Respiratory Flashcards
Acute bronchitis
Inflammation of lining of bronchial tube, which carries air from lungs
Chronic bronchitis
Productive cough that lasts at least three months, with recurring bouts occurring at least two consecutive years
No cure, significantly improved through managing condition through medication and lifestyle changes
Acute bronchitis cause
Usually caused by viruses, typically same as colds and flu (influenza)
Smoking
Air pollution
Dust
Toxic gas from enviro
Acute bronchitis population
Can affect all ages, most common in children under 5
More commonly developed in winter
Acute bronchitis risk
Smokers
Low resistance- may result from another acute illness such as a cold
Exposure to irritants at work- e.g., grain or textiles
Gastric reflux- repeated bouts of severe heartburn can irritate throat and inc chance of bronchitis
Acute bronchitis S+S
Cough
Production of mucus=- clear, white, yellowish-grey or green, rarely may have streak of blood
Fatigue
Shortness of breath
Slight fever/chills
Chest discomfort
Potential body aches, mild headache
Acute bronchitis prognosis
Usually improves within a week to 10 days without lasting effects, although cough may linger for weeks
Antibiotics won’t work as it won’t kill influenza virus
Bronchiolitis
Common lung infection
Causes inflammation and congestion in bronchioles
Bronchiolitis cause
Virus- influenza, rhinovirus, etc
Bronchiolitis population
Young children and infants
Peal time is during winter
Bronchiolitis risks
Premature birth
Underlying heart or lung conditions
Depressed immune system
Exposure to tobacco smoke
Bronchiolitis presentation
Early- runny/stuffy nose, cough, slight fever (not always present)
After this may be a week or more of difficulty breathing or whistling of nose
Many infants have an ear infection (otitis media)
Bronchiolitis prognosis
Most children get better with care at home
Small % hospitalised
See doctor if audible wheezing, breathing very fast, laboured breathing, lethargic appearance, refusal to drink, skin turning blue (cyanosis)
Whooping cough
Highly contagious respiratory tract infection
Whooping cough cause
Bacteria called Bordetella perussis
When infected person coughs or sneezes, tiny germ-laden droplets are sprayed into air and inhaled by others
Whooping cough population
Before vaccine, considered childhood disease
Mainly affects children too young to finish full course of ABs or teens/adults whose immunity has faded
Whooping cough risks
When vaccine wears off- leaves most teenagers and adults susceptible during outbreak
Infants under 12 months who are unvaccinated or haven’t received full set have highest risk for severe complications and death
Whooping cough presentation
Once infected, takes about 7-10 days to show symptoms
Runny nose
Nasal congestion
Red, watery eyes
Fever
Cough
After week or two- provoke vomiting, red/blue face, extreme fatigue, end with high pitched ‘whoop’ sound during next breath of air
Whooping cough prognosis
Deaths are rare but most commonly occur in infants
See doctor if prolonged coughing causes vomiting, face to turn red/blue, pauses in breathing, inhale with whooping sound
Complications- bruised/cracked ribs, abdominal hernias, broken vessels in skin or whites of eyes
Infant complications- pneumonia, slowed/stopped breathing, seizures
Make sure fully vaccinated and boosted
Pneumonia
Infection that inflames air sacs in one or both lungs
Sacs may fill with fluid or pus, causing cough, fever, child, and difficulty breathing
Causes of pneumonia
Variety of organisms, including bacteria, viruses and fungi
Community acquired
Hospital acquired
Health care
Aspiration
Pneumonia community acquired cause
Bacteria- Streptococcus pneumoniae- occurs on its own once infected with a cold or flue
Bacteria like organisms- Mycoplasma pneumoniae- typically produces milder symptom’s
Fungi- most common in people with chronic health problems or weakened immune systems. Found in soil, bird droppings, etc
Viruses- most common in children younger than 5
Pneumonia hospital acquired
can be serious because bacteria causing it may be more resistant to ABs
