Английский для педиатрии: ключевые термины и фразы

"Apgar score"

A rapid clinical assessment of a newborn's condition at 1 and 5 minutes after birth, scoring appearance, pulse, grimace, activity, and respiration on a scale of 0 to 10

"The baby received an Apgar score of 8 at one minute and 9 at five minutes, indicating a healthy transition to extrauterine life."

"neonatal jaundice"

A yellow discolouration of a newborn's skin and sclera caused by elevated bilirubin levels, occurring in up to 60% of term infants in the first week of life

"The paediatrician ordered phototherapy for the infant after the serum bilirubin exceeded the treatment threshold on the nomogram at 36 hours of life."

"gestational age"

The age of a pregnancy calculated from the first day of the last menstrual period, used to classify newborns as preterm, term, or post-term

"Born at 34 weeks gestational age, the infant was admitted to the neonatal unit for respiratory support and temperature regulation."

"kangaroo care"

A method of holding a preterm or low-birth-weight infant skin-to-skin against the parent's chest to promote warmth, bonding, breastfeeding, and physiological stability

"The nursing team encouraged kangaroo care for at least two hours each day, which helped stabilise the premature baby's heart rate and oxygen saturation."

"respiratory distress syndrome"

A lung disorder common in premature infants caused by insufficient surfactant production, leading to alveolar collapse, hypoxia, and increased work of breathing

"The preterm infant developed respiratory distress syndrome shortly after birth and required surfactant replacement therapy and mechanical ventilation."

"newborn screening"

A public health programme that tests all newborns for a panel of serious but treatable metabolic, hormonal, and genetic conditions using a heel-prick blood sample

"Newborn screening detected congenital hypothyroidism at five days of life, allowing thyroid hormone replacement therapy to begin before developmental delays occurred."

"rooting reflex"

A primitive neonatal reflex in which a newborn turns its head and opens its mouth in response to a touch on the cheek, facilitating breastfeeding

"The midwife demonstrated the rooting reflex to the new parents, explaining how it guides the infant to the breast and initiates latching."

"meconium aspiration"

A condition in which a newborn inhales meconium-stained amniotic fluid before or during delivery, potentially causing airway obstruction, chemical pneumonitis, and respiratory failure

"The obstetric team was prepared for neonatal resuscitation when meconium aspiration was suspected after the delivery of thick meconium-stained fluid."

"growth chart"

A standardised graphical tool that plots a child's weight, height, and head circumference against age-related population norms to assess growth patterns over time

"The paediatrician plotted the 18-month-old's measurements on the WHO growth chart and noted that weight had dropped from the 50th to the 10th percentile over six months."

"developmental milestone"

A skill or behaviour that most children achieve by a specific age, used as benchmarks to assess progress across gross motor, fine motor, language, and social domains

"Walking independently by 15 months is a key developmental milestone; children who have not yet achieved this are referred for physiotherapy assessment."

"failure to thrive"

A pattern of inadequate weight gain or weight loss in an infant or young child that falls significantly below expected norms, requiring evaluation for organic and non-organic causes

"The infant was admitted for evaluation of failure to thrive after three clinic visits showed weight consistently below the 3rd percentile and declining growth velocity."

"head circumference"

The measurement of the largest circumference of the skull, used to monitor brain growth and screen for conditions such as microcephaly and macrocephaly

"Serial measurements showed that the infant's head circumference was crossing percentiles upward, prompting an ultrasound to exclude hydrocephalus."

"fontanelle"

One of several soft membranous gaps between the incompletely fused skull bones of an infant, with the anterior fontanelle normally closing between 12 and 18 months of age

"On examination, the anterior fontanelle was bulging and tense, which in the context of fever and irritability raised concern for meningitis."

"catch-up growth"

Accelerated growth in weight and height that occurs when a child who experienced nutritional deprivation or illness returns to adequate nutrition and health

"Following treatment for coeliac disease and dietary rehabilitation, the seven-year-old demonstrated impressive catch-up growth over the next twelve months."

"language delay"

A slower than expected acquisition of expressive or receptive language skills relative to age norms, which may reflect hearing loss, developmental disorders, or environmental factors

"The two-year-old was referred to speech and language therapy after presenting with language delay — using fewer than 50 words and no two-word phrases."

"body mass index for age"

A weight-for-height index adjusted for age and sex in children, plotted on percentile charts to identify underweight, overweight, and obese children

"The school health team calculated body mass index for age for all students and identified 15% as falling in the obese category, triggering a nutritional counselling programme."

"bronchiolitis"

A common lower respiratory tract infection in infants under 12 months, usually caused by respiratory syncytial virus, characterised by wheeze, crackles, and increased work of breathing

"The three-month-old was admitted with bronchiolitis and required high-flow nasal oxygen to maintain saturations above 92% throughout the night."

