FMGE Paediatrics Syllabus

Paediatrics syllabus — full chapter and topic list

Expand any chapter to see its topics and sub-topics. This is the whole examinable outline for Paediatrics in FMGE, not a summary of it.

1. 1

   Normal Growth and Development

   3 topics

   • Growth parameters
     • Weight
     • Length/Height
     • Head circumference
     • Growth charts
   • Developmental milestones
     • Gross motor
     • Fine motor
     • Language
     • Social
     • Cognitive development
   • Nutritional requirements
     • Breastfeeding
     • Formula feeding
     • Introduction of solid foods
     • Nutritional deficiencies
2. 2

   Neonatology

   3 topics

   • Neonatal resuscitation
     • Initial steps
     • Positive pressure ventilation
     • Chest compressions
     • Medications (epinephrine, naloxone)
   • Neonatal jaundice
     • Physiological jaundice
     • Pathological jaundice
     • Kernicterus
     • Management (phototherapy, exchange transfusion)
   • Neonatal infections
     • Neonatal sepsis
     • Pneumonia
     • Meningitis
     • Congenital infections (TORCH infections)
3. 3

   Infectious Diseases

   4 topics

   • Respiratory infections
     • Bronchiolitis
     • Pneumonia (viral, bacterial)
     • Croup
     • Pertussis
   • Gastrointestinal infections
     • Acute gastroenteritis
     • Rotavirus infection
     • Hepatitis A
     • Typhoid fever
   • Central nervous system infections
     • Meningitis (bacterial, viral)
     • Encephalitis
     • Febrile seizures
   • Vaccine-preventable diseases
     • Diphtheria
     • Tetanus
     • Pertussis
     • Measles
     • Mumps
     • Rubella
     • Polio
     • Hepatitis B
     • Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib)
     • Pneumococcal disease
     • Meningococcal disease
     • Varicella
     • Influenza
     • Human papillomavirus (HPV)
4. 4

   Respiratory Disorders

   3 topics

   • Asthma
     • Pathophysiology
     • Clinical Features
     • Diagnosis: Spirometry
     • Diagnosis: Peak Flow Meter
     • Management: Inhaled Corticosteroids
     • Management: Bronchodilators
   • Bronchiolitis
     • Etiology
     • Clinical Features
     • Diagnosis
     • Management: Supportive Care
     • Management: Oxygen Therapy
   • Cystic fibrosis
     • Pathophysiology
     • Clinical Features
     • Diagnosis: Sweat Chloride Test
     • Management: Airway Clearance Techniques
     • Management: Pancreatic Enzyme Replacement
5. 5

   Gastroenterology and Nutrition

   3 topics

   • Diarrheal diseases
     • Acute diarrhea
     • Persistent diarrhea
     • Chronic diarrhea: Inflammatory bowel disease
     • Chronic diarrhea: Celiac disease
   • Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
     • Clinical features
     • Diagnosis (pH monitoring)
     • Management: Lifestyle modification
     • Management: Proton pump inhibitors
   • Malnutrition
     • Marasmus
     • Kwashiorkor
     • Vitamin A deficiency
     • Iron deficiency anemia
     • Nutritional rehabilitation
6. 6

   Congenital heart diseases

   5 topics

   • Ventricular septal defect (VSD)
   • Atrial septal defect (ASD)
   • Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA)
   • Tetralogy of Fallot
   • Coarctation of the aorta
7. 7

   Febrile seizures

   4 topics

   • Simple febrile seizures
   • Complex febrile seizures
   • Risk factors
   • Management
8. 8

   Acute kidney injury (AKI)

   4 topics

   • Etiology
   • Clinical features
   • Diagnosis
     • Serum creatinine
     • Urine output
   • Management
9. 9

   Type 1 diabetes mellitus

   4 topics

   • Pathophysiology
   • Clinical features
   • Diagnosis
     • Blood glucose
     • HbA1c
   • Management
     • Insulin therapy
     • Carbohydrate counting
10. 10

    Allergic disorders

    5 topics

    • Allergic rhinitis
    • Allergic conjunctivitis
    • Atopic dermatitis (eczema)
    • Food allergies
    • Anaphylaxis

Paediatrics flashcards for FMGE

22 of 50 cards from the Paediatrics deck — real questions with worked answers.

1. What is the expected pattern of weight gain in the first year, expressed relative to birth weight?

   Birth weight doubles by ~5 months, triples by 1 year, and quadruples by 2 years.

2. What is the average rate of weight gain (grams/day) in the first 3 months of life?

   Roughly 25-30 g/day (about 750-900 g/month) in the first 3 months.