Pneumonia healthcare
occurs in people who live in long-term care facilities, similar to hospital
Pneumonia aspiration
occurs when you inhale food, drink, vomit or saliva into lungs. More likely if something disturbs normal gag reflex, such as brain injury or swallowing problems
Pneumonia risks
Most serious for infants and young children (under 2)
People over 65
Health problems/weakened immune system
Being hospitalised
Smoking
Pneumonia presentation
Mild to severe
Chest P when coughing or beathing
Confusion (65+)
Cough, may produce phlegm
Fatigue
Fever, sweating and shaking chills
Lower body temp
Nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea
New-borns may not show signs
Pneumonia prognosis
Ranges from mild to life-threatening
Get vaccinated to prevent
TB
Potentially serious disease that mainly affects lungs
Bacterial infection
Inc prevalence in 1985 post HIV outbreak as HIV weakness immune system
TB cause
Spread through droplets
Bacteria
Contagious, but not easy to catch
2 weeks of treatment= no longer contagious
TB risks
HIV/AIDS
Diabetes
Severe kidney disease
Very young or advanced age
Some drugs with treat rheumatoid diseases
TB presentation
Latent TB- have Tb but bacteria in body are inactive and cause no symptoms, treatment important to prevent it becoming active
Active TB- show symptoms, can spread to others, can occur weeks or years after TB bacteria infection
Soughing for 3 or more weeks
Coughing up blood or mucus
Night sweats
Loss of appetite
Chest P especially when coughing or breathing
TB prognosis
Any TB strains are resistant to drugs
Multiple medication needed to be taken for months to get rid of infection and prevent AB resistance
Emphysema
Lung condition causing shortness of breath
Alveoli damaged, over time inner walls of air sacs weaken and rupture- creating large air spaces instead of small ones
Reduces SA of lungs reduced oxygen to bloodstream
During exhalation, damaged alveoli don’t work properly and old air is trapped, leaving no room for oxygen-rich air to enter
Emphysema cause
Long-term exposure to airborne irritants e.g., tobacco smoke, air pollution, chemical fumes and dust
Emphysema risks
Smoking
Age- 40-60
Exposure to second-hand smoke
Occupational exposure to fumes or dust
Emphysema presentation
Can have it many years without noticing
Main symptom is shortness of breath, so doesn’t become a problem until it interferes with daily life
Causes shortness of breath whilst at rest
Emphysema prognosis
Complications include- collapsed lungs, heart problems, large holes in lungs (bullae)
Asthma
Airways narrow and swell and may produce extra mucus
Minor-major
Asthma cause
Not clear, thought to be due to combination of enviro and genetic factors
Triggers:
1. Airborne allergens- e.g., pollen, dust mites
2. Respiratory infections
3. Physical activity
4. Cold air
5. Air pollutants
6. Strong emotion/stress
Asthma population
Female= inc risk
Younger population
1/12 adults- late onset asthma
On the inc due to pollution
Asthma risks
Blood relative with asthma
Overweight
Smoker
Exposure to second hand smoke
Exposure to exhaust fumes/occupational triggers
Asthma presentation
Variable
May have infrequent asthma attacks
Shortness of breath
Chest tightness or P
Wheezing when exhaling, common in children
Trouble sleeping caused by shortness if breath
Worsening signs- more frequent and bothersome, inc difficulty breathing, need to use quick-relief inhaler
Asthma flare ups in certain situations
Exercise induced- may be worsened by cold or dry air
Occupational asthma- triggered by workplace irritants
Allergy induced asthma- triggered by airborne substances (pollen, cold spores)
Asthma prognosis
Can be minor or major
Can’t be cured but symptoms can be controlled
Important to work with doctor to track signs and symptoms and adjust to changes
Metered dosed
Dry powder inhaler
Soft mist inhaler
-inhale corticosteroids- reduce inflammation in lungs, prevent attacks
-short-acting bronchodilators- use during attack
Cystic fibrosis
Inherited disorder that causes severe damage to lungs, digestive system and other organs
