respiratory infection Flashcards
what are the 7 bacteria/viruses we need to know for first year?
- Streptococcus pneumoniae
- Mycobacterium tuberculosis
- Legionella pneumophila
- Mycoplasma pneumoniae
- rhinhovirus
- influenza
- coronavirus
what defences are used for innate immunity?
- cilia
- alveolar macrophages: secrete antimicrobials, engulf and kill pathogens, recruit other immune cells, process and present to T cells
what defences are used for acquired immunity?
- B cell/T cell responses
- IgA secreted by plasma cells interferes with adherence and viral assembly
what are the inflammatory responses?
- macro = redness, swelling, heat, pain and loss of function
- micro = vasodilation, increased vascular permeability and inflammatory cell infiltrate
- can be acute or chronic
name some infections of the upper respiratory tract
- rhinitis
- sinusitis
- pharyngitis
- tonsilitis
- laryngitis
name some infections of the lower respiratory tract
- bronchitis
- bronchiolitis
- pneumonia
- pulmonary tuberculosis
- pulmonary abscesses
- empyema
what is the most common cause of a cold?
rhinovirus
how do you transmit the common cold?
- hand contact: virus remains viable for up to 2 hours on skin or several hours on surfaces droplet transmission from sneezing/coughing/breathing
- IP 2-3 days; symptoms last 3-10 days and up to 2 weeks in 25% of patients
what does bradykinin cause?
intranasal administration causes a sore throat and it also causes nasal congestion due to vasodilation
what causes the symptom sneezing?
mediated by stimulation of the trigeminal sensory nerves - histamine-mediated
what causes the symptom nasal discharge?
changes colour with increasing numbers of neutrophils due to myeloperoxidase
what causes the symptom of a cough?
mediated by the vagus nerve - inflammation has to extend to the larynx to trigger this; hyper-reactive response in URTI
what symptoms do cytokines bring about?
systemic symptoms such as fever
what are the differences between cold and flu?
cold
- appears gradually
- affects mainly your nose and throat (coryza)
- makes you feel unwell but you’re okay to carry on as normal
- usually no fever
flu
- appears quickly (within hours)
- affects more than just your nose and throat
- makes you feel exhausted and too unwell to carry on as normal
- high fevers
- may have lower respiratory tract infections
what causes the flu?
influenza A or B virus
what happens with uncomplicated influenza?
- 1-4 days
- abrupt onset of fever, cough, headache, myalgia and malaise, sore throat and nasal discharge
- acutely debilitating
- fever 38-42degrees, otherwise examination often unremarkable