Viral respiratory tract infections

Question 1

What are common causes of common cold?

Answer 1

Rhinovirus

Coronavirus

Question 2

What are complications of common cold?

Answer 2

Otitis media

Sinusitis

Question 3

What is pharyngitis?

Answer 3

Pharyngeal inflammation causing sore throat, has a viral cause in 25-45% cases

If nasal symptoms too, its viral

Question 4

What are viral causes of pharyngitis?

Answer 4

Adenovirus
Rhinovirus
Influenza
Parainfluenza

Question 5

What is croup?

Answer 5

Childhood respiratory infection with rapid onset and difficulty breathing

Question 6

What are causes of croup?

Answer 6

Mostly parainfluenza

Question 7

What is bronchiolitis?

Answer 7

LRTI in young children causing wheeze, tachycardia, persistent cough for a week

Question 8

What is most common cause of bronchiolitis?

Answer 8

RSV

Question 9

How is RSV treated

Answer 9

Ribivirin

Palivizumab

Question 10

What are Sx of influenza?

Answer 10

○ Runny/blocked nose
		○ Sore throat
		○ Coughing
		○ Tiredness
		○ Fever
		○ Headache
		○ Vomiting

Question 11

What are complications of influenza?

Answer 11

otitis media
sinusitis
pneumonia (staph aureus)
dehydration
exacerbation of any underlying disease 

Reye syndrome: encephalopathy + fatty degenerative liver failure

Question 12

how is influenza treated?

Answer 12

Supportive (fluids, rest) unless underlying disease, immunsuppresses, pregnanct, infant,elderly

Neuraminidase inhibitors: zanamivir, oseltamivir

M2 inhibitors

- Amantadine 
- Rimantadine 

IMP dehydrogenase inhibitors
- Ribavirin

RNA polymerase inhibitors
- Favipiravir
Baloxavir

Question 13

Who gets offered flu vaccine

Answer 13

HCW
at risk groups
children

Question 14

How is influenza diagnosed?

Answer 14

Viral PCR
rapid antigen testing
viral cultures e.g. throat, nasal swab, sputum