Nose and Throat Exam Flashcards
What should you note about nasal discharge?
color consistency odor amount timing bilateral/unilateral? CABCOT
Normal nasal discharge is
clear/colorless
thin (not viscous)
no odor
some discharge (none is not normal)
Bacterial infection may have what type of discharge?
green/yellow
classic presentation of a nasal foreign body is
unilateral, malodorous, nasal discharge
patency
how well you breathe through your nose
congestion, timing, uni/bilateral
associated symptoms that are typical with nasal complaints
dental pain
burning
headache
fever
things to observe when beginning nasal exam
swelling
deformity (bony abnormality)
erythema
things to palpate during nasal exam
tenderness (at joint of nasal bone and cartilage)
crepitus (cracking sound or sensation-two bones rubbing together)
warmth
any skin lesions?
things to observe when looking into the nasal canal
discharge septum (midline? deviated? blood vessels visible?) inferior turbinate (blob of pink tissue)
viscous discharge is called
crusting
kesovexplexus
most common spot of nose bleeds (area in the anterior nasal canal that is highly vasculated)
turbinate
filtering units in the bone
covered with rich vasculated mucosa
what does the maxillary sinusitis make the inferior turbinate look like?
coated in purulous fluid
what are you noting when palpating the maxillary and frontal sinuses?
tenderness
bony abnormalities
hard when touched (could indicated cancer)
transillumination can be used to diagnosis
fluid in the sinuses (should be able to see light on hard palate if sinuses are free of fluid-place the light on the cheek)
nasal polyps
translucent, pearly mass in the nose
sign of chronic irritation (drugs, smoking, allergies)
may originate in the nose or in the sinuses
pt presents with persistent nasal congestion
deviated septum
can be caused by trauma
>70% occlusion would indicate surgery
may cause hypertrophy of the turbinate on the “free” side
CC may be sleep apnea/snoring
nasal vestibulitis
usually bacterial staph (MRSA) infection
red bulbous tip of their nose
red just inside the nose (vestibule)
nasal foreign bodies may be combined with
impetigo (from scratching and breaking the skin)
-strep and staph infection
best way to deal with nasal foreign bodies
try to blow it out