ENT Flashcards
(142 cards)
Tonsillitis definition
Inflammation of pharyngeal tonsils, usually extending to lingual tonsils and adenoids
Causes of tonsillitis
Mostly viral: Adenovirus, rhinovirus, RSV, EBV
Also bacterial: Group A strep (beta haemolytic)
Symptoms of tonsillitis
Fever Sore throat Halitosis Dysphagia Odynophagia Mild airway obstruction
Signs of tonsillitis
Respiratory distress
Tonsillar changes: Erythema, oedema, +/- exudate
Tender cervical lymphadenopathy
Requires flexible nasoendoscopy if severe or presence of respiratory distress
Management of tonsillitis
ABCs with resus and airway care of necessary
If bacterial- ABX- GAS- IV penicillin 2mu Q6h for acute inpatients, 10/7 oral for outpatients
Steroids for inpatients- dexamethasone stat or ads
Supportive therapy: Antiemetics, analgesia, antipyretics
Complications of GAS tonsillitis
Suppurative: Peritonsillar abscess, deep neck space infections, cervical lymphadenitis
Non-suppurative: Scarlet fever, rheumatic fever, post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis
Describe EBV tonsillitis and the management of this condition
EBV is also called mononucleosis
Consider it with tonsillitis + tender lymphadenopathy, splenomegaly, severe lethargy, and a white/grey membrane over tonsils
Confirmed via blood test
Takes longer to resolve, avoid contact sport due to risk of splenic rupture
Define peritonsillar abscess (quinsy)
Abscess formation between the tonsil and its capsule
Causes of peritonsillary abscess
Secondary to tonsillitis (progresses to cellulitis, then necrosis, then pus formation)
Infection of a minor salivary gland
Often polymicrobial, anaerobic growth. Aerobes likely to be strep, Aureus and H influenzae
Symptoms of peritonsillar abscess
Neck pain
Throat pain, worse one side +/- unilateral ear pain
Trismus (lockjaw)
Voice change to hot potato voice- sounds as if a mouthful of hot food
Signs of peritonsillar abscess
Resp distress
Tonsillar changes- erythema, uvula deviation to contralateral side, inferior-medial tonsillar displacement, supratonsillar fold/soft palate swelling
Drooling
Trismus
Dehydration
Tender cervical lymphadenopathy
Flexi-nasoendoscopy needed if respiratory distress or to rule out epiglottitis
How do diagnose peritonsillar abscess
FBC and U and Es
Monospot to rule out EBV
If deep neck infection suspected, lateral neck X-ray/CT
Management of peritonsillar abscess
ABCs
Incision and drainage- mainstay
Supportive therapy- fluids, ABX as for tonsillitis, antipyretics, analgesia
Complications of peritonsillar abscess
Deep neck space infection as peritonsillar space is contiguous with parapharyngeal and retropharyngeal spaces
Definition of supraglottitis/epiglottitis
Inflammation of structures above the insertion of the glottis in the oropharynx, eg. epiglottis, vallecula, arytenoids and aryepiglottic folds
Causes of supraglottitis/epiglottitis
Predominantly strep, staph and gram negatives
H Influenzae used to be the most common cause so ask about vaccination status!
Symptoms of supraglottitis/epiglottitis
Sore throat Odynophagia/dysphagia Muffled/hot potato voice Preceding RTI Fever Cough
Signs of supraglottitis/epiglottitis
Tripodding Toxic appearance of patient Drooling Irritability Stridor (late sign indiciating airway obstruction Cervical lymphadenopathy
How to diagnose supraglottitis/epiglottitis
Clinical
Lateral neck Xray shows epiglottitis thumb sign where epiglottis becomes swollen and pointed
Flexible nasoendoscopy if tolerated
Blood cultures
Management of supraglottitis/epiglottitis
ABCs and early ENT review- key is managing airway
ABX- ceftriaxone is firstline
Supportive measures- analgesics, antiemetics, IV fluids
Definition of deep neck space infections
Infection within a neck space created by planes
Most worrying is involvement of the space anterior to the prevertebral fascia- the danger space
Causes of DNSI
Inadequately treated pharyngitis, dental abscess or tonsillitis
Sialadenitis (salivary gland inflammation)
IVDU
Malignancy
Symptoms of DNSI
Sore throat Dysphagia Odynophagia Trismus Neck and neck movement pain \+/- painful neck mass
Signs of DNSI
Retropharyngeal abscess: posterior pharynx erythema and swelling
Parapharyngeal abscess: Medial displacement of tonsil and lateral pharyngeal wall
General
Torticollis: Holding neck in twisted position
Tender lymphadenopathy
Danger signs
Neurological deficit eg. hoarse voice due to vocal paralysis (carotid sheath and vagal/recurrent laryngeal nerve pressure)
Horner’s syndrome