Microbiology 1 - Resp. infections Flashcards
What infections tend to affect the upper respiratory tract?
Common cold (coryza)PharyngitisSinusitisEpiglottitis
What infections tend to affect the lower respiratory tract? (4)
Acute bronchitisAcute exacerbation of chronic bronchitisPneumoniaInfluenza
What is coryza?
The common cold - acute viral infection of nasal passages
How is the common cold spread/
Droplets and fomites
Complications of the common cold? (2)
SinusitisAcute bronchitis
What 3 organisms tend to cause your common cold?
AdenovirusRhinovirusRespiratory syncytial virus
Treatment of acute sinusitis?
Most are viral and therefore self limiting resolving in about 10 days but some need antibiotics
What is a quinsy?
Abscess between tonsil and wall of throat (complication of tonsillitis)
What is diphtheria?
Diphtheria is a potentially fatal contagious bacterial infection that mainly affects the nose and throat, and sometimes the skin -causes a pseudo-membrane to form over the thought and is life threatening due to toxin production - not seen in Uk due to vaccination
What is epiglottitis?
A life threatening inflammation of the epiglottis that can cause obstruction
What is acute bronchitis?
also known as a chest cold, is short-term inflammation of the bronchi (large and medium-sized airways) of the lungs
Clinical features of acute bronchitis?
Preceded by a common coldProductive coughFever in the minority of casesNormal chest examinationNormal chest x-rayMay have a transient wheeze
Treatment of acute bronchitis?
Self limiting in normal meaning antibiotics are not requiredCan lead to significant morbidity in patients with chronic lung disease
Incubation period for rhinovirus?
1-5 days
Incubation time for group A streptococci?
1-5 days
Incubation time for influenza and parainfluenza viruses?
1-4 days