Paediatrics Part 1 (Basics of Paediatrics I)
Study Course Implementer
Riga, 45 Vienibas gatve, pk@rsu.lv, +371 67621730
About Study Course
Objective
The study course is designed for 4th and 5th year medical students to learn the fundamentals of paediatrics, including the structural and functional characteristics of a child's body, growth and development, common paediatric diseases (including infectious and surgical conditions), as well as essential skills for examining children and handling emergency situations while adhering to children's rights and ethical principles.
The course consists of four modules: Basics of Paediatrics I, studied in the 4th year, and Basics of Paediatrics II, Infectious Diseases of Children, and Paediatric Surgery, studied in the 5th year. Successful completion of the course ensures the student's readiness for further professional medical practice in residency training.
Preliminary Knowledge
Medical students can begin the course after successfully completing the 1st–3rd study years and subsequently the 4th year’s preclinical and clinical courses, including internal medicine and general surgery. Knowledge of humanitarian studies and social sciences is required to develop critical thinking and understanding of an individual in society. Proficiency in English is necessary. Knowledge of other EU languages is desirable. Additionally, a good understanding of medical terminology in Latin is required.
Learning Outcomes
Knowledge
1.Demonstrate knowledge of the most common acute and chronic diseases in children contained in the modules of the study course “Paediatrics”
2.Demonstrate knowledge of children’s rights and respect children’s rights in any interaction with children in the study environment
3.Carry out organised, problem-oriented and complete collection of a history (including information on child development and preventive care) and physical examination of the patient according to the child’s age and illness
4.Demonstrate diagnostic and therapeutic procedures (if possible and necessary)
5.Accurately and succinctly formulate and provide short, accurate, orderly and complete oral reports on the patient to other colleagues in writing
6.Communicate with patients and their families using verbal and non-verbal communication skills to facilitate joint decision-making and effective information exchange
7.The acquired knowledge will allow students to characterize the characteristics of healthy children, newborns and neonatal periods, cardiovascular, digestive, respiratory, renal and urethra systems, endocrine, musculo-skeletal, hemorrhage, laboratory parameters during different age periods, and to name and characterize facts about the effects of the most common disease risk factors, aspects of primary prevention, morphology, ethyology, pathology, diagnosis and treatment, including clinical pharmacology, rehabilitation, psychotherapy, intensive care, and secondary prevention in pediatrics.
Skills
1.Propose an appropriate action plan and diagnostic examinations according to the clinical situation and patient values
2.Interpret the results of diagnostic examinations based on patient information, clinical presentation and evidence-based medical literature
3.- investigate patient complaints and history - perform a physical examination of the patient by palpation, percussion and auscultation; - perform peripheral pulse, heart rate, respiratory rate, and blood pressure indicators, attribute them to a specific clinical situation, and link them to the overall examination process. - perform laboratory, diagnostic examination resultātu analysis; apply the knowledge of reasoning, logic and rhetoric bases to analyse practical situations, discuss, explain their views and contribute constructively to the achievement of professional objectives and the fulfilment of specific tasks; - be able to communicate with patients, their relatives, colleagues, other healthcare stakeholders; - plan for the independent development of their communication skills, respecting the different levels of knowledge, experience, traditions, culture and other personal characteristics of others.
Competences
1.Demonstrate the ability to synthesize information and clearly articulate patient problems, make medical decisions to identify a work diagnosis and a priority differential diagnosis consistent with the patient’s clinical situation
2.Demonstrate the professional and ethical behaviour expected of a doctor (e.g. arriving on time, communicating politely with staff, accepting feedback and responding)
3.Demonstrate behavior that expresses compassion, respect, honesty, and empathy for others, as well as an understanding of diversity in the population of patients and their families
4.Interpreting clinical analyses, extending them to a specific clinical situation and linking them to a common investigative process; Compare signs of pathology with normal parameters of morphology and homeostasis through integrated thinking, recognise symptoms of disease, explain pathology, formulate a diagnosis and differentiate it from other diagnoses, test the probability of the most common complications, predict the course and consequences of the pathological process;
Assessment
Individual work
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Title
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% from total grade
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Grade
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|---|---|---|
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1.
Independent work |
-
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-
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Studying literature; preparing for the test. |
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Examination
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Title
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% from total grade
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Grade
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|---|---|---|
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1.
Learning outcomes |
-
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10 points
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Learning outcomes are assessed for each module of studies first individually, then cumulatively, providing one common course assessment, which takes into account the student’s abilities, in accordance with the requirements defined in the study modules:
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Study Course Theme Plan
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Video Lecture
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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Off site
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Video
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2
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Topics
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Paediatrics as a medical field. Early stages of human development, their peculiarities and course. Description of childhood periods. Healthy child and criteria of development of a healthy child. Peculiarities of examination of a child by organ systems at different ages. Neonatal screening. Early diagnosis of metabolic disorders. Children’s state of health in Latvia. Ethics of child healthcare. The concept of paediatric palliative care.
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-
Video Lecture
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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Off site
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Video
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2
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Topics
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Newborn baby – a full term child, preterm birth, post-term birth, the characteristics and the associated complications. Assessment of a newborn according to the gestational age. Description of the newborn period and adaptation period and clinical manifestations. Clinical manifestations of newborn disorders.
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-
Video Lecture
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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Off site
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Video
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2
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Topics
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Anatomical physiological features of the respiratory system in different age groups of children. Bronchial asthma. Cystic fibrosis.
