Upper Respiratory Tract Infections

Question 1

What are the causes of the common cold and their prevalence?

Answer 1

40%-60^ caused by rhinovirus and coronavirus

15%-20% by influenza, parainfluenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)

Question 2

What are the vast majority of pharyngitis cases caused by?

Answer 2

Viruses: Rhinovirus, coronavirus, influenza, parainfluenza, RSV

Question 3

What is the most common bacterial throat infection?

Cause?

Answer 3

Streptococcal pharyngitis - caused by Streptococcus pyogenes, a Group A strep (GAS)

Question 4

What causes scarlet fever?

What does it present with?

Answer 4

Group A strep - Streptococcus pyogenes

Pharyngitis that presents with strawberry tongue - turns red from toxins.

Question 5

LIst two suppurative and two non-suppurative complications of GAS pharyngitis.

Answer 5

Suppurative:

• Peritonsillar abscesses
• Otitis media
• Sinusitis

Non-suppurative

• Rheumatic fever
• Glomerulonephritis

Question 6

How is GAS pharyngitis treated?

Answer 6

Amoxycillin + clavulanic acid (Augmentin)

Question 7

What is the most common cause of acute epiglottitis?

Answer 7

Haemophilus influenzae type B

Question 8

In what demographic does acute epiglottitis mainly occur in?

Answer 8

Mainly in children.

Question 9

What causes diphtheria?

Answer 9

Corynebacterium diphtheriae

Question 10

What are the local and systemic effects of diphtheria?

Answer 10

Local: Necrotic tissue forms a membrane that can cause obstruction

Systemic: Myocardial toxicity

Question 11

Treatment of diphtheria?

Answer 11

Penicillin/erythromycin

Question 12

What is croup?

What is the most common cause?

Answer 12

Croup is a syndrome, not a diagnosis, characterised by horse, barking cough.

IT is caused by respiratory viruses, most commonly parainfluenza virus.

Question 13

What are the clinical presentations of croup and the treatment require for this?

Answer 13

Croup:

• fever
• horse, barking cough
• Inflammatory bstruction of subglottic area

Treatment requires maintenance of the airway and steroid use to reduce inflammation and allow breathing.

Question 14

Three main causes and symptoms of sinusitis

Answer 14

1. Haemophilus influenzae
2. Moraxella catarrhalis
3. Streptococcus pneumoniae

Symptoms:

• Inflammatory obstruction of sinus
• Coryzal symptoms
• Fever

Question 15

Three treatment methods for sinusitis?

Answer 15

1. Antibiotics
2. Topical intranasal corticosteroids to reduce inflammation
3. Surgical drainage

Question 16

Most kids have one episode of _____?

Caused by streptococcus ____ and haemophilus ______?

Answer 16

Acute otitis media

Caused by streptococcus pneumonia and haemophilus influenza B.

Question 17

Clinical presentation of acute otitis media?

Answer 17

• Obstruction of Eustachian tube
• Ear pain
• Fever
• Congestion of mucosa

Question 18

Treatment for acute otitis media

Answer 18

Antibiotics are not that helpful

Over 50% of cases are self-limiting and pain free after 24hrs.

Question 19

Treatment for chronic otitis media?

Answer 19

Antibiotics

Surgigcal management: Grommet

Question 20

What can occur in chronic otitis media that you wouldn’t usually see in acute otitis media?

Answer 20

Ear drum perforation

Hearing loss

Question 21

What is otitis externa?

What is it caused by? (2)

What does it look like?

Answer 21

Infection of the external ear canal.

Caused by staphylococcus aureus or streptococcus pyogenes

Presents with pus dripping out of the ear

Question 22

Why is otitis externa called swimmer’s ear?

Answer 22

Infection is exacerbated by moisture.