Respiratory 2 Flashcards
What is obstructive sleep apnea?
Upper oropharyngeal airway obstruction, leading to patient to stop breathing whilst asleep. This causes tiredness and cardiovascular disease.
What causes obstructive sleep apnea?
Cause unclear - links to obesity, smoking and hypertension.
What is the interventions for obstructive sleep apnea?
- CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure): device worn at night which holds tongue down and mandible forward.
- Mandibular advancement prostheses.
What is fibrotic lung disease?
Scarred lung tissue that is irreversible and progressive.
What causes fibrotic lung disease?
Numerous causes:
1. Drugs
2. Birds - hypersensitivity to faeces & feathers)
3. Autoimmune (eg. rheumatoid arthritis, dust)
Give an example of fibrotic lung disease.
Sarcoidosis - this affects the whole body
-Breathlessness
- Kidney and liver damage
- Eyes
-Gingival enlargement
- Cranial nerve problems
-Advise patient on a standard healthy diet/lifestyle.
What are the two types of respiratory tract infections?
- Divided depending on whether infection is above or below the larynx
- Upper respiratory tract infection
- This can extend to a lower respiratory tract infection if not treated effectively.
What are the causes of respiratory tract infections?
- Bacterial
- Viral (eg. common cold/Covid)
- Poor OH - more likely for bacteria to colonise the oropharynx leading to infection.
- Foreign bodies- patient may aspirate something during dental procedure, taking down the bacteria to the lungs causing aspiration pneumonia /abscess
- Fungal
What is pneumonia and what are the symptoms/treatment for it?
- A lower tract infection
- Infection of lung parenchyma
Symptoms:
1. Cough (won’t stop)
2. Purulent sputum (green/yellow indicating bacteria)
3. Fever
4. Breathlessness
5. Pleurisy (chest pain due to inflammation of the pleura. When the sac covering the lungs rub against each other resulting in sharp pain on inhalation)
6. Hypoxia ( reduced gas exchange due to alveoli blocked up with bacteria and inflammatory cells)
Treated with antibiotics and if severe, hospitalisation.
What is strep throat and the associated symptoms?
An upper respiratory tract infection common in children.
Caused by streptococcus pyogenes
Symptoms:
1. Sore throat
2. Fever
3. Maculopapular skin rash
4. Swollen cervical lymph nodes and tonsils
5. Soft palate petechiae - small dots
6. Strawberry tongue - red bumpy
7. Rheumatic fever if not treated properly
What is tuberculosis and what are the symptoms?
A severe infection caused by mycobacterium tuberculosis which results in lung scarring (putting patient at risk of type 2 respiratory failure).
Symptoms:
1. Cough
2. Fever
3. Night sweats
4. Weight loss
5. Haemoptysis ( bloody cough)
Immunocompromised patients are at risk as TB can spread systemically.
What is the treatment for tuberculosis?
Vaccines
Antibiotics - must be specific ABs because mycobacterium tuberculosis has a very thick cell wall, protecting them from many antibiotics.
What are the two categories of tuberculosis and the management of them?
- Latent - non-infectious
- Active - infectious.
- When active infection, we must avoid:
a. aerosolising procedures - if absolutely necessary, then take as many precautions as possible such as rubber dam.
b. General anaesthetic - bacteria can get into the machines
c. Ultrasonic scalers
d. Careful with immunosuppressed staff
What is Legionnaire’s disease?
Caused by Legionella from stagnant water causing pneumonia like symptoms.
What is bronchiectasis and its symptoms?
- Cycle of recurrent infection and damage, leading to dilated bronchi (in contract to COPD and causes patient to become chronically hypoxic 88-92% O2 sat).
-Severe cases have a risk of type 2 respiratory failure
- Symptoms: cough, breathlessness and hypoxia.
