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Upper Respiratory Tract Infections (URTIs)
Pharyngitis:
An inflammation of the pharynx (the part of the throat between the tonsils and the larynx), that produces a sore throat.
Tonsillitis:
Acute inflammation of the palatine tonsils, usually due to streptococcal or H.influenza, or - less commonly- to viral infection.
Symptoms: Tonsillitis is characterized by sore throat and pain, most marked when swallowing and often pain referred to the
ears (otalgia). Very young children may not complain of sore throat, but they refuse to eat. High fever, malaise, headache,
and vomiting are common.
Diagnosis the tonsils are edematous and hyperemic. There may be a purulent exudate from the crypts and a membrane-
white, thin, nonconfluent, and confined to the tonsil-that peels away without bleeding.
The adenoids, lymphoid tissue located in the nasopharynx, are larger in children and begin to atrophy in puberty. In some
children who have repeated infections, adenoid hypertrophy may occur, which leads to nasal obstruction, obstructive sleep
apnea, and eustachian tube dysfunction with resultant middle ear effusion. Complications from streptococcal tonsilitis
include pneumonia, nephritis, ostemyelitis, and rheumatic fever. Acute tonsilitis may become chronic.
Laryngitis:
Inflammation of the larynx generally associated with hoarseness or loss of voice.
Sinusitis:
When the sinus becomes infected with organisms the mucous membranes become inflamed, and there are a heavy nasal
discharge of the mucous.
Signs and Symptoms:
The sinuses are moist air spaces found in the facial bones around the nose, including areas within the cheek bones and in
the bones of the forehead above the eyes. When these sinus spaces become infected, the infection is called sinusitis.
Sinusitis can be either:
*acute (symptoms present for less than one month), *subacute (symptoms for 1-4 months), or
*chronic (symptoms for more than four months).
Acute sinusitis may cause different symptoms in different age groups.
In adults and older children, for example, symptoms include: a stuffy nose; a discharge from the nose that is yellow, green,
bad-smelling or tinged with blood; redness inside the nose; swelling or dull pain around the eyes; tenderness in the area of
the cheeks or around the eyes; cheek pain that may be mistaken for a toothache; a feeling of "pressure" in the head; a
morning headache; a headache that gets worse when the child bends forward; and bad breath. Sometimes there may also
be a dry cough or a low-grade fever, and the child may have trouble sleeping. Stomach upset with vomiting of mucus may be
present.
Children with subacute sinusitis or chronic sinusitis have symptoms that last for more than one month. They may have any
of the following symptoms: an abnormally-colored nasal discharge; stuffy nose; redness inside the nose; cough (especially at
night); snoring; and trouble sleeping. They are less likely to have fever than children with acute sinusitis.
Description:
Sinusitis is an infection of the sinus air spaces found in the facial bones around the nose. Sinusitis can be caused by
bacteria, viruses, or a mixture of these disease-producing germs. When sinusitis is caused by a bacterial infection, the most
likely culprits include
Moraxella Catarrhalis (bacteria normally found in the upper respiratory tract and one of the species of Streptococcus
bacteria). Viruses can also cause sinusitis
Epiglottitis
The epiglottitis is a flap like structure of cartilage that prevents ingested material from entering the larynx. Inflammation of
the epiglottis is a rapidly developing disease that can result in death within a few hours
Acute otitis media (AOM):
AOM is the infection of the middle ear.
This illness is uncomfortable complications of the common cold, or any infection of the nose or throat.
The infecting microorganisms cause the formation of pus, which builds up pressure against the ear drum and causes it to
become inflamed and painful. The condition is most frequent in early childhood, properly because the auditory tube
connecting the middle ear to the throat is small and is more easily blocked by infection.
Signs and Symptoms:
Acute otitis media is an inflammation of the area behind the eardrum (tympanic membrane). This area is called the middle
ear. Deep within the outer ear canal is the eardrum. The eardrum is a thin, transparent membrane that vibrates in response
to sound waves. The middle ear is a small cavity that contains air and sits behind the eardrum. When the eardrum vibrates,
tiny bones within the middle ear transmit the sound signals to the inner ear. In the inner ear, nerves are stimulated to relay
the sound signals to the brain.
The eustachian tube; which connects the middle ear to the nose, normally ventilates and equalizes pressure to the middle
ear. When your child's ears "pop" when yawning or swallowing, the eustachian tube is adjusting the air pressure in the
middle ear.
Acute otitis media is an infection that produces pus within the middle ear. Older children will often complain about ear
pain, ear fullness, or hearing loss. Younger children may demonstrate irritability, fussiness, or difficulty in sleeping, feeding,
or hearing. Fever may be present in a child of any age.
