Respiratory diseases Flashcards
1. Identify and recognise signs and symptoms of common respiratory diseases 2. Recognise and carry out emergency management of acute episodes of respiratory diseases 3. Discuss the key features of asthma, COPD, pneumonia, TB and cystic fibrosis 4. Explain dental relevance of respiratory diseases and their clinical management
What could the key symptoms of respiratory diseases include
- dyspnoea (difficulty breathing)
- cough
- heamoptysis (coughing blood)
- chest pain
- wheezing (high pitched expiration)
- stridor (high pitched inspiration)
- fever, riggers, night sweats
- hoarseness of voice (dysphonia)
- weight loss
How should the history of symptoms be evaluated for respiratory diseases
- Onset and duration of symptoms
- Severity of symptoms
- What exacerbates/relieves the symptoms
- Character of cough
- Colour, frequency, consistency, smell and quantity of sputum
- Differentiation from haematemesis
SOCRATES
What medical histories should be taken for patients presenting with symptoms of respiratory diseases
- Previous medical history
- Drug history
- Allergies
- Family history
- Social history; smoking, pets, travel, occupation, close contacts, impact on quality of life
- Systemic review
What clinical signs of respiratory diseases can be seen on examination
Hand examination
- tar staining (smoking)
- peripheral cyanosis (indicates lung is compromised)
- tremor (fine vs flapping in COPD)
- finger clubbing (Schamroth’s sign)
Lymphadenopathy
Tracheal deviation
Chest wall deformity
Elevated jugular venous pressure
How can tracheal deviation be tested for
By placing the index and ring finger of one hand onto the rounded parts of the clavicle bone and then extending the middle finger of the same hand and placing it up onto the trachea - this should sit in the middle
If there is tracheal deviation then the finger will move more to one side
What is asthma
Chronic inflammatory condition of the airways where there is reversible airway hyper-responsiveness causing air flow obstruction due to
- Bronchospasm
- Mucosal oedema
- Mucus hyper secretion
And this will cause difficulty breathing
What are the clinical presentations of asthma
- Wheeze
- Dyspnoea
- Chest tightness
- Cough
- Distress, anxiousness and tachycardia
- Reduced chest expansion and use of accessory muscles
- Intermittent symptoms worse at morning and night
Clinical features may be absent in well controlled asthmatic patients
What investigations are carried out for asthma
- Peak expiratory flow rate
- Spirometry - FEV1:FEC is reduced (<0.7)
- Blood test - eosinophilia, raised IgE
- Chest x-rays (rules out other causes e.g. pneumothorax = collapsed lung)
What does improvement in PEFR after a bronchodilator indicate
The patient has asthma
What does no change in PEFR after a bronchodilator indicate
COPD if the patient is a smoker
How is asthma managed
- Patient education and smoking cessation
- Avoidance of triggers (irritants and allergens)
- Drug treatment
- inhaled beta-agonists
- inhaled corticosteroids
- leukotriene receptor antagonists
- oral corticosteroids
- anti-igE monoclonal antibody e.g. omalizumab
What is the dental relevance of asthma
- Should avoid GA and IV sedation because will further compromise airways
- Differ elective care until condition improves
- NSAIDs, penicillin, stress and anxiety can trigger it
- Gastro-oesophageal reflux is commun; tooth erosion
- Medial emergencies could occur (adrenal suppression with systemic corticosteroids)
What can medication for asthma lead to
- Thrush
- Dry mouth
- Adrenal suppression with systemic corticosteroids
What is COPD
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease = common, progressive, poorly reversible airflow limitation associated with persistent inflammatory response of lungs
Chronic bronchitis +/- Emphysema = COPD
COPD is NOT reversible
What are the risk factors for COPD
Smoking
Air pollutants
Occupational dusts and chemicals
Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency (early onset COPD)
Why is alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency a risk factor for COPD
Because alpha-1 antitrypsin is a protease that protects the lung form inflammation caused by inhaled irritants ; as a result of its deficiency the recruited neutrophils will break down the lung elastin
What is chronic bronchitis
Airway obstruction from
- Chronic mucosal inflammation
- Mucus gland hypertrophy
- Mucus hyper secretion
- Bronchospasm
What is chronic bronchitis characterised by
Persistent cough and sputum production on most days for three months of the year in two successive years
What is emphysema
Dilation of airspaces distal to the terminal bronchioles with destruction of alveoli, reducing the alveolar surface area for gaseous exchange - there is reduced elastic recoil, collapse and reduced total lung capacity
What are the signs of COPD
- Cyanosis due to poor gaseous exchange and CO2 retention
- Use of accessory muscles
- Flapping tremor
- Tachypnoea (increased reparation rate)
- Barrel chest
- Tachycardia
- Reduced chest expansion
What are the symptoms of COPD
- Progressive shortness of breath
- Persistent cough
- Chronic sputum production
- Wheeze
- Fatigue
- weightless
- Reduced exercise tolerance