Upper Respiratory Tract Infections

Question 1

What is a common cold?

Answer 1

Coryza

An acute viral infection of the nasal passages

Question 2

What is the scientific name for a sore throat?

Answer 2

Pharyngitis

Question 3

How is the coryza spread?

Answer 3

Droplets and formites

Question 4

What are the complications of coryza?

Answer 4

Sinusitis and acute bronchitis

Question 5

What viruses cause the coryza?

Answer 5

Adenovirus
Rhino virus
Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV)

Question 6

What are the symptoms of acute sinusitis?

Answer 6

Purulent nasal discharge

Frontal headache- reteroorbital pain or maxillary sinus pain => toothache

Question 7

What are the complications of sinusitis?

Answer 7

Lymph drainage of the upper part of the face and into the carotid sinuses and into the brain. Very rare.

Question 8

What is the treatment for sinusitis?

Answer 8

Usually self limiting within 10 days.
Treatment includes nasal decongestants, nasal steroids and nasal pheudoephadrine
Occasionally antibiotics are needed

Question 9

What causes strep throat?

Answer 9

Streptococcal group A bacteria

Question 10

What are the symptoms of strep throat?

Answer 10

Pharyngitis- red with white patches 
Fever
Fatigue
Dysphonea
Dysphagia

Question 11

How is strep throat spread and in what demographic is it common?

Answer 11

Droplets

Children aged 5 to 15

Question 12

What is the treatment for strep throat?

Answer 12

Usually antibiotics

Amoxicillin or penicillin

Question 13

What are the signs of tonsillitis?

Answer 13

Large red swollen tonsils
Dysphagia
Dysphonia
Erythemtous (redness)

Question 14

Is it possible to get tonsillitis even when your tonsils have been removed?

Answer 14

Yes as they can grow back

Question 15

What is the treatment fro recurrent tonsillitis and what are the risks?

Answer 15

Tonsillectomy

High risk of bleeding

Question 16

What is the treatment for tonsillitis?

Answer 16

Antibiotics

Question 17

What is quincy?

Answer 17

A complication of tonsillitis

Tonsilar abscess

Question 18

What is the treatment for quincy?

Answer 18

Must be drained- surgery under GA

Be careful of the internal carotid artery which lies posterior

Question 19

What is a complication of quincy?

Answer 19

Intracranial empyema

Question 20

What is epiglottitis and in which demographic is it common?

Answer 20

Infection of the epiglottis

Children- have a large epiglottis and a small mouth

Question 21

How serious is epiglottitis and what is the treatment?

Answer 21

Life threatening due to the obstruction- call an anaesthetist
Give IV antibiotics

Question 22

What often causes epiglotitis?

Answer 22

Haemophylous influenzae- penicillin sensitive

Question 23

How serious is diphtheria and why?

Answer 23

Life threatening due to the toxin it produces

Pseudomembrane at the back of the throat causes people to asphyxiate (deprived of air)

Question 24

What organisms cause flu?

Answer 24

Influenza A and B

Question 25

What are the infection control precautions for someone with flu?

Answer 25

Mask, apron and gloves Side room Respirator mask if you are doing aerosol generating procedures

Question 26

How is flu transmitted?

Answer 26

Droplets or direct contact with respiratory secretions

Question 27

What are the complications of flu?

Answer 27

Primary influenzal pneumonia- seen during pandemic years. Young people Secondary influenzal pneumonia- seen in all years and the most fatal cause of death. Older and 'at risk' people

Question 28

What are the consequences of flu in pregnancy?

Answer 28

Perinatal mortality Prematurity Low birth weight and size

Question 29

What causes most of the systemic symptoms of flu?

Answer 29

Interferon- a protein produced by immune cells in response to a viral infection

Question 30

When are antivirals given for flu and what are they?

Answer 30

Oseltamivir and Zanamivir Given when influenza is know to be circulating and to 'at risk' individuals DOes not reduce mortality or complications but reduces symptoms by 2-3 days Can be used in prophylaxis- eg care home outbreak

Question 31

What causes flu endemics?

Answer 31

Minor mutations in the surface proteins on the virus | Antigenic drift

Question 32

What causes flu pandemics?

Answer 32

A new virus. Rare and influenza A only Antigenic shift Due to a segmented genome and animal reservoirs

Question 33

How is a flu case confirmed?

Answer 33

Nasa or throat swabs for PCR

Question 34

What type of vaccine is the annual injectable flu vaccine and how is it produced?

Answer 34

Killed vaccine | Vaccine grown in hens eggs or cell culture and then inactivated and combined with an aduvant

Question 35

Who receives the injectable flu vaccine?

Answer 35

Adult patients at risk of complications Healthcare workers Children aged 6 moths- 2 years at risk of complications

Question 36

Who receives the intranasal flu vaccine?

Answer 36

All children aged 2 to the end of primary school

Question 37

What type of vaccine is the intranasal flu vaccine?

Answer 37

Live attenuated vaccine. | More effective in children