Revision - Respiratory Flashcards
(122 cards)
What age does croup typically affect?
6m to 3y
Peak incidence is at 2 years of age.
Typical symptoms seen in croup?
1) Barking cough
2) Stridor
3) Low grade fever
What time of year is croup more common?
Autumn
What is the classic cause of croup?
Parainfluenza virus
What did croup USED to be caused by?
Diptheria
What scoring system for croup can helps to categorise children based on their presenting clinical features?
Westley Croup Score
1) Mild: 0-2
2) Moderate: 3-5
3) Severe: 6-11
4) Impending respiratory failure: 12-17
What does management of croup involve in primary care (mild illness)?
Supportive
Single dose of oral dexamethasone
Dose of dex given in croup?
0.15 mg/kg
What 2 medications are used in the management of severe croup?
1) Oral dex/pred
2) Nebulised adrenaline
What is the most common causative organism of acute epiglottitis?
Hib –> think unvaccinated children!
Abx given in epiglottitis ?
Broad spectrum e.g. ceftriaxone
What is a common complication of epiglottitis?
The development of an epiglottic abscess (a collection of pus around the epiglottis) –> can threaten airway.
What is whooping cough also known as?
Pertussis
What organism causes whooping cough?
Bordetella pertussis
Who is vaccianted against whooping cough?
Children and pregnant women are vaccinated against pertussis.
The vaccine becomes less effective a few years after each dose.
What age is the pertussis vaccination given?
2, 3, and 4 months of age, with a booster at 3 years and 4 months.
Pathophysiology of pertussis?
The bacteria attach to the respiratory epithelium and produce toxins which paralyse the cilia and promote inflammation, impairing the clearance of respiratory secretions, which leads to a cough.
What is a paroxysmal cough?
These involve sudden and recurring attacks of coughing with cough free periods in between (seen in pertussis).
Cause of loud inspiratory whoop in pertussis?
Caused by forced inspiration against a closed glottis.
1st line investigation for diagnosis of pertussis if the cough is less than 2 weeks in duration?
Nasopharyngeal or nasal swab with PCR testing or bacterial culture.
1st line investigation for diagnosis of pertussis if the cough is >2 weeks in duration?
<5 y/o –> Anti-pertussis toxin IgG seology
5-16 y/o –> Anti-pertussis toxin detection in oral fluid
What will a FBC show in pertussis?
Lymphocytosis
When are abx given in whooping cough?
If onset of cough is <21 days
1st line mx of pertussis if the onset of the cough is <21 days?
1st –> oral macrolide e.g. clarithromycin
2nd –> oral co-trimoxazole