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-
Video Lecture
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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Off site
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Video
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2
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Topics
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Cardiovascular and ECG peculiarities in children. The most common rhythm disorders in children.
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-
Video Lecture
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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Off site
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Video
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2
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Topics
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Peculiarities of the endocrine system in different age groups. Specifics of hormonal analyses evaluation. Evaluation of children's bone health.
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Video Lecture
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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Off site
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Video
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2
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Topics
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The most common hemato-oncological diseases in children and description thereof. Peculiarities of leucosis in children.
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Video Lecture
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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Off site
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Video
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2
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Topics
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Anatomically functional features of the digestive organ system. Malabsorption syndrome (cow’s milk protein allergy, celiac disease, cystic fibrosis). Differential diagnosis of vomiting and abdominal pain (colic, constipation, functional abdominal pain).
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Video Lecture
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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Off site
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Video
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2
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Topics
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The most common urinary tract diseases in children and differential diagnosis thereof. Glomerulonephritis with nephritic and nephrotic syndrome in children. Acute renal failure. Chronic kidney disease. Pediatric hypertension.
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Video Lecture
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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Off site
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Video
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2
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Topics
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Possibilities and peculiarities of radiological examination of children.
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Class/Seminar
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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On site
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Study room
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3
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Topics
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Practical skills of examining a child through organ systems. Neonatal reflexes. MITC
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-
Class/Seminar
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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On site
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Study room
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3
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Topics
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Child growth and development: physical, motor, sexual development. Period of puberty. Obesity. Malnutrition.
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-
Class/Seminar
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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On site
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Study room
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3
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Topics
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Child feeding principles up to 18 years. Breastfeeding difficulties. Infant catering disorders. Eating disorders for children.
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Class/Seminar
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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On site
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Study room
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3
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Topics
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Newborn period – clinical examination and evaluation of a newborn by the time of birth, weight / height, establishing the gestational age, manifestations of the adaptation period. A premature baby. Infant colic.
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Class/Seminar
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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On site
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Study room
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3
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Topics
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The most common conditions of the neonatal period. Local infections in the neonatal period (skin, navel, eyes). Conjunctivitis. Jaundice. Hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy
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-
Class/Seminar
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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On site
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Study room
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3
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Topics
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Anatomically functional features of the hematopoietic system. Peculiarities of blood count in different age groups of children. Iron deficiency anaemia in children. The pallor. Sickle cell anaemia.
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Class/Seminar
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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On site
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Study room
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3
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Topics
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Peculiarities of diagnostic laboratory tests in children of different age groups. Pancytopenia.
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-
Class/Seminar
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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On site
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Study room
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3
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Topics
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Anatomically functional characteristics of the endocrinological system and the most common diseases in children. Polydypsy. Hypoglycaemia. Hypothyroidism. Thyrotoxicosis.
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-
Class/Seminar
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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On site
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Study room
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3
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Topics
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Anatomically functional characteristics of the musculoskeletal system and most common diseases in children: acute and chronic (JIA) arthritis, diagnosis of arthalgy, fever dif.
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-
Class/Seminar
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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On site
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Study room
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3
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Topics
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Anatomically physiological characteristics of the cardiovascular system and most common diseases in children. Specificities of ECG in children. Cyanosis. Congenital heart defects. Heart failure.
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-
Class/Seminar
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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On site
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Study room
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3
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Topics
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Child abuse as a problem in medicine. Shaken baby syndrome. Sudden infant death syndrome. Sudden death.
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-
Class/Seminar
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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On site
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Study room
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3
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Topics
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Anatomical physiological features of the urinary tract system and the most common diseases in children. Haematuria. Peripheral edema. Incontinence. Urination disorders. Urinary tract infections. Arterial hypertension.
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-
Class/Seminar
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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On site
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Study room
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3
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Topics
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Anatomically physiological characteristics of the gastroenterological system and the most common diseases in children. Constipation. Vomiting. Chronic abdominal pain. Food intolerance.
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-
Class/Seminar
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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On site
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Study room
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3
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Topics
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Anatomically functional characteristics of respiratory tract and most common diseases in children. Allergies. Cough. Stridor. Shortness of breath.
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-
Class/Seminar
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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On site
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Study room
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3
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Topics
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Test - written
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-
Class/Seminar
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
|
On site
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Study room
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3
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Topics
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Test - oral
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Bibliography
Required Reading
Kliegman, Robert M., St Geme, Joseph W., Blum, Nathan J., Shah,Samir S.,Tasker, Robert C., Wilson, Karen M. 2025. Nelson textbook of pediatrics. Elsevier Inc.Suitable for English stream
E - studijās ievietotie mācību materiāli.Suitable for English stream
RSU tiešsaistes datu bāzes: brīvpieejas datubāzes (PubMed), uz pierādījumiem balstītas medicīnas datubāzes- ClinicalKEY, DynaMedPlus, UpToDate.Suitable for English stream
Additional Reading
Kliegman, Robert M., Lye, Patricia S., Bordini, Brett J., Toth, Heather, Basel, Donald. Nelson Pediatric Symptom-Based Diagnosis. 2022. Elsevier, Inc. All rights reserved.Suitable for English stream
Marcdante, Karen J., Kliegman, Robert M. Nelson Essentials of Pediatrics. 2023, Elsevier, Inc. All rights reserved.Suitable for English stream