3. What is the Weech formula to estimate weight (kg) of a child aged 1-6 years?

   Weight (kg) = (Age in years x 2) + 8.

4. How does length/height change in the first 2 years of life?

   Length increases ~25 cm in the 1st year and ~12 cm in the 2nd year; height roughly doubles birth length by age 4.

5. What is the normal head circumference at birth, and how much does it grow in the first year?

   Birth HC is ~34-35 cm; it increases ~12 cm in the first year (2 cm/month for first 3 months, then 1 cm/month, then 0.5 cm/month).

6. When does the anterior fontanelle close, and when does the posterior fontanelle close?

   Anterior fontanelle closes by 9-18 months; posterior fontanelle closes by 1-2 months.

7. At what gross-motor ages does a child typically achieve head control, sitting without support, and independent walking?

   Head control by ~3 months, sits without support by ~6-8 months, walks independently by ~12-15 months.

8. List key fine-motor milestones: palmar grasp, transfers objects, immature (raking) pincer, and mature pincer grasp.

   Palmar grasp ~4 months, transfers objects hand-to-hand ~6 months, immature pincer ~9 months, mature (neat) pincer grasp ~12 months.

9. What are the expected language milestones at 1, 2, and 3 years?

   1 year: 1-3 words/mama-dada with meaning; 2 years: 2-word phrases and ~50 words; 3 years: 3-word sentences, speech mostly intelligible.

10. When does social smile appear and when does stranger anxiety typically develop?

    Social smile by ~6-8 weeks (2 months); stranger anxiety develops around 6-9 months.

11. What is the recommended exclusive breastfeeding duration, and when should complementary feeding begin?

    Exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months; complementary feeding started at 6 months while continuing breastfeeding up to 2 years or beyond.

12. What are the approximate daily calorie and protein requirements per kg in the first 6 months of infancy?

    Energy ~100-110 kcal/kg/day and protein ~1.5-2 g/kg/day in the first 6 months.

13. What is the fluid requirement by the Holliday-Segar (4-2-1) rule?

    100 mL/kg/day for first 10 kg, +50 mL/kg/day for next 10 kg, +20 mL/kg/day for each kg above 20 kg (hourly: 4-2-1 mL/kg/h).

14. Which vitamin is routinely given to all newborns at birth and why?

    Vitamin K (IM) at birth to prevent vitamin K deficiency bleeding (hemorrhagic disease of the newborn).

15. In neonatal resuscitation, what are the initial steps performed within the first 'Golden Minute'?

    Provide warmth, position/clear airway, dry and stimulate; assess breathing and heart rate, and begin positive-pressure ventilation if apneic/gasping or HR <100 bpm, all within 60 seconds.

16. During neonatal resuscitation, at what heart rate are chest compressions started and at what ratio with ventilation?

    Start chest compressions if HR <60 bpm despite 30 seconds of effective PPV; use a 3:1 compression-to-ventilation ratio (90 compressions + 30 breaths per minute).

17. What concentration of oxygen is recommended to initiate resuscitation of a term newborn?

    Room air (21% O2) for term infants; titrate using pre-ductal SpO2 targets (preterm <35 weeks start with 21-30% O2).

18. What is the most common cause of pathological unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia in the first 24 hours of life?

    Hemolysis, most often due to Rh or ABO blood group incompatibility (also G6PD deficiency).

19. What clinical features distinguish physiological from pathological neonatal jaundice?

    Physiological jaundice appears after 24 h, peaks day 3-5, bilirubin <15 mg/dL, resolves by 1-2 weeks; pathological is onset <24 h, rises >5 mg/dL/day, total >15 mg/dL, conjugated >2 mg/dL, or persists >2 weeks.

20. What is kernicterus and which bilirubin fraction causes it?

    Kernicterus is bilirubin-induced encephalopathy from deposition of unconjugated (free, fat-soluble) bilirubin in the basal ganglia and brainstem nuclei.

21. What is the first-line treatment for significant neonatal unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia, and when is exchange transfusion indicated?

    Phototherapy is first-line; exchange transfusion is indicated for very high bilirubin levels approaching neurotoxic thresholds or signs of acute bilirubin encephalopathy.

22. Differentiate early-onset from late-onset neonatal sepsis by timing and typical organisms.

    Early-onset (<72 h, vertical): Group B Streptococcus, E. coli, Listeria. Late-onset (>72 h, nosocomial/community): coagulase-negative staphylococci, Staph aureus, Klebsiella, Candida.

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