Final Flashcards
Time difference b/t Acute and Chronic Cough
Acute cough < 3 wks
Chronic cough > 3 wks
Be sure to consider non-pulmonary manifestations, particularly alarming sx like weight loss / fatigue / appetite loss.
Also, be sure to do a thorough exam of lung fields to listen for adventitious or absent sounds.
Acute cough DDX:
Viral infection:
Viral infection:
- Rhinoviruses, coronaviruses, RSV (Respiratory syncytial virus) all most frequent.
- Cough typically starts day 4 or 5
- CXR is a low-yield screen, reserve for elderly or immunocompromised.
Acute cough DDX:
COPD and asthma exacerbations:
Viral/bacterial/allergic/pollution & Pertussis
COPD and asthma exacerbations:
- Viral/bacterial/allergic/pollution
- Consider tx w/ abx only if bad SOB, change in amt or character of sputum
- Allergic rhinitis leading to post-nasal drip
Pertussis in children:
What to look for?
- Suspect (and test for) pertussis in children with barking cough and/or vomiting after cough episode
- Check w/ local health dept to see if there is a current outbreak
kids with lingering wet cough (3-4 wks):
What to look for?
*Lingering wet cough (3-4 wks), suspect bacterial etiology
In particular, non-B Hemophilus influenza is a common contributor (Pediatrics, 2012)
Non-B Hemophilus influenza
Kids w/Lingering wet cough (3-4 wks),
Common suspect in bacterial etiology
Acute cough DDX:
- Viral infection
Rhinoviruses, coronaviruses, RSV most frequent
Cough typically starts day 4 or 5
CXR is a low-yield screen, reserve for elderly/immunocompromised - Allergic rhinitis leading to post-nasal drip
- COPD and asthma exacerbations
viral/bacterial/allergic/pollution
Consider tx w/ abx only if bad SOB, change in amt or character of sputum - Pertussis
Chronic cough DDX:
- Note that occult lung CA rarely presents w/ cough
- Up to 60% have multiple etiologies
- Postnasal drip: Most common cause in adults
- Asthma: Most common cause in children
- GERD: The first three = 90% of non-smokers w/ cough
- Chronic bronchitis
- ACE inhibitors
- Bronchiectasis: 4% or less of cases
- Note that occult lung CA rarely presents w/ cough
- Up to 60% have multiple etiologies
Most common cause of Chronic cough in adults?
Postnasal drip: Most common cause in adults
Most common cause of Chronic cough in children?
Asthma: Most common cause in children
T/F: Occult lung CA presents w/ cough.
False: Occult lung CA rarely presents w/ cough
Dx of a solitary pulmonary nodule definition and Clinical dilemma.
*Discrete, well-marginated, rounded opacity <= 3 cm in diameter (must be > 1 cm to be visualized by CXR)
- Completely surrounded by lung parenchyma
- W/o atelectasis or pleural effusion
- Patient is asymptomatic
- Clinical dilemma: is the nodule benign (like the majority) or malignant
- If malignant, survival at 5 yrs from early surgery is 70% or greater
*Risk of malignancy increases w/ age < 40: 3% 40-49: 15% 50-59: 43% 60+: >50%
Pulmonary nodules
Age Risk?
Increased and decreased risk of malignancy?
*Risk of malignancy increases w/ age < 40: 3% 40-49: 15% 50-59: 43% 60+: >50%
Increases risk of malignancy:
Hx of other cancers (so for metastatic spread)
Hx of smoking
Occupational risks (e.g., asbestos)
Decreases risk of malignancy:
Hx of TB
Hx of pulmonary mycosis
Residence in or travel to area with high prevalence of either condition
Pulmonary nodules:
Using imaging to ddx Benign vs. Malignant
- Benign: Calcification or cavitation
- ——–(> 18 mos is probably benign)
- Malignancy: Irregular border
- ———(> 4 cm very likely to be malignancy)
Infectious: Doubling Time (growth of 26%) in less than one mo.
PET scan may be used to confirm:
Has low sensitivity for slow growing cancers
Pulmonary nodules biopsies:
*Bronchoscopy
Less invasive
Often inconclusive, esp w/ smaller lesions
*Transthoracic needle aspiration
More likely (but still misses frequently) gets a definitive dx
Rate of pneumothorax is 25%.
