Respiratory Flashcards
What does sleep disordered breathing occur due to?
What is the most common cause in children?
What are pre-disposing causes of sleep disordered breathing?
Occurs due to either obstruction or a problem with central hypoventilation or can be a combination.
The most common cause in children is adenotonsillar hypertrophy.
Pre-disposing causes include:
- NM disease (e.g Duchenne’s muscular dystrophy)
- Craniofacial abnormalities
- Dystonia of upper airway muscles
- Severe obesity
- Children with down’s syndrome (as they have upper airway restriction as well as hypotonia)
What are key aspects in the history for a child with sleep-disordered breathing?
Snoring
Witnessed pauses in breathing
Restlessness
Disturbed sleep
What behaviours does a child present with as a result of OSA?
Hyperactivity or sleepiness
Learning and behaviour problems
Faltering growth
In severe cases- pulmonary hypertension
How is OSA assessed?
Pulse oximetry overnight
Polysomnography in more complex cases - HR/resp effort/airflow/co2 measurement
What are the different types of treatment for OSA?
Surgery - removal of adenoids and tonsils (adenotonsillectomy)
Nasal of face mask with CPAP or BiPAP to maintain the upper airway at night
What are some signs of a) moderate b)severe respiratory distress that may been seen in a child?
Moderate: tachycardia, tachypnoea, intercostal and subcostal muscle recession, Tracheal tug, head retraction, inability to feed,
Severe: cyanosis, tiring because of increased work of breathing, reduced conscious level, oxygen sats <92 despite O2 therapy
Which children are particularly at risk of respiratory failure?
Ex pre-term infacts with bronchopulmonary dysplasia, disorders causing muscle weakness, CF, immunodeficiency, haemodynamically significand Cong HD
What conditions does the term URTI embrace?
Common cold (coryza)
Pharyngitis and tonsillitis
Acute otitis media
Sinusitis
What are come of the complications of URTIs?
Difficulty feeding (in infants)
Febrile convulsions
Acute exacerbations of asthma
What are the classical features of a common cold (coryza)?
What are the most common pathogens?
Runny nose, clear or mucopurulent nasal discharge
Most commonly viral - rhinovirus, coronavirus or respiratory syncytial virus
What are common causative pathogens for tonsillitis in children?
Group A Beta-haemolytic streptococcus
Epstein Barr Virus (infectious mononucleosis)
What percentage of tonsillitis is bacterial?
1/3
Why is amoxicillin best avoided in children who have to be admitted for tonsillitis?
Because if the underlying cause is EBV then is may cause a widespread maculopapular rash
What can group A strep infection occasionally result in?
Scarlet fever
Describe the timeline of scarlet fever, how it is treated and why it is treated (e.g complications if not treated)
Fever usually precedes the presence of headache and tonsillitis by 2-3 days
Appearance of the rash is variable, typical appearance is ‘sandpaper-like’ maculopapular rash with flushed cheeks and perioral sparing
Tongue is white and coated and may be sore or swollen (STRAWBERRY TONGUE)
Treatment: Antibiotics (pen V and erythromycin)
Complications if not treated are:
- Otitis media (most commonly)
- Renal problems (acute glomerulonephritis)
- Very rarely (in high income countries) rheumatic fever
0 Invasive complications e.g bacteraemia, meningitis, necrotising fasciitis
Why are infants and young children prone to acute otitis media?
Eustachian tube is short, poorly functioning and horizontal
What is the appearance of the ear on tympanectomy in a child with acute otitis media?
Bulging, red, loss of light reflection
What is the treatment of acute otitis media?
Generally pain relief Antibiotic prescription (amoxicillin) may be prescribed with a 2-3 day delay
What are some of the causative organisms of acute otitis media?
Viruses - rhinovirus/RSV (respiratory syncytial virus)
Bacteria - pneumococcus, haem influenzae or Moraxella catarrhalis
When is the peak for otitis media with effusion (glue ear)?
2-7 years
What are the complications of otitis media with effusion?
Conductive hearing loss
What is the surgical management of glue ear? How long does this often last?
Grommets
12 months
Why is frontal sinusitis rare in the first decade of life?
Because the frontal sinuses do not develop until later
What are the indications for tonsillectomy?
Recurrent severe tonsillitis
Peritonsillar abscess
OSA
What are the indications for adenoidectomy?
Recurrent otitis media with effusion with hearing loss
OSA
What is the difference between wheeze and stridor?
a) In terms of when they occur
b) in terms of their underlying pathophysiology
Wheeze is expiratory and stridor is inspiratory
Wheeze is due to obstruction of the lower respiratory tract (larynx, trachea and bronchi, small airways) where as stridor is obstruction of the airway outside the chest cavity (nasopharynx, larynx, trachea and bronchi)
What age group does bronchiolitis most commonly affect?
90% of children affected are aged 1-9 months
Can affect children up to the age of 2
What are the causative organisms of bronchiolitis?
RSV in 80%
Parainfluenza, rhinovirus, adenovirus, influenza virus
When is admission due to bronchiolitis usually recommended?
If any of the following are present:
Apnoea
Inadequate oral intake (50-75% of normal volume)
Persistent O2 sats <90% on air
Severe respiratory distress (grunting, marked chest recession, or RR >70)
What are the characteristic findings in a patient with bronchiolitis?
Dry, wheezy cough Tachypnoea or tachycardia Subcostal and intercostal recession Hyperinflation of the chest Fine end inspiratory crackles High pitches wheezes - expiratory > inspiratory
What investigations are carried out on children with suspected bronchiolitis?
O2 saturations
Blood gases/CXR are only carried out if ?Respiratory distress
NPA- nasopharyngeal aspirate to look for if the causative organism is RSV
What is apnoea?
The cessation of breathing
How can bronchiolitis be prevented?
Monoclonal Ab to RXV (Palivizumab, given monthly IM) - reduces risk of hospital admission in high risk pre-term infants (but use limited as requires 17 babies treated to avoid 1 admission)
Typically given for 5 months over the winter
What is the management of bronchiolitis?
Supportive management:
O2 (humidified) via nasal cannulae or head box
Fluids via NG/IV. May be given continuous or anal feeds. If more sever IV is required
(If required - small percentage): CPAP
Infection control measures required as RSV is highly infectious
Suction if there is excessive upper airway secretions