Symptoms In The Pharmacy - Respiratory Conditions Flashcards
What is the common cold + how its spread?
- Mild, self-limiting, viral (rhinovirus), upper respiratory tract infection
- General symptoms: nasal stuffiness and discharge, sneezing, sore
throat, and cough. No known treatment improves the time course of
infection. - Transmitted by either direct contact or aerosol transmission.
- People can remain infectious for several weeks.
- The most common complications are sinusitis, lower respiratory tract
infections (LRTI), and acute otitis media. - Onset of symptoms after infection is sudden, reaching a peak at
day 2–3, then decreasing in intensity
What is the duration of the common cold across different age groups? + smokers
- In adults and older children, symptoms tend to last
about a week, although cough can persist for up to 3
weeks. - In younger children, symptoms typically last 10–14
days. - Smokers tend to have more severe respiratory
symptoms (including cough), and the infection is more
prolonged.
What are the symptoms of the common cold?
- Sore or irritated throat.
- Nasal irritation, congestion, nasal discharge (rhinorrhoea),
and sneezing. - Nasal discharge is often profuse and clear at first but
becomes thicker and darker as the infection progresses. - Cough, which typically develops after nasal symptoms clear.
- Hoarse voice caused by associated laryngitis.
- General malaise.
What is seasonal influenza + what other respiratory complications?
- Acute respiratory illness caused by RNA viruses of the
family Orthomyxoviridae (influenza viruses). - Most complications of influenza in adults are
respiratory in nature and include: - Acute bronchitis.
- Pneumonia.
- Exacerbations of asthma and chronic obstructive
pulmonary disease (COPD). - Otitis media.
- Sinusitis
What are the two different types of influenza?
- uncomplicated influenza
- complicated influenza
What does uncomplicated influenza entail?
- Uncomplicated influenza: coryza (inflammation), nasal
discharge, cough, fever, gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms,
headache, malaise, myalgia, arthralgia, ocular
symptoms, and sore throat.
What does complicated influenza entail?
- Complicated influenza: require hospital admission,
involve the lower respiratory tract, central nervous
system (CNS), or cause significant exacerbation of an
underlying medical condition.
Who is at risk of seasonal influenza?
- Those with chronic respiratory, heart, kidney, liver, or neurological
disease; diabetes mellitus (DM); or those who are obese
or immunosuppressed. - Those > 65 years.
- Women who are pregnant (or women up to two weeks post partum).
- Children aged < 6 months.
What is suggested for the management of seasonal influenza?
- Drink adequate fluid
- Take paracetamol or ibuprofen to relieve symptoms, rest
- Stay off work or school until the worst symptoms have resolved (usually
~1 week)
When should urgent admission to hospital for seasonal influenza be considered?
- A complication such as pneumonia occurs.
- The person has a concomitant disease that may be
affected by influenza (for example, type 1 diabetes). - There is suspicion of a serious illness other than
influenza (for example, meningitis).
What is a cough + causes?
- It is a reflex response to airway irritation.
- It is triggered by stimulation of airway cough receptors, either by irritants
or by conditions that cause airway distortion. - Commonly caused by a viral upper respiratory tract infection (URTI).
- Other causes include:
- Acute bronchitis.
- Pneumonia.
- Acute exacerbations of asthma
- Environmental or occupational causes.
- Foreign body aspiration.
What are the types of cough + lengths?
- Cough can be acute (lasting < 3 weeks), sub-acute (lasting 3–8 weeks),
or chronic (lasting > 8 weeks).
What to do for a patient with a cough?
- Offer self care (e.g. paracetamol or ibuprofen for pain and inflammation,
if appropriate), and refer to smoking cessation if relevant.
When to refer a patient with a cough?
- Referral to a respiratory physician should be arranged for people with a
cough that does NOT respond to trials of treatment, if the diagnosis is
uncertain, or if systemically unwell. - Emergency referral should be arranged for people with:
- Clinical features of foreign body aspiration.
What is croup?
- Croup (laryngotracheobronchitis) is a common childhood
disease - Usually caused by a virus.
What are the symptoms of croup?
- Symptoms: sudden onset of a seal-like barking cough usually
accompanied by stridor (predominantly inspiratory), hoarse
voice, and respiratory distress due to upper-airway obstruction.
Symptoms are usually worse at night. There may be a fever. - There is often a preceding 12–48 hour history of a non-specific
cough, rhinorrhoea, and fever.
Who does croup mostly affect
- Croup most commonly affects children between 6 months and
6 years of age, with a peak incidence during the second year of
life.
What are some examples of mild croup symptoms?
- Mild croup symptoms include seal-like barking cough
but no stridor or sternal/intercostal recession at rest.
What are some examples of moderate croup symptoms?
- Moderate croup symptoms include seal-like
barking cough with stridor and sternal recession at rest;
no agitation or lethargy.
What are some examples of severe croup symptoms?
- Severe croup symptoms include seal-like
barking cough with stridor and sternal/intercostal
recession associated with agitation or lethargy. - A child should be immediately admitted when presenting
with moderate or severe croup, or impending respiratory
failure.
How to manage croup?
- Management: All children with mild, moderate, or severe croup
should receive a single dose of oral dexamethasone (0.15 mg
per kg body weight). - If the child is too unwell to receive medication, inhaled
budesonide (2 mg nebulised as a single dose) or intramuscular
(IM) dexamethasome (0.6 mg/kg as a single dose) are possible
alternatives. - Mild croup can usually be managed at home.
- Croup is usually self-limiting and symptoms usually resolve
within 48 hours. - If the child is being managed at home, the use of paracetamol or
ibuprofen to control fever and pain should be advised, and
parents should be advised to seek urgent medical advice if there
is any deterioration.
What is whooping cough?
- Also known as pertussis
- It is a highly infectious disease caused by the bacterium Bordetella pertussis.
- It is spread by aerosol droplets released during coughing, and
disproportionately affects infants and young children. - The incubation period is usually about 7 days, and the person is infectious for
3 weeks after the onset of symptoms.
What are the three phases of the whooping cough?
The catarrhal phase lasts ~ a week and is characterised by the development of a dry, unproductive cough.
The paroxysmal phase may last for a month or more and is characterised by coughing fits, whooping, and
post-tussive vomiting. The person may be relatively well between paroxysms.
The convalescent phase may last an additional 2 months or more, and is characterised by gradual
improvement in the frequency and severity of symptoms.
What is the management of whooping cough?
- People who are seriously unwell should be admitted to hospital (a low
threshold is required for children aged 6 months or less). - An antibiotic (usually a macrolide, such as erythromycin or clarithromycin)
should be prescribed to all people with suspected or confirmed whooping
cough with onset of cough within the previous 21 days. - Advice should be given on rest, adequate fluid intake, and the use of
paracetamol or ibuprofen for symptomatic relief. - Children and healthcare workers should be advised to stay off nursery,
school, or work until 48 hours of appropriate antibiotic treatment has been
completed, or 21 days after onset of symptoms if not treated. - Close contacts may require antibiotic prophylaxis.
What are the 9 types of cough in kids?
*barking cough
*cough with phlegm
*dry night time cough
*miserable cough
* whooping cough
* gross sounding cough
*rattling cough
*reflux cough
*allergic cough
