GP ENT Flashcards
What is BPPV?
Vertigo that is thought to occur when otoconia (tiny Ca(CO3)2 crystals) are dislodged from the utricle into the semicircular canals
Symptoms of BPPV?
vertigo that is precipitated by head movements usually to a particular position e.g. turning in bed or sitting up
onset is distressing but attacks last only seconds
Test for BPPV?
Hallpike manoeuvre: patient sits on couch, head turned towards 1 year, examiner supports head and then leans them backward with head off the couch, positive tests involves nystagmus when the head is turned towards the affected ear, need to do test both sides https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8RYB2QlO1N4
Management of BPPV?
Epley manoeuvre https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jBzID5nVQjk
In BPPV vertigo lasts ___1__
In Meniere’s disease vertigo lasts ____2_____
In vestibular neuritis and labyrinthitis vertigo lasts ___3_____
- seconds
- recurring episodes that last 30 mins to hours
- vertigo lasts days
Meniere’s disease is also associated with?
low frequency sensorineural hearing loss, aural fullness, loss of balance, tinnitus and vomiting
Are there other symptoms associated with vestibular neuritis and labyrinthitis?
vestibular neuritis - no as only vestibular nerve
labyrinthitis - both nerves are affected so can also get tinnitus and hearing loss
What are features of vestibular migraine?
vertigo lasting 5 minutes to 72 hours associated with other migraine features e.g. triggers, photophobia, photophobia, nausea, headache
What is infectious mononucleosis and how is it spread?
- Infection with EBV causes increased levels of monocytes (technically are other infections that can cause this but EBV is classically what causes infectious mononucleosis)
- EBV is spread by touch and close contact and viral shedding can occur for up to 6 months in infected individuals (ie can be shedding the virus even when asymptomatic)
Presentation of infectious mononucleosis?
- Fever
- Sore throat (may have tonsillitis)
- Lymphadenopathy (usually posterior cervical chain)
- Palatal petechiae and a transient macular rash are common
- Splenomegaly is noted in 50%
- Can get mild hepatitis in some individuals
- Fatigue
What do you need to tell those with EBV and splenomegaly?
no contact sports due to risk of splenic rupture
Complications of EBV?
Splenic rupture, aplastic anaemia, increased future risk of Hodgkin lymphoma
Diagnosis of EBV?
- Should be suspected in those who have atypical mononuclear cells in large numbers in the peripheral blood
- Serology testing – Paul Bunnel or Monospot test
Management of EBV?
Self-limiting so supportive treatment
What is otitis externa and what is it usually caused by?
- Inflammation of the skin in the ear canal, usually infective, often bacterial and then develop a fungal infection
- Common organisms are pseudomonas and Staph
- May occur in swimmers – explains why pseudomonas as this is commonly found in soil and water
- Other causes are trauma by cotton buds or susceptibility due to skin conditions e.g. psoriasis and eczema
Presentation of otitis externa?
- Redness and swelling of ear canal
- Itchy progressing to sore and painful
- Discharge and/or increased amounts of wax
- If canal becomes blocked by swelling or secretions, hearing can be affected
Management of otitis externa?
- Topical treatments– antibiotic drops in combination with steroid and/ or acetic acid
- May get topical gentamicin (want to check TM membrane is still intact if giving this)
- For fungal – clotrimazole
- Refer to ENT if associated cellulitis
- May need ear canal cleared out
What is acute otitis media and what causes it?
- Acute otitis media is inflammation of the middle ear
- It is extremely common in children
- Most common cause is infection (usually viral) and then secondary bacterial infection can occur (strep pneumoniae, strep pyogenes, haemophilus influenzae
- Infection usually comes from the nose or pharynx via the Eustachian tube which in children is shorter, wider and more horizontal so infection can track upwards more easily
Presentation of acute otitis media?
- Usually have just had a cold, then get a temperature and pain in ear
- Otalgia, fever and loss of hearing is followed by otorrhoea (discharge from ear), this is caused by burst of the ear drum which relieves pain
- On otoscopy: bulging, opaque, erythematous tympanic membrane
Management of acute otitis media?
- Treatment of acute otitis media is usually with NSAIDs, it is usually viral in origin and will settle within 72 hours without antibacterial treatment
- Admit to hospital if: signs of serious complications, severe systemic infection, younger than 3 months of age with temperature of 38 degrees or more (this suggests severe illness as you wouldn’t expect those under 3 months to get so ill as still have maternal antibodies)
- Consider antibiotics if: have ottorhoea (as ear drum has perforated so at risk of bacterial infection even if initial infection is viral), those aged less than 2 years with bilateral infection
- Antibiotics taken for 5-7 days, amoxicillin is first line antibiotic, clarithromycin is second line