After a decent hiatus we're back with a new episode! Meckel diverticulum is the most common congenital abnormality of the gastrointestinal tract, found in the small intestine. The majority of patients are never diagnosed, as it is both often completely asymptomatic, and difficult to spot on the usual imaging modalities.  The symptoms of a Meckel's depend on the complication it presents with - and there are a range of these from bleeding to bowel obstruction.  Listen in to learn about the...

Dermoid cysts are a common occurrence and a common spot diagnosis that you'll be quizzed on in clinic! Always present at birth, but often picked up later, most cutaneous dermoid cysts are harmless, but occasionally, they may grow over time and develop complications. Tune in to learn how to tell them apart from other cutaneous lesions, their management and more!   Links and resources: Follow us on Instagram @yourekiddingrightdoctors Our email is [email protected] Make sure...

Noonan syndrome is one of the most common genetic conditions we see in paeds. It is most typically characterised by certain facial features, short stature, congenital heart defects and developmental delay. Noonan syndrome is caused by a mutation in a single gene, however there are quite a few possible genes that can be responsible. Vision and hearing loss, developmental delay, development of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and the increased risk of leukaemia are important complications to monitor...

Juvenile dermatomyositis, or JDM is a rare autoimmune myopathy. In their first episode back after sitting specialty exams, Freya and Anne use a case to help explain what JDM is, as well as presentation, treatment and diagnosis (plus a couple of tangents about their day to day work as doctors!).  Follow us on Instagram @yourekiddingrightdoctors Our email is [email protected] Make sure you hit SUBSCRIBE/FOLLOW so you don’t miss any episodes and RATE to help other people find...

MCAD deficiency is a fatty acid oxidation disorder. It is a hereditary disease that is caused by a missing enzyme needed to convert fat into energy. Children with MCAD deficiency therefore cannot fast for very long without developing hypoglycaemia, which can cause brain damage or even death. This is because they cannot use fat and hence ketones as an alternative energy source as the glucose available to them runs low. Follow us on Instagram @yourekiddingrightdoctors Our email is...

Von Willebrand disease (VWD) is a hereditary quantitative deficiency or functional abnormality of von Willebrand factor (VWF), which causes platelet dysfunction. Bleeding tendency is usually mild in the most common types, but it can be severe and present with factor VIII deficiency as well as platelet dysfunction in the rarer subtypes. It is diagnosed based on testing von willebrand factor antigen levels which is low in most subtypes, VWF activity which is low in most subtypes and VWF...

In this episode, we take the podcast in a slightly different direction by discussing a non-clinical topic!  The news is out, Anne has changed specialty! But what has she changed to? Why did she do it? What is a day in the life of her new specialty like? What's next? Tune in now to hear the answers to all these questions and more! More importantly, we discuss what's important when choosing a specialty to pursue - so whether you're undecided on what specialty you'd like to pursue, or you are...

Cleft lip and palate are congenital anomalies that can occur together or separately. In cleft lip, the affected lip is always the top lip, and these entities can occur together or just one or the other. Management involves surgery, but in this episode we cover an overview of the presentation and the roles of different multidisciplinary team members.    Links and resources: Follow us on Instagram @yourekiddingrightdoctors Our email is [email protected] Make sure you hit...

On this week's episode, we feature Dr. Laura Tate and Dr. Stormie De Groot in our first podcast takeover! Tune in for a truly enlightening discussion between Laura, Stormie and their special guest Dr. Karen Kiang, as they explore the contribution medicine makes to climate change, as well as the things we can do to help alter this course.    This podcast was produced as part of Green Week at The Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne.   Links: If you'd like to learn more about this topic,...

Early onset sepsis has different definitions across regions, with the definition we use being sepsis occurring at   In this episode, we discuss the presentation of early onset sepsis, relevant investigations, treatment and more.    Links and resources: Follow us on Instagram @yourekiddingrightdoctors   Our email is [email protected]   Make sure you hit SUBSCRIBE/FOLLOW so you don’t miss any episodes and RATE to help other people find us!   (This isn’t individual medical...

Febrile neutropaenia is an emergency situation that can occur in patients with cancer. It is when they have very low levels of the white blood cell neutrophils, plus a fever. The main concern when these two things go together is that the person can easily and quickly develop sepsis. Follow us on Instagram @yourekiddingrightdoctors Our email is [email protected] Make sure you hit SUBSCRIBE/FOLLOW so you don’t miss any episodes and RATE to help other people find us! (This isn’t...

