Respiratory Flashcards
List the common respiratory infections seen in children?
Bronchiolitis
Pneumonia
Croup
Acute epiglottitis
Whooping cough
Viral induced wheeze
What is bronchiolitis?
Inflammation of the bronchioles caused by infection, usually viral
What are the symptoms of bronchiolitis?
Coryza Cough Wheeze Fever Tachypnoea Respiratory distress Tachypnoea + cardia
What causes bronchiolitis?
It’s an infection causing inflammation of the bronchioles.
Usually RSV (resp syncytial virus)
Sometimes:
- parainfluenza
- influenza
- human metapneumovirus
What investigations would you do in suspected bronchiolitis?
Don’t really need any investigations.
Bloods:
- FBC
- U+E
- CRP/ESR
- (LFTs, TFTs)
Nasal swab
What’s the management of bronchiolitis?
Humidified oxygen via nasal cannulae
Fluids or NG tube if struggling with feeding
CPAP, intubation + ventilation in severe cases
In a viral infection what would you expect to see on FBC?
Raised white count
Specifically lymphocytes
In a bacterial infection what would you expect to see on FBC?
Raised white count
Specifically neutrophils
What is used as prophylaxis for bronchiolitis? How often should it be given? Who should get it?
Palivizumab, a monoclonal antibody
Given IM once a month
Children who are likely to get severely ill with bronchiolitis, congenital heart defects, preterm with chronic lung disease
What is croup? (clue: what’s it also known as?)
What’s the pathology?
Laryngotracheobronchitis
Inflammation of larynx, trachea, bronchi caused by infection, usually viral
You get inflammation, oedema and exudate which causes symptoms
What causes croup?
Viral infection:
- parainfluenza
- RSV
What are the symptoms of croup?
Seal like barking cough SOB: respiratory distress Hoarse voice Stridor Coryza Fever
What is stridor? Why does it happen?
Inspiratory breath sound
High pitched, harsh
Due to turbulent air flow caused by partial obstruction of upper airway
You need to be careful when examining children with which of the following?
- bronchiolitis
- croup
- asthma exacerbation
- acute epiglottitis?
In croup and acute epiglottitis, because if they’re distressed their already partially obstructed airway could close completely.
Don’t examine them!
In the following conditions, what time of year are most cases seen and in which age group?
- croup
- bronchiolitis
- whooping cough?
Croup:
- autumn and early winter
- 6 months - 3 years
Bronchiolitis:
- autumn and winter
- 3 months - 2 years
Whooping cough:
- any time of year
- infants and over 14yrs
What are the signs found OE of croup?
Stridor Low grade fever Low oxygen saturations No crackles Respiratory distress signs
What are the signs of respiratory distress?
Intercostal and subcostal recession
Tracheal tug
Head bobbing
Use of accessory muscles
Tachypnoea
Grunting
Nasal flaring
What is the management of mild croup?
Oral steroids
Dexamethasone 150mcg/kg
Prednisolone 1-2mg/kg
Can also give nebulised budesonide (a steroid)
In severe croup, what’s the management?
ABCDE
Nebulised adrenaline
Oxygen
What is pneumonia?
Inflammation of alveoli and surrounding structures
Caused by infection, usually bacterial
What is the most common cause of pneumonia?
Only list one for this question!)
Strep pneumoniae
In neonates which bugs are usually the cause of pneumonia?
Group B strep (picked up from mother at birth)
Gram negative enterococci
TB