"croup"

A viral upper airway infection in young children, typically caused by parainfluenza virus, presenting with a characteristic barking cough, stridor, and hoarse voice

"The two-year-old woke at midnight with a barking cough and inspiratory stridor; the parents were advised to sit with the child in a steam-filled bathroom while contacting the emergency line."

"febrile convulsion"

A seizure triggered by a rapid rise in body temperature in a child aged 6 months to 5 years without underlying neurological pathology, affecting approximately 3% of children

"The 18-month-old had her first febrile convulsion lasting two minutes; the paediatrician reassured the family that simple febrile convulsions do not cause brain damage."

"otitis media"

Inflammation of the middle ear, most commonly caused by bacterial or viral infection following an upper respiratory tract infection, presenting with ear pain and fever in young children

"The three-year-old presented with a two-day history of ear pulling and fever; otoscopy confirmed otitis media with a bulging erythematous eardrum."

"whooping cough"

A highly contagious bacterial respiratory infection caused by Bordetella pertussis, characterised by severe paroxysmal coughing fits followed by a high-pitched inspiratory whoop

"The infant with whooping cough was admitted to an isolation room; the unvaccinated household contacts were immediately offered prophylactic antibiotics."

"streptococcal pharyngitis"

A bacterial throat infection caused by Group A Streptococcus, presenting with sudden onset sore throat, fever, tonsillar exudate, and cervical lymphadenopathy

"A positive rapid streptococcal antigen test confirmed streptococcal pharyngitis, and a 10-day course of amoxicillin was prescribed to prevent rheumatic fever."

"hand, foot and mouth disease"

A common viral illness in children under five caused by enteroviruses, characterised by fever, painful oral ulcers, and a vesicular rash on the hands, feet, and buttocks

"The nursery reported an outbreak of hand, foot and mouth disease; parents were advised to keep affected children at home until the blisters had crusted over."

"oxygen saturation"

The percentage of haemoglobin in the blood carrying oxygen, measured non-invasively by pulse oximetry; a value below 92% in a child with respiratory illness typically requires supplemental oxygen

"The triage nurse placed a pulse oximeter on the infant's finger and recorded an oxygen saturation of 88%, triggering immediate escalation to the resuscitation bay."

"childhood asthma"

A chronic inflammatory airway disease in children characterised by recurrent episodes of wheeze, cough, and breathlessness due to reversible airflow obstruction and bronchial hyperresponsiveness

"The child with childhood asthma was prescribed a daily inhaled corticosteroid preventer and a short-acting beta-agonist reliever for acute exacerbations."

"autism spectrum disorder"

A neurodevelopmental condition characterised by persistent difficulties in social communication, restricted and repetitive behaviours, and variable sensory sensitivities, with a wide spectrum of presentation

"Following a multidisciplinary assessment, the four-year-old received a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder and was enrolled in an early intervention speech and occupational therapy programme."

"attention deficit hyperactivity disorder"

A neurodevelopmental disorder characterised by inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity that impairs functioning at home and school, often first identified in primary school age children

"The paediatric neurologist confirmed attention deficit hyperactivity disorder after standardised rating scales from both parents and teachers showed consistent inattentive and hyperactive symptoms."

"type 1 diabetes"

An autoimmune condition in which the pancreatic beta cells are destroyed, requiring life-long insulin therapy; the most common endocrine disorder in children

"The seven-year-old presented in diabetic ketoacidosis and was stabilised before the diabetes team began education on carbohydrate counting and insulin pump therapy."

"cerebral palsy"

A group of permanent motor disorders caused by non-progressive damage to the developing brain before or shortly after birth, often accompanied by sensory, cognitive, and communication impairments

"The child with spastic diplegic cerebral palsy received botulinum toxin injections to reduce muscle tone and improve walking before orthopaedic surgery."

"coeliac disease"

An immune-mediated systemic disorder triggered by dietary gluten in genetically susceptible individuals, causing small intestinal villous atrophy and malabsorption

"Coeliac disease was confirmed by a markedly elevated tissue transglutaminase antibody and small bowel biopsy showing villous atrophy; a strict gluten-free diet was commenced."

"anaphylaxis"

A severe, potentially life-threatening systemic allergic reaction with rapid onset involving the airway, breathing, circulation, or skin, requiring immediate intramuscular adrenaline

"The child developed anaphylaxis within minutes of accidental peanut ingestion at school; the teacher administered the auto-injector adrenaline pen and called an ambulance."

"epilepsy"

A chronic neurological disorder characterised by recurrent unprovoked seizures due to abnormal, excessive, or synchronous neuronal activity in the brain

"After two unprovoked tonic-clonic seizures six months apart, the paediatric neurologist diagnosed epilepsy and initiated sodium valproate therapy with seizure diary monitoring."

