ENT and Ophthalmology Flashcards
Where are your tonsils located and what ring do they collectively form?
Tonsils are located within pharynx
They form Waldeyer’s ring:
Pharyngeal tonsil
Tubal tonsils
Palatine tonsils - where we see tonsilitis
Lingual tonsil
What is the role of tonsils?
Fighting infection against pathogens entering naso or oro pharynx - contain T cells, B cells, and macrophages
Main cx of tonsillitis
Viral - EBV
Bacterial:
1. Group A streptococcus - (streptococcus pyogenes)
2. Streptococcus pneumoniae
Acute tonsilitis Sx
- Sore throat
- Fever >38
- Pain on swallowing
- red, inflamed, enlarged tonsils + can have exudates (bacterial white patches of pus)
- Anterior cervical lymphadenopathy (space between jaw and jugular vein)
What is the centor criteria?
Used to estimate the probability that tonsilitis is due to bacterial infection and therefore can be treated with abx
What are the features of centor criteria?
1 point for each of:
1. Fever >38
2. Tonsillar exudates
3. Absence of cough
4. Tender anterior cervical lymphadenopathy
Score 3 or more = 40-60% probability bacterial cause
What is a fever pain score?
An alternative for the centor criteria to determine whether tonsilitis is caused by bacteria
What is the criteria for Fever pain score?
1 point for each:
1. Fever in past 24hrs
2. Exudates on tonsil
3. Attended within 3 days
4. Inflamed tonsils
5. No cough or coryza (cold sx)
Tx of tonsilitis
Viral = simple analgesia, education, safety net
Bacterial = Abx if:
centor score 3 or more
Fever pain 4 or more
High risk of sever infection (i.e. immunocompromised)
What Abx should be used if px has bacterial tonsillitis?
- Penicillin V - against strep pyogenes
- Clarithromycin - penicillin allergy
Complications of tonsillitis?
- Quinsy - peritonsillar abscess (serious)
- Otitis media
- Scarlet fever
- Rheumatic fever
What are sinuses and what are the different types?
They’re air-filled extensions of the nasal cavity. Produce mucus and drain into nasal cavity through ostia (hole). Blockage of ostia causes sinusitis.
Paranasal sinuses:
Frontal sinus
Ethmoid sinus
Maxillary sinus
Sphenoid sinus
What is the role of a sinus?
- Lightening the weight of the head
- Supporting immune defence of the nasal cavity
- Humidifying inspired air
- Increasing resonance of the voice
Cx of sinusitis
- Infection - Following viral upper resp tract infx
- Allergies
Sinusitis Sx
- Nasal congestion
- Nasal discharge
- Facial pain/ headache
- Facial pressure and swelling
- Loss of smell
- Systemic - fever
Sinusitis Tx
NICE CKS (May 2023) recommend for patients with symptoms that are not improving after 10 days, the options of:
High-dose steroid nasal spray for 14 days
A delayed antibiotic prescription, used if worsening or not improving within 7 days (phenoxymethylpenicillin first-line)
What is conjunctiva?
A thin layer of tissue that covers the inside of the eyelids and the sclera.