Respiratory conditions Flashcards
URTI symptoms
LRTI symptoms
URTI: Coryza, sore throat, earache, sinusitis and stridor
LRTI: Cough, wheeze, respiratory distress
! Infants have compliant chest walls and poorly developed respiratory muscles and hence are greatly susceptible to respiratory failure!
Signs of respiratory failure: Moderate and severe
Moderate:
- Tachypnoea
- Tachycardia
- Nasal flaring
- Use of accessory muscles
- Intercostal and subcostal recession
- Head retraction
- Inabilty to feed
Severe:
- Cyanosis
- Tiring (due to increased effort of breathing)
- Reduced conscious level
- Oxygen saturation < 92 % - despite oxygen therapy
ASTHMA: Natural Hx of asthma during childhood
- Wheeze/symptoms worsened by exercise/ill health/changes in weather
- Symptoms responsive to bronchodilation e.g. LRTA
- Should be expected in any child presenting with wheeze > x1 occasion
- Non-viral induced
- No associated coryzal symptoms
- No formal diagnosis until 5 years - ‘childhood wheeze’
- FHx of atopy
ASTHMA: Key features of history and examination that support a diagnosis of asthma
History:
- Symptoms: Wheeze, non-productive & dry cough1, dyspnoea, tightness of chest, respiratory distress
- Diurnal variation of symptoms
- Worsened by change in weather/illness/exercise
- Family/personal Hx of atopy (eczema, hayfever, asthma)
- Recurrent episodes of wheeze, with interval symptoms2
- NO coryzal symptoms/LRTI - evidence no virally induced wheeze
- Positive response to asthma therapy (bronchodilators)
Examination:
- Inspection: Inhaler, oxygen, nebuliser, respiratory distress, pectus cariatum, Harrison’s sulci, chest hyperinfltion
- Chest ausculation: Audible general expiratory polyphonic wheeze, reduced air entry, prolonged expiration
1: In some children coughing may be the main symptom. Particularly at night.
2: Symptoms persisting in the absence of viral infection/between acute exacerbations
ASTHMA: Be familiar with the other common clinical conditions that can mimic asthma
(consider signs/symptoms to allow rule in/out)
- Viral induced wheeze
- Cystic fibrosis
- Chronic aspiration
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease
- Bronchopulmonary dysplasia
- Tracheo-bronchomalacia
ASTHMA: Be able to manage an acute exacerbation of asthma
- ASSESS SEVERITY
- Once identified as mild/moderate, severe or life threatening then commence treatment
ASTHMA: Know the 5 steps of the SIGN/NTS guidelines for the management of asthma
ASTHMA: Be able to assess asthma control in childhood
- Assess inhaler technique
- Confirm frequency of preventer use
- > x3 a week indicates need to progress to next management step
- Woken from sleep > x2 weekly indicates need to progress to next management step
- Any recent acute exacerbations?
- Was hospitalisation required?
- What treatment was required?
- Review symptoms and frequency
- Night time waking?
