Acute and Chronic Inflammation

Question 1

What is acute appendicitis?

Answer 1

• Peak age 10-30yrs old.
• Symptoms - central abdominal pain (worse on movement), N+V, pyrexia, ^HR, ^WCC, ^CRP.
• Treatment - appendicectomy.
• Complications - peritonitis, abscesses.

Question 2

What is septic arthritis?

Answer 2

• Red, hot, swollen joints.
• Unable to move joints as limited by pain.
• Symptoms - pyrexia, tachycardia, ^WCC, ^CRP
• Risk factors - prosthetic joints, recent surgery, trauma, age, immunodeficiency.
• Treatment - joint aspirate, IV antibiotics, sepsis 6.

Question 3

What is rheumatoid arthritis?

Answer 3

• Chronic autoimmune inflammatory condition leading to warm, swollen, stiff and painful joints.
• Vessels can also become involved leading to circulatory problems (vasculitis)
• Immune systems view host cells as foreign, leading to a chronic inflammatry response.
• Macrophages, lymphocytes and plasma attempt to remove foreign agents but instead healthy joints are destroyed.
• Treatment - steroids.

Question 4

What are peptic ulcers?

Answer 4

• Acute inflammatory response (excess acid)
• Necrotic inflammed mucosa falls away and is exposed to stomach acid/H.pyloria and does not repair leading to chronic inflammation.
• At risk of developing bleed/perforation.
• Symptoms -
  
  • gnawing or burning pain in the middle or upper stomach between meals or at night.
  • Bloating.
  • Heartburn.
  • Nausea or vomiting.
• Treatment - PPIs, histamine receptor agonists/antibiotics.