"tympanic temperature"

Body temperature measured via a probe placed in the ear canal that detects infrared radiation from the tympanic membrane, a common method for rapid temperature assessment in children

"The nurse recorded a tympanic temperature of 38.9°C and informed the on-call paediatrician that the child met the criteria for pyrexia of unknown origin."

"capillary refill time"

The time taken for colour to return to the fingertip after pressing firmly for 5 seconds; a value greater than 2 seconds indicates reduced peripheral perfusion

"The registrar noted a capillary refill time of 4 seconds in the drowsy child with a history of diarrhoea and vomiting, indicating moderate dehydration."

"lumbar puncture"

A procedure in which a needle is inserted between lumbar vertebrae into the subarachnoid space to collect cerebrospinal fluid for analysis to diagnose meningitis or other CNS conditions

"After informed consent was obtained from the parents, the registrar performed a lumbar puncture; the turbid cerebrospinal fluid was immediately sent for Gram stain, culture, and cell count."

"peak flow measurement"

The maximum rate at which air can be expelled from the lungs in a forced exhalation, used to assess asthma severity and monitor response to treatment in children old enough to cooperate

"The nine-year-old's peak flow measurement was 55% of her predicted value, confirming a moderate acute asthma exacerbation requiring nebulised salbutamol."

"intraosseous access"

An emergency vascular access technique that inserts a rigid needle directly into the bone marrow cavity, used when intravenous access cannot be rapidly established in a critically ill child

"Unable to cannulate the collapsed child after two attempts, the anaesthetist established intraosseous access in the proximal tibia and began fluid resuscitation."

"rehydration therapy"

The clinical strategy of replacing fluid and electrolyte deficits in a dehydrated child, using oral rehydration solution for mild-to-moderate dehydration or intravenous fluids for severe cases

"The guidelines recommended oral rehydration therapy with 50 ml/kg of low-osmolarity oral rehydration solution over four hours for a child with 5% dehydration."

"weight-based dosing"

The practice of calculating a child's medication dose in milligrams per kilogram of body weight to account for differences in drug distribution and metabolism across age groups

"The pharmacist confirmed the weight-based dosing of ibuprofen as 5–10 mg/kg every 6–8 hours, and the nurse calculated the correct volume from the available oral suspension."

"paediatric early warning score"

A structured scoring tool that aggregates vital sign abnormalities — heart rate, respiratory rate, blood pressure, oxygen saturation, and consciousness level — to detect deteriorating children early

"The ward nurse recalculated the paediatric early warning score and found it had risen to 5, triggering a mandatory medical review within 30 minutes under the hospital escalation policy."

"informed consent"

The process by which a parent or child of sufficient understanding voluntarily agrees to a proposed investigation or treatment after receiving clear, balanced information about risks and benefits

"The surgeon explained the risks and benefits of the appendectomy and obtained written informed consent from the parents before taking the child to the operating theatre."

"parental responsibility"

The legal rights and duties of a person to make decisions about a child's care, education, and medical treatment; automatically held by mothers and, in most jurisdictions, by married fathers

"The clinical team confirmed who held parental responsibility before discussing the diagnosis and proposed treatment plan for the child in foster care."

"Gillick competence"

A legal principle allowing children under 16 to consent to medical treatment without parental involvement if they demonstrate sufficient intelligence and maturity to understand the proposed intervention

"The nurse assessed Gillick competence before prescribing contraception to the 15-year-old, documenting that the young person fully understood the treatment and its implications."

"non-accidental injury"

Physical harm to a child caused deliberately or through negligent supervision, a key category of child abuse that must be considered when injury patterns are inconsistent with the reported mechanism

"Multiple bruises in varying stages of healing and a subdural haematoma in a three-month-old raised strong concern for non-accidental injury, and a child protection referral was made."

"safeguarding referral"

A formal notification to children's social services or police when a healthcare professional has reasonable concern that a child is at risk of or is experiencing abuse or neglect

"After the multidisciplinary team meeting, the consultant made a safeguarding referral to children's social services and informed the family that this was a statutory duty."

"carer-child interaction"

The observed quality of emotional, verbal, and physical responsiveness between a parent or carer and a child, which health professionals assess as part of safeguarding and developmental reviews

"The health visitor noted concerning carer-child interaction during the home visit, recording that the mother showed little eye contact or verbal response to the infant's cues."

"age-appropriate explanation"

A communication technique in which medical information is given in vocabulary and concepts matched to a child's developmental level, enabling the child to participate in their own care

"The play specialist used age-appropriate explanation and a doll to demonstrate exactly what would happen during the IV cannulation, which significantly reduced the six-year-old's anxiety."

"discharge planning"

The coordinated process of preparing a child and family for safe transition from hospital to home or another level of care, including medication reconciliation, follow-up appointments, and safety netting advice

"Discharge planning for the child with new-onset type 1 diabetes took two days and included teaching the family carbohydrate counting, insulin injection technique, and hypoglycaemia management."