Respiratory Flashcards
What is rhinitis?
Muscous membranes in eyes, nose and throat become infected or irritated causing congestion and swelling of tissues (common cold).
Very common children get 5-10 per year.
This is self limiting but can sometimes lead on to more serious condtions such as pneumonia, bronchiolitis, meningitis and septicemia.
If unsure review.
What is otitis media?
Inflammation of middle ear.
Can cause pain, red ear and bulging eardrum
It is common and self limiting. Typical duration of 3 days but can be longer.
Antibiotics don’t typically help.
Give analgesia
How is tonsillitis treated?
Also called pharyngitis
It is common. Can be viral or bacterial.
Do throat swab.
If (bacterial) strep thraot often have scarlet fever, which is a faint pink rash which feels like sandpaper when you run your had over it.
Either do nothing or give 10 days penicillin.
What is croup and how is it treated?
Also called laryngotracheobronchitis
Presents with: Coryza (inflammation of mucous membranes of nose) Barking cough Hoarse Stridor (high pitched inspiratory noise)
These children are typically very well but noisy
Treat with oral dexamethasone (a steroid)
What is epiglottitis and how does it differ from croup?
Caused by H. influenxae type B
Is rare and toxic.
Can be mistaken for Croup but this child will be presenting with stridor, drooling and will be very unwell (unlike croup kids who are generally well).
Treatment:
Intubation
Antibiotics
What is tracheitis?
This is uncommon infection of trachea and can contain pus.
This can also look like croup that isn’t getting better.
The child will be very unwell, fever ect.
It can be caused by staph or strep.
Treated with:
Augmentin
What is bronchitis?
This is very common and is an infection of the endothelium in the bronchi.
They will have a loose rattly cough and will potentially bring up sputum often follows a URTI
No wheeze or creps in the chest.
Is self limiting and child is well.
Occurs due to distrubance of mucocillary clearance and easy transferens of bacteria from children to each other
Common to have 4-5 cycles through the winter.
Don’t treat as no reduced QoL, just reassure
What is bronchiolitis?
This is also common and is infection of bronchioles.
Occurs in <12 month old babies.
Is a one off
This causes: Nasal stuffiness Tachypnoea poor feeding as can't breath through nose so can''t breath whilst eating Crackles wheeze
Has very predictable development
Will have cough for 2 days then worsen till 5th day then stabilise and recover.
So treatment depends on when you see them.
If on the third day and sats are poor ect then would admit to hospital.
If on 5th day then don’t need to admit as they are not going to get worse.
Treatment:
Maximal observation and minimal intervention.
Oxygen sats
No medication proven to work
How is pneumonia treated?
If symptoms are mild then oxygen and hydration are adaquate.
1st line oral amoxycillin
2nd Oral Macrolide
Only give IV if vomiting
Pneumonia presentation in children
Difficulty breathing - accessory muscles Tachypnoea Thick yellow, green, brown or blood stained mucus Tachycardia Fever
What is Pertussis?
Also called Whooping cough.
It is common, coughing fits that are worse at night, vomiting.
Gasping for air between coughs
