ENT Flashcards
define tonsilitis
inflammation of the palantine tonsils, suaully bilateral and can be viral or bacterial
bacterial causes of tonsilitis
group A beta haemoltic strep
staphylococci
H. influenzae
pneumococci
presentation of tonsilitis
few days of sore throat
referred otalgia, fever, generally unwell and dehydrated
may have difficutly eating and drinking
enlarged tonsils, muffled voice
when to refer tonsuilitis to ENT
unable to eat and drink
difficulty swalllowing salviva
signs of resp distress or airway compromise
glandular fever AKA
infectious mononucleosis
cause of glandular fever
epstein barr virus (EBV) and some CMV
complications of galndular fever
bacterial tonsilitis
hepatitis and splenic rupture
testing of glandular fever
infectious mononucleosis screen acutely
EBV serology or IgG testing
presentation of glandular fever
tonsilitis
already treated with course of antibiotics with minimal effect
amox + EBV = widespread rash (not allergic)
advise for those with glandular fever
avoid contact sports, alcohol and attend A+E if sudden onset abdo pain - hepatitis and splenic rupture
avoid kissing and sharing cutlery/gasses
when to refer glandular fever to ENT
- Unable to eat and drink
- Difficulty swallowing saliva
- Signs of respiratory distress or airway compromise (very rare!)
Quinsy AKA
peritonsillar abscess
what is qunisy
pus collects between tonsillar caosule and superior constrictor muscle as a complication of tonsilitis, usually unilateral
presentation of quinsy
few day history of bilateral sore throat which has significantly worsened unilaterally
severe odynophagia, fever, unwell, dehydrated, trismus, hot potato voice, spitting oiut saliva
when to refer quinsy to ENT
all suspected should be referred for needle aspiration or incision and drainage of pus
most drained and patient goes home same day with oral antibiotics
red flags of acute throat infections
severe sore throat:
- without evidence of tonsilitis/pharyngitis
- with hoarse/croaky voice, dysphagia and fever
- with neck swelling or neck stiffness (reduced range of movement)
severe trismus
stridor
what is supraglottisis and epiglottis
inflammation of the supraglottis and/or epiglottis
cause of supraglottis and epiglottisis
Haemophilus influenza type B
but reduced due to vaccinations
presentation of supra/epiglotttis
worsening sore throat
uanble to eat and drink often drooling saliva
hoarse or croaky and possibly stridor
children = tripod for airflow
treatment of supra/epiglottisis
adrenaline nebulisers
IV steroids
broad spec antibiotics (IV ceftriaxone)
what are deep neck space infections
collection of pus within potential spaces of the neck formed by investing layer of cervical fascia
cause of deep neck space infectioms
mostly dental origin
can progress from tonsils/quinsies or infected epidermoid, branchial or thyroglossal cysts
presentation of deep neck space infections
toothache, sore throat or prev neck swelling (cyst) now progressed to neck pain
redyuced neck movements, localised or widespread nbeck swelling (fluctuant or firm) possibly with overlying cellulitis
management of deep neck space infecdtionns
FNE and liekly CT of the neck, broad spectrum antibiotics and possbily surgical drainage and debridement