Infectious Disease Flashcards
What is otitis media?
Rapid onset of S+S of ear infection
Inflammation in the middle ear
Associated with an effusion
From NICE CKS
Causes of acute otitis media?
what are the common pathogens?
Bacterial:
* Haemophilus influenzae
* Moraxella catarrhalis
* Streptococcus pyogenes
* Streptococcus pneumoniae - less of this now since pnuemococcal vaccine
Viral:
* RSV - respiratory syncytial virus
* rhinovirus
* adenovirus
* influenza virus
* parainfluenza virus
What are RF for acute otitis media?
(for children in particular)
- Young age.
- Male sex.
- Frequent contact with other children such as daycare or nursery attendance or having siblings (increases exposure to viral illnesses).
- Formula feeding — breastfeeding has a protective effect.
- Craniofacial abnormalities (such as cleft palate).
- Use of a dummy.
- Prolonged bottle feeding in the supine position.
- Family history of otitis media.
- Lack of pneumococcal vaccination.
- Gastro-oesophageal reflux.
- Prematurity.
- Recurrent upper respiratory tract infection.
- Immunodeficiency
from NICE CKS
What are RF for acute otitis media?
(for children in particular)
- Young age.
- Male sex.
- Frequent contact with other children such as daycare or nursery attendance or having siblings (increases exposure to viral illnesses).
- Formula feeding — breastfeeding has a protective effect.
- Craniofacial abnormalities (such as cleft palate).
- Use of a dummy.
- Prolonged bottle feeding in the supine position.
- Family history of otitis media.
- Lack of pneumococcal vaccination.
- Gastro-oesophageal reflux.
- Prematurity.
- Recurrent upper respiratory tract infection.
- Immunodeficiency
from NICE CKS
What are complications of acute otitis media?
- Persistent otitis media with effusion.
- Recurrence of infection.
- Hearing loss (usually conductive and temporary).
- Tympanic membrane perforation.
- Labyrinthitis.
- Rarely, mastoiditis, meningitis, intracranial abscess, sinus thrombosis, and facial nerve paralysis.
How does acute otitis media present?
Presentation Hx and examination findings
Older children:
* earache
* reduced hearing in affected ear
* balance issues and vertigo if affected vestibular system
Younger children
* holding, tugging or rubbing ear
* fever
* crying
* poor feeding
* restlessness
* behavioural changes
* cough
* rhinorrhoea
* reduced hearing in affected ear
On examination:
* distinctly red, yellow or cloudy TM
* bulging of the TM, has loss of landmarks and air-fluid level behind the TM
* Perforation of the TM and/or discharge in external canal
* reduced hearing in affected ear.
nice cks
Why is Dx of otitis media difficult in children younger than 6m?
from nice cks
- may have coexisting systemic illness - e.g. bronchiolitis
- symptoms are more non-specific when younger
- TM is not as visible in child as ear canal is small and tends to collapse
DDx for acute otitis media?
If PC is middle ear inflam or efffusion:
* OM with effusion aka glue ear
* chronic suppurative OM
* Myringitis
If PC is just earache
* Otitis externa
How is acute otitis media managed?
When need to admit?
treatment options in community?
Admit if:
* younger than 3m
* 3-6m with temp of 39+
* severe systemic infection (remember we have a low threshold for sepsis in children)
* present with complications of AOM.
In community:
* Analgesia - NSAIDs, paracetamol. Can be provided as an ear drop analgesia
* If think abx are needed = 5-7 day course amoxicillin. / clarithromycin or erythromycin. Co-amoxiclav can also be used if no response to these.
How is recurrent AOM managed?
Urgent referal (2weeks) to ENT specialist
- especiallly if they have Hx of cleft palate or Down’s syndrome
- have nosebleeds too
- have lymphadenopathy
If they don’t have these features:
* avoid exposure to passive smoking, dummies, flat supine feeding
* ensure they have had pnuemococcal vaccine
* ensure GORD is managed (as can present together)
What is tonsillitis?
Inflamation of the tonsils.
Can occur in isolation or as part of a generalised pharyngitis
What are common organisms causing tonsillitis?
Viral causes:
* Rhinovirus
* Coronavirus
* Parainfluenza virus
* Influenza type A and B
* Adenovirus
* HSV1
* EBV
Bacterial causes:
* Group A Streptococcal infection - Streptococcus pyogenes.
* Group C and G Beta-haemolytic streptococci. = Streptococcus pneumoniae
* Haemophilus influenzae
* Moraxella catarrhalis
* Staphylococcus aureus
- What is Waldeyer’s Tonsillar Ring?
- Why is it relevant in tonsillitis?
- A ring of lymphoid tissue made up of the adenoids, tubal tonsils, palatine tonsils and lingual tonsil.
- These get infected and enlarged in tonsilitis - the palatine tonsils are most commonly infected
How does acute tonsillitis present?
Hx and Ex
- Sore throat
- Fever (above 38C)
- Pain on swallowing
O/E:
* red, inflamed and enlarged tonsils
* can have exudate on = white pus on tonsil
* anterior cervical lymphadenopathy (in anterior triangle of neck)
What 2 criteria can be used to estimate probability that tonsillitis is due to a bacterial cause, and requires abx?
Describe each.
- Centor criteria - score of 3 or more = bacterial tonsilitis
* Fever over 38C
* Tonsillar exudate
* Absence of cough
* Tender anterior cervical lymph nodes (lymphadenopathy) - FeverPAIN Score - score of 4 or 5 = bacterial tonsillitis
* Fever above 38C
* Purulence (exudate)
* Attended rapidly (within 3 days)
* Inflamed tonsils (severe)
* No cough or coryza
You should consider admission for tonsillitis if the patient is…
- immunocompromised
- systematically unwell
- dehydrated
- has stridor
- has respiratory distress
- has evidece of peritonsillar abscess or cellulitis
How would you manage viral based acute tonsillitis?
- educate patients and parents
- Safety net - return if pain not settled after 3 days, or fever rises above 38.3C
- Simple analgesia
How would you manage bacterial acute tonsillitis?
Penicillin V = phenoxymethylpenicillin
10 day course
If allergic - Clarithromycin
What are complications of tonisillitis?
- Quinsy aka peritonsillar absces
- Otitis media
- Scarlet fever
- Rheumatic fever
- Post-strep glomerulonephritis
- Post-strep reactive arthritis
What is periorbital cellulitis (also called preseptal cellulitis)?
An infection of the soft tissues anterior to the orbital septum - this includes the eyelids, skin and subcutaneous tissue of the face, but not the contents of the orbit.
- What is pathophysiology of periorbital (preseptal) cellulitis?
- What organsisms commonly cause this infection?
- Infection spreads to structures around orbit from other sites = usually breaks in skin or local infections e.g. sinusiits, resp tract infections
- Staphylococcus aureus, staphylococcus epidermidis, Streptococci and anaerobic bacteria
What is the epidemiology of periorbital / preseptal cellulitis?
Children - usually under 10.
Median age = 21 months / around 2 years
More common in winter due to increased prevalence of respiratory tract infections
How does periorbital /preseptal cellulitis present?
- red, swollen, painful
- acute onset
- fever
O/E:
* erythema and odema of eyelid which can spread to surrounding skin
* partial or complete ptosis of eye due to swelling
Differentials of periorbital cellulitis?
Orbital cellulitis
Allergic reaction