Upper respiratory tract infections

Question 1

What pathogen usually causes the common cold?

Answer 1

Rhinoviruses

Question 2

What is the official name for a common cold?

Answer 2

Acute coryza

Question 3

What is the incubation period for rhinoviruses?

Answer 3

12 hours to 5 days

Question 4

What are the symptoms of a common cold?

Answer 4

Malaise
Slight pyrexia
Sore throat
Nasal discharge

Question 5

What is sinusitis?

Answer 5

Inflammation of the nasal sinuses, usually caused by infection

Question 6

What pathogens usually cause sinusitis?

Answer 6

Rhinoviruses

Streptococcus pneumonia
Haemophilus influenzae

Question 7

What are the symptoms of sinusitis?

Answer 7

Frontal headache
Facial pain
Tenderness
Nasal discharge
Malaise

Question 8

What is rhinitis?

Answer 8

Sneezing attacks, nasal discharge and/or blockage

occurring for more than 1 hour on most days

Question 9

What two types of rhinitis are there? How can you distinguish them?

Answer 9

Seasonal rhinitis:
Occurs during summer months, caused by allergy to pollen
Symptoms of eye and soft palate itching

Perennial rhinitis:
May or may not be allergic
No symptoms affecting eye or soft palate

Distinguish:
Is it seasonal?
Are the eyes and soft palate itchy?

Question 10

What can occur as a result of perennial rhinitis?

Answer 10

Nasal polyps can form, which can cause nasal obstruction, loss of smell and taste and mouth breathing

Question 11

How do you diagnose rhinitis?

Answer 11

Skin prick test: look for allergens

Measure levels of IgE against causal antigens

Question 12

How would you manage rhinitis?

Answer 12

Avoidance of allergen

Anti-histamines

Decongestants

Topical steroids, oral if all else fails

Question 13

What is pharyngitis?

Answer 13

Inflammation of the pharynx, usually caused by infection.

Question 14

What pathogens usually cause pharyngitis?

Answer 14

Mostly viruses, particularly adenoviruses

Secondary invasion by bacteria:
H. influenzae
Streptococcus
Staph. aureus

Question 15

What are the symptoms of pharyngitis?

Answer 15

Sore throat
Fever
Malaise

Question 16

In a case of pharyngitis, how would you know if secondary invasion has occurred?

Answer 16

If the infection has not gone away of its own accord, then suspect secondary invasion by bacteria

Question 17

How would you treat pharyngitis?

Answer 17

Treat symptoms initially

If no improvement (the infection has gone by self-limiting) treat with antibiotics (penicillin)

Question 18

Croup is another name for…

Answer 18

Acute laryngotracheobronchitis

Question 19

What pathogens usually cause croup?

Answer 19

Parainfluenza virus

Measles virus

Question 20

Which type of people suffer worst when they get croup?

Answer 20

Children under the age of 3

Question 21

What are the symptoms of croup?

Answer 21

LARYNX
Hoarse voice
Barking cough
Stridor (grating sound on inhalation)

TRACHEA
Burning retrosternal pain

Question 22

What is it that causes the hoarse voice, barking cough + stridor in croup?

Answer 22

Inflammatory oedema of the larynx

Question 23

How do you treat croup?

Answer 23

Oxygen
Oral or intramuscular corticosteroids

Nebulised adrenaline

Rarely, intubation or tracheotomy is necessary

Question 24

What types of influenza virus are there?

Answer 24

A, B and C

Question 25

What are the surface antigens that are found on the surface of influenza viruses?

Answer 25

Haemagglutinin | Neuraminidase

Question 26

What does haemagglutinin do to help the influenza virus?

Answer 26

Binds to the host cells and gains entry

Question 27

What does neuraminidase do to help the influenza virus?

Answer 27

Gets viruses out of cells once they are newly produced

Question 28

Which is more virulent, influenza A, B or C?

Answer 28

A

Question 29

Which is able to cause pandemics, influenza A, B or C?

Answer 29

A

Question 30

Which causes sporadic outbreaks in institutions like schools and garrisons, influenza A, B or C?

Answer 30

B

Question 31

Which can cause an infection that is asymptomatic, influenza A, B or C?

Answer 31

C

Question 32

How long is the incubation period for influenza viruses?

Answer 32

About 1-3 days

Question 33

What are the symptoms of flu? How long can they last?

Answer 33

Abrupt onset of fever Generalised aching of limbs Severe headache Sore throat Dry cough Can last for several weeks

Question 34

How do you diagnose flu?

Answer 34

You don't usually | But you would see a rise in antibody levels if you did serology

Question 35

Management of flu?

Answer 35

Symptomatic treatment: Paracetamol, bed rest, fluids Prevention of secondary infection in susceptible people

Question 36

What complications can arise from flu?

Answer 36

Pneumonia

Question 37

Who is susceptible to secondary infection after getting flu?

Answer 37

People with lung problems | People with heart or renal failure

Question 38

Which people are at a higher risk of mortality from flu?

Answer 38

Chronic cardiac and pulmonary disease Old age Renal disease Immunosuppressed

Question 39

What is an outbreak?

Answer 39

2 or more linked cases

Question 40

What is an epidemic?

Answer 40

Lots of cases in a region or country

Question 41

What is a pandemic?

Answer 41

An epidemic that spans international boundaries

Question 42

What is antigenic drift?

Answer 42

Every year, the virus changes its antigens slightly which means people are no longer immune to it