Bronchiolitis Flashcards
What is bronchiolitis?
inflammatory obstruction of the bronchioles (small airways)
What is the most common cause of bronchiolitis?
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)
In which season is bronchiolitis most common?
Winter
What patient age group does bronchiolitis affect?
infants (mainly children under 1)
Why is it viruses affect infants’ bronchioles more so than adult bronchioles?
the airways of infants are very small to begin with and when there is even the smallest amount of inflammation and mucus, it has a significant effect on the infant’s ability to circulate air to the alveoli and back out
Give two sounds created by airway obstruction in brochiolitis:
1) wheeze
2) crackles on auscultation
Give 8 clinical presentations associated with bronchiolitis:
1) coryzal symptoms
2) signs of respiratory distress
3) dyspnoea
4) tachypnoea
5) poor feeding
6) mild fever (under 39 degrees C)
7) apnoea
8) wheeze and crackles on auscultation
What are coryzal symptoms?
Acute, inflammatory contagious symptoms associated with upper respiratory tract infections
Give 4 examples of coryzal symptoms:
1) runny nose
2) sneezing
3) mucous in throat
4) watery eyes
Give 7 signs of paediatric respiratory distress:
1) raised respiratory rate
2) tracheal tugging
3) abdominal airway noises
4) use of accessory muscles
5) cyanosis
6) nasal flaring
7) head bobbing
Name 3 accessory muscles that may be used in paediatric respiratory distress:
1) sternocleidomastoid
2) abdominal muscles
3) intercostal muscles
Give 3 abnormal airway noises that may be associated with paediatric respiratory distress:
1) wheeze
2) grunting
3) stridor
What is wheeze?
whistling sound typically heard on expiration caused by narrowed airways
What is grunting?
An “uh” sound during exhalation which reflects the child’s attempt to keep alveoli open caused by exhaling with the blottis partially closed to increase positive end-expiratory pressure
What is stridor?
high pitched inspiratory noise caused by obstruction of the upper airway