PAEDS RESPIRATORY Flashcards
RESP OVERVIEW
What are some causes of respiratory infections in children?
80-90% viral –
- Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), rhinoviruses, metapneumovirus, parainfluenza
Bacterial –
- Strep. pneumoniae, h. influenzae, moraxella catarrhalis, bordatella pertussis
RESP OVERVIEW
What are some risk factors for respiratory infections?
- Parental smoking
- Poor socioeconomic status
- Male gender
- Immunodeficiency
- Underlying lung disease
RESP OVERVIEW
Cough is a very common symptoms with many causes.
What are some of the causes of cough?
- Recurrent colds, allergic rhinitis (post-nasal drip)
- Infections
- Reflux (aspiration)
- Passive smoking
- CF, bronchiectasis, asthma
- TB
URTI
What is the most common presentation of an upper respiratory tract infection (URTI)?
- Combination of nasal discharge + blockage
- Fever, sore throat, earache
- Cough
URTI
How does coryza present?
Clear or mucopurulent nasal discharge + blockage
URTI
What are some complications of URTIs?
- Difficulty feeding + breathing
- Febrile convulsions
- Acute exacerbations of asthma
URTI
What is coryza?
- Commonest infection in childhood (rhinoviruses, coronaviruses, RSV)
URTI
What is the management of coryza?
- Conservative (paracetamol, ibuprofen, fluids)
OTITIS MEDIA
How would you investigate otitis media?
- Tympanic membrane bright red + bulging with loss of normal light reflection
- May be pus visible with hole in TM in acute perforation
LARYNX/TRACHEAL ISSUES
What are laryngeal + tracheal infections characterised by?
- Stridor (rasping sound on inspiration)
- Hoarseness of voice (inflamed vocal cords)
- Barking cough
- Variable degree of dyspnoea
LARYNX/TRACHEAL ISSUES
What are some causes of stridor?
- Croup
- Epiglottitis
- Laryngomalacia
- Inhaled foreign body
- Tracheitis
LARYNX/TRACHEAL ISSUES
How can the severity of upper airway obstruction be clinically assessed in laryngeal and tracheal infections?
- Chest recession (none, only on crying, at rest)
- Degree of stridor (none, only on crying, at rest or biphasic)
- Tracheal tug (none, present)
- Sternal wall retractions (present or marked)
- Lethargy or agitation + RD = severe
LARYNX/TRACHEAL ISSUES
What is the main issue with laryngeal and tracheal infections?
How can this be avoided?
- Mucosal inflammation + swelling can rapidly cause life-threatening obstruction
- Do NOT examine throat, keep calm
CROUP
What is the epidemiology?
- Peak incidence 2y (6m–3y), commonly Autumn
CROUP
What are the causes?
- Parainfluenza viruses (#1), less so RSV, metapneumovirus, influenza
CROUP
What is croup (laryngotracheobronchitis)?
- URTI causing oedema in larynx, oedema of subglottis dangerous (narrow trachea)
CROUP
What is the clinical presentation of croup?
- Initial low grade fever + coryza start and are worse at night
- Barking (seal-like) cough, harsh stridor + hoarseness
CROUP
When would you admit a patient to hospital?
- Mod-severe croup, <6m or upper airway issues (laryngomalacia)
CROUP
How do you assess croup severity?
Westley score for severity
(chest wall retractions, stridor, cyanosis, air entry + consciousness)
CROUP
What are the investigations for croup?
- Clinical but if CXR done PA view shows subglottic narrowing (steeple sign)
CROUP
What is the management of croup?
- PO dexamethasone 0.15mg/kg 1st line, can repeat at 12h
- Nebulised budesonide (steroid)
- High flow oxygen + nebulised adrenaline (more severe/emergency cases)
- Monitor closely with anaesthetist + ENT input, intubation rare
ACUTE EPIGLOTTITIS
What is acute epiglottitis?
- Life-threatening emergency as high risk of obstruction due to intense swelling of epiglottis + surrounding tissues associated with septicaemia
ACUTE EPIGLOTTITIS
What causes it?
- Haemophilus influenza B (HiB), most common 1–6y
ACUTE EPIGLOTTITIS
What is the clinical presentation of acute epiglottitis?
- Rapid onset, no preceding coryza
- High fever in an ill, toxic looking child
- Intensely painful throat (can’t drink, speak, drooling saliva)
- Soft inspiratory stridor with absent or minimal cough
- ‘Tripod’ position > optimise airway by leaning forward + extending neck
ACUTE EPIGLOTTITIS
What is the investigation for acute epiglottitis?
