Environmental Influences On Respiratory Diseases Flashcards

1
Q

What is Asthma?

A

Common chronic inflammatory disease of the airways characterised by variable and recurring symptoms, reversible airflow obstruction and bronchospasm

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2
Q

What are common symptoms of asthma?

A

Wheezing
Coughing
Chest tightness
Shortness of breath

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3
Q

What are some environmental influences on asthma?

A

Pollens
Thunderstorms (increase pollen levels)
Infectious agents
Fungi
Pets
Animals
Air pollution

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4
Q

What are some occupational influences on asthma?

A

Flour
Car spray paints
Resins
Cleaning agents
Laboratory animal workers
Wood dusts

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5
Q

What is the epidemiology of asthma?

A

5-16% of people worldwide have asthma
Wide variation between countries

Increase in prevalence second half of the 20th century
Now plateaued mostly
US study; Poorer individuals, African-Americans

Wide range of risk factors

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6
Q

What is hypersensitivity pneumonitis?

A

An inflammation of the alveoli within the lung caused by hypersensitivity to inhaled dusts.

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7
Q

What are environmental influences of hypersensitivity pneumonitis?

A

Farmers lung
Bird fanciers lung
Metal working fluids

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8
Q

Which musical instrument is recently described as a cause of Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis?

A

Bagpipes

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9
Q

What is COPD?

A

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a type of obstructive lung disease characterised by chronically poor airflow.

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10
Q

What are the main symptoms of COPD?

A

Shortness of breath
Cough
Sputum production.

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11
Q

What is the commonest cause of COPD?

A

Tobacco Smoking (PAR% 80)

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12
Q

What is Exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO)?

A

Simple measure of nitrogen oxide in exhaled breath

Simple machines able to do this
Measure in ppb
Generally increased in asthma
Not ‘diagnostic’

A reflection of eosinophilic airway inflammation
High } 50ppb, normal { 25ppb

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13
Q

What are the common occupational causes of asthma?

A

Grain
Wood
Animals, fish
Latex

Glutaraldehyde
Paints
Isocyanates
Metal working fluids
Metal

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14
Q

How does air pollution affect asthma?

A

Ambient Air pollution PM2.5 AND PM10 aggravates peoples asthma in childhood and adulthood

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14
Q

How does air pollution affect asthma?

A

Ambient Air pollution PM2.5 AND PM10 aggravates peoples asthma in childhood and adulthood

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15
Q

What are the different forms of hypersensitivity pneumonitis?

A

Acute
Sub-acute
Chronic forms (fibrotic, non-fibrotic)