Upper Respiratory Tract Infections Flashcards
What is rhinitis?
Inflammation of the mucous membrane in the nasal cavity
Rhinitis can be classified into Allergic Rhinitis (AR) and Non-Allergic Rhinitis (NAR)
Which type of rhinitis is more common in females?
Non-allergic rhinitis
What causes allergic rhinitis?
Type 1 hypersensitivity reaction to inhaled allergen, igE-mediated mast cell degranulation
This reaction causes histamines to sensitize receptors that stimulate pruritus, sneezing, and increased secretions.
What is the main pathophysiological difference between allergic and non-allergic rhinitis?
AR is igE-mediated, while NAR involves upregulation of the parasympathetic nervous system causing nasal mucosa hyperactivity.
List some common causes of non-allergic rhinitis.
- Infectious * Hormonal * Occupational * Drug-induced
What is the most common viral infection that causes rhinitis?
Rhinovirus
What are common presentations of rhinitis?
- Sneezing * Nasal congestion * Reduced sense of smell * Rhinorrhoea * Pruritic nose
What is sinusitis?
Inflammation and swelling of the mucous membranes lining the paranasal sinuses.
What is the typical age of onset for sinusitis?
Ranges from 45-75 years old
What is rhinosinusitis?
Sinusitis that almost always occurs with rhinitis.
What are the common causes of acute sinusitis?
- Bacterial infections (Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, Moraxella catarrhalis) * Viral infections (rhinovirus, influenza, parainfluenza virus)
What distinguishes chronic sinusitis from acute sinusitis?
Chronic sinusitis lasts over 12 weeks.
What are common symptoms of sinusitis?
- Headaches * Facial tightness * Pressure * Pain * Nasal congestion * Decreased sense of smell
What is acute epiglottitis?
Life-threatening inflammation and swelling of the epiglottis.
What are common causes of acute epiglottitis?
- Viral infections * Bacterial infections (post-influenza staph infection, Haemophilus influenzae type b)
What are respiratory distress symptoms associated with acute epiglottitis?
- Cyanotic lips * Tripod position * Inspiratory stridor * Intercostal retractions * Fever * Tachypnea
What is a characteristic symptom of epiglottal swelling?
Drooling
Fill in the blank: The most common symptoms of sinusitis are _______.
[headaches, facial tightness, pressure, pain]
What is pharyngitis?
Inflammation and swelling of the pharynx (tube in neck that starts at back of nose and enters oesophagus).
Often coexists with tonsillitis.
When does pharyngitis peak in incidence?
Peak incidence occurs in childhood and adolescence, particularly in winter and early spring.
What are common causes of pharyngitis?
Commonly due to viral infections (e.g., adenovirus, enterovirus, influenza, rhinovirus, RSV, mono) and bacterial infections (e.g., Group A strep, haemophilus influenza b).
What are the symptoms of pharyngitis?
Sudden onset of sore throat, marked pain when swallowing.
Viral cause: conjunctivitis, cough, diarrhoea; Bacterial cause: fever, headache, enlarged cervical nodes.
What is laryngitis?
Inflammation and swelling of the larynx.
What are the common causes of laryngitis?
Almost always due to viral infections (e.g., rhinovirus, adenovirus, influenza) but can be due to bacterial infections (e.g., haemophilus influenzae, streptococcus).
