UPPER RESPIRATORY TRACT CONDITIONS AND INFECTIONS Flashcards
Name the 3 Upper respiratory tract infections
Acute bacterial sinusitis(rhinitis, runny nose)
Acute pharyngotonsillitis(sore throat)
Acute otitis media(earache)
Name 3 lower respiratory tract infections
Acute bronchitis
Acute exacerbation of COPD
Pneumonia
what is rhinitis?
Inflammation and swelling of the mucous membrane of the nose
Rhinitis is characterized by what?
Runny nose and stuffiness
what causes the rhinitis?
Cold or allergy
Symptoms of Rhinitis
Runny nose, sneezing and stuffiness
how long does the viral/allergic rhinitis last?
2-3 days (5-7)
how long does the bacterial rhinitis last?
7-10 days
List the sysmptoms of viral/allergic rhinitis
Nasal congestion/obstruction
Watery discharge (rhinitis) from both nostrils
General illness
List the sysmptoms of bacterial rhinitis
Headache, fever, facial/ dental tenderness (facial pain), purulent nasal discharge (especially unilaterally)
List 3 micro-organisms that causes bacterial rhinitis
Streptococcus pneumoniae
Haemophilus influenza
Moraxella catarrhalis
Define allergic rhinitis
Inflammation of the mucous membrane of the nose and paranasal sinuses in response to an allergen. e.g pollen grain, house dust, grasses and animal hair.
The allergic rhinitis is characterized by what?
snoring at night
Mouth breathing
oedemetous pale nasal mucosa
conjuctival itching and watering
watery nasal discharge
blocked stuffy nose
Frequent sneezing, often accompanied by nasal itching and irritation
Allergic rhinitis excludes other causes like what? list them
Infections
Vasomotor rhinitis
Overuse of decogestant drops
Side effects of antihypertensives and antidepressants
List 2 non drug treatment of allergic rhinitis
Avoid allergens and irritants
what does the antihistamines relieve in allergic rhinitis
Sneezing
Itching
runny nose
Antihistamines use in allergic rhinitis do not relieve what?
Nasal congestion
You should co-administer antihistamines with which medication in order to provide great symptoms relief of allergic rhinitis
nasal steroids and decongestants
Antihistamines for allergic rhinitis that can be given without prescription and in long acting. Give that antihistamines
Nonsedating oral antihistamines
which antihistamines should not be given before driving or operating machinery or in children?
Sedating oral antihistamines chlorpheniramine
Medication used in allergic rhinitis that are most effective, evidence based maintenance therapy
Tropical intranasal steroids
Adverse effects of nasal steroid use in allergic rhinitis
Transient burning
Stinging
dry nose
sneezing
The maximum response for nasal steroids is seen when? When should a patient stop using medication
2 weeks
The patient should continues, prophylactic use, even symptom free
Administration instruction to a patient about nasal steroids explain
Usually administer as spray, blow nose before administration, spray away from the nasal septum, while breathing in gently (do not sniff up the spray), bend head foward towards the knees for 20 seconds, while occluding the nose to prevent leakage out the nose
Drug treatment for allergic rhinitis for adults and children>6 years of age
corticosteroid e.g: fluticosone, aqueous nasal solution
Allergic rhinitis drug treatment for short term symptomatic use
CHLORPHENAMINE, ORAL, 6-8 HOURLY
Allergic rhinitis drug treatment for relief of nocturnal nasal blockage
Topical nasal decongestant e.g oxymetazoline 0.05%, intranasal, admistered at night for a maximum of 5 days
Long term antihistamines should be used when?
After an adequet trial of intranasal corticosteroids and should be added to steroid therapy, if necessary.
allergic rhinitis drug treatment for long term use in adults and children:
Cetirizine once daily
Caution and referral of allergic rhinitis drug treatment
Caution: do not give antihistamines to children <2 years of age
Referral: chronic persistent symptoms, severe symptoms, patients on protease inhibitors, requiring nasal corticosteroids
