Respiratory Tract Infections in Children

Question 1

What are different examples of upper respiratory infections in children?

Answer 1

• otitis media
• rhinitis
• tonsillitis
• pharyngitis
• laryngitis
• epiglottitis

Question 2

What is rhinitis?

Answer 2

When a reaction occurs that causes nasal congestion, runny nose, sneezing and itching.

Question 3

What is rhinitis caused by?

Answer 3

• common allergens
• certain medicines
• smoke
• inflammation

Question 4

What are the symptoms of rhinitis?

Answer 4

• sneezing

Question 5

What is otitis media?

Answer 5

An infection of the middle ear that causes inflammation and a build up of fluid behind the eardrum.

Question 6

What are the symptoms of otitis media?

Answer 6

• earache
• high temp (fever)
• being sick
• lack of energy
• slight hearing loss (if middle ear is filled with fluid)

Question 7

What is tonsillitis?

Answer 7

An infection of the tonsils.

Question 8

What are the symptoms of tonsillitis?

Answer 8

• sore throat
• problems swallowing
• temp of 38C or above
• coughing
• headache
• feeling sick
• earache
• feeling tired
• swollen, painful glands in the neck
• pus-filled spots on the tonsils
• bad breath

Question 9

What causes tonsilitis?

Answer 9

Usually caused by a virus, such as a cold, but can also be due to a bacterial infection such as strep throat.

Question 10

What is pharyngitis?

Answer 10

An inflammation of the pharynx, resulting in a sore throat.

Pharyngitis is actually a symptom, rather than a condition.

Question 11

What are the symptoms of pharyngitis?

Answer 11

• sore throat
• dry, scratchy throat
• pain when swallowing
• pain when speaking

Question 12

What is laryngitis?

Answer 12

When the voice box or vocal cords in the throat become irritated or swollen.

Question 13

What are the symptoms of laryngitis?

Answer 13

• hoarse (croaky) voice
• sometimes losing your voice
• an irritating cough that does not go away
• always needing to clear your throat
• a sore throat
• temp of 38C or above
• be off their food or drink
• having difficulty breathing (rare)

Question 14

What causes laryngitis?

Answer 14

• allergies
• acid from your stomach coming up your throat (acid reflux)
• coughing over a long time
• clearing your throat all the time

Question 15

What is epiglottitis?

Answer 15

Inflammation and swelling of the epiglottis.

Question 16

What causes epiglottitis?

Answer 16

Often an infection but can be caused by a throat injury.

Question 17

What are the symptoms of epiglottitis?

Answer 17

• fever
• sore throat
• unusual, high pitched sound when breathing in (stridor)
• difficult and painful swallowing
• drooling
• acting anxious and irritable
• sitting or leaning forward to ease breathing

Question 18

What is the treatment for tonsillitis/pharyngitis?

Answer 18

• throat swab
• either nothing or 10 days penicillin
• DONT GIVE AMOXYCILLIN

Question 19

What are the different examples of lower respiratory tract infections?

Answer 19

• tracheitis
• pneumonia
• bronchitis
• empyaema
• bronchiolitis
• alveolitis

Question 20

What are the different types of common “infective” agents?

Answer 20

Bacterial
- step pneumoniae
- haemophilus influenzae
- moraxella catarrhails
- mycoplasma pneumoniae
- chlamydia pneumoniae

Viral
- RSV
- parainfluenza III
- influenza A and B
- adenovirus

Question 21

What is tracheitis?

Answer 21

A bacterial infection of the windpipe (trachea)

Question 22

What are the symptoms of tracheitis?

Answer 22

• deep cough (similar to the one caused by croup)
• difficulty breathing
• high fever
• high-pitched breathing sound (stridor)

Question 23

What is pneumonia?

Answer 23

Inflammation of the lungs

Question 24

What causes pneumonia?

Answer 24

An infection

Question 25

What are the symptoms of pneumonia?

Answer 25

• chest pain when you breathe or cough
• confusion or changes in mental awareness (mainly in adults)
• cough (produces phlegm/sputum)
• fatigue
• fever
• nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea
• shortness of breath

Question 26

What is bronchitis?

Answer 26

An infection of the main airways of the lungs (bronchi), causing them to become irritated and inflamed.

Question 27

What are the symptoms of bronchitis?

Answer 27

• SOB (dyspnea)
• fever
• runny nose
• tiredness (fatigue)
• cough (either dry, bringing up mucus or loose/rattly)
• haemophilus/pneumococcus

Question 28

What is empyaema?

Answer 28

Pockets of pus that have collected inside a body cavity (commonly the pleural cavity), which can form a bacterial infection if left untreated or if fail to fully respond to treatment

Question 29

What are the symptoms of empyaema?

Answer 29

• fever and night sweats
• lack of energy
• difficulty breathing
• weight loss
• chest pain
• productive cough (mucus containing pus)

Question 30

What is the most common cause of empyaema?

Answer 30

Complication of pneumonia caused by a bacterial infection

Question 31

What is bronchiolitis?

Answer 31

A common chest infection that affects babies and children under 2

Question 32

What are the symptoms of bronchiolitis?

Answer 32

• sneezing
• runny or blocked nose
• cough
• slightly high temp
• wheezing sounds
• tachypnoea

Question 33

What is alveolitis?

Answer 33

Inflammation in the small air sacs of the lungs

Question 34

What are the symptoms of alveolitis?

Answer 34

• fever
• cough
• worsening breathlessness
• weight loss

Question 35

What is the treatment of bronchitis?

Answer 35

NO TREATMENT

Question 36

What is the management of bronchiolitis?

Answer 36

Maximal observation and minimal intervention

Question 37

What does a wheeze mean in lower respiratory tract infections?

Answer 37

Bacterial cause unlikely

Question 38

What is pertussis?

Answer 38

Highly contagious respiratory infection caused by the bacterium bordetella pertussis

It is also known as whopping cough