lesions, which support a physical cause (cortical abnormalities in the frontal, temporal, and parietal lobes, Lancet 2003). It is 3 times more common in boys. It may be related to traumatic experience in infancy.

Computer based assessment tools exist including Conners (94% sensitive). QbTest is recommended by NICE. None are in themselves diagnostic.

NICE recommend you also check parental mental health!

Examples of inattention:

  • Careless mistakes
  • Does not seem to listen when spoken to directly
  • Does not follow through instructions (NOT simply oppositional)
  • Avoids sustained mental effort
  • Loses things necessary for tasks/activites

Examples of hyperactivity/impulsivity:

  • Fidgets, squirms, leaves seat when expected to remain
  • Runs about, climbs in appropriate situations
  • Acts as if “driven by a motor”
  • Blurts out answers before question finished
  • Interrupts, intrudes on others

Management

Parent training programmes are effective for preschool children.

Techniques are:

  • Understanding (patient/tolerance)
  • Give clear instructions, simple steps
  • Set clear boundaries
  • Separate behaviour from child – avoid shaming/labels – find other ways to express upset/overwhelm
  • Involve whole famly
  • Build healthy routines of sleep, meal times, physical activity
  • Help organise – checklists, visual timetables, sticky notes, phone alarms
  • Lots of positive feedback
  • Manage triggers
  • Support wellbeing – talk about feelings
  • Find support for parents (online or local)

Methylphenidate, a dopamine agonist, is effective, esp for concentration, hyperkinesis and impulsiveness. Clonidine has been suggested.

Behaviour modification (NOT cognitive behavioural) is effective for age 6yr+ only when combined with medication.

Hyperactivity tends to improve over time, but there are associated antisocial behaviours and learning difficulties long term. The longest trial showed better performance up to 8yrs after entry (compared with baseline), but still underperforming compared with peers.

A diagnosis can help parents but also carries stigma: children with ADHD are perceived as lazier and less clever by peers, and teachers/parents have lower academic expectations.

BMJ 2013;347:18a