Respiratory Flashcards
What happens in infection of the upper airways?
Acute inflammation process that affects mucous membranes of the respiratory tract. Most commonly viral but can get secondary bacterial infections.
Examples of infections of the upper respiratory tract
Rhinitis, laryngitis, tonsillitis and sinusitis
Symptoms of an infection of the upper respiratory tract
Malaise, headache, sore throat & discharge
What is pneumonia?
Inflammation of the lung parenchyma
Causes of pneumonia
Infections, inhalation of chemicals, chest wall trauma.
Clinical features of pneumonia
Fever, shortness of breath, chest pain, purulent sputum and cough.
What is the most common organism that causes community acquired pneumonia?
Strep pneumoniae
Which bacteria are usually the cause of hospital acquired pneumonia?
Staph aureus and gram neg bacilli
Name 3 obstructive pulmonary diseases
Asthma, COPD (Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) and Bronchiectasis
What is COPD emphysema?
Irreversible enlargement of airspaces in alveoli.
Symptoms of emphysema
Dyspnoea, cough, wheeze, weight loss & limited expiration
What is COPD chronic bronchitis?
Persistent cough with sputum for at least 3 mnths
What is bronchiectasis?
Permanent destruction and dilation of the airways associated with severe infections or obstructions.
What are the clinical features of restrictive lung disease?
Dyspnea, tachypnea, end inspiratory crackcles, eventual cyanosis without wheezing, reduced lung volume & compliance, pulmonary hypertension.
What is a pulmonary embolism?
Blockage of a main pulmonary artery by an emblus
What percentage of cases of pulmonary embolism is caused by the emboli of DVT?
95%
Symptoms of pulmonary embolism
Chest pain, shortness of breath, hypoxia
What is pulmonary oedema?
Accumulation of fluid in the air spaces and parenchyma of the lungs
What is a pneumothorax?
Air in the pleural cavity.
What is atelectasis?
Incomplete expansion of the lungs
What kind of tumours make up 90-95% of all lung tumours?
Carcinomas arising from lining epithelium
What are the risk factors associated with lung cancer?
Smoking, industrial hazards (radiation, asbestos etc), family history and immunodeficiency.
Name the different types of lung cancers
Small cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, adenocarcinoma, large cell carcinoma, pleural tumours , malignant mesothelioma
Most common site of metastatic neoplasms
Lung metastases
