Respiratory Illnesses I

Question 1

division between upper an lower respiratory tracts?

Answer 1

upper: nasal and oral cavities, pharynx larynx. bottom of larynx = division. lower: trachea, bronchi/lungs

Question 2

6 URTIs? are they viral or bacterial?

Answer 2

common cold (almost all viral). pharyngitis (viral>bacterial) sinusitis (both). otitis media (bacterial>viral). group (99% viral). epiglottitis (100% bacterial)

Question 3

3 LRTIs? are they bacterial or viral

Answer 3

bronchioloitis = 100% viral. bronchitis: viral> bell?acterial. pneumonia: both

Question 4

is it normal to have bacteria/viruses in resp. tract when you’re well?

Answer 4

only in the upper respiratory tract

Question 5

colonization: aka? what?

Answer 5

asymptomatic carriage: we get new strains of bacteria and they sit in the naso/oropharynx for days without causing symptoms, and then we form an immune response to them

Question 6

pneumonia: where can it come from (3)?

Answer 6

direct spread from bacteria/viruses from upper to lower respiratory tract. direct spread from aspiration: food/drink getting in lungs = bacterial pneumonia. from the blood.

Question 7

how does a common cold present: 4? how long do symptoms last?

Answer 7

rhinitis aka runny nose. pharyngitis aka sore throat, especially at the beginning. fever (esp <5yo). cough that worsens. 3-7 days, but cough can persist weeks

Question 8

bacterial pharyngitis: common names? symptoms?

Answer 8

strep throat, tonsillitis. severe sore throat. can also get fever, abdominal pain

Question 9

bacterial pharyngitis: what don’t you have? complications?

Answer 9

no runny nose, no cough. rare complications: rheumatic fever. peritonsillar abscess = pocket of pus around tonsils

Question 10

bacterial pharyngitis: mainly due to? usually starts to improve?

Answer 10

group A streptococcus (GAS) = strep. pyogenes. usually starts to improve in one day on penicillin since GAS aren’t resistant, or 4-5 days if you don’t take anything

Question 11

bacterial pharyngitis: what 3 things do you look for?

Answer 11

red tonsils, pus on tonsils, tender enlarged anterior cervical lymphadenopathy aka swollen glands in the front part of neck

Question 12

what can look exactly like GAS pharyngitis? what to do?

Answer 12

viral pharyngitis with a cold. so a throat swab for GAS, if positive then you can treat with penicillin

Question 13

viral pharyngitis: what?

Answer 13

sore throat with a cold

Question 14

sinusitis: how to diagnose?

Answer 14

not easy to diagnose. usually have runny nose that persists >10 days, and doesn’t improve along with nasal secretions PLUS headache, pain in face or teeth.

Question 15

X rays to diagnose sinusitis?

Answer 15

X rays aren’t helpful: you don’t know if sinuses are full of sterile or bacterial or viral secretions

Question 16

acute otitis media: mainly in who? presents with?

Answer 16

<5 years of age. present with ear pain +/- fever and irritability a few days into a cold

Question 17

antibiotics to treat acute otitis media or sinusitis?

Answer 17

won’t help at all if viral. but even if bacterial, most patients symptoms will resolve just as quickly with analgesics.

Question 18

streptococcus pneumonia: aka? most common cause of?

Answer 18

pneumococcus: most common cause of bacterial infection throughout the upper + lower respiratory tract = otitis media, sinusitis, bronchitis, pneumonia.

Question 19

strep. pneumonia can also cause? rarely causes?

Answer 19

bacteremia, meningitis. rarely: osteomyelitis + infective endocarditis