Resp infections- viral

Question 1

Name 6 upper respiratory tract symptoms

Answer 1

Rhinitis, pharyngitis, sinusitis, otis media/externa, epiglottitis, larygnitis

Question 2

Suggest 6 viruses that cause the common cold

Answer 2

Rhinovirus, parainfluenza viruses, Coronaviruses, RSV, Adenoviruses, Enteroviruses

Question 3

What virus causes Pharyngitis/tonsilitis

Answer 3

Adenovirus

Question 4

What are the symptoms of Glandular fever (infectious mononucleosis)

Answer 4

Fever, pharyngitis, lymphadenopathy (cervical/generalised), malaise

Question 5

What viruses cause Glandular fever

Answer 5

Epstein Barr virus, cytomegalovirus, toxoplasmosis, HIV, seroconversion

Question 6

What is the main cause of croup

Answer 6

Paraflu, RSV

Question 7

Name 2 common and 4 uncommon viruses that cause LRTI

Answer 7

Influenza virus, RSV
uncommon: Varicella Zoster virus
Measels virus
cytomegalovirus
SARS coronavirus

Question 8

What is the structure of the influenza virus

Answer 8

single stranded, segmented, -ve sense RNA 
8 segments= 11 proteins
Heamaglutinin and neuraminidase
lipid envelope
nucleocapsid core

Question 9

Which virus type causes

a) pandemics
b) epidemics

Answer 9

a) B

b) A

Question 10

Explain antigenic drift and shift

Answer 10

Drift- mutations causing small changes (1-2%) in sequence, selected by host immunity, accounts for pandemics
Shift- Genetic reassortment in mixing vessels between human and non-human strains, makes a new subtype, 20% geone change.
account for epidemics as no pre-existing immunity

Question 11

What signs an symptoms accompany influenza

Answer 11

resp= rhinitis, SOB, cough ( complicated =pneumonia primary viral/secondary bacterial)
Systemic= fever, headache, myalgia (complicated= encephalitis, CVD in pt.s with pre-existing problems)

Question 12

How does the virus cause the influenza respiratory symtoms

Answer 12

Infects respiratory epithelium, and causes lysis, removes mucous and cilia

Question 13

Which patients are high risk patients for influenza

Answer 13

Pre-existing disease (lung/renal/endocrine/cardia/liver)
immunodeficient/compromised
elderly and young
pregnant women

Question 14

How long does the influenza virus droplets survive on

a) stainless steel and plastic
b) paper tissue and clothes
c) fingers

Answer 14

a) 24-48hours
b) 8-12hours
c) 5 mins

Question 15

What is RSV

Answer 15

Respiratory syncytial virus
enveloped parayxovirus
unsegmented -ve single stranded RNA 
highly seasonal, (nov-jan) very common, usually causes no disease
Infants- Bronchitis/pneumonia