Upper Respiratory Tract Infections Flashcards
What is a common cold?
Coryza
An acute viral infection of the nasal passages
What is the scientific name for a sore throat?
Pharyngitis
How is the coryza spread?
Droplets and formites
What are the complications of coryza?
Sinusitis and acute bronchitis
What viruses cause the coryza?
Adenovirus
Rhino virus
Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV)
What are the symptoms of acute sinusitis?
Purulent nasal discharge
Frontal headache- reteroorbital pain or maxillary sinus pain => toothache
What are the complications of sinusitis?
Lymph drainage of the upper part of the face and into the carotid sinuses and into the brain. Very rare.
What is the treatment for sinusitis?
Usually self limiting within 10 days.
Treatment includes nasal decongestants, nasal steroids and nasal pheudoephadrine
Occasionally antibiotics are needed
What causes strep throat?
Streptococcal group A bacteria
What are the symptoms of strep throat?
Pharyngitis- red with white patches Fever Fatigue Dysphonea Dysphagia
How is strep throat spread and in what demographic is it common?
Droplets
Children aged 5 to 15
What is the treatment for strep throat?
Usually antibiotics
Amoxicillin or penicillin
What are the signs of tonsillitis?
Large red swollen tonsils
Dysphagia
Dysphonia
Erythemtous (redness)
Is it possible to get tonsillitis even when your tonsils have been removed?
Yes as they can grow back
What is the treatment fro recurrent tonsillitis and what are the risks?
Tonsillectomy
High risk of bleeding
What is the treatment for tonsillitis?
Antibiotics
What is quincy?
A complication of tonsillitis
Tonsilar abscess
What is the treatment for quincy?
Must be drained- surgery under GA
Be careful of the internal carotid artery which lies posterior
What is a complication of quincy?
Intracranial empyema
What is epiglottitis and in which demographic is it common?
Infection of the epiglottis
Children- have a large epiglottis and a small mouth
How serious is epiglottitis and what is the treatment?
Life threatening due to the obstruction- call an anaesthetist
Give IV antibiotics
What often causes epiglotitis?
Haemophylous influenzae- penicillin sensitive
How serious is diphtheria and why?
Life threatening due to the toxin it produces
Pseudomembrane at the back of the throat causes people to asphyxiate (deprived of air)
What organisms cause flu?
Influenza A and B
What are the infection control precautions for someone with flu?
Mask, apron and gloves
Side room
Respirator mask if you are doing aerosol generating procedures
How is flu transmitted?
Droplets or direct contact with respiratory secretions
What are the complications of flu?
Primary influenzal pneumonia- seen during pandemic years. Young people
Secondary influenzal pneumonia- seen in all years and the most fatal cause of death. Older and ‘at risk’ people
What are the consequences of flu in pregnancy?
Perinatal mortality
Prematurity
Low birth weight and size
What causes most of the systemic symptoms of flu?
Interferon- a protein produced by immune cells in response to a viral infection
When are antivirals given for flu and what are they?
Oseltamivir and Zanamivir
Given when influenza is know to be circulating and to ‘at risk’ individuals
DOes not reduce mortality or complications but reduces symptoms by 2-3 days
Can be used in prophylaxis- eg care home outbreak
What causes flu endemics?
Minor mutations in the surface proteins on the virus
Antigenic drift
What causes flu pandemics?
A new virus. Rare and influenza A only
Antigenic shift
Due to a segmented genome and animal reservoirs
How is a flu case confirmed?
Nasa or throat swabs for PCR
What type of vaccine is the annual injectable flu vaccine and how is it produced?
Killed vaccine
Vaccine grown in hens eggs or cell culture and then inactivated and combined with an aduvant
Who receives the injectable flu vaccine?
Adult patients at risk of complications
Healthcare workers
Children aged 6 moths- 2 years at risk of complications
Who receives the intranasal flu vaccine?
All children aged 2 to the end of primary school
What type of vaccine is the intranasal flu vaccine?
Live attenuated vaccine.
More effective in children
