Resp Flashcards
What makes up the conducting portion of the respiratory tract
Trachea Main bronchus Segmental bronchus Bronchioles Terminal bronchioles
What makes up the respiratory portion of the respiratory tract?
Respiratory bronchioles
Alveolar ducts
Alveoli
What is bronchiolitis?
Inflammation and infection in the bronchioles
What are the bronchioles?
The small airways of the lungs
What is the most common cause of bronchiolitis?
RSV
What is RSV?
Respiratory syncytial virus
What age does bronchiolitis occur?
Under 1 year
most common < 6 months
After what age is bronchiolitis rarely diagnosed?
2
Why does bronchiolitis only effect young infants?
Their arways are so small that even a small amount og mucus and inflammation has a significant effect on their ability to circulate air to and from the alveoli
Why does bronchiolitis not affect adults?
The swelling and mucus are proportionally so small compared to the size of their airway that is has little noticeable effect on breathing
What is heard when auscultating a child with bronchiolitis?
Harsh breath sounds
Wheeze
Crackles
How does bronchiolitis present?
Coryzal symptoms Signs respiratory distress Dyspnoea Tachypnoea Poor feeding Mild fever Apnoeas Wheeze/ crackles
What are coryzal symptoms?
Typical upper resp tract symptoms: running/ snotty nose, sneezing, mucus in throat, watery eyes
What is dyspnoea?
Heavy, laboured breathing
What are the key signs of respiratory distress?
Tachypnoea Use of accessory muscles Intercostal and subcostal recessions Nasal flaring Head bobbing Tracheal tugging Cyanosis Abnormal airway noises
What accessory muscles muscles may be used in respiratory distress?
Sternocleidomastoid Pectoralis major Trapezius Abdominal muscles Intercostals
What is wheezing and when is it heard?
Whistling sound caused by narrowed airways heard during expiration
What causes a wheeze?
Any obstruction in the bronchioles
What causes grunting?
Exhaling with the glottis partially closed to increase positive end-expiratory pressure
What is stridor and when is it heard?
High pitched inspiratory noise cause by obstruction of the upper airway (e.g. croup)
Does stridor happen on inspiration or expiration?
Can be either or both
How does bronchiolitis usually begin?
As an URTI with coryzal symptoms
What is the course of bronchiolitis?
Half get better, half develop chest symptoms following coryzal symptoms, which last 7-10 days
How long does does it take to fully recover from bronchiolitis?
2-3 weeks