Paeds respiratory conditions Flashcards
(133 cards)
- Definition of Bronchiolitis
Bronchiolitis describes inflammation and infection in the bronchioles, the small airways of the lungs.
- Causes of bronchiolitis: most common
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the most common cause.
- Bronchiolitis aetiology: explain how disease occurs
When a virus affects the airways of adults, the swelling and mucus are proportionally so small that it has little noticeable effect on breathing. The airways of infants are very small to begin with, and when there is even the smallest amount of inflammation and mucus in the airway it has a significant effect on the infants ability to circulate air to the **alveoli **and back out. This causes the harsh breath sounds, wheeze and crackles heard on auscultation when listening to a bronchiolitic baby’s chest
Bronchiolitis Occurs in what age of children? Most common in what age?
children under 1 year. It is most common in children under 6 months. It can rarely be diagnosed in children up to 2 years of age, particularly in ex-premature babies with chronic lung disease
- Presentation of bronchiolitis
- Signs of respiratory distress
- What are the 3 abnormal airway noises to be aware of in children
- Wheezing is a whistling sound caused by narrowed airways, typically heard during expiration
- Grunting is caused by exhaling with the glottis partially closed to increase positive end-expiratory pressure
- Stridor is a high pitched inspiratory noise caused by obstruction of the upper airway, for example in croup
- Criteria for admission in bronchiolitis
- Typical RSV course
Children who have had bronchiolitis as infants are more likely to have
viral induced wheeze during childhood.
- Management of bronchiolitis
- How long do bronchiolitis symptoms last usually?
Symptoms usually last 7 to 10 days total
- Most patients with bronchiolitis fully recover within …
2-3 weeks
- Ventilatory support: when is it needed?
As breathing gets harder, the child gets more tired and less able to adequately ventilate themselves. They may require ventilatory support to maintain their breathing.
- Ventilatory support: different escalations
- How do you assess ventilation?
Capillary blood gases are useful in severe respiratory distress and in monitoring children who are having ventilatory support
- When do you use capillary blood gases?
in severe respiratory distress and in monitoring children who are having ventilatory support.
- Most helpful signs of poor ventilation are:
- What is palivizumab and how does it work
Palivizumab is a monoclonal antibody that targets the respiratory syncytial virus. A monthly injection is given as prevention against bronchiolitis caused by RSV
- Who gets given palivizumab?
It is given to high risk babies, such as ex-premature and those with congenital heart disease
- What prevention treatment for bronchiolitis is available
pavilizumab
croup typically affects children aged .., however they can be older
6 months to 2 years
- Definition of croup
Upper respiratory tract infection causing oedema in the larynx
- The classic cause of croup that you need to spot in your exams, is
parainfluenza virus