ENT: Throat & Salivary Gland Problems Flashcards
What is the most common cause of tonsillitis?
State common causes of bacterial tonsillitis
- Tonsillitis most commonly caused by viral infection
- Can be caused by bacteria:
- Most common= Streptococcus pyogenes
- Second most common= Streptococcus pneumoniae
- Others= Haemophilus influenza, Moraxella catarrhalis, Staphylococcus aureus
Remind yourself of Waldeyer’s ring
Describe typical presentation of tonsillitis
- Sore throat
- Fever (>38)
- Odynophagia
- Red inflamed tonsils +/- exudates
- +/- anterior cervical lymphadenopathy
Outline the Centor criteria
Estimates probability that tonsillitis due to bacterial infection and will benefit from abx. Score of 3 or more gives 40-60% probability of bacterial tonsillitis and it is therefore appropriate to give abx.
- Fever over 38 degrees
- Tonsillar exudates
- Absence of cough
- Tender anterior cervical lymph nodes
Outline the FeverPAIN score
Estimates probability that tonsillitis due to bacterial infection and will benefit from abx. Score of 2-3 gives 34-40% probability and a score of 4-5 gives a 62-65% probability of bacterial tonsillitis and it is therefore appropriate to give abx.
- Fever during previous 24hrs
- Purulent tonsils
- Attended within 3 days of onset of symptoms
- Inflamed tonsils
- No cough or coryza
Which pts with tonsillitis would you consider admitting?
Consider admission if:
- Immunocompromised
- Systemically unwell
- Dehydrated
- Stridor
- Respiratory distress
- Evidence of peritonsillar abscess or cellulitis
Discuss the management of tonsillitis (acute, not asking about management of recurrent)
- Reassurance and self-care advice e.g. simple analgesia, adequate fluid intake, salt water gargling and local anaesthetic throat spray may help pain
- Safety netting (if not improved after 3 days or fever rises >38.3)
-
Consider antibiotics if Centor ≥3 or FeverPAIN ≥4 or if at high risk of more severe infection (e.g. immunocompromised, young infants, significant comorbidities, hx of rheumatic fever). Can also consider delayted prescription for if symptoms don’t improve in a few days.
- Phenoxymethylpenicillin for 10 days
- If penicillin allergic, clarithromycin
State some potential complications of tonsillitis
- Peritonsillar abscess (quinsy)
- Otitis media
- Scarlet fever
- Rheumatic fever
- Post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis
- Post-streptococcal reactive arthritis
Discuss the SIGN guidelines for tonsillectomy
- Bases on number of epsiodes:
- ≥ 7 in 1 year
- ≥ 5 per year for 2 years
- ≥ 3 per year for 3 years
- Recurrent tonsillar abscesses (≥ 2 episodes)
- Enlarged tonsils causing difficulty breathing, swallowing or snoring (in children often do adenotonsillectomy for this)
- Recurrent febrile convulsions secondary to episodes of tonsillitis
Tonsillectomy is usually done as a day case procedure; true or false?
Yes, performed under GA as a day case; after period of observation, in which pt has eaten and drank, can usually go home (unless comorbidities, significant sleep apnoea, intra-operative complications etc…)
State some potential complications of tonsillectomy
- Sore throat where the tonsillar tissue has been removed (this can last 2 weeks)
- Damage to teeth
- Infection
- Post-tonsillectomy bleeding
- Risks associated with a general anaesthetic
**Remember, pts who had tonsillectomy can still get sore throat from other causes after operation
In surgery, what is meant by a primary haemorrhage and what is meant by a secondary haemorrhage?
- Primary: within first 24hrs
- Secondary: after first 24hrs
Post-tonsillectomy bleeding can be severe, and in rare cases, life threatening; true or false?
True; can result in aspiration of blood
Significant bleeding occurs in up to 5%
Discuss the management of post-tonsillectomy bleeding (include immediate & definitive)
Immediate
As with any acutely unwell/deteriorating pt do A-E along with:
- Calling ENT registrar early
- Keep pt calm & sit them up encouraging them to spit blood out rather than swallowing
- IV access & take bloods (FBC, clotting screen, G&S and crossmatch)
- Make them NBM (in case anaesthetic & operation needed)
- Analgesia
- Ice pack for back of neck
- IV fluids (resuscitation or maintenance) if required
- If severe bleeding or airway compromise, call an anaesthetist as intubation may be required
- If severe, alert emergency theatre/anaesthetist that the patient may need an urgent arrest of post-tonsillectomy bleed
More definitive
Going back to theatre is the definitive option, however can try the following for less severe bleeds beforehand:
- Hydrogen peroxide gargle
- Adrenalin soaked swab applied topically
Pts presenting with post-tonsillectomy bleed, even if not large, most likely admitted for observation
What is quinsy (peritonsillar abscess)?
Peritonsillar abscess is a complication of acute tonsillitis, where a collection of pus forms in the peritonsillar space. This pushes the affected tonsil inferomedially into the oropharyngeal space.
Who does quinsy occur in (age)?
Unlike tonsillitis, which is much more common in children, quinsy can occur just as frequently in teenagers & adults
What is the most common causative organism of quinsy?
