Common Cold & Rhinosinusitis Flashcards
the common cold is a _________ infection of the _____
Viral infection of the upper respiratory tract
microbes that are commonly involved in the common cold
- rhinovirus: most common in early fall & late spring
- parciinfluenza virus: most common in kids less than 3yrs
- respiratory syneytial virus: peak in winter & spring, common in less than 3
- coronavirus: frequent in winter & spring
- adenovirus: frequent in winter & spring
what are the modes of transmission of the common cold
- touch
- nasal & muosa & conjuctival surface
- hand washing decreases the risk of transmission
Manifestations of the common cold
- dryness & stuffiness in nasopharynx— excessive production in nasal secretions & tears
- sore throat & hoarsness
- headache & general malaise
over the counter medications for the common cold how are the effective or ineffective
- antihistamines: dries nasal secretions, may also dry up bronchial secretions causing a worse cough & may also cause dizziness, drowsiness & impaired judgement
- Decongestants: constricts the blood vessels in the nasal mucosa therefore decreases nasal swelling; these drugs can cause rebound nasal swelling, can also cause systemic vasoconstrciton & an Increase in BP (need to be avoided in pts with high BP, heart disease & DM)
- Vitamin C, Zinz & Echinacea: some studies have shown all these to be benefical others have not
what is Rhinosinusitus
-inflammation of the nasal passages & paranasal sinuses
what are the sinuses commonly invovled?
frontal, ethmoid, maxillary, sphenoidal
what is the patho of rhinosinusitus
narrow openings that communicate with nasal passage comer from each sinus (called Ostia) are obstructed by either a viral upper respiartory infection or an allergic rhinitis. This obstruction causes a problem with mucociliary clearance mechanism (contains mucous surface that lines the sinuses & the ostia in order to clear any foreign body)
diagnosing rhinosinusitus
- history & physical exam (of nose & throat)
- sinusitus headache (worse when bending forward, coughing, sneezing
- if actue: turbinate edema, nasal crusts, purulence of nasal cavity & failure of transillumination of maxillary sinuses
treating rhinosinusitus
- appropriate use of antibiotics (only to be used after 7 days of symptoms with signs of clearing)
- ,may use topical corticosteriods & mucolytic agents
what are two types of serious complications that may arise with rhinosinusitus
- intraorbital complications
- intracranial complications
Intraorbital complications from rhinosinusitus
-edema of eyelids to orbital celluitius & superiosteal abscess
Intracranial complications from rhinosinusitus
- occur more freqently with infections to frontal & ethomoid sinuses because of proximity to dura & venous drainage
- may see facial swelling over sinus that is affected
- abnormal extraocular movements, protrusion of eyeball, periorbital edema