Lower Respiratory Tract Infection Flashcards
name some symptoms of LRTI
> malaise > fever > chest pain (pleuritic) > cough > purulent sputum > dyspnoea > headache
name some symptoms of LTRI
> pyrexia > tachpnoea > central cyanosis > dullness on percussion > bronchial breath sounds > inspiratory crepitations > increased vocal reasonance
what investigations should be carried out if a LRTI is suspected?
> serum biochemistry > full blood count > blood cultures > throat swab > sputum microscopy and cuture
what is the most common organism to cause pneumonia?
strep. pneumonia
what two species that cause pneumonia affect young people and are associated with no respiratory complications?
> mycoplasma
> chlamydia
what other organisms cause pneumonia?
> h. influenza
legionella
staph aureus
explain the CURB 65 severity scoring
Confusion U blood urea >7 Respiratory rate >30 B diastolic blood pressure <60 65, if the are older than 65
how would you treat a patient with a CURB score of 0/1?
amoxicillin or clarithromycin/doxycyciline
how would you treat a patient with a curb score of 2?
amoxicillin and clarithromycin or levofloxacin
how would you treat a patient with a curb score of 3/4/5?
co-amoxiclav and clarithromycin or levofloxacin
what supportive treatment could you give to someone with pneumonia?
> oxygen if they are hypoxic
i.v. fluids if they are shocked
continuous positive airway pressure
intubation and ventilation
what complications can arise from pneumonia?
> septicaemia > acute kidney injury > empyema (infection in the pleural space) > lung abscess > haemolytic anaemia > ARDS
what is the differential diagnosis for pneumonia?
> tuberculosis > lung cancer > pulmonary embolism > cardiac failure > pulmonary vasculitis
what is an empyema?
this is an infection of the pleural space that can often follow pneumonia. there is diffuse ossification of the thorax and along the pleura causing it to thicken.
what are the signs and symptoms of empyema?
> chest pain
> high swinging fever
what in investigations are carried out in an empyema?
chest CT scan and a pleural ultrasound