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Respiratory OTC Flashcards

(58 cards)

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1
Q

What are some red flags symptoms when looking at respiratory OTCs?

A
  • Chest pain
  • Shortness of breath
  • Wheezing
  • Swollen ankles
  • Blood in sputum
  • Persistent/whooping cough
  • Coloured mucus
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2
Q

What is the definition of a common cold?

A

Upper respiratory tract infection

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3
Q

True or False: Antibiotics can be taken for a common cold.

A

False. It is a viral infection.
-> antibiotics are only effective against bacteria

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4
Q

How is the common cold spread?

A
  • Inhale droplets of virus
  • Touch something carrying the virus and then rub eyes/nose
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5
Q

What are some symptoms of the common cold?

A
  • Runny/blocked nose
  • Sneezing/coughing
  • Headaches/aches and pains
  • Temperature (uncommon)
  • Sore throat
  • Earache (painful -> infection)
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6
Q

What are the symptoms of an influenza?

A
  • Rapid onset
  • Weakness and fatigue
  • Fever
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7
Q

What are some complications of influenza?

A
  • Bronchitis/Pneumonia
  • Exacerbation of asthma and COPD
  • Otitis media
  • Sinusitis
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8
Q

What is the general treatment for a common cold?

A
  • Plenty of fluids
  • Rest
  • Hand hygiene
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9
Q

For patients with symptoms of fever/chills/muscle aches/fatigue, what treatment would be recommended?

A

1st line: Paracetamol
-> Analgesic with antipyretic action
-> aspirin/ibuprofen can be used

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10
Q

What treatment would be given to a patient with congestion?

A

1.Nasal wash/drops vs. Steam inhalation
2. Decongestants (sympathomimetics)
-> constrict blood vessels which open up airways

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11
Q

What are the 2 types of decongestants?

A
  • Oral decongestant
  • Topical decongestant
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12
Q

What is the most effective oral decongestant?

A

Pseudoephedrine

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13
Q

Give 2 topical decongestants typically found in nasal sprays.

A
  • Oxymetazoline
  • Xylometazoline
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14
Q

What is a side effect of using topical decongestants?

A

Rebound congestion
-> avoid long term use (max. 3 days)

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15
Q

What is a side effect of using oral decongestants?

A

CNS stimulates - not to be taken at night

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16
Q

In what conditions can a patient not be given an oral decongestant?

A
  • Hypertension/heart disease
  • Diabetes
  • Hyperthyroidism
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17
Q

What do decongestants interact with?

A

Beta blockers

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18
Q

True or False: A patient with hypertension cannot be given pseudoephedrine.

A

False. They can’t be given an oral pseudoephedrine but can be given a topical.
-> not absorbed much

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19
Q

How many packs of pseudoephedrine can be sold over a counter?

A

1 pack

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20
Q

Pharmacy first for acute sinusitis is for what aged patients?

A

12+

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21
Q

What are some symptoms of acute sinusitis?

A
  • Congestion
  • Nasal discharge
  • Facial pain-pressure
  • Reduced sense of smell
  • Cough
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22
Q

When looking at the treatment of acute sinusitis, what is first line treatment?

A

High dose nasal corticosteroids
-> Fluticasone/mometasone
-> for 14 days

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23
Q

What is given to a patient with acute sinusitis if they are allergic to penicillin?

A
  • Clarithromycin/Doxycycline
    -> if pregnant, erythromycin
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24
Q

What is second line of acute sinusitis?

