Respiratory disease: Asthma, bronchitis and respiratory failure & Carcinoma of the bronchus Flashcards
What is dyspnoea?
Shortness of breath
What is orthopnoea?
When people get short of breath but only when lying flat
What is the name given to the condition if a person is awakened by their shortness of breath when they are asleep?
Paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnoea
Orthopnoea and paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnoea indicate what type of issue?
Cardiovascular problem (particularly left ventricular failure)
Rather than a primary resp disease
If a cough or shortness of breath has come on quickly/suddenly - what may this be indicative of?
May be inhalation of foreign body, pulmonary embolism or bursting of lung inside the chest
What is pleural effusion?
It is a collection of fluid between the chest wall and the lung itself (aka water on the lungs)
If a cough/SOB has developed over the course of a few hours- what could be the cause? (4)
Asthma
Pulmonary odema
Pneumonia
Allergy
If a cough/SOB has developed over days - what may be the cause? (2)
Pleural effusion
Irritation of slowly-developing lung cancer
If SOB/cough develops over months - what may this indicate?
It indicates a scarring process, such as pulmonary fibrosis or chronic airflow limitation diseases
Which condition is a wheeze a characteristic symptom?
Asthma - noise caused by air trying to escape small capillaries of lungs
What is Stridor, and what does this suggest?
Stridor is a high pitch noise that is made during the inspiratory phase of respiration.
It can indicate larynx swelling or upper airway obstruction/narrowing
What is it called when your are coughing up blood?
Haemoptysis
In what conditions may you see haemoptysis?
TB, pneumonia, pulmonary oedema, lung cancer
What 2 volumes are you interested in when looking at a lung function test?
Forced vital capacity
Forced expiratory volume
What is the FEV1?
It is the amount of air you can force from your lungs in one second
What is peak expiratory flow rate?
It is the volume of air forcefully expelled from the lungs in one quick inhalation - it is a reliable indicator of ventilation adequacy as well as airflow obstruction.
Easy to monitor using peak flow meter at home
Name the 7 upper respiratory tract infections
Common cold Sinusitis Rhinitis Pharyngitis Laryngo-tracheo-bronchitis Influenza Inhalation of foreign body
Outline the main characteristics of the common cold (6 points)
80-90% viral 12 hours incubation Malaise Pyrexia Mucopurulent (mucus and pus) Resolves in 1/52
Outline the main characteristics of the sinusitis (3 points)
Obstructed antral ostia due to mucosal oedema - leads to increasing pressure.
Pressure = pain
Toothache by antral floor irritation
Outline the main characteristics of rhinitis
How is this treated?
Sneezing and congested/blocked nose
Perennial (long lasting) asthma-type allergens (e.g. hayfever)
Tx: antihistamines, decongestants, nasal topical steroid spray
Outline the main characteristics of pharyngitis
Typical viral sore throat occasionally bacterial (e.g. strep pneumoniae, h. influenzae, staph aureus)
Which type of upper resp infection can result in the swelling of the throat
Haemophilus influenzae bacteria can cause epiglotittis, is life threatening and rapidly advancing, could need tracheotomy to save life
What does AIR RAID stand for when considering epiglottitis?
Airway inflammation - leading to obstruction
Increased pulse
Restlessness
Retractions (when inhaling can see tissue retracting into rib cage as struggling for air)
Anxiety increased
Inspiratory stridor
Drooling (cant swallow liquid easily)
What should you not do if you suspect someone has epiglotittis?
Do not put anything down the throat or near the epiglottis, because as soon as it’s touched it can swell - which will mean that the pt needs a surgical airway immediately.
Outline the main characteristics of laryngo-tracheo-bronchitis (7 points)
How is this treated? (3)
Typically parainfluenza or measles viruses Laryngeal odema (especially children) = hoarse voice, croup, stridor, tracheitis - this can lead to burning retrosternal chest pain
Tx: oxygen, steam inhalations, tracheotomy
Outline the main characteristics of influenza (6 points)
3 day incubation
Fever, myalgia, headache, sore throat, dry or productive cough
Vulnerable to secondary infection (e.g. pneumonia)
Tx: prophylaxis
Outline the main characteristics of inhalation of a foreign body-
When may this occur?
What is the treatment for this?
Children, drunken, dental exam or endo file
Tx: back blows, Heimlich manoeuvre
