Upper respiratory tract infections Flashcards

1
Q

What pathogen usually causes the common cold?

A

Rhinoviruses

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2
Q

What is the official name for a common cold?

A

Acute coryza

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3
Q

What is the incubation period for rhinoviruses?

A

12 hours to 5 days

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4
Q

What are the symptoms of a common cold?

A

Malaise
Slight pyrexia
Sore throat
Nasal discharge

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5
Q

What is sinusitis?

A

Inflammation of the nasal sinuses, usually caused by infection

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6
Q

What pathogens usually cause sinusitis?

A

Rhinoviruses

Streptococcus pneumonia
Haemophilus influenzae

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7
Q

What are the symptoms of sinusitis?

A
Frontal headache
Facial pain
Tenderness
Nasal discharge
Malaise
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8
Q

What is rhinitis?

A

Sneezing attacks, nasal discharge and/or blockage

occurring for more than 1 hour on most days

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9
Q

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

A

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?

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10
Q

What can occur as a result of perennial rhinitis?

A

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

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11
Q

How do you diagnose rhinitis?

A

Skin prick test: look for allergens

Measure levels of IgE against causal antigens

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12
Q

How would you manage rhinitis?

A

Avoidance of allergen

Anti-histamines

Decongestants

Topical steroids, oral if all else fails

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13
Q

What is pharyngitis?

A

Inflammation of the pharynx, usually caused by infection.

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14
Q

What pathogens usually cause pharyngitis?

A

Mostly viruses, particularly adenoviruses

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

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15
Q

What are the symptoms of pharyngitis?

A

Sore throat
Fever
Malaise

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16
Q

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

A

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

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17
Q

How would you treat pharyngitis?

A

Treat symptoms initially

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

18
Q

Croup is another name for…

A

Acute laryngotracheobronchitis

19
Q

What pathogens usually cause croup?

A

Parainfluenza virus

Measles virus

20
Q

Which type of people suffer worst when they get croup?

A

Children under the age of 3

21
Q

What are the symptoms of croup?

A

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

TRACHEA
Burning retrosternal pain

22
Q

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

A

Inflammatory oedema of the larynx

23
Q

How do you treat croup?

A

Oxygen
Oral or intramuscular corticosteroids

Nebulised adrenaline

Rarely, intubation or tracheotomy is necessary

24
Q

What types of influenza virus are there?

A

A, B and C

25
Q

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

A

Haemagglutinin

Neuraminidase

26
Q

What does haemagglutinin do to help the influenza virus?

A

Binds to the host cells and gains entry

27
Q

What does neuraminidase do to help the influenza virus?

A

Gets viruses out of cells once they are newly produced

28
Q

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

A

A

29
Q

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

A

A

30
Q

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

A

B

31
Q

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

A

C

32
Q

How long is the incubation period for influenza viruses?

A

About 1-3 days

33
Q

What are the symptoms of flu?

How long can they last?

A

Abrupt onset of fever Generalised aching of limbs Severe headache
Sore throat
Dry cough

Can last for several weeks

34
Q

How do you diagnose flu?

A

You don’t usually

But you would see a rise in antibody levels if you did serology

35
Q

Management of flu?

A

Symptomatic treatment:
Paracetamol, bed rest, fluids

Prevention of secondary infection in susceptible people

36
Q

What complications can arise from flu?

A

Pneumonia

37
Q

Who is susceptible to secondary infection after getting flu?

A

People with lung problems

People with heart or renal failure

38
Q

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

A

Chronic cardiac and pulmonary disease

Old age

Renal disease

Immunosuppressed

39
Q

What is an outbreak?

A

2 or more linked cases

40
Q

What is an epidemic?

A

Lots of cases in a region or country

41
Q

What is a pandemic?

A

An epidemic that spans international boundaries

42
Q

What is antigenic drift?

A

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