Disorders of Puberty
Puberty is defined by both biologic and social standards. Puberty is the time when there is an increase in sex steroid production, resulting in physical changes such as breast development…
Pallor and Anemia
Introduction Pallor, a perceptible reduction in the usual color and tone of the skin and/or mucosa, may result from alterations of cutaneous blood flow, anemia, or unknown mechanisms. Under normal…
Lymphadenopathy and Neck Masses
Given the role of the lymphatic system in developing adaptive responses to numerous antigenic challenges and the rate at which the immune system is exposed to novel antigens early in…
Gait Disturbances
Most gait disturbances are benign and resolve with normal growth and development. Others are pathologic in origin and necessitate treatment ( Table 34.1 ). TABLE 34.1 Causes of Gait Disturbances…
Hypotonia, Weakness, and Stroke
Muscle Weakness and Hypotonia (See Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics, p. 3397.) Hypotonia, or abnormally diminished muscle tone, is defined as decreased resistance to passive movement of a limb through its…
Recurrent Fever, Infections, Immune Disorders, and Autoinflammatory Diseases
The immune system functions to prevent and retard the local establishment or systemic dissemination of bacteria, viruses, fungi, and protozoa. Furthermore, it must accomplish this task without excessive inflammation or…
Hypoglycemia
Hypoglycemia, although rare in children beyond the newborn period, is an acute, life-threatening medical emergency that may result in seizures, permanent brain damage, or even sudden death. In addition, hypoglycemia…
Back Pain in Children and Adolescents
Persistant back pain in children necessitates a thorough evaluation to rule out disorders that can result in significant morbidity, such as infection or tumor. Back pain in younger children is…
Bleeding and Thrombosis
Hemostasis is a process that maintains normal blood flow through healthy vessels but, when a vessel is damaged, rapidly generates a clot at the site of vascular injury. The major…
Eye Disorders
Eye and Visual System Anatomy The anatomies of the eye and visual system are shown in Figs. 32.1 and 32.2 . The optic nerves, made up of the converging nerve…