- Clinical Dx but if CXR done lateral view show epiglottis swelling = thumb sign
ACUTE EPIGLOTTITIS
What is the management of epiglottitis?
- Prevention HiB vaccine, rifampicin prophylaxis for close household contacts
- Do NOT examine throat, anaethetist, paeds + ENT surgeon input
- Intubation if severe, may need tracheostomy
- IV ceftriaxone + dexamethasone given once airway secured
BRONCHIOLITIS
What is the epidemiology of bronchiolitis?
90% aged 1–9m,
less common after 1,
common in the winter
BRONCHIOLITIS
What is bronchiolitis?
- Inflammation + infection of bronchioles
BRONCHIOLITIS
What are the causes of bronchiolitis?
- RSV #1, others = adenovirus, metapneumovirus + Mycoplasma
- Adenovirus associated with bronchiolitis obliterans (perm damage due to scarring, Rx steroids)
BRONCHIOLITIS
What are some risk factors for bronchiolitis?
- Premature babies
- CHD
- Cystic fibrosis
- Immune deficiency
BRONCHIOLITIS
What is the clinical presentation of bronchiolitis?
- Coryzal Sx precede a sharp, dry cough with increasing breathlessness
- Feeding difficulty associated with increasing dyspnoea
- Respiratory distress
BRONCHIOLITIS
What are some signs of respiratory distress seen in bronchiolitis?
- Subcostal + intercostal recession, apnoea
- Hyperinflation of chest
- Accessory muscles
- Nasal flaring
- Fine end-inspiratory crackles
- Tracheal tug
- Head bobbing
- Grunting
- High pitched wheezes
- Tachypnoea, tachycardia
- Low grade fever
BRONCHIOLITIS
What are some investigations for bronchiolitis?
- Nasopharyngeal secretions PCR for RSV (immunofluorescence)
- CXR may show hyperinflation due to small airways obstruction, air trapping + foetal atelectasis
- Blood gas (capillary) if severe + ?ventilation > falling O2, rising CO2 + pH
BRONCHIOLITIS
What is the mainstay of management for bronchiolitis?
- Supportive
- Most recover 2w, some have recurrent episodes of cough + wheeze
BRONCHIOLITIS
What are some criteria for admission?
- Apnoea
- Severe resp distress (RR>60, marked chest recession, grunting)
- Central cyanosis
- SpO2 < 92%
- Dehydration
- 50–75% usual intake
BRONCHIOLITIS
What is the inpatient management of bronchiolitis?
- Saline nasal drops
- Small feed (NG 1st or IV if cannot tolerate)
- Humidified oxygen via nasal cannula
- Suction if excessive secretions
- Assisted ventilation by CPAP or fully mechanical (rare)
BRONCHIOLITIS
What can be given as prevention against bronchiolitis?
Who would be given this?
- Monoclonal Ab to RSV = palivizumab as monthly IM
- Reduces hospital admissions in high-risk infants (preterm, cystic fibrosis, congenital heart disease)
PNEUMONIA
What is pneumonia?
- Infection + inflammation of the lung parenchyma
PNEUMONIA
What are the common causes of pneumonia in neonates?
group B strep (gram -ve enterococci)
PNEUMONIA
What are the common causes of pneumonia in infants + young children?
RSV most common,
pneumococcus #1 bacterial,
H. influenzae,
Bordatella pertussis,
chlamydia trachomatis
(S. aureus rarely but = serious)
PNEUMONIA
What are the common causes of pneumonia in children >5?
Pneumococcus,
mycoplasma pneumoniae,
chlamydia pneumoniae
PNEUMONIA
What are the common causes of pneumonia in immunocompromised?
Pneumocystis jiroveci or TB
PNEUMONIA
What is the clinical presentation of pneumonia?
- Fever + difficult breathing common presenting Sx
- Often preceded by URTI
- Productive cough, poor feeding, lethargy
- Mycoplasma can present extra-pulmonary (erythema multiforme)
PNEUMONIA
What are some clinical signs of pneumonia?
- Tachypnoea + tachycardia - Nasal flaring + chest indrawing, head bobbing
- End-inspiratory focal coarse crackles
- Other signs (dull percussion, bronchial breathing) can be absent in young
PNEUMONIA
What are indications for hospital admission?
- SpO2 <92%, severe tachypnoea, grunting, apnoea, not feeding, family unable to provide appropriate care