Upper Respiratory Tract Infections (URTIs) Flashcards

1
Q

What is the main component of the normal flora in the upper respiratory tract?

A

Alpha Streptococci.

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2
Q

Most common colds are caused by:

A

rhinoviruses.

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3
Q

Describe rhinoviruses (size, enveloped or not, DNA/RNA).

A

Small, non-enveloped RNA.

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4
Q

How are rhinoviruses usually transmitted?

A

Direct contact, some by droplet.

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5
Q

Why do rhinoviruses only grow in the upper respiratory tract?

A

They don’t grow at 37ºC - their optimal temperature for growth is 33ºC.

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6
Q

How long is the incubation period for rhinoviruses?

A

10-12 hours.

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7
Q

What is the second most common cause of common colds?

A

Coronaviruses.

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8
Q

Infectious mononucleosis (IM) is causes by:

A

HHV-4 (Epstein-Barr virus - EBV).

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9
Q

Describe EBV (enveloped/non-enveloped, DNA/RNA).

A

Enveloped DNA virus.

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10
Q

In IM, EBV remains latent in:

A

B cells.

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11
Q

Most IM infections in children are ____ while infections in older demographics (teens, adults) are more ______.

A

mild; severe.

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12
Q

IM can have systemic effects on:

A

cardiovascular & lymphatic systems.

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13
Q

What are some common symptoms of IM (5)?

A
Fever.
Sore throat.
Swollen lymph glands in neck.
General weakness & fatigue.
Enlarged spleen.
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14
Q

EBV produces heterophile antibodies, which are:

A

weird antibodies that agglutinate other animals’ RBCs.

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15
Q

Heterophile antibodies can be used for:

A

lab tests (ex: monospot).

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16
Q

Ampicillin rash is a complication in IM patients who:

A

are given beta-lactam antibiotics.

17
Q

Strep throat is caused by:

A

GAS (group A strep), which is beta-hemolytic.

18
Q

Rapid tests for strep throat are ________ but not __________, which means:

A

specific; sensitive; a positive result is meaningful (with symptoms) but a negative result is not.

19
Q

Why do we need to treat all cases of strep throat with antibiotics?

A

To prevent sequelae (complications).

20
Q

Patients can get Scarlet Fever from strep throat if (2 conditions):

A
  1. The strain can produce an erythrogenic toxin (superantigen).
  2. This is their first time getting infected with any toxin-producing strain.
21
Q

What are 3 characteristics of scarlet fever?

A
  1. Pink/red sandpaper-like rash.
  2. High fever.
  3. Strawberry tongue (loses upper membrane & becomes inflamed).
22
Q

Scarlet Fever can progress to:

A

glomerulonephritis or rheumatic fever.

23
Q

Diphtheria is caused by:

A

Corynebacterium diphtheriae.

24
Q

Describe the Gram morphology of Corynebacterium diphtheriae.

A

Aerobic, G+, non-spore forming bacillus.

25
Q

If pathogenic C. diphtheriae do not invade tissues, how do they cause disease?

A

They produce an exotoxin to inhibit protein synthesis in host cells & cause epithelial cells to die in the throat.

26
Q

What must happen for C. diphtheriae to become pathogenic?

A

Must be lysogenized (transduced) by a bacteriophage to transfer the exotoxin gene.

27
Q

What are some common effects of diphtheria toxin?

A

Myocarditis, cardiac failure, polyneuritis, death.

28
Q

What are some common symptoms of diphtheria?

A

Sore throat, fever & malaise.
Neck swelling (“bull neck”).
Nerve paralysis.
Pseudomembrane across back of throat.

29
Q

How do we treat diphtheria?

A

Antibiotics & antitoxin.

30
Q

What are the 3 most common causes of bacterial URTIs and their Gram morphologies?

A

Streptococcus pneumoniae: G+ diplococci.
Haemophilus influenzae: G- bacilli.
Moraxella catarrhalis: G- diplococci.

31
Q

What causes whooping cough?

A

Bordetella pertussis.

32
Q

What is the Gram morphology of Bordatella pertussis?

A

Small aerobic G- coccibacillus.

33
Q

If B. pertussis does not invade tissues, how does it cause disease?

A

It colonizes the ciliated respiratory epithelium and produces many exotoxins to cause cellular damage.

34
Q

What is the mode of transmission for B. pertussis?

A

Droplet.

35
Q

Describe the 3 stages of disease for whooping cough.

A
  1. Catarrhal: cold-like.
  2. Paroxysmal: gasping, cough.
  3. Convalescence: healing.
36
Q

What are the 6 mechanisms for pathogenicity for B. pertussis?

A
  1. FTA (filamentous hemagglutinin): for adherence.
  2. Pertussis toxin: systemic effects.
  3. Tracheal cytotoxin: damages ciliated cells.
  4. Lethal toxin: tissue necrosis.
  5. Adenylate cyclase: reduced phagocytic activity.
  6. LPS.
37
Q

What are the common causes of otis media (5)?

A
Streptococcus pneumoniae.
Haemophilus influenzae.
Moraxella catarrhalis.
Staphylococcus aureus.
Steptrococcus pyogenes.
Other "cold viruses".