B32 Infeections of upper respiratory tract

Question 1

Most common pathogens causing upper resp infection

Answer 1

Rhinoviruses, Coronaviruses, Adenoviruses, Influenza viruses, Parainfluenza viruses,

Streptococcus pyogenes (group A strep), Streptococcus pneumoniae

40% of cases the cause is not identified

Question 2

Types of upper resp infections and their complications

Answer 2

Rhinitis, Tonsilitis, Sinusitis, Pharyngitis, Otitis media,

Rhinitis, nasal infection

• Allergic rhinitis - IgE type 1 hypersensitivity reaction
• Infectious rhinitis - usually viral and often secondary bacterial. Self-limiting usually lasting 1 week or less.
• Chronic rhinitis - primary acture rhinitis, usually viral, complicated by secondary bacterial infection. Lasts more than 6 weeks, associated with deviated septum or nasal polyp formation.

Tonsilitis:

• Most commonly caused by cold viruses, rhinoviruses and coronaviruses.
• Also commonly caused by Group A strep.

Sinusitis:

• Preceeded by Rhinitis
• Can cause empyema of the sinuses, and become chronic if there is impaired drainage.

Acute pharyngitis

• Sore throat
• rhinoviruses, echoviruses, adenoviruses,
• Group A strep, Staph aureus -> cause concurrent tonsilitis
• Pharnygeal vesicles and ulcers called herpangina, -> Coxsackie A infection.
• EBV, infectious mononucleosis.

Otitis media

• Acute otitis media
  
  • abrupt onset and pain in the ear.
  • Blocked Eustachian tube and fluid buildup in the middle ear.
  • Strep pneumo, H. influenzae, Moraxella catarrhalis
• Otitis media with effusion
  
  • Sypmtomless
  • Fluid accumulation in middle ear

Question 3

Rhinitis, types and causes

Answer 3

Rhinitis, nasal infection

Allergic rhinitis - IgE type 1 hypersensitivity reaction

Infectious rhinitis - usually viral and often secondary bacterial. Self-limiting usually lasting 1 week or less.

Chronic rhinitis - primary acture rhinitis, usually viral, complicated by secondary bacterial infection. Lasts more than 6 weeks, associated with deviated septum or nasal polyp formation.

Question 4

Acute pharyngitis causes

Answer 4

Acute pharyngitis

Sore throat

rhinoviruses, echoviruses, adenoviruses,

Group A strep, Staph aureus -> cause concurrent tonsilitis

Pharnygeal vesicles and ulcers called herpangina, -> Coxsackie A infection.

EBV, infectious mononucleosis.

Question 5

Types of otitis media and causes

Answer 5

Otitis media

Acute otitis media

abrupt onset and pain in the ear.

Blocked Eustachian tube and fluid buildup in the middle ear.

Strep pneumo, H. influenzae, Moraxella catarrhalis

Otitis media with effusion

Sypmtomless

Fluid accumulation in middle ear