Respiratory Disorders - Respiratory Tract Infections

Question 1

What is Influenza?

Answer 1

Influenza is an acute viral infection in the upper respiratory tract.

Question 2

Is Influenza seasonal?

Answer 2

Yes.

Question 3

How many strains of influenza are there? What are they called? Which is most prevalent?

Answer 3

There are three main different strains: A, B and C. A is the most prevalent and the one responsible for influenza epidemics.

Question 4

What is the incubation period for influenza?

Answer 4

1 - 4 days.

Question 5

Who are most at risk of contracting influenza?

Answer 5

Elderly, Young, Chronically ill, and Health workers.

Question 6

Why are the elderly and young vulnerable demographics in contracting influenza?

Answer 6

They are more likely to have inadequate defenses to successfully prevent infection.

Question 7

Why are the chronically ill more susceptible to influenza?

Answer 7

They are at an elevated risk of contracting influenza because their immune system is already busy and overworked because of their chronic illness.

Question 8

Why won’t Hepatitis viruses cause influenza? They’re both viruses!

Answer 8

Viruses are specific to certain cells. Influenza is specific to cells found in the respiratory tract.

Question 9

What is the pathophysiology of influenza?

Answer 9

Influenza causes viral injury to the epitheial cells in the upper respiratory tract. The injury causes inflammatory tissue damage.

Question 10

Is it possible for the influenza virus to spread? If so, where? What can it lead to?

Answer 10

Yes. It is possible for the influenza virus to spread to the lower respiratory tract leading to bronchial and alveolar damage.

Question 11

What are two complications of influenza?

Answer 11

Secondary bacterial infection, bronchitis or pneumonia.

Question 12

What is done to prevent secondary bacterial infection in an influenza sufferer?

Answer 12

A patient with influenza will often be given antibiotic prophalactically, espeically the elderly.

Question 13

What are the manifestations of influenza?

Answer 13

Coughing, Fever, Lethargy, Myalgia

Question 14

What are the treatments for influenza?

Answer 14

Immunization (prophylaxis), Prevent spread, Symptomatic treatments, Antivirals

Question 15

Why are immunizations more effective some years than others?

Answer 15

Health authorities guess which virus they predict will be the most prevelant and immunize for that particular strain. Some year, they predict correctly, other years they do not.

Question 16

What are two antivirals may be prescribed for influenza?

Answer 16

1) Amantadine, which is a first generation drug that prevents the uncoating of the virus in host cell. 2) Relenza, which is a second generation drug that inhibits the replication and prevents lysis of cells.

Question 17

What is Pneumonia?

Answer 17

Pneumonia is the inflammaiton of alveoli and bronchioles. There are infectious and non-infectious forms.

Question 18

What is another name for Pneumonia?

Answer 18

Pneumonitis

Question 19

What is the etiology of pneumonia?

Answer 19

Pneumonia is most commonly a bacterial infection. However, it can also be caused by viruses, fungi, aspiration, and noxious fumes.

Question 20

What is pneumonia called when caused by bacteria?

Answer 20

Typical pneumonia.

Question 21

What is pneumonia called when cause by sources other than bacteria?

Answer 21

A-typical Pneumonia.

Question 22

What is pneumonia called when caused specifically from noxious fumes?

Answer 22

Toxic pneumonia.

Question 23

What is the pathophysiology of bacterial pneumonia?

Answer 23

If one has impaired pulmonary defenses then the infectious agent will enter the respiratory tract and proceed into the lungs. Once established in the lungs it will lead to inflammation giving way to pulmonary edema which impairs gas exchange.

Question 24

How does pulmonary edema impair gas exchange? What is the term used for this exhange problem?

Answer 24

Pulmonary edema builds up along the walls of the aveoli creating a thicker layer which gasses must pass through to correctly diffuse. This makes breathing more difficult and impairs normal gas exchange. The term used to describe this is “diffusion distance”.

Question 25

What are the manifestations of pneumonia?

Answer 25

Fever and chills, Dyspnea, Sputum, Headache, Chest pain

Question 26

How is pneumonia diagnosed?

Answer 26

Physical (breath sounds), X-ray, Sputum analysis

Question 27

What is the treatment for pneumonia?

Answer 27

Supportive (oxygen and respiration support), Antibiotics if bacterial.

Question 28

What is the term used for pulmonary edema when noted on an X-ray?

Answer 28

Consolidation

Question 29

What is the terminology when pneumonia is restricted to one lobe?

Answer 29

Lobar.

Question 30

What is pneumonia called when the infection has diffused across both lungs?

Answer 30

Bronchopneumonia

Question 31

When looking at the histology of typical and a-typical pneumonia why is typical pneumonia noted inside the alveoli, and a-typical outside the alveoli?

Answer 31

Viral, or a-typical, pneumonia need to be in the host cells. Alveoli are not cells. They are pockets of air. Thus, the aveoli are excellent areas for bacterial growth but will not house viral infections.