Throat Flashcards
What is the commonest cause of tonsillitis?
Epstein-Barr Virus
What is the commonest bacterial cause of tonsillitis?
Streptococcus Pyogenes
What is the commonest cause of recurrent tonsillitis?
Streptococcus pyogenes
How does tonsillitis present?
Sore throat
Painful swallowing
Fever
How is tonsillitis diagnosed?
Centor criteria
What is the centor criteria for tonsillitis?
Fever >380C
Tonsillar exudates- white patches on tonsils
Absence of cough
Tender anterior cervical lymph nodes
What is the management of viral tonsillitis?
Analgesia- Paracetamol or Ibuprofen
What is the management of bacterial tonsillitis?
Penicillin V (phenoxymethylpenicillin)
What is the surgical management of tonsillitis?
Tonsillectomy
What are the complications of tonsillitis?
Quinsy-peritonsillar abscess
What is another name for croup?
Laryngotracheobronchitis
What is croup?
A form of upper respiratory tract infection
Who is croup seen in?
6months to 3 years
What is the main cause of croup?
Parainfluenza virus
What is the presentation of croup?
Stridor
Barking cough (worse at night)
Fever
Coryzal symptoms
How is croup diagnosed?
Clinical diagnosis
What is seen on a chest x-ray?
Subglottic narrowing-‘steeple sign’
Swelling of the epiglottis - the ‘thumb sign’
What is the management of croup?
A single dose of oral dexamethasone to all children
What is an alternative to dexamethasone?
Prednisolone
What is the emergency management of croup?
High flow oxygen
Nebulised adrenaline
What is a thyroglossal cyst?
A thyroglossal duct persists and becomes a fluid filled cyst
What is a complication of a thyroglossal cyst?
The cyst becomes infected causing a hot painful lump
What are the features of a thyroglossal cyst?
In the midline of the neck
Mobile, non-tender lump
Painful if infected
What happens to the cyst with protrusion of the tongue?
The cyst moves up and down
How is a thyroglossal cyst diagnosed?
Ultrasound
What is the management of a thyroglossal cyst?
Surgical removal and histology
What is epiglottitis?
Infection causing inflammation of the epiglottis?
What is the main cause of epiglottitis?
Haemophilus influenza B
What is the presentation of epiglottitis?
Rapid onset High temperature Generally unwell Stridor Drooling of saliva
What makes breathing easier in epiglottitis?
Easier to breathe if patient leaning forward and extending neck in a seated position
How is epiglottitis diagnosed?
Direct visualistion
What might be seen on a chest x-ray of epiglottitis?
Subglottic narrowing-‘steeple sign’
Swelling of the epiglottis - the ‘thumb sign’
What should you not do in suspected epiglottitis?
Examine the throat due to the risk of acute airway obstruction
What is the needed to protect the airway in epiglottitis?
Endotracheal intubation
What is the management of epiglottitis?
Oxygen
Intravenous antibiotics- Cefuroxime
