ENT Flashcards
(54 cards)
What is tonsilitis?
Inflammation in the tonsils
What commonly causes tonsillitis?
Most commonly viral.
Bacterial causes
- Group A Strep (pyogenes)
- streptococcus pneumoniae
- haem influenza
How is tonsillitis managed?
If viral - self resolving. Safety net.
Bacterial (fever pain score > 4) - give penicillin V (phenoxymethylpenicillin) for 10 days (or clarithromycin in allergy)
How does tonsillitis present?
- Fever
- Sore throat
- swollen erythematous tonsils with white exudate
- swollen lymph nodes - cervical lymphadenopathy
- headache
- vomiting
What is the centor criteria for?
A score of 3 or more is suggestive of bacterial tonsillitis - can offer antibiotics.
- fever over 38
- tonsillar exudates
- absence of cough
- tender anterior lymphadenopathy
What is the FeverPAIN Score?
Scoring to determine probability that tonsilitis is bacterial.
- Fever in last 24 hrs
- Pus on tonsils
- Attended within 3 days of onset of symptoms
- Inflamed tonsils
- No cough
What are some complications of tonsillitis?
- chronic tonsillitis
- peritonsillar abscess - quinsy
- otitis media
- scarlet fever
- rheumatic fever
- post streptococcal glomerulonephritis
- post streptococcal reactive arthritis
What is quinsy?
Peritonsillar abscess
How does quinsy present?
- similarly to tonsillitis - sore throat, fever, lymphadenopathy
- trismus - unable to open their mouth
- change in voice - due to pharyngeal swelling
- swelling and erythema around the enlarged tonsils
What is the management for quinsy?
- refer to ENT for incision and drainage (under general)
- antibiotics
- steroids - dexamethasone - to settle inflammation
What are the indications for tonsillectomy?
Repeated episodes of tonsillitis
- 7 or more in 1 year
- 5 per year for 2 years
- 3 per year for 3 years
- recurrent tonsillar abscesses (>2)
- enlarged tonsils causing obstruction
What are some of the potential complications of tonsillectomy?
- pain (up to 2 weeks)
- damage to teeth
- infection
- bleeding ( if severe can be life threatening due to aspiration of blood)
- risks of general anaesthetic
How is post tonsillectomy bleeding managed?
- call ENT registar
- IV access - bloods inc. clotting, group + save and crossmatch
- analgesia
- sit up and encourage to spit out blood
- nil by mouth
- IV fluids
- if airway compromise - maintain / intubate
If not severe can give hydrogen peroxide gargle or adrenalin soaked swab to stop the bleeding.
If severe = go to theatre
What is otitis media?
Infection in the middle ear (between the tympanic membrane and inner ear)
What most commonly causes otitis media?
- often a prior viral URTI.
- bacteria can travel from the back of the throat through the eustachian tube to the middle ear
Bacteria
- streptococcus pneumoniae
- haemophilus influenza
- moraxella catarrhalis
- staph aureus
How does otitis media present?
- ear pain
- reduced hearing (unilateral)
- symptoms of URTI - cough, fever, sore throat, aches, irritablity
If spreads to vestibular system
- balance problems and vertigo
if tympanic membrane perforates - discharge from ear.
How is otitis media diagnosed?
Examination of both ears using a otoscope (pull ear up and back).
- the tympanic membrane of the affected ear will look bulging, red and inflamed. Perforation = discharge in canal.
How is mild otitis media managed?
- simple analgesia for fever and pain
- can prescribe a delayed prescription of antibiotics (amoxicillin for 5 days) for if symptoms have not improved after 3 days.
When may antibiotics be immediately prescribed for otitis media?
- immunocompromised / co-morbidities
- < 2 years old
- otorrhoea - ear discharge
What are the main complications of otitis media?
- otitis media with effusion (glue ear)
- hearing loss - normally temporary
- perforated eardrum
- recurrent infection
- Mastoiditis (rare)
- abscess (rare)
What is otitis media with effusion?
When the middle ear becomes filled with fluid causing a unilateral conductive hearing loss.
What causes otitis media with effusion?
Blockage of the eustachian tube meaning fluid builds up in the middle ear
How does otitis media with effusion present?
Reduced hearing
What is the main complication of otitis media with effusion?
Infection (otitis media)