Obgyn Key

Jaundice, the yellow discoloration of skin and sclerae, results when the serum level of bilirubin, a pigmented compound, is elevated. Jaundice is not evident until the total serum bilirubin is…

Acute abdominal pain is usually a self-limiting, benign condition that is commonly caused by gastroenteritis, constipation, or a viral illness. The challenge is to identify children who require immediate evaluation…

Gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding in children can range from small amounts of blood in the stool, associated with milk protein allergy or anal fissure, to life-threatening hemorrhage, associated with portal hypertension…

Proteinuria can be detected by various means, and the most common is the dipstick test, a calorimetric assay that spots only albumin and not low-molecular-weight proteins. In addition, alkaline urine…

Constipation is defined symptomatically as the infrequent passage of hard stools, straining while passing a stool, or pain associated with the passage of a hard stool. The range of normal…

Hematuria is a common issue faced by primary physicians who care for children. While it can cause great anxiety in the patient and family when it presents as gross hematuria,…

Dysuria is defined as painful urination and can be related to uncomfortable contraction of the muscles of the bladder or when urine comes into contact with the inflamed genitourinary mucosa….

Hepatomegaly occurs commonly in children as a feature of primary liver disease or as a result of systemic disorders involving the liver and other organs ( Table 14.1 ). Because…

Diarrhea is defined as a stool volume of greater than 10 g/kg/day in infants and toddlers and greater than 200 g/day in older children. Functionally, diarrhea should be considered if a patient…

Calories from food provide energy for the body’s maintenance functions of repair, regulation, metabolic functions, replacement of losses, and daily activity. Children have additional caloric requirements because they must also…