Respiratory Medicine – a GP Perspective

Question 1

how would an upper respirtory tract infection resent and be treated in primary care?

Answer 1

really common in adults and children
mainly just a bit snotty, cough and feeling under the weather. so treatment usually involve reassurence that condition is self- limiting.
antibiotcs is usally not helpful, unless bad case of tonsilitiss or condition is not improving.
sinutisis, pharyngitis, tonsilittis

Question 2

how would a lower respirtory tract infection resent and be treated in primary care?

Answer 2

common
symptoms- cough, dysopnea, feel unwell, apeptite reduced, low energy, ocassionaly haemoptysis
test sputum sample and treat with antibiotics and possible admission
CRB-65

Question 3

presentation and primary mangement of asthma

Answer 3

sypmtoms- wheeze, cough, dysopnea, chest tightness
vast majorty of asthmatics manged in primary care. involves inhaled steroids and optimising this treatmentt, manging exacerbations,medication compliance, asthma action plans, smoking cessation.

Question 4

presentation and primary mangement of acute asthma

Answer 4

increase in asthmatic symptoms or decrease in PEF.
mangment would involve-
identfying and limiting triggers such as viral infection or allergy
assment of severity
treatment with steroid and possible antibiotics
follow up and astma optimisation

Question 5

copd presentation and management at a GP

Answer 5

chronic bronchitis and emphysema
symptoms- sputum, wheeze, chest tightness, shortness of breath

Question 6

bronchiectasis

Answer 6

underdisgnosed condition- dilated airways, accumlation of mucous, nfection
syptoms- cough with sputum
multiple sputum samples, bloods and chet x rays before referll to secondary care

Question 7

interstitial lung disease

Answer 7

symptoms- cough, usally dry cough, dysopnea ans crackle on examination
assemtns including chest xray and bloods
referall to secondary care