respiratory conditions

Question 1

What are general symptoms of respiratory diseases

Answer 1

cough, sputum production, dyspnoea (breathlessness), abnormal breathing sounds, haemoptysis (blood in cough = RED FLAG), chest pain, apnoea

Question 2

What is the difference between an acute and chronic cough

Answer 2

acute = less than 3 weeks and will usually be viral or bacterial infections
chronic = more than 8 weeks such as asthma, TB or a tumor

Question 3

What are causes of clubbing using clubbing acronym

Answer 3

C ongenital heart disease / cystic fibrosis
L ung cancer
U lcerative colitis / crohns disease
B ronchiectasis
B iliary cirrhosis
I nfective endocarditis
N eurogenic diaphragm tumors
G ravers disease

Question 4

What are associated red flag symptoms with a cough

Answer 4

blood (must establish source duration & frequency), fever, chest pain, breathlessness, stridor (high pitch wheeze sound breathing) and weight loss

Question 5

What are the LRT diseases?

Answer 5

acute bronchitis, pneumonia, whooping cough, bronchiolitis and TB

Question 6

What are the URT diseases?

Answer 6

strep throat, laryngitis, tonsilitis

Question 7

acute bronchitis definition and cause

Answer 7

definition = also known as chest cold and is where the airway of the lungs swell & produce mucus
cause = usually from viruses infecting similar to regular cold viruses but will only infect you once. sometimes from bacterial infection or inhaling harmful chemicals

Question 8

acute bronchitis symptoms

Answer 8

cough, sputum production that’s clear white or yellow, fatigue, shortness of breath, fever and chills, chest discomfort, sore throat

Question 9

acute bronchitis population and risk factors

Answer 9

population = young kids or elderly
risk factors = smokers, low immunity, chronic immunosuppressive conditions, exposure to chemical irritants or fumes so occupation, gastric reflux & heartburn irritating throat

Question 10

acute bronchitis prognosis

Answer 10

usually improves itself in week - 10 days

Question 11

strep throat definition and cause

Answer 11

definition = bacterial infection that makes you throat feel sore and scratchy
cause = infection caused by bacteria called streptococcus pyogens that is contagious and is spread through droplets in coughs / sneezes and if untreated can have bad complications

Question 12

strep throat symptoms

Answer 12

sudden throat pain, pain swallowing, red swollen tonsils, fever, headache, rash, nausea, red spots on back and roof of mouth, swollen neck ymph nodes

Question 13

strep throat population and risk factors

Answer 13

population = most common children aged 5-15 and subtropical and tropical countries
risk factors = time of year (winter and early spring), close contact with someone, bad hygiene

Question 14

strep throat prognosis

Answer 14

feel better after a few days antibiotics and symptoms should go in 7-10 days

Question 15

laryngitis defintion and cause

Answer 15

definition = inflammation of larynx (voice box) and the 2 folds of mucous membrane covering the muscle and cartilage become irritated & inflamed
cause = be from a variation such as viral infections, vocal strain or bacterial infections that irritate the larynx (can have chronic that is caused by long time exposure to irritants)

Question 16

laryngitis symptoms

Answer 16

hoarseness, weak voice, voice loss, tickling throat, rawness in throat, sore throat, dry throat, cough

Question 17

laryngitis population and risk factors

Answer 17

population = middle aged men
risk factors = other respiratory infections, exposure to irritating substances, smoking, alcohol consumption, overusing voice

Question 18

laryngitis prognosis

Answer 18

most symptoms gone in couple weeks and get better with no treatment

Question 19

tonsilitis defintion and cause

Answer 19

definition = inflammation of tonsils
cause = usually viral sometimes bacterial infection that infects tonsils as they’re first line immune defence

Question 20

tonsilitis symptoms

Answer 20

red swollen tonsils, white/yellow patches on tonsils, sore throat, hard to swallow, fever, enlarged lymph nodes, scratchy voice, stomach ache, neck pain, headache

Question 21

tonsilitis population and risk factors

Answer 21

population = children 5-15
risk factors = young age, frequent exposure to germs, poor hygiene

Question 22

tonsilitis prognosis

Answer 22

usually clears up in few days and depending on type can have antibiotics

Question 23

pneumonia prognosis

Answer 23

most symptoms go in few days or weeks and depending on type can be treated with antibiotics or cough medicine etc

Question 24

pneumonia defintion and cause

Answer 24

definition = inflammation of tissue in one or both lungs as air sacs at end of them fill with fluid
cause = air sacs fill with fluid / puss due to breathing in viruses and bacteria that overpower immune system and infect lungs

Question 25

pneumonia symptoms

Answer 25

vary from mild to severe - chest pain breathing and coughing, cough with phlegm, fatigue, low body temp, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, shortness of breath

Question 26

pneumonia population and risk factors

Answer 26

population = 65+ or under 20
risk factors = old age, young age, being in Hospital or care, chronic diseases like asthma, heart disease, smoking, weakened immune system like AIDS

Question 27

wooping cough definition and cause

Answer 27

definition = highly contagious bacterial infection of lungs and airways that causes repeated coughing
cause = bacteria called bordetella pertussis is breathed into lungs when infected person coughs or sneezes

Question 28

wooping cough symptoms

Answer 28

runny nose or congestion, red watery eyes, fever, cough, after few weeks may be vomiting, red or blue face, extreme fatigue, severe coughing with mucus, topping sounds breathing

Question 29

wooping cough population and risk factors

Answer 29

population = babies under 6 months
risk factors = adults when vaccine wears off, unvaccinated, weakened immune system

Question 30

wooping cough prognosis

Answer 30

vaccinations available when caught antibiotics but symptoms last 1-6 weeks