Upper Respiratory Tract Infections Flashcards
What are some examples of upper respiratory tract infections?
Otitis media
Rhinitis
Tonsillitis
Pharyngitis
Laryngitis
Epiglottitis
What is laryngitis also known as?
Croup or laryngotracheobronchitis
How is bacteria inside us all the time but not causing infection?
As commensals, meaning they are harmless
What is a problem with commensals always being present?
It can be hard to tell what is a commensal and what is a pathogen
Where do most infections originate from?
Bacteria that was in the body beforehand
What is the prevalence of upper respiratory tract infections?
Acute upper respiratory tract infections (7% of all admissions)
Acute tonsillitis (3%)
Croup (3%)
Otitis media (0.5%)
What is important to know about the relationship between upper respiratory tract infections and hospital admissions?
Only a small percentage of upper respiratory tract infections leads to hospital admissions
Why is it difficult to know whether you should prescribe antibiotics are not?
You cannot tell if the patient is going to get better or worse
What is the most common upper respiratory tract infection?
Rhinitis (5 to 10 per year)
What does prodrome mean?
Early symptom indicating the onset of a disease
What does rhinitis prodrome?
Pneumonia
Meningitis
Septicaemia
What kind of condition is rhinitis and otitis media?
Self-limiting
What is the prevalence of otitis media?
common
When is otitis media primary and secondary?
Primary viral infection
Secondary with pneumococcus/H’flu
What does otitis media cause?
Spontaneous rupture of the eardrum
How useful are antibiotics for otitis media?
Do not usually help
What is the prevalence of tonsillitis/pharyngitis?
Common
Is tonsillitis/pharyngitis caused by viruses or bacteria?
Either
How does the severity of tonsillitis/pharyngitis drastically change?
It either requires nothing or 10 days of penicillin
Can you give Amoxicillin to someone with tonsillitis/pharyngitis?
Never
What is the most common cause of tonsillitis/pharyngitis?
Throat commensal of streptococcus
What is an indicator of croup/epiglottitis?
Distinctive barking cough or stridor
What is rhinitis more commonly known as?
Runny nose
How long can rhinitis take to clear?
up to 15 days
What are the symptoms of otitis media?
Ear pain
Temperature
Pus
Redness
Bulging drum
How long can otitis media (earache) take to clear?
Up to 9 days
How does treatment with antibiotics change the duration of the infection?
Barely changes it and so is not worth using due to possible side effects
What is the main side effect of antibiotics?
Diarrhoea
What are advantages of defered treatment?
Fewer patients treated
Fewer side effects
Benefits from immediate treatment only after pain is gone
What is worth prescribing for otitis media?
Analgesia (pain killer)
How long can a sore throat last up to?
7 days
What are differences between croup and epiglottitis?
Croup is caused by para’flu, common, child is well, barking cough, needs dexamethasone
Epiglottitis is caused by H.Influenza type B, rare, stridor and drooling, needs antibiotics
What is the duration of croup?
Up to 3 days
What is croup?
Childhood condition that affects the windpipe (trachea), the airways to the lungs (bronchi) and the voice box (larynx)
