Respiratory Tract Infections in Children Flashcards
What are different examples of upper respiratory infections in children?
- otitis media
- rhinitis
- tonsillitis
- pharyngitis
- laryngitis
- epiglottitis
What is rhinitis?
When a reaction occurs that causes nasal congestion, runny nose, sneezing and itching.
What is rhinitis caused by?
- common allergens
- certain medicines
- smoke
- inflammation
What are the symptoms of rhinitis?
- sneezing
What is otitis media?
An infection of the middle ear that causes inflammation and a build up of fluid behind the eardrum.
What are the symptoms of otitis media?
- earache
- high temp (fever)
- being sick
- lack of energy
- slight hearing loss (if middle ear is filled with fluid)
What is tonsillitis?
An infection of the tonsils.
What are the symptoms of tonsillitis?
- 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
What causes tonsilitis?
Usually caused by a virus, such as a cold, but can also be due to a bacterial infection such as strep throat.
What is pharyngitis?
An inflammation of the pharynx, resulting in a sore throat.
Pharyngitis is actually a symptom, rather than a condition.
What are the symptoms of pharyngitis?
- sore throat
- dry, scratchy throat
- pain when swallowing
- pain when speaking
What is laryngitis?
When the voice box or vocal cords in the throat become irritated or swollen.
What are the symptoms of laryngitis?
- 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)
What causes laryngitis?
- allergies
- acid from your stomach coming up your throat (acid reflux)
- coughing over a long time
- clearing your throat all the time
What is epiglottitis?
Inflammation and swelling of the epiglottis.
What causes epiglottitis?
Often an infection but can be caused by a throat injury.
What are the symptoms of epiglottitis?
- 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
What is the treatment for tonsillitis/pharyngitis?
- throat swab
- either nothing or 10 days penicillin
- DONT GIVE AMOXYCILLIN
What are the different examples of lower respiratory tract infections?
- tracheitis
- pneumonia
- bronchitis
- empyaema
- bronchiolitis
- alveolitis
What are the different types of common “infective” agents?
Bacterial
- step pneumoniae
- haemophilus influenzae
- moraxella catarrhails
- mycoplasma pneumoniae
- chlamydia pneumoniae
Viral
- RSV
- parainfluenza III
- influenza A and B
- adenovirus
What is tracheitis?
A bacterial infection of the windpipe (trachea)
What are the symptoms of tracheitis?
- deep cough (similar to the one caused by croup)
- difficulty breathing
- high fever
- high-pitched breathing sound (stridor)
What is pneumonia?
Inflammation of the lungs
What causes pneumonia?
An infection
What are the symptoms of pneumonia?
- 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
What is bronchitis?
An infection of the main airways of the lungs (bronchi), causing them to become irritated and inflamed.
What are the symptoms of bronchitis?
- SOB (dyspnea)
- fever
- runny nose
- tiredness (fatigue)
- cough (either dry, bringing up mucus or loose/rattly)
- haemophilus/pneumococcus
What is empyaema?
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
What are the symptoms of empyaema?
- fever and night sweats
- lack of energy
- difficulty breathing
- weight loss
- chest pain
- productive cough (mucus containing pus)
What is the most common cause of empyaema?
Complication of pneumonia caused by a bacterial infection
What is bronchiolitis?
A common chest infection that affects babies and children under 2
What are the symptoms of bronchiolitis?
- sneezing
- runny or blocked nose
- cough
- slightly high temp
- wheezing sounds
- tachypnoea
What is alveolitis?
Inflammation in the small air sacs of the lungs
What are the symptoms of alveolitis?
- fever
- cough
- worsening breathlessness
- weight loss
What is the treatment of bronchitis?
NO TREATMENT
What is the management of bronchiolitis?
Maximal observation and minimal intervention
What does a wheeze mean in lower respiratory tract infections?
Bacterial cause unlikely
What is pertussis?
Highly contagious respiratory infection caused by the bacterium bordetella pertussis
It is also known as whopping cough
