ENT Flashcards
What is the most common cause of tonsillitis?
Viral infection
What is the most common cause of bacterial tonsillitis?
Group A streptococcus (strep pyogenes)
How can bacterial tonsillitis be treated?
Penicillin V
What is the most common cause of otitis media, rhinosinusitis and alternative bacterial cause of tonsillitis?
Streptococcus pneumoniae
What are some other common causes of tonsillitis?
Haemophilus influenzae
Morazella catarrhalis
Staphylococcus aureus
What is the throat made up of?
Oral cavity (teeth + tongue)
Pharynx
Tonsils
Larynx
What is the key anatomical difference in throat anatomy in childs compared to adults?
Narrowest point in children is the subglottis compared to the glottis in adults
What are the six areas of lympoid tissue in the throat?
Adenoid
Tubal tonsils
Palatine tonsils
Lingual tonsil
What tonsils are most commonly enlarged and infected in tonsillitis?
Palatine tonsials (at either side at back of throat)
What is Waldeyer’s tonsillar ring?
The ring of lymphoid tissue in the pharynx
What age range is most affected by tonsillitis?
5-10
How does tonsillitis usually present?
Fever
Sore throat
Painful swallowing
How may tonsillitis present in younger children?
Fever Poor oral intake Headache Vomiting Abdominal pain
What are exudates?
Small white patches of pus on the tonsil
What should you also assess when examining a child with tonsillitis/
The ears to visualise the tympanic membranes
Palpate for any cervical lymphadenopathy
What is the Centor criteria used to estimate?
The probability that tonsillitis is due to baacterial infection and will benefit from antibiotics
What are the features included in the centor criteria and how many ponts would qualify to offer antibiotics?
Fever >38
Tonsillar exudates
Absence of cough
Lymphadenopathy
(3 or more)
What are the FeverPAIN criteria when considering antibiotics in tonsillitis?
Fever Purulence Attended within 3 days of onset of symptoms Inflamed tonsils No cough or coryza
What should be excluded when diagnosing tonsillitis?
Meningitis
Epiglottitis
Peritonsillar abscess
Calculate centor/ feverPAIN score
How is viral tonsillitis managed?
Give safety net advice (if not settled after 3 days or fever above 38.3)
Advise simple analgesia with paracetamol and ibuprofen
How is bacterial tonsillitis managed?
Penicillin V 10- day course
Clarithromycin= second choice
(can give delayed prescription if needed)
What are the complications of tonsillitis?
Chronic tonsillitis Peritonsillar abscess Otitis media Scarlet fever Rheumatic fever Post-strep glomerulonephritis Post-strep reactive arthritis
What is a quinsy?
Peritonsillar abscess
What causes a quinsy?
When there is a bacterial infection with trapped pus that forms an abscess on the tonsils
When does a quinsy commonly occur?
In untreated or partially treated tonsillitis
Are tonsillitis and quincies more common in children or adults?
Tonsillitis much more common in children
Quinsy just as common in children as adults
How does quinsy present?
Similar to tonsilitis May also have: Trismus Change in voice (hot potato voice) Swelling/ erythema in area besides tonsils
What is trismus?
When a patient is unable to open their mouth
What is the most common cause of a quinsy?
Strep. pygones (group A)
Staph aureus
Haemophilus influenxae
How is a quinsy managed?
Incision and drainage of abscess under general anaesthetic
Broad spectrum antibiotics
What are the criteria for tonsillectomy?
7 or more episodes of tonsillitis in 1 year
5 per year for 2 years
3 per year for 3 years
Recurrent tonsilar abscesses
Tonsils causing difficulty breathing, swallowing or snoring
What are the complications of a tonsillectomy?
Pain/ sore throat for up to 2 weeks after Damage to teeth Infection Post-tonsillectomy bleeding Risks of GA
What is the most significant complication of tonsillectomy?
Post tonsillectomy bleeding which can happen up to 2 weeks after operation
How is post-tonsillectomy bleeding managed?
Called ENT registrar IV access Keep calm Analgesia Sit them up and get the to spit instead of swallow blood IV fluids May need intubation Theatre
What makes up the external ear?
Auricle (/pinna)
External acoustic meatus
What is the auricle made of and what is the exception?
Cartilage
Lobule is not supported by cartilage
What are the different components of the auricle?
Helix Antihelix Superior and inferior crus Tragus Antitragus Concha Lobule
What is the action of the concha?
Directs sound into the external acoustic meatus
Where does the external acoustic meatus begin and end?
Extends from the deep part of the concha to the tympanic membrane
What are the walls of the external acoustic meatus composed of?
External 1/3= cartilage
Internal 2/3= temporal bone
What is the tympanic membrane made of?
Connective tissue structure covered with skin on outside and mucous membrane on inside
What are the margins of the middle ear?
Tympanic membrane to lateral wall of inner ear
What are the two parts of the middle ear?
Tympanic membrane
Epitympanic recess
What is the tympanic membrane and what does it contain?
The space behind the tympanic membrane containing the auditory ossicles
What are the auditory ossicles?
The three small bones
What is the epitympanic recess?
The space above the tympanic cavity
What are the bones of the middle ear?
Malleus
Incus
Stapes
What is the action of the auditory ossicles?
Transfer sound vibrations from the tympanic membrane to the oval window of the internal ear
What is the eustachian tube?
The cartilaginous and bony tube that connects the middle ear to the nasopharynx
Where is the inner ear located?
In the temporal bone
What does the innerear contain?
The vestibulocochlear organs
What are the two main functions of the inner ear?
Convert mechanical signals into electrical signals
Maintain balance
How does the inner ear maintain balance?
Detects position and motion
What are the margins of the inner ear?
Middle ear to internal acoustic meatus
What are the two main components of the inner ear?
Bony labyrinth
Membranous labyrinth
What is the bony labyrinth?
Series of bony cavities within the petrous temporal bone
What is the bony labyrinth composed of?
Cochlea, vestibule and three semi-circular canals
Where is the membranous labyrinth and what is it composed of?
Lies within bony labyrinth and consists of cochlear duct, semi-circular ducts, urticle and saccule
Filled with fluid (endolymph)
What are the two openings in the inner ear?
Oval window
Round window
Which part of the inner ear is responsible for converting sound vibrations into electrical signals?
Cochlea
Which part of the inner ear is responsible to balance?
Saccule and urticle
What is otitis media?
Infection of the middle ear