Minor Illnesses Flashcards
Common pathogen for bronchiolitis, croup, common cold, flu
Bronchiolitis- respiratory syncytial virus
Croup - parainfluenza virus
Common cold - rhinovirus
Flu - influenza virus
Presentation of URTI
Cough Stridor - croup General signs of infection: - fever - wheeze - Nasal discharge Clear chest examination Pharyngitis - sore throat Otitis media
Croup pathophysiology, presentation and tx
Pathophysiology: Upper airway obstruction due to viral infection
Presentation:
- Seal like barking cough
- Intercostal recession - respiratory distress
- Stridor
- Hoarse voice
Tx:
- Severe croup is treated with dexamethasone and nebulised adrenaline
UTI summary
Causes:
- Wiping back to front
- Uncontrolled DM
Presentation:
- Burning sensation when urinating and dysuria
- polyuria
- urgency
- haematuria
- foul-smelling, cloudy urine
- fever
Ix
- mainly clinical
- urine dipstick
- urine culture and microscopy
- USS - rule out obstruction
Mx:
- Wipe front to back
- increase fluids
- Nitrofurantoin/ trimethoprim 3 days for uncomplicated
Uncomplicated UTI
Typical pathogens in people with normal anatomy and no predisposing factors
Complicated UTI
UTI with increased of risk complications e.g.
- persistent infection
- treatment failure
- recurrent infection.
Risk factors for complicated UTI:
- urinary catheters
- virulent or atypical infecting organisms
- co-morbidities e.g. poorly controlled diabetes mellitus or immunosuppression
- men
Lower UTI
Cystitis - infection of blader
Tx: Nitrofurantoin/ trimethoprim 3 days for uncomplicated and 7 days for men
Upper UTI
Pyelonephritis - infection of the kidneys and ureters
Mx:
Mild uncomplicated pyelonephritis - oral ciprofloxacin for 7-10 days
co - amoxiclav alternative
The most common causative pathogen of UTI
E. coli
When to refer for 2ww with UTI
45 + yo with:
- Unexplained visible haematuria without UTI
- Visible haematuria which persists or recurs after successful treatment of UTI
60+ with:
- unexplained non‑visible haematuria and either dysuria or a raised serum WCC
Consider non-urgent referral to exclude bladder cancer in those aged 60+ with recurrent or persistent unexplained UTI.
UTI treatment in men
Nitrofurantoin/ trimethoprim for 7 days
Causative organism of pharyngitis
Streptococcus pyogenes
Tx of common cold
Conservative:
- fluids
- paracetamol
- rest
- salty gargle
Causes of chest infection
Infection that affects lower large airways (bronchi) and lungs.
Pneumonia - bacterial
Bronchitis - viral
Chest infection presentation
- Chesty cough - productive
- Dyspnoea and wheeze
- Chest pain or tightness
- Fever
- Headache
- Myalgia
- Malaise
- Tachycardia
Chest infection tx:
Mild (bronchitis)- Self limiting usually gets better on its own within 7-10 days
- Rest
- Fluids
- Paracetamol
Severe (pneumonia) based on CRB 65:
- 0 - treatment at home - amoxicillin 500 mg tds for 5 days
(allergic - doxycycline 200 mg)
- 1 - 2 - hospital assessment - amoxicillin 500 mg tds for 5 days AND clarithromycin 500 mg bds for 5 days
- 3 - urgent hospital admission
Pneumonia abx treatment mile stones
1 week — fever should have resolved.
4 weeks — chest pain and sputum production should have substantially reduced.
6 weeks — cough and breathlessness should have substantially reduced.
3 months — most symptoms should have resolved but fatigue might still be present.
6 months — symptoms should have fully resolved.
Thrush summary
Causative organism: Candida albicans
RF:
- pregnant
- diabetes.
- abx
- immunocompromised
Presentation:
Vaginal - white discharge, dysuria and pruritis, superficial dyspareunia
Oral - white plaques in mouth
Ix:
- Urine pH
- Swab
- Urine dipstick
Tx:
- miconazole cream - 7 days
- 60+ - fluconazole tablets
12 - 15 yo girls - clotrimazole 1% cream