Respiratory Flashcards
What is Bronchiolitis?
Condition characterised by acute bronchiolar inflammation
What is the pathogen responsible for Bronchiolitis?
RSV- 80% of cases
Mycoplasma
Adenoviruses
When does Bronchiolitis peak?
Winter
What age do babies usually get bronchiolitis?
<1 year old
Peak incidence of 3-6 months
Can RARELY be diagnosed in ex-premature babies with chronic lung disease
Symptoms of Bronchiolitis?
Coryzal symptoms
Dry cough
Increasing breathlessness
Parents may present baby with poor feeding
Signs of bronchiolitis?
Wheezing, fine inspiratory crackles (not always present)
Dyspnoea - really heavy laboured breathing.
Tachypnoea
Poor feeding
Fever
Apnoeas - episode where child stops breathing
Signs of respiratory distress
What are coryzal symptoms?
Snotty nose
Sneezing
Mucus in throat
Watery Eyes
How does respiratory distress present in a child?
Raised RR
Use of accessory muscles
Intercostal recessions
Subcostal recessions
Nasal flaring
Head Bobbing
Tracheal tugging
Cyanosis
Abnormal airway noises
What is a wheeze?
Whistling sound caused by narrowed airways, typically heard in expiration
What is grunting?
caused by exhaling with the glottis partially closed to increase postive end-expiratory pressure
What is Stridor?
High pitched inspiratory noise caused by obstruction of the upper airway e.g. croup
When do you call 999 for a child with Bronchiolitis?
Apnoea
Child looks seriously unwell to a healthcare professional
Severe respiratory distress e.g. grunting, marked chest recession or RR over 70
Central cyanosis
Persistent O2 sats of less than 92% on air
Investigations for bronchiolitis?
Immunofluorescence of nasopharyngeal secretions may show RSV
Management of bronchiolitis?
Largely supportive
Humidified oxygen given via head box and typically recommended if sats are persistently less than 92%
NG feeding if children cannot take enough fluid/ feed by mouth
Suction sometimes used for excessive upper airway secretions
What is the stepwise approach to ventilating a child?
To maintain breathing
1) High flow humidified oxygen via tight nasal cannula: air and oxygen continuously with some added pressure (positive end-expiratory pressure)
2) CPAP- using sealed nasal cannula, similar to above but can deliver much high and more controlled pressures
3) Intubation and ventilation. Involved inserting an endotracheal tube into trachea to fully control ventilation
How do you assess ventilation in children with severe resp distress?
Capillary blood gases
Poor signs of ventilation:
Rising PCO2- showing airways have collapsed and can’t clear waste carbon dioxide
Falling pH, showing CO2 is building up an they are not able to buffer the acidosis- respiratory acidosis and if they are hypoxic: TYPE 2 RESP FAILURE
What is Palivizumab?
Monoclonal antibody that target the RSV
Monthly injection is given as prevention against bronchiolitis caused by RSV
Given to high risk babies e.g. ex-premature or CHD
Gives passive protection
Features of asthma in children?
Episodic symptoms with intermittent exacerbations
Diurnal variability- worse at night and better in the morning
Dry cough with wheeze and SOB
Hx of atopy
Bilateral widespread poylphonic wheeze
Symptoms improve with bronchodilators
Differentials for wheeze in children?
Asthma
Viral wheeze- related to coughs and colds
Unilateal- suggesting focal lesion, inhaled foreign body or infection
Triggers for asthma?
Dust
Animals
Cold air
Exercise
Smoke
Food allergens
Investigations for asthma in children?
Usually diagnosed after the age of 2/3
Spirometry with reversibility testing (in kids over 5 years)
Direct bronchial challenge test with histamine or methacholine
FeNO
Peak flow variability- measure by a diary of several measurements a day, for 2-4 weeks
Management for asthma in under 5s
Need to use clinical judgement in this scenario
1) SABA
2) Add ICS or Leukotriene antagonist. Potentially can trial 8 weeks of ICS and see if any improvements
3) Add the other option from step 2
4) refer to specialist
Management of asthma is over 5’s
Very similar to adults
1) SABA
2) SABA + Pediatric low dose ICS
3) SABA + Pediatric low dose ICS + LTRA
4) SABA + Paediatric low dose ICS + LABA
(Stop LTRA if it hasn’t worked)
5) SABA + MART (combo of the paeds ICS and LABA)
6) SABA + moderate dose ICS MART
7) SABA + one of the following:
Increase ICS to paediatric high dose OR
Trial of an additional drug e.g. theophylline OR
Seek advice from a healthcare professional with expertise in asthma
What may patients be anxious about RE ICS? How would you advise?