These symptoms are frequently associated with signs of upper respiratory infection, such as a runny or stuffy nose or a
cough. Severe ear infections may cause the eardrum to rupture. The pus will then start to drain out of the middle ear and
into the ear canal. The hole in the eardrum from the rupture will usually heal with medical treatment.
Acute otitis media (AOM) is predominantly a disease of early childhood. Approximately 40% of children under 10 years suffer
from it. It is very common occur in more than 75% of all children by the age of two.
In children, the eustachian tube is shorter than in adults and allows bacteria and viruses to find their way into the middle
ear more easily. This results in acute otitis media, with a buildup of pus within the middle ear. The pressure and
inflammation result in pain and the inability of the eardrum to vibrate. During the infection there will usually be some
temporary hearing loss.
With proper medical antibiotic treatment, the bacteria will be eradicated. As fluid and pus disappear from the middle ear,
hearing will improve.
*Acute otitis media is a common childhood illness. Two out of three children under the age of 3 experience at least one
episode of acute otitis media.
*Acute otitis media frequently occurs with respiratory infections as the nasal membranes and eustachian tube become
swollen and congested.
*Bacteria are responsible for 80% to 85% of cases of acute otitis media.
Streptoccoccus Pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenza, Moraxella catarrhalis, Streptococcus pyogenes, Staphylococcus aureus,
and Gram –ve Bacteria & anaerobes are sometimes a mixture of microorganisms may be found. Infants under 6 week of age
may show a different group of bacteria in the middle ear.
Standard therapy for acute otitis media is antibiotics. Despite the start of treatment, 10% of children do not respond within
the first 48 hours of treatment. Even after effective antibiotic treatment.
Scarlet fever
When the S.pyogenes strain causing streptococcal pharyngitis produce an erythrogenic (reddening) toxin, the resulting
infection is called scarlet fever.
The toxin causes a pink-red skin rash, which is probably the skin’s hypersensitivity reaction to the circulating toxin, and
high fever.
Diphtheria
The disease begins with the sore throat and fever, followed by general malaise and swelling of the neck. Characteristic of
diphtheria is a tough, grayish membrane that forms in the throat in response to the infection. It contains fibrin, dead
tissue, and bacteria cell and can totally block the passage of air to the lungs.
Cutaneous Diphtheria
In this form of disease the microorganism infects the skin, usually at a wound or similar skin lesion, and there is minimal
systemic circulation of the toxin
Pharyngitis:
An inflammation of the pharynx (the part of the throat between the tonsils and the larynx), that produces a sore throat.
Tonsillitis:
Acute inflammation of the palatine tonsils, usually due to streptococcal or H.influenza, or - less commonly- to viral infection.
Symptoms: Tonsillitis is characterized by sore throat and pain, most marked when swallowing and often pain referred to the
ears (otalgia). Very young children may not complain of sore throat, but they refuse to eat. High fever, malaise, headache,
and vomiting are common.
Diagnosis the tonsils are edematous and hyperemic. There may be a purulent exudate from the crypts and a membrane-
white, thin, nonconfluent, and confined to the tonsil-that peels away without bleeding.
The adenoids, lymphoid tissue located in the nasopharynx, are larger in children and begin to atrophy in puberty. In some
children who have repeated infections, adenoid hypertrophy may occur, which leads to nasal obstruction, obstructive sleep
apnea, and eustachian tube dysfunction with resultant middle ear effusion. Complications from streptococcal tonsilitis
include pneumonia, nephritis, ostemyelitis, and rheumatic fever. Acute tonsilitis may become chronic.
Laryngitis:
Inflammation of the larynx generally associated with hoarseness or loss of voice.
Sinusitis:
When the sinus becomes infected with organisms the mucous membranes become inflamed, and there are a heavy nasal
discharge of the mucous.
Signs and Symptoms:
The sinuses are moist air spaces found in the facial bones around the nose, including areas within the cheek bones and in
the bones of the forehead above the eyes. When these sinus spaces become infected, the infection is called sinusitis.
Sinusitis can be either:
*acute (symptoms present for less than one month), *subacute (symptoms for 1-4 months), or
*chronic (symptoms for more than four months).
Acute sinusitis may cause different symptoms in different age groups.
In adults and older children, for example, symptoms include: a stuffy nose; a discharge from the nose that is yellow, green,
bad-smelling or tinged with blood; redness inside the nose; swelling or dull pain around the eyes; tenderness in the area of
the cheeks or around the eyes; cheek pain that may be mistaken for a toothache; a feeling of "pressure" in the head; a
morning headache; a headache that gets worse when the child bends forward; and bad breath. Sometimes there may also
be a dry cough or a low-grade fever, and the child may have trouble sleeping. Stomach upset with vomiting of mucus may be
present.
