Nose Sinus And Upper Respiratory Condition

Question 1

Upper Respiratory Infection

Answer 1

Infectious agent causing Rhinitis, Pharyngitis, Epiglotitis, Laryngitis, Tracheitis
Example - Rhinovirus (common cold), Influenza, Covid, RSV, Streptococcus A C G
Symptoms - Runny / Stuffy nose, post nasal drip, sore throat, cough, fever.
Causes - Exposure to
Treatment - Hydration, Antipyretic (fever reducer), Antibiotics.

Question 2

Allergic Rhinitis

Answer 2

Inflammation of nose, mast cell and Basophils contact with Allergens -> The allergen gets bound to IgE -> Histamine gets released -> Inflammatory response initiates -> Mucus production increases in nose -> Swelling occurs in Nasolacrimal and Eustacian tubes -> watery eyes and ssstuffed ears -> Nose overtime congests -> difficulty breathing

Question 3

Allergic Rhinitis Diagnosis and Treatment

Answer 3

Diagnosis - Symptoms - Nasal congestion, watery eye, sneezing, skin testing : Allergen pricks are made n skin / in skin, after 15 minutes the symptoms are analyzed and associated allergen is figured out, Blood testing - specific antibody testing - IgE, RAST - Radioallergosorbent test, ELISA
Treatment - Avoid allergen, Anti-histamine (H1 -> histamine 1 blockers ), Leukotriene inhibitors

Question 4

Nasal Polyps

Answer 4

Causes - chronic allergy, cystic fibrosis, asthma + allergy to aspirin. Can block maxillary sinuses leading to inflammation in it, or block Eustacian tube leading to ear problems.
Treatment - Treat allergy, surgery.

Question 5

Sinusitis

Answer 5

Paranasal sinuses - frontal, ethmoid, sphenoid and maxillary sinuses
Sinusitis - inflammation of paranasal sinuses
Symptoms - pain /headache, cough, nasal discharge, fever.
Most common cause - viruses, bacteria, fungal
Severe cases : Osteomyelitis, Intracranial abscess, cellulitis, septic clots/ embolism, Intraorbital abscess / orbital cellulitis

Question 6

Sinusitis Diagnosis and Treatment

Answer 6

Symptoms - nasal / post nasal drip, sinus pain, congestion, decreased smell, cough, headache, fever, ear pain.
Rhinoscopy - Gold Standard testing
CT scan, symptoms lasting for 4 weeks - acute, 4-12 weeks - subacute, more than 12 weeks - chronic
Viral infections gets better in 10 days, if not then it is a bacterial infection.
Treatment - acute viral decongestant, mucolytics, hydration, pain control, acute bacterial - Antibiotics