MCS 402: JUNIOR CLERKSHIP IN PAEDIATRICS & CHILD HEALTH (7
UNITS)
Course Purpose: To acquaint students with knowledge and skills to adequately diagnose,
manage and prevent diseases from infancy to adolescence
Course Outcomes: At the end of the course the student should be able to:
a) Take a clinical history from infancy (mother/caretaker) to adolescence
b) Record clinical data sheets (weight/height, growth charts/curves)
c) Perform a complete physical examination of the neonate/infant/child
d) Record a summary with provisional diagnosis (impression)
e) Propose relevant tests to confirmation of the diagnosis
Course Content:
Growth and development:
Stages of growth and development from conception to adolescence; components of
growth and development.
Factors influencing growth and development;
assessment of growth including use of charts;
causes and effects of abnormal growth and development.
Psychological and Emotional disorders: anxiety, sleeping problems, feeding
problems, schizophrenia, autism, enurensis.
Social Issues: toilet training, adoption, orphans, children in especially difficult
circumstances.
Nutrition: breastfeeding, complementary feeding, weaning.
Nutritional requirements; assessment of nutritional status. Micronutrients: vitamins and
minerals.
Malnutrition: kwashiorkor, marasmus; micronutrient deficiencies - iron deficiency,
anaemia, rickets. Obesity.
The new born: molecular basis of disease, chromosomal abnormalities, abnormalities of
the genes, genetic counseling.
Infections: Physiologic response to infections: bacterial, fungi, viral, parasitic infections;
common paediatric infections; malaria, Tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS;
immunizable diseases;
immunizations, vaccines, cold chain.
Gastrointestinal system: Anatomy, physiology and pathophysiology of the
gastrointestinal system; common signs and symptoms of gastro-intestinal disorders; congenital
malformations; diarrhoeal disease, fluid and electrolyte imbalance, abdominal pain, intestinal
worms, peptic ulcers, liver disease.
Respiratory system: Anatomy, physiology and pathophysiology of respiratory system;
common signs and symptoms of respiratory disease, acute respiratory infections (ARI).
Tuberculosis, asthma, inhaled foreign bodies.
Cardiovascularsystem (CVS): Anatomy and physiology of cardiovascular system;
common signs and symptoms of CVS, congenital heart disease, Rheumatic heart disease,
cardiomyopathies, endocardial fibrosis. Congestive cardiac failure (CCF).
Central nervous system: Anatomy of the nervous system; formation and circulation of
cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Common neurological conditions; meningitis, cerebral
palsy, paralysis, mental retardation, epilepsy, hydrocephalus, headache, coma, intracranial
neoplasm. Neuroblastoma.
Blood and Lymphatic System: Normal blood indices, anaemias,
haemoglobinopathies, bleeding tendency, enlarged lymph nodes, leukemias, lymphomas,
Burkitt’s Lymphoma. Enlarged spleen.
Genito-Urinary System: Anatomy of renal system; acute glomerulonephritis, urinary tract
infections, neophrotic syndrome, haematuria, renal failure, hydronephrosis. Wilm’s tumour.
Musculo-skeletal system: Anatomy and physiology of musculoskeletal system;
congenital malformations of the skeletal system. Infections; osteomyelitis, septic arthritis;
collagen vascular disorders; rhematoid arthritis.
Endocrine system:
Hormones, hormonal imbalance, goitre, hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism. Growth hormones;
juvenile diabetes mellitus.
The Skin: Abnormalities of the skin, impetigo, scabies, fungal infections of the skin, eczema.
Tropical diseases and emerging infections. Concepts, classification, diagnosis
and management of malaria, yellow fever, Rift Valley Fever, dengue fever, schistosomiasis,
leishmaniasis, onchocerciasis, Guinea worm, helminthic infestations, Burkitt’s lymphoma,
Prevention and control of tropical diseases: levels of prevention; eradication versus
control;
control strategies - host, agent, vector, environment; chemotherapy, vaccination.
Emerging and Re-emerging infections: ebola haemorrhagic fever, avian flu and others.
Research and development in tropical and infectious diseases.
Allergic disorders:
Immunologic basis of allergic diseases; diseases with immunologic or allergic aetiologies.
Childhood accidents and trauma: types of accidents, predisposing factors for
accidents,
accidental poisoning, falls; non-accidental (intentional) injuries; prevention of childhood
accidents. Child abuse and neglect. Factors leading to child abuse.
Paediatric imaging: the role of diagnostic imaging in paediatrics; normal radiological
anatomy and deviations from normal of the various systems; appropriate modalities for systems
in clinical settings; patient preparation for imaging; pathological conditions in various systems.
Clinical activities: History taking, clinical examination, systematic record keeping; side-
laboratory procedures. Clinical presentation during tutorials and ward rounds.
Clinico-pathological sessions: Specimen taking, obtaining consent, certification of death,
body identification and preservation.
Post-mortem sessions.
X-ray diagnosis, microscopic diagnosis.
