Throat Conditions Flashcards
Commonest causes of sore throat
Viral - rhinovirus, choronovirus, parainfluenza, adenovirus,
What virus causes glandular fever?
Epstein-barr
Percentage of sore throats are glandular fever
1%
Bacterial causes of sore throat
Group A b-haemolytic strep - Strep. pyogenes
Percentage of sore throat caused by Group A strep
15-30% in kids, around 10% adults
When might tests be useful in sore throat?
to confirm a suspected: post-strep glomerulonephritis, rheumatic fever
What test might be used to confirm a diagnosis in strep throat?
Anti-streptococcal antibody
What is the centor criteria used for?
Assessing the likelihood of strep throat and thus the usefulness of strep throat
4 parts to centor criteria
- tonsillar exudate 2. tender ant. cervical lymphadenopathy 3. history of fever 4. absence of cough
treatment of viral tonsillitis
Reassure, paracetamol and ibuprofen, diflam spray
treatment of bacterial tonsillitis
Penicillin V for 10 days - NOT amoxicillin
Why would you not give amoxicillin in bacterial tonsillitis?
Pathogonomic rash is associated with amoxicillin and EBV if EBV is the cause
Important differential of sore throat in young child
Epiglottitis - HiB
Which patients should have further investigations when presenting with a sore throat?
Those on carbimazole and DMARDs - check the FBCs urgently
Common complications of tonsillitis
OM, OME, sinusitis, peritonsillar abscess (quinsy)
