Microbiology of ENT infections Flashcards
What HSV causes oral ulcers?
Types 1 and 2
Type 1 acquired in childhood
HSV1 = oral lesions
Infections through saliva contact
What is primary gingivostomatitis?
Disease of pre-school children with a primary infection of HSV1
Systemic upset, lips, buccal mucosa, hard palate affected
Vesicles 1-2 mm
Ulcers
What will HSV2 commonly cause?
Genital ulcers
How is primary gingivostomatitis due to HSV1 treated?
Aciclovir - used for all herpes simplex infections
May take 3 weeks to recover
Where will HSV remain latent?
In the trigeminal ganglia
Will reactivate to re-infect mucosal surfaces
Will aciclovir prevent latency?
No
How many people with HSV will get clinical recurrences?
Half
How is HSV confirmed in the lab?
Swab lesion in virus transport medium to detect the viral DNA via PCR
Red cap
What is a dangerous complication of HSV infection?
Herpes simplex encephalitis
What is herpangina?
Vesicle/ ulcers on the soft palate
What causes herpangina?
Coxsackie enterovirus
What causes hand foot and mouth disease?
Coxsackie enterovirus
Diagnose by PCR test of swab in viral transport medium
What is a chancre?
Painless indurated ulcer at the site of entry of bacterium treponema pallidum (syphilis)
Most commonly genital but can be oral
What is an aphthous ulcer?
Non-viral
Self limiting
Painful ulcer on the mouth that are round or ovoid and have inflammatory halos
How long will an aphthous ulcer last?
3 weeks
What recurrent ulcers are associated with systemic disease (non-viral)?
Behcet’s disease: recurrent oral and genital ulcers, uveitis, GI, pulmonary, MSK, CV and neurological system involvement
Gluten-sensitive enteropathy or IBD: diarrhoea, wt loss
Reiter’s disease: arthritis
Drug reactions
Skin diseases: lichen planus, pemphigus vulgaris
What are the common age groups for an acute throat infection?
Children - 5-10
YA - 15-25
What is acute pharyngitis?
Inflammation of the part of the throat behind the soft palate (oropharynx)
What commonly causes a sore throat?
Common cold
Influenza
Streptococcal infection
What should you think about is there is ore throat and lethargy into the 2nd week in a patient aged 15-25?
Infectious mononucleosis via EBV
What are uncommon causes of acute pharyngitis/tonsillitis?
HIV
Gonococcal pharyngitis
Diphtheria
What are non-infectious causes of acute pharyngitis/tonsillitis?
Physical irritation - reflux, smoking, alcohol, hay-fever
LOOK FOR RED FLAGS
When should someone with a sore throat be admitted to hospital straight away?
Stridor
Resp difficulty
DO NOT attempt to examine the throat - leave to ENT surgeon
What is the natural history of a sore throat?
Self-limiting condition that will resolve within 1 week for 85% of people
What are complications of a streptococcal infection?
Otitis media (eustachian tube)
Peritonsillar abscess (quinsy)
Para-pharyngeal abscess
Mastoiditis
When should throat cancer be suspected?
Persistent sore throat for more than 3 weeks with a neck mass
Pain on swallowing or dysphagia
Red or white patches, or ulceration of the oral/pharyngeal mucosa for more than 3 weeks
Stridor
What is the recommended self care of a sore throat?
Regular analgesia - paracetamol or ibuprofen to relieve pain and fever Medicated lozenges (local anaesthetic, analgesia or antiseptic)