Children with subacute sinusitis or chronic sinusitis have symptoms that last for more than one month. They may have any
of the following symptoms: an abnormally-colored nasal discharge; stuffy nose; redness inside the nose; cough (especially at
night); snoring; and trouble sleeping. They are less likely to have fever than children with acute sinusitis.
Description:
Sinusitis is an infection of the sinus air spaces found in the facial bones around the nose. Sinusitis can be caused by
bacteria, viruses, or a mixture of these disease-producing germs. When sinusitis is caused by a bacterial infection, the most
likely culprits include
Moraxella Catarrhalis (bacteria normally found in the upper respiratory tract and one of the species of Streptococcus
bacteria). Viruses can also cause sinusitis
Epiglottitis
The epiglottitis is a flap like structure of cartilage that prevents ingested material from entering the larynx. Inflammation of
the epiglottis is a rapidly developing disease that can result in death within a few hours
Acute otitis media (AOM):
AOM is the infection of the middle ear.
This illness is uncomfortable complications of the common cold, or any infection of the nose or throat.
The infecting microorganisms cause the formation of pus, which builds up pressure against the ear drum and causes it to
become inflamed and painful. The condition is most frequent in early childhood, properly because the auditory tube
connecting the middle ear to the throat is small and is more easily blocked by infection.
Signs and Symptoms:
Acute otitis media is an inflammation of the area behind the eardrum (tympanic membrane). This area is called the middle
ear. Deep within the outer ear canal is the eardrum. The eardrum is a thin, transparent membrane that vibrates in response
to sound waves. The middle ear is a small cavity that contains air and sits behind the eardrum. When the eardrum vibrates,
tiny bones within the middle ear transmit the sound signals to the inner ear. In the inner ear, nerves are stimulated to relay
the sound signals to the brain.
The eustachian tube; which connects the middle ear to the nose, normally ventilates and equalizes pressure to the middle
ear. When your child's ears "pop" when yawning or swallowing, the eustachian tube is adjusting the air pressure in the
middle ear.
Acute otitis media is an infection that produces pus within the middle ear. Older children will often complain about ear
pain, ear fullness, or hearing loss. Younger children may demonstrate irritability, fussiness, or difficulty in sleeping, feeding,
or hearing. Fever may be present in a child of any age.
These symptoms are frequently associated with signs of upper respiratory infection, such as a runny or stuffy nose or a
cough. Severe ear infections may cause the eardrum to rupture. The pus will then start to drain out of the middle ear and
into the ear canal. The hole in the eardrum from the rupture will usually heal with medical treatment.
Acute otitis media (AOM) is predominantly a disease of early childhood. Approximately 40% of children under 10 years suffer
from it. It is very common occur in more than 75% of all children by the age of two.
In children, the eustachian tube is shorter than in adults and allows bacteria and viruses to find their way into the middle
ear more easily. This results in acute otitis media, with a buildup of pus within the middle ear. The pressure and
inflammation result in pain and the inability of the eardrum to vibrate. During the infection there will usually be some
temporary hearing loss.
With proper medical antibiotic treatment, the bacteria will be eradicated. As fluid and pus disappear from the middle ear,
hearing will improve.
*Acute otitis media is a common childhood illness. Two out of three children under the age of 3 experience at least one
episode of acute otitis media.
*Acute otitis media frequently occurs with respiratory infections as the nasal membranes and eustachian tube become
swollen and congested.
*Bacteria are responsible for 80% to 85% of cases of acute otitis media.
Streptoccoccus Pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenza, Moraxella catarrhalis, Streptococcus pyogenes, Staphylococcus aureus,
and Gram –ve Bacteria & anaerobes are sometimes a mixture of microorganisms may be found. Infants under 6 week of age
may show a different group of bacteria in the middle ear.
Standard therapy for acute otitis media is antibiotics. Despite the start of treatment, 10% of children do not respond within
the first 48 hours of treatment. Even after effective antibiotic treatment.
Scarlet fever
When the S.pyogenes strain causing streptococcal pharyngitis produce an erythrogenic (reddening) toxin, the resulting
infection is called scarlet fever.
The toxin causes a pink-red skin rash, which is probably the skin’s hypersensitivity reaction to the circulating toxin, and
high fever.
Diphtheria
The disease begins with the sore throat and fever, followed by general malaise and swelling of the neck. Characteristic of
diphtheria is a tough, grayish membrane that forms in the throat in response to the infection. It contains fibrin, dead
tissue, and bacteria cell and can totally block the passage of air to the lungs.
Cutaneous Diphtheria
In this form of disease the microorganism infects the skin, usually at a wound or similar skin lesion, and there is minimal
systemic circulation of the toxin
