Respiratory Viruses Flashcards
What are the characteristics of URTIs and LRTIs
Viruses target specific receptors on specific cell types
URTI (nasal cavity, pharynx, larynx)
-more infectious but mild as the target receptors are more easily accessible
LRTI (trachea, bronchi, alveoli)
-less infectious but more serious as the target receptors are deeper within the respiratory system
What epithelia line the
- resp system
- oral mucosa
Resp epithelium
-ciliated pseudostratified columnar
Oral
-stratified squamous
What are the 3 most common URTIs
- what are the signs and symptoms
- what is the main causative organism
Common cold (rhino, corona)
- nasal congestion, discharge
- sneezing
Pharyngitis
- sore throat
- inflammation
- (may have white exudate)
Laryngitis
-hoarseness
What are the 3 main infections associated with the major airways
- what are the signs and symptoms
- what is the main causative organism
Croup (parainfluenza)
- hoarseness
- barking cough
- stridor
Tracheobronchitis
- cough
- substernal pain
Bronchiolitis (RSV) => in 2 y/o and younger
- cough
- dyspnoea
- wheeze
What is the main LRTI
- pneumonia/pneumonitis (non infectious cause)
- what is the main causative organism
Pneumonia/pneumonitis (influenza, RSV, adeno)
- cough
- dyspnoea
- chest pain
- rales
What are the main signs and symptoms of influenza like illness
-what is the main causative organism
Influenza like (influenza)
URTI, LRTI
-systemic => fever, chills, headache, fatigue
Which viruses are transmitted via
- large droplets
- small droplets
Large
- RSV
- common cold
Small/aerosols
- measles, mumps, rubella
- chicken pox
- flu, SARS
How would you minimise the spread of respiratory viruses in a healthcare setting
For aerosols => isolation facilities, air change
For large droplets => bed spacing
PEP
PPE
Hand hygiene
What is the difference between antigenic shift and drift
Drift => step by step change due to the lack of proofreading in RNA dependent RNA polymerase
Shift => genetic segment reassortment
