Unit 3 Case 3

Question 1

What is Unit 3 case 3 about?

Answer 1

A 65-year-old retired woman develops a sore throat and a cough. She thinks it is just a cold. But she gets worse, having muscle/joint pain and worse cough. Her daughter Ann gives her paracetamol. Ann is worried about her 5-year old son contracting it as he has severe asthma and takes him to the GP. Prescribed oseltamivir and told Henry should be vaccinated by Ann is unsure to get him vaccinated due to stories she has read

Question 2

What is a compound fracture?

Answer 2

A type of fracture where there is skin damage. This often involves the bone breaking and sticking out of the skin

Question 3

Consequences of having a compound fracture?

Answer 3

High risk of infection, which can spread to the bone itself or cause sepsis

Question 4

What is immunosenescence ?

Answer 4

It is age-associated decline in immune system

-innate and adaptive immunity are less effective

Question 5

What are the impacts of immunosenescence ?

Answer 5

Increase susceptibility to disease in elderly
Impaired response to vaccinations
Increased likelihood of getting age related conditions

Question 6

How does the immune system become weaker during immunosenescence?

Answer 6

B cells secrete less antibodies
Thymus shrinks- less new naive T cells
T and B cells secrete SASP ( senescence associated secretory phenotype) which is

Question 7

What is asthma ?

Answer 7

Chronic inflammatory disorder of the bronchi and bronchioles in the lungs, causing major constriction when they are inflamed. Making it hard to breathe

Question 8

What are the 4 types of asthma ?

Answer 8

Mild intermittent 
Mild persistent 
Moderate persistent 
Severe persistent
-depends on the frequency of symptoms to determine which one you have

Question 9

What is herd immunity?

Answer 9

A form of indirect protection from infectious diseases that occurs when a sufficient percentage of the population has become immune to that infection (normally through vaccine)

Question 10

What are common vaccine misconceptions?

Answer 10

That vaccines are going to:

• overload and damage immune system
• the disease has disappeared so vaccine not needed
• that vaccines cause autism
• natural immunity is better

Question 11

Who is eligible for the flu vaccine?

Answer 11

Standard flu vaccine is available for everyone aged between 6 months to 64 years
-nasal spray available for 2-17 year old- increase uptake of those vaccinated for those who dont like needles

Question 12

What are the modes of transmission of the influenza virus?

Answer 12

Primarily spread via inhalation of respiratory droplets containing the infectious virus, from talking, sneezing, or coughing
-also can spread through possible contact of respiratory secretions

Question 13

What is the effect of flu on ashtma?

Answer 13

People with asthma are at high risk of developing serious flu complications

• can trigger asthma attacks
• more likely to develop pneamonia
• can develop swollen and sensitive airways

Question 14

What is an asthma attack?

Answer 14

Where exposure to a particular allergen or virus that cause inflammation and a large constriction of the bronchioles, making breathing very difficult

Question 15

How are the chances of getting a secondary infection increase when you have the flu?

Answer 15

Influenza weakens the immune system leading to opportunistic infections due to a weakened immune system in the vulnerable patient
-common examples: staphylococcus aureus, streptococcus pneumoniae

Question 16

How do secondary infections differ in severity?

Answer 16

Depends on the strain of both the bacteria and the virus

As well as the amount of time between viral infection and bacterial exposure

Question 17

How do the symptoms of cold and flu differ?

Answer 17

As a rule of thumb, cold symptoms are less severe
Cold symptoms: stuffy nose, sneezing, sore throat,
Flu symptoms: headache, severe pain, fatigue, weakness, sore throat, fever

Question 18

What is antigenic drift?

Answer 18

Antigenic drift is the slow, constant mutations which alters surface proetins such as haemaggutinin which changes the structure of the antigen

Question 19

What is antigenic shift?

Answer 19

Antigenic shift is where two or more strains of a virus combine to form a new subtype having a mixture of the surface antigens
-less common than antigenic drift

Question 20

What is the role of a district nurse?

Answer 20

Work in the community (not the hospital)
Visit patients in their homes, where they access the heathcare needs of the patient and monitor the care they are recieving

Question 21

What is the pharmacological name of of Tamiflu?

Answer 21

Oseltamivir

Question 22

What is the mechanism of action of oseltamivir?

Answer 22

Inhibits the action of neuraminidase

• Neuraminidase can’t cleaves the terminal sialic acid reisdues on surface of the infected cell
• The virus cannot exit the cell to infect others, controlling the infection

Question 23

What is the mechanism of action for paracetamol?

Answer 23

Inhibits the synthesis of prostaglandins by inhibition of the cyclooxygenase-mediated production of prostaglandins

• prostaglandins are made at sites of tissue damage, where they cause inflammation, pain and fever
• therefore controlling pain, inflammation and fever

Question 24

What is the function of the respiratory system?

Answer 24

Supply oxygen to body and remove CO2

Help regulate homeostasis through acid base balancing

Question 25

What structures are in the upper respiratory tract?

Answer 25

• Nasal passages
• Paranasal sinuses- 4 paired hollow, air-filled spaces within the bones surrounding the nasal cavities
• Pharynx (oropharynx, nasopharynx, laryngopharynx)
• Larynx (voice box)

Question 26

What are the 4 sinuses?

Answer 26

Maxillary sinuses- under the eyes/ maxilla bone
Frontal sinuses- above the eyes/frontal bone
Ethmoidal sinuses- between the eyes/ethmoid bone
Sphenoidal sinuses- behind the eyes/sphenoid bone

Question 27

What structures are in the lower respiratory tract?

Answer 27

• Trachea

- Bronchi and bronchioles, and alveoli (make up the lungs)

Question 28

Formula for compliance

Answer 28

Change in volume over change in pressure