Cough Flashcards
How is cough classified
Acute <3 weeks:
Dry - asthma, URTI, lung cancer (causing obstruction of bronchus), pulmonary oedema (secondary to HF), drug induced (ACEi), smoke/toxin inhalation, small PE, inhaled foreign body
Productive - LRTI (pneumonia), TB
Chronic (>8 weeks)
Dry - Asthma, COPD, lung cancer
Productive - Bronchiectasis, TB, lung cancer (if congenital: CF)
Give examples of URTI
- pharyngitis
- laryngitis
- tracheitis
25 yo F presents to A&E with 2d hx of productive cough, SOB and fever. The cough is worse at night. She’s reported having brought up green mucus for the last 2 days. O/E you hear crackles throughout. On further questioning you find out that she’s been diagnosed with cystic fibrosis at birth and has had these symptoms in the past.
What is the most likely diagnosis?
Asthma
Pneumonia
Chronic sinusitis
Bronchiectasis
Bronchiectasis
What are the most common causative organisms of bronchiectasis
- H. influenzae
- S. pneumoniae
- S. aureus
- P. aeruginosa
Other than infections, what are the other causes of bronchiectasis
- immunodeficiency
- HIV, immunoglobulin deficiency - Genetic
- CF, ciliary dyskinesia, alpha 1 anti trypsin deficiency
Other than infections, what are the other causes of bronchiectasis
- immunodeficiency
- HIV, immunoglobulin deficiency - Genetic
- CF, ciliary dyskinesia, alpha 1 anti trypsin deficiency - Connective tissue disorders
- rheumatoid arthritis - aspiration/inhalation injury
- Inflammatory bowel disease
- Crohn’s disease, UC - Focal body obstruction
- foreign body, tumour - Post infectious
- childhood respiratory infections due to viruses, mycobacteria infection or severe bacterial pneumonia, exaggerated response to inhaled Aspergillus fumigatus
Essentially, what are the strong risk factors for bronchestasis
- cystic fibrosis
- host immunodeficiency
- previous infections
- congenital disorders of the bronchial airways
- primary ciliary dyskinesia
What are the symptoms of bronchiectasis
- persistent cough
- mucopurulent sputum (green or rusty coloured)
- SOB (decubitous)
- Haemoptysis (less common)
What are the signs of bronchiectasis
- Crackles on auscultation
- squeaks and pops on inspiration
- presence of underlying disorder
- fever
What are the investigations for bronchiectasis
- observations
- pulse oximetry may show hpoxaemia - CXR
- first line - high resolution CT
- GOLD STANDARD - FBC
- raised WBC, eosinophils indicates aspergillosis - sputum culture
- pulmonary function
- reduced FEV1, elevated RV/TLC
What is the gold standard investigation for bronchiectasis
high resolution CT
How do you test for cystic fibrosis
sweat sodium chloride concentration or genetic testing
How do you test for alpha-1 anti-trypsin deficiency
Serum alpha-1 anti-trypsin level
How do you test for an exaggerated response to inhaled Aspergillus fumigatus
Skin prick test for Aspergillus fumigatus for patients with elevated IgE
What features of a CXR suggest bronchiestasis
Tram track sign
- dilated, thickened walls
What features of a CT suggest bronchiectasis
Signet ring sign/string of beads sign
What is the management plan for bronchiectesis
- Exercise, improve nutrition
- Airway clearance therapy
- postural drainage, percussion - Inhaled bronchodilator
- salbutamol - Inhaled hyperosmolar agent
- hypertonic saline - some patients may need antibiotics
What is the prognosis for bronchiectesis
Irreversible
- prognosis depends on severity and recurrence of exacerbation
What are the complications of bronchiectesis
- Haemoptysis
- respiratory failure
- cor pulmonale
25 yo F presents to A&E with 2d hx of productive cough, SOB and fever. The cough is worse at night. She’s reported having brought up green mucus for the last 2 days. O/E you hear crackles throughout. On further questioning you find out that she’s been diagnosed with cystic fibrosis at birth and has had these symptoms in the past.
What is the first line investigation for this patient?
Bloods (FBC, CRP)
CXR
CT
Pulmonary function
CXR
50 yo M smoker with multiple comorbidities (diabetes, HTN) presents to A&E with 1d hx of confusion and productive cough with yellow sputum. O/E he is apyrexial, BP 150/95 mmHG, HR 90 bpm, RR of 20 breaths per min. His oxygen saturation is 96% at rest. There are crackles at the left base.
What is the most likely causative organism in this case?
Staphylococcus aureus Mycoplasma pneumoniae Streptococcus pneumoniae Pseudomonas aeruginosa Legionella pneumophila
Streptococcus pneumoniae
What are the causative organisms for HAP
- Pseudomonas aeruginosa
- Escherichia coli
- klebsiella pneumoniae
- acinetobacter species
- Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA)
What are the causative organisms for atypical pneumonia’s
- Mycoplasma pneumoniae
- Chlamydophila pneumoniae
- Legionella pneumophila
- Coxiella burnetii (zootonic pathogen)
What are the signs of pneumonia
- productive cough
- coloured sputum - SOB
- pain on inspiration
- pleuritic
What are the symptoms of pneumonia
- Fever
- Confusion
- Dull percussion
- Bronchial breathing on auscultation
What are the investigations for pneumonia
- Observations
- Bloods
- FBC and CRP - Sputum sample
- microscopy and culture - CXR (most important)
- consolidation
- alveolar opacification
- air bronchograms
- lobular vs. multilobar
Treatment plan for pneumonia is based on which scoring system
CURB65
Treatment plan for pneumonia
CURB65 C confusion U urea >7mmol/L R resp rate >30 B BP <90/60 mmHg >65 years old
1 point each
0-1: treat at home if possible
2: consider hospital treatment
3 or more: severe, consider ITU
Based on the CURB65 score, which antibiotics can be used to treat pneumonia
low severity (0-1): oral amoxicillin Moderate (2): oral/IV amoxicillin + macrolide High severity (3+): IV Co-Amoxiclav + macrolide
What is the prognosis of pneumonia
CURB score
0-1: <1%
2: 5-15%
3 or more: 20-50%
What are the complications of pneumonia
- Septic shock
- C. difficile infection from antibiotic use
- Death from heart failure, respiratory depression in the elderly or severely unwell