upper respiratory tract infections Flashcards
what is the upper respiratory tract?
nasal cavity, pharynx and larynx
name common URTIs
common cold
pharyngitis
what are other names for the common cold?
rhinopharyngitis/nasopharyngitis
what causes the common cold?
Caused by rhinoviruses, coronaviruses, adenoviruses, myxoviruses
what causes pharyngitis?
adenoviruses, myxoviruses etc.
o Pharyngitis – adenovirus, herpes simple virus, coxsackleviruses
what is the most common cause of URTIs?
viruses
what is the most common viral cause of nasopharyngitis?
rhinovirus
what is the major cause of transmission of the rhinovirus?
inhaling droplet in the air from sick people sneezing, coughing or blowing their nose then touching a surface contaminated with the virus and then touching your eyes, nose or mouth
how long can the rhinovirus survive outside of the nose?
3 hours
what is the incubation time of rhinovirus?
1-5 days
what is the incubation time or RSV?
7 days
what is the pathophysiology of nasopharyngitis?
- Virus binds to the host cell in the URT – epithelial lining
- Recognised by surface receptors, releases genetic material into host cell
- Replication of genetic material and use of host transcriptional processes to code for proteins
- Coat proteins and genetic material are made and assembled into viruses
- Viruses are replicated and released from the cell and ready to infect more host cells
what are the symptoms of a common cold?
Rhinorrhea) & nasal obstruction
• Runny nose, sore throat, cough, sneezing, loss of appetite, low-grade fever, watery eyes, headaches, earaches and nausea sensation
define rhinorrhea
excess mucus filling in the nasal cavity
what causes nasal obstruction in a common cold?
swollen cells and swollen blood vessels lead to feeling of congestion in the airways