25 - Upper Respiratory Tract Infections Flashcards
What causes acute pharyngitis
Group A strep
Main feature of acutepharyngitis
1st symptom is sore throat
Clinical features of acute pharyngitis
o incubation period 2-3 days o sore throat, fever, feel ill o +/- tonsillar exudate o tender cervical nodes o may lead to quinsy o occasionally leads to scarlet fever
B hemolytic strep
o GAS – strep pyogenes
o GBS – strep agalactiae
What causes a cold
Rhinovirus (picorna virus)
Coranaviruses
What causes epiglottitis
Haemophilus influenzae B
Main feature of epiglottitis
Rapid onset of fever, sore throat dysphagia
+ Asphyxiation
Tx of epiglottitis
cefotaxime,ceftriaxone
Cause of otitis media
Streptococus pyogens (GAS) Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, Moraxella catarrhalis, Staphylococcus aureus
What is otitis media
Inflammation of middle ear
How to treat otitis media
ibuprofen, paracetamol
antipyraine and benzocaine
What causes sinusitis
Viral origin
rhinoviruses, coronaviruses, and influenza
tx of sinusitis
co-amoxiclav, clarithromycin
Sx of sinusitis
Nasal congestion, facial pain, headache, night time coughing, malaise
What is respiratory synctial virs
Major pathogen in resp infections of childhood
Mild infection that can lead to pneumonia, bronchiolitis, croup
What causes whooping cough
Bordatella pertussis
Tx whooping cough
Erythromycin
Diagnosis of whooping cough
o Fastidious Gram negative rod
o Bordet Gengou agar with 15% sheep blood
Phases of whooping cough
- Week 1: Catarrhal phase: cough increases
* Week 3: Paroxysmal stage lasts for 3-4 weeks:
What causes diptheria
Corynebacterium diptheriae
= gram pos
Main features of diptheria
severe pharyngitis and pseudomembranes on tonsils
Diagnosis of diptheria
• Chinese characters on albert stain
What does diptheria toxin bind to
• Diptheria toxin A binds to EF-Tu –> stops protein synthesis
What causes infectious mononucleosis (glandular fever)
Epstein bar virus
Clinical features of infectious mononucleosis (glandular fever)
o Tonsils affected and gross pharyngeal swelling
o Often get enlargement of the spleen and liver
o Causes a systemic disease but presents as a sore throat
Diagnosis of glandular fever
Monospost test
IgM antibodies against EBV
Clinical features of adenovirus
o Mucous membrane infections i.e eye, resp/gastro/urinary tract
What is croup
• Acute laryngo-tracheo-bronchitis
Caused by viruses
Clinical features of croup
o Hoarseness, cough (seal bark), stridor
o Occurs between 3 months and 3 years
Diagnosis + tx of croup
o Nasopharyngeal aspirate for immunofluorescence
= Humidify inspired air + consider ribavirin
