Respiratory Viruses and Atypical Respiratory Pathogens Flashcards
Name the types of respiratory infections
Surface: local spread
- Short incubation, e.g. common cold, Candida
Systemic: spreads from mucosal site of entry to other site in the body
- returns to surface for final shedding stage
- longer incubation- weeks
- e.g. measles, mumps, rubella
Name the types of respiratory pathogens
Professional invaders:- infect healthy respiratory tract
Secondary invaders: - infect compromised tract
What causes infections of the nasopharynx (rhinitis and sinusitis - the common cold)?
Various viruses
Transmission by aerosol
Self-limiting and not systemic in healthy people
No need for identification unless LRT spread
How does the virus infect the nasopharynx?
Adheres to ciliated epithelium
Enters cells, spreading to neighbouring areas
Inflam response = cold symptoms
Adenovirus features?
Icosohedral symmetry, non-enveloped resistant to desiccation
Attach via adhesions on the end of penton fibres
dsDNA
Cause pharyngitis: conjunctivitis, bronchitis
What is pharyngitis and tonsilitis?
Complication of colds due to surrounding infecs
Site of entry of EBV (Herpes) and mumps virus
70% caused by viruses - rhinoviruses, adenoviruses, influenza viruses
Mumps features?
Paramyxovirus
Air-borne spread
Common in school age children - most vaccinated (MMR)
Complications - Orchitis = inflam of testicles
What causes laryngitis and tracheitis?
Features?
Parainfluenza viruses, adenovirus and influenza
Burning pain in larynx and trachea, easily obstructed in children
Cough with stridor inhalation
Causes of bronchitis and bronchioitis?
Viral causes - rhinoviruses, coronaviruses, adenoviruses, influenza
Atypical pathogens - mycoplasma pneumoniae
Many 2ndry infecs - especially in children - narrow airways - leading to bronchiolitis and pneumonia
What causes 75% of bronchiolitis?
Respiratory syncytial virus
RSV (Resp syncytial virus) features?
Aerosol and surface transmission
Pathology creates large fused cells
Outbreaks in winter
Nearly all children infected by 2yrs old but only as common cold
Severe in young infants - peak mortality 3 months of age
Infants - coughs, cyanosis, rapid resp rate, pneumonia and bronchiolitis
Older = more like common cold
Treatment of RSV?
Supportive
Hydration
Bronchodilators
Severe cases require ribavirin antiviral or palivizumab-prophylactic
Name the influenza virus?
Orthomyxoviridae
How does orthomyxoviridae cause influenza?
Transmitted by aerosol droplet
Restricted to coldest months of the year
Initial infec: virus attaches to sialic acid receptors on epithelial cells via viral HA protein
1-3 days: liberated cytokines result in systemic chills, malaise, fever, muscle aches, runny nose and cough
Recover after 1 week but some get pneumonia and bronchitis
2ndry invaders = lethal infections: pneumococci, staphylococci
Describe the structure of the influenza virus?
2 surface glycoproteins: - HA - Haemagglutinin - NA - Neuraminadase Host derived viral envelope ssRNA genome: 8 segments Nucleoprotein and polymerases