Fever is a common feature in paediatric presentations to health services. Because it's so common, it's vital to have an approach that will ensure that you have your bases covered. This episode is one way in which you can assess the child with a fever, as well as investigations to consider.    Links and resources: Follow us on Instagram @yourekiddingrightdoctors   Our email is [email protected]   Make sure you hit SUBSCRIBE/FOLLOW so you don’t miss any episodes and RATE to...

Medulloblastomas are the most common malignant brain tumour in children. They arise from embryonal neuroepithelial cells and are usually located in the cerebellum, which can cause cerebellar signs. Due to its location, the tumour can also compress the 4th ventricle, causing hydrocephalus. Definitive diagnosis is based on histology from surgical resection of the tumour, after which point children will also undergo radiotherapy and chemotherapy.  Follow us on Instagram...

Congenital pulmonary airway malformations, also known as CPAM, are masses of abnormal lung tissue that form antenatally. They were until recently known as CCAMs, or congenital cystic adenomatoid malformation. Affected patients may present with respiratory distress in the newborn period or may remain asymptomatic until later in life. Many cases are now detected by routine prenatal ultrasound examination. Surgical resection is the definitive treatment.   Links and resources: Follow us on...

Patent ductus arteriosus is when the ductus arteriosus fails to close after birth. This causes a left to right shunt in the heart, where oxygenated blood passes through the duct and into the lungs instead out into the systemic circulation. A large enough shunt typically presents one of two major ways: Early on in the first few weeks of life with pulmonary oedema and often congestive cardiac failure from the extra pulmonary blood flow and subsequent extra flow and straint on the left heart....

Paracetamol is the world's most widely used over the counter analgesic. It is also therefore a common medication in overdose, whether accidental or intentional.    In this episode, we go through the presentation and management of paracetamol.    Links and resources: Follow us on Instagram @yourekiddingrightdoctors Our email is [email protected] Make sure you hit SUBSCRIBE/FOLLOW so you don’t miss any episodes and RATE to help other people find us! (This isn’t individual...

Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome occurs when someone has an accessory pathway through which electrical signals can travel in the heart and bypass the AV node or travel backwards from the ventricles to the atria. WPW can cause supraventricular and ventricular tachycardias. The definitive treatment is ablation of the accessory pathway.   Links and resources: Follow us on Instagram @yourekiddingrightdoctors Our email is [email protected] Make sure you hit SUBSCRIBE/FOLLOW so you...

The newborn hearing screen is a test conducted on all newborn babies with the aim of early detection of possible hearing problems. In this episode, we discuss how this screen works, the possible results, risk factors for hearing loss, and more.    Links and resources: Follow us on Instagram @yourekiddingrightdoctors Our email is [email protected] Make sure you hit SUBSCRIBE/FOLLOW so you don’t miss any episodes and RATE to help other people find us! (This isn’t individual...

Systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis is a type of juvenile idiopathic arthritis than can occur in children. The classic features are polyarthritis, quotidien fever, evanescent rash, serositis like pericarditis or pleuritis, lymphadenopathy and hepatosplenomegaly.  Follow us on Instagram @yourekiddingrightdoctors Our email is [email protected] Make sure you hit SUBSCRIBE/FOLLOW so you don’t miss any episodes and RATE to help other people find us! (This isn’t individual...

Superior mesenteric artery (SMA) syndrome is a gastrointestinal condition that occurs when the duodenum is compressed between the aorta and the superior mesenteric artery. This causes an obstruction of the duodenum, and can be significantly debilitating. In this episode, we cover the pathophysiology, presentation, management and more.    Links and resources: Follow us on Instagram @yourekiddingrightdoctors Our email is [email protected] Make sure you hit SUBSCRIBE/FOLLOW so...

Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (or ABPA) is a hypersensitivity reaction that some people get in response to having the mould aspergillus in their lungs. It is most often seen in people with asthma or cystic fibrosis. Follow us on Instagram @yourekiddingrightdoctors Our email is [email protected] Make sure you hit SUBSCRIBE/FOLLOW so you don’t miss out on any pearls of wisdom and RATE if you can to help other people find us! (This isn’t individual medical advice,...

Erb's palsy affects the upper limb when the brachial plexus is damaged, with the most common reason being traumatic delivery.  Although it generally resolves over time, some more serious injuries of the brachial plexus can occur. In this episode, we discuss Erb's palsy and its management.   Links and resources: Follow us on Instagram @yourekiddingrightdoctors Our email is [email protected] Make sure you hit SUBSCRIBE/FOLLOW so you don’t miss out on any pearls of wisdom and...