Slow growth- evidence that inhaled steroids can slightly reduce growth velocity and can cause a small reduction in final adult height of up to 1cm when used long term (for more than 12 months). DOSE DEPENDENT
Explain to parent that these are effective medicines and prevent poorly controlled asthma/ asthma attacks which can lead to a more significant impact on growth and development. Also regular asthma reviews to ensure child is growing well and on the minimal dose required for symptoms
Outline inhaler technique without a spacer
Remove the cap
Shake the inhaler (depending on the type)
Sit or stand up straight
Lift the chin slightly
Fully exhale
Make a tight seal around the inhaler between
the lips
Take a steady breath in whilst pressing the canister
Continue breathing for 3 – 4 seconds after pressing the canister
Hold the breath for 10 seconds or as long as comfortably possible
Wait 30 seconds before giving a further dose
Rinse the mouth after using a steroid inhaler
Inhaler technique with a spacer
Assemble the spacer
Shake the inhaler (depending on the type)
Attach the inhaler to the correct end
Sit or stand up straight
Lift the chin slightly
Make a seal around the spacer mouthpiece or
place the mask over the face
Spray the dose into the spacer
Take steady breaths in and out 5 times until the mist is fully inhaled
What is am acute asthma attack?
Characterized by a rapid deterioration in the symptoms of asthma.
This could be triggered by any of the typical asthma triggers, such as infection, exercise or cold weather.
What are the parameters for a severe asthma attack?
Peak flow < 50% predicted
Saturations < 92%
Unable to complete sentences in one breath
Signs of respiratory distress
RR: > 40 in 1-5 years
> 30 in > 5 years
Heart Rate: >140 in 1-5 years
>125 in >5 years
Use of accessory neck muscles
What are the features of life threatening asthma?
Peak flow < 33% predicted
Saturations <92%
Exhaustion and poor respiratory effort
Hypotension
Silent chest
Cyanosis
Altered consciousness/confusion
Management of mild- moderate acute asthma?
Bronchodilator therapy:
Give a beta-2 agonist via a spacer (for child < 3 years use a close-fitting mask)
Give 1 puff every 30-60 seconds up to a mx of 10 puffs
If symptoms are not controlled repeat beta-2 agonist and refer to hospital
Management of acute asthma in hospital
Oxygen: SaO2 <94% should receive high flow oxygen to maintain sats between 94-98
Bronchodilators: Inhaled SABA- via nebuliser if severe
Steroids: all children with exacerbations should be started on oral prednisolone 3-5 days
Ipatropium bromide: add in if no/poor response to inhaled SABA
2nd line
IV salbutamol can be considered with specialist input if no response to inhaled bronchodilators
Magnesium sulphate can be considered, as has an effect as a bronchodilator
Prednisolone dose for asthma?
2-5 years old:
Dose as per BTS: 20mg od
Dose as per cBNF: 1-2mg/kg od (max 40mg)
> 5 years
Dose as per BTS: 30-40mg od
Dose as per cBNF: 1-2mg/kg (max 40mg od)
Safe discharge criteria for acute asthma exacerbation?
Bronchodilators are taken as inhaler device with spacer at intervals of 4 hourly or more
SaO2> 94% in air
Inhaler technique reviewed
Written asthma management plan given and explained to parents
GP review 2 days after discharge
What is bronchiectasis?
Chronic irreversible inflammation of the bronchi and bronchioles leading to permanent dilatation and thinning of these airways.
These deformed bronchi has poor mucous clearance and there is predispostion to recurrent or chronic bacterial infection
Bronchiectasis symptoms?
Chronic cough
Daily mucopurulent sputum production
Breathlessness on exertion
Intermittent haemoptysis
Nasal symptoms
Chest pain
Fatigue