Child Health — UKMLA AKT

Bronchiolitis in infants: assessment, supportive care and admission criteria

Bronchiolitis is a classic UKMLA topic—it's basically the "bread and butter" of pediatric respiratory medicine. It's most commonly caused by the **Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV)** and typically aff

Croup vs epiglottitis: differentiation, severity scoring and treatment

Ah, the classic "stridor showdown!" This is a bread-and-butter topic for the UKMLA AKT. Distinguishing between Croup and Epiglottitis is literally a life-saving skill because while one usually needs a

Diabetic ketoacidosis in children: fluid management and insulin protocol

Managing Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA) in children is a delicate balancing act. Because pediatric patients are at a much higher risk for **cerebral edema**, our approach to fluids and insulin is more ca

Febrile seizures in children: classification, management and when to worry

Febrile seizures can be quite scary for parents, but they're actually the most common type of seizure in children, usually occurring between the ages of 6 months and 5 years. Since you're prepping for

Paediatric sepsis: recognition, NICE traffic light system and management

Recognizing sepsis in children is one of those "don't miss" skills in paediatrics. It's all about spotting the subtle signs before things escalate. The NICE traffic light system is your best friend he

Child developmental milestones: gross motor, fine motor, speech and red flags

Hey! Developmental milestones are a classic UKMLA AKT topic. They love to throw a "child is X months old, what should they be doing?" question at you, or ask you to identify a delay. I've put togeth

Child safeguarding: types of abuse, recognition and referral pathway

Safeguarding children is a fundamental part of being a doctor in the UK, and it's a high-yield topic for the AKT. It’s not just about identifying abuse, but also about knowing the systems in place to

Failure to thrive: organic vs non-organic causes and investigation

Failure to thrive—or **faltering growth**, as we often call it here in the UK—is a common but sometimes tricky topic. It basically describes a situation where a child's weight or rate of weight gain i

Newborn examination: systematic approach and common findings

The newborn physical examination (NIPE) is a critical screening tool usually performed within the first 24 hours of life. It’s a systematic "top-to-toe" assessment designed to identify congenital abno

UK childhood vaccination schedule: ages, vaccines and contraindications

Hey! Tackling the UK vaccination schedule is a rite of passage for every UK medical student. It’s super high-yield for the AKT and honestly, just one of those things you'll be asked about on every GP

Childhood asthma: BTS/SIGN stepwise management and inhaler technique

Hey! Childhood asthma is a massive topic for the UKMLA AKT. The BTS/SIGN guidelines are the bread and butter of pediatric respiratory questions, so let's get you comfortable with the steps. The manag

Childhood epilepsy: seizure types, EEG patterns and first-line drugs

Childhood epilepsy is a classic AKT topic because it's so pattern-based. Once you spot the EEG "signature," the diagnosis and treatment usually fall right into place! I'm going to find a clear summa

Cystic fibrosis: genetics, sweat test, lung management and nutrition

Cystic Fibrosis (CF) is a classic "bread and butter" topic for the UKMLA AKT, so it's great we're diving into this. It’s a multi-system disorder, but the genetics and management are where the high-yie

Juvenile idiopathic arthritis: subtypes, diagnosis and DMARD therapy

Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA) is a bit of a "catch-all" term for chronic inflammatory arthritis in children under 16 that lasts for at least 6 weeks. Since you're prepping for the UKMLA AKT, it'

Type 1 diabetes in children: insulin regimens, HbA1c targets and sick day rules

Managing Type 1 Diabetes (T1DM) in children is a classic UKMLA topic, especially focusing on the NICE guidelines. It's all about balancing tight glycemic control with the practicalities of a child's l