Upper Respiratory Tract Infections COPY Flashcards
How do you differentiate between a cold and something more serious in a child?
Reassure the parents and tell them to seek medical advice if the child becomes ‘unwell’
Where does the URT boundary lie?
Level of the larynx
What are some infections of the URT?
- Rhinitis
- Otitis media
- Pharyngitis
- Laryngitis
- Epiglottitis
- Croup
What are examples of viral infective agents?
- Adenovirus
- Influenza A, B
- Para’flu I, II
- RSV
- Rhinovirus
What are examples of bacterial infective agents?
- H influenza
- M catarrhalis
- Mycoplasma
- Staph. aureus
- Streptococci (S. Pyogenes, S. pneumoniae)
How do URTI’s usually start?
With a sore throat and runny nose
How do you know if the child is going to get worse, is at their worst or past their worst?
You can’t know all you can do is ask their parents to review them
What is rhinitis a prodrome to?
- Pneumonia
- Bronchiolitis
- Meningitis
- Septicaemia
What is the treatment for the common cold?
Time, clear fluids and not wasting money on ‘remedies’
Describe the appearance of otitis media?
Erythema
Bulging drum
How can otitis media occur?
- As a primary viral infection
- As a secondary infection with pneumococcus/ H’flu
Why is it advisable to not treat otitis media with antibiotics?
- Often the main symptom is pain and that can be treated with analgesics
- Antibiotics would take effect from day 2/3 after the worst of the symptoms
- Studies show that a large proportion of those who took antibiotics suffered from side effects
- The benefits do not outweigh the negatives
- First do no harm
What are common side effects of the antibiotics sometimes used in otitis media?
- Diarrhoea
- Nappy rash
How long does the earache associated with otitis media usually last?
Usually up to 8 days
What are the benefits of delaying treatment for otitis media?
- Fewer patients are treated unnecessarily saving money and decreasing risk of antibiotic resistance
- Fewer people experience side effects
