Lower Respiratory Tract Infections in Adults Flashcards
(25 cards)
What is acute bronchitis?
Inflammation of the bronchi
How can acute bronchitis be differentiated?
Length of time patient has it for
Temp: < 3 weeks
Chronic: 3 months of the year for two years in a row - COPD
How long can the post viral cough in acute bronchitis last?
8 weeks
What are the symptoms of acute bronchitis?
Cough and sputum
How is acute bronchitis managed?
Usually of viral origin - no antibiotics
Supportive management only - lots of fluids, paracetamol
When should someone see a GP with acute bronchitis?
Cough for more than 3 weeks
High temp for more than three days - can be a sign of pneumonia
Coughing up blood
Underlying heart or lung condition
More breathless
Repeated episodes of bronchitis
What is bronchiectasis?
Long-term condition where the airways of the lungs become abnormally widened, leading to a build-up of excess mucus that can make the lungs more vulnerable to infection.
What are the symptoms of bronchiectasis?
Chronic productive cough
Breathlessness
Recurrent LRTI
Finger clubbing
Crepitations (coarse)
Wheeze
Obstructive spirometry
What are the causes of bronchiectasis?
Idiopathic
Childhood infection
Cystic fibrosis
ABPA
Treatment for bronchiectasis
Sputum Cx essential
Chest physio
Mucolytics
Prolonged antibiotic course (10-14 days)
Vaccinations
What is a lung abscess?
Collections of pus within the lungs
What causes lung abscesses?
Liquefactive necrosis of lung tissue
Causes can be primary or secondary
What is a primary lung abscess?
Develops from primary infection of the lung. T
Commonly arise from aspiration, necrotising pneumonia or chronic pneumonia
e.g. in the setting of pulmonary tuberculosis or immunodeficiency
What is a secondary lung abscess?
One that develops as a result of another condition.
Treatment of lung abscess
Prolonged antibiotics and physiotherapy with postural drainage
What is another name for pleural empyema?
Pyothorax
What is empyema?
Pockets of pus that have collected inside a body cavity.
What happens in empyema?
The lungs and inside of the chest cavity are lined with a smooth layer called the pleura.
These layers are almost in contact, but separated by a thin space (the pleural space) filled with a small amount of lubricant called pleural fluid.
The pleural fluid can sometimes build up and become infected, and a collection of pus forms.
This can thicken and cause areas of the pleura to stick together, creating pockets of pus.
What are causes of empyema?
Failure of pneumonia to respond to treatment
Bronchiectasis
Blood clot
Surgery to chest
Endoscopy
Infection in bloodstream
Who is at risk of developing emyema?
Those who:
have diabetes
have a weakened immune system
have acid reflux
drink too much alcohol or take a lot of recreational drugs
Symptoms of empyema
a fever and night sweats
a lack of energy
difficulty breathing
weight loss
chest pain
a cough and coughing up mucus containing pus
Diagnosis of empyema
If patient w pneumonia is not getting better and is producing mucus, a sample should be taken to identify bacteria and prescribe an antibiotic
CXR or US
How is empyema treated?
Antibiotics
Chest drain
Surgery to remove lining of lung
Stoma if chest drain not possible
Conservative management of lung abscess
Chest physiotherapy for postural drainage
Smoking cessation therapy if necessary