- Streptococcus pyogenes
- Others: Staphylococcus aureus, Haemophilus influenza
Describe typical presentation of quinsy
Patients present with similar symptoms to tonsillitis:
- Sore throat
- Painful swallowing
- Fever
- Neck pain
- Referred ear pain
- Swollen tender lymph nodes
Additional symptoms that can indicate a peritonsillar abscess include:
- Trismus (pt unable to open their mouth)
- Hot potato voice (change in voice due to the pharyngeal swelling)
- Swelling and erythema in the area beside the tonsils
- Uvula deviation
What can be used to assess symptoms of sleepiness associated with OSA?
Epworth Sleepiness Scale
What questionnaire can be used to classify anaesthetic risk in pts with OSA?
STOP-Bang
Discuss the pathophysiology of OSA
- When you sleep all muscles relax (including pharyngeal dilators which are responsible for airway patency)
- Since pharyngeal dilators relax, some loss of tone and hence narrowing is normal in sleep
- Excessive narrowing occurs in OSA and this may be due to:
- An already small pharyngeal size undergoing normal degree of muscle relaxation
- External pressure from increased neck fat or muscle bulk
- Large tonsils
- Craniofacial abnormalities
- Excessive narrowing of normal pharyngeal size
- Neuromuscular disease with pharyngeal involvement e.g. MND, stroke
- Muscle relaxants e.g. alcohol, sedatives
- Increasing age
- An already small pharyngeal size undergoing normal degree of muscle relaxation
For glossitis, discuss:
- What it is
- Appearance
- Causes
- Management
- Inflammation of tongue
- Erythematous, swollen tongue with smooth appearance due to atrophy of papillae
- Causes:
- Iron deficiency anaemia
- B12 deficiency
- Folate deficiency
- Coeliac disease
- Injury or irritant exposure
- Management: treat underlying cause
For oral candidiasis, discuss:
- What it is
- Appearance
- Risk factors
- Management
- Oral thrush= overgrowth of candida (usually candida albicans) in mouth
- White spots or patches on tongue that can be scraped off
- Risk factors:
- Inhaled corticosteroids
- Antibiotics
- Diabetes
- Immunodeficiency e.g. HIV
- Smoking
- Management:
- Miconazole gel
- Nystatin suspension
- Fluconazole tablets (severe or recurrent)
For geographic tongue, discuss:
- What it is & appearance
- Causes
- Management
- Inflammatory condition where there are irregularly shaped patches of lost epithelium and papillae (resembling a map with countries and oceans). Tends to relapse and remit
- Cause is unknown but can be related to:
- Stress
- Mental illness
- Psoriasis
- Atopy
- Diabetes
- Benign with no harmful effects so doesn’t usually require treatment. Symptoms like burning or discomfort can be treated with topical steroids or antihistamines
For strawberry tongue, discuss:
- What it is
- Appearance
- Causes (2 key ones)
- Tongue is erythematous, swollen and papillae become enlarged, white & prominent
- Causes:
- Scarlet fever
- Kawasaki disease
For black hairy tongue, discuss:
- What it is
- Appearance
- Cause
- Management
- Condition due to decreased shedding/desquamation of keratin from tongue’s surface
- Papillae elongate, so look like hairs. Bacteria & food can cause dark pigmentation of the papillae (but can also be other colours e.g. brown, green etc..)
- Causes:
- Dehydration
- Dry mouth
- Poor oral hygiene
- Smoking
- Head & neck radiation
- Management:
- Tongue scraping/swab to exclude candida
- Adequate hydration
- Gentle brushing of tongue
- Stop smoking
Discuss, for leukoplakia:
- What it is/appearance
- Management
- Pre-cancerous conditions characterised by white patches in mouth (tongue or inside of cheek) that cannot be scraped off
- Management:
- NICE CKS says urgent referral to dentist
- Stop smoking
- Reduce alcohol intake
- Monitoring
- Potentially laser removal or surgical excision
For erythroplakia, discuss:
- What is is/appearance
- Management
- Pre-cancerous conditions characterised by red patches on tongue (Erythroleukoplakia is a mixture or red & white patches)
- NICE CKS says urgent referral to dentist
For lichen planus, discuss:
- What it is
- Appearance on skin
- Appearance on mucous membranes
- Management
- Autoimmune condition causing localised chronic inflammation of the skin
- Appearance on skin: shiny, purplish, flat topped raised areas with white lines across surface (Wickham’s striae)
- Appearance on mucous membranes (usually mouth):
- Reticular: net-like web of white lines (Wickham’s striae)
- Erosive: bright red area
- Plaques: larger areas of white mucosa
- Management:
- Good oral hygiene
- Stop smoking
- Topical steroids
For acute necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis, discuss:
- Presentation
- Management
- Painful bleeding gums with halitosis & punched out ulcers on gums
- Management:
- Refer to dentist and in meantime:
- Abx (PO metronidazole or amoxicillin 3/7)
- Chlorhexidine mouthwash
- Simple analgesia
- Refer to dentist and in meantime:
For aphthous ulcers, discuss:
- Appearance
- Which diseases can be associated with
- Management
- Well circumscribed, punched out, white appearance, painful
- Most have no underlying cause but associated diseases include:
- IBD
- Coeliac disease
- Vit deficiencies (e.g., iron, B12, folate and vitamin D)
- HIV
- Behçet disease
- Mangement:
- Unexplained ulceration lasting >3/52 refer via 2WW for suspected oral cancer
- Usually heal in two weeks but can offer:
- Topical treatments e.g. bonjela, difflam spray, lidocaine
- Topical steroids if severe e.g. hydrocortisone buccal tablets
