HEENT Flashcards
tension headache
Symptoms: bilateral, hatband, stress, anxiety. dull squeezing pain not pulsating. muscle stiff neck
Duration: variable. hours to days.
treatment: analgesic(painkiller), caffeine, stress management
migraine headache
Symptoms: Unilateral, throbbing/pulsating due to neuronal or vascular changes. nausea, vomiting, aura
Duration: 4-72 hours
Treatment: refer, dark room, laying down
cluster headache
symptoms: unilateral around the eye. severe, constant, sharp pain due to hypoxia, histamine or serotonin release. nasal congestion
duration: 15 mins to 3 hours and clusters can last months
treatment: refer and oxygen
headache self treat
ibuprofen, acetominophen, aspirin
heat or cold packs
when to refer headache
hypertension, trauma, neck stif, fever fatigue weakness
stroke, confusion, 15x per month
migraines/clusters
bacterial conjunctivitis
symptoms: yellow green discharge, worse in the morning, red/pink eyes, eye pain, blurred vision
treatment: refer, antibiotic eye drops
viral conjunctivitis
symptoms: usually clear, watery discharge. red/pink eyes, eye pain, sore throat/cough
treatment: OTC eye lubricants, ocular decongestants, oral antihistimines, cold compress
allergic conjunctivitis
Triggers: allergens like pollen/dust
symptoms: eye itching, clear watery dischage, red/pink eyes, sneezing
treatment: allergen avoiding, eyedrops antihistimine/vasoconstrictors
dry eye conjuntivitis
triggers: old age, female, allergens, dry air, meds
symptoms: sandy/gritty eyes
treatment: artificial tears, avoiding triggers, screen downtime, air humidifiers
blepharitis + stys
symptoms: inflammation on edge of eyelid
treatment: artificial tears, cleaning/cleansing eye
eye self treat
dry eye conjuctivitis, allergic conjunctivitis, viral conjunctivitis, mild blepharitis or stys
when refer eye
eye pain, vision loss, symptoms not improving, exposure to chemicals, severe redness
eye drops counseling
wash hands well
make sure nothing touches the tip
tilt head back or lie down
look up and away from drop
wipe excess liquid from face
otitis externa (swimmer’s ear)
Trigger: frequent moisture, trauma
Symptoms: inflammation/infection of externa ear. ear pain/swelling, fever, hearing impairment
treatment: ear drops, antiseptic drops, oral analgesics
otitis media
Trigger: usually occurs in younger children
symptoms: inflammation of middle ear, ear pain, less hearing, fever
treatment: analgesics, may consider oral antibiotics
otitis media effusion
trigger: allergies, post acute otitis media
symptoms: fluid collection in middle ear, fullness in ear/decrease hearing, ear popping when yawning, no pain or fever
treatment: analgesics, no antibiotics, pressure tubes
water clogged ears
trigger: swimming or bathing
treatment: drying agents, isopropyl alcohol
cerumen impaction
trigger: earwax blocking ear canal, narrow ear canal, cotton swabs, not enough cleaning
symptoms: hearing impairment, pain or ringing ears
treatment: cerumenolytic agents - mineral oil, debrox, acetic acid, saline
ototoxicity
triggers: medication, chemicals
symptoms: damage to hearing or function of ear, hearing loss, ringing ears, dizziness
treatment: aspirin, furosemide
ear self treat vs refer
self-treat: cerumen impaction, otitis media w/ effusion, water clogged ears.
refer: severe pain, signs of infection, foriegn objects in ear, cognitive impairment
eardrops counseling
wash hands before and after use with soap and water.
clean outside of ear
tilt head or lie down
avoid touching tip to ear
wipe excess away
allergic rhinitis
trigger: allergens like pollen dust
symptoms: watery eyes, clear rhinorrhea, post nasal drip, coughing, sneezing, itching
treatment: nasal saline rinse, nasal spray like Flonase, oral antihistamines like cetirizine
sinusitis
trigger: viral or bacterial
symptoms: inflammation of sinuses, headache, fever, pain
viral: lasts less than 1 week
bacterial: thick colored nasal discharge
treatment: lasts more than 1 week need refer and antibiotics, analgesics, oral or intranasal decongestant
nose self-treat vs refer
self-treat: symptoms last more than 1 week, mild symptoms appear to be better
refer: severe sinus pain, signs of bacterial infection, changes in vision, symptoms more than 1 week
nasal spray counseling
blow nose before using spray
wash hands w/ soap and water and dry
remove cap
avoid blowing nose for several mins after use
pharyngitis:
symptoms: pain swallowing, hoarse voice, tonsil swelling, bad breath, fever
treatment: cough drops, oral analgesics
refer if: lasts more than 7 days, bacterial, high fever, trouble breathing/swallowing
canker sores
ulcers on lining of inner mouth
symptoms: white sores inner mouth
treatment: topical benzocaine
cold sores
symptoms: red blisters on lips, cheeks, nostils
treatment: topical antiviral (OTC abreva) or oral antiviral(valacyclovir)
oral candidiasis (thrush)
trigger: (immunosuppresion)
symptoms: white patches on tongue and in mouth, cotton feeling in mouth, pain swallowing
treatment: refer, antifunguls
gingivitis
symptoms: bad breath, red swollen gums
treatment: refer, antiseptic rinses
mouth refers
immunocompromised patients
oral candidasies
gingivitis
symptoms for more than 1 week.
