🏥 Stations

🧠 Qbank

📖 Book

😃 More

💳 Pricing

🔒 Dashboard

📖 OSCE Learning

🔒 OSCE Stations

🔒 Qbank

🔐 Membership
Share your insights

Help us by sharing what content you've recieved in your exams


Behavioural difficulties in childhood

Specialties > Child health

Differential Diagnosis Schema 🧠

Developmental Disorders

  • Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD): Impaired social communication, restricted and repetitive behaviors.
  • Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD): Inattention, hyperactivity, impulsivity.
  • Specific Learning Disorders: Difficulties in reading, writing, or arithmetic not explained by general intelligence.

Emotional Disorders

  • Anxiety Disorders: Excessive fear or worry, often with physical symptoms like headaches or stomachaches.
  • Depressive Disorders: Persistent low mood, irritability, and lack of interest in activities.
  • Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): Re-experiencing trauma, hypervigilance, and avoidance behaviors.

Behavioral Disorders

  • Conduct Disorder: Aggressive behavior, violation of societal norms or the rights of others.
  • Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD): Defiant and argumentative behavior, frequent temper tantrums.
  • Attachment Disorders: Difficulty forming emotional bonds, often due to early neglect or trauma.

Neurodevelopmental and Genetic Disorders

  • Intellectual Disability: Delays in cognitive functioning and adaptive behaviors.
  • Rett Syndrome: Regression in motor and speech skills, mostly in females, with hand-wringing behavior.
  • Fragile X Syndrome: Intellectual disability, hyperactivity, social anxiety, and repetitive behaviors.

Other Medical Conditions

  • Epilepsy: Behavioral changes associated with seizures or antiepileptic medications.
  • Thyroid Dysfunction: Can manifest as mood changes, irritability, or hyperactivity.
  • Lead Poisoning: Cognitive impairment, behavioral problems such as aggression or hyperactivity.

Key Points in History 🥼

Presenting Complaint

  • Duration and onset of behavioral difficulties: Sudden onset may suggest trauma or a neurological cause; gradual onset may suggest developmental or emotional disorders.
  • Specific behaviors: Nature of the behaviors (e.g., aggressive, withdrawn) can help narrow down the diagnosis.
  • Triggers or patterns: Identifying what precipitates the behavior can help in diagnosis and management planning.

Background

  • Past Medical History: History of developmental milestones, any previous neurological or psychiatric diagnoses.
  • Drug History: Consider side effects of current or past medications that could contribute to behavioral changes.
  • Family History: Genetic predisposition to behavioral or psychiatric conditions (e.g., family history of ADHD, autism).
  • Social History: Consider family dynamics, school environment, social interactions, and any history of trauma or neglect.

Possible Investigations 🌡️

Initial Assessments

  • Detailed developmental and behavioral assessment: To evaluate developmental milestones and specific behavioral concerns.
  • Standardized screening tools: Such as the Conners’ Rating Scale for ADHD or the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS).
  • Psychometric testing: May be required for cognitive and learning assessments.

Laboratory and Imaging Investigations

  • Blood tests: To rule out underlying medical conditions such as thyroid dysfunction or lead poisoning.
  • Genetic testing: Consider in cases of suspected syndromic or genetic disorders.
  • Neuroimaging: MRI or CT scan may be indicated if there are neurological symptoms or unexplained regression in development.

No comments yet 😉

Leave a Reply

Child health