Lecture 3: Lower Respiratory Infections Flashcards
What environmental factor is one of the biggest contributors to childhood cough?
Secondhand smoke/air pollution
What CV symptoms could result in cough?
- Chest pain
- Dyspnea
- Palps
What are the 4 aspects of a respiratory exam?
- Inspection
- Palpation
- Percussion
- Auscultation
What are the 3 primary etiologies of acute bronchitis?
- Bacterial/viral infection
- Heavy smoking
- Allergy
What qualifies as acute bronchitis?
- 5-30 days
- Self-limiting inflammation of the bronchus
90-95% are viral in nature.
What is the pathophysiology of acute bronchitis?
- Infection of conducting airway
- Inflammation of airway
- Exudate production
- Bronchospasms
What are the two phases of acute bronchitis pathophysioogy?
- Direct inoculation of tracheobronchial epithelium (typical symptoms)
- Hypersensitivity of airway receptors (persistent symptoms, such as sputum production)
What are the main bacterial causes of acute bronchitis?
- Strep pneumo
- H flu
- M cat
What is the primary atypical that causes acute bronchitis?
Bordetella pertussis
Also has a similar strain called bordetella bronchiseptica (kennel cough)
What is the primary viral cause of acute bronchitis?
Influenza A/B
If a patient has no cough, can they still have acute bronchitis?
Yes
What are the primary symptoms of acute bronchitis?
- Cough (nonproductive/mucopurulent)
- Substernal pain
- Wheezing
- Minor fever (38.3-38.9)
- Fatigue
- Malaise
- Chest tightness
- SOB
- Dyspnea
- PND
- Cyanosis
No URI symptoms like coryza or congestion
What are the general PE findings for acute bronchitis?
- Cough w or w/o bronchospasm
- Wheezing variable (wheezing might be bronchiolitis)
- Rhonchi (clears with cough)
- Sputum variable
- Fever
- Chest wall tenderness
- Symptoms suggestive of URI
Rales/crackles does not clear with cough.
Define stridor vs wheezing
- Stridor is inhalation (#1 is croup, #2 is foreign body)
- Wheezing is exhalation
Stridor implies an obstructed airway.
What does a sustained heave across the left sternal border suggest?
RVH secondary to chronic bronchitis.
What does clubbing of the digits and peripheral cyanosis suggest?
Cystic fibrosis or chronic bronchitis
What does bullous myringitis have as an atypical cause?
Mycoplasma
What virus can cause conjunctivitis, adenopathy, and rhinorrhea?
Adenovirus
What would suggest a LRI is pneumonia over acute bronchitis?
- Fever (acute is low fever)
- Productive cough w/ sputum
- Isolated crackles/rales
- Chest pain
- Tachycardia
What are the emergent DDx for acute bronchitis?
- PNA
- PE
- Pulmonary edema
- Status asthmaticus
- Pneumothorax
- Foreign body aspiration
- CHF
How do we diagnose acute bronchitis?
Clinical exam, since CXR is probably going to be inconclusive or unremarkable.
CXR is mainly for infants, elderly, or an unclear exam.
What lab would suggest bacterial vs non-bacterial etiology for acute bronchitis?
Procalcitonin
Elevated above 0.5mcg = ICU and highly likely to be bacterial.
Greater than 0.25mcg suggest bacterial.
How does CBC w/ diff typically present for a viral acute bronchitis?
Normal to low, since viral.
What are the two indications for sputum culture?
- PNA pt being admitted to hospital.
- PNA pt failing standard therapy.
What are the recommended treatments for acute bronchitis?
- Supportive
- Antitussives/expectorants
- Antihistamines
- Decongestants
- B2 agonists for wheezing.
If cough > 2 weeks with no improvement, consider ABX.
What is dextromethorphan’s class and MOA?
Delsym, Robitussin
Centrally-acting non-opioid that elevates the threshold to cough.
It is an antitussive.
Equal efficacy to codeine for cough.