Respiratory Flashcards
Describe the Epidemiology of Asthma (2)
- Commonly presents in childhood/adolescence
- More common in developed countries
What are the two types of Asthma
- Allergic/Eosinophillic
- Non-Allergic/Non Eosinophillic
What are the 3 main characteristics of Asthma
- Airway hyper-responsiveness
- Airway obstruction
- Bronchial inflammation/fibrosis with smooth muscle hypertrophy, increased mucosal secretion and epithelial damage
What are the risk factors for Asthma (5)
- Atopy
- Family History
- Premature birth
- Obesity
- Poor socioeconomic status
What are the main precipitating factors for Asthma (6)
- Cold air
- Smoke (tobacco)
- Exercise
- Allergens
- Stress
- NSAIDs and Beta blockers
How might someone with Asthma present (6)
- Intermittent dyspnoea
- Wheeze
- Frequent exacerbation due to an identifiable factor
- Cough
- Symptoms worse at night
- Often a younger patient
What tests might you do in Asthma (4)
- RCP3
- Spirometry
- Obstructive pattern (FEV1/FVC <0.7) - PEFR diary with introduction of Salbutamol
- Skin prick test (for allergies)
What medication might you prescribe in Asthma (3)
- Beta agonists
- SABA (salbutamol)
- LABA (Salmeterol) - Muscarinic Antagonists
- SAMA (Ipratropium)
- LAMA (Tiotropium) - Inhaled Corticosteroids
- Prednisolone
- May be given systemically if ineffective
What is the medication Guideline regime in Asthma (4)
- SABA
- SABA and ICS
- SABA and LABA and ICS
- SABA and LABA and ICS plus 4th?
How would a patient having an acute Asthma attack present (3)
- Tachycardia
- Resp. Rate > 24
- Unable to finish sentences due to severe
breathlessness
How would you treat an acute Asthma attack (3)
- Oxygen (keep above 92%)
- Nebulised Salbutamol
- Prednisolone
What is COPD
- A disease state with progressive airway obstruction that is not fully reversible
What are the risk factors for COPD (3)
- Smoking
- Alpha 1 Antitrypsin defficiency
- Occupational factors (Coal dust, chemicals, etc.)
What are the two diseases in COPD
- Chronic Bronchitis
- Emphysema
Describe the pathophysiology of Chronic Bronchitis
- Airway narrowing and increased mucosal secretions in response to inhaled irritants
- Hypertrophy and Hyperplasia of mucus scereting glands of Bronchi
- Inflammation and fibrosis of Bronchial walls leading to airway narrowing
- Blue Bloaters
Describe the pathophysiology of Emphysema
- Dilatation and destruction of lung tissue distal to bronchioles in reponse to inhaled irritants
- inflammation leads to decreased elastic recoil and dilatation of alveoli
- This leads to alveolar collapse and decreased compliance/ decreased gas exchange
- pink puffers
How might someone with COPD present (6)
- Chronic productive (clear) cough
- Breathlessness
- Wheeze
- Frequent infections
- Symptoms worsened by cold/damp
- Usually older Smokers
What is the treatment for COPD (4)
- Smoking cessation (most effective)
- B2 Agonists
- LABA (salmeterol)
- SABA (salbutamol) - Corticosteroids
- 2 week prednisolone trial
- beclametasone ICS if improves symptoms - Oxygen therapy
What type of disease is Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis
- Autoimmune Interstitial Lung Disease (restrictive)
What is the epidemiology of Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis (2)
- Usually in Adults
- Acute, Sub-Acute and Chronic Forms
What are the causes/risk factors for hypersensitivity pneumonitis
- Farmers Lung (Mouldy Hay)
- Cheese Workers Lung (Mouldy Cheese)
- Pigeon Fanciers Lung (Proteins in droppings)
- Malt Worker (Mouldy Malt)
- Existing Lung Disease
Describe the Pathophysiology of Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis
- Type 3 hypersensitivity reaction
- Cellular immune response and immune complex deposition in response to inhaled allergen
- This leads to granulatomous inflammation and hence progressive fibrosis of the lung parenchyma
How might someone with acute Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis present (6)
- Fever, sweats, rigor
- Dyspnoea
- Dry cough
- Myalgia
- Crackling
- Tight chest
How might someone with sub-acute Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis present (8)
- Similar to acute but less pronounced and slower onset
- May have a history of acute attacks
- Fever, sweats, rigor
- Dyspnoea
- Dry cough
- Myalgia
- Crackling
- Tight chest