Affects cells that produce mucus, sweat and digestive juices- usually thin and slippery, people with CF have a defective gene causing secretions to be sticky and thick
Instead of acting as a lubricant it plugs up tubes, ducts and passageways especially in lungs and pancreas
Cystic fibrosis cause
Mutation in a gene- cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene- changes protein that regulates movement of salts in and out of cells
Results in sticky mucus in respiratory, digestive and reproductive systems as well as inc salt in sweat
Children need to inherit one copy of the gene from each parent in order to have disease
If children develop one copy they won’t develop CF, however they will be carriers and could pass it one to their children
Cystic fibrosis population
Northern Europeans
Cystic fibrosis risks
Family Hx
Most common in Northern European ancestry
Cystic fibrosis presentation
Variable
May not experience symptoms until teenage years or adulthood
Tend to have higher salt in sweat, parents can tell when kissing their children
Respiratory- persistent cough that produces thick mucus, wheezing, exercise intolerance, repeated lung infections, recurrent sinusitis
Digestive- thick mucus can block rubes that carry digestive enzymes from pancreas to small intestines- without these unable to absorb nutrients from food resulting in foul smelling stools, poor weight gain and growth, intestinal blocks particularly in new-borns, chronic or severe constipation
Cystic fibrosis prognosis
Requires progressive treatment/daily care, but usually able to attend school or work
Improvements in screening treatments mean people with CF now may live into mid-late 30s or 40s, some into 50s
Genetic screening
Lung cancer
Leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide
Types:
1. Small cell- almost exclusively in heavy smokers
2. Non-small cell- umbrella term for several types, includes squamous cell carcinoma, adenocarcinoma and large cell carcinoma
Lung cancer cause
Smoking- both smokers and those exposed to second hand
o Damage to cells which line lungs
o Inhalation of carcinogens changes kung tissue immediately
Other than smoking, no clear cause
Lung cancer population
65+
Lung cancer risks
Smoking
Exposure to second hand
Previous radiation therapy
Family Hx of lung cancer
Lung cancer presentation
Rarely symptoms in early stages
New cough that doesn’t go away
Coughing up blood
Chest P
Shortness of breath
Hoarseness
Losing weight
Bone P
Headache
Lung cancer prognosis
Many complications- coughing up blood, shortness of breath, P, fluid in chest, cancer that spreads
2/5 live for a year after diagnosis
1/10 live for ten years
Pneumothorax
Collapsed lung
Occurs when air leaks into space between lung and chest wall
Air pushes on outside of lung and it collapses
Pneumothorax cause
Chest injury- blunt or penetrating
Lung disease- damage inc likelihood, e.g., CF
Ruptured air blisters- develop at top of lung, occasionally burst allowing air to leak into space that surrounds lungs
Mechanical ventilation- severe type, imbalance of air pressure created within chest by ventilator
Pneumothorax population
Tall, thin people
Smokers
Pneumothorax risks
Smoking
Genetics
Previous pneumothorax
Pneumothorax presentation
Sudden chest P
Shortness of breath
Severity depends on how much lung is collapsed
Pneumothorax prognosis
Insert needle or chest tube between ribs to remove excess air
Can heal on its own
General S+S
- Dyspnoea
- Cough
- Chest px
- Wheeze
- Weight loss
- Fatigue
- Chest infections
- Mucus production coughing up blood
Causes of breathlessness
- Asthma
- Chest infection
- Being overweight
- Smoking
- Panic attack
- COPD
- Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis
- Heart failure
- Lung cancer
CVS causes of breathlessness
- Angina
- Heart attack
- Heart failure
- Some abnormal heart rhythms
o Atrial fibrillation
GI causes for breathlessness
- Any condition that leads to the build up of air or foodstuffs could cause both bloating anf breathlessness
- Stool inside the intestines
- IBS
- Celiac disease
- Lactose intolerance
- Constipation
- Ileus
- Bowel obstruction
- Gastroparesis
