Paeds respiratory conditions Flashcards
- Definition of Bronchiolitis
Bronchiolitis describes inflammation and infection in the bronchioles, the small airways of the lungs.
- Causes of bronchiolitis: most common
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the most common cause.
- Bronchiolitis aetiology: explain how disease occurs
When a virus affects the airways of adults, the swelling and mucus are proportionally so small that it has little noticeable effect on breathing. The airways of infants are very small to begin with, and when there is even the smallest amount of inflammation and mucus in the airway it has a significant effect on the infants ability to circulate air to the **alveoli **and back out. This causes the harsh breath sounds, wheeze and crackles heard on auscultation when listening to a bronchiolitic baby’s chest
Bronchiolitis Occurs in what age of children? Most common in what age?
children under 1 year. It is most common in children under 6 months. It can rarely be diagnosed in children up to 2 years of age, particularly in ex-premature babies with chronic lung disease
- Presentation of bronchiolitis
- Signs of respiratory distress
- What are the 3 abnormal airway noises to be aware of in children
- Wheezing is a whistling sound caused by narrowed airways, typically heard during expiration
- Grunting is caused by exhaling with the glottis partially closed to increase positive end-expiratory pressure
- Stridor is a high pitched inspiratory noise caused by obstruction of the upper airway, for example in croup
- Criteria for admission in bronchiolitis
- Typical RSV course
Children who have had bronchiolitis as infants are more likely to have
viral induced wheeze during childhood.
- Management of bronchiolitis
- How long do bronchiolitis symptoms last usually?
Symptoms usually last 7 to 10 days total
- Most patients with bronchiolitis fully recover within …
2-3 weeks
- Ventilatory support: when is it needed?
As breathing gets harder, the child gets more tired and less able to adequately ventilate themselves. They may require ventilatory support to maintain their breathing.
- Ventilatory support: different escalations
- How do you assess ventilation?
Capillary blood gases are useful in severe respiratory distress and in monitoring children who are having ventilatory support
- When do you use capillary blood gases?
in severe respiratory distress and in monitoring children who are having ventilatory support.
- Most helpful signs of poor ventilation are:
- What is palivizumab and how does it work
Palivizumab is a monoclonal antibody that targets the respiratory syncytial virus. A monthly injection is given as prevention against bronchiolitis caused by RSV
- Who gets given palivizumab?
It is given to high risk babies, such as ex-premature and those with congenital heart disease
- What prevention treatment for bronchiolitis is available
pavilizumab
croup typically affects children aged .., however they can be older
6 months to 2 years
- Definition of croup
Upper respiratory tract infection causing oedema in the larynx
- The classic cause of croup that you need to spot in your exams, is
parainfluenza virus
- It usually improves in less than…and responds well to treatment…
It usually improves in less than 48 hours and responds well to treatment is steroids, particularly dexamethasone.
- Common causes for croup
- Parainfluenza
- Influenza
- Adenovirus
- Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV)
Croup used to be caused by diphtheria. Croup caused by diphtheria leads to epiglottitis and has a high mortality. Vaccination mean that this is very rare in developed countries.
- What type of infection is croup?
URTI
- Main pathology that croup causes
oedema in the larynx
croup presentation
- Croup caused by … leads to epiglottitis and has a high mortality.
diphteria
managemen of croup
- Stepwise options in severe croup to get control of symptoms:
Presentation suggesting possible epiglottis
- Epiglottitis can present in a similar way to
croup, but with a more rapid onset
- In your exams keep a lookout for a epiglottis diagnosis when a child presents with:
unvaccinated child presenting with a fever, sore throat, difficulty swallowing that is sitting forward and drooling
Epiglottitis definition
inflammation and swelling of the epiglottis caused by infection, typically with haemophilus influenza type B. The epiglottis can swell to the point of completely obscuring the airway within hours of symptoms developing. Therefore, epiglottitis is a life threatening emergency.
Epiglottitis investigation and findings
Epiglottitis management
A common complication to be aware of with epiglottitis
development of an epiglottic abscess, which is a collection of pus around the epiglottis. This also threatens the airway, making it a life threatening emergency. Treatment is similar to epiglottitis.
prognosis of epiglottitis
- Most children recover without requiring intubation.
- Most patients that are intubated can be extubated after a few days and also make a full recovery.
- Death can occur in severe cases or if it is not diagnosed and managed in time.
Pneumonia presentation
pneumonia signs
characteristic chest signs of pneumonia:
causes of pneumonia
pneumonia investigations
management of pneumonia
tests for recurrent lower respiratory trat infections in children
presentation of acute asthma
BTS/SIGN guidelines: moderate, severe and life threatening signs of an asthma attack
- Staples of management in acute viral induced wheeze or asthma are:
- Bronchodilators are stepped up as required:
Mild cases of asthma attack can be managed how?
Mild cases can be managed as an outpatient with regular salbutamol inhalers via a spacer (e.g. 4-6 puffs every 4 hours).
Moderate to severe cases of asthma attacks management
A typical step down regime of inhaled salbutamol is
10 puffs 2 hourly then 10 puffs 4 hourly then 6 puffs 4 hourly then 4 puffs 6 hourly.