Unit 3 Case 3 Flashcards
What is Unit 3 case 3 about?
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
What is a compound fracture?
A type of fracture where there is skin damage. This often involves the bone breaking and sticking out of the skin
Consequences of having a compound fracture?
High risk of infection, which can spread to the bone itself or cause sepsis
What is immunosenescence ?
It is age-associated decline in immune system
-innate and adaptive immunity are less effective
What are the impacts of immunosenescence ?
Increase susceptibility to disease in elderly
Impaired response to vaccinations
Increased likelihood of getting age related conditions
How does the immune system become weaker during immunosenescence?
B cells secrete less antibodies
Thymus shrinks- less new naive T cells
T and B cells secrete SASP ( senescence associated secretory phenotype) which is
What is asthma ?
Chronic inflammatory disorder of the bronchi and bronchioles in the lungs, causing major constriction when they are inflamed. Making it hard to breathe
What are the 4 types of asthma ?
Mild intermittent Mild persistent Moderate persistent Severe persistent -depends on the frequency of symptoms to determine which one you have
What is herd immunity?
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)
What are common vaccine misconceptions?
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
Who is eligible for the flu vaccine?
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
What are the modes of transmission of the influenza virus?
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
What is the effect of flu on ashtma?
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
What is an asthma attack?
Where exposure to a particular allergen or virus that cause inflammation and a large constriction of the bronchioles, making breathing very difficult
How are the chances of getting a secondary infection increase when you have the flu?
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
How do secondary infections differ in severity?
Depends on the strain of both the bacteria and the virus
As well as the amount of time between viral infection and bacterial exposure
How do the symptoms of cold and flu differ?
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
What is antigenic drift?
Antigenic drift is the slow, constant mutations which alters surface proetins such as haemaggutinin which changes the structure of the antigen
What is antigenic shift?
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
What is the role of a district nurse?
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
What is the pharmacological name of of Tamiflu?
Oseltamivir
What is the mechanism of action of oseltamivir?
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
What is the mechanism of action for paracetamol?
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
What is the function of the respiratory system?
Supply oxygen to body and remove CO2
Help regulate homeostasis through acid base balancing
