Minor illness Flashcards
What are the 5 different kinds of conjunctivitis and their mechanisms?
Allergic conjunctivitis:
- Type 1 immune response to allergen
- Allergen binds to mast cell > IgE cross linking > mast cell degranulation > initiation of inflammatory cascade
- histamine and bradykinin stimulate itching, increased vascular permeability, vasodilation, redness
Infective conjunctivitis:
common bacteria = pneumococcas, S aureus, M catarrhalis, H influenzae
Chlamydia, N gonorrhoea are rare
Common viruses = adenovirus, herpes simplex, epstein-barr, varicella zoster, enteroviruses
Mechanical conjunctivitis: chronic conjunctival irritation eg. floppy eyelid syndrome in sleep
Neoplastic conjunctivitis: Sebaceous gland carcinoma
Keratoconjunctivitis: Eg. prolonged contact lens wearing time, poor lens hygiene, allergenic lens solutions, poor fit of lenses, etc
How does conjunctivitis present?
- watery discharge (common in viral)
- conjunctival follicles (viral)
- tender pre-auricular lymphadenopathy (viral)
- vesicular skin rash (herpes zoster)
- eyelid stuck together in the morning (bacterial/ viral)
- corneal pannus (bacterial/ viral)
- purulent discharge (bacterial)
- itching (allergic)
- ropy mucoid discharge (allergic)
How would you manage conjunctivitis?
Allergic = artificial tear eyedrops, cool compress for symptomatic relief, topical/oral antihistamines
Bacterial = topical antibiotics (systemic if severe)
Viral = topical antihistamines, artificial tears, topical corticosteroids, Ganciclovir eyedrops for adenovirus
Contact lens related = topical corticosteroids, topical fluoroquinolones
Mechanical = artificial tears
Toxic/chemicals = eye irrigation until pH is 7, artificial tears
What are some common organisms for Laryngitis? Viral/Bacterial/Fungal
Viral = rhinovirus, parainfluenza virus, adenovirus
bacterial = moraxella catarrhalis, H influenza, strep pneumonia, staph aureus
Fungal = candida albicans, blastomyces, dermatitis, histoplasma capsulatum
What are some common pathophysiologies of laryngitis
- Bacterial/viral/fungal insult result in inflammation of endolaryngeal structures = oedema and erythema = increased bulk of vocal cords = lowered pitch
- reflux laryngitis = repeated exposure of laryngeal mucosa to refluxate eg. Hcl and pepsin result in irritation
- Patients with heavy vocal cord use cause intense friction and agitation on their vocal cords
How does laryngitis present?
- Hoarseness
- Dysphagia
- Sore throat
- Odynophagia
- Cough
- Hyperemia of the oropharynx
- History of heavy vocal use
- History of Gastroesophageal reflux
How would you investigate laryngitis?
Laryngoscopy (erythema and oedema of true vocal folds, white/yellow secretions in the glottis etc)
Biopsy during laryngoscopy
Orophagyneal cultures
Nasal swab for cultures Sputum cultures
How would you manage laryngitis?
- Vocal hygiene and analgesics - Corticosteroids to alleviate oedema (dexamethasone) Bacterial = acetaminophen antibiotics and vocal hygiene Diptheria confirmed = diptheria toxoid, antibiotics, isolation
What is the definition of tonsilitis and what is the typical patient?
Infection of the parenchyma of the palatine tonsils
5-15 year olds, people in contact with infected people in enclosed spaces eg. schools
What are the common viral and bacterial pathogens?
Most commonly Viral = Rhinovirus, then Coronavirus, then Adenovirus
Can be associated with influenza, enterovirus, herpes virus, infectious mononucleosis
Bacterial = B haemolytic strep (Group A, then C)
Mycoplasma pneumoniae or neisseria gonorrhoea in sexually active adolescents
What 4 specific ways would bacterial tonsilitis present and what criteria would you use to identify it?
Centor criteria
- Fever >38C
- Tonsillor exudate
- absence of a cough (presence of cough or runny nose suggests viral)
- Tonsillar enlargement
What would tonsillitis in general present?
Pain on swallowing, fever, sudden onset sore throat, headache, abdo pain, nausea and vomitting, tonsillar erythema, enlarged anterior cervical lymph nodes
How would you manage tonsillitis?
Paracetamol, NSAIDs Salt water mouthwash, etc.
If bacterial (Centor >3): 10 days oral penicillin for group A Beta Haemolytic Strep OR single IM dose of benzathine benzylpenicillin if cannot do oral. OR macrolides eg. erythromycin in penicillin allergy
Tonsillectomy for recurrent tonsillitis
What is this? How do you differentiate between internal and external?
These are styes.
Internal = infection of Meibomian gland. Less circumscribed as it is deeper in the tarsal plate
External = infection of Zeis and Moll Ciliary glands. More superficial and smaler glands so on infection it forms a swelling at the root of the eyelash
What is the difference between a stye and a chalazion?
A chalazion is a lump in the eyelid
A Stye will be on the edge of the eyelid, by the eyelashes