URTI Flashcards
What are the 4 types of URTI?
- Common cold
- Influenza
- Pharyngitis
- Rhinosinusitis
Risk factors for URTI? (6)
- Close contact with children: daycares and schools
- Lack of personal/ hand hygiene
- Medical disorder: chronic respiratory disease like asthma and allergic rhinitis
- Smoking
- Immunocompromised individuals (cystic fibrosis, HIV, use of corticosteroids, transplantation, post-splenectomy)
- Anatomical anomalies (facial dysmorphic changes, nasal polyposis)
What are some risk factors of the pt we can manage to prevent URTI? (3)
- Smoking cessation
- Control asthma
- Allergic rhinitis
Is common cold a bacterial or viral infection?
Viral
What are the clinical presentations of a common cold?
- Low grade temp (~36.9 - 37°C)
- Rhinorrhea
- Blocked nose
- Sneezing
- Sore throat
- Productive cough
- Headache
- Body ache
What are the likely pathogens of common cold? (2)
Rhinovirus, coronavirus
Tx for common cold?
Should we use abx?
Symptomatic relief.
DO NOT use abx!
Monitoring for common cold?
When should the pt see a doctor?
- Self-limiting, most recover in 7-10 days
- Feel better within 3-4 days, but s/sx can linger for few weeks
- Normal for nasal discharge to change colour
- Cough may last 2-3 weeks
See doctor if s/sx does not improve after 10 days/ worsen
Clinical presentation for influenza?
What about for elderly?
- Fever
- Chills
- Headache
- Malaise
- Myalgia
- Anorexia
- Sore throat
- Dry cough
- Nasal discharge
Elderly may present with confusion
What are the complications that can happen with influenza?
What are the pathogens associated with the bacterial complication?
- Primary viral pneumonia
- Secondary bacterial pneumonia (most often Staph. aureus, Strep. pneumoniae and H. influenzae)
- Exacerbation of chronic respiratory disease
- Myocarditis
What kind of pts are at high risk for complications for influenza?
- Children < 5 y/o
- Elderly ≥ 65 y/o
- Pregnancy/ within 2 weeks postpartum
- Residents of nursing homes/ long-term care facilities
- Obese individuals with BMI ≥ 40 kg/m2
- Chronic medical conditions (eg asthma, COPD, HF, DM, CKD, immunocompromised)
When are diagnostics (nasopharyngeal swab or aspirate) for influenza required?
For hospitalised pts/ long term care pts.
Not commonly done for outpatient.
What are the likely pathogens for influenza?
Which one causes pandemics and is more common?
Human influenza A and B
Influenza A causes pandemics and is more common
What category of pts should we initiate antivirals for influenza ASAP?
When is the best time frame to initiate Tx?
Initiate ASAP from s/sx onset → best within first 48h, up to 5 days for:
- Hospitalised
- High-risk for complications
- Severe, complicated/ progressive illness
Is it necessary for outpatients with influenza to initiate Tx?
If so, what is the best time to initiate Tx?
Not necessary. Most pts do not need medical care or antiviral drug.
May be considered for outpatients who present within 48h of s/sx
First-line Tx for influenza?
Is dose adjusment needed? If so, what adjustments needed?
PO oseltamivir 75mg bid x 5d [Tamiflu]
Dose adjustment in renal impairment (CrCl < 60ml/min)
MOA of oseltamivir for influenza?
Is it active against both influenza A and B?
- Active against influenza A and B
- Neuraminidase inhibitor: interferes with protein cleavage → inhibits release of new virus
ADEs of oseltamivir for influenza?
- Headache
- GI discomfort (n/v)
When should (out)pts with influenza see a doctor?
What should we counsel them about the duration of the s/sx?
- S/sx does not improve after 10 days
- S/sx improved then worsened (ie new fevers, worsening dyspnea, cough)
Counsel pts s/sx last for a week
What type of people are the influenza vaccine (IM) recommended for?
How long does it take to confer immunity?
Recommended for: ALL persons ≥ 6 months old, esp if high risk of complications
Takes 2 weeks to confer immunity
Is pharyngitis bacterial or viral?
Both
What are the general clinical presentations of bacterial and viral pharyngitis? (5)
- Sore throat (worse with swallowing)
- Fever
- Erythema
- Inflammation of pharynx and tonsils (with or without patchy exudates)
- Tender, swollen lymph nodes
Elaborate more on the clinical presentations of bacterial pharyngitis (4)
- Sore throat
- Tonsillar exudates*
- Fever
- Cervical lymphadenopathy without viral s/sx
What is the criteria we can use to guide us to see whether there is a need to test for group A streptococcus or initiate abx Tx for bacterial pharyngitis?
Modified Centor Criteria