ABP General Pediatrics flashcards

32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.

Mid-parental height formula

For boys, add 13 cm to the sum of parental heights and divide by 2; for girls, subtract 13 cm before dividing; target range is ±8.5 cm.

Infant weight milestones

Birth weight usually doubles by about 5 months and triples by 12 months; average term birth weight is 2.5 to 4.0 kg.

Social smile milestone

A responsive social smile usually appears by 6 to 8 weeks of age; absence at 2 months warrants developmental assessment.

Independent walking milestone

Most children walk independently between 12 and 15 months; inability to walk by 18 months is a developmental red flag.

Newborn screening timing

Collect newborn screening blood after 24 hours and before discharge, ideally 24 to 72 hours after birth; repeat if collected before 24 hours or early discharge.

MMR vaccine schedule

Give first MMR at 12 to 15 months and second at 4 to 6 years; before international travel, infants 6 to 11 months may receive an early dose.

Lead reference value

The CDC blood lead reference value is 3.5 micrograms per deciliter; a capillary result at or above this needs confirmation with a venous sample.

Fluoride toothpaste amounts

Use a smear of fluoride toothpaste for children younger than 3 years and a pea-sized amount for children aged 3 to 6 years, with supervision.

ADHD diagnostic threshold

For children younger than 17 years, at least six inattentive or hyperactive-impulsive symptoms are required; for ages 17 and older, at least five are required.

Autism screening ages

Screen for autism spectrum disorder at 18 and 24 months with a validated tool such as the M-CHAT; refer promptly for diagnostic evaluation if positive.

Adolescent depression screening

Screen adolescents aged 12 years and older annually for depression using a validated instrument, and ask directly about suicidal thoughts and safety.

Autism regression red flag

Loss of language or social skills at any age is a red flag for autism spectrum disorder and warrants urgent developmental and medical evaluation.

Anaphylaxis epinephrine dose

Give intramuscular epinephrine 0.01 mg per kilogram of 1 mg/mL solution, maximum 0.5 mg, into the lateral thigh; repeat after 5 to 15 minutes if needed.

Pediatric assessment triangle

Assess appearance, work of breathing, and circulation to skin; this rapid visual and auditory assessment guides immediate severity and need for intervention.

Status epilepticus first drug

A benzodiazepine is first-line for convulsive status epilepticus; give lorazepam 0.1 mg per kilogram intravenously, maximum 4 mg, and repeat once if seizures persist.

Croup steroid dose

Give dexamethasone 0.15 to 0.6 mg per kilogram as a single dose for croup; add nebulized epinephrine for moderate or severe stridor at rest.

Sickle cell penicillin prophylaxis

Give penicillin prophylaxis to infants and young children with sickle cell disease until age 5 years, because functional asplenia increases risk of invasive pneumococcal infection.

Cystic fibrosis sweat test

A sweat chloride level of 60 mmol/L or greater confirms cystic fibrosis; values from 30 to 59 mmol/L are intermediate and require further evaluation.

Pediatric asthma action plan

A written plan uses green, yellow, and red zones based on symptoms and peak flow, specifying daily controller use and when to call or seek emergency care.

Health care transition timing

Begin planning transition from pediatric to adult health care in early adolescence, around ages 12 to 14, and update the plan at least annually.

Kawasaki disease treatment

Give intravenous immunoglobulin 2 g per kilogram as a single infusion plus aspirin; obtain echocardiography and involve cardiology because coronary artery aneurysms may occur.

Nephrotic syndrome triad

Nephrotic syndrome shows heavy proteinuria, hypoalbuminemia, and edema, often with hyperlipidemia; minimal change disease is the most common childhood cause.

Pyloric stenosis features

Infantile hypertrophic pyloric stenosis causes nonbilious projectile vomiting at 3 to 6 weeks, with hypochloremic metabolic alkalosis and an olive-shaped abdominal mass.

Intussusception classic signs

Intussusception causes intermittent colicky abdominal pain, vomiting, and bloody currant-jelly stools; a sausage-shaped mass may be felt, and air enema is diagnostic and therapeutic.

Young infant fever workup

For a febrile infant younger than 28 days, perform a full sepsis evaluation including blood, urine, and cerebrospinal fluid cultures, and admit for intravenous antibiotics.

Acute otitis media antibiotic

High-dose amoxicillin, 80 to 90 mg per kilogram per day, is first-line for uncomplicated acute otitis media; observation is an option for older children with nonsevere illness.

Bacterial meningitis empiric therapy

Start ceftriaxone plus vancomycin empirically; add ampicillin for neonates and young infants to cover Listeria, and give dexamethasone with or before the first antibiotic dose for pneumococcal meningitis.

Lyme disease erythema migrans

Erythema migrans is a clinical diagnosis and does not require serologic testing; doxycycline is effective and can be used for short courses in young children.

Adolescent confidentiality limits

Adolescents often may consent to confidential care for sexually transmitted infections, contraception, and mental health, but clinicians must disclose when there is risk of harm.

Mandatory abuse reporting

Clinicians must report suspected child abuse or neglect to child protective services; reasonable suspicion, not proof, is the legal threshold in most jurisdictions.

Informed consent in minors

Parents or guardians generally give informed consent for minors, while children provide developmentally appropriate assent; emancipated minors may consent for themselves.

Medical home definition

A medical home provides accessible, continuous, comprehensive, family-centered, coordinated, compassionate, and culturally effective care, often improving chronic disease outcomes and care coordination.