- Disturbance to activities - school/social
- Peak flow or spirometry should be performed
ASTHMA: Be able to advise parents about how to care for a child with asthma
Removal of environment triggers
- Remove feather/woollen bedding
- Cleaning of carpets and furniture
- No pets in house if there are allergies
- Discourage smoking in the car and house/at all
Inhaler technique
- Encourage use of spacer device
- Encourage mouth wash/drink after use of the steroid inhaler to avoid oral thrush
Always carry ‘preventer’ with you
Does not need to limit activities
Advice for in the event of an acute asthma attack
- Firstly try 10 puffs. If there is no improvement then call 999
ASTHMA: Know details of the drugs used to treat chronic and acute asthma and understand their mechanism of action
CHEST INFECTIONS - BRONCHIOLITIS: Understand the aetiology and natural history of bronchiolitis
Aetiology:
- Viral: RSV (70%), adenovirus
- Inflammation and accumulation of mucus within the airways
- Premature infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia, congenital heart defects and CF are at increased risk
- IM vaccine available for at risk groups
Natural history:
- Condition of infancy: Up to 1 year of age
- More common in the winter months
- Symptoms typically worsen at around day 3-5
- May begin to experience reduced feeding and respiratory distress
- Coryzal like symptoms → cough → day 4/5 peak → resolution by 2 weeks → dry cough may persist for several weeks
CHEST INFECTIONS - BRONCHIOLITIS: Recognise and be able to describe the clinical features of bronchiolitis and be able to relate these to normal physiology
Inspection of room:
Oxygen, fluids on drip/evidence of fluid challenge (syringe)
End of bed inspection:
Respiratory distress, tachypnoea, mucus production, dry wheezy cough, cyanosis/pallor
Palpation:
Expansion unaffected, liver displaced inferiorly, chest hyperinflation
Ausculation:
Prolonged expiratory wheeze, fine end-inspiratory wide spread crepitations, reduced air entry, tachycardia
Percussion:
-
Other findings:
Reduced CRT if dehydrated, pyrexia,
Parental findings:
Reduced feeding, apnoea, prodromal coryza,
CHEST INFECTIONS - BRONCHIOLITIS: Know how to treat acure bronchiolitis
Remember, the 2 main reasons for admission in bronchiolitis are LOW OXYGEN SATURATION and DEHYDRATION.
Management
- Minimal handling to minimise respiratory distress
- Provision of oxygen
- Fluid challenge
- ORT orally → with syringe → NG tube → IV
- Inhaled therapies ! Little evidence of providing benefit
- Ipatropium is preferred
- Beta 2 agonists are not effective under 6 months of age
- NPA to allow for bed management, blood gas to assess respiratory support, ENT examination
CHEST INFECTIONS - BRONCHIOLITIS: Be able to advise parents how to care for a child with bronchiolitis
Course of bronchiolitis
- Recovery should be made within 2 weeks, although a dry cough may persist
When to seek medical help
- Signs of respiratory distress: grunting, cyanosis, subcostal recession, tracheal tug, excessive respiratory rate
Monitor:
- Fluid intake and subsequent urine output
- Temperature: May use paracetamol if feverish
CHEST INFECTIONS - PNEUMONIA: Know and understand the aetiology and natural history of pneumonia including knowledge of the common causative organisms
Aetiology
- Bacterial or viral infection of the small airways (LRTI)
Common causative microorgansisms
Common bacterial causes: Streptococcus pneumonia, staphyloccus aureus, haemophilus influenzae, mycoplasma
Common viral causes: Adenovirus, rhinovirus, RSV
Introduction of HiB vaccine has reduced this as a cause
Most common cause in newborns: Group B Streptococcus
Most common cause in infants/young children: RSV (generally respiratory viruses)
Most common cause in children > 5: Mycoplasma pneumoniae, streptococcus pneumoniae, chlamydia pneumoniae
Natural History
Preceeding URTI → fever, cough, tachypnoea, pleuritic chest pain and/or abdominal pain
CHEST INFECTIONS - PNEUMONIA: Recognise and be able to describe the clinical features of pneumonia and be able to relate these to normal physiology
Inspection of room:
Oxygen, sputum pot, tissues, ?fluids
End of bed inspection:
Respiratory distress cyanosis, sweating, FTT, tachypnoea
Palpation:
Reduced expansion (unilateral), delayed CRT
Auscultation:
Focal crackles, reduced air entry
Percussion:
Dullness
Other findings:
Reduced oxygen saturation
Parental observations:
Reduced feeding, recent URTI
Clinical features
- Tachypnoea (most sensitive clinical finding)
- Fever/pyrexia
- Productive cough
- Respiratory distress
- Abdominal/chest/neck pain - caused by pleuritic pain, indicates bacterial aetiology
THROAT SWAB - May be performed to allow for aetiolgy to be confirmed (bacterial vs viral)