Respiratory Flashcards
What is stridor
Monophonic inspiratory breathing
What is the typical cause of croup and what time of year does it typically present
What age is it most commonly seen in?
- Viral - Parainfluenza Virus or Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV)
- Spring/Autumn time
- <6 yrs
How does someone with croup present
- Worse at night
- Stridor (harsh more severe disease will become softer)
- Barking Cough
- Hoarseness
- Intercostal Recession
How do you manage croup
Mild illness - Dexamethasone/Prednisaslone
Severe illness -admit and careful watching for severe signs e.g cyanosis worsening stridor/recession
- Give O2, Steroids and nebulised adrenaline
If croup fails to improve what could it be
Bacterial Tracheitis - risk of occluding airway from exudate and slough which can’t be cleared by coughing
Cause: S.Aureus, Strep A
- Rx: suction of secretions and give cefotaxime and flucloxacillin
What causes Epiglottitis
and what age does it present
Haemophillus Influenzae Type B
(always bacterial)
2-7 yrs
How does Epiglottitis present
- Continuous Stridor (softer)
- Drooling or secretions
- Voice muffled
- acute onset high fever (>38)
- Toxic appearance
- Respiratory Distress
- Tripod Position
- Cough not prominent
How do you treat Epiglottitis
avoid approaching child and do NOT examine the throat!!! - may precipitate obstruction
- Call senior help
- Emergency Airway Management - Emergency Endotracheal Intubation (Tracheostomy if fails)
- Abx - IV Cefotaxime
- Propylaxis to family - Rifampicin
What is the commonest LRTI in infants
Bronchiolitis
What is the commonest cause of Bronchiolitis
Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV)
What are risk factors for Bronchiolitis
< 6 mths (infants)
Other underlying medical conditions
How does bronchiolitis present
- Coryza and Rhinorrhoea
- Dry Cough
- Sometimes fever
- Tachypnoea
- Wheeze
- Apnoea
- Fine Inspiratory crackles
- Irritable with poor feeding
- Severe!!! - Respiratory Distress/Cyanosis
How do you manage bronchiolitis
Mild: manage at home with supportive treatments e.g fluids, paracetamol
Severe: signs of respiratory distress/cyanotic or high risk patients
- Admit to hospital
- Give O2, Fluids via NG tube, Respiratory support
- Ribovarin only for immunocompromised
What are signs of respiratory distress
- Tachypneoa
- Cyanosis
- Grunting
- Intercostal Regression
- Use of accessory muscles
What is pneumonia
respiratory disease characterised by inflammation of the lung parenchyma (excluding the bronchi) with congestion caused by bacteria or viruses or irritants
What are the 4 stages of pneumonia
- Congestion - small no. neutrophils, large no. bacteria
- Red Hepatization - (consolidation) - increased no. RBC, fibrin and neutrophils filling airspaces with exudate
- Grey Hepatization - RBC break down, but neutrophils and fibrin still there - grey
- Resolution - exudate is digested by enzymes and cleared by macrophages
What is the diagnosic presentation of pneumonia
- High Temperature (39 or higher)
- Tachypnoea
- Dry or Productive Cough
- Toxic Appearance (pale, lethargic, cyanotic)
- Malaise and Poor Feeding
- Respiratory Distress/ Cyanosis
How is pneumonia diagnosed
- Hx
- Auscultation: Persistently Focal and Coarse Inspiratory Crackles
Severe:
- Blood or Sputum Cultures
- CXR: Dense or fluffy opacity that occupies a portion or whole of lobe
What can cause pneumonia
Infants: Group B Strep or E.coli
Under 2 more likely viral: RSV, Influenza A&B
Young Children: Pneumococcus (most common), Haemophillus Type B
Others: S.Aureus, TB,
When should a child be admitted to hospital
SpO2 < 92%
Respiratory Distress
High Temperature over 38
What is the first line treatment of Bacterial Pneumonia
1st line: Amoxicillin
2nd: Co - Amoxiclav
How should suspected viral pneumonia be managed
Common in the under 2 - mild symptoms can be discharged without Abx but ensure follow up
What is a viral induced wheeze
Children with cough or wheeze that are not a LRTI/URTI and too young to be diagnosed with asthma
What is viral induced wheeze commonly caused by
Virus - RSV or Rhinovirus