LRTI Flashcards
What is bronchiolitis?
A lower respiratory tract infection primarily affecting the small airways (bronchioles), common in infants and young children.
What is the most common cause of bronchiolitis?
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), responsible for >50% of cases.
What are the typical symptoms of bronchiolitis?
Fever, cough, nasal flaring, retractions, wheezing, and respiratory distress.
What is the peak age for bronchiolitis hospitalization?
Between 2 and 6 months of age.
What is the seasonal pattern of bronchiolitis?
Most common in winter and spring.
What are the risk factors for severe bronchiolitis?
Prematurity, chronic lung disease, congenital heart disease, and immunodeficiency.
What is the primary treatment for bronchiolitis?
Supportive care, including oxygen, hydration, and nasal suctioning.
What is the role of bronchodilators in bronchiolitis?
They may be used in some cases, but their effectiveness is debated.
What are the complications of bronchiolitis?
Dehydration, respiratory failure, apnea, and secondary bacterial infections.
What is pneumonia?
An inflammation of the lung parenchyma, usually caused by infections.
What is the most common bacterial cause of pneumonia in children?
Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus).
What are the common viral causes of pneumonia in children?
RSV, influenza virus, parainfluenza virus, and adenovirus.
What are the risk factors for pneumonia in children?
Lack of exclusive breastfeeding, malnutrition, low birth weight, and indoor pollution.
What is the pathogenesis of viral pneumonia?
Viral infection causes airway obstruction, atelectasis, and hypoxemia.
What is the pathogenesis of bacterial pneumonia?
Bacterial infection leads to local edema, inflammation, and lobar consolidation.
What are the clinical manifestations of pneumonia?
Fever, cough, tachypnea, retractions, and hypoxemia.
What is the WHO definition of pneumonia?
Cough and fast breathing (≥50 breaths/min for infants 2-12 months, ≥40 breaths/min for children 1-5 years).
What is the treatment for bacterial pneumonia?
Antibiotics such as amoxicillin, cefuroxime, or ceftriaxone.
What is the treatment for viral pneumonia?
Supportive care, as antibiotics are not effective against viruses.
What are the complications of pneumonia?
Pleural effusion, empyema, bacteremia, and meningitis.
What is recurrent pneumonia?
Two or more episodes in a single year or three or more episodes ever, with radiographic clearing between occurrences.
What are the causes of recurrent pneumonia?
Cystic fibrosis, immunodeficiency, ciliary dyskinesia, and anatomic abnormalities.
What is slowly resolving pneumonia?
Persistence of symptoms or radiographic abnormalities beyond the expected time course.
What is empyema?
An accumulation of pus in the pleural space, often complicating bacterial pneumonia.
What are the stages of empyema?
Exudative, fibrinopurulent, and organizational stages.
What is the treatment for empyema?
Antibiotics, drainage with tube thoracostomy, and sometimes fibrinolytic therapy.
What is a lung abscess?
A localized area of purulent material in the lung, often due to aspiration or infection.
What are the common organisms causing lung abscesses?
Anaerobic bacteria (e.g., Bacteroides) and aerobic bacteria (e.g., Staphylococcus aureus).
What is the treatment for lung abscess?
Parenteral antibiotics for 2-3 weeks, followed by oral antibiotics for 4-6 weeks.
What is bronchiectasis?
Irreversible abnormal dilation and distortion of the bronchial tree, often due to chronic infection.
What are the common causes of bronchiectasis?
Cystic fibrosis, primary ciliary dyskinesia, and recurrent infections.
What are the clinical manifestations of bronchiectasis?
Chronic cough, copious purulent sputum, hemoptysis, and recurrent infections.
What is the diagnostic test for bronchiectasis?
High-resolution CT (HRCT) scan of the chest.
What is the treatment for bronchiectasis?
Antibiotics for acute exacerbations, chest physiotherapy, and sometimes surgery.
What is pleurisy?
Inflammation of the pleura, often accompanied by pleural effusion.
What are the types of pleurisy?
Dry (plastic), serofibrinous (serosanguineous), and purulent (empyema).
What are the clinical manifestations of pleurisy?
Pleuritic chest pain, cough, and respiratory distress.
What is the treatment for pleurisy?
Treatment of the underlying cause, such as antibiotics for bacterial infections.
What is the most common cause of pleural effusion in children?
Bacterial pneumonia.
What is the diagnostic approach to pleural effusion?
Chest X-ray, ultrasound, and thoracentesis for fluid analysis.
What is the treatment for pleural effusion?
Antibiotics, drainage, and sometimes fibrinolytic therapy.
What is the role of imaging in pneumonia?
Chest X-ray confirms the diagnosis and may show complications like effusion or abscess.
What is the role of blood cultures in pneumonia?
Positive in only 10% of children with pneumococcal pneumonia.
What is the role of sputum culture in pneumonia?
Of little value in young children due to difficulty in obtaining a good sample.
What is the role of viral testing in pneumonia?
Isolation of virus or detection of viral genome/antigen in respiratory secretions.
What is the role of serology in pneumonia?
Useful for diagnosing atypical pneumonia (e.g., Mycoplasma pneumoniae).
What is the role of oxygen therapy in pneumonia?
Indicated for children with hypoxemia to maintain oxygen saturation >90%.
What is the role of corticosteroids in pneumonia?
Not routinely recommended, but may be used in severe cases or with complications.
What is the role of chest physiotherapy in pneumonia?
Not routinely recommended, but may help in certain cases like bronchiectasis.
What is the role of vaccination in preventing pneumonia?
Pneumococcal and Hib vaccines significantly reduce the incidence of bacterial pneumonia.
What is the role of hand hygiene in preventing pneumonia?
Reduces the risk of respiratory infections, including pneumonia.
What is the role of breastfeeding in preventing pneumonia?
Exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months reduces the risk of pneumonia in infants.
What is the role of indoor air pollution in pneumonia?
A significant risk factor, especially in low-income countries.