Study These Flashcards
A

Phenoxymethylpenicillin
-> 5 days

25
If a patient has congestion and cannot sleep, what should be given for treatment?
Antihistamines -> promethazine/diphenydramine
26
What is a side effect of using antihistamines?
Drowsiness (driving?)
27
What are some contraindications of using antihistamines?
- Severe respiratory disease - Glaucoma - Prostatic hypertrophy - Epilepsy - Liver disease
28
What can antihistamines interact with?
Alcohol - increase sedative effects
29
Which patients should be referred if they have acute sinusitis?
- Mucus containing blood - Dyspnoea/chest pain - At risk patients - Earache if ongoing
30
A cough is a response to what?
Airway irritation.
31
What are some causes of cough?
- Upper respiratory tract viral infection - Cold/dry atmosphere - Smoking - Asthma/COPD/Heart failure/allergies - Medication: ACEI
32
What are some of the symptoms of a non-productive cough?
- Dry, tickly irritation of throat and chest - No sputum
33
What are some of the symptoms of a productive cough?
- Sputum - Thin and clear removed by cough (Mucoid - clear/white) - Thick and difficult to clear chest - Coloured sputum
34
What treatment is given to patients with a dry cough?
- Cough suppressants -> dextromethorphan - Antihistamines - Demulcents -> soothe cough/throat
35
Give some examples of antihistamines given to a patient with a cough.
Diphenhydramine Promethazine Triprolidine -> for night time coughing due to sedative effects
36
Which treatment is given for chesty coughs?
Expectorants -> stimulate bronchial mucus secretion -> emetic reflex response
37
What is the drug of choice for an expectorants?
Guaifenesin
38
What are some counselling points for a cough?
- Increase fluid intake - thin mucus and soothe throat - Steam inhalation - + menthol - Sugar free remedies - diabetics
39
When should you refer a patient with a cough?
- Longer than 3 weeks - Blood in sputum - Chest pain - SOB/wheeze - Recurrent nocturnal cough - Whooping cough - ADRs - Smokers with recurrent cough
40
What is allergic rhinitis?
Inflammatory response to allergens
41
What are the 2 types of allergic rhinitis and their triggers?
Seasonal: Same time each year -> Grass, trees -> hayfever Perennial: Throughout the year -> Dust mite, animal fur
42
What are some symptoms of nasal congestion?
- Sneezing - Rhinorrhoea - Nasal congestion - Irritation or mouth - Irritation of eyes, oedema, conjunctivitis
43
What are the treatment aims of allergic rhinitis?
- Prevent release of histamine (inflammatory mediator) - Reduce effects of histamine - Symptom relief - Reduce exposure - Treatments is oral or topical
44
What is the first line treatment for allergic rhinitis?
Oral antihistamines
45
When are oral antihistamines for allergic rhinitis taken?
Usually when symptoms are expected
46
True or False: Oral antihistamines are effective against sneezing, runny nose, nasal congestion, nasal itch and eye symptoms.
False. They are not very effective against nasal congestion. -> may require nasal spray
47
What are the 2 types of oral antihistamines?
- Sedative - Non-sedative
48
What are the sedative oral antihistamines for allergic rhinitis ?
- Chlorphenamine - Promethazine
49
What are the non-sedative oral antihistamines for allergic rhinitis?
- Loratadine - Cetirizine - Acrivastine
50
What are the nasal preparations given to patients with allergic rhinitis?
Beclometasone Fluticasone -> reduce nasal inflammation
51
When are nasal corticosteroids taken for allergic rhinitis?
2 weeks before symptoms are expected, and used regularly
52
What are some side effects of corticosteroids?
- Dryness and irritation of nose - Nose bleeds
53
What is the age for use of nasal corticosteroids?
18+
54
What are mast cell stabilisers?
Stabilise mast cells to prevent histamine release.
55
Which drug is found in mast cell stabilisers?
Sodium Cromoglycate -> rynacrom/opticrom
56
True or False: Mast cell stabilisers are eye drops only.
False. They are nasal and ocular drops. -> used 4 times a day
57
What are the 2 topical antihistamines for allergic rhinitis?
Otrivine-Antistin (short-term use only) -> Antazoline and xylometazoline -> antihistamine and decongestant Azelastine
58
What is some lifestyle advice for a patient with allergic rhinitis?
- Avoid pollen - Close windows, cars, doors

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