Ever seen a tuft of hair over the lower back or a sacral dimple? Learn how to recognize and manage normal vs abnormal back and spinal findings in our episode today.

Follow us on Twitter/X @Pediagogypod and Instagram/Threads @pediagogy and connect with us at pediagogypod@gmail.com.

This episode was written by Dr. Tammy Yau and Dr. Lidia Park, with content support from Dr. Laura Kair. Drs. Tammy and Lidia take full responsibility for any errors or misinformation.

Key points:

• Spinal dysraphism is the incomplete fusion of the spine during development.
• Not all spinal dysphraphisms will have abnormal cutaneous manifestations that you can see on exam
• Diagnose spinal dysphraphisms with spinal ultrasound in young children and MRI in older children
• Sacral dimples can be normal but should be worked up if they are larger than 5 mm at the base, above 2.5cm from the anus, not midline, or if there are multiple dimples

Sources

• Pediatrics in Review 2019, Holmes and Li: https://doi.org/10.1542/pir.2018-0155
• Peds in Review 2011, Zywicke and Rozzelle: https://doi.org/10.1542/pir.32-3-109
• Hospital Pediatrics 2020, Aby et al: https://doi.org/10.1542/hpeds.2019-0264

Toxoplasmosis is a parasitic TORCH infection that is often associated with cats but did you know owning a cat is not associated with increased prevalence? Learn more on how the disease is actually acquired and how to prevent infection in this episode!

Follow us on Twitter/X @Pediagogypod and Instagram/Threads @pediagogy and connect with us at pediagogypod@gmail.com.

This episode was written by Dr. Tammy Yau and Dr. Lidia Park, with content support from Dr. Ritu Cheema. Drs. Tammy and Lidia take full responsibility for any errors or misinformation.

Key points:

-Cats, undercooked meat, and raw seafood can lead to toxoplasmosis infection

-Findings of toxoplasmosis infection in utero include scattered intracranial calcifications and chorioretinitis

-Treat toxoplasmosis infection in neonates with pyrimethamine, sulfadiazine, and folinic acid

Sources:

AAP 2017 https://publications.aap.org/pediatrics/article/139/2/e20163860/59988/Diagnosis-Treatment-and-Prevention-of-Congenital?autologincheck=redirected

Learn about how the virus that causes cold sores can also cause serious complications in infants.

Follow us on Twitter/X @Pediagogypod and Instagram/Threads @pediagogy and connect with us at pediagogypod@gmail.com

This episode was written by Dr. Tammy Yau and Dr. Lidia Park, with content support from Dr. Ritu Cheema. Drs. Tammy and Lidia take full responsibility for any errors or misinformation.

Key points:

-First time HSV infection in pregnancy is higher risk to infants than reactivation of previous infection

-Symptoms of neonatal HSV infection include seizures, vesicles, and irritability

-Diagnose HSV with viral culture or PCR of bodily fluids

-Use acyclovir to treat infants and pregnant people with HSV infection

Sources:

AAFP 2022 https://www.aafp.org/pubs/afp/issues/2002/0315/p1138.html

Redbook 2021 https://publications.aap.org/redbook/book/347/chapter-abstract/5752755/Herpes-Simplex?redirectedFrom=fulltext

Neoreview 2018 https://publications.aap.org/neoreviews/article/19/2/e89/87448/Neonatal-Herpes-Simplex-Virus-Infection