Breathless and Noisy Breathing Flashcards
What would you worry about if a child had stridor that was getting quieter?
That they were becoming exhausted and respiratory failure is imminent
What would you worry about if a child’s stridor was becoming muffled?
Is there a differential diagnosis? Could this be epiglottitis?
What examination must NOT be performed in a child with stridor and why?
ENT exam - this should never be carried out in patients with upper airway obstruction as this may make it a lot worse
What are the signs of respiratory distress in children?
- Tracheal tug
- Tri-pod position
- Nasal flaring
- Intercostal recession
- subcostal recession
What is laryngomalacia?
Congenital laryngeal problem where the larynx is floppy. This causes a stridor worsening on feeding.
What is the problem of a laryngeal haemangioma?
If it is a slowly growing capillary haemangioma, this can obstruct the upper airway
What signs in a child increases the chance of a laryngeal haemangioma?
If the child has other capillary haemangiomas (strawberry marks) on their body.
How common is viral croup?
Very common
What is the typical age of onset of viral croup?
6 months - 3 years
What are the common signs of viral croup?
- Fever
- Barking cough
- Hoarse voice
- Normal swallowing
How do we manage viral croup?
Conservative, unless it is severe with respiratory distress
Epiglottitis is very rare, what is the common age group it affects?
2 - 7 years
How quickly does epiglottitis onset?
Very suddenly
What is the cause of epiglottitis?
Haemophilus Influenzae bacteria
What are the common symptoms of epiglottitis?
- Fever
- Muffled cough
- Muffled voice
- Patient leaning forward, neck extended
- Drooling
How do we manage a patient with epiglottitis?
Emergency airway management
Bacterial tracheitis is rare, what age patients can it affect?
6 - 14 months
What is the onset of bacterial tracheitis?
Sudden onset
What is the cause of bacterial tracheitis?
Bacterial; multiple organisms