Pulmonary nodules Management:
*Lesions w/ typical benign features:
Calcification patterns, lack of growth over 2+ yrs
No further workup
*Lesions w/ high suspicion for malignancy
> 4 cm, clear evidence for growth, previous malignancy
Refer for immediate surgical excision
Croup (laryngotracheitis) : Key features
- Inspiratory stridor
- Cough - described as “seal’s bark” or “brass bell”
- —-> = hallmark among infants and young children! - Hoarseness = predominates in older children and adults (Less bark bc airway is larger)
- Subglottic swelling
Croup (laryngotracheitis ) Causes:
Mostly Viruses:
Most common:
Parainfluenza virus 1-2—>Fall
Parainfluenza virus 3 —->Spring
Frequent:
Influenza A & B -»» Winter
RSV (Respiratory syncytial virus)—–> Winter & Spring
( RSV more common in Bronchiolitis)
Croup (laryngotracheitis) Age of onset:
- 3 mo to 3 years of age (After = more hoarseness)
- Most common age of peak incidence: 6-24 months
* ***Rare beyond 6 years of age
*Smaller airways are prone to greater degrees of obstruction from any inflammation of the lining membranes
“Bacterial croup” (Bacterial Tracheitis)
Age 4-8 yo
(Entire respiratory tube involved-DANGER)
Bacterial infection of the subglottic trachea, resulting in a thick, purulent exudate»_space; symptoms of upper airway obstruction
Croup PE (laryngotracheitis)
- Inspiratory stridor
- Retractions: Intercostal, Suprasternal, supraclavicular, substernal
- Respiratory distress
- Inc RR, (no more than 50bpm)
* bronchiolitis = resp. 80-90bpm** - Auscultation: Prolonged inspiration, coarse crackles; ———->Expiration: wheezing & rhonchi
- Cyanosis of the lips and nail beds
- No imaging or Labs
Croup (Naturopathic support)
- Humidifier, steamy bathroom (15 min.)
- Cool air: drive in car w/windows open, walk outside, stand in front of freezer.
- Vitamin C 50 mg x age in years, twice a day
- Immune modulators, antivirals, expectorants:
(sambucus, Echinacea, astragalus, lobelia, glycerrhiza, melissa, viburnum, verbascum, inula, hyssop) - Homeopathic Tx (Spongia, Pulsatilla, Drosera, Ant-t)
Conventional Treatment For Croup
No A/b=virus
- Corticosteroids->Given when Barking & showing accessory muscle use. (Oral)
- Nebulized epinephrine (Very severe cases in ER while waiting for Oral steroids to take effects)
Bronchiolitis Presentation
- M/C season?
- Upper or Lower?
- Age?
- Infxn = seasonal (outbreaks = primarily from November to April (Winter and Spring), (peak in January or February)
- Acute viral LOWER resp. tract illness of children
* *****(Vs. Croup or epiglottitis = UPPER resp. tract) - Children < 2 years old
Bronchiolitis sx’s
More than 2yo , won’t have these signs
Symptoms from acute inflammation of the airways:
- Acute onset of wheezing
- Hyperinflation
- Tachypnea (almost always present in bronchiolitis)
Younger than two months: >60 breaths/min
Two to 12 months: >50 breaths/min
One to 5 years: >40 breaths/min
≥5 years: >20 breaths/min
Etiology of Bronchiolitis
virus type?
Duration?
Peak incidence?
- RSV (Respiratory syncytial virus)- accounts for 60-85% of bronchiolitis cases (Bronchiolitis)
***(Parainfluenza virus 3 - next M/C (Usually in CROUP)
- Sx’s resolve over 1-2 weeks (Median duration = 12 days)
- Peak incidence = 6-12 mo (less than 1 yr of age = most severely affected)—> 80% of bronchiolitis occurs within the 1st year
Bronchiolitis Risk Factors:
- Peak: January/February
- Boys 1.5x more likely
- Pre-maturity most common risk factor
- Congenital heart defect
Bronchiolitis Clinical findings:
Hx & PE
History:
- Community outbreak of RSV
- < 12 months old
- No prior episode of wheezing
- Risk factors (prematurity, CardioV or Lung dz, immunodeficiencies)
PE:
- Rhinorrhea,
- nasal congestion,
- low grade fever 50% children,
- cough,
- tachypnea,
- tachycardia,
- nasal flaring,
- expiratory grunting,
- chest retractions, or
- accessory muscles for respiration,
- hyperinflation of the lungs (Increased diameter of chest,
- hyper resonance on percussion)
Bronchiolitis Radiographs
- Patchy atelectasis
- B/L peribronchial infiltrations w/Air bronchographs
- Hyper-inflation of the lungs w/flateening of diaphragm
Management of Bronchiolitis
- The AAP recommends bronchodilators should not be routinely used in the management of bronchiolitis,
- –>but a carefully monitored trial of alpha- or beta-adrenergic agents is an option (but they are very commonly used—I use them as well) - Supportive care
- Nasal suctioning (Nose Frida)
- Positioning of the infant upright
- Adequate rest
- Hydration
Conventional treatment of Bronchiolitis
- Corticosteroids—if airway inflammation is severe
- Anti-virals (Inhaled ribavirin)–>RSV
- PREVENTION- ‘Synagis’ Vaccine for high risk premature infants (Cost is $900 per dose->monthly)
Bronchiolitis Naturopathic support
Same as Croup:
1. Humidifier, steamy bathroom (15 min.)
2. Cool air: drive in car w/windows open, walk outside, stand in front of freezer.
3. Vitamin C 50 mg x age in years, twice a day
4. Immune modulators, antivirals, expectorants:
(sambucus, Echinacea, astragalus, lobelia, glycerrhiza, melissa, viburnum, verbascum, inula, hyssop)
5. Homeopathic Tx (Spongia, Pulsatilla, Drosera, Ant-t)