Respiratory Illnesses 4 Flashcards
human metapneumovirus: similar to?
very similar to RSV but a bit less serious
coronavirus: causes ___ of ___
15% of colds in adults
adenovirus: causes?
resp tract infection + conjunctivitis. also outbreaks of viral pneumonia in ppl who live in close quarters
parainfluenza: causes?
most common cause of croup
influenza: causes?
URTIs, but with more severe symptoms than most viruses
most common virus to cause pneumonia
influenza (but note: pneumonia can be from influenza, or from secondary bacterial infectio
two important components of the influenza virus
H = hemagglutinin (gets it in). N = neuraminidase (spits it out)
influenza: what does hemagglutinin do?
binds to sialic acid on target cells to let virus into resp. epithelial cells
influenza: what does neuraminidase do?
cleaves the bond with sialic acid and lets the virus go free to infect other cells
influenza: what is shifting/drifint
shifting = when a whole new N or H type appears on the scene = pandemics. drifting = minor changes in H/N types that occur every year or two
preventing influenza: how?
vaccine, with content changing annually because of drifting
contraindications for flu shot
< 6 mo. anaphylaxis. guillain barre from previous vaccine
influenza vaccine and pregnancy?
vaccine safe and very highly recommended
2 drugs used to treat influenza
oseltamivir. zanamavir
RTIs: initial steps?
history + physical exam. sort out viral or bacterial. viral = symptomatic treatment. bacterial = if pt is doing well then don’t have to start antibiotics yet
