Respiratory Flashcards
What are the features and symptoms of bronchiolitis
Inflammation and infection of the bronchioles
Usually caused by RSV
Children under 1 yr during winter
Harsh breath sounds, wheeze and crackles
-Coryzal symptoms
-Signs of respiratory distress- high RR, accessory muscles, intercostal/subcostal recessions, nasal flaring, head bobbing, tracheal tugging, cyanosis, abnormal noises- grunting stridor, wheeze
-Dyspnoea
-Poor feeding
-Mild fever under 39
-Apnoeas
-Wheeze and crackles
How long does bronchiolitis last and when should a patient be admitted
Starts as URTI with cold symptoms
Chest symptoms over 1-2 days after
Chest symptoms worst on day 3-4
7-10 days total with full recovery in 2-3 weeks
Children who get bronchiolitis more likely to have viral induced wheeze as a child
Admission if
-Under 3 months or pre-exisit9ng condition (premature, downs, CF)
-50-75% less than their normal intake
-Clinical dehydration
-Resp rate over 70
-Sats below 92
-Moderate to severe resp distress
-Apnoeas
-Parents not confident to manage at home
What management is involved in bronchiolitis
Supportive
-Adequate intake- oral, NG or IV depending on severity - small frequent feeds
-Saline nasal drops and nasal suctioning
-Supplementary oxygen if sats still below 92%
-Ventilatory support if needed
-High flow humidified oxygen via nasal cannula
-Continuous positive airway pressure- sealed nasal cannula- higher pressure
-Intubation and ventilation
What are some signs of poor ventilation in children
Cap blood gases and useful in monitoring kids
-Rising PCO2- always have collapsed and can’t clear carbon dioxide
-Falling pH- CO2 is building up and not able to buffer acidosis- respiratory acidosis- if hypoxic- type 2 respiratory failure
When is palivizumab used in bronchiolitis
Targets RSV- monthly injection given as prevention to high risk babies- ex-premature or those with congenital heart disease
Gives passive protection until the body encounters the virus - antibody levels decrease over time- why it’s given monthly
What are the features and management of viral induced wheeze
Swelling and constriction of already small airways due to a virus (usually in under 3s) - greater restriction to airflow than in adults
Can tell it’s viral induced wheeze and not asthma if
-Present before 3 yrs
-No atopy
-Only occurs during viral infections not during exercise, cold weather, dust or emotions
Presentation- SOB, Resp distress, Expiratory wheeze throughout the chest
Management is the same as acute asthma in children
What does a focal wheeze indicate
Focal airway obstruction eg. inhaled foreign body or tumour
What is the presentation of acute asthma in children
Progressively worsening SOB
Resp distress
High RR
Expiratory wheeze heard on auscultation throughout chest
Tight chest on auscultation - reduced air entry
Silent chest- fatal
What are the severity guidelines for acute asthma in children
Moderate
Peak flow >50%
Normal speech
Severe
Peak flow <50%
Sats <92%
Can’t talk in sentences
Resp distress signs
RR >40 in under 5s and >30 in over 5s
HR >140 in under 5s and >125 in over 5s
Life threatening
Peak flow <33%
Sats <92%
Exhaustion/ no rest effort
Hypotension
Silent chest
Cyanosis
LOC/ Confusion
What is the management f acute asthma/ viral induced wheeze
- Supplementary oxygen if required (<94%)
- Bronchodilators (salbutamol, ipatropium, magnesium sulphate)
Stepped up as required
-Inhaled/ nebs salbutamol
-Inhaled/ nebst ipatropium bromide
-IV magnesium sulphate
-IV aminophylline
- Steroids- oral prednisone or hydrocortisone (IV)
- Abx- only if bacterial cause suspected
Mild cases managed as an outpatient- regular salbutamol inhalers with a spacer
What is the stepwise management of acute asthma in children in moderate to severe cases
- Salbutamol inhalers with a spacer- 10 puffs every 2 hours
- Nebulisers with salbutamol/ ipatropium bromide
- Oral Pred (1mg/ kg of bw once daily for 3 days)
- IV hydrocortisone
- IV magnesium sulphate
- IV sabutamol
- IV aminophylline
If not under control after this call Anesthetist and ICU
What is the typical step down regime of salbutamol/ discharge for a child
Salbutamol
10 puffs 2 hrly, 10 puffs 4hrly, 6 puffs 4hrly then 4 puffs 6 hrly
Monitor serum potassium ***
Discharge considered when the child is well on 6 puffs 4 hrly and have finished course of steroids if started
What presentations will indicate asthma
-Episodic symptoms
-Diurnal variation- worse at night
-Dry cough with wheeze and SOB
-Typical triggers - dust, animals, cold air, exercise, smoke
-Atopy
-Fam history
-Bilateral widespread polyphonic wheeze
-Symptoms improve with bronchodilators
No diagnosis until around 2-3
-Spirometry with reversibility can be done in over 5s
-Direct bronchial challenge test
-Fractional exhaled nitric oxide
-Peak flow variability 2-4 weeks
What is the medical therapy for asthma in under 5s
- Salbutamol inhaler as required
- Add low dose steroid or leukotriene antagonist (montelukast)
- Add other option from step 2
- Specialist referral
What is the medical therapy for asthmatics aged 5-12
- Salbutamol inhaler as required
- Regular low dose steroid inhaler
- Long acting beta 2 agonist- salmeterol - continue if patient has good response
- Titrate up corticosteroid inhaler to medium dose and consider adding
-Leukotriene antagonist (montelukast) or Oral theophylline - Increase dose of inhaled corticosteroid to a high